Page 43 of The Flame of Carson
The man smiled sardonically.“Better than I ever hoped.They underestimated us and now it is time for us to show them just how bad.”
The man on the other end laughed, “I can’t wait to see the look on their faces once they find out the truth.”
“Oo-rah Brother.I will check in with you in a few days.”The man said before disconnecting the call.
Yes, their plans were coming together.He slowed his car and pulled into a curbside parking spot across the street from Blackout.Pulling out a camera he started snapping pictures as Gage parked his truck and climbed out.He did not miss the way the Marine casually looked around the area.‘Yes, survey the land all you want Carson.You and your bitch will not find me till I’m ready to let you.’
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Ethan leaned back inhis chair.“She told you this last night?”
“Well, about the one this morning after I bolted awake from a dead sleep.Damn it Ethan, it was strange.I just came wide awake, heart jumping, and then I checked the whole damned house.I have not felt this since...”
“Since that mission I went on that sent me to Richmond.”Ethan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.“What do you think?You think she and Walt are right?”
“Yeah Ethan, I do.”Gage nodded.
“If she and Walt are right, that complicates things in a major way.”Tony spoke up.“Did Stacey say what made her start down this line of thinking?”
“No, not really.Stacey just said Walt had mentioned it.She did say she had been thinking along those lines before he said anything.”Gage answered.
“Alright, here is what I’m going to do.I want you to go with Tony.He and the fed geeks are meeting with a mutual connection about this filter thing.I will send Grant over to talk to Stacey.”Ethan instructed.
“But...”Gage started.
“No.Gage, this is the point where you need to have some distance.Some major distance.Stacey has already proved she is only going to tell you so much.She will probably talk more openly with Grant than you about this.I want you with Tony to gather intel.Your brain is like a damned sponge when it comes to absorbing information and that is what we need right now.Information.Not to mention you, at least, understand all that geek talk better than the rest of us.”Ethan interrupted, hoping to get a smirk at least from Gage.Nope.Nothing.‘Damn, he’s too close to this now.’
Gage clenched and unclenched his fist, missing Ethan’s attempt at humor.He hated it, but knew his boss and friend were right.“Yes sir.”
“You two better get going.I will talk to Grant about going to see Stacey around lunch.”Ethan nodded after studying his second in command, catching the way he had said‘Yes sir.’through clenched teeth.Gage and Tony pushed out of their chairs and walked out of the office.Before following behind Gage, Tony shot Ethan a worried look.Yeah, Gage was in this case too deep.Ethan did not like this.He reached for the phone, just when there was a knock on his door and Grant walked in.“I was just about to call you.”
“What’s up boss?”Grant asked, walking in, and sitting down.
“Seems we may have been approaching this whole thing with Stacey from the wrong angle.”Ethan began.
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Stacey sat at her desktyping away at the acceptance letter, for the novel she had passed on to her boss Chase.Like her, he had loved it and told her to take it and start the wheels rolling on signing the author.She loved this part of her job.Finding new talent.Stacey had always been an avid reader and after her AP English class had a tour of the editing department ofWalter & Jackson, she knew what she wanted to do.Finishing the letter, she saved it before shooting it off to the email the author had provided.A knock had her looking up.
“Grant!”
“Hey there doll.I’m not interrupting, am I?”Grant smiled walking into the office.
“No, I just finished off an acceptance letter for a new author we’re hoping to sign.What brings you by?”Stacey answered.
“I was hoping I could take you out to lunch.”Grant replied.
“Ah.This is about what I told Gage this morning isn’t it?”She sighed.
“Yes.”Grant nodded, taking a seat.“Stacey, you have good instincts, and we can’t ignore them.”
“Why you though?”She asked.
“Oh, that is easy.I’m the big brother type.Plus, Ethan felt you might talk to me a little easier than you would to Gage.I’m not hip deep in this like he is.”
She couldn’t fault Ethan’s thinking on that front.Hell, he was right.Ever since she told Gage about what was going on, she did not want to go into full detail with him.Not that she did not trust him, it was more that now that they were an item, she knew him well enough to know that he would take it personally.Ethan knew his guys well and it showed by the fact he sent Grant to talk to her.Stacey glanced at the clock on the wall then back at Grant.
