Kathy suggested they all drive to Newark in the Cadillac. Once there she would rent a car in an alias, and they would stay in a Newark motel. Jack then asked Anita to tell them her plan to take down Olsen when he showed up at the meeting. He knew Anita’s plan would stress simplicity. She recommended they all carry .22 silenced handguns. Jack would be seated on a park bench at the meeting site. Once Olsen was spotted approaching the meeting site, Kathy and Anita would close in on him from opposite directions. Olsen’s escape routes were limited to cutting behind the bench through Central Park or dashing into traffic across to the Plaza. No one would take any shots that might hit a civilian.

Jack added, “If the cops come, no one shoots. We are short at least three people for this kind of take down. So remember. No capture! This is a killing mission.”

Anita thought a moment and said, “Jack, if he runs into the street, you probably will have the only good line of fire, directly away from your position. If he cuts into the park, I don’t care how good he is – he’s at least 60 years old – you should be able to run him down. Kathy and I’ll charge into the park on your flanks. Take your shots. If he goes down, the first one to him finishes the job.

“After the action is over, we drive back to Newark, turn in the rental and drive back here in the Cadillac. If anyone gets hurt, I have my medical kit in the trunk of the Cadillac. Anything beyond my skill will have to be done in a hospital.”

Jack said, “Okay. Let’s not take any stupid chances. A serious injury requiring a hospital will put us all in jail, if the injury can be connected to an attack on Olsen.”

Kathy pointed at Jack and said, “So we need a cover story. If you get hurt, give your weapon immediately to another team member. Stick to the story. We are tourists on a visit to the city. I’ve a room in the St. Moritz Hotel just across the street from the meeting site. We met in the hotel bar, and both of you have a room in Newark. If necessary, our cover story will be some wild maniac with a knife or gun attacked while walking in or along the edge of the park. You had never seen him before and have no clue why he attacked you. Only connect all of us together, if it makes our story stronger or if we have no choice. If we stick to the cover story and are not found with a weapon, we should be okay, except my alias won’t stand up to an official investigation and you two are here in true name.”

Anita said, “The worst case scenario is Olsen might be wearing a protective vest of some sort? He wears a vest because he doesn’t trust Yuri anymore. The .22 caliber fails to penetrate the vest, and Olsen grabs Jack to use him as a shield. Kathy and I can’t get a clear head shot. Olsen drags Jack deeper into the park, sees us closing in and begins to shoot. At close range, Olsen is not going to miss. The Hi Standard .22 rounds we are using won’t penetrate the vest, and with you acting as a bullet soak, Olsen will be hard to take down. That is my worst nightmare.”

“Anita! Let me tell you a secret. Olsen is not dragging me anywhere. Get the nightmare scenario out of your head. I am not cut out to be a bullet soak. Okay! The action is in mid-afternoon. No flexibility in Yuri’s meeting arrangements. The meeting takes place at 3:00 p.m. rain or shine. A heavy rain shower could screw everything up. If having a weapon is going to be a problem, wipe it down and toss it on the ground and clean your hands with Clorox wipes in case you fire your weapon. Tomorrow morning we leave for Newark. Now get some sleep.”

The next morning they were up early and, after putting Shadow in the kennel, left for Newark. Using a prepaid cell phone, Kathy called a Best Western in Newark and reserved two rooms in her alias. She knew her card wasn’t backstopped and could be used only for making the hotel desk clerk happy. She would pay cash when checking out.

The road trip to Newark was uneventful. After getting settled in the motel, they took a cab to Manhattan. Kathy checked into the St. Moritz using her alias credit card and driver’s license. Before dinner they walked along the edge of the park opposite the hotel. While Kathy and Anita with her cane were strolling on the edge of the park examining various scenarios and routes, Jack sat on one of the benches thinking though the problem and timing again. The main problem, he thought, is in getting clean away without any trouble from the police or good Samaritans. They will have to move very quickly once the action starts. He doubted more than a minute would pass once the action started. This Olsen guy is desperate and a fanatic, a very bad combination.

The timing is all very close as well. This all goes down at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow. Before 3:05 or sooner, this operation could be played out. Then with Olsen dead or on the loose again, they had to get safely back to the cabin. There could be a hell of a lot of slippage in all the running around. After dinner in the hotel, Kathy made the room look slept in and leaving light disposable luggage in the room, they took a taxi back to the motel in Newark.

The next morning was spent making sure all knew their roles and the clean-up procedure. The motel rooms were wiped down with oversized chemical wipes to get rid of any fingerprints or DNA. Bills were paid with cash, and by 11:30 a.m. everyone had checked out.

All questions and what ifs had been answered. They could do nothing now except wait, often the hardest part of any clandestine operation. The Cadillac was left at the motel. Using the car she rented, Kathy dropped Jack and Anita near the meeting site. She then pulled into a parking garage a few blocks away and walked back to the area of the meeting site. By 2:30 p.m. Jack was strolling in the park. Anita and Kathy were in position to cover the flanks of the meeting site. At 2:55 Jack, wearing clothes and a hat like Yuri’s, began strolling east toward the park benches. A few minutes later he sat down on the park bench. Kathy attached herself to a nearby group of tourists listening to a tour guide. Pedestrian traffic was moderate. At least half of the benches were empty. Jack was watching the scene like a giant chess board. No one looked out of place. Even a pro like Olsen would not pick up anything if he was watching, and Jack was sure he was watching.

