Chapter 195

Louis stared at the road ahead. The two-lane road was too narrow for the RV. Two SUVs took the lead, clearing the way with their flashing lights. The other two stayed behind, shielding them from Olivia.

Willa sighed. “We are not discreet.”

“No, we are not,” Angelique said. “We are an army.”

Louis looked at the screen showing Maeve’s view. Their truck was miles ahead. “We need a better plan for when we get there.”

“We will find a place out of sight. Then we’ll use the drone,” Willa said. “Get a full picture of the compound.”

“We need to decide how to get in,” Savannah said.

“I wonder how many guards they have,” Gladice said. “And what kind of weapons.”

“And how many girls.” Donya looked around.

“We will find out soon,” Angelique said.

Louis sighed and focused himself on Maeve’s feed. She kept her eyes on the road ahead of the truck. The scenery had changed from forest to a town. A welcome sign on the side of the road said: Welcome to West Yellowstone!

“Is this it?” Maeve asked, looking at the sign.

“Not yet,” Dave said. “This is just the town.”

“It looks nice,” Maeve said, looking at the buildings. “Lots of tourists.”

“It’s a tourist trap,” Dave said. “Full of gift shops and restaurants. Nothing real.”

“What’s real then?” Maeve asked.

“The wilderness,” Dave said.

“Right,” Maeve said, looking at the road. “Are we going to make a stop here? For gas? Or food?”

“No,” Dave said. “We’re already late. Hank wants us to get there as soon as possible.”

“What’s the rush?” Maeve asked. “The beef is refrigerated, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Dave said. “But it’s still a delivery. And we have a schedule.”

Maeve sighed. “Fine.” She looked at the road. “I was looking to buy some souvenirs. It’s my first time here.”

“I bet you say that to every town you visit,” Dave said.

“You’re a funny guy, Dave,” Maeve said. “Almost as funny as Hank.”

“Just shut up and enjoy the view, Mayflower,” Dave said.

“I’m enjoying it, Dave,” Maeve said.

Louis laughed. “I’ll buy you a nice souvenir, Mae-Mae.”

“I want a T-shirt with a bear on it,” Maeve said. “And a beer mug.”

“Deal,” Louis said.

Dave glanced at her. “I said shut up, Mayflower.”

“And I said I want a T-shirt and a beer mug,” Maeve said.

Dave shook his head and kept driving. Louis spoke through the comms. “Captain, we will make a brief stop at West Yellowstone. Let the men have a bathroom break. And buy what Mae-Mae wants.”

“Copy that, sir,” Yamamoto said. “I’ll make sure they get the best T-shirts and beer mugs.”

“Thank you, Captain,” Louis said.

The convoy drove through the town and parked in front of a large gift shop called “Grizzly Gifts.” Two guards got out of one SUV and went into the shop. The others stayed in their vehicles. Olivia’s car parked across the street.

“She’s really persistent,” Savannah said, looking at the car.

“She’s doing her job,” Angelique said. “Just like us.”

“I wonder how much she gets paid,” Gladice said. “Probably not enough to follow us around all day.”

“I’m sure she’s well compensated,” Willa said. “The UIS is not a charity.”

“Neither are we,” Savannah said, winking at Louis.

Louis smiled and looked at the screen. The truck had left the town. Dave kept driving. The radio crackled.

“Dave, this is Hank. Do you copy?”

Dave grabbed the receiver. “I copy, Hank.”

“Where are you?” Hank asked.

“Just passed West Yellowstone,” Dave said.

“Good,” Hank said. “How’s the truck?”

“She’s running, Hank,” Dave said. “For now.”

“Maggie with you?” Hank asked.

“She’s here, Hank,” Dave said, looking at Maeve. “Eating a candy bar.”

Maeve took a bite of the candy bar.

“Good,” Hank said. “Listen to me, Dave. And to you, Maggie. There’s a change of plans. The delivery is not going to the ranch. It’s going to a different location. A new place.”

Maeve raised her voice. “What?! Why?”

“Don’t ask why, Mayflower,” Hank said. “Just do your job. There’s been some complications at the ranch. They need the delivery somewhere else.”

“Where?” Dave asked.

“Not over the radio,” Hank said. “I’ll text you the coordinates. Be careful. Don’t be followed. And don’t talk to anyone. Got it?”

“Got it, Hank,” Dave said.

“And Maggie,” Hank said. “Don’t cause any trouble. Or you’ll regret it.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Hank,” Maeve said. “I’m looking forward to my steak.”

“I’m sure you are,” Hank said, and the radio went silent.

“Fuck,” Louis said, looking at the screen. “What does that mean?”

“It means something’s happened at the farm,” Angelique said, her face grim. “They’re moving.”

