Page 39 of Firestorm

“I overheard your conversation with Badih. We have a small circle of friends we trust. So we will start searching for a place that will be large enough to accommodate many people. As soon as we have a location, we will be in touch.”

“Thank you, my friend. In the meantime, if you need anything at all, you know how to contact us.”

“We do. Stay safe, my friend. The world is becoming a dangerous place for believers.”

The warning from his friends stayed with him long after he ended the call. While the activity around him continued, he thought about how far they’d come. From a band of ex-pats in hiding for their lives to a united group of members who were growing daily.

Would this be their last standoff? He had a feeling they were at the end of their running. Would Pamphili find them here and wipe them off the face of the earth or would Jesus sound the trumpet and take the church collective from this world?

???

Daniel Pamphili closed the door to the room before his rage erupted. They’d escaped. Again. Broke into a highly guarded facility and taken a prisoner out from underneath armed soldiers’ noses. Thanks to the intelligence wisdom of Strike Forces members, they’d shot down fighters sent to take them down and disappeared. Now his people had no idea where they were. How could a ragtag band of misfits fight successfully against a united global army? The answer was sickening but clear. God. The name tasted bitter on his lips.

Strike Force had managed to escape a nuclear attack meant to wipe them off the face of the earth and were now once more broadcasting their propaganda around the world. He had the best computer intelligence people, and yet they were struggling to come up with a solution to take the site down again.

He slammed his fist against the fireplace mantel. The information they were broadcasting proclaimed him to be the bad guy spoken of in the Bible. His plans to move forward with the reordering of the regions of the world was in danger. If more people began to believe the lies being spewed, the opposition would increase. They had to shut down Strike Force, and they had to do it now.

Someone knocked on the door. His head jerked up. Everyone knew when the door was closed, he was not to be disturbed.

Another knock was followed by the door opening slightly.

A man he’d noticed earlier in the meeting with the united police force stuck his head into the room. He got a better look and realized it was one of the NSA agents.

“Why are you here?” Daniel seethed the words out. “Did you not see the closed door?”

The man had the good conscience to appear remorseful at least.

“I am sorry, sir, but I think I have an idea of where they might be hiding?”

Daniel glared at him for the longest time. “And where is that?”

The man smiled and stepped into the room. “The compound near the Blue Ridge Mountains which they were once identified as using. According to reports, that compound is a fortress with tons of room for their growing numbers. It would make the perfect hideout.”

Daniel wasn’t as sure. “Why would they return to a former hiding place? They will know we have the location.”

“That’s why,” the man exclaimed and pointed his finger at Daniel. “Who would go back to a place that we know about? It’s the perfect plan.”

“Or an amateur move from people who have proven themselves a worthy opponent.” He held the man’s gaze. “What is your name?”

“Carl Simmons, sir.”

“Well, Carl, are you willing to stake your life on this idea?” Daniel took a step closer and was pleased when the man took a step back.

“Of…of course.” Simmons didn’t appear nearly so confident.

“Really?” Daniel stared him down. “Well, then, is this your idea alone?”

Simmons hesitated. He wanted all the glory, but the stakes were great. “Yes, I worked this on my own.”

“A man of conviction. I like that. Let’s go. If they are there, the arrangement could be temporary.”

Daniel strode past Simmons into the joint police task force room. The minute he entered the room everyone stood. The attention gave him a sense of power. The men and women in this room would do whatever he asked, even if it meant giving up their lives. He held their loyalty in his hand.

“Sit,” he ordered and then faced Simmons. “Agent Simmons believes he knows where Strike Force is hiding out. Agent Simmons?”

Daniel stepped back and let Simmons explain his thoughts to a wealth of opposing reactions. One thing Daniel had come to understand—the intelligence community was cutthroat. In fact, he was relying on it.

Daniel stepped in. “This is one direction we are taking to locate the traitors. If you have others, then bring them forward.” The room grew quiet. Daniel turned to Simmons. “We have troops guarding the capital. Since Lancaster’s desertion, the city is under martial law. I will issue the order to capture the compound. We should know something in a matter of hours.”

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