Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(79)
“This is Gabe Montgomery.”
“I have the name you wanted of the politician who gave us Point of Entry,” Rappaport said. “Congressman Raymond Reynolds. He was chair of the House Armed Services Committee. Until today.”
Gabe didn’t like the sound of the major’s voice. “What do you mean was?”
“It just hit the news. The congressman and his wife were found in a submerged car in the Potomac. According to the report, they left a suicide note.”
Gabe gripped the phone. Two more deaths. “Thank you, Major.”
“Have you found Ashley?” he asked.
“Not yet, but we will.”
Gabe ended the call just as a low-flying plane buzzed over the Jeep, distracting him. He turned around. It sure as hell wasn’t crop dusting this time of year, but the damn thing flew low enough to handle the job. Nearly took off the car’s roof.
The airfield was only a short distance. Maybe it was a student pilot. He’d never get his license at this rate.
The plane turned and came back. A door slid open.
The hair on the back of Gabe’s neck stood on end.
“Hit the dirt! They’re going to fire!” he yelled.
A spray of bullets ripped through the car, smashing the windshield. Gabe felt the burn through his jacket and knew he’d been hit. It felt like a graze. He couldn’t believe the rest of the shots missed him.
“Is everyone okay?” Zach said, yanking the car off the road into the minimal shelter of the trees in a lot next to the fire station.
No one answered. They just all leapt from the vehicle, hauling their guns from their holsters. “What was that all about?” Gabe swore, the sting in his arm feeling worse as the frigid air froze the blood coming from his wound.
The plane curved around.
“They’re coming back.” Zach ran up beside Gabe, holding a damn scary-looking weapon.
The plane did another pass, strafing everything in its path. The metallic sound of bullets hitting metal filled the air. The spray hit the Jeep again, then tore across the fire station and raked the truck outside.
Firemen raced out the doors, shouting.
“Get down!”
The plane raced past, showering another slew of bullets, littering the fire truck with holes and decimating what was left of the Jeep. Bullets spit through the trees and branches around Gabe, Deb, and Zach, hitting the bark, but not their bodies, thankfully.
“The guy’s not stopping. I’m gonna have to take him out.” Zach pointed his weapon and shot.
The plane teetered. White smoke spewed from the gas tank. It yawed, then turned over and dove into the ground, exploding into a fireball.
“What was that?” Deb asked.
“Piper Cub. Modified with a machine gun,” Zach said. “Someone spent a lot of bucks on that baby.”
Deb cursed. “And someone seriously tried to take us out.”
Gabe pulled her close to his side. “Guess that means we’re on the right track.”
He grinned at his brother. “I like your new toy. Can I have one for Christmas?”
“At the rate you’re getting attacked, I think I’ll move up your gift to Thanksgiving.” He looked down at the gun. “Uncle Sam probably won’t like that I just shot up a civilian plane with their prototype.”
Gabe’s sat phone rang and he put it to his ear. “Hello?”
“Gabe? I just heard there were shots fired near the airport, and there’s a huge plume of black smoke in the air,” Whitney shouted through the phone. “What happened?”
“The cardinals in Rome didn’t elect a new Pope?”
“You’re a jerk. Was anyone hurt?”
“Everyone’s alive. I got winged, but seeing as they wanted us dead, I’ll settle for that.”
Whitney was silent. “Wait for me at the airport. I’ll help deal with the local authorities. I’m going to move my parents someplace safe, then I’m coming with you.”
“To Denver?” Not good.
“Yes, but we’re going via Winslow, Arizona. I’ve got information on a warehouse that might lead to Ashley. We’ll talk more on the plane.”
* * *
CHAPTER NINETEEN
* * *
THE HUGE TRACTOR-TRAILER lumbered down the highway, the trucker recounting tales of the road to entertain them. Justin tried to laugh at the guy’s jokes, but he couldn’t stop looking out the windshield. Where were they? He hadn’t thought southern Idaho was this desolate. He never figured they had desert, but he and Dave had trudged through it for hours before hitting this road.
He wanted to spill everything to the trucker and beg for help, but Ashley and Floyd had warned him about the corrupt cops. He didn’t know who to trust. Still, he wished he could get on the trucker’s CB and announce the camp’s presence to the world and beg them to go in and rescue everyone.
Only the fear that the heavy-duty weapons the guards carried would be automatically turned on all the recruits, including Ashley, kept Justin silent. If the Warden perceived an imminent threat, he would massacre everyone.
Dave wheezed beside him.
“You okay, buddy?”
Dave nodded at Justin, but sweat beaded his brow. Each breath was a struggle. Dave’s asthma had slowed them down but as soon as the cell phone Floyd had stolen got a signal, Justin would call Ashley’s sister. He’d stick to the plan, then get Dave to a hospital.