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The next morning after a run on the game trails around the hunting cabin, Jack watched the morning news while he cleaned up the breakfast dishes. There was a lead story on the hillside shooting at Fisherman’s Inn. The bodies had been identified as one Chester Allan Morgan and his son, William Morgan of Tilghman Island on the eastern shore. Chester Morgan was the sole owner of a small marina that recently burned killing his common law wife, Maria Stanton, and her brother Earl, and nephew Joshua Stanton. The reporter, speaking from the parking lot of the Inn, said, “The police have no evidence the hillside shooting and the burning of the marina are tied together. The most important discovery is ballistics analysis found one of the rifles recovered from the bodies on the hillside had been used to kill Representative Cohen and wound two others on the C&O Canal last year.

“Two rifles found in the fire at the marina on Tilghman’s Island are believed to be the same rifles used to kill the mayor of Richmond and the mayor of Leesburg. Ballistic analysis was difficult because of the condition of the weapons.”

The reporter repeated, “The police and FBI have no theories they are willing to share as to the motivation for the killing of Mr. Morgan and his son. The fire at the marina is still listed as an accidental fire set off by one of the occupants smoking while working around a leaking propane tank.

“Our sister channel in Jacksonville, Florida, WKMY is reporting one of the persons killed in a trailer explosion and fire, a Mr. Stanley Jones, a Vietnam veteran, was clutching a shotgun when his body was found under the burned trailer in Yulee, Florida. The other body, Mrs. Norma Carlson, was in the trailer when it exploded and burned. It appears, according to WKMY, the pair of them had manufactured a huge bomb based on a fertilizer and kerosene formula. This bomb was found in a stolen panel truck. The two front tires of the panel truck had been deliberately cut.

“Now, the bizarre part of the WKMY story is that the burned man found outside the trailer in Yulee was clutching a shotgun. Mr. Joshua Stanton was also found with a shotgun near him outside the burned house on Tilghman’s Island. The police have not yet commented on the strange similarity. In fact, our sources tell us the authorities have not connected the two burned bodies clutching shotguns.

“We will bring you more information on this case as it develops. Let us hope the deaths of the Morgans on the hillside behind the restaurant and the people at the marina will end the sniper killings in our region. Who killed them nobody knows. Nor does anyone know why they were killed. A police source said it is possible some third party or competitor is out there settling a personal or business score.” With that the news signed off.

“Well.” Kathy said with a feigned look of concern. “What do you stalwarts think? How many steps away from jail are we?”

Jack couldn’t help laughing at Kathy’s play acting. “Don’t worry, Kathy. We are still very much okay. If the police want to speculate, it’s okay, as long as we are very careful about not leaving a trail of evidence behind us. I’ll tell you one thing: our next letter to the Maryland State Police will be treated with respect.”

Later in the afternoon Kathy and Jack searched Yuri’s computer and DVDs again for anything on the New York cell. After several hours of searching, they found no new hidden drives and no new information on the DVDs. They already had detailed instructions for contacting the New York cell leader. The challenge was to decide which of the possible listed meeting sites would allow an ambush yet seem normal to Olsen. The terse reports of the last ten contacts with Olsen were particularly helpful.

That evening after supper Anita broke out the scotch and asked Jack and Kathy what they had learned. Jack said, “We know what Olsen looks like. He often wears disguises to the meetings, which are nearly all short contacts on the street. His favorite disguises are clerics, street persons and women. He is very punctual, never late for a meeting. From our reading, Olsen is a fanatical Russian communist with a deep hatred for America. He is highly skilled with hand guns and knives. He is not afraid to kill. Yuri’s records show Olsen is one of his best agents. Kathy, please go over the contact plan we worked out. I’ll refresh your drink while you tell us about the world of espionage.”

Kathy said, “Since the FBI has circulated his picture to the media, he will have developed an entirely new persona and appearance. He may even pay some innocent person to go to the meeting site ahead of him to smoke out any traps. Olsen would not care a bit about using innocent bystanders for a shield or even to kill a few of them to create a diversion. We picked a meeting site that has been used before but not in the last year. The site is on the edge of Central Park, right across the street from the old Plaza Hotel.

“The contact plan works like this. We place a personal ad in the New York Times, including what we believe is the proper code word for the meeting site. A date and time are mentioned. Olsen, when he sees the ad, will add five days to the date and subtract three hours from the time. He will expect to see Yuri sitting on one of the benches across from the Plaza Hotel. No signals are used. If either sees surveillance or unfavorable circumstances, he’ll simply abort the meeting and wait for new instructions. They have been doing this for more than two decades, so no need for exchanging bona fides.”

Jack said, “Kathy will dress me up as Yuri. With clothes and a hat like he always wore, I’m sure I can pass for Yuri until Olsen gets right next to me. That’s as far as we have taken this operation. It needs more work. Make no mistake, this guy won’t be taken alive, so don’t hesitate. Olsen won’t.”

Anita said, “I won’t feel comfortable until the bastard is dead. He is a very dangerous person with no concern for anyone or anything not benefiting him.”

