Shamus JournalsChapter 2
- 2 years ago
- 22
- 0
I waited for Sandra to finish in the shower and when she came out she had a big smile on her face. I looked at her in a quizzical way and she smiled at me then explained.
"You're gonna love this shower, grandpa. It has the massaging head on the shower and it has enough pressure that it almost knocked me down when I stepped under it. I hope they brought me some jeans with those clothes. I hate wearing a dress and trying to be nice just because it's expected by a girl in a dress."
"You just be yourself and let me worry about what is right or wrong. Here, I need you to put your thumb on this new phone so we can get it set up."
As it turned out this was only part of the process. There was a voice recognition step with a sentence you had to say along with your name. We listened to the voice telling us the different steps we had to go through to get it to work for us. Me, I thought it was a pain in the ass but Sandra was having a ball with the whole process. We finally got it up and running so I could use it later. I went to get my shower leaving Sandra to get dressed. I had already put a chair under the door knob so I knew nobody was going to enter without us knowing. I made my shower quick and cut myself shaving as usual. When I got back to the bedroom Sandra was dressed and waiting on me. She was wearing shorts and her usual boots with a button up type of shirt. I looked at my stuff and could immediately see it had come from Wal-Mart or some chain store. There was a light cotton jacket I could wear over the t-shirt so my shoulder holsters would be covered. I got dressed and put the forty five in the small of my back and the fifty on my belt. Sandra just watched not saying a word.
We went down the steps with me leading and were met at the bottom by a stranger. I had the fifty covering him before he even realized it was pointing at him.
"Who the hell are you and where's Chuck?"
"He had to go out for a little bit to check the perimeter, Mr. Hansom. My name is Steve and I was coming to call you and your daughter to supper. Will you follow me please?"
He turned and started walking away from us. I nodded my head to Sandra to move the opposite way. He wasn't part of the detail and he had screwed up big time by calling Sandra my daughter. We moved back up the steps while I was already calling the Director. I didn't know how many were in the house but I would bet Chuck was already dead. This was all coming apart too fast. They had to have inside help to have found us so quick. When I got the Director on the line and told him of my suspicions he was livid, telling me to find a room where I could guard us until he got there with the SEAL team he was meeting with. He was still in the area and had been delayed because of the heavy fog. He said they would be coming in with choppers and that I wasn't to move until they had total control of the house and grounds. We went back to the bedroom where our little bit of stuff was and I filled my pockets with extra mags for the 45 and the twenty-twos. I gave Sandra one telling her to be careful and don't shoot unless she had too. My cell rang and I answered it. I was told by the Director that the SEAL team was working their way toward the house and to stay put until he knocked on the door.
I put the chair back under the knob and waited for whatever was going to happen.
Steve came to the door talking and trying the knob as he did. When he couldn't enter he dropped all pretenses.
"You know we will get you so why don't you give up. I promise neither one of you will suffer. We have a job to do Mr. Hansom and we will do it."
"What I want to know is who the hell you people are? The contract was canceled with the death of the money man and his attorney."
"I assure you it has not been canceled and was just raised less than an hour ago. There are six of us in the house and unless you want you and your daughter to suffer before you both die I suggest you just quit with all the hiding."
"I think you better check with your contact because she is not my daughter and you have made a serious mistake, Steve."
"I don't think so Barry Hansom, we have been looking for you for the last two weeks. I guarantee you and Miss Kathy won't be testifying in front of the grand jury tomorrow."
I looked at Sandra and she looked back with a question in her eyes. I just shrugged at her. I didn't know who he was after but I knew this was all a case of mistaken identity. I almost busted up laughing but the seriousness of the whole thing wasn't a laughing matter. He tried to use his weight to bust through the door but it was made of oak and he didn't get far doing that. He then tried shooting the door handle and lock off. I waited 'till I was sure of where he was standing and again the superior power of the fifty paid off as after I shot I heard a dull thump outside the door. I looked at Sandra and she had both hands covering her ears. She grinned at me before she dropped them back to her sides.
"Grandpa, my ears are still ringing from this morning. I wish you had some kind of noise killer for that thing."
I gave her a big grin and sat on the edge of the bed with her right beside me. We didn't say anything but I was watching the balcony and the door. I had already killed the lights but since it was still daylight out, the room was brighter than I wanted. We were in the shadows as we sat on the bed. I still hadn't heard the chopper carrying the SEAL team and wondered if it was one of the new style that was almost totally silent. We sat for about twenty minutes then came a knocking at the door. I almost shot out of reaction to the noise.
"Harry, it's me and the house and grounds are clear. You and Sandra can come out if you wish. We moved the body in the hall so there's nothing to see."
