The Lottery Council- Chapter XIV: Home- Back To Danger Part 2

richq11 (72)in #fiction • 7 years ago

Ann listened intently, eyes widening as David's story unfolded, staring back at him in disbelief. "This isn't another one of your conspiracy stories is it?" She asked. "If it's supposed to be funny, I'm not laughing." She had stopped... standing stock still, hands on her hips as she looked searchingly into her brother's eyes.

"I wish it was, Sis, I'd like nothing better, but I wouldn't joke about something like this. Keep walking," he said, "try to act naturally- nonchalant." David looked around trying not to attract attention, just in case they were being followed.

"Act naturally?" she answered incredulously. "You're telling me that my family is in jeopardy and you want me to act nonchalant?" Her voice was was rising, quavering with fear. She knew David, better than anyone else and she knew he wasn't joking.

"C'mon, Sis... You were always the level-headed one," his voice was pleading now. "All of our lives depend on not making them suspicious.

"Them who?' She asked. It was a logical question. "Who are they?"

"I don't exactly know who all of them are, but Jim's boss Masters, that Metzger guy for sure, plus there are others. At this point, don't trust anyone."

Ann's mind was racing, wondering if her kids were all right. They began to move again, much to David's relief, Bart, the Nolan's Golden Retriever setting the pace. After giving her a minute or two of silence to digest what she had just learned, David spoke again...

"You know we're going to have to break this to Jim," he said. "This is going to be really hard on him, he thinks the world of his boss, not to mention he thinks he's saving the world with this council thing."

"leave that part to me," Ann said seriously. "How much do you trust this Jack guy?"

"That was no job interview I went to in Arkansas," he told her. "I went to meet him... He's smart, he knows a lot about what's going on... and he knows all about that Metzger guy- he's a killer." David went on, telling her about his meeting with the mysterious Jack in Arkansas and their clandestine meeting.

Ann nodded solemnly... it was all becoming clearer to her. Like a she-lion she would do whatever was necessary to protect her family. David had spotted a van that looked suspicious and pointed it out to Ann... they were on their way back home now and David noticed that the van was in a different spot from where it had been when they left. Inside one of Metzger's men was having difficulty with a parabolic mic, getting only intermittent transmissions of Ann and David's conversations.

"You have to assume that the house and property are all under surveillance... everywhere," David said emphatically. "They can probably see and hear everything that goes on- even in your cars."

"Everywhere?" She asked eyes wide. "Even my bedroom and bath?"

"Everywhere," David said even more emphatically this time.

She shook her head. This was too much. Her first instinct was to march into Leyland Masters' office and confront him... to excoriate him for involving her husband in his sick scheme- but she knew better. The fate of her family fell squarely on her shoulders- and those of her brother's. She felt angry, but she was grateful to David for having told her. Her family's safety was of paramount importance now.

"We'd better be getting back," David said. "We don't want to make them suspicious. We'll talk more about this. We need to discuss the best way to break this to Jim without freaking him out. Remember, be careful what you say and do around the house, we're going to have to be good actors now."

Ann nodded. They were almost home. She noticed the van now that David had spotted. "Ralph's Plumbing" the sign read- she made a mental note of that.

When they got back, David kissed his sister's cheek, whispering one more time to be careful. She patted his cheek in return and he left for the garage. Before he left had had put a piece of Scotch tape at the base of the door, across the frame- it was broken. He had visitors while he was gone... he smiled to himself as he peeled the remnants of the tape away- the game was afoot. He went inside to contact his friend Hacker- they hadn't communicated since before he went to Arkansas.

'You there?' he typed.

'Here,' was the response. david typed a fairly complex report of his activities since that had last spoke- he trusted Hacker. He also wrote what he had learned from the mysterious Jack.

'I know,' was the reply.

'You know?' David wrote.

Hacker responded by describing the house and surrounding property in the Ozarks.

'How did you...?' Then it dawned on him- they were one and the same. 'You old son of a bitch lol.'

'Surprised? I was going to tell you but I thought I'd let you figure it out for yourself. What did you think of The Citadel?'

'Impressive,' David wrote back.

'How did your sister take it? I assume you've told her by now.'

'Better than I thought. She didn't believe me at first... she thought I was either joking, or I had completely flipped!'

'She's on board now?' -Jack

'Got no choice.' -David

'No, I don't suppose she does... Unless they join the enemy.' -Jack

'Never happen' wrote David. 'They're both too honest- too decent and both have way too much integrity... it's not even an option.'

'Good! Well the cat will be out of the bag when she tells the husband- better prepare for the worst. Sooner or later the bad guys are going to realize something's up. Better be ready- better safe than sorry. When Jim is aware of what's up any passwords he can come up with will be most helpful... Just make sure he's careful. We don't want to expose anybody to any more danger than necessary- the whole point of the exercise is to get you guys out alive.' -Jack

'Ok' David wrote back. 'I'll make sure everybody's careful.'

'Make sure you are. I don't want to lose that cellphone- it cost money!'

'Thanks,' wrote David. 'Nice to know I'm that important.'

GIF by @papa-pepper

#story #conspiracy

7 years ago in #fiction by richq11 (72)

$129.89

Sort:

Trending

[-]

datboithe1 (44) 7 years ago

░░░░░░░░▌▒█░░░░░░░░░░░▄▀▒▌
░░░░░░░░▌▒▒█░░░░░░░░▄▀▒▒▒▐
░░░░░░░▐▄▀▒▒▀▀▀▀▄▄▄▀▒▒▒▒▒▐
░░░░░▄▄▀▒░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█▒▒▄█▒▐
░░░▄▀▒▒▒░░░▒▒▒░░░▒▒▒▀██▀▒▌
░░▐▒▒▒▄▄▒▒▒▒░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▀▄▒▒
░░▌░░▌█▀▒▒▒▒▒▄▀█▄▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█▒
░▐░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▌██▀▒▒░░░▒▒▒▀ ▌
░▌░▒▄██▄▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░▒▒▒ ▌
▀▒▀▐▄█▄█▌▄░▀▒▒░░░░░░░░░░▒▒ ▐
▐▒▒▐▀▐▀▒░▄▄▒▄▒▒▒▒▒▒░▒░▒░▒▒ ▒▌
▐▒▒▒▀▀▄▄▒▒▒▄▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░▒░▒░▒ ▐
░▌▒▒▒▒▒▒▀▀▀▒▒▒▒▒▒░▒░▒░▒░▒▒ ▌
░▐▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░▒░▒░▒▒▄▒▒
░░▀▄▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░▒░▒░▒▄▒▒▒▒
░░░░▀▄▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▄▄▄▀▒▒▒▒▄▀
░░░░░░▀▄▄▄▄▄▄▀▀▀▒▒▒▒▒▄▄▀
░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