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When Jack came back, he told them about his report to Frank. “Frank asked us to help the police and FBI catch the bomber who eluded them. He was impressed with our method of sending information about the New York cell to the FBI. Frank suggested our only shot perhaps is using Yuri’s computer files to see if we can trick this killer into showing up at one of his old meeting sites.

“A couple of assumptions, the Bureau apparently did not find anything in their search of the homes and work places of the two dead New York terrorists and are not getting anything significant from the terrorist they captured to lead them to the fourth member of the cell. The last assumption is the missing cell member is the primary bomber. This threat won’t be over until we get Joseph David Olsen who, according to Yuri’s records, is the original member of the cell and the professional espionage/terrorist-trained KGB agent.”

Jack said, “Let’s take a look at what the media has to say,” and turned on the Satellite TV for the 8:00 p.m. news.

The lead story concerned the recent arrests in New York City. The police were still looking for the fourth terrorist. Nothing was said about how the questioning of the captured terrorist was proceeding. All the terrorists had been identified, and caches of weapons, explosives, false ID documents and sketches and detailed descriptions of several prominent places in the city were found in two side-by-side self-storage containers in Yonkers in Westchester County, within an easy commute to Manhattan.

The FBI’s agent-in-charge of the investigation refused to comment on how the terrorists were apprehended beyond commending the New York City Police Department for outstanding police work and the quick action of the counter-terrorist squad. At the end of the broadcast, a picture of Mr. Olsen was shown with a renewed plea for help from the public in finding this very dangerous fugitive.

Anita said, “Enough speculation for me. I’m going to get some sack time.”

Kathy and Jack stayed up for another hour planning their approach to kill Olsen. They knew there was no chance of taking him alive.

Kathy said, “You’ve figured out Anita knows we’re going to sleep together?”

“I think she figured it out long ago. Nothing gets by Anita.”

Kathy took Jack by the hand and said, “Okay, let’s go try the hot tub.”

The hot tub was wonderful. Plenty big enough for two. As usual Kathy was in the tub first. “Jack, this is wonderful. I might have an orgasm before you even touch me.”

A few minutes later, Kathy settled, facing Jack with her legs open and loosely around him. The hot water was shoulder depth and the relaxation of the water on his sore muscles and the sexual stimulation of Kathy’s breasts moving slowly on his chest, made Jack think this was about as close as he would ever get to nirvana. Kathy smiled at him and eased him into her. When he was fully in her, they just held each other without moving. He could feel her tightening and relaxing herself around him and knew if she kept that up he would come in her very soon. He began to move in her while his hands teased her nipples. He could feel her arousal growing and increased his thrusting. Kathy fastened her teeth on his neck and shoulder and began gentle nipping, becoming harder as her thrusting matched his. He felt himself losing control as she began her orgasm and came in her with a last strong thrust and arching of his back.

The cabin was quiet. Kathy was sleeping soundly. Jack lay awake, browsing through the planning for another difficult operation. His mind kept wandering from thinking about Kathy to a story she had told him one night when they were both up late. It was about a CIA agent she had known who had penetrated the middle ranks of an Arab terrorist organization. The agent found once he was invited into their homes, the people we call terrorists have many of the same joys and problems we have.

Many aspects of their lives are not much different from ours. There were family problems with in-laws and kids. Marital problems and joys. Kids get sick, teenagers suddenly lose all interest in their academic studies, colleagues get promoted over them, wives can’t or won’t manage money, and bills cannot be paid on time. Kathy stressed the need to respect your enemy’s capabilities and realize they have normal strengths and weaknesses. In waging war against them, you must put yourself in their position. Jack thought, it makes sense, but there was no mercy or understanding in his mind about this group of terrorists. Anita and Kathy don’t know Yuri not only killed his father but also his mother and sister. No way is anyone in Yuri’s network going free, no matter what. At the slightest opportunity, I will take them out.

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The cabin was stocked with Peter’s favorite brand of scotch and beer but short on enough food for three good eaters. Kathy and Anita went shopping for groceries in Latrobe and some colorful table cloths, lamps and throw rugs to brighten up the cabin. When Kathy and Anita returned from their shopping trip, Anita said it was her turn to feed the crime fighters, and she put together excellent angel hair spaghetti, featuring her family sauce recipe with a side of steamed asparagus. Jack found a good Chianti in his father’s collection. Anita said, “This is more like the living I’ve become used to since joining this group of warriors.”

While they were sitting around the table, Jack said, “We need to talk about how we are going to finish off the New York cell.”

Kathy said, “First, let me tell you about Yuri’s written record. It tells us a lot about the contact procedures for his New York cell. However, we don’t know, for example, if a key word or phrase goes into the personal ad contact system, or if a sequence of personal ads is used to verify the message. A personal ad could merely tell the agent to look for a package left somewhere known to both parties. In the trade we call this a dead drop. The possibilities are only limited by the imagination and experience of the people involved. I’ve seen situations when a basic system like the personal newspaper ad directed the agent to check a certain place for some sort of a signal like a chalk mark, which gives further information. The size of the mark, its shape and color, can all contain information not known by anyone else. The information on the DVD we found in Yuri’s house may not be enough.”

