“Yes, sir. Sir, do you know if this has anything to do with Andropov?”
“Oh, yes, he was your problem, wasn't he? We're actually thinking he may be involved, but we don't know if he's running the operation or not. We got hit in four places at once this morning, including this office, the Armory, R&D and the training classrooms. Those three attacks happened first and seemed to be distractions, trying to keep us from being ready for the big one that hit here. We've got a total of eighteen dead, more than fifty wounded, including some of the newest recruits. Don Jefferson was carried out of here with two bullets in his left lung and one in his head, but he was still screaming for a gun as they put him in the ambulance. I always said he was too damned stubborn to kill, and now I’m hoping I was right. Allison, she's in surgery in Denver. She was hit three times, as well, but she got the son of a bitch that shot her. No word yet on her condition. Just found out a few minutes ago that John Hackett bought the farm, so I guess I'm stuck with this job for a while. I've got Art Jackson subbing for Jefferson.”
“I can't think of anybody better than you, right now, sir,” Noah said. “Would you let me know about Allison when you hear something? Other than that, I will await your orders.”
"I'll do that,” Parker said. “Meanwhile, you got that bright boy, the skinny kid, what's his name? Blessing, that's it, Blessing. Put his ass to work, see if he can find anything on Andropov. And if you can track the bastard down, you are authorized to take him out. That also applies to any of his associates that might be involved.”
“Yes, sir,” Noah said. “We'll get on it right now.”
Noah looked over to where Neil was still talking to Lacey on his phone, and hooked a finger at him. Neil told Lacey he would call her back later and sat down across from Noah again. Moose had gone back outside after delivering his report, but he stepped in just a moment later and took his own chair.
“They’ve got Allison in surgery,” Noah said, “but we don't know anything yet. Jefferson's in the hospital in Kirtland, apparently he took a couple in the chest and a hit in the head, but Doc Parker says he was still conscious when they carried him out. That could be a good sign. They found John Hackett, but he's dead, so Parker is in charge for now. Mr. Jackson is acting as his deputy.” He turned to Neil. “I need you to get online, see what you can find out about Nicolaich Andropov. I don't know the details, but Doc Parker seems to think that he was involved in this attack, and if he was, then I want to find him as soon as we can. We are authorized to act on our own and go after him.”
Neil jumped up and ran out the door, but came back a few moments later with his computer. He plugged it in and turned it on as Moose turned to Noah.
“What can I do, Boss?” Moose asked.
Noah glanced at Sarah, who was busying herself with the little kitchen, then turned back to Moose. “Right now, I think the most important thing for you to do is try to help me keep things on an even keel. We’ve got to focus, Moose, try to either come up with a game plan on our own, or sit and wait to see what the home office has to say. Doc Parker didn’t seem to know when they might be back up to running properly.”
Moose nodded. “Okay. I just want to be able to check in with Elaine, now and then, is that all right?”
“Yeah, at this point I’d have to say it’s not a problem. They’re putting everything back together as quickly as they can and I’m certain security there is as high as it could possibly be right now.”
Neil cleared his throat, and Noah looked at him. “Noah? You said Mr. Jackson is okay?”
“Yes, he's helping Doc Parker run the show for right now, doing Mr. Jefferson’s job.”
Neil turned and looked at him. “Would you mind if I take a minute and call Lacey back? She and her mom are worried sick, they haven't heard from her dad since the attack started.”
Noah looked at him for a moment, then nodded. “Be careful what you say,” he said. “You're not on a secure line, so don't give her too many details. Don't mention Doc Parker, just say that you got word that her father is okay.”
Neil grinned and nodded, and hit the redial button on his prepaid phone instantly. Noah sat quietly as Neil became a hero to his girlfriend for letting her know that her father was alive and apparently well.
Neil cut the call short and then got back on the computer. He was feeling a rage beginning to build within himself, anger at whoever had done this and caused so much harm and grief. He quietly told himself that it didn't matter who it was, Neil wanted his own chance to take a shot at them.
“Hey, Noah?” Neil asked.
“Yeah?”
“Can you get me a sawed-off shotgun? From everything I've read, even I can hit what I'm shooting at with that.”
Noah cocked his head and just looked at the skinny young man for a moment. “Tell you what,” he said finally. “I'll see what I can do.”
NINE