I recognized the directors voice but for some unknown reason I still hesitated. Then I called his number on the cell and heard the ring in the hall. He answered and said he wasn't being coerced and it was all clear. I went to the door and he was standing there with two fully battle dressed men with camouflage paint on their faces. I recognized the weapons and patch on their flack jackets as soon as I laid eyes on them. I motioned them to go ahead of us and followed them down the stairs with the fifty still in my hand. The rest of the team was spread in a circle at the foot of the steps so I walked to the nearest chair and sat down. Sandra was standing behind the chair as we had practiced so many times on the island.
"Now somebody want to tell me how they got on to us so quick?"
"I'll be damned if I know Harry, but this has already cost too many lives. Have you figured out what the hell's going on because I sure as hell haven't?"
"Do you have a witness in protective custody with his daughter by the name of Barry Hansom?"
"Not that I'm aware of but let me check."
He got on his cell and made several calls and the color drained out of his face as he listened to whoever he was presently talking to. He asked a couple of questions then hung up the phone with a look of puzzlement on his face.
"How did you know, Harry? He and his daughter are testifying in front of the grand jury in the morning. You mean all of this has been a case of mistaken identity?"
"I'm afraid so Director. The dummy in the hall tipped me off when he couldn't seem to quit calling me Barry and Sandra Kathy. He said the bounty just got raised again about an hour ago. Now if it was me, I would get his cell or try to find out who put the hit out. I have a feeling it's someone in the prosecutor's office because he knew too damn much for it to be anyone else. I don't know what it's all about but it has cost too many innocent lives already. Did they take down Chuck and the others?"
"Yes, I'm afraid they did, even the cook who wasn't even part of the team. Dammit, I just lost a good friend and you can bet there is going to be hell to pay over this. Harry, this is Lt. Spears and he and his team are your ghosts for the rest of the night or until I deem it safe enough to release them. You will be in charge but he has almost as much experience in this stuff as you so I would listen to his suggestions if it were me. I have a team coming in to clean up the mess and again, you and Sandra will be moved tonight. I'm sorry but I don't know what else to do until I can get all this unscrambled. They have a chopper outside for you so if you have anything you need to take with you, better grab it. The ride will be a short one and I promise a hot meal will be waiting when you get there. I have to go and you have my number. I'm sorry about all of this, Harry, and if I had known I wouldn't have brought you into Florida when you came back. Sean is doing fine and is awake and giving the doctors hell because they won't let him get up and walk around."
We both got a good laugh and I felt Sandra squeeze my shoulder at the news. We watched as he left and then the Lt. came over and asked if we were ready to go. We were loaded into a helicopter that was whisper quiet as we took off. I was watching as we flew toward the glades and then it hit me where we were going. I turned to the Lt. and he was grinning at me.
I smiled back and asked if we were going to the sinkhole and when had it reopened. He looked at me in shock and laughed before answering my question.
"Man if you remember that place then you must be old school. We been training there for the last five years. How's come you know about it Mr. Hanson?"
"I was an instructor there for the Army when we were training Vietnamese Army Officers on the advanced tactical radar that was used in the Huey gun ships. I spent a lot of time getting ate by mosquitoes there. We used to rotate in and out on a six month on then six off."
"I remember reading the names of the instructors there on the inside of the old NCO quarters before we tore it down. That was a long time ago Mr. Hanson."
"Yea LT, longer than I care to admit."
He just grinned at me as I felt the chopper feathering out to land. There were no lights on anywhere and then I realized they all now had night vision goggles on. We were escorted into what must have been the chow hall because the smells were making my mouth water. We went through one door and then through another into a brightly lit dining room. They were under complete blackout conditions here like we always were.
"Mr. Hanson, I think you will be safe here until I can get my team showered. Then we will join you for a late supper. Young lady, I think I have a set of fatigues that will fit you if you want them."
"Gee sir, that would be great. I would love to wear them instead of these shorts."
He smiled as he went out and we went to the counter. I got a cup of coffee and Sandra was offered a Pepsi by the cook who came out to see what was going on. When he saw Sandra he did a double take. He had a big smile on his face as he came over to us and brought her the Pepsi.
"Sorry ma'am, we only have Pepsi for female officers. I didn't know these swabbies allowed women into their private little training ground. It's good to see a pretty face around here for a change."
