Setting things up to give the unclassified world a credible story was easier than any of them would have thought. The story was quite genius in its simplicity, but considering the body of people it was coming from, that was to be expected. The hardest part was moving some bodies around to make things just right, and Xander had to give a call to a forensic pathologist in the FBI to come out and do the post-mortems. Dr. Little understood that when the CIA called, they would let him know what needed to be found, and put into the official reports. It was simply a professional courtesy between agencies.
Zack and Alicia had explained to Heather and Jon what they needed to do and say, and were quite proud of their little girl when she'd made a few suggestions to make the story more believable. She'd learned a lot more than just what they had taught to her. At one point Alicia deftly separated Heather and Jon, wanting to talk to her privately about what to say, and getting Zack a moment alone with Jon.
Despite the cold, Jon felt a sweat break out as Heather's father pierced him with a look. Maybe he didn't want to be around Heather if this was her family. No. He liked her and she liked him, and they were just going to have to deal with it. Unless one of them shot him or something. He straightened his shoulders and took a deep breath. There was no way this could be worse than tandem skiing while trying to start an avalanche and being shot at.
"You know that once you see and hear what you've seen and heard today, you're put into the family circle of trust," Zack said, his voice low but menacing enough. The kid wasn't whimpering or shaking quite yet. He had spine at least. "If you're the Jonathan she's been talking about the last couple of months, then I know you're a smart kid," Zack continued. "This whole incident is not something you want to ever talk about."
Heather had told Jon that her mom was under orders to do what she did, but her dad was just protective over his siblings. Jon was willing to bet his daughter was far dearer to him than a brother or sister. He swallowed hard, getting down about half of the lump in his throat. It was enough to talk again. "I'll tell the cops what I'm supposed to sir," he replied, and then gathered up as much bravado as he could. "So, does this count as meeting me at the front door with a gun the first time I take Heather out?"
To his shock, Jon saw Mr. Raleigh actually smile at him, just as Heather and her mom came back. "Yeah," he replied. "I think today has been a much better point than a rifle at the front door."
"Daddy!" Heather cried. Her hands were on her hips, and she looked furious. "I cannot believe you said that to Jon." She linked one arm though Jon's. "I am so sorry," she said to him, hauling him off. "Parents!" Jon snuck a glance back at her parents and shot them a grin. It would seem Heather had him right where he wanted her, and that was good enough for them.
"No rifle at the door, huh?" Alicia asked quietly, her arm encircling Zack's waist. Automatically, his arm wrapped around her shoulders as they watched their daughter and her first real boyfriend. "Sniper on the roof then?"
"I promised no guns, and I meant it," Zack replied, sounding slightly offended. He glanced down at his wife. "I never said a word about not booby trapping the porch for when he walks up." Alicia let out a little snort of laughter. She could see the twins on the roof watching them. 'We have lip contact' and BOOM. With her hellions, anything was possible.
Cole and Janice had to get Tundra's body along with all the bloody snow around her to make the story complete. When they came back, everything was easy to set up. There was a group of kidnappers that wanted a wealthy American to hold for ransom. With her connection to Logan Cale and Justin Carter, editors of "The Truth" Heather made a great target once she was out in the open. However, there was an FBI agent that got wind of it, and came out to Colorado to see if it was real or a hoax.
Heather was going to admit that she had gone for a walk that night, and the kidnappers caught her then. Since the school knew that Janice was going to say that she went after Heather when she saw her outside, then tried to protect the kid from the kidnappers, but they were both knocked out. The school knew that Janice had spent three years in the Marine Corp, so her trying to protect Heather didn't seem odd. With the FBI agent's help, they managed to escape, but there was a shootout, and the leader of the kidnappers had been shot and fallen off a ledge, but the agent had been killed as well, with one lucky shot she had gotten off right as she fell.
Jon had heard the gunshots and come to the rescue. He'd asked about the fact his snowmobile had been shot up, but Xander had just smiled and told him not to worry about the inventory. It would be taken care of. All that was left now was to get Alicia and Zack back to the lodge, and for Jon to call into S & R and let them know he'd found them.
"Okay," Xander said, hanging up his phone from talking with the CIA among others. "We got a lead on the buyer, so we're off to explain to him why he doesn't want to play with us." The four sixers were a little separated from the others, enjoying a few minutes of reunion before they had to get back to work. Xander glanced at Cole. "You in?"
Cole rolled his eyes at him. "When aren't I?" he asked in his best "duh" tone.
Shawna looked over at Alicia and smiled. "One more time for old times sake?" she asked. For a moment her eyes lit up at the thought, but then she glanced over to where Heather and Zack were.
"I have more important things to take care of here," Alicia replied. As glad as she was to see her brother and sister again, nothing could compare with her husband and kids. She hadn't chose to leave Manticore; that was forced upon her by the director's treachery, but she had chosen to stay with Zack and raise their children together, and that was one decision in her life that she had never regretted.
"What are you doing next weekend?" Xander asked Alicia quickly.
"When have I ever planned that far in advance?" Alicia responded with a smile. The others grinned. That had always been her response when they were younger. "What's going on next weekend?"
"Well, Lon and Cray are in the DC area, and if they knew that we'd seen you and not let them talk to you, we'd get our asses kicked." He gave Cole a pointed look that clearly said they were going to have a long talk later. "Some of us are a little more forgiving, but you know those two."
Zack wasn't going to like it, but Alicia nodded. Not all of the sixers would be able to forgive her; that was to be expected, but the ones she had been close to, she did want to see again. "Think you'll be done by then?" she asked.
Xander nodded. "I give him three days, tops." Three days had always been their limit on a mark. Once Lydecker had given them an objective, they made it a point of pride to have him or her eliminated within seventy-two hours. It was just a little thing they did.
"See you Saturday then," she said, and then they went back to the others.
"You guys ready?" Alicia asked.
Jon nodded. "I see you guys take off, and I make the call to S & R as soon as the noise dies down."
Xander had told his helicopter pilot to get out of there, that they had another ride. Agent Hanson knew better than to ask Brickman questions. He had booked without another word. It hadn't been easy for Alicia to leave Heather again, but they had a plan to stick to, and Zack reminded her that her being there was not going to carry out the plan properly.
Before they left, Xander took Janice aside for a moment. "If there was any way…you know you'd be my first choice to go right?"
She'd given him a tight smile and then nodded. She wanted to go, there was no way to deny that, but she did understand his position. There was no way he could explain to the brass why she was part of the operation. It would be better all around if there were never a mention of her name.
A few minutes later, the helicopter took off, flew past them, and then was gone. Jon keyed his microphone. "Base, this is S & R Hamilton," he announced. "Victims have been located."
There was a slight pause, and then base responded. "Victims found, copy that Hamilton. Status?" In the background, "damn kid did it, someone find the girl's parents!"
"Both are alive and well," he responded, and then gave base the coordinates.
"Transport is on its way," base came back. "Good job." Jon keyed off and smiled at Heather, noticing Miss. Miller had walked off from them a little ways, looking over the side of the ridge where they had dumped Tundra's body.
"Remember you're scared and helpless, and I get to be the hero," he teased. She shot him a grin.
"As long as you know better," she said. He marshaled his courage, and wrapped his arm around her waist. For a moment their eyes met, and then he tilted his head down kissing her softly.
"You mean I don't get to be your hero next time?" he asked.
Heather blinked; trying to get her mind to come out of the daze his kiss had created. "Actually," she said touching his face, "I think for our next date I'd rather do Chinese." They both laughed and kissed again, and it seemed within minutes, a helicopter's blades heralded the sound of rescue, and going home.
