Mark Young - Off the grid

Drawing closer, Gerrit asked again, “What’s their plan, Senator? What is Project Megiddo?”

Summers shook his head. “I don’t know exactly. They’ve developed-or are about to develop-a self-replicating technology that can embed itself into any communication system, computer program, or spyware. I don’t fully understand its capability, except that they are able to intercept, decrypt, and monitor anyone’s communication-online and off-line.”

“What do you mean off-line?”

“I mean anything you own that involves technology-cell phones, laptops, eReaders, computers-can be used to intercept anyone’s communications. They can gain access to anyone’s financial accounts, medical records, tax files-anything you might want kept private-and they can expose it to the world.”

The senator shakily rose to his feet. “For all I know, they’re listening to us right now. If that program’s operational.”

“Where is this project housed? And who’s working on it?”

Summers gestured helplessly. “All I know is Richard has people coming and going from a place outside Albuquerque, New Mexico. Whatever they are working on can be found there. Kane rarely visits, but he’s in contact with someone there on a regular basis. I’ve been in the room with him when these calls come through. You can tell it’s a high priority by the way he acts. I think they must be really close to making this happen-if it hasn’t happened already.”

Gerrit’s radio squawked with a transmission. “Gerrit, can you hear me?” It was Willy’s voice, very excited.

In response, Gerrit hit the transmission button twice. He didn’t want to interrupt the senator.

Willy almost screamed over the line. “We’ve got three vehicles bearing down on us at a high rate of speed. Richard’s in one of them.”

Gerrit wheeled around and faced Summers. “We’ve got a problem. Looks like Kane and some of his people are headed this way. The way they are traveling, they mean business. I would suggest you come with us.”

“Us? There are others with you?”

“Exactly, Senator. And they heard everything we’ve said.”

The man’s face paled. “You don’t know what you’ve done. You’re going to get us killed.”

“Not if we get out of here right now.”

“And go where?” The senator rose and screamed at him. “Where could I go to hide from that man?”

“Now would be a good time to find out. Are you coming?”

A look of resignation crossed Summers’s face. The man slowly sat down.

“Senator, you’d better get out of here.”

The man shook his head. “Nowhere to run that he can’t find me.” He picked up his drink and took a sip before speaking. “Gerrit. One more thing. Once Megiddo kicks in, watch out. You’ll be facing the forces of hell. They’ll be able to throw everything at you and anyone else standing in their way. They’re about to launch it-any day. Time is running out.”

Gerrit spun around and sprinted for the door. As he felt the cold night air, he heard the engines of several vehicles several blocks away. He ran to where Joe and the others sat hidden and jumped inside the vehicle just as Redneck pulled from the curb.

Alena leaned next to him. “We thought you’d never get out of there.”

Gerrit glanced back and saw a stream of headlights a block away. Redneck had blacked out their own lights, using moonlight and streetlights to navigate their escape. Joe sat next to Redneck. Gerrit learned forward and touched his uncle’s arm. “How did they know we were here?”

His uncle cocked his head to one side. “I think since Marilynn’s death-maybe even before that-Kane must have been watching the senator very closely. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has the house wired for sound.”

“So they know Summers spilled the beans?”

Joe looked back and nodded.

Gerrit settled back into his seat. “Then I just left a dead man back at that house.”

Joe looked forward. “I think he was always going to die at their hands. Just a matter of time.” He grabbed one of the throwaway phones. “Maybe we can create a little trouble for Kane.” He quickly dialed, waiting for the call to be answered. “Hello, Dispatch. I want to report an attempted murder. Someone is breaking into Senator John Summers’s residence. I think they’re trying to kill him.”

He hung up, leaned out the window, and hurled the phone into a field of weeds. Picking up an encrypted phone he always carried, Joe dialed another number. “Hey, it’s me. Just left Senator Summers’s house in Bethesda. I think Kane is about to take him out. You better start rolling. I’m going to forward a recording of a conversation between the senator and Gerrit. Keep it in a safe place. The puzzle’s starting to come together.”

Gerrit shot him an incredulous look. “Who was that?”

Joe replaced the phone and stared out ahead of them. “One of the good guys. Someday, I’m afraid, you’re going to meet him face-to-face.”

“Afraid? Of what?”

Gerrit was met with silence, his uncle motionless, staring out into the blackness ahead.

Senator Summers finished his drink. Carefully, as if his glass were made of eggshells, he set it down on the table next to him, a trembling hand shaking ice cubes like a gambler rolling dice in a cup.

He flinched when the front door slammed open. Intruders pounded inside, boots heavy on hardwood floors, footsteps echoing throughout the house. Richard Kane emerged from the darkness like an evil apparition, a spirit made of flesh and blood.

“John, you betrayed us.” Fury underscored every word.

John’s voice, unlike his hands, came across strong, as if he was speaking on the floor of the senate. “We’re all traitors, Richard. You, me…all of us.”

Richard approached with a semi-auto in his right hand. He knelt down at eye level with John, arms crossed, weapon pointed upward. “Oh, Senator. How I wished you had stayed strong. I wanted us to finish together. But now…?” Richard shook his head. “Now, I must travel alone.”

“Just make it quick,” John said, his voice now a whisper. “Like you did for my daughter.”

“In good time, my friend. In good time. My people have to check out your house. Make sure we have some…privacy.”

Collette emerged from the shadows, standing just behind the senator. Richard glanced up. “Did you find anything?”

She drew closer and leaned over, huskily whispering into the senator’s left ear, loud enough for Richard to hear. “I found this in his bedroom, Richard.” She held up a small revolver with a gloved hand as she ran a finger through Summers’s hair. “Hardly big enough to hurt anyone.”

She glanced up as Richard silently nodded.

Quickly, she reached down and grasped the senator’s right hand around the butt of the weapon. Summers began to resist. With her left hand, Collette drove two fingers deep behind the senator’s collarbone causing him to scream in pain and loosen his grip on the gun. She yanked up the gun and shoved it toward his temple, forced his fingers into the trigger well, and squeezed. A blast erupted from the barrel.

Summers slumped in the chair. Dead.

Collette looked up at Richard, her face splattered with blood, eyes gleaming. “I believe a vacancy just opened up in the senate, monsieur.”

Mirthlessly, he laughed. “And I have just the candidate to fill his shoes. Now, let’s get out of here.”

Emergency lights from patrol cars and yellow-flashing lamps attached to street barricades filled the night with eerie excitement. Yellow crime-scene tape created an inner and outer perimeter as police and FBI vehicles clogged the streets. A few of the lucky ones were able to drive past the outer line and park in front of the senator’s residence.