Politics of Blood (Gray Spear Society Book 8) (30 page)

"Lately, I've started to," Haley said.

"My sister had a very hard time describing the experience. She claimed she could hear the heartbeat of the universe. A billion watts of healing energy blasted through her body. She was babbling and crying like a little girl. This woman is a criminal defense lawyer. She never breaks down."

"What about the AIDS?"

"The doctor claimed the disease is gone," Seferis said. "My sister believes it. She'll get tested, of course. We'll see if it's true. The doctor left without giving her name or asking to be paid."

Haley furrowed his brow and sat back. He didn't doubt the sister was healed. His repaired heart was proof enough of Ethel's miraculous capabilities.

"Next time you see Miss Pickenpaugh, you'll have to thank her."

"I don't know if I can, sir," Seferis said. "I'll give it a shot."

"Any word on the Pure America prisoners?"

"All still missing. A body was found in a field south of Chicago. The victim was burned after suffering many crippling injuries. His wrists were bound with barbed wire. Evidence suggests it might be Olaf Wagner, but identification has been difficult."

Haley sighed. This was the dark side of Ethel's work. She gave life with one hand and took it with the other.

"You're correct," a new voice said. "That was Olaf. I broke his bones, flayed his skin, and roasted him alive. And I enjoyed it."

Haley spun around. Ethel walked in from the balcony. She was wearing black and gray tights with a striped camouflage pattern. Body armor, a combat helmet, and a military-style utility belt gave her a rugged appearance. In addition to an assortment of ordinary weapons, her machetes were strapped across her back, and the handles were in easy reach.

"Freeze!" Seferis said. He was holding a gun aimed at her chest.

"Lower the weapon," Ethel said calmly, "or I swear to God, you will lose that hand. I have no more patience with your foolishness."

Haley looked into her enlarged, impossibly dark pupils. "George, put the gun away
now
."

Seferis reluctantly holstered the gun.

"Mr. Seferis," Ethel said, "the next time you do that, it will be the last. Am I clear?"

He nodded.

"I heard your sister was treated for her illness this morning. I trust she's feeling better?"

"Yes." He looked down. "Thank you."

"You owe me for her life." She looked at Haley. "Roy, my team is here. I want you to come into the woods and talk to them. Go straight west. It's urgent."

"How long have you been here?"

"Since this morning."

He found this news comforting and disturbing at the same time. The Secret Service had gone to great lengths to keep this location a secret.

"I can't go walking in the woods alone," he said. "It's not safe."

"It's safer out there than in here. If it makes you feel better, bring your lapdog along." Ethel nodded to Seferis. "Nobody else though. If you attempt to surround us, arrest us, or spy on us, we will take it as a hostile act. I'm sure your agents are good men. I'd hate to see them die needlessly."

Ethel turned, went back to the balcony, and jumped off. It was a three-story drop, but apparently, she didn't care.

Haley hurried over to the balcony. She was already gone. Four Secret Service agents were standing in the grass with bored expressions.

"I guess we have a meeting now," Haley said softly.

"Not until I send some men to check it out," Seferis said.

Haley faced him. "Are you crazy? They'll get murdered."

Seferis frowned.

Haley pointed towards the forest outside the window. "These people cure incurable diseases. They walk through the world's tightest security like it isn't even there. They know all our secrets. They are creatures of myth and legend. Stop fucking with them!"

"You want to just walk into the woods like a couple of boobs without even taking the most basic precautions?"

"That's exactly what we'll do. If Miss Pickenpaugh came here in person to tell me a meeting is urgent, I must believe her."

"They're criminals," Seferis said. "Anarchists."

"They certainly play by their own rules. Whether those rules are right or wrong is open to debate. Let's go. I'm curious to hear what's so important."

The two men went downstairs and left the house without telling anybody where they were going. The sun was setting outside. The air was getting chilly, and Haley thought about running back for a coat. He decided not to. He hoped this meeting wouldn't take long.