Jack said, “My experience is with killers on the run. If you think this guy might have been surveillance sensitive before, you should see him now. He is paranoid and being super careful. He looks different and has a different ID, living in some ‘bolt hole’ somewhere not too far away. He probably also has another place far away from his current hiding place. If he goes there, no one will ever find him.

“Right now he is wondering what the hell happened and who shopped him. He will run through all the possibilities, such as, did someone in the cell attract police attention enough for the police or FBI to have conducted a serious investigation including 24/7 surveillance? Phone taps? Bugged cars and living spaces? Eventually he will rule out all those possibilities and convince himself one of his people was working with the police. The captured cell member will be at the top of his list, followed by Yuri. He will be desperate for contact. Remember, he thinks he is under the control and protection of the Russian Intelligence Service.”

Kathy said, “Agree. I’ll search Yuri’s records again on Joseph David Olsen, or whatever he calls himself today, to see if I can find more information about him. Is he a skilled shooter? Any martial arts training? What kind of physical condition is he in for a man of some 64 years? Hobbies? Interests? Marital status? Lovers? Kids? Friends? Organizations he belongs to? Habits? Vices like drinking, smoking, drugs, little boys or girls? Those are what we need to help us find him.”

Jack smiled and said, “Spoken like a true hunter. The critical question for me is what’s Olsen’s motivation? Does he want to finish the mission or does he merely want to escape and live the rest of his life in peace?”

Kathy said, “If he’s dedicated to his mission, he’ll continue at all costs including his life. If not, he’ll just go away with his bank account. If he is a super Russian nationalist and still believes he’s being directed by the Russian spy center in Moscow, then it’s a wholly different kind of problem. He’ll try as hard as he can to carry out his mission and will be willing to kill anyone who gets in the way. His vulnerabilities make him dangerous.”

Jack said, “While you and Anita are searching Yuri’s records for a plan, I’m going to Latrobe to call Frank. I’ll take Shadow with me.”

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Jack showed her the master bedroom and bath. Kathy shook her fist at him and said, “Don’t tell me we have been living in your crowded apartment when we could have been sleeping in this wonderful room. Your father seems to have had a taste for master bedrooms with luxurious baths attached. I can’t wait to try the tub and the bed.”

“Come with me and I’ll turn on the hot water.”

Kathy said, “Do you really own this?”

“Yes, and all the land as far as you can see from the front porch. The furnishings are a bit Spartan. My father liked simple things. And no woman was ever here to provide a softening touch of color and beauty. There, did I say that right?”

“It’ll do. But how long does it take for the water to get hot?”

“Not too long, but come on back to the bedroom. I have something I want to show you.” Once back in the bedroom Jack asked Kathy to close her eyes. When he told her to open them, the wide door to the hidden portion of the cabin was open. Kathy put her hands over her face and said, “I can’t believe this. It’s either a great dream or a nightmare. Please wake me up.”

“Not yet. I have more things to show you. This is my father’s counter terrorist center. I believe everything we need is here. This is my first time in this hidden room. I never knew it was here. My dad gave me instructions about this place a few weeks before he was killed.”

Kathy walked around the hidden computer/armory room, taking everything in. “Jack, this is unbelievable. Oh! I wish we could stay here for at least a month or maybe until next Christmas. Jack, keep this place secret. Nobody but Anita ever has to know. Okay?”

“I’m happy you like it. I was afraid just maybe you would be spooked at first.”

“Of course I am. Aren’t you a little spooked by this room?”

“More than I want to admit. But get settled and have lunch. I want to see Anita’s reaction to the hidden room of lethal stuff. It will be like another toy store to her.”

Finally, Jack called time for lunch. He set out thawed wheat bread, canned tuna fish, canned tomato soup and peanut butter for those who passed on the tuna fish.

Kathy said, “Well at least this kind of a lunch doesn’t need much of a cleanup, but you can’t keep a growing girl on this kind of nourishment.”

Anita and Shadow came in as Kathy was looking over her choices.

Anita said, “It looks like the counter terrorism business has taken a step back. A snake bites me. A road trip from hell and now half-rations of a questionable background. Where did all the opulence go? I turned my back and it is gone.”

Jack looked hurt and said, “Bitching troops are happy troops. Unless we go shopping, supper may be worse.”

After lunch Shadow pawed at the front door, telling Jack he wanted to go for a walk. Jack said, “Show Anita the special room and get her settled while I take Shadow for a walk.”

Kathy laughed at Anita’s look of puzzlement and said, “Come with me, my warrior friend.”

Walking into the master bedroom, Anita said, “Man, Jack’s father knew how to live. Is this ever a neat retreat?”

Kathy said, “You haven’t seen ‘nothing’ yet. Just watch.”

Kathy walked up to the center bookcase section and reached in back of the books on the fourth shelf. “Okay, close your eyes.”

Turning the receptacle clockwise activated the opening mechanism. As the section swung open, she said, “Okay. You can look.”

Anita, with a shocked look, said, “I don’t believe it. This is something out of an action/adventure movie.”

“Come on. You have to see inside.”

The doors to the gun rooms were open, and Kathy motioned for Anita to go inside. Anita stopped in front of the handgun display and said, “My God! This is an incredible selection. Nines, .38s, .22s, Magnums and 40 Calibers. Is this all Jack’s?”

