“No, they’re not going to start it. It’s coming regardless of the group’s wish that it wouldn’t. They’re poised to survive it and to throw in with the right side. They’ll fight like hell to defeat the enemy,” Brandon said, further confusing everyone.
“Ask him about the injuries Valerie and Tom treat at that warehouse,” Burke said.
Burke and Tessman listened as Wilson asked.
“Mostly training injuries,” Brandon said.
“How do you train?” Wilson asked, now shifting his questions, including Brandon Ellison in that group.
“You do know what’s going down in this country, don’t you?”
“Enlighten us,” Wilson said.
“The drugs, the deranged human trafficking, other crimes committed by gangs, unchecked violence,” Brandon said. “We train by combating some of that shit, righting wrongs.”
“Across all three states?” Wilson asked.
“Yeah, in major cities mostly, they’re fucking cesspools.”
“Ask him what kinds of numbers we’re talking about that make up this group?” Burke said.
Wilson conveyed the question.
“Only the top generals know the overall numbers. They’re broken into cells with limited knowledge of the other cells’ identities or missions.”
“Is your dad one of these generals?” Wilson asked.
“Yeah,” Brandon admitted after a few quiet moments where everyone had pretty much figured out that his silence had answered for him.
“Can we get off at the next exit?” Valerie asked as the two vehicles passed a sign indicating the next exit was a mile ahead. “I have to use the bathroom.”
They were heading south on I-43 toward Milwaukee. The next exit was Wisconsin Highway 147 and the town of Maribel.
“There’s a gas station plaza right off the exit,” Valerie added. “It won’t take long. Please, I really have to pee.”
“I could go too,” Stacy chimed in.
“Yeah, me too,” Brandon said.
Burke saw the turn signal activate on the white SUV in front of him. He flicked his turn signal on and followed them off the interstate. He pulled to a stop beside the white SUV in the parking lot of the gas station and mini-mart.
Stepping out of the car, Burke inhaled the crisp air as he glanced around the area. There were a few cars by the pumps and a few more near their vehicles, to the side of the building, which was more of a parking area. He chuckled as the door to the white SUV opened and the four people from the back seat spilled out into the parking lot like the proverbial clown car emptying out.
“That had to be uncomfortable,” he said to Tom and Valerie, who got out on the side of the car closest to him.
“It was. But good thing none of us are obese,” Tom said. The two of them stepped toward the building.
“Hold up until we’re all out of the cars so we can escort you in,” Burke said. Through the car window, he could see Wilson had his phone pressed to his ear. His comms must have been set to not transmit, as his voice didn’t come through comms even though his lips moved. Rogers was just opening his door. Burke stepped to the front of the vehicles, in front of Stacy and Brandon. Valerie and Tom followed him.
“Taco will wait here,” Rogers said.
“We stay together in the store,” Burke told them. He led them around the corner to the door. Rogers and Tessman brought up the rear. When they reached the bathrooms at the back of the little convenience store, Burke noticed that Stacy had her purse. “I’ll take that,” he said, reaching to take it.
She pulled it more tightly to herself. “Why?”
“Is your phone in there?”
Stacy groaned an exasperated sigh. She reached in and took her phone out and handed it to Burke. Then she and Valerie pushed through into the ladies’ room as Tom and Brandon went into the men’s room, followed by Rogers. Burke and Tessman waited in the hallway.
