Chapter 62
SPOV
As I travelled back to Rangeman I was thinking carefully how to approach Carlos. Part of me was annoyed with what he'd done, the other part of me was thrilled. He'd obviously spoken with my father without telling me, hoping maybe he might have some father wasn't too clear about what had been said, only that he'd called my Uncle. As soon as I realized just how high up the the hierarchy Uncle Andrew was I made the decision to tell his everything that had happened. His response was so supportive that I was close to tears, but I knew what outcome I was aiming for and fortunately Uncle Andrew was too keen to make it happen.
I decided to go with a blank face, well as blank as someone like me could do. That way he'd be worried why I was mad at him yet curious as to why I wanted him to call a team together. After answering his "Babe" with a cryptic sentence I left his room to walk into the room that I'd been working in. Then stopped as a thought crossed my mind, shit I didn't say where. I turned around and opened the door just to shout "My room, 30 minutes" Then went into my room and started to look for the information I had gathered when I was supposed to be looking for Dolby.
Now I couldn't even remember my train of thought that day that led me to thinking about Buckley and where he might have hidden his program. It didn't matter though, I'd printed off the papers so was pretty sure of where we needed to go. My next task was a conversation with Hector. He was ace at finding plans to buildings, I had no idea how he did it, but I asked him to bring copies of the plans of the building and a map of the area. My next call was to Zeph. I knew he hadn't been out of the hospital long, but I wanted to know if he was well enough to fly the helicopter, then invited him to the meeting. I knew Carlos might be wary of having him there, after all he'd come here with Ash and they knew each other. But I had information that would dispel any concerns.
Exactly 30 minutes later men began to walk into the room and sit down. I couldn't work out how Ranger was feeling. I didn't think he was mad, maybe curious and possibly a bit put out. Probably because I hadn't spoken to him first and well, I did kinda give him an order, but it did feel good. I had Tank, Les and Bobby. Ram, Cal and Hector then Miguel and Hal. Wow eight men in total, with Zeph that would be nine. When Zeph walked in everyone just looked at him. Bobby was obviously concerned but I had the feeling there was a bit of worry there as well.
"Zeph, I wouldn't have thought you'd be fit enough to be here"
"I'm good for what I need to do"
"Babe?"
Okay now to do my thing. Hell, I remembered having to talk to Carlos, Tank and Les when this all started and how I felt so nervous. Not now, I was ready to do this.
"The plan of action that I need to happen will take place tomorrow at 2000hrs. That should give us plenty of time to plan it out. The mission, if you wish to partake, is to collect a valuable item and hand it over to a trusted person, for it be placed somewhere extremely secure and secret"
I looked around the room, everyone seemed intrigued even though I hadn't actually given them any information. Carlos though was thinking and as he looked up at me, I think he knew what I was talking about.
"Adrian Buckley designed and produced a program that is too technologically advanced for it to be used now without the danger of it causing severe impact to our military capabilities, world banking and finance, political thinking and possibly world peace. I think I know where he hid it"
That had a few exclamations and then I was bombarded with questions that I would eventually answer but sequentially. Carlos was aware that I was losing control of the meeting so with his usual stern voice brought everyone's attention back to me.
"Quiet"
"Thanks for that"
"Go on Babe, you're doing a good job"
"So the place we are going to be going into is Asbury Methodist Church, where Buckley's funeral was held. We'll need a perimeter around the area to be sure we're aware of anyone coming close"
"I'll cover that with Miguel, Bobby and Hal. We usually keep the medic away from any action in case we need him. Hal can control comms from the mobile unit"
"Thanks Tank. We'll need a team inside the building watching our backs"
"I do that, maybe with Ram and Cal, then I can scan area and keep communication open"
"Thanks Hector. Lastly then Ranger, Les and I will go down into the crypt"
"Estefania, crypt on plan but not entrance to it"
"I'm sure I know where that is"
"Where Babe?"
"Well Buckley had a portrait that his family donated to the church. The saint depicted gave me the clue. It's a portrait of Saint Stephanie"
"Now I understand"
"What do you understand Zeph?"
"The video, he referred to an angel"
"Yeah and he wrote me a letter that he'd obviously written after he met me. I think because of my name and maybe my looks he was confusing me in his mind with Saint Stephanie. She was important to his family. In the letter he said I would guard his secret. I think the portrait covers the entrance to the crypt"
"Steph what was this saint famous for?"
"She devoted her efforts to the poor and sick and raised funds to help the destitute"
"Steph why's Zeph here?"
"Because he'll take us to the rendezvous where Buckley's work will be handed over"
"Who to Beautiful?"
"If I told you that I'd have to kill you"
Everyone laughed at that but I could see that they now realized how important this mission was. It was more than just transferring the program though, but that was a conversation I needed to have with Carlos on our own. As If reading my mind Carlos addressed Tank.
"Tank, you get started with the planning, Steph and I need to have a conversation"
I knew we had to talk so didn't argue, instead I stood up and headed for the elevator. We were both quiet as it ascended and as we went into the apartment. I went and sat on the couch while Carlos fetched some water and then he sat me astride his legs so that we were face to face. The fact that he'd said nothing meant he was waiting for me to start.