“Yep. His dad put this collection together for his own use. Now this cabin and the mountain valley as far as you can see is part of his inheritance. Jack wants you to know what is here so you can fit the weapons to the mission. He also wants to move the stuff Frank gave us up here. Oh, and you can treat this as a toy store and take anything you want.”

They spent the next hour and a half going through the weapons section, planning to come back to check out the computer work station and map selection. Jack hadn’t shown Kathy the tunnel exit, and she was as surprised as Anita when they opened the door at the end of the room and found themselves staring down a dimly lit tunnel. Kathy stepped back and said, “Can you believe this? A secret escape from a hidden weapons room! This is spooky stuff.”

While Kathy and Anita explored the secrets of the mountain cabin, Jack and Shadow enjoyed their first real outing together since Shadow was wounded. The spring foliage had made its appearance since then. Other than a few overgrown logging roads, no access roads cut through the area. No great trout streams were nearby. Most of the mountain streams were still suffering the results of runoff from both strip and deep mining for coal. Deer and black bear were common on the mountainside, but this wasn’t hunting season, and with one mountain side resembling another in this stretch of the Alleghenies, little drew urban backpackers.

***

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

During the drive when Anita was sleeping, Jack and Kathy talked about their relationship. Kathy told Jack, Anita knew she was involved with him and said, “I really don’t care if people know. Our personal business is our own but I don’t want to flaunt our emotions in front of others. And I want you to know I do not do one night stands and I do not share. You mean a lot to me, but neither of us has to make any commitments now.”

Jack said, “Day to day is a good course, but I won’t try to hide our relationship. I care too much for you to lie about how I feel, but I am willing to be discreet, most of the time.”

Kathy said, “I’m not finished yet. The work I do now is what I’ve been trained to do. I love it and I love to live on the edge. Do not try to protect me or keep me out of danger. Okay?”

“Does that mean I can’t worry about you?”

“No, dummy, you can worry as much as you want. Just treat me like you do the other troops!”

Jack told Kathy they weren’t going back to the apartment. He was going to take her someplace special. But no questions. It will be a surprise.

They could not possibly drive straight through. Jack used OnStar to reserve rooms for all in a pet friendly motel in Richmond, VA. With the stops Shadow and Anita needed to stretch, it took them ten and a half hours to reach Richmond. Wanting to avoid the morning rush hour around Washington, DC, they waited until nine o’clock to get started after a good breakfast and a walk for Shadow, who was almost back to his old self. With a little help he could easily get in the back of the SUV.

Six hours later Kathy, following Jack’s directions, was driving west on Route 30 in western Pennsylvania. Coming down the west side of the Allegheny Mountains, Jack told her to turn right at the next intersection. Kathy made the turn at Kingston Dam and gave Jack a quizzical look, like where are you taking us.

Jack laughed and said, “Be patient for 15 more minutes.”

Kathy said, “Is it a surprise?”

“More than you will ever guess.”

They drove in silence for the next 20 minutes until Jack said, “Okay. Now slow down. Way down. Turn right just where the big spruce tree is leaning away from us.”

Kathy made the turn, but told Jack, “This doesn’t look good. If you want to have your way with me there is no need to go to all this kind of suspense.”

At this point Anita woke up and said, “Where on God’s green earth are we?”

Jack laughed and said, “Everything in due course. Now get ready to stop. A locked gate is around the next bend.”

When the car slid to a stop, Jack jumped out and to Kathy’s astonishment produced a key, opened the gate and motioned for her to drive in. Then, locking the gate behind him, Jack let Shadow out and got back in the car, trying hard not to laugh at the consternation on Kathy’s and Anita’s faces.

Jack told them they were almost at the Allegheny Mountain counter terrorist center. On either side of the road new foliage limited the view to ten or fifteen feet. Kathy put the window down to breathe in the fresh mountain air.

She pulled into the circular parking place and stared at the cabin tucked into the mountain side. Jack knew his father would approve of this. He enjoyed surprising people he loved. Jack got out and opened Kathy’s door. He had never seen her so quiet. He helped Anita out with her crutches and said, “Come on, you two. I want to show you our secret retreat.” Anita said, looking at Jack and Kathy, “You go inside. Let me stay out here with Shadow for a while. I’ve always loved the Allegheny Mountains. My home is not far from here.”

Kathy got out, took Jack’s arm, and after Jack had disarmed the alarm, they went up the steps. He opened the door, swept Kathy up in his arms, and carried her across the threshold.

Kathy said with an impish grin, “Does this mean we’re married?”

“Aren’t we supposed to get engaged first? That threshold carryover was in honor of the first woman ever to enter this cabin. My father built it many years ago and kept it a secret. I was here a few times as a teenager. Dad used this place to teach me compass reading, tracking and shooting. When I came from Pittsburgh to join him, he told me some secrets about this place. Now, we are about to see the secrets together. Let’s start in the bedroom.”

