Chapter 44

"Rrrrrr. Rrrrrrrrrrr."

Robin woke up, wondering what she was hearing. She opened her eyes to find Friday beside her, his hackle up and a low growl coming from him.

"Rrrrrrr."

"What's up, boy?" Robin sat up and put her hand on his side. "Is someone out there?" Friday was watching the door, but Robin felt he wanted her to be aware that something was going on. Rubbing her eyes she moved over to the office chair and turned to focus on what was happening outside her house.

What time is it, Robin asked herself then looking at the clock, 11:23. Ronda would still be on watch. "What has Friday on edge?" she asked as she leaned in and took a good look at the monitors. Were there any cars she hadn't seen before? Is someone lurking where they shouldn't be?

Studying both feeds from outside the house, Robin couldn't see anything abnormal. Could someone be close to the house already? Somewhere they would be out of view. Could they know there are cameras? Then movement out by Ronda's car caught her attention. "What was that?" she leaned in again. A man was walking down the street away from the car. "Well, it's not against the law to walk after ten." Robin wasn't going to stop watching though, something or someone had Friday upset. Everything in her body was telling her to listen to his instincts. Something was going on out there.

…

It was quickly becoming clear he would need a distraction to get that woman watching the house to leave. Something was going to have to happen that made her want to follow. It would be a little less noticeable than shooting her.

Faison pulled out his cell phone, he would need a little help for this and knew who would love to get this one out of the way. After a short conversation, Faison settled in to wait. He was parked far enough from the house that he should go unnoticed, except for possibly from his people.

Ten minutes late, Faison grinned to himself, he was impressed at how quickly Jonathan had gotten there. He walked past the car once, then a second time. A few minutes later, he walked up to the car again but this time he stopped. Faison could tell he was talking to the person in the car but couldn't hear him.

He was yelling now, Faison might not be able to hear him but Ronda could.

"Why are you here?" he yelled. "You need to go! Get away from my house!"

This guy wasn't going to stop. If he keeps yelling it won't be long before people start calling the cops and complaining.

"Hey, lady. I see you sitting there. You need to leave!" He walked over and hit the hood of her car. "You can't stay here!" he yelled.

Ronda knew she had to stay close to Robin but she also couldn't stay here. Reluctantly she started the car and waved the man away. She may have to drive away for a little while and then find another spot to park. Hopefully, by then this guy will be in his house asleep.

When she got to the corner Ronda paused long enough to call Sean. "Hey, I had to leave my location. I'm going to drive around the area for a little while then head back and park"

"Alright, thanks for checking in. I could see there was something going on."

"I think the guy was drunk. No big deal," Ronda told him.

"Let me know when you have eyes on the house again." They needed someone close to her.

"Will do." Then she ended the call. Before pulling away Ronda glanced back and noticed the guy was still standing there watching her. Of all nights, why is it tonight the weirdos are out?

…

Robin watched in shock as some man yelled at Ronda. What is happening out there? She was even more shocked when Ronda started her car and pulled away. What on earth? Robin didn't like this.

Who should she call? Who is doing what this evening? Who's where? Why didn't she want to know a little of the plan? "Oh, they're using those other phones. Where are the numbers?" Robin started looking around on the desk hoping her uncle had written down the number for the satellite phones they all have and left them here. Maybe for her.

Looking through the papers on the desk, she grabbed one, "Yes, this looks like it." Then she saw it, the third number on the list Robert and Anna. That's who she's calling.

Grabbing the phone Robin quickly dialed the number. "Come on, answer."

"Hello."

"Mom!"

"Robin! What's going on?" Anna knew something must be wrong. They didn't even know she had this number.

"Someone was outside yelling at Ronda and then she had to leave. No one is here."

Anna could hear the fear in Robin's voice. "What? Are you in the secret room?"

"Yes. I'm locked in and the rest of the house is dark."

"Alright, we will be there shortly. Wait for us, we are coming for you, sweetheart." Anna hung up "We need to get Robin out. She's been left without cover."

"Let's find out if they finished the secret entrance?"

"They did. Drop me off at the entrance, give me five minutes then back into the driveway and wait."

"Oh, I like how you think. He only needs to see that you've gotten her. No one needs to know how you got inside." Robert grinned at her, then turned to the corner. They were only four blocks away. This was exactly why they wanted to be on the move.