Seferis told his agents to stay back and continue to protect the house. They gave him very curious looks. The President wasn't supposed to wander off with only one guard. Protecting the house seemed pointless when he wasn't there. Seferis just shrugged in response.

He and Haley proceeded through grass and brush towards the trees.

"I can't believe we're doing this," Seferis said, "especially after what happened in the United Center."

"They saved my life."

"They knocked out a room full of federal agents, including us."

"Without killing anybody," Haley said. "You have to admit that was very impressive."

Seferis grunted. "They tortured a man to death."

"Not necessarily a bad thing in his case."

They entered the forest. Dark shadows made the cool air feel even cooler. The sun provided barely enough light to see the uneven ground. Haley had to watch carefully to avoid tripping over a root.

Four figures appeared in front of him. He recognized Ethel, Aaron, and Boreas even in the poor light. A gorgeous, young, black woman was with them. Haley had seen her in the United Center after the bombing. She had dressed like an FBI agent then.

Nobody was disguising their intentions now. The group had enough weapons to fight a war. Their black and gray camouflage made them difficult to see in the twilight.

"You came quickly," Ethel said. "I appreciate that."

"What's so important?" Haley said.

"Wait," Seferis said, "before we get into that. What happened to Pure America? All my prisoners disappeared last night."

"The enemy took them," Aaron said. "I'm sure they're dead by now. The only one we got was Olaf, and we were lucky to get him."

"What enemy?"

"All in good time. We're going to play a shell game tonight, but instead of balls, we'll use human lives. I'm hoping to lure the enemy out of hiding. It will be dangerous though. You have to follow my instructions precisely."

"Wait a minute," Haley said. "Since when do I follow your orders? I just came here to talk. You're lucky I did that much."

Aaron walked over. With his great size, thick muscles, and heavy eyebrows, he was a menacing figure. "I'm doing everything in my power to save your life, but I require your cooperation. I was right about Pure America being just a decoy. The real threat is far more insidious."

"You have to give me some information. Otherwise, how can I trust you?"

"I will tell you this. Your true enemy has been watching you since this morning, just like us. Somebody gave them your location. There is a traitor in your midst." Aaron looked at Seferis. "Perhaps one of your Secret Service agents."

"Hey!" Seferis said. "Every one of my men is completely loyal."

"I don't think so. Until we find the traitor and neutralize the enemy, we're going to play by my rules."

Haley noticed the young woman was carrying a sword in her right hand. The blade was jet black and smoking, but that effect was probably just a result of the poor light.

"Roy," Ethel said, "this is one of my best men. His accomplishments are extraordinary. You can put your life in his hands with complete confidence, as I would."

He frowned. She was asking him to take an enormous leap of faith.

The smoking sword was distracting him. "What's going on?" He pointed. "Is your sword burning?"

The young woman looked at her weapon. "Ma'am, may I show him?"

"Go ahead," Ethel said in a tone of resignation. "We've bent enough rules already. Bending one more won't make a difference."

The woman slashed a rocky outcropping. Astonishingly, the blade cut the stone like it was cotton candy. She held up her sword, and the darkness melted away, revealing ordinary steel.

"It's not the sword that's burning," she explained. "It's me."

Haley shook his head in dismay. These people were made of magic.

"Enough show and tell," Aaron said impatiently. "Time is running short. I need you to gather up your entire staff and move them to the largest room in the house. I mean
everybody
. Pull all the guards. Templeton and his people, too. Anybody who isn't there will die."

"I don't understand," Haley said.

"Just follow orders. Take all the phones and radios away. We don't want the traitor tipping off the enemy that something is amiss. Enforced radio silence is essential to this operation. The only person allowed to carry a phone is you. It will be this one."

Aaron gave Haley a gray phone. It felt unusually thick and heavy as if it were armor-plated. Ethel had a similar phone.

"I'll call you when it's time to evacuate the house," Aaron said. "Get everybody out in an orderly manner, and do it
quickly
, but wait until I give the word. Follow this escape route. Do not deviate from it."