"You had a problem with your Colonel, and I had a problem with Buckley's secret program. I don't know how you knew but for some reason you spoke with my Dad to ask if he knew someone that could help"
"I went to see your father to ask for his blessing for us to marry. He knew far more about me than he should have, saying he knew people. So I took a chance and asked him for help. I knew he would never involve anyone who would hurt you'
"Okay, that explains a lot. My Uncle Andrew knew Dad when they were serving together. I met him a few times when I was little but haven't seen him since. He moved up through the ranks and never had time to visit us again. His full name is Major General Andrew Gregory"
"I've heard of him, but never met him. He tends to deal more with the politics that are needed between politicians and the army"
"Well he knows of your Colonel Dempsey and he doesn't really like him, but apparently, he's good at his job but ruthless. My uncle has used his weight and position. He's more of an optimist and he feels that the program Buckley developed should be conserved so that maybe in the future when the time is right it could help in the positive way Buckley wanted"
"So he's prepared to have it stored secretly?"
"Yes"
"What about my orders from Dempsey?"
"Uncle Andrew has had them revoked"
"He pulled rank?"
"Oh he did more than that, he spoke with the President who fully supported him"
"Dempsey won't be pleased with that, Babe. He could end up sending me away on a high risk mission that could take months to complete and would probably be classified as a suicide mission"
"I know, so I did some negotiating"
"With what in mind"
This was the part that I had mixed feelings about. Whether Ranger would pleased or annoyed that I'd made a decision on his part without talking to him first I wasn't too sure about.I know I wasn't looking at him as I answered his question.
"Your file has been reclassified as retired"
"Retired!"
Oh shit, had I totally misread what he wanted. Did he still want to go off on his missions? Maybe I hadn't realized just how important they were to him. A source of adventure or an adrenaline rush or what he did because he really wanted to save the world from evilness, doing what he was good at. I felt my chin being lifted to look into his face, dreading what I might see.
"Babe, you did that for me?"
"I'm sorry, I thought"
I felt his arms pull me to him and him kiss me on my lips and cheek and then on my ear lobe.
"Babe, that's what I want"
"To do the missions?"
"No. I don't want to do them anymore. What you've managed to do is amazing and it's probably saved my life"
"Honestly?"
"Absolutely. I never want to leave your side again. I love you too much"
"Good because I love you enough to want and need you with me all the time"
"Let's go back to this mission. Babe I am so proud of how you managed that meeting today. You've grown so much in the weeks we've been together"
"Do you think the men will have minded that it was me asking them to do something?"
"No, they could see your confidence, how you'd done your thinking. They are amazed at how you pull pieces together and solve a problem"
"Okay then, I also had Uncle Andrew do a quick enquiry on Zeph. I know he was friends with Ash and came here at the same time. Zeph is totally clean and apparently what you see is what you get but you have to have a different way of looking at him. I had no idea what that meant"
"I think it means he's loyal and trustworthy and he's very resilient"
"He also has wicked skills with anything that moves"
"Yes, he does. So, we'll need that key, won't we?"
"Yes. Uncle Andrew says we need to be careful that Dempsey doesn't try to kill us both and destroy the program"
"What are you thinking"
"Could it have been Dempsey who shot at me and Buckley"
"Ash didn't have any ideas"
"It doesn't make sense, why would he have wanted us dead?"
"Babe you said you were targeted, and Buckley stepped in front of you"
"But I still don't know why Dempsey would want me dead"
I tried to figure that out, I mean that was after I'd been at Safenet trying to follow information on carbon monoxide detectors. It was after Gannon had moved me into what he saw as somewhere safe and somehow Buckley found me. But we had no idea at that time about the robots at Safenet, Gauge's programming or even what Buckley was trying to keep hidden. So how the hell did that shooting fit in to everything that had happened? I felt Carlos raise my chin and look at me.
"Where did you just go?"
"Sorry, just thinking"
"Why didn't you say anything downstairs at the meeting?"
"I didn't know how much you wanted them to know"
"I trust every man in that room. Let's get back downstairs so I can fill them in"
When we got back downstairs everyone was busy, reading, looking through information or having discussions. Carlos took the seat at the head of the table and brought everyone's attention to him.
"I need to fill you in on information which could be pertinent to this plan"
I did try to listen as he gave a condensed version, but some of the words he used were obviously military. What I did do though was watch each of the men. I was so proud of how supportive they were, of how they vowed they'd do anything to make sure that the plan worked. I knew that the men would know exactly what they needed to do. I was along for the ride really, following what they'd planned. My uncle was going to send a message with the coordinates for where we had to meet someone, which is where Zeph came in, because the meeting place was going to be somewhere very secluded and some distance away.
I know at some time I put my arms on the table and my head down on my arms. I knew it was the small hours of the morning and was trying to figure out how the hell these men could keep going. The next thing I was aware of was of being laid down and feeling comfortable, something warm behind me. Instantly I knew it was Carlos spooning me from behind and we were in bed in the apartment. I knew Carlos would have had less sleep than me so didn't want to move and wake him. So I lay as still as I could trying to relax and still any movement.
"I know you're awake Babe"
"How, I stayed really still"
"Your breathing changes"
"That wakes you up?"
"Usually"
"I suppose I'd better catch up with what was planned last night"
"There are several contingency plans in case something goes wrong, so you'll need to be aware of those"
