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A couple of choppers were idling at the perimeter, a dozen or so vehicles, an ambulance was still there. Most had lights on and people were moving around them. The fires would be burning for a while, days since there was no fire department within two dozen miles. Sam parked Scotty well away from the area and walked over to what looked like some important people. Curtis Hillman certainly was important to some people anyway and greeted Sam. "Glad you could make it," he said. "I told them to call you as soon as I saw what we had." "What do you have?" asked Sam. "Ebrahim Nasb el-Hashemi," Curtis replied. "OK", Sam said, "you've got my attention." "It got us by surprise too," said Curtis. "We've verified his identity, got at least two other big ones - Ali Darrebaghi and Reza Kharazi." "Someone was up to something big," said Sam. "Or planning it." "What we figure," Curtis said. "They're trussed up and ready to go - those choppers over there are for them. I'd like for you to be there when we interrogate them." "Where? Your HQ?" "Nope. Silver Lake." "What's at Silver Lake? That's a League installation." "It's who's at Silver Lake," Curtis replied. "Mohammad Motlagh. They apparently picked him up a few days ago. Since he's in a good place for us we'll take the others there. The League itself is barely on the edge of the radar - the regime is pretty sure it exists but that's about as far as it goes - and Silver Lake is one of the most secure bases." "From what I hear it's the hardest to crack," Sam said. "Like an anthill." "That's probably more than you need to know," said Curtis. "Or me for that matter. Whatever the case those two choppers are about to lift off and deliver our pigeons. As soon as Doug gets things tight enough to leave it we're headed there." "You're gonna drive two hundred miles tonight?" "Another chopper will be here in a few minutes," Curtis said. "What do I do with Scotty? Actually I planned on being home tonight, I've gotta call Julie..." "Hold your horses," said Curtis. "If you can bear to be parted with your truck for a while I'll have one of my boys drive it to our base at Searcy. They'll take care of it, and tell Julie you'll be gone for a day or two. If it happens to be more we can work in out." Sam took out the two keys for Scotty and tossed them to Curtis. "It's easy to lock yourself out," he said. "Always have an extra key." "Got it," Curtis said as he looked down at his Commpad. "Call Julie, our ride is about four minutes out. Nice, Julie gonna be as unhappy with you as I am. Maybe. The incoming aircraft, a Bell two-hundred something that could be twenty or thirty or more years old set down. A man was approaching... young and in battle dress. "Sam, Doug Harris, Doug, Sam Blake," Curtis said. "All set?" "All secure," Doug replied. "We're waiting for a transport for a couple of special cases, regime goons but with some status. Once they're gone we're done here and the regulars can handle it." "We're off to Silver Lake," said Curtis. "I'll have a channel open, check in every fifteen or so." "Will do," Doug said. "Be safe." Sam followed Curtis to the waiting helicopter. It was a Bell two-hundred something, with six passenger seats. He climbed aboard with his usual dislike for helicopters - he didn't like flying as a passenger and while he could fly a helicopter a little he preferred not to. The flight was only an hour or so and while he liked night landings in helicopters less than flying in them once up one had to get down somehow. The ride was at least smooth and uneventful and an hour later they set down on a grassy field. A small convoy awaited and they were off to Silver Lake headquarters. Headquarters was on the edge of a gravel mining area that covered about fifty square miles on the east side of Crowder's Ridge. An enormous pile of sand covered ten or so of those acres and the Silver Lake headquarters. The convoy went south almost a mile before entering a narrow road that led to an opening in the pile of sand. They proceeded inside for several hundred yards to the headquarters complex.
Leonard Parrish |
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