I was smiling at his sense of humor and Sandra was giggling at his words. I had noticed despite all the violence of the last couple of days, she was relaxed and not defensive around strangers like she was when we first went to the island. I personally was happy she was starting to smile and act more like her age instead of a miniature adult like she was when she first found me. She still had her temper though as I had seen it at the hospital. All in all I was very proud of her. She had rubbed off on me too as I seemed to have more patience than I remembered. She and the cook were joking back and forth and he was telling her if these swabbies gave her any problems to just look them in the eye and say "Semper Fi", Navy. I lost it at that point and was laughing up a storm at the looks of surprise I got from both of them. I started to explain why I was laughing when the SEAL team came in dressed in full uniforms. I just looked at them in shock as did the Marine cook. He looked at me in total shock as they came over to the table where Sandra was sitting and they all came to attention in front of her.
"Sandra Hanson, by acclamation of the men in SEAL Team Three we hereby adopt you as an honorary SEAL with all the customary ideals of SEAL Team Three. You will be addressed as Chief and be treated as such with the rank we have given you. Here are your uniforms and we all would be proud if you accepted the honor to become one of us."
They all saluted and held it for five seconds and dropped hands still at attention. Sandra looked at them with wide eyes and then looked at me for guidance as to what she should do.
"Honey, this is a great honor they are offering you. The decision is yours to make."
"I won't lose you will I grandpa? I mean, I won't have to stay here and train or leave your side if I do this, will I?"
"No honey you won't lose me but this is a serious decision you are making. These men are some of the best of the best of our armed forces, and they are offering you something that is rarely offered to anyone. The decision will have to be yours, Sandra, but I think your mother would be proud of you if you accepted it."
We all waited to see what she would do. She looked at me again and then at the men in front of her. She stood slowly and to my surprise threw them a perfect textbook salute while standing at attention she held it. The Lt. returned it then all them started laughing and coming to her to hug her and congratulate her for becoming a SEAL and a member of their unit. Even the cook came to her and hugged her congratulating her on her appointment. They told her where the head was and she asked what a head was and when it was explained to her, she got a little red in the face. I laughed and got a dirty look for doing so from all the men and my granddaughter. She marched to where they had pointed and went in. One of the team stood outside the door at parade rest until she came back out. I saw the door open but couldn't see her as he had her stay behind him as they came back to the table where we were all sitting. He turned around and I could see he was making a few adjustments then he turned back around and in a loud voice said to all the men sitting at the table.
"May I present our newest team mate, Chief Hanson!" He stepped aside, and even I was shocked at the picture before me. She was dressed in jungle fatigues that looked like they were made for her. They were tailored perfectly and her rank was pinned to her collar tabs in regulation black. She had the boots to match and looked like a miniature female soldier. I was in shock and wondered how they had come up with all of this in such a short time. The uniform and boots made the picture complete and dammit, I didn't have any kind of camera to take a picture. I didn't have to worry as several of the team got out small digital cameras and were taking shots of her with each other. I just shook my head in wonder at how happy she seemed to be with these men. She was joking and cutting up like she had known them for years. The Lt. came over and sat next to me and started to tell me how they had made all this happen.
"I can see by your expression you shocked with all of this Mr. Hanson. We got a shipment of fatigues in last week that were to go to some third world country and they were for some reason all children's sizes. Imagine our surprise when we found out our new jungle boots were all in children's sizes too. I personally think she looks great. My men came up with the idea after seeing what happened at the house. I helped move that body in the hall and you hit him dead center through a wall by sound. I realized then we weren't dealing with ordinary people. Your comment about this base tells me that you had to have been in Special Forces or you wouldn't have known about this place. Several of my team have children and have been away from them for too long on this deployment. I hope this is all ok with you."
"LT, I am as proud of her as any parent would be. After what she has been through today it's good to see her laughing and having a good time. If this helps the morale of your team then by all means let them have their fun. It will do them all good in the long run. I do want a few of those pictures and one with the whole team and her. I will give you my email address and you can send them to me there. I will have them blown up so she can hang them on her wall in her room. Make sure you have the men sign at least one picture before we leave here tomorrow so she can carry it with her. From now on just call me Harry, will you?"
"Well Harry all of that can be arranged I'm sure. My name with the team is Butter and please don't ask how I got that one. My armorer wants me to ask you if he can get his hands on that fifty of yours for a couple of hours. I promise when he is done with it you won't have another that will match it. He is a wonder with weapons of all kinds. I noticed you are wearing double shoulder holsters and a back holster. Can I ask you what they are? I have never seen weapons like the two in your shoulder holsters. They look familiar but the profile is all wrong to me. No, I am not trying to disarm you but my hobby is handguns and they are driving me nuts."
