Dark Justice(45)

“Well, my dear.” She put her hands on her ample hips. “According to the news, I’d say you’re in a bit of trouble.”





Chapter 22


Tex checked his watch for the tenth time. Nine o’clock. Three and a half hours since he’d been given his do-or-die assignment.

Eight hours and thirty minutes left.

Fear and determination burned in his soul.

Before he’d found Stone’s organization four years ago, never in the nineteen years of his wretched life had he thrilled to such purpose. People in America just didn’t get it. Did not understand. The country’s government was evil, bent on its citizens’ destruction. Just like his own abusive father and worthless, runaway mother. Two of his older brothers went off to war for their country and came back in boxes. The third and oldest returned alive from Afghanistan in body only. At night when he slept, he screamed of death. During the day he spewed hopelessness. He’d fought for his government—for what? To tell people in some faraway country how to live?

Now the American government wanted to tell its own people how to live. It wanted to run Americans’ lives in every way. This country had been founded on freedom, but the expanding government was taking that away, piece by piece. Just this year had come news of the IRS targeting certain groups for no reason—as if taxing everyone in the first place wasn’t enough. Then there was NSA, spying on millions of people. Their phone calls and emails. No one was safe from the government anymore. The only way to keep the country strong at this point was to start over. As the famed anarchist Edward Abbey said, “Anarchism is not a romantic fable, but the hardheaded realization, based on five thousand years of experience, that we cannot entrust the management of our lives to kings, priests, politicians, generals, and county commissioners.”

Tex had printed out that quote and framed it. His girlfriend, Bo, had hung it above their bed.

Problem with most anarchists was they didn’t push for what they wanted. Freedom from ruthless government would never happen unless it was made to happen. That’s what FreeNow was all about. Tex would do anything to see its goals reached. And they would do it. Stone’s organization remained underground and secretive yet was run with tight precision. Its top-notch engineer and tech members had created the perfect solution. And today was D-day.

FreeNow had planned for this event for two years—starting long before news of the IRS and NSA scandals hit. Showed how right-on the organization was. They’d known. Now everything and everyone stood in place. No way would Tex not complete his task.

Tex had no doubt if he failed to find the two women, Stone would have him killed. Just as he’d called on Tex to kill Nooley for his failure to get the flash drive that could stop everything. Tex made a disgusted sound in his throat. Killing Nooley hadn’t been difficult, given all the wounds the man had already suffered in his botched mission. The traitor Eddington must have fought back hard. Nooley shouldn’t have been allowed to join the group in the first place. Man was an idiot.

In searching for Hannah Shire, Tex first needed to learn where she worked. Armed with that knowledge he’d tracked down the home of the physician she served and banged on the man’s door before sunrise. A flash of his FBI badge had gotten the perturbed doctor talking. He hadn’t spoken to Hannah Shire since the previous Friday, the doctor said, and had no idea where she was. But Hannah had worked for him for years, and he knew quite a bit about her and her family. “She lost her husband, Jeff, two years ago,” the doctor said. “That’s been very hard on her.”

He refused to believe she would have any involvement in a murder. “Not possible.” He shook his head. “Hurting another person isn’t a part of Hannah Shire’s makeup.”

Tex changed tactics. “Then she may be in danger. We need to find her at once. Who would she turn to in a crisis?”

The good physician had told Tex everything he needed to know.





Chapter 23


At Aunt Margie’s words, my face froze. I would have jumped back in the car and raced away if it weren’t for the closing garage door. Had she lured me here just to turn me in?

My aunt raised her hand. “Don’t worry, I’ve not called the police. I learned a long time ago you can’t believe everything you hear on television.”

I nodded, my heart beating sideways.

“Well, come on, get your mother out of the car. You both look like something the cat dragged in.”

Mom was already fumbling with her seat belt. I unfastened it for her and helped her out.

“Margie!” Mom spread her hands for a hug. “How nice to see you!”