“My dad said run. So I ran. He always said if he told me to run I better do it without asking why.”
“Sounds like a smart man, your father.”
“Yeah, and he taught me how to track, too. That’s how I followed them.”
“You know how to fire that weapon?”
“Sure.”
“You ever shoot anybody with it yet?”
“No.”
“Can you do it?”
“I know I can… now. I got five bullets left.”
“Then why you sitting here and not shooting your way into that house to save your mom?”
“Um, my dad told me never to rush into a problem, but try to figure it out first.”
“Hmm…”
“He said it’ll keep me alive long enough to have kids of my own if I want to.”
“I’m liking your dad even more.”
A woman’s scream from the farmhouse caught their immediate attention. Cody tensed. “Can you help me mister? Please! I swear I’ll do anything if you help me!” The panic in his voice was palpable.
“Shut up and listen, Cody. We’re going in, okay? You and me. But you must follow my orders to the letter. Understood?”
“Sure. Yes!”
“Listen now, you stay about five feet behind me and to my left at all times. Okay?”
“Yeah!”
“When we enter, you shoot anything on the left side of the room that needs shooting okay?”
“Okay!”
“When we breach—I mean, enter the room—you shoot any bad guys on the left side, got it?”
“I got it. I got it!”
“If we go, I’m trusting you to do your part. Can I count on you?”
“Yeah, you can!”
“Good. Name’s Connor Mac. Once we’re inside, if you need help, you yell my name.”
“Yes, Mr. Connor Mac.”
“Good. Now, let’s go save your parents.”
CHAPTER 3.7-A Dinner Bell
“Colonel, it’s possible that Connor MacMillen has a place in the mountains southeast of Pittsburgh. It’s something that Jimmy found in the colonel’s old Army recruitment file.”
“Go ahead.”
“Jimmy read the whole file—he had the handwritten file pulled—and there’s a note in the file that says Connor MacMillen’s father left him thirty acres near a place called Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. The file says that it’s close to the intersection of Route 40 and a Dinner Bell of some kind, but the report at that point was illegible.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Yes, ma’am. But we could probably find the place. The file stated that Connor MacMillen hoped to retire to that area when he left the army. Called it ‘home base.’ Also, Jimmy found out the colonel might have two brothers who served.”
“He has two brothers? That might be good news if they’re still alive.”
“Jimmy cross-referenced MacMillen and a link to DA Form 1614 to find if he had any relatives serving in the armed forces. He came across two other men who served near the same age and both are from Pittsburgh. It’s possible they might be his brothers. He’s pulling the data out of Kojak and should have it within the next few hours if the link holds.”
“Is that it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“That’s a nice job.”
“Thank you, colonel, but I’m merely passing along what Jimmy gave me.”
“Yes… well, tell Jimmy I owe him when I we return. I might even promote him to captain.”
“He’ll be pleased about that, colonel.” The major made his way back to the helicopter.
Colonel Starkes considered the new information, deciding it wouldn’t change her present course of action. They planned to release the bulk of the handwritten notes addressed to Connor MacMillen sometime tomorrow. She hoped that Major O’Malley and Shamus were accurate in their estimation of Connor MacMillen’s potential whereabouts. The two had certainly spent a significant amount of time trying to justify their thoughts to one another, but had ultimately agreed on an area east of Toledo as their projected drop zone. If this plan failed, the new intelligence from Camp David provided her with further reason to set up a net of men southeast of Pittsburgh near this Route 40 and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. She began to wonder if Connor MacMillen was going home with hopes to see his family.
CHAPTER 3.8-Getting Started
“Cody, slight change of plans. I’m going to grab my friends before we go in. They can back us up.” Connor was a little worried about the prospect of facing three armed men with only a young boy to back him up. More for the boy’s safety.
“But—”
“No ‘buts’ Cody. Sit tight—don’t move from this spot no matter what you hear from that house. I’ll only be gone for a few minutes.”
“Okay,” agreed Cody without enthusiasm. The prospect of Connor leaving prompted him to start shaking uncontrollably.
“It’s good to let the fear flow through your body, Cody. Get it out now and, by the time I get back, you’ll be done with it. Maybe you’ll be a man, ready to go in and save your parents.” He squeezed the boy’s shoulder and quickly left.
When he caught up with Amanda and Marty, he was pleased to see that they had detected his less than stealthy approach and had taken cover in an easily defended culvert. Connor signaled them with a whistle and approached slowly with his shotgun slung over his shoulder.
“What’s up, Mac?” asked Amanda, sensing Connor’s subtle tension.
“Found a kid in crisis. We have to go help a family in trouble. Kid’s wondering how to save his mom and dad from some bad guys. Three unknowns took the parents. Full combat prep. Let’s move.”
“It’s about time some shit got started. I was beginning to think this trip was too damn easy,” said Marty.
CHAPTER 3.9-Terry
“Let me help you with that, Liam,” said Andy MacMillen.
“I can do it, uncle.”
“No doubt about it. Just figured you might want some help cleaning and gutting him, seeing as I’d like to eat dinner sometime today.”
Liam had stripped the black bear for travel, but grinned at the jab toward his proficiency and felt a confusing surge of affection for his uncle. He loved Uncle Andy. And over the past five years, he’d loved him almost as much as he loved his father.
“Andy, give ’em a break,” said Terry.
She swatted Andy’s arm before he dodged out of the way. Noticing the playful way they moved together, Liam’s mood turned serious. His mother’s affectionate behavior toward Andy was becoming much more commonplace as the summer passed and he did not like the change. Not at all. He stopped short and raised the skinning knife.
“Okay, Uncle Andy! Show me how to gut a bear one more time…”
Terry and Andy both smiled at Liam, until they noticed his angry expression. Intuitively, each took a half step away from the other sensing the change in mood. Andy squatted again near Liam.
“Alright, Liam. Remember that cutting gently simply wastes time at this point. That bearskin’s tough. See? Slice in and cut. No playing around.”
Andy dressed the bear with expert efficiency and they readied it for transport on the thick plastic brought for that purpose. Fully dressed, the bear was still heavy and prepping himself for the haul, Andy stood. He reached to grab the thick rope before Liam snatched it from his hand.
“I’ll do it. It’s gonna be my skin, my coat. For my daddy. I’ll carry it.”
Liam pulled hard, straining with the effort in dragging the carcass through the woods. Determined, he set pace to traverse at least a quarter mile of rocky terrain before they reached the mountain cottage. Doggedly, he dragged the bear atop the plastic sheeting, not slowing down for the first hundred yards. When Terry and Andy offered assistance, they were rejected until Andy intervened by grabbing the rope.