“Agreed.”
“They probably have a decent supply of men and some good weapons to go with it all. But, I don’t see anything motorized. Not yet. At least not this far out.”
“President Starkes responsible?”
“Nah. For some reason, I’m thinking she’s not in control here.”
“No?”
“Doesn’t quite add up to that. This is probably simply an improvised rendezvous point for her. Call it a gut reaction.”
“I see.”
“But, I dunno, maybe the Cleveland boss is someone who reports to her. Someone she knows and trusts.”
“Maybe.”
“What do you wanna do, Mac? Send in a scouting team?”
“Yep. And, from here on out, instruct everyone to stay tight and close. Make sure they work solid. Except for Jackson, Jason, and BB, obviously, and the horses we’re keeping in reserve.”
“Okay. So, where’s this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? I see several structures just past those Westside farms. It’s near the lake, right?”
“Yeah, I think so. That what Roger said. Bring him over here, he knows the area,” said Connor.
“Okay.”
“Instruct the team to settle in. After that, the next two hours will be through territory designated full hostile and active. Best stealth behavior is expected from all.”
Connor pulled a small-sized jar from his pack.
“Here, give this to Rog. Make sure everyone uses some face paint. He’ll know how to apply it.
“Okay, good idea. Facial recognition by the enemy is such a natural factor in environmental surveillance ” said McLeod.
“Ahh, yeah John, you’re right.”
John blushed slightly. “Oh, sorry about stating the obvious—”
“Nah, that’s fine John. And keep in mind that the remainder of our travel to primary target will be at night. Full scout prep with night goggles for both Marty and Amanda.”
Connor pulled two pair of military-grade goggles from his pack.
“Give ’em these. They’ll know how to use ’em.”
“Wow. Night vision. Okay. I’ll bring Roger up.”
A minute later, Roger eased up with McLeod to sit beside Connor. Settling in, Roger pointed.
“Sir.”
“Rog.”
“The Hall of Fame is over that way. It’s a glass pyramid that’s attached onto a piece of shit white brick building.”
“Yeah?”
“It has a roundish section off to the side and joined to it that would be closer to us. That portion is sittin’ on a fat pillar.”
“Okay?”
“That’s supposed to represent a music album turntable. You see?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“That’s the building we’re aiming for though.”
“Okay, Rog, thanks. Anyway, would you say it’s about a half mile northeast?”
“Yep.”
“It butts up against the lake, correct?”
“Correct, sir.”
Connor checked both compass and watch before he eyed the fast-setting sun. Not yet satisfied, he needed more information.
“What’s the inside like? Remember any of it?”
“Some. You come in the main open entrance area and there are these two huge escalators that take you up to the second floor. From what I remember, there are seven floors total. The first to the fifth were mostly exhibit stuff and crap like that. The third level’s where most of the stuff was and had all the names of the people who were ah… what’s the word… inducted?”
“If you were President Starkes, where would you set up command post?”
“I dunno. Maybe the second floor, guarding the escalators. Maybe the seventh, the top floor.”
“Okay then. I’d like us to slide past this next farm before sunset.”
“Yeah.”
“But based on the activity there, I’m thinking we’ll probably need to wait.”
“Nah, let’s do it. Let’s push passed,” said Roger.
Marty and Amanda approached, overhearing the discussion.
“We’ll go out in advance, Mac,” said Marty, “Amanda and I.”
Connor gave this some thought.
“Sounds like a plan. McLeod, let’s slide the rest of the team to the red-bricked building just north of that farm. See what’s going on there.”
“Okay.”
“It looks like an old factory. If we can sneak into it. We’ll recon from there if it’s not protected.”
“Hmmm… I dunno,” said McLeod.
“I feel you… if we were guarding this farm, we’d have that pretty well sealed off from intrusion.”
“Well, yeah—”
“Since it’s a direct assault point into the farm complex.”
“Exactly.”
“Let’s do it anyway, see what happens.”
“Your call.”
After an hour of slow, cautious travel, they reached the old factory while darkness settled around them. Cody was excited at all the new horses nearby. His father and McLeod recently agreed he might ‘keep an eye out’ for one.
“Okay,” said McLeod, “what do you want to do with BB, Jackson, Jason and the horses? Can’t leave them hanging back too far.”
“No, we can’t.”
Connor reached for the radio on his hip.
“Big Eye to BB you copy?”
“Copy, Big Eye.”
By prearranged code, Connor provided current position and detailed directions to the Hall of Fame.
“If shit goes bad, we’ll need you to meet up with us east of Cleveland, slightly south at… ah, just east of Youngstown.”
“Understood, Big Eye.”
“It’ll take ’bout seventy miles to get there. There’s a big steel mill there. Used to be. Check in at Furnace #1. We meet there as a final rendezvous if we get separated.”
“Understood, over.”
“It’s probably a good two or three days travel to get there. Maybe a bit less on horse, over.”
“Confirmed. Rendezvous in Youngstown, steel mill, Furnace # 1. Over.”
“Correct. I want some distance if things go south. We’ll wait five days once we get there. In the meantime, we’re keeping you as full reserve during our entry into the city. Big Eye out.”
“BB, copy and out.”
Connor turned to McLeod, who had raised an eyebrow in concern.
“What?”
“Okay, Mac. I think I know where Youngstown is, but why not closer? Why are we going seventy miles out for a primary rendezvous?”
“Dunno… feel we might need some space if things go wrong.”
“Man, that’s a lotta space. Don’t make much sense.”
“I know. It sounds a bit weird, McLeod, but trust me. It’s fitting in with my way of thinking right now, so I must be seeing something in the equation.”
“What, like subconsciously or are you saying you’re a damn psychic?”
“Nah. Nothing like that. It’s more like battle plans are drawn up in my head by some stranger and I see countless event flows that might, I say might, occur.”
“Like a sixth sense?”
“No, you’re the psychologist, haven’t you ever listened to your gut or subconscious?”
“All the time, Connor Mac.”
“Okay then, let’s call it that for now.”
“Will do.”
“In the meantime, the rest of the crew needs to run tight. Silent running. Full stealth.”
“I’ll remind them.”
“Make it real clear no mistakes or they’ll answer to the team for their failures… and it won’t be pretty.”
“Okay,” said McLeod. “Is it your plan to see this President Starkes tonight?”
“No, she wants us there tomorrow on the eighth. That’s when we show up.”
“You gonna go through with it?”
“What choice do I have, McLeod?”
“I dunno. Like I said before. Maybe you didn’t see the little leaflets, now did you?”