Wings of Steele - Flight of Freedom (Book2) (29 page)

“Are you sure that's all of them?” asked Lynette.

Chase nodded, leaning against the counter. “Yep. I'm actually surprised there were no video cameras. But I guess they didn't need video, they were satisfied with audio.” He waved them to follow, turning his phone back on as they walked down the hallway past the bedrooms, over the missing tiles and into the office. “Did Jack tell you about the zombie room?”

Kyle raised one eyebrow, “Zombie room?”

Chase stepped over to the thermostat on the wall near the door. “I helped Jack build and install this, it's
very
cool. He thumbed to a screen on his cell phone with a series of words on it, handing it to Kyle. “Read that exactly as it's written when I tell you.”

“
OK,” nodded Kyle.

Chase pushed the climate control buttons in together and held them, nodding to Kyle.

“Six, Six, Charlie, Oscar, Bravo, Romeo, Alpha, Four, Two, Seven, Sierra, Oscar...”

Chase released the buttons and female voice came from the thermostat control, “Programming command code accepted, voice pattern not recognized... please state your name...” Chase nodded to Kyle again.

“Kyle Steele.”

“
Hello, Kyle Steele, do you wish to add your voice pattern to the command system?”

Kyle looked at Chase and he nodded again. “Yes, I do...” The voice walked Kyle through a set of steps before logging off.

Kyle shrugged, “OK, what now?”

Chase grinned, “Just say your command code out loud...”

Kyle sighed, not sure what it was all about. “OK.
Jaws and paws enforcing the laws...
” Something inside the red brick wall at the back of the office whirred, followed by a metallic clank. As it did for Lisa and Nina, the bricks in the back wall showed an uneven toothy edge as the wall moved evenly inward, carrying the framed painting hung on it, along with it. The darkened opening grew deeper as the section of the wall disappeared inside, the lights winking on. Kyle and Lynette moved forward to get a better look. The six foot by fifteen foot room was still loaded with all the amenities it held before Lisa's departure... minus a few boxes of ammo, a handful of power bars and a few less water bottles.

“
Holy crap...”

“
Oh my...”

Kyle and Lynette stepped inside, looking around the small room packed with supplies, amazed at, well,
everything
. Kyle scratched his head, “Why...? I mean, what for?”

Chase was standing outside the zombie room door, leaning in. “Well, I think it started out as an idea to create a place to keep his firearm collection and ammunition safe while he was away. It grew from there, to, what about other things like important papers and computers. Then he decided to add food and supplies for a storm.
Or whatever,”
he shrugged. “So we started talking about converting a closet into a safe and he decided it would be good to have enough room to retreat to. So it eventually it grew into this.”

Kyle toed the blanket lying on the floor. “Probably a good thing... Looks like the girls stayed in here, this is Gus' blanket.”

Lynette picked up a folded sheet of paper left on the small counter to her right, 'What's this?” she said, unfolding it. “It's a note from
Lisa.”
They stood side by side and read it together.

Hi Mom, hi Dad, The ship must be here, the power went out – Jack told me that would happen. I gotta open the door manually, so I gotta make this short. I hope when the ship pulls out and the power comes back on the door will close automatically; I don't want those assholes to find this room. Jack is over a month away so he sent a Federation destroyer to pick us up. Please don't worry, Nina, Gus and I will be fine. We will be back, but I don't know when. Just so you know, Phil did try to help us but things happened too fast. Love you and miss you already, gotta go, Lisa.

Kyle put his arm around Lynette's shoulder and gave her a squeeze, “They'll be OK, sweetie.”

“
Oh yeah, Mrs. S,” added Chase, “they're fine...”

“
How do you know that?”

“
It made the news. There weren't any TV crews that made it onto the beach, but there were a ton of videos and photos from residents up and down the beach, and a lot of
those
made the news...”

“
When was that?” asked Kyle.

“
Same night. Breaking news bulletins were aired on almost every channel. People were uploading and sending them to the TV stations almost as it happened...”

“
Can we see them?” Lynette looked strained, her eyes watery.

“
We might be able to find some on the internet yet... the MIBs were pretty much going door to door after the fact and confiscating any electronic devices they thought might contain files.” He shook his head, “Assholes. Within about an hour, they blacked out the news channels and kept them dark until they were able to issue a
hoax release
for them to broadcast.” He leaned against the doorway casually and folded his arms across his chest. “Some of the videos were pretty good. You could see the extraction team escorting the girls to the ship, under fire. There was a Coast Guard helicopter that was foolish enough to fire on the team and the ship blew it out of the sky.”

“
Oh my
Lord
.”

“
Yeah, I'm guessing that's what the MIBs were thinking too, they lost a few guys, got their asses handed to them. They're not used to that. So I'm guessing after the fact, they copped quite an attitude.” He shook his head again, “Didn't do them any good, it was already all over the place. They tried to clean up the mess but it was already out of control.”

“
How do you know all of this?” asked Kyle.

“
Jack and Lisa aren't the only people I know on the beach. I have clients down here, people who saw it first hand...”

“
Can we talk to them?”

Chase inhaled deeply, “I honestly don't know. I can ask. But these people are scared, they know the MIB is still down here watching and listening.” He uncrossed his arms and stepped forward, adjusting his shirt, “Let's go get a bite to eat and see how much attention we'll get.” He let them pass and entered the zombie room, activating the camera and security systems.

“I hope we're not taking you away from anything, Chase.” Lynette climbed into the back seat of his extended crew cab, Kyle sitting up front in the passenger seat.

“
No ma'am.” He started the truck and backed out of the driveway. “And if you were, I'd still be here...” He put the truck in gear and began rolling down the street toward Estero Boulevard, the main thoroughfare running along the beach.