“Maybe our presence spooked them,” Donya said. “Or the police. Or the UIS.”

“Or the Common Roots are getting rid of the evidence,” Savannah said. “Just like what they did in Portland.”

“We have to get to her, Louis,” Willa said, her fingers flying on her laptop. “Now.”

“I’m on it,” Louis said. “Captain, we’re moving. Now. Follow Maeve’s tracker.”

“Copy that, sir,” Yamamoto said. The guards ran out of the gift shop carrying bags. They quickly got into the SUVs and the convoy started moving, the engines roaring.

Louis looked at Angelique. “What do you think the new coordinate will be?”

“I don’t know,” Angelique said. “But I suspect it’s a warehouse or a distribution center. Somewhere far from the farm.”

“Somewhere we can’t get to them easily,” Savannah added.

“We need to get Dave,” Louis said.

“How?” Willa asked. “The truck is miles ahead. And he’s not going to pull over for us.”

“By capturing him,” Louis said. “And taking the truck.”

“He won’t go down without a fight,” Savannah said.

“He won’t have a choice,” Louis said. “We need to disable the radio first. So he can’t call for backup.”

Maeve leaned over to Dave’s side. “I think I see a loose wire.”

“Leave it alone, Mayflower,” Dave said, glaring at her.

“Just want to make sure the truck is in good shape, Dave,” Maeve said. “Do you want us to be stranded in the middle of nowhere?”

Dave grunted. “Fine.”

Maeve found the wire behind the dashboard. She took out a pair of pliers and snipped it. The radio went dead.

“What the fuck did you do?” Dave yelled, swerving the truck.

“I fixed the problem, Dave,” Maeve said, her voice calm. “There was a short circuit.”

“A short circuit my ass,” Dave said, pulling over to the side of the road. “You cut the wire.” He pulled out a pistol from his jacket and pointed it at her. “Why did you do that?”

Maeve raised her chin toward Dave’s seat, where a grenade had rolled out, the pin in her lap. “You really want to find out?”

Dave stared at the grenade for a second. Then he dropped the pistol, opened the door and jumped out. Maeve had already opened her door and jumped to the ditch beside the road. She dropped to the ground as the truck’s cab exploded. The blast overloaded Maeve’s microphone, and a burst of high-pitched static screamed through the comms.

“Maeve!” Louis yelled, watching the screen.

“Alive! I’m alive!” Maeve said, already up and taking out her pistol. She looked at the road. Dave was getting up from the ground, coughing. Maeve pointed her pistol at him.

“Don’t move!” she said.

Dave raised his hands. “Don’t shoot!”

“Stay where you are,” Maeve said, walking over to him. “And don’t try anything funny.”

“Okay,” Dave said. “Okay.”

Louis spoke through the comms. “Maeve, are you hurt?”

“Just a few scratches,” Maeve said. “And a ringing in my ears. Otherwise, I’m fine.”

“Stay down,” Louis said. “We’re coming. How long will it take for the convoy to get there, Captain?”

“Ten minutes, sir,” Yamamoto’s voice came through. “We are moving as fast as we can.”

“What just happened?” Cherish asked, her face pale.

“She blew up the truck,” Savannah said, her eyes wide. “Fucking hell. That’s our Mae-Mae.”

“We need to stop Olivia’s car,” Angelique said. “We just blew up a truck. We can’t let her call it in.”

“I’m on it,” Petrov’s voice came through. “We’ll stop her with the SUV.”

“Do it,” Louis said. He looked at the back camera of the RV. An SUV swerved and blocked the road, stopping Olivia’s car. Two guards got out and walked to her car. Louis looked back at the laptop. Maeve had her pistol pointed at Dave’s chest. The truck was on fire. Part of the refrigerated trailer had been damaged, and some packages of frozen meat were strewn across the road.

“Who the fuck are you?” Dave asked, his hands up. “You’re not a mechanic.”

“No, I’m not,” Maeve said, pulling off her mask. “I’m Maeve Fyres. And I’m here for Brother John.”

Dave’s eyes widened. “I don’t know any Brother John.”

Louis said through the comms. “Take him to the ditch, Mae-Mae. We will be there soon. Don’t kill him yet.”

“Sure thing, boss,” Maeve said. “Move. And don’t try to run. Or I’ll shoot you in the leg.”

Dave moved. Maeve followed him. She looked at the road. “Hurry up, Louis. A car’s coming.”

“We are five minutes away,” Yamamoto’s voice said through the comms. “Stay low, Miss Fyres.”

“I’m always low, Captain,” Maeve said, pushing Dave into the ditch.

A blue sedan came around the corner and stopped behind the burning truck. A woman got out and looked at the scene. She pulled out her phone.

