Hi: I was away and it proved to be too difficult to write.

It gave me time to think about chapter 65…I promise 66+ will be doozies.


Chapter 66

Vanished

The front door began to squeak as Chief Hawkins' boot gently assists the dark brown portal from its slightly opened position. As the muzzle of the M-4 carbine points the way, the seasoned SEAL takes a stride into the younger Pownall home. Dark eyes widen as the veteran's vision freezes on the lifeless body to his right.

"Chief, where's his damn head." An anxious blast from a young member of the Security Team does little to change the SEAL's demeanor.

"Oh!" The thud robs the Chief's attention as a flanking sailor slips and falls to the hard wood floor.

"It's blood. Chief," gasps leave the sailor as he reaches for his beret. The black cap now damp from the red liquid. "The whole damn floor is covered…"
"Shut up and focus." Hawkins' stern, but controlled voice aims the order to both his colleagues. They stiffen as if hearing a crack of thunder.

Turning to the younger member of the team, still straining to find the missing body part. "Forget the damn head. Check out the kitchen. Hawkins points his weapon toward the back of the house.

The Chief signals to his rear, sending Martinez and two more armed men into the home.

"What dah hell happened here," the Lieutenant Commander asks. Her eyes scanning the dining room.

"I think our Russian friends just got introduced to Ryn." Hawkins says with a smile.

"Chief, I found the head." A call from the kitchen. "I think someone threw it over here. I think he's got blond hair?"

"Chief there is another one here," Martinez whispers. From my records, he must be the darker one of the Russkie team?"
All occupants freeze for a moment, as a contingent of the security team enter through the back door.
"Chief," a mumbled sound from the kitchen. "There's another guy here. His head…"
The young African-American team member bends down for a closer look at the corpse. It appears, the man's head has been dented by a blunt object and his stomach shows sign of a vicious animal attack.

"Whatever did this had to have some kinda claws." Remarks one of the female members of the team that entered from the back door."

"The upstairs is clear." The shout causes Martinez and Hawkins to look at each other in disbelief.

"Where the hell are they?" Nicole's sparse eyebrows twitch, as a disgusted blast of air leaves her mouth.

"Beats me." Shaking his head as he spoke, Hawkins turns to a sailor with a radio. "Tell them to send some cleaners. Me and the Lieutenant Commander will start to think about what dah hell to tell Washington."


Two blocks East of the Naval presence.

In an Elantra situated near the Pownall home. A clear view is intensified by the binoculars two of the passengers have.

"Vanessa, I guess the Russians won't be a problem?"
The dark skinned man sporting a black turtleneck sweater straining across a developed chest emits a low chuckle after the words.

"Mike, don't make a joke out of it. Take a gander at the looks of the Navy personnel. Doesn't that tell you something?"
"You're right, baby. It looks like they found something their military tummies weren't expecting."
Mike refocuses his vortex binoculars on two armed men in desert camouflage. One of the sailors turns his back to the other as he vomits onto a bush in front of the home. His friend shakes his head and pats him on the back.

"Now, the question is where the hell are the mermaids?" Vanessa shouts to the front windshield. A disgusted look is reflected in the rear view mirror.


Twenty miles Northwest of Bristol Cove

In a blue SUV, three shaken individuals sit in silence, as the vehicle zooms its way down an unpaved road.

"Momma, where is Daddy?" Little Ted asks, breaking the tense stillness floating about the trio. The SUV swerves to the right as Ryn's expression is flushed as facial muscles tense up.

"He'll find us. Momma knows best." Hope whispers wishing the reassurance will stop her brother's rapid breaths.

And the erratic almost frenzied driving of her mother.


Note to reader:

The aftermath of the massacre in the Pownall home is now developing. This is a short chapter due to the spider-like web of sub-plots wangling their way to the top. I don't enjoy posting 5K chapters. This is an intro to the future posts.

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