Author's notes: The sickness that kept my child home earlier in the week now has me in it's grips. Hence, two chapter today because I have felt like doing nothing more that writing. So appreciate it while you can get it.
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Colby tried to keep a low profile until supper. As the women scurried around preparing the meal, older children set the long tables in the dining room with plates and silverware. A group of younger men gathered and Colby moved over to them and introduced his self.
A few minutes before six the outer doors opened and a group of older men entered. Among them was a man that Colby recognized from the FBI photographs; Arner Stone. Stone stopped and shook hands with some of the men as he made his way to the table. As if by an unspoken command, everyone moved to the tables. The children at their own tables to the back, the men up front. The women Colby noticed were all still standing by the kitchen. Andrew Ross, the man who had brought Colby, nodded to Arner.
Standing up, Andrew Ross gave a short prayer and then launched into what Colby thought amounted to a bible lesson. Being careful not to let his impatience show, Colby glanced as his watch. The lesson had now been going on for over 45 minutes. Suddenly everyone around him started to bow their heads, Colby followed suit and about 5 minutes later Ross gave a solemn amen. He sat down and Stone began to rise.
The prophet stood up and spread out his arms. "Brothers and sisters, let us pray. Dear Lord, we give thanks for the food we are about to receive in your holy name. Let is nourish us in both body and spirit as we go forth to do your work. Fortify us as we prepare to smite thy enemies, for they are many oh Lord. The trials and tribulations you send to us are many, but with your strength and your word we go to battle willingly. For you have shown to me the path to enlightenment, the road to glory. By taking up your sword we will cast out the unbelievers and prepare them for the great revelation. We give thanks to you great God, for delivering to us your vessel, which will hold the riches of heaven. For Jesus Christ said unto them, let the little children come to me. The glories of your word manifests itself in our most precious gifts to you. A great cleansing has begun and in six days your plan will begin. We pray in your holy name. Amen.
The prophet sat back down and began to fill his plate as the women served the tables of men. Colby ran over the words of the prophet's prayer. It has been long and somewhat rambling. Something was going to happen in six days, not that he would be around for that. A bowl of green beans was passed to him. Spooning some onto his plate he looked around the room. Many of the women were visibly pregnant, most like Naomi, looked very young. He remembered the information that Megan had collected included that the men were not only polygamist, but tried to have as many children as possible with their extra wives. The plan was to put a hardship on the Federal government by collecting as much welfare as possible.
The men's tables were all served and the women had started serving the children's tables. Colby decided that with everyone eating, this might be a good time to slip out. Speaking quietly to the man next to him, Colby inquired about where the nearest bathroom was. The likable fellow was glad to point it out. Excusing himself, Colby walked out the door seemingly unnoticed. The first thing he did was go in and use the bathroom, incase someone did follow him out. After finishing he left the room and quickly scanned to see if anyone was in the hallway.
Seeing no one he pushed open the outer door quietly. Keeping to the side of the building and out of the light, Colby moved towards the smaller building. He was almost clear of the building when a door opened and a darkened form stepped out. It was Naomi and she was carrying a tray with a plate on it. Stepping back into shadows, Colby watched her walk to the building in question. Flipping open a latch, she opened the door and stepped in. Moments later, she was on her way back to the kitchen. Seeing his opportunity, Colby waited until the door had shut and ran the distance to the building. He opened the door and stepped in, hoping that waiting on the other side was Rachel Willons.
Stepping inside, the dim interior was lit with a small kerosene lamp. It through shadows around the room. Sitting in a chair looking forlornly at the plain meal in front of her was Rachel Willons.
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David turned to Don and raised his eyebrows questioningly. Don shook his head and David turned back to the window. Colby had phoned in at around 3 pm when he was approaching the dealership. Since then they had heard nothing. It was now after 7 and they had no idea what has going on. According to Megan, the Skylark that Colby had driven to Crestline was still sitting at the dealership, even though 15 minutes ago the lights had been shut off and the last worker had locked the door.
Megan decided to make another swing past the dealership and see if anything was happening. Feigning interest in the used cars, she slowly made her way to where Colby's car stood. Talking quietly into her mic, she relayed her findings. "Guys, the car is still here, but I don't see his back anywhere. He must have ridden with them. We can run a trace on his cell phone and let the GPS tell us where he is."
Don spoke back to the female agent. "OK Megan, come on back to the hotel. Why don't you stop and grab some food and drinks though. I told Colby that I would give him 12 hours to get in touch with us, so he still has time. I don't think we need to jump the gun just yet."
"Alright Don." Megan turned and walked back down the busy commercial street. Keeping a wary eye out for anything unusual.
David looked at Don and commented, "I'm still getting a funny feeling about our boy not giving us a call."
"Chances are someone was with him and he couldn't. We'll give him until the deadline and if we don't hear anything, we'll go in. The reports say that this group doesn't usually resort to violence. It's not like the Branch Davidians."
Shaking his head David spoke, "Lets hope so, for Colby's sake. Why is it the religious groups are always the nuts?"
"I don't know. Maybe God likes to keep things interesting." Don turned back to the report he was reading.
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Having someone returning to the building had not happened before, so Rachel was not prepared for the muscular young man that stepped in and shut the door behind him quickly.
"Rachel Willons?" His voice was low and urgent. The woman looked like the photo he had seen, but it was better to be sure.
"Who wants to know?" She cast a wary eye towards the door, not sure what to do. In the twenty-four plus hours that she had been a captive, she had been knocked out, tied-up and held prisoner. Her future didn't look any better according to what Stone had told her.