***

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

That evening Kathy and Jack were enjoying coffee and watching the news after an excellent chicken curry dinner. They both leaned forward when the anchor said the FBI and New York Police had arrested a major terrorist group in New York City. Two of the terrorists had been killed in a gun battle, one is in custody and the fourth is at large. The Director of the FBI stated this group had planned several major bombing acts in New York City. Explosives and detonators, as well as several weapons and a large sum of money, were discovered in a small warehouse rented by the terrorists. Their names are being withheld as usual in the case of an ongoing investigation. Details describing the fourth bomber will be released to the public shortly, and the NYPD asked anyone with information about this person to please call a hotline number.

Kathy said, “It’s a slam dunk the escapee was Yuri’s New York cell leader, the one he calls Primus.”

Jack said, “Damnit! I wish they hadn’t missed him. If he’s fanatic enough, he may still go through with part of the bombing plan.

“You can bet this killer has a backup plan and a hole to run to. If this guy is the professional of the group, the cops and the FBI aren’t going to find him in time. By now he has changed his appearance and identity. We need to get involved.”

Kathy thought for a moment and said, “I’ll check over everything we have in Yuri’s records. Maybe we can set him up.”

Jack said, “We need to head north soon. If al-Qaeda has my father’s name, they can locate this house. I’ll put it on the market and get the Minhs out of here. They have earned their retirement.”

Kathy said, “Anita can travel tomorrow as long as she can stretch out her leg. Her doctor said she should watch for a late blooming infection. Anyway, he wanted her out of the hospital. It’s too easy to pick up an infection there. We need a bigger car. How about a Cadillac SRX? I always check the car ads. A big GM Cadillac dealer is in Jacksonville. I’m sure they will give us a decent trade-in. What do you think?”

“Go for it, as long as you do the dealing. I’ll give you a blank signed check. Make sure the car has a good place for Shadow.”

The Minhs were charged with closing up the house. Jack emptied his father’s secret closet and used long screws to seal the bookcase door to the empty arms closet. He boxed up the weapons with some office equipment and sent them with the moving van. The small amount of C4 remaining was burned. The furniture Jack wanted was marked for the moving company to put in storage in McLean. Everything else was left for the Minhs to use or sell.

The next morning Kathy went to Jacksonville to buy a Cadillac and to pick up Anita at the hospital, while Jack helped the Minhs pack up the house. It was almost noon when Kathy and Anita pulled up in a black Cadillac SRX. Jack was ready to go.

Anita moved pretty well on her new crutches. She gave Jack a hug and told him now she really hated snakes. Jack loaded Shadow and Anita into what Anita called the walking wounded wagon. Kathy slipped in behind the wheel for the 12-hour drive north up Route 95.

***

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

Kathy was back in time for a late lunch. While Anita was glad to see her, she said she felt like a mess and worse. An earlier look in the mirror confirmed she was not fit for visitors. It was too hot to have her leg under any covering and it looked like a beached dolphin lying on top of the bed. “What girl wants to be seen looking like that?”

The medical news was much better than the appearance. The doctor said she was doing well with no infection so far and barring any surprises, she could go home the day after tomorrow.

For the next two days the Brandon household enjoyed playing tourist. They rented kayaks and launched them from Walker’s Landing, an Amelia Plantation community boat launching ramp. The kayaking was great, much better than the fishing. Jack told the Minhs the fish weren’t dumb enough to be caught by noisy, laughing, splashing and otherwise sorry fisher people. They both got a little too much sun and ate too much at the several good restaurants on the island. The food at the Brandon house was better than eating out, but it was fun to get out and around.

On Sunday morning they ate brunch at the Ritz. Kathy was impressed. She mentioned that of all the brunches she had eaten around the world, this was the best. No buffet lines, just different food stations, Oriental, primarily Japanese, unlimited smoked salmon and beluga caviar garnished with mild chopped onions and capers, made-to-order omelets, crepes or any style of eggs with excellent bacon and link sausage, porridge and other cereals, pastry for every palate, melon, fresh fruit and excellent coffee served like magic at the table. Good eaters, they made several trips back to the food stations.

Jack wondered how Kathy kept her magnificent figure with her appetite. He was thinking too much about her. The employee/employer relationship bothered him. He wanted to make decisions without being influenced by the growing feelings he had for her. Romance and operations never seemed to work out, but he knew the more time he spent with Kathy, the more he wanted to be with her. He was afraid he had fallen for her, but he wasn’t going to make the first move.

Jack and Kathy spent the afternoon body surfing and returned with sand and salt water in every crevice. As Jack was getting ready to say see you at dinner time, Kathy took his arm and said, “It’s not night, but I want to come up with you. A hot shower will make a new woman out of me.”

Jack led her into the master suite. His father had designed a master bath opening off the sleeping area with no door. Instead, the walk-in shower was set at an angle with a curved wall providing privacy from the entrance way. Italian tile in desert colors flowed around the walls, surrounding a large garden tub set in copper colored Corian. Framed mirrors hung over the twin basins set in the same Corian.

Kathy took one look and said, “This is opulently magnificent! I can’t wait to get into the shower. Turn on the water.”

Jack laughed and spun the dial for the multiple heads. In seconds the water was warm, and Kathy was naked in the shower waiting for Jack.

She said, “You’re going to have to wear less clothing, if it takes you so long to get out of trunks and a shirt.”