A few minutes later Anna was punching in a code at a hatch opening that appeared to be part of a large mechanical box. Enough wires were coming out of it that ran up to poles people would assume this was an electrical transformer but it was only an empty shell with a tunnel. A tunnel that just happened to come up through the floor in the new addition they built for their house.

Once she was inside Anna pulled out her flashlight. A five-foot tunnel was better than crawling but she still had to watch her head. Anna made good time, quickly she was at a ladder that led up into their secret room.

"It's Mom, Don't freak out! Anna called. She knocked before pushing up on the door above her.

The first thing she saw was Friday's nose. "Hey buddy, let me in."

Robin was standing there not believing what she was seeing. Her mother just appeared out of the floor. This was not what she had expected when she called them but she loved it. There's a secret passage. That doesn't even surprise her.

"Hi, Mom!" Robin said as Anna stood up straight and closed the hidden trap door again.

'Hi, sweety. Oh, it is so good to see you." Anna pulled Robin into her arms and hugged her tightly. "We don't have much time and I think it's best if we leave Friday here."

"He is watching out for me, Mom. I want him to come too. I feel safer with him around."

"Alright. Get his leash, we need to be out the door in 75 seconds."

Robin pushed the button to open the door and they all walked out, Robin grabbing the leash from the hook as they went to the front door. "What are we doing? Are we just gonna walk right out there?"

"Yeah, we need to be seen leaving."

Robin's head was spinning. She was realizing what was actually happening. She is being taken to safety so that means this is happening tonight. Someone is out there and needs to see them leave together. "It's happening, tonight."

Anna nodded then glanced down to check if Friday's leash was on, it was. She looked at Robin and then gave her a little grin. "You are an amazing young woman." Robin smiled back. "Alright, we need to go." Anna then pulled open her front door and took a step out. She looked around and then waved for Robin to follow.

A car had just backed into the driveway. "Is that Daddy?"

"Who else would it be?" Another grin, then she said. "Let's move, straight to the car don't pause for anything."

Robin nodded and then started moving Anna was covering her as she moved up the walk, and she opened the back door. She looked around to see if she could see anyone as they got in then closed it and jumped in the front. As soon as the door was closed Robert hit the gas. They were not staying around here.

"Mac is meeting us to swap cars. This one will be parked at some little house and we are taking Robin back to Katherine's"

"That's a good idea. We need to get these two somewhere safe again."

"Are you looking after our girl, Furface?" At his nickname, his ears perked. "You protect her. That's right." Robert was looking in the rearview mirror. He saw how Robin was holding on to him, that dog had become a very good friend to her.

"He woke me up growling at something about half an hour before Ronda left," Robin told them.

Robert and Anna exchanged a look. Someone had certainly just seen Anna and Robin leave. They both felt it, Faison had been watching their house. "Where are we meeting Mac?" Anna asked.

"Over on Hillport, it's a little darker and not as many houses. Hopefully, we won't be noticed when we make the swap."

"Good, I want to get Robin somewhere safe as quickly as possible."

They drove in silence the rest of the way, when Robert saw Mac's car driving toward them he stopped and put the car in park right in the middle of the street. Mac pulled up beside them and stopped as well. The brothers looked at each other and nodded, then all of them just knew and got out and switched cars. Nothing was said they just got in the other cars and drove away.

Once they were in the car Robin spoke up, "What happens now? Are you going back out tonight?"

Anna turned in her seat to look at her scared daughter. "We have to. To end this we need our entire team working together to make sure Faison doesn't get away."

Robin nodded, "Alright. I want this to end." She scratched Friday's head, there wasn't much that needed to be said right now.

Anna remembered she had to call Ronda and give her Robin's new location. They were not leaving Robin alone. Someone had to be with her until Faison was stopped. It was a short call, Anna told her where to go and to pull into the garage. The people working for Faison have seen her car, it is better to keep it out of sight now.

…

After swapping cars Mac knew he had to make it seem like Anna and Robin went into hiding even if it was only temporarily. The car they were seen getting into was now parked in front of the little house Tiffany had been visiting. Mac had gone inside and then continued out through the back door. Frisco was waiting in another car parked up the block. From there they would wait to see who showed up here looking for Anna.

Once Mac had gotten in the car they checked in with Sean who was still watching the monitors in his office. Someone had to act as the coordinator. That and if Faison saw Sean, there was no saying he wouldn't just shoot him. They all understood how desperate Faison was going to be. That he knows this might be his last chance to grab Anna.

"So what's happening?" Frisco asked after Mac hung up.