I pulled one of the Walthers out and unloaded it before handing it to him. He looked at it then broke it down looking at the inside and how it was set up. He had a stumped look on his face when he did this but all of a sudden he started smiling as he put it back together and handed it back to me. I broke it down and double checked to make sure the mainspring was there and put it back together, loading it as I did. I reholstered and looked at him, waiting to see what he would say at my actions.
I woke the next morning in the chair still gripping the beer bottle in my hand. The sun was barely up but I was wide awake. I set the coffee to brewing and went to the shower, and then I grabbed a shave. I almost passed on doing it 'till I remembered the lunch meeting I had today. I went to the kitchen and marveled about how silent the house was, because I could see all kinds of birds in the trees and even a few crows on the ground in front of the cabin. Man this was great, no crow opera in...
I sat in the captain's office for almost fifteen minutes before Sergeant Chapel showed up to get his keys and when he did, his attitude immediately pissed me off. "I am looking for the ass who ran my relief from the cage and took the keys." "That would be me and if you value your job you better tone it down and do it fast. From now on, you don't leave the cage unless you have a relief and the relief is a deputy. If that don't suit you, then tender your resignation. The attitude will...
I had gotten almost to the garage when I remembered that my unit had no call sign, and I had forgotten to tell Andy how many keys I wanted for each lock change. I did a U-turn and headed back to the department. I came through the front door and there was not a soul in sight. I heard the sound of raised voices coming from Andy's office and headed that way. The sight that greeted my eyes was an impromptu meeting of about all the civilian employees with a few uniforms mixed in. I listened in...
I was headed to Mick's house and listening to the patrol radio and it was dead. There was no traffic to speak of and I wondered how many of the deputies were patrolling, and how many were shooting the breeze at some store or snoozing. It didn't take me long to get to Mick's house and to my surprise it was a small cottage surrounded by flowerbeds. I got out and walked up to the door and knocked loudly. It was answered by a gray-haired lady and she greeted me by name and asked me to come...
I was making good headway with all the junk in the desk and most of it was junk. I found a new NRC code book and set it aside to read and memorize. I also found a little notebook that listed all the payments received from the businesses in town. Thumbing through it, I found the gun shop payoffs and I had to admit they were quite substantial. I set it aside and finished out the cubbyholes in the right side and started on the left. I remembered the cabin and decided to call Shorty and see if he...
When the guys went out, I sat back to think for a little bit. I was realistic and knew I had seventy two hours at the most before I would find out if I was going to be hassled by any of the names on the list in the books. I was going to Reno tonight and make some copies and send the original copy to Floyd and tell him to cover my ass from his end. He was connected and high in the family and a good friend. I had other dealings with him and he always covered me ten ways from Sunday. I knew he...
"Hey Harry, you daydreaming or something? Did you find out if there were any prints on that stuff?" "Yea Shorty, I did and your not gonna believe whose they are. I find it hard to believe that they would have the gall to even attempt it, let alone act on it. The first recorder I found had Pinky's fingerprints on it. The one you found had the intake clerk's prints all over it. I think we better call Andy in with the prosecutor then we will all meet with Pinky and see why he did this....
We made it back to the station and I quickly ducked into my office, hoping I wouldn't hear more about my love life and Tran. I had just got settled in the chair when Shorty came in with one of the Lieutenants on the list and told him why we were letting him go. He didn't seem upset and explained that he had been expecting it with the new leadership. He was pleasant about it and wanted to know if we would give him a good report when he applied to one of the casinos. I told him I would and...
We went back out into the showroom and the clerk was still on the floor with the young deputy standing over him. "Grab your partner and book him for assault on an officer. Have them hold him for seventy two hours for investigation. Then come back to the station and see me or Shorty for a special assignment. Bring your partner with you." "Yes sir, sheriff!" He yanked the clerk up with little effort and marched him out the front door. I saw him speaking into his radio as he went out. We...
The more I thought about the bust tonight the more little details came to mind that I hadn't discussed with the men. I decided I would call them all in and have an operations meeting before we started. I knew we all had cars and all but two were unmarked. I had to make sure we all had walkies and that they were charged. Mine was sitting on the charger so I knew it was charged. Since Jim and Jerry were new to this type of detail, I wanted them to be in the least danger if it went south on...
I just about had all the notes together for the meeting tonight when my phone rang and I about jumped out of my chair. I picked it and it was Sergeant Abrams on the other end. "Sheriff, I just checked my answering machine and there were several messages on it to call you. Have I done something wrong or did I screw up that murder somehow?" "No, Abrams, you haven't screwed up or anything like that. I wanted to know if you wanted some overtime and to help work on a special operation...