Kathy put her finger against Jack’s lips, and then she was in his arms. Her arms wrapped around him as she pushed her body against him. Jack’s mouth sought hers. His hands ran over her naked body. Cupping her breast, he brought it to his mouth. Her nipples hardened as he gently and then more passionately took them in his mouth. She moaned softly and lifted one leg up around his waist. Jack slipped his arm under her leg and supported her weight. Kathy took his ear in her mouth and ran her tongue around his ear. She put her arms around his neck and lifted her other leg up around his body, rocking gently against him. She put one hand down and gradually took him inside her.

***

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

The next morning Jack and Kathy were watching the local news, and savoring the excellent coffee prepared by Joseph and Betty Minh. Peter Brandon hired Vietnamese immigrants with a combat background whenever he could. The Minhs, like the Nguyens, were also skilled if somewhat ancient warriors. Jack admitted he was a coffee addict and couldn’t figure out how the Minhs made coffee so much better than he did. He knew it wasn’t the Florida water. The stuff was barely drinkable. Kathy was planning to visit Anita in the afternoon. Anita had made it clear she didn’t want visitors until she felt better. Kathy knew it would be a short visit.

Just as she was leaving, the Channel 4 news alert covered last night’s explosion and fire at Yulee. The news alert stated a mobile home trailer had exploded and burned leaving two fatalities. Fire Department officials said the explosion seemed to originate underneath the trailer. Traces of several different types of explosives and associated electronics were found during the investigation. The news alert also said the Nashua County Sheriff’s office had called in the FBI to assist in the investigation. Police were now searching for the next of kin. The names will not be released until the next of kin have been notified.

The news anchor also said, according to the sheriff’s office, the people who died in the explosion were building a major bomb and something went wrong. They believe others were involved, and a fight had broken out before the explosion. One of the bodies was clutching a shotgun, and two tires were cut on the panel truck loaded with a fertilizer bomb. A neighborhood canvas turned up nothing. A hard rain and high tide since the explosion had wiped out any evidence that might have helped the investigation.

Jack said, “Bottom line is they have no leads, and the investigation is approaching a dead end. I think we can say this case is closed. The sheriff’s office has found or suspected something beyond their laboratory’s capability. The burned dead man gripping a shotgun is enough to cause everyone to take a hard look. They may find the two .22 slugs in Jones’ body and maybe the .22 brass casings under the trailer. Still ballistics will not start a trail back to us. We’ll get rid of the .22 just to be safe.

“Jones’ fingerprints may have survived and a check with the FBI’s fingerprint database will turn up his military record. County documents will also identify both of them. If they do a detailed background check on Norma Carlson, the lack of a family or personal history will excite their interest. The panel truck full of kerosene-soaked fertilizer really grabbed their attention. A check of the truck’s VIN will probably show it is a stolen vehicle. Those facts made it a no-brainer for the sheriff to ask for FBI support. The feds will be all over this in no time.

“I’ve been going over a list of the equipment we had with us last night. I think we can account for everything. Anita left a cut-in-half cottonmouth under the trailer, but the fire took care of that.”

Kathy said, “To start with, I believe the Bureau will, at first, take the simple and obvious position a bomb maker made a mistake and blew up the works. Then, I think they will focus on third-party involvement. A careful search of the perimeter will be made and neighbors questioned again regarding anybody they saw in the area. Did anyone see us going in or leaving? Or note our car parked below the entrance to the trailer homes? More untidy ends than I like. The car could be traced directly to us.”

Jack said, “Let me put my homicide hat back on for a minute. First, I think we should strengthen our cover story by staying here a few days for some beachcombing and fishing. If anyone noted the car parked along the road and called the police with a license number, we could eventually be questioned. So we need a contingency cover story, something like you and I were checking our map for a shortcut to Jacksonville and dinner, but gave up and came back here for a light supper. Arriving back at the house, we found Anita had just been bitten by a cottonmouth while fishing on the edge of the marsh. I really don’t expect the police will question us, but it is better to be ready. Stories made up on the fly seldom stand up.”

Kathy smiled and said, “I can handle playing tourist for a few days. Let’s get on with it. Fishing, playing tennis and beachcombing. I’m ready as soon as I get back from the hospital.”

***

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

Anita was in the best position to watch the activity at the panel truck. She reported it had no rear plates. Putting plates on the truck would be the final tipoff a departure was imminent. Lights were on in the trailer. Anita was thankful no dogs were in or near the trailer. Dogs were extremely hard to fool, especially when the wind shifted abruptly and you found yourself upwind from the dogs. This evening the area was quiet. She could make out a TV playing in one of the trailers distant from the Carlson trailer. Most of the trailers were dark.

While Anita was watching the panel truck, Jack moved up and took a position at the edge of the palmettos. “As soon as they move inside, ease up and plant one device in the stack of tins and the other under the trailer’s kitchen area. I’ll disable the panel truck as soon as they are inside the trailer. I’ll stay here and clean up. You head back to the car and get ready to move out. If I don’t show up in 15 minutes, go back to the house. I’ll either join you there or call for a pickup. Everyone stay loose. This could get complicated. Understand?”

Kathy answered, “Got it.”

Anita broke in, “They’re heading back to the trailer.”

Jack said, “Give them ten minutes inside then do your thing.”

“Roger.”

