before reading it. Suddenly all this talk of moles and targets made him nervous. As he pulled up the road he was glad to see the officer parked at the end of the driveway was keeping the idiots across the street. One less thing he had to worry about over night. When he reached the driveway at Marilyn's he opened the note "Mark was murdered be careful or you will be next." He wasn't sure if it was a warning or a threat, but he planned to take extra precautions just in case. He threw the note in the glove box and headed to the door. He knocked lightly and Reggie let him in. John and Thomas were at the table drinking coffee. "Where are the girls?"
"Bed" John answered "Reggie said they turned in about 10:30. Marilyn was wiped out despite her nap and Maggie wanted to turn in because all the kids will be up bright an early. How did the rest of the meeting go?"
"Good I guess, the map is pretty much covered, We will change the yellows to greens in the west once we have confirmation from those groups. We have an issue though and it is in DC."
"They aren't ready?" Reggie asked, he knew being trusted to watch the girls and all the kids was important, but he felt like he had missed out.
"They are ready, but they think they have a mole and Mark thought they did too maybe as many as 8 moles."
Reggie and John looked at him in disbelief. "So, now what?" they asked almost simultaneously.
"We watch everything more closely, but we are moving forward. Tomorrow I will fill you in, but tonight we need to get some rest. Is Thomas home yet?"
"No, but he texted he was on his way home about 20 minutes ago." The light wrap at the door confirmed Thomas' arrival and they all went to bed.
Chapter 3
Toby headed away from the meeting with a knot of excitement in his stomach and a pinch of worry. He had expected the green light to be lit, but the reality of it was now hitting home. His group was responsible for taking down two targets. The first was the Governor of his state, that had always been their target. However, about a year ago Mark had visited and added a target in anticipation of the election. He actually expected the election to spark the fire. People were tired and angry, candidates were coming out of the woodwork. Violence and hate speech were already at an all time high and Mark felt that was only going to get worse as the country got closer to the conventions and the actual election. So, the second target for his group was a potential presidential candidate. When they were given the target they really didn't see him as a threat. They believed he would be out before the race even got started. Mark however thought differently. He saw them all as potential threats until they proved other wise. Some had been proven to be one of us and removed from the potential target list. Our target had not. He often spoke in public and sounded like he was a supporter of our cause, but after some digging it was just pandering for votes. So, now he was headed back to his group to tell them that both targets were a go for July 5th. He also was slotted to fly west and meet with a group in California. He had no idea who or what their target was, but he was to arrange a meeting and then check in once they were informed. He had to do this all within the week and without raising any suspicion. He could feel the pinch getting larger. Why had that guy Frank pushed for an earlier date? Why didn't anyone else say no we are not ready? Were they the only group that wasn't prepared to go? They couldn't be the piece that didn't work, they had to get organized and get it done. He suddenly felt the urge to puke. He pulled over, jumped from the car and threw up in some bushes. After several minutes he got back in the car. Maybe he could not light the green light, tell the groups to stand down until further notice. Would it work? Sure it could...right? He looked at himself in the review mirror. He knew that was not an option, this is what he signed up for. This is what he wanted, but the time line scared him. The most important thing was where would Linda and the boys be safest? He pulled back onto the road and stopped at the next rest stop he passed. He entered the restroom and washed his face. Then he sat down at the counter to grab a bite before he got back on the road. After ordering he pulled out his phone to see what was going on. There were several messages from his fellow club members asking about a meeting that would discuss the the change in regulations on raising chickens. His was a group of farmers concerned with the direction the country was headed in. He posted a meeting regarding chicken legislation and restrictions then went over to the internet hot spot, paid to borrow a computer and ordered a ticket to the west coast. Then he got back in the car and headed home without stopping.
When he arrived home there was a note on the fridge. "Running errands, be back soon" he fixed himself a sandwich and headed to bed. He need a nap and a chance to clear his head. What would he tell Linda and where would they be safest. They lived in a home in a quiet suburb of the city, but if people started to evacuate the city it would be the first place people would try to move into. It might be the first place the Army or National Guard would create their base camp. He had to get them out, he would have to call Walter even though it was the last thing he wanted to do. He fell asleep quickly, it had been a long night and an even longer drive both ways. He woke up to noise in the kitchen. He came down the stairs expecting Linda and or the boys depending on what time it was. Camp should be out and they should all be home. What he found was Walter sitting at the breakfast bar with a sandwich, beer and an open bag of chips. Had he called Walter before he laid down? He didn't think he had, but now he was sitting there and Toby was confused. "Hey Walter, how are you?"
"Don't hey Walter me. When were you going to tell me?" Walter was red in the face, but not yelling.
"Tell you what?" Toby wasn't sure what he was talking about, even if he had called him it would be to meet face to face not go over any plan on the phone.
"You are part of group 217!"
This startled him, how could he know that? How could he even know what that was? Walter is Linda's father and the one person he expected to not agree with anything he was doing or any of the beliefs of the movement. "What?" he tried his best to play stupid.
"Don't play stupid with me, I am 206 and I guess I know why you didn't tell me. I am not upset that I didn't know, because that is the way this works isn't it. We never know who and where because it helps us protect ourselves, our group and our families. The question now is what are you going to tell Linda and how are you keeping them safe? How dare you involve her and my grandkids?" He had the look of a worried father in his eyes, she would always be his little girl time had not changed that.
"She knows nothing and I was going to call you and ask about the lake house. Set it up as a family vacation and then after it started tell her to stay there because it will be safer. I didn't think you knew and I was trying to figure out how to ask without telling you."
Walter stared off into the distance and didn't say anything when the door opened and Linda and the boys came in. Linda gave a kiss to Toby then walked over to her father. "Hey Daddy, everything OK? Mom OK? I didn't know you were coming."
Walter smiled at his daughter as the four boys surrounded him with hugs and high fives. He had not liked the idea of his daughter marrying her high school sweetheart. A farmer's boy. He had wanted her to go to college, chose a career, maybe even join his law firm. He didn't care what, but he didn't want her to marry that boy. It had been almost 16 years. Their oldest son would be turning 15 and driving soon. He always thought Toby was an uneducated buffoon who played football in high school. He did know he worked hard, running a farm was no easy task and he didn't rely on Linda or the boys. School was the priority for the boys, well and football but he never stopped them from doing what they wanted. He always made sure they were provided for and they were growing up to be fine young men. He always wanted to give all the credit to Linda for that, but today he realized that he didn't know his son in law at all, he has misjudged him and he wouldn't make that mistake again. "Nothing is wrong sweetie, I was at the club having lunch with some buddies of mine and thought I would drop off a personal invitation from your