I got the milling troopers attention, and asked if their supervisor was there yet? I was told he was on his way and would be there in a few minutes. I watched as still another State Trooper unit pulled up and it was a Sergeant who got out of the car. I called him to the side to speak in private. "Trooper get most of these men of yours out of here. They are tramping over my crime scene and interfering in my investigation." "Now look sheriff, I think this should be a combined bust and...
I took a shower in the bath off of the bedroom and to my surprise, found a cupboard full of towels and other stuff. I found new razors and shave cream, and toothbrushes still in their original packages. I felt like a new man by the time I was finished. I went back out to my office and all the men were already gathered waiting on me. I noticed that Kit's boy was there and was joking with Beau and Shorty. He was built like a football player and sure looked older than his thirteen years. I sat...
Shorty spoke up and ended my thought process. "Harry, this stuff is so far beyond us I hate to think about it. I know a lot of the names on this list, and let me tell you, they will do anything to keep this from coming out for public consumption. I think we need to get that smart ass FBI agent back here with his team and turn it all over to him." "I am going to call my friend in Homeland Security and see if he can't get that ATF team in here tonight. Let me get on the phone with him...
I followed the guys out and watched as they put the mines in the trunk of the car. I told Bob to drive them back to the department and then to take time to eat before coming back. I had to wait for the team to move the bodies and for the refrigerated truck. I was hoping against hope there was maybe only a couple of bodies in the house but I guess deep inside I knew I would be wrong. I had smelled that type of decay before and this was stronger than I had ever smelled. I knew that there would...
I sat until the girl's movie went off and they came out to get me to help tuck them in bed. I made a big production out of it as I always did. I went back to the kitchen and set the coffee pot up for the morning. I remembered my favorite go cup was still in my unit and went to get it. I found it on the floor with a bullet hole through the center of it. To say it was ruined would be an understatement. Now that pissed me of because I had used it for years and it was the only one I had ever...
We went back to the station and I called all the remaining men into the office. I closed the door and told Shorty and Beau to check the office. They started checking and when Bob saw what they were doing he told them to leave it to him. He dug into the bag at his feet and pulled out a small box which he flipped the switch on and it started beeping. I recognized it immediately as a modern sniffer and knew it had only been out for federal use for a year. I watched as he went around the office...
I woke up and there was a beautiful oriental woman sitting in the chair next to my bed. Damn, it was Tran. What the hell was she doing here and in my room? When she saw my eyes open she ran out of the room. I looked around and realized I was in a hospital. Damn but my head hurt. Within a few minutes, two little girls came running in and climbed into my bed with me, and I got all kinds of hugs and kisses from them. Now this was the kind of healing I could get used to. "Uncle Harry, you look...
I sat and sipped my coffee with Tran and the young deputy. She was laughing and kidding around with him as we sat in the lobby. I finally decided I was tired enough to go back to my room and lay down. We all three walked back and the deputy took his station outside of the door and I crawled back into bed. That little bit of exercise had taken more out of me than I ever thought it would have. I was almost asleep when Tran kissed me goodnight. I remember smiling but nothing after that. I woke...
Tran came in wearing jeans and a sweat shirt. She was carrying a small bag and had a paper bag from the drug store. She handed me an ibuprofen and refilled my coffee cup so I could have fresh hot coffee. I had to admit, being home I felt a lot better and my head wasn't hurting. Mark came back in and sat down, sipping his coffee. You would think we were at a wake the way they both were looking at me. "All right you two. What's up?" Mark laughed and looked at Tran and she nodded her head...
"Technically I am not allowed to let you go to work, but since you have all the other commissions and your federal carry permit, I don't see the harm in letting you nose around a little to see what you can find out." "I want to pick up my marked unit from the motor pool and I want someone to call State and find out where the hell is my M-16 they were supposed to return to me two months ago. In one of the units is some chain and locks for my gates and extra mags for my 16. I don't...
I decided I would call Tran from the cabin and explain why I wasn't coming over. I had a few hours of daylight left and I wanted to get the chains on the gates and put the signs up that I had ordered. I got her on the phone and she sounded like she was out of breath. When I asked her about it she informed me she was playing twister with the girls and losing badly. I had to laugh at the picture of a grown woman of our age trying to get into some of the different positions required for the...
I watched as the Trooper pulled up next to Mark's unit and shut it off. I saw who it was immediately and wondered what he wanted. He nodded at Mark, looked at the girls and came straight to me. "Hey Harry. I see you're back at it again. Can't you ever stay out of trouble or at least till your healed?" "What are you doing here? I hadn't heard the State was called in on this." He looked at me and busted up laughing. I just looked at him like he was nuts. "You really don't know do...