Ten minutes later Anita said she was on her way. Jack, moving fast and low, headed toward the panel truck. He quickly looked inside and smelled mixed fertilizer and fuel oil. He made a quick deep cut in the side wall of each front tire. When both tires were flat, he took up a position twenty feet from the truck where he could watch for Anita’s return. Anita stopped in the shadows against the side of the trailer and listened for movement inside. She could hear voices and a TV tuned to what sounded like a sitcom. She decided to put a one ounce charge of C4 among the cans and another three under the trailer. She reached under the tarp and checked the cans. They smelled of kerosene. Some of them felt full.

She concealed her charge in the center of the stack and set a 15-minute detonator. She picked a hole in the broken, flaking, grey-white lattice trailer skirt and, with her combat knife in hand, she crawled through a hole in the rotting lattice work, cursing quietly at the spider webs draping over her face. Her clothing caught on a loose lattice slat causing a loud snap as she moved toward the center of the trailer.

Cursing herself for being careless, Anita cleared her mind and focused on the activity just over her head. She froze as the porch light came on followed by footsteps on the wooden steps. Pulling off her night vision glasses she could clearly see the shadow of a figure carrying a rifle or shotgun walking quietly around the trailer. She eased her .22 out of her holster. Anita was sure the shadow was Stanley. As he neared her entry hole in the lattice, he squatted down and shone his flashlight under the trailer. Anita was tracking him with her silenced handgun and, when the beam swung toward her, she shot him twice in the chest. The flashlight rolled out of his hand and he slumped to the ground.

She watched the downed man for ten seconds before slowly dragging him under the trailer. He still had a faint irregular pulse.

Leaving him to die, Anita was stretching up to place her charge when she felt movement behind and to her right. As she spun around, she felt a sharp grabbing stinging sensation in her right calf. She saw a large snake and slashed at it with her razor edged combat knife. At the same time her knife struck the snake, she felt it strike her leg again. This time she could see it had a viper’s head and the thick body of a cottonmouth. Her knife strike cut the writhing reptile almost in two.

Anita was sure Norma Carlson would hear the thrashing noise. Hurrying now in an almost automatic mode, Anita secured the charge and reset the detonator to go off in five minutes. With a last look around, she hurried through another break in the lattice skirt in the back of the trailer. Anita tried to run, but her leg was numb and getting worse. She kept telling herself to stay cool, otherwise the venom would move much faster through her system. She was 30 feet from the trailer when her leg tightened, and she stumbled and fell. Willing herself to keep moving, she started dragging her leg in a half crawl. Anita called Jack.

When he answered, she said, “I’m in trouble! Can’t run! Fucking cottonmouth snake got me twice in the right leg! Moving fast as I can toward the truck. I need help. Had to shoot the man. The charge is set to blow in five minutes.”

Jack heard Anita’s call for help and ran to help her. He could see her scrabbling along the ground as fast as she could. She was keeping to the dark shadows. Anita was crawling when Jack picked her up. He said, “I’ve got you. Relax.” With Anita over his shoulder Jack raced deep into the pine grove and put Anita on the pine needle-covered ground.

The outside flood lights came on. Anita and Jack were well beyond the arc of light. She was conscious but obviously in pain. Jack spoke softly into his radio and told Kathy what was happening and that he was carrying Anita to the car. She needed medical treatment.

Anita grabbed Jack’s leg and told him the bomb under the trailer should be going off in the next minute. Jack cut Anita’s camouflaged right pant leg open. He saw two sets of puncture wounds one in the back of the calf and the other deeper one in the front of her thigh. Jack fashioned a bandage from his bandana and tied it high on her thigh above the twin fang puncture wound, making sure he could insert a finger under the bandage. Looking at Jack, Anita said, “Sorry, Boss. I never saw the damn snake until it bit me, but I did kill the sorry bastard. That’ll teach him not to mess with a lady Ranger, even if I am retired. I’ve always hated snakes.”

As Jack was finishing the placement of the bandage, an explosion and fireball split the night’s darkness. Jack eased Anita over his shoulder and, making sure he had both weapons and two sets of night vision glasses, he set off for the car. Protecting Anita’s face from the palmetto thorns and being careful to avoid leaving a clear trail, Jack moved through the edge of the marsh.

Kathy had already called the emergency room at Saint Vincent’s hospital on her cell and arranged for immediate medical treatment. Anita was still conscious but verging on shock as Jack put her in the back seat.

He got in the front seat with Kathy, and she moved the car smoothly out on the road. A hundred yards behind her, she could see the first emergency vehicles streaming into Citrus Drive.

Kathy pulled into the emergency entrance of St. Vincent Hospital in Jacksonville. As soon as she stopped the car, a gurney appeared and Anita was lifted on to the gurney and rushed inside. An hour later they were allowed to see her. She had been given the proper antidote but was still quite sick. Her right leg was badly swollen and painful. If all went as expected, she would be discharged in a day or so. A full recovery was expected.

The doctor credited her coolness, the absolute identification of the snake and the rapid move to the emergency room as factors lessening the danger of a double injection from a cottonmouth. The doctor also believed the venom from the first strike went mostly on the fabric of her trousers. The doctor told Kathy pit vipers often mistime the release of their venom. He was a bit curious as to how Anita killed a good-sized cottonmouth with a knife after being bitten not once but twice.

***

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan.