J Saint - Collateral Damage

She ended the call and frowned. The man had sounded more rushed than worried. Shrugging off the thought, she turned to Jack only to find him studying her.

"What did the man say to make you frown?"

"Nothing really. He was shocked at the news, but then didn't ask many questions. He sounded rushed. Probably was in a hurry to get someplace safe. It won't take us long to get there. It's a straight shot up Interstate 85."

"Good. There's a pay phone at the front of the store. I'm going to give the cops an anonymous tip about Thomas and we'll hit the road. You stay here. I don't want you on the surveillance camera if they've got one on."

"Why?"

"We don't know exactly what Bill's involvement in the Lebanon situation was, but his friends are dropping like flies. I'd rather there not be any concrete evidence connecting you to their deaths."

"For my safety?"

"Yes, and because someone might try and say you had a hand in the murders."

"That's insane."

"I learned a long time ago that when it comes to crap like yesterday and today nothing is impossible." Jack reached into the back seat. He dug an oversized black windbreaker and a red baseball cap from his backpack. Within sixty seconds he was barely recognizable. The hooded windbreaker shadowed his face and concealed his short hair. Then he'd buckled his jeans about his upper thighs, leaving a hint of blue boxers to show between the jacket hem and the top of his pants. The major slouch he achieved as he stood from the car cut several inches off his height and put him among the notorious ranks of rappers and hip-hop teens worldwide. The way he sauntered to the pay phone should have won the man an Oscar. To the casual eye, he looked exactly in character. Even held a hand to his ear as if listening to a jiving tune as he bounced while dialing the phone. He made a return performance and they were on their way. Lauren didn't have a clue what she would say to Conrad when they reached Hartwell. Just exactly how did she say her husband was a terrorist, and by the way are you one too?

Conrad danced a little jig as he hung up the phone, making his motor boat rock. Talk about luck. A genuine, juicy, Georgia peach was about to fall into his lap. A five-million-dollar one to boot. Surely by putting her letter with the three he now had, he'd be able to figure out Bill's code. Edward's letter really didn't reveal much. The man hadn't necessarily died in vain, but the clue hadn't been all that hot.

There once was a king. He died on a throne. In his land of Grace, did the whole world mourn.

Damn. He didn't have any more time to think about it now. He had some major shit to accomplish before Lauren arrived. He'd had all night to think and plan. He had done some planning, really he had, even though he'd relived-several times-every bloody, glorious moment of Edward's demise. He'd come to the conclusion that the best way to move forward was to kill himself and then go after the other letters and frame either Bob or Ray for the deaths of Edward, Thomas and his own. Having Lauren arrive only sweetened the pot. He'd off himself before she arrived and then kidnap her when she got here. The perfect crime.

He was already on his boat, having calls to his house phone forwarded to his cell. He had to finish rigging the engine to explode and get his scuba equipment ready. After that, he'd wait for the right moment to create the spectacle. His boat would blow to smithereens and a short time later Lauren Collins would disappear forever.

It would go into the cold case annals as being the most unsolvable mystery of the century. His palms grew damp and his dick swelled with anticipation. Oh the things he would do to her. The ways he'd use her. He'd leave no fantasy unfulfilled. And he'd built up quite a few of them watching porn over the years.

The accident with Thomas had truly freed him, let the inner man come out and rule.

"Sex slave," he whispered, just to hear the words out loud. He shivered with another wave of excitement. No more lonely nights jerking off to computer smut. He'd have the real thing for as long as he wanted it. He'd have five million. He could go anywhere and be anybody. This time he'd turn the tables and take life by the balls instead of it being the other way around as it has always been. He couldn't wait.

Of course, she'd have that muscle with her, the man with the gun who was keeping her out of the clutches of the shooter at her house. Conrad would just have to prepare a little surprise for him. Something that would leave him Tango Uniform as they phrased it. Good old jargon for tits up or, as his grandpap used to say, dead as a door nail.

Fayetteville, North Carolina

1000 hours

Roger paced and the nurses running up and down the hospital hallway gave him a wide berth. He not only felt like hell, but he was pretty sure he looked it too. Beck hadn't answered his phone despite the numerous calls Roger had made over the last few hours, and Roger had reached the point where he was going to have to let the brass and his cousin Paul, the President, know. They had to be made aware of Beck's state of mind. That Roger had yet to inform them of Beck's instability was unforgivable, but Roger had found himself between a rock and a hard spot. He had the responsibility of taking care of his men. That meant cutting Beck some slack when dealing with shit that Roger himself was struggling to handle.

If he took the human element out of being a commander then his men would lose heart for the team. Courage, loyalty, perseverance, everything that made a soldier stand true in the most hellish of battles came from the heart. He was keeper of their hearts and he'd failed miserably since Lebanon. His only hope was that they'd get through this. That his men would heal and they'd once again regain their solidarity for the team. Restoring the same respect that he'd had before wouldn't happen but he didn't necessarily deserve it now.

His phone vibrated and he read the text. It was from Beck. Gag order still in place. No guarantees though. In DC for the day.

The man's destination had Roger biting another bullet. Since DT was in Georgia that left only Pecos for Beck to visit at Walter Reed. Pecos who had been blinded in the explosion. One minute in the company of his wounded men and Roger himself was screaming inside to be honest with them. Just exactly what shape was Beck going to be in when he got back?

But as Beck was on leave there wasn't a damn thing Roger could do to stop him.

Which meant he had no more excuses to avoid Mari.

His cell rang and Officer Cain's number showed on the screen. Hopefully there was good news. As in the madman after Mari was dead.

"Weston here."

"Lt. Col., I think we may be on to something. Unfortunately, it's bad news."

"What do you mean?"

"We ran the name Dugar through the system along with Mari's description of the man and if we're right then the situation is serious. Ever hear of Frank Dugar?"

"It's not ringing a bell."

"Extremist. Part of the Washington Viper Militia the FBI took down two years ago."

"The group behind the Vigilante Bombings?" The knot in Roger's gut was practically suffocating. The Viper Militia had set themselves up as America's judge. They were suspected of bombing abortion clinics, burning migrant camps and health departments for aiding and abetting illegal aliens, and assassinating several local judges and city officials for crimes against America when court cases or legislature didn't line up with their philosophy. The FBI had raided their camp. Most of the militia had died when a cache of explosives had detonated during the gunfight. Several of the extremists, though, had escaped over the border into Canada and had disappeared.

"That's right. Before hooking up with the Viper Militia, Dugar spent most of his life either in jail or in mental institutions. His last conviction was for aggravated assault. Nearly beat a man to death over a traffic dispute, but the judge went light on the sentencing because the other man pulled a gun on Dugar first. Sucker missed the shot and Dugar didn't give him another chance. Stay alert and let me know if you see anything suspicious."