The three were looking at him intently.
Phillips asked, "Do you think that the four of us on our own can really make a difference?"
"No doubt, at least not in my mind. He put us together because he knew we would jell as a team. We have, and I admit I'm the most surprised. But we work. All of us play an equally important role. In this world, besides my father, I have three trusted friends, and I'm looking at them right now. You three are not just my partners in this, but you have become my family. Trusting someone is the hardest thing in the world for me, but the three of you have earned it, in spades. We will continue this fight, and we will make a difference, a hell of a difference. That is not a promise, it is an absolute vow."
Everyone was dead silent; then slowly, all three nodded.
Starr said, "Marv, that's the most I've ever heard you speak in my life."
"It was more than in my entire senior year of high school."
Phillips spoke up. "I've got more info. I picked up some chatter about an event that will take place in this country on Labor Day. Styles, that confirms your suspicions on the timing. I'm also now convinced that Backersley suspects that 'we' exist. He's got Myra Banks working overtime on investigating not just me but the DPO. She has researched the Indianapolis affair, and it appears she is nosing around our European affairs, and not to beat a dead horse here, but the forehead marks are not helping. It ties us to these acts, and there is no way I can hide that fact."
Styles swore under his breath. "Does she know who we are?"
"Not yet, but she is trying hard to put it together. Whether or not she can connect us to the DPO is a different story. What she may guess and what she can prove are two different things at this point. She has my face on facial recognition. As soon as we act, in the same place I've been seen, it's only a matter of time. I don't know what to do," she said, obviously frustrated.
"For now, we stick to whatever plan we come up with. We'll deal with the CIA after this threat is eliminated," stated Styles emphatically.
"How will we do that?" she asked.
"I don't know yet, but we will deal with them — that I promise you."
She just nodded, not entirely convinced.
Styles had just toweled off from a scalding-hot shower when he heard a knock on his door. Quickly slipping on a pair of black jeans, he opened the door. Starr walked in carrying a bag of takeout food.
"J. C. and I got the cameras planted. Got two covering the parking lot, one on the front door, and one at the cash register."
"Good. If our boy comes in, we should see him and what he's driving. Why don't you three go back there for dinner? I've got something I want to do tonight."
"J. C. and I'll go back, but I think Phillips is glued to her computers. She barely even looked up when I placed her food on the table. Are you going to recon that estate?" Starr said.
"Yeah. If I can, I'll place some cameras — might even try for some mikes. Need to get a layout of their security. See if Phillips can hack into some of the security equipment providers around here and come up with anything. Start with the expensive ones. I've got a feeling this guy will have spared no expense. Don't worry if I'm gone most of the night. There's a lot I want to see before I decide how, and when, to attack. I'll have my ear set in, so you can talk to me if necessary, but keep it to a minimum. If I can't talk, I'll just squelch."
"Gotcha. If this guy comes in, I'd think it'd be a good idea to follow him."
"Agreed. Make sure everybody drives. On the chance that he does show up, be sure you three are out of there before he is, and then set up a standard double. With the comms, it shouldn't be too hard."
"You see anything on the aerial view you find interesting?"
"Yes, a group of cabins at one end of the property. I'm sure that's for the staff and guards. The house itself is on the opposite end with a lot of woods between; a poor setup from a security standpoint."
"Dogs?"
"Didn't see any signs, but I'm taking a tranq gun just in case. Don't want to have to shoot a dog if I can help it."
Starr couldn't help but be amazed at someone who could so easily take a man's life but absolutely shuddered at the thought of having to kill a dog.
"Don't say a fucking word, Starr. You know how I feel about dogs."
"I wasn't going to. I don't disagree."
There was another knock on the door. Starr, closest, went and opened it, allowing Christman and Phillips to enter the room.
Styles asked, "Any more news on this toxic agent?"
"No. President Lamar just went through a long meeting with everybody about everything. Merritt said that the president seems to be handling it surprisingly well. He confirmed that he's not going to make any real changes anytime soon; doesn't want to cause any further disruptions."
"Smart."
"I'd say so."
Starr offered, "J. C. and I are going to that restaurant because Styles wants to go play in the woods."
21
Anyone on a beach on the West Coast of the United States was able to witness a purely stunning sunset. With the sparse cirrus clouds high in the atmosphere, colors of pink and gold were almost neon. Crystal-clear air, which was highly unusual for this time of year, only enhanced the colors.
Marvin Styles noticed none of it.
He had left his motel heading south on Interstate 205 and then got off on State Highway 213. The property he was looking for was about five miles outside the small town of Mulino. He had been able to locate a fire road that was only about two miles from Ryyaki Ali's estate. He turned off and proceeded a half mile up the road and found a good spot to hide his Jeep. He pulled off and parked. Styles was dressed in full camo, and he now went about applying flat camo face paint. When he was through, standing still, he was all but impossible to discern from the woods surrounding him. He decided to leave his AR-15 assault rifle, complete with silencer, hidden behind a tree ten feet from the Jeep. He'd decided that for tonight, his suppressed .40-caliber Berretta would be sufficient.
The map of Ali's land and buildings was imprinted firmly in Styles's mind. He set out on his hike through the woods. It was an enjoyable difference after thousands of hours in the sand. He knew that he would come upon the enclave of cabins first. It took him less than half an hour before he came upon an eight-foot security chain-link fence. He studied it carefully. He walked alongside for possibly a hundred yards. He saw no sign of any type of detection devices. Still he decided not to climb the fence. Instead, he looked for a tree that had a nice limb that spanned over the top. He spotted one immediately and noticed that fifteen feet away, he had the exact same situation. In and out. In less than two minutes, he was standing silently on the far side. From here on in, he would be in silent mode. He started forward, wanting the darkness to fall faster. He had night-vision gear with him. He knew that the cabins would be two hundred yards off to his right. He began his advance. The woods were very quiet. The leaves were still on the trees, rather than on the ground, making it much easier to remain silent while walking. In the distance, he could hear a vehicle start and a door slam shut. He could tell by the noise of the exhaust it was probably a pickup truck with an automatic transmission. He kept going.