I was sitting drinking my first cup when it hit me. I hadn't called Tran to see if she liked the little car. If for some reason Doris hadn't delivered it, I was going to give the whole surprise away. I decided I would wait till I got done with the governor's big press conference. I got my go cup and locked the cabin, set the alarm, and cranked my unit. Yes, I checked it first, and since I had the other problem, Doris had made a few changes to protect me from it happening again. I turned...
I went down in the hole one step at a time, shining the light ahead of me as I went. I noticed dust along the sides of the ramp and grabbed a handful as I went. I was walking and throwing it ahead of me as I walked. I wasn't taking any chances of there being a floor ankle height laser system. If there was, the dust would show it and keep me from breaking the light. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble setting this all up. The ramp had a slight curve to it and came out in the middle of a huge...
I walked back outside and Bob was sitting on a milk carton, holding his head in his hands. I didn't say anything to him, just headed out front to see who else had showed up. Beau was sitting on a chair blocking the doorway as I came up behind him. "Harry, there have to be about thirty feds from a half a dozen departments out there and they all want in. I sure don't envy you your job today. Mark told them all that you were running the investigation and they would have to talk to you. Have...
We made it out of the cave ok, but I noticed that Bob was still talking on his cell to someone. I followed Preacher out the front door. I handed the blocks of explosive off to one of his men, and went to my unit. I immediately locked the folder and book up in the lockbox in the back of my unit. I went over to Mark and the man standing beside him and introduced myself. "I am Steve Johnson from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. From what the sheriff has told me you are in charge...
I went back out to the main part of the casino and into the office to give Butch his gun back. I noticed that there was a Coroner there with him. I handed him back his gun and arched my eyes at him in question. "This is the State Coroner, Harry. Since Porter County doesn't have one assigned yet I called ours in. I will make sure your Glock is returned to you personally. I think we have destroyed one too many of your guns. As soon as the Coroner is done, you're back in business. We turned...
Before we got back to the casino, I turned in the seat and told Butch what I wanted him to do in relation to the illegals. "Butch, I am turning over the search operation to you to run. I want that warehouse found and help given to those poor women and girls. If anyone gives you any shit, call me on my cell and if you need warrants then you will have them. I will put the prosecutor on notice and he will be ready for your call. I have the bus filled with bottles of water coming and if you...
I was still thinking about all that went on in the Chief's office as I drove back to Porter. I went directly to the motor pool to pick up my unit. I parked my Jeep in front again and went inside. Several of the mechanics waved as I walked through the shop. I went up the steps and went into the office, grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down for a minute. "That was quick Harry. Are you ok? Here are your keys and your unit is in the wash bay. I am going to put your name on the floor so you will...
I watched as the SWAT team gathered up the prisoner along with their own wounded. They wasted no time getting them all loaded on the chopper and flying out. I watched as Preacher's Huey landed in the front yard of the smoking house. His team climbed down and came over to us. "Preacher, I want this whole front area cleared of any booby traps. I am not going to let those women out of there until I know it's clear. I also want your pilot to go back and get loaded with the bottles of water...
I made sure I met Hadley at the coffee pot as he came up to the feeding area. "Harry, if I didn't have a family to support I would spend the rest of my life looking for the people that could do this to children. This is one time that I need to go home and hug my kids and my wife. If she saw this, she would be in the hospital with shock. Do you have any idea at all who is shipping these kids to this part of the country?" "I haven't had a chance to go through all the papers I confiscated...
My God! I still couldn't believe I had found my granddaughter among all these poor children. I was going to have to readjust my whole way of thinking and living. I would have to remember I had to think about someone besides myself for a change. The shock of my daughter's death still hadn't set in yet, but I knew it would. To die in a filthy hospital leaving her daughter must have been hard on her. I remember how independent and proud she was when she turned 18. I still remember taking her...
I was deep in thought when I heard the phone ringing. I glanced over at Sandra and she was still sound asleep with a smile on her face. I glanced at the caller ID and it was Mark's cell so I picked it up. "Harry, I am at the office with a supervisor from the INS. He wants that girl you took from the valley. He is having a fit because you kidnapped her, as he put it. He is threatening to have you arrested by his people if you don't bring her in. What do you want me to do?" "You tell him...
I was sitting and looking out the window when Sandra came back into the room. "Grandpa, do you have a small step ladder I can use to finish what I am doing in my room?" "Let me look in the shed, sweetie. I will be right back." I went to the garage, found a small step ladder and carried it back inside and gave it to her. She thanked me and headed back to her room. I was wondering what she needed that for when the phone rang again. I saw by the caller ID it was the State Police so I went...