“
Well you'll at least let us compensate you for your time,” volunteered Kyle.

“
No, Mr. S, I couldn't let you do that.”

“
Really? Why is that?” asked Lynette from the back seat.

“
Because, Jack is a Brother,” responded Chase.

Lynette leaned forward, “I don't understand...” Chase checked for cars in the rear view mirror before holding up his right hand, displaying his ring. She focused on it and Kyle saw it too. She recognized the design because Kyle's father had worn one very similar to it, a seal showing two Knights riding tandem on one horse. “You're a...”

“Yes ma'am,” he interrupted. Stopping at Estero, he checked for traffic and turned right heading down the beach toward the restaurants. Halfway through the turn he caught a glimpse in the mirror of a black sedan racing to catch up from behind.

“
What does that mean to us?”

“
It means you're on the friends and family plan...” he smiled, glancing at her image in the rear view mirror. “You have friends you didn't know you had. People that you can trust.”

■ ■ ■

It was clear the NSA had a considerable interest in the Steeles, as well as anyone they came in contact with. Chase figured at some point they would initiate contact to either interview them, or maybe something more aggressive. What he wanted to do, was to confirm for them via videos or photos, the girls' safe departure while allowing some privacy from the perpetual eavesdroppers. Secondary but equally as important, was to provide a little protection to the Steeles from harassment, if possible. Spending several days sightseeing and doing other touristy things, the Steeles towed their shadows around and punished them in the baking Florida sun, stopping frequently for little beach-side shops. Frequently checking the home's security and video systems showed the residence had been unmolested so far.

Chase had arranged a meeting with the wife of a Brother who worked as a reporter at one of the local news stations. The station was holding quite a grudge over their manipulation by the NSA and reporter Caroline Murphy happily agreed to meet with the parents of the girl involved in one of the most newsworthy events ever to occur in the area... or possibly anywhere. Chase hoped an interview with the Steeles and an investigative report on the events of that night, distributed nationally to all their syndicated stations might offer some protection via publicity. Publicity to a secret agency was like light to a vampire, it usually forced a retreat into the shadows for survival. Caroline was in possession of copies of that night's broadcast and would bring it along to share with the Steeles, hopefully allying all their fears of the well being for the two girls.

Several days before meeting with the Steeles, using their own parabolic mics and hi-powered lenses on HD video equipment, the investigatory team became the shadows of the shadowers, dangerously tracking the movements of the people who plagued the family. With an HD minicam passed on to them by Chase, Kyle and Lynette took video themselves, from their own vantage points, adding to the volumes of video footage.

The evening of the interview proceeded rather smoothly, Kyle and Lynette riveted by the live footage of the night, Lisa, Nina and Gus disappeared. It was a little bit surreal, almost like watching a Hollywood movie. But startlingly, it wasn't. Knowing it was real made it frightening, horrifying and amazing all at the same time. Lynette didn't realize it but she kept holding her breath for much of it, finally exhaling when the ship left the sand disappearing in the darkness, a spot of light streaking away. It was definite now; the girls were safe and unhurt. The fact that she was actually relieved by her daughter being whisked away on a space ship, never struck her as odd.

The image of them standing at the top of the ramp in the opening in the side of the ship, Gus circling them, was what she had waited to see. The interview went well, the reporter being careful to not get too personal, but including some of the background on Jack, leading up to the present events.

Caroline understood what happened here, and what happened with Jack. The term UFO no longer applied here, this was a close encounter of the third kind, documented and recorded on video. And there's a family history of involvement.

As a reporter, she knew what this story meant and why the NSA wanted it quiet. She envisioned this as at the very least, a thirty minute news special report and her editor agreed, lining up their entire collection of syndicated stations. There are three main awards for news, an Emmy, a Gracie and an AP Award. Caroline could taste all three. She wasn't taking any chances; they uploaded all their video footage to the station and to her own secret server, just in case. She called and confirmed it was at the station before she relaxed, knowing they would create multiple backups as well.

■ ■ ■

Kyle and Lynette sat on the deck sipping coffee, discussing the videos and the interview. They watched a light early morning fog drift low over the beach, the sky above them a bright blue. Kyle relaxed on the deck recliner, his coffee cup on the table between them, the day's newspaper folded across his lap.

The two men in loose casual pants and tropical shirts carrying their own cups of coffee. “Good morning...”

Kyle looked up, recognizing them both. “Morning,” he replied curtly.

Doug Mooreland walked up the three short steps onto the deck, “Mind if we join you?”

“Actually I
do
mind,” replied Kyle dryly, his hand coming to rest on the grip of the stainless steel, seven-shot .357 magnum, sitting on the little table next to his coffee.

“
Easy big guy, we're just a couple neighbors stopping by for a chat over a cup of coffee.”

Kyle raised one eyebrow, “You
must
be joking.” He never took his eyes off them, studying them cautiously. “I really don't think we have anything to talk about.”

“
I wouldn't be so hasty Mr. Steele.” He stepped forward and offered his hand,”Doug Moorland, my friend there is Pete Whitman.”

Kyle remained unmoved, his hand still resting on the grip of the stainless revolver. He stared at him,
through
him, with narrowed eyes. He'd already decided he didn't like the man. Maybe it wasn't the man so much as it was what the man represented, an overbearing, nanny government run amok. Sure, the various secret security agencies of the United States had very valid jobs to do, to protect the interests and security of the country. And its citizens. Somehow that last part had gotten lost, trampled, forgotten. It had become more about the government than those citizens it had collectively taken an oath to protect. “I'm sorry,
Agent
Mooreland, excuse me if I don't jump up to shake your hand, salute the flag and congratulate you for putting my daughter's life in danger.”