"Robert and Anna had to get Robin out of the house. She's now at Katie's with Ronda and Friday. Robert and Anna will be back on the streets soon. For now, we wait here. Sean thinks Faison will have people looking for the car Anna would have been seen getting into."

"Robin's alright?"

"Yeah, Anna got her and Friday out of the house and they made sure to let themselves be seen leaving is what Robbie told me."

"Alright, Faison is watching. Why did Ronda have to leave her post?"

"Some guy was yelling about her being parked there. She left so none of the neighbours called the cops. Next thing we knew Robin was in play and a rescue was in motion, she called her parents as soon as she felt unsafe."

Frisco was nodding as he listened, "That's good. Faison was there, wasn't he?" His goddaughter has been through way too many of these kinds of situations but at least they knew she could think on her feet.

"I think so," Mac agreed. His gut had been telling him that since he heard Robin had called for help. Faison was too close for comfort.

"Have you had dealings with him? With Faison I mean."

"Yeah, he tried to use my club to poison everyone in it. He was messing with Robby and Anna for months before they went missing. I want that man put to justice."

"What does that look like to you?" Frisco turned and looked at Mac.

Mac looked over at him and then answered. "Whatever it takes to make sure he doesn't hurt another person."

Frisco nodded, "I'm glad that's your take on this."

"I take it you've had to deal with him too."

"Yeah, I've gone up against him with the others and he's targeted Felicia as well. I want him off the streets as much as everyone else."

They kept talking mostly to pass the time now. It had been about forty-five minutes since Mac had first gotten to the house. Now there was a car slowly passing by. A car Mac was certain he had seen by his place in the evenings.

"Keep an eye on that car. I've seen it before."

Frisco reached for a pair of binoculars and wrote down the plate number. "We might want that later." He made a few other notes about the car while Mac watched. After creeping past the house slowly the car sped up and drove off down the street.

"Why this place?" Frisco asked after the car was out of sight.

"I heard Sean bought it. Not sure why but it is coming in handy. Did I mention Sam is in there tonight?"

Frisco looked over, "I didn't think we were using any cops."

"Sean made the call. All I know is she is well-armed and already wearing a vest. She isn't taking any chances."

"That's good though, if the house is approached or just watched there should be some signs of movement for them to see."

Mac nodded as he listened. There were little things he didn't even think of that everyone else just got and saw as something needed. He might be a little out of his league here but he will do whatever it takes to stop Faison so Anna and Robbie can come home.

"Look look look, that's the same car." It had only been five minutes since it had gone by.

"Call Sean, and tell him we have interest in our location."

…

What is happening this evening? How is it that tonight, the night he decided would be when he makes his move is the same night Anna came for her daughter? He had seen them both clear as day walk out of that house. Anna looked around, hurrying Robin to the car that showed up. It must have been an arranged time. If that was arranged why did they come here after? Why would they leave the car where it could be seen? Were they waiting for another appointed time and this was just where they felt safe to do that?

Faison looked at his watch. It was now coming up on two am. They must have gone somewhere before coming here. Their car has only been here for about an hour. This must be the night they are going to leave. They are using the cover of darkness to cover their movement. "It's a good thing I've been paying attention as well, Anna" Standing at the tree line behind the house he could see the back of the house well. There was a little movement but whoever was inside was trying to stay out of sight.

The walkie-talkie in his hand crackled to life. "Faison, come in Faison."

"Faison here, go ahead."

"Confirmation, that is the car from earlier tonight. Plate matches."

"Thank you. Remain in the area. Radio silence. Over and out."

…

Anna looked at Robert, their eyes wide. Both with their finger on their lips. He is close. He is close enough that the conversation is perfectly clear. Once they had left Katherine's again it was agreed they wanted to be close to where the sting is being set. Not once did they think Faison would wander this close to them. They had heard someone approach about thirty minutes ago.

Since then, all they could do was listen. They could see that Sam was doing a good job staying out of sight but moving enough so someone watching could tell someone was inside. What worried them was if they made a move on him here who is watching him? Who is in the area that could interfere with the takedown?

They are standing about six feet from the tree line, far enough in that they aren't easily seen. If they were right Faison was at the treeline about twelve feet to their right. They can tell when a vehicle goes by but can't see them clearly. There really is no way to safely get the drop on Faison without giving themselves away in the process.

There was nothing to do at the moment. They have to wait and react to what Faison does next.