We were to be really surprised at the girls' condition when I sent Mark to call them for supper. When they showed up in the kitchen, the sight was enough to make a sane man pull his hair out. Dina had a scarf tied around her hair and the only thing it protected was her forehead. Dana was in about the same condition, but she had one side of her face painted white like she lost a battle with a paint roller. Sandra was still looking like she had lost a battle with a paint ball gun. The only...
I dressed in older clothes and went in to wake Sandra. When I shook her and her eyes opened, she smiled at me and said, "Good morning". I turned to leave and the picture was glowing with the sun shining on it. It took me a few minutes to realize she had used some kind of glitter mixed in some of the colors. Talk about a heart stopper. I went down stairs and got my first cup of coffee and sat and thought about it. I still couldn't believe she was so skillful with the way she had put the...
I don't know how long we sat there in silence, but Jimmy came in and addressed me. "Sheriff, Sis sent me in to get you. We found something she thinks you ought to see." He went back out the door before I could give him any answer. I looked at Doris and she was smiling. Jeesh, I could see right now she wasn't going to be any help when it came to those two keeping me running. I went outside and everyone was looking in bay 2, and as I walked over to see what was going on Sandra looked at...
Dammit, here I was in the middle of the old sheriff's greed again. I wondered how much more contraband we were going to find. He still had several properties we hadn't even looked at yet. Well, this time I wasn't going to take any chances. I was going to delegate, and go home to be with my granddaughter. I turned to Charlie and made my intentions clear. "I am turning this over to you, Charlie. I have a scared granddaughter at home and we just got back together. You know what has to be...
"Come on you two, I have somewhere I have to go before five. Jimmy, throw your moped in the back of my unit." He picked it up like it weighed ten pounds and sat it on top of the gun box in back. He grabbed what Sandra called his lunch box, but to me it looked like a small satchel packed too full. Jimmy got in the back and buckled up then Sandra did the same in the front. We went down the drive, and Sandra remarked to Jimmy that this was better than him carrying his moped, her, and his...
I was right. Doris gave me hell about spending that much money on someone I didn't even know. I didn't say anything until we pulled up in front of the steakhouse they had chosen to eat at. I turned in the seat so I could face Doris and still be able to see Sandra and Jimmy as I spoke. She opened her mouth to say something and I just held up my hand for silence. "You been giving me hell since I left the music store. This time you shut your mouth and let me speak. I bought the pair of...
She was still laughing as we got in the house. I went to the kitchen and got a pot of coffee brewing and she grabbed a glass of orange juice. We sat down at the table and sipped our drinks. "I think I am going to fly to Columbus on Monday. I want to get those papers from that box. It's time for me to get some things done that need to be done. Those papers had to be checked by an attorney and certified as your mother's handwriting." "If you think I am going to stay behind then we need...
The rest of the night went by smoothly and we got the girls to bed without anymore mention of the coming dinner. I set the coffee pot and the alarm and fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow. I woke up about fifteen minutes before the alarm went off. I made the trip to the kitchen and turned the pot on and went back to get my shower. I made sure to wear jeans and hiking boots today as we were going back to the motor pool again to try to finish up as much as we could before the...
I locked my unit into four-wheel drive and eased down the hill to the cabin. Looking in the rear view I noticed Mark had waited till I was almost half way down before he started after me. I pulled up to the back of the cabin and parked behind the VW and of course Sandra had to remark on it. "That little car is beautiful, Grandpa. Who does it belong to? I like the picture of the dragon protecting her eggs." "It belongs to Tran, the girls' baby sitter. I thought it was pretty too, and...
I listened to the kids laughing in glee at every musical instrument they found. To put it mildly, I was bored to death. I had watched the kids bounce in and out of the bay for the last hour. I just wished I had their energy. I was about to doze off when Sandra came over to me with Jimmy right behind her. She was holding a hard case that looked like it was for a guitar. "Grandpa, I found what I was looking for. I found a left handed guitar and a mandolin. I want you to buy them so I can...
I got my coffee and took a deep breath and headed back outside. Doris called me to the side before I had gone a hundred feet. "Were you able to help those poor people, Harry?" "They are in the process of getting their permits as we speak. How are the kids doing with the bays?" "We got lucky on one of them. There were two portable sawmills in it and they both were on wheels. They have already been loaded on one of the trailers and headed for the gulch. I am having all the stuff for...