He gave Haley a piece of paper. It looked like a map, but the darkness made it hard to tell.

Aaron continued, "Travel on foot. Leave the cars behind. If I see any stragglers, I'll blow their heads off."

"Why?"

"Because it means they're not trustworthy. Seferis, use your agents as shepherds to keep the flock together. I'm counting on you to be an asset instead of a liability this time."

"But...," Seferis said.

"Quiet," Aaron growled. "This has to be done exactly right. The escape route will take you to a back road. You'll receive further instructions there. Look for other men dressed like us. Mr. President, keep everybody moving no matter what happens. The people who follow orders are the ones who will survive."

"What if I don't like this plan?" Haley said. "What if it doesn't work?"

"Then we'll kidnap you and kill anybody who tries to stop us. I was told your life is the only one I must protect."

Haley looked at the deep, fresh cut in the rocky outcropping. "Who told you? Miss Pickenpaugh?"

"No," Aaron said. "All of us are operating under the orders of a higher authority."

"Even her?"

"Her most of all."

Haley had a hard time imagining anybody giving orders to Ethel. She seemed to do exactly as she pleased.

"Go," Aaron said. "It's getting dark. We're almost out of time."

"Why?"

"Go!" Aaron gave Haley an abrupt shove.

Haley stumbled away in the darkness.

Seferis caught up to him. "Are you actually going to do this, sir?" Seferis whispered.

"What choice do we have?" Haley tripped over a root and almost fell.

"We can sneak away."

"The last thing we want to do is betray our allies and leave ourselves exposed to our enemies. My gut is telling me we have to play this crazy game if we want to get through this in one piece. Besides, running away is the act of a coward. I never retreat from danger."

"I know that very well, sir." Seferis shook his head. "I must be going insane. The way that woman cut that rock. You were right. Creatures of myth and legend."

* * *

Everybody was in the dining room of the house. It was the largest space available, and still, it was crowded.

President Haley, Vice President Darrow, a few staffers, and thirty Secret Service agents were present. Bernard Templeton and members of his household staff were also there. The most important people got the chairs, and the rest had to stand. They were milling about and speaking in hushed voices.

The pile of phones, radios, and tablets on the table was impressive. Everybody carried portable electronics these days, and in most cases, they had two or three items. By order of the President, the people had surrendered their communication devices. Absolute radio silence had been achieved.

Templeton was sitting next to Haley. The billionaire leaned over and said, "You still won't tell me what's going on?"

"I wish I could," Haley said.

"This is very upsetting."

"For both of us."

Haley studied the map in his hands. It was a beautifully detailed satellite photo of the house and surrounding area. A red line marked a curved path that led to a narrow, dirt service road. The line followed the trees as much as possible. Clearly, the intention was to stay under cover and out of sight. They would be walking through rough terrain at night, but all the Secret Service agents carried flashlights. Haley was proud of himself for thinking about that detail.

He sighed with impatience. All this waiting was a subtle form of torture. He wished whatever was going to happen would start already.

George Seferis was giving last minute instructions to his men. Haley wondered what the Director was telling them. Hopefully, it wasn't too much.
Is there really a traitor in the room?
Haley thought. He studied the faces but didn't see any guilty expressions. There was a lot of confusion and unease though.

The gray phone rang. He flipped open the cover and put it against his ear. "Yes?"

"A UAV loaded with explosives is flying towards you," Aaron said. "Evacuate now. Follow the planned route. Move!"

Haley's eyes widened.
Is the military attacking me?
He shoved the phone into his pocket and yelled, "Let's go! Quickly! Stay together and follow me!"

With the map in hand, he took the lead. He hoped nobody would question his authority.

He left through a side door and walked out into the moonless night. It was impressively dark. A Secret Service agent used a flashlight to light Haley's way. He looked back and saw an orderly line of bobbing lights. Nobody was panicking, but they had no reason to panic. That would change in a moment.

He was about two hundred yards from the house when he heard it. A soft buzzing noise passed overhead like a giant, invisible bumblebee.