“Don’t do that,” Maeve said, pointing her pistol at her.

The woman looked at Maeve, then at the burning truck, and then at Dave. She dropped the phone and got back in the car, her hands shaking. The sedan turned around and sped away.

“That’s better,” Maeve said, keeping her pistol on Dave.

Dave looked at her. “You’re making a big mistake, lady. You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

“I have a pretty good idea, Dave,” Maeve said. “Now shut the fuck up and get on the ground. Or I’ll shoot your balls off.”

Dave got on the ground, face down. Maeve put her foot on his back.

The convoy arrived. The SUVs blocked the road, their lights flashing. The RV parked behind them. Louis got out with Angelique and the others. The guards spread out, securing the area. Louis looked at the burning truck, then at Maeve. She was standing over Dave, her pistol pointed at his head.

“Mae-Mae!” he shouted, running to her.

“I’m fine, Louis,” she said, not taking her eyes off Dave. “This bastard knows something.” Two guards approached Dave with zip ties. They pulled him to his feet and bound his hands behind his back.

“Get him in the SUV,” Louis said. “And get him to talk.”

“Copy that, sir,” one of the guards said, dragging Dave to the SUV.

Louis took Maeve’s hand. “We need to go. Now.”

Maeve nodded. “I know. But what about the woman? She saw my face.”

“That’s her phone, right?” Louis said, pointing to the phone. A guard had already picked it up.

“Yes,” Maeve said. “She dropped it.”

“Good,” Louis said. “Then she doesn’t have any proof.”

“Let’s get back to the RV,” Angelique said. “We have to find the location of the farm.”

They ran back to the RV. The door closed behind them. The guards got into the SUVs. The convoy sped off, leaving the burning truck and the wreckage behind.

“Go take a shower, Mae-Mae,” Louis said.

Maeve nodded and went to the bathroom. Donya followed her. “I’ll help you with the scratches.”

“Thanks, Donya,” Maeve said.

Louis turned to the comms. “Sergeant Petrov, what’s the situation with our tail? Any resistance from Agent Powell?”

“No resistance, sir,” Petrov’s voice came through. “We blocked her car and told her to stay inside. She seemed very confused and angry. We didn’t hurt her.”

“Good,” Louis said. “Stay with her. And don’t let her leave until we’re far away.”

“Copy that, sir.”

“What do we do with the phone?” Willa asked, looking at the device on the table.

“Probably just a passersby,” Louis said. “Take a look if you’re worried. Our priority is to find that farm.”

“Right,” Willa said, taking the phone.

Gladice stood by the window, watching the RV speed through the forest. “I hope Dave talks. I want to know where the girls are.”

“He’ll talk,” Savannah said. “After a little chat with Yamamoto’s men.”

Louis spoke into the comms. “Captain, has Dave talked yet?”

“He’s very quiet, sir,” Yamamoto’s voice said. “We’re trying to persuade him. But he’s a tough one.”

“What’s his full name?” Louis asked.

“David Turner. Age forty-two. From Ashton. No criminal record. A regular driver for Big Sky Beef for the last ten years.”

“Got it. Let me talk to him,” Louis said. “Through the comms.”

“As you wish, sir.”

Louis looked at the screen as Willa switched the feed to the SUV’s interior camera. Dave was sitting between two guards, his hands bound. He looked defiant.

“Dave, this is Louis Collins. Do you know who I am?” Louis asked, his voice calm.

Dave looked at the camera. “I know who you are. A rich punk who thinks he can do whatever he wants.”

“Not can, Dave. I do whatever I want,” Louis said. “And what I want right now is to know the location of the farm. You will tell us.”

“I’m not going to tell you anything,” Dave said. “You have no right to hold me. This is kidnapping.”

“Call it whatever you like, Dave,” Louis said. “Your life is now in my hands. So is your family’s.”

Dave’s face tightened. “You leave my family out of this.”

“Then tell me what I want to know, Dave,” Louis said, looking at Dave’s face. “I can be a very generous man. I can make you rich. You and your family can go somewhere far away from here, where no one can ever find you. Or I can make you disappear.”

“Why should I believe you?” Dave asked.

“Because I have a reputation for keeping my promises,” Louis said. “Both good ones and bad ones. Now, you have a choice. A new life with my money. Or a painful death. What’s it gonna be?”

Dave looked at the floor of the SUV. He stayed silent.

“I’m not a patient man, Dave,” Louis said. “You have one minute.”

Dave looked at the camera. “You’re a monster.”

“Fifty-five seconds,” Louis said.

Dave took a breath. “You can’t protect me. They have people everywhere. They will find me.”

Louis laughed. “Who’s they, Dave? The Common Roots? John Denver?”