When I got back to town, I went by the shop. The gate was closed and locked, so I headed for Doris and Jimmy's house. I pulled up in front and honked the horn. Sandra came running out and climbed into my unit. "Hey, Grandpa, I see you made it back in time to go to dinner. I think we're all going to enjoy this evening. I know I'm looking forward to it." "I think I am too, sweetie. By the time we get back to the cabin, Mark and the girls should be there. Do you think Dina will have a...
I went walking around the area looking for the kids. I finally found them playing a game, trying to win a big teddy bear. Sandra was cheering him on, trying to get a yellow bear. "Grandpa, Jimmy won me a big bear. I'm going to keep it in my room on the end of the bed. What are we going to do this afternoon, Grandpa?" "I don't know, Sandra, I think we will just go home and relax. Maybe you and Jimmy can practice your music awhile? I don't know about you, but it's going to be a long...
We left the room and went down to the front desk and made arrangements to pick the car up out front. When we climbed in the car, I made sure we were buckled up. We headed for the freeway to go to Eastland Mall. When we got to the mall, the lot was packed full of cars. "Looks like we got a long way to walk honey." After walking for what seemed like 15 minutes we finally made it inside. I let her lead the way and just followed along. After about two hours of window shopping, I was totally...
When we got out to the kitchen, the women were setting the table for dinner. "Ok Harry, since you and Bill have had your man talk, I think it's time for you to catch the rest of us peons up on what you have been doing for the last ten years. Linda has already told me you would be here for her graduation so I won't have to nag you about that." I spent the next hour catching them up on my life. They must have asked a hundred questions before the meal was over. We went into the front room...
I woke up with the phone ringing in my ear. It was our wake up call I had left the night before. I roused Sandra and we got ready to go to breakfast. She was half asleep as we sat down at the table. I ordered for us and she ate everything they set in front of her. I had my usual coffee but with what I knew was coming; I just didn't have any appetite. When I saw Sandra smiling and waving at a little girl at the next table, I knew she was awake and in her usual good spirits. "Honey, before...
Here I was sitting on a pristine white beach on my own island, thinking about how we had arrived here. We had flown from Grove City, Ohio to Miami, Florida landing at a small airport I had never heard of, even though I was from Florida before I had moved to Nevada. Sandra and I stepped out of the plane inside a small hangar and were met by Sean Hadley of the FBI. He hugged Sandra and shook my hand, telling us both there was food inside the office for us. He followed us in and watched while we...
We had just landed back in Florida when Sean walked into the hangar with a big smile on his face. "What are you so happy about?" "The divers just faxed the pictures of the men who were aboard the boat you guys blew up and guess what?" "Well gee there Sherlock, should I be able to read your mind?" Sandra started giggling and Sean gave her a smile before he got around to answering me. "The lawyer and his client were on that tug, Harry. Needless to say you two should be able to go...
The impromptu concert went on for about another hour with Sandra playing with several different people. The cook came in with refreshments when it was over. Sandra climbed into my lap and promptly fell asleep. I think everyone in the rec room came over and just touched her with smiles on their faces. They all said I was to thank her for all the fun and the great playing she had done all evening. Butter came over and said our room was ready if I wanted to put her to bed. I got up with her in...
We all got loaded up in the Bradleys and left the truck at home. Jimmy was having a ball and he and Sandra were talking a mile a minute as we pulled out. We went down my drive and made the turn to go to Mark's house. The whole time I was thinking about what I was going to say to Tran and the girls. When we pulled into his drive the big gate was open. As I looked out the windshield I saw a man in the tree line. Now who the hell could that be I wondered and immediately the hair went up on the...
I was still sitting in the chair when Tran brought me another coffee. She gave me one of the most sensual looks I had ever seen from any woman and I watched her as she went back in the cabin. She had to know I was looking at her cute little rear because she seemed to put an extra little wiggle in it as she walked. I took a sip of my coffee and burned my lip. I was still muttering under my breath when Sandra came out and sat down in the lap that Tran had just vacated. "Grandpa, I have been...
When I got to the end of my driveway, I decided to call the Seal team at the chemical plant. When I got their Commander on the line and identified myself to him, he said he was expecting my call. I asked him if he could put someone up on one of the tallest buildings there with binoculars to keep an eye on my cabin. He said it had already been done as they watched out for their own. I had to think for a minute before I realized he was talking about Sandra. Damn, I would never have thought it...
I woke up just before dawn and got dressed without waking Tran by some miracle. I put the shoulder holsters on and the fifty on my belt. I put the extra mags in the vest I was wearing. I had bought it at a gun store and it was made fuller for the shoulder holsters. It had many inside pockets that fit all the mags perfectly. I went down to the kitchen and opened the shelter. I quickly got out several of the sixteens and about a dozen mags for each of them. I hid them around the house, up high...