"I don't have time to play games, are you Rachel Willons?" The man looked at the door as if he were expecting someone to enter.
"Yes, but who are you?" Rachel stood up and faced this intruder.
"Colby Granger, FBI. What do you say we get out of here?"
"How did you get here?" Rachel's mind turned over the possibilities.
"Undercover, which hasn't been broken yet." He opened the door and not seeing anyone about, he motioned her to follow him. "Come on."
They both exited the building, Colby stopping to lock it back up. The evening shadows had now lengthened to almost full dark. Knowing that their best bet would be to find a car with keys left inside, they made their way towards the front of the big house.
From their position they couldn't see the cars. Colby turned back to whisper to Rachel. "I'll go up and check the cars. Once I whistle, come running. We won't have much time. If something happens run. The town is to the west."
Moving off into a crouching run, Colby made his way to the first car. Before he could open the door the area was flooded with light from the front of the garage. Stepping out from behind a car, Eli and five other men were illuminated.
"What are you up to Micah?" Eli moved closer, the other five fanning out, trying to surround Colby. "Naomi told me she saw you outside. You didn't come back in and so we decided to come looking for you."
"Sorry. I decided that it would be best if I went back to town. I feel if I'm putting you folks out." Colby knew the story sounded as weak to their ears as it did to his. "So if you'll just lend me a car, I'll be on my way." Colby decided by talking he was giving Rachel more time to make her own escape.
Eli came from around the car and approached Colby. "I don't think you've experienced the Prophet's hospitality to the fullest yet. Has he guys." A murmur of agreement came from the men.
Colby took his eyes from Eli briefly to assess the other men when a fist suddenly shot out and collided with his chin. Shaking it off, he blocked another aimed at his head, reaching out and catching the other man on the side of the head. The other men swarmed around him, cutting off his escape. Deciding to try the offensive, Colby landed a solid blow to the other man's midsection. Eli doubled over with an oomph. Colby moved in for another punch, but Eli recovered faster than he expected. Eli snapped back up and landed several more blows to Colby's face.
Staggering backwards, trying to regain his footing, Colby felt himself being grabbed by other arms. He struggled, but the other men had the advantage. Eli smiled, blood running from a scratch by his forehead. Walking up to Colby he aimed a big hammy fist into the agent's stomach. The air rushed from him as the other man punched him again and again.
A muffled scream sounded to the rear and drew the attention of the men. Two more men approached with a struggling Rachel in their grasp. A third man followed, bent over and nursing the pain in his groin. The men holding Colby turned slightly. Colby, sensing the release in pressure tried to break free. Eli laughed. "Easy there tiger. I'll give you another chance at me." Walking closer to Colby, Eli grabbed Colby's hair and pulled his head up. "Who the hell are you?"
His lip was split and bleeding freely down his face and one eye was starting to swell shut, but his other eye glared at Eli. "I'm Micah Williams."
Smiling evilly, Eli shook his head. "I don't think so." He pulled Colby's head back further. "Care to try again."
"Fuck you." Colby knew no more. Eli's fist rendered the man unconscious. Letting him slip to the ground, Eli placed several kicks to the prone man's body.
Rachel started screaming, "Stop it! Stop please you'll kill him."
Eli turned to look at the chosen bride of his leader. "Who is this man?" He demanded.
"I don't know. He came over and let me out. He told me he was Micah and he wanted me to go with him." Rachel looked down at the bloody and battered agent.
"Eli, what is happening?" The group turned as Arner Stone and others made their way towards the scene.
"Your bride tried to escape and that new guy was trying to help her." Eli took a step away from Rachel and wiped at his own bleeding face.
"What did you learn from him? I'm assuming he wasn't helping her by laying on the ground." The sarcasm was thick in the Prophet's voice.
"Same thing we knew about him before. Said his name was Micah Williams. He was trying to get away, so I had to incapacitate him."
"Check his pockets and see if you can find out who he really is."
One of the other men bent over and pulled the wallet from Colby's black pants. "Idaho license says he's Micah Williams. He's got a cell phone too." The man held onto the items, shoving them into his own pocket.
The Prophet turned and looked at Matthew. "It would appear brother Freeman that you have brought a viper into the nest. Thankfully your son was able to prevent a grievous mistake from occurring."
"I'm sorry Prophet, everything seemed to check out." Matthew looked worried.
"I think it would be wise if I were to put some distance between myself and this area. I will take my intended and also this interloper. I have a feeling there is more to Micah Williams than meets the eye. He might prove a valuable bargain tool or if he becomes too much of a liability he can disappear just as easily somewhere else. I want to leave in ten minutes."
Everyone jumped to obey as the men that accompanied the Prophet everywhere hurried to pack bags. Rachel's hands were bound in front of her and she was loaded into the back of a SUV, the windows were tinted so there was no hope of catching a passerby's attention. She grimaced, as a still unconscious Colby was placed none to gently beside her in the seat. The men used zip ties to secure his hands and feet. The flow of blood had slowed from his lip and the cuts dotting his face. Using her hands she tried to move him into a more comfortable position. Not that it would probably matter; the punishment he had taken would be very painful.
Soon they were pulling onto the road and heading for God knew where. Rachel thought ruefully as she looked at the agent. 'You were going to save me, but who's going to save you?'
Author's note: Come on, do it. Slide the mouse ever so gently to the left and left click. I know you can!