Storm's Fury - Book 8 by Mike Kraus

Author:Mike Kraus
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mike Kraus
Published: 2020-09-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Stone Sword Compound

Malcolm, Wyoming

Laura’s fingers ached with the force of her fists squeezing nonstop since she entered the meeting hall fifteen minutes ago.

“I'm sure you have questions,” Carter said, but Laura spun toward him before he could finish.

“Yes,” she snapped, “but just one question.” She looked him dead in the eye. “Why the hell is he here?”

“He arrived late last night,” Carter replied. “Just showed up at the east gate. Our sentries almost put a bullet in him.”

“Maybe they should have.”

“Maybe,” Carter agreed. “But they didn’t, and because they didn’t, I had a chance to speak with him.”

“Everything that comes out of his mouth is bullshit,” Laura said. “He works for American intelligence. He’s a paid liar.”

“That may very well be, but there were some things he said that certainly got my attention.”

“Such as?” Laura asked, extending her hands toward Carter.

The colonel opened his mouth to reply, but she shook her head and gestured for him to keep quiet.

“Let me guess what he didn’t tell you,” she interrupted, turning away from him, taking a few steps, then turning back. “He didn’t tell you why he tried to have me killed back in Seattle. He didn’t tell you why his hand-selected kill squad massacred almost twenty-five innocent people on the dirty streets outside my office building. Smart and determined people who, by the way, might have actually helped us dig our way out of his mess.” Her voice rose an octave, the tendons on her neck bulging. “He didn’t tell you that, did he?”

“He did not,” Carter agreed.

“Do you know what he used to do before he worked for the NSA?”

“No,” Carter replied flatly.

“They used to drop him into military hot spots. Third-world nations in turmoil, unruly citizens—they’d drop him there so he could help destabilize the government and overthrow problematic dictators. And if the overthrow failed, well, then he’d help coordinate a wet work team to go in and do the job right.”

The room was silent, nobody knowing exactly how to respond to her statements. There were five people in the room in total: Colonel Carter, Mayor Kramer Phillips, Lindsey, Jack, and Laura herself, and they all stood in stunned silence.

“So, tell me exactly,” Laura continued, “what is it about what he’s telling you that makes you believe he’s not trying the same ploy with us?”

Carter cleared his throat.

“This background is...helpful, Ms. Park. I was not aware of his history.”

“Oh, good. So now that you are, we can kick him out.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Or, even better yet, maybe put his back against the wall.”

“That’s not how we do things here,” Carter replied.

Jack burst out laughing.

“Oh, is that a fact? I’m pretty sure I was threatened with that exact sort of punishment over those two murders that I had nothing to do with.”

“Using that punishment as leverage is a world apart from actual public executions,” Carter replied. “We’ve already been forced into positions where we had to open fire on refugees who wouldn’t take no for an answer.

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