“We’re safe for now and some distance from the Illinois border.” The tension in Abby’s voice confirmed the flight had not been an easy one. “Thanks to Bob Owens’s network of friends, we refueled without being spotted by Kirkpatrick’s people.”
“I’m happy to help, Abby. I’ve texted you the next group of contacts that should bring you here to Idaho safely,” Bob weighed in. The former architect had proven invaluable to the team and had a wealth of contacts across the country that rivaled James’s connections.
“It’s much appreciated.” The phone crackled with cabin noises confirming Abby was back in the air. Having secure locations to refuel was a tremendous help, but the team still had a long way to go to reach Idaho. “Did everyone make it safely to the new compound?”
Thanks to God, almost all of Strike Force were in the new headquarters except for Abby’s team. “They did. We just need you all here. What can we do to help?”
Abby was a confident pilot who had flown under some pretty hairy conditions, but the threat against the team had never been greater.
“Pray. We could use all the prayers we can get.”
“You got it,” Victor affirmed.
“We had some time while we were waiting for the fighter jets to clear the air space in Pennsylvania and watched the videos James posted on the website. I still can’t believe what happened in Israel. I sure hope people listen to what’s being posted there and not to what Kirkpatrick is spouting.”
The supernatural event had taken the entire Strike Force team by surprise. While Cole and Eva were on a rescue mission to bring home their daughter, the skies above Israel had been filled with enemy fighters, intent on annihilating Israel. But God had intervened with lightning strikes that took out the enemy while the team’s helicopter remained untouched. But Kirkpatrick had managed to keep the entire event secret from the world.
“Exactly. We need you all here because the world appears to be on a collision course with eternity, and I wouldn’t put anything past Kirkpatrick. Be safe, Abby.”
“Copy that. We’ll see you soon.” The call ended. Victor lifted up a prayer for their comrades’ safety before he addressed the team gathered there. “I know everyone is anxious to talk about what happened in Israel, and I’ve asked Ben to help field questions concerning that; still we have a more pressing matter at the moment. Martin Collins.” Earlier, Doctor Oviok had cleared Collins to answer questions and there were many that Victor wanted answered. If Collins agreed to tell the truth and not string them along.
“Ben, you and Cole come with me.” Victor motioned toward the two people who had been at the forefront of Legion’s attacks almost from the beginning. “Kaid and Sidney, I want you there as well. Those of you who went through the attacks over Israel, I’d like you to write down your thoughts while they’re clear in your heads. This was a historic event that we need to be clear on when we post our thoughts on the website. In the meantime, James, can you and your team work through the red tape on the property here to make sure there isn’t a way Kirkpatrick’s team can tie it to us?”
“We’re on it already.” James assured him. “The good news is the former owner had already started the process of getting power up here. We just have to make sure there’s no way it can be tied to us before we set it up.”
“That would be a godsend. We’ll burn through a lot of fuel using the generators, but it’s the middle of winter and we don’t have a choice. We need another heat source, but I’m afraid if we use the woodstoves, we might draw unnecessary attention to ourselves.” With so many people and more on the way, keeping the camp secure was Victor’s top priority.
With the people who had been at his side since the beginning of the fight against Legion, they left the war room and started toward the medical ward.
Doctor Oviok and his medical staff were still organizing the hospital. The doctor glanced up as they approached. “He’s in here.” There was no doubt why they were there. Finding out what Collins knew was critical at this stage.
The doctor pointed to the room where Deacon and Tegan stood watch outside the door along with Samson.
“Thanks, guys.” Victor shook hands with the men who had faithfully guarded the man the team had once believed was the true leader of Legion. That theory had been blown to smithereens by a simple call from Eva to Cole revealing the truth.
Victor turned the knob and stepped inside a room that was as stark as most the rooms in the lodge. Collins was propped against several pillows, both hands secured to the bed.
The man lying in the bed had caused much heartache to so many people including his sister and his own child. Lizzy Grayson had no idea her father was responsible for ending her mother’s life and almost destroying hers.
Collins had been a legend at the CIA when he’d faked his death and forced the men under his command to do the same. He’d gone underground in Afghanistan, and until recently, Strike Force believed that’s when Legion had originated.
Collins scanned the faces of the people standing before him. The only emotion showing was a hint of surprise when his gaze landed on Victor. “I told your people I’m not saying anything until the death penalty is off the table and I’ve spoken to my sister and daughter.”
Victor pulled up a chair beside the bed. Collins was going to make the discussion adversarial from the start. “I’ve heard your demands. What I haven’t heard is why I should give you any consideration when you’ve provided us with nothing useful so far.”
Collins’ dark gaze bored into Victor’s. He suppressed a shiver at the feeling of being in the presence of true evil.
He needs your help. . .
Victor jerked back. The whispered words in his mind were almost as if someone had spoken them into his ear. Collins needed his help? The man was filled with hatred for him. The world. He’d tried to kill Victor once, and given the opportunity, he’d do it again. Collins stood against everything Victor had fought to protect most of his life, and yet the piercing feeling in his heart warned that God was speaking to him. And Collins wasn’t too far gone yet. There was still something redeemable inside him that God wanted to use for His kingdom.
He recalled how the apostle Paul had once persecuted the church before he had a God encounter on the road to Damascus.
Compassion—something Victor never expected to feel for this man reared its head.
“Lizzy has agreed to speak with you along with her husband. Your sister Betty has not. To allow this to happen, I need to know about the rest of the nuclear weapons. You told Cole they were hidden right under our noses. Tell me where they are, and I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
Collins’ eyes widened. He stumbled over his words. “You’d help me? After everything I’ve—”
“I will,” Victor confirmed. “Because I believe you are just as much of a victim in some way as the rest of us.” He watched a little of the hard exterior Collins had become famous for slip. “You do know things about Kirkpatrick’s plans that will help us take him down and stop whatever he has in mind for the nukes.”
Collins focused on a spot at the end of the bed while he swallowed repeatedly. “The weapons were in Anana Harbor. Most of them were moved there from Texas. The rest went to Afghanistan.” His tone was almost humble—something Victor didn’t associate with Collins. “Ahmad thought he was transporting the full weaponry to Afghanistan, but Walton knew you’d connect Ahmad with the missing weapons eventually. He had a separate plane transport the weapons to Alaska to a bunker he’d prepared ahead of time. I can give you the coordinates, but I’m certain he’s moved them by now.”