Dave’s eyes widened. “You know his name?”

“I know more than you think, Dave,” Louis said. “Now, stop wasting my time and tell me where he is.”

“If I tell you, they will kill me,” Dave said.

“You can move to the Dominion with your family under my protection, how does that sound?” Louis said.

“I… I can’t,” Dave said, shaking his head. “They have my brother. He’s in the farm. They told me if I said anything, they would hurt him.”

“We will get him out,” Louis said. “If you cooperate.”

“How can I trust you?” Dave asked.

Louis sighed. “Look, Dave. I know you won’t trust my word. And frankly, I don’t care. But you don’t have a choice right now.”

Louis turned to Willa. “Find out who Dave’s brother is.”

Willa already had her hands on the laptop. “I’m on it.”

Dave looked at the camera. “What are you going to do to him?”

“We are going to get him out of there,” Louis said. “If he’s alive. If you tell us where the farm is.”

“He’s alive,” Dave said. “He’s a guard. He doesn’t like the job. But he’s stuck.”

“Give us the location, Dave,” Louis said. “And we will get him out. We will arrange a new life for both of you and your families.”

Dave looked at the guards, then at the camera. He took a deep breath. “Okay,” he said. “But you have to promise me. You have to get him out. You have to protect him and my family.”

“I promise,” Louis said. “Now, talk.”

“It’s in the mountains,” Dave said. “South of here. A few miles from the park border. There’s a dirt road. Hard to see from the main road.”

“What are the coordinates?” Willa asked.

“I don’t know the coordinates,” Dave said. “But I can show you when we get there.”

“We’ll need more than that, Dave,” Angelique said.

“I know the way,” Dave said. “I’ve been there a few times. I can guide you.”

Louis turned off the comms and looked at Willa. “Can we trust him?”

Willa shook her head. “I don’t know. He might be lying.” She turned back to her laptop. “I found his brother. Dan Turner. Age thirty-eight. Also from Ashton. Formerly in the Central Union Army. Retired on medical grounds after a leg injury. No records after that.”

“So he could be a guard,” Savannah said.

“It’s possible,” Willa said. “But we have no way to confirm it.”

“So we go with him,” Louis said. “And we see if he leads us to a trap.”

“I have a bad feeling about this, Louis,” Donya said.

“I know, Donya,” Louis said. “But we don’t have a choice.”

He turned back to the comms. “Captain, we’re following Dave’s lead. I want the drone in the air. And I want a full tactical assessment.”

“Copy that, sir,” Yamamoto said. “Sergeant Zhang is ready. We’ll launch it as soon as we get to the general area.”

“Good,” Louis said.

He walked to the bathroom. Donya and Maeve were inside. Maeve was sitting naked on the edge of the tub, her back to him. Donya was cleaning a scratch on her arm with a cotton ball.

“How’s it going?” Louis asked.

Maeve turned to him. “I’m fine. Just a little sore.”

“You were very brave, Mae-Mae,” Louis said, kneeling in front of her. He took her hand. “I’m proud of you.”

“I’m glad I didn’t die,” Maeve said. “I’m not ready to leave this family.”

“We’re not ready to leave you either,” Louis said. He gently touched her cheek. “We’re going to find the farm. And we’re going to get those girls out.”

“I know,” Maeve said. “And I’m going to kill Brother John.”

“Let’s get him alive, Mae-Mae,” Louis said. “I want to find out who he’s working for. And who else is involved.”

Maeve looked at him. “Fine. But if he tries anything, I’ll shoot him in the balls.”

“You have my permission,” Louis said, smiling. He looked at the scratch on her arm. “Does it hurt?”

“A little,” Maeve said.

“I’ll kiss it and make it better,” Louis said. He leaned in and kissed the scratch. “There. All better.”

Maeve smiled. “You’re a good kisser, Louis.”

“Of course I am,” Louis said. “Now get in the tub and get some rest. You deserve it.”

Maeve nodded and got into the tub. Louis stopped at the doorway. “Mae-Mae.”

She looked at him.

“I bought you a T-shirt and a beer mug,” he said.

Maeve laughed. “You really did?”

“I really did,” Louis said. “You can wear it later.”

“I will,” Maeve said. “Thank you, Louis.”

“You’re welcome, Mae-Mae,” Louis said, and closed the door.

He walked back to the dining room. The others were gathered around the table, watching the screen. Petrov’s voice came over the comms. “Sir, we are leaving Agent Powell’s car. She has called for backup. But we disabled her vehicle’s engine before we left. She won’t be able to follow us for a while.”

“Good work, Sergeant,” Louis said.

Angelique frowned. “This is getting messy.”

“It always is,” Louis said. He looked at the geysers through the window. “Welcome to Yellowstone.”