Hunting the Hunters Read online

  Bug Out!

  California

  Book 13

  Hunting the Hunters

  Robert Boren

  South Bay Press

  Copyright © 2019 by Robert Boren.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Book Layout ©2017 BookDesignTemplates.com

  Cover Design: SelfPubBookCovers.com/Acapellabookcoverdesign

  Bug Out! California Book 13/ Robert Boren. -- 1st ed.

  For Stan E.

  “A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.”

  ―Alexander Hamilton

  Contents

  Previously – in Bug Out! California Book 12

  Rubble

  Tree Climbing

  Bomb Trigger

  The Secretary General

  Forrest Hunt

  The Trap

  High Cliffs

  Manchester

  Seventh Avenue

  Steely’s

  One Bar

  License to Kill

  Thumb Drive

  Sea Harriers

  House Arrest

  The Stairwell

  Battering Ram

  Cast of Characters

  Previously – in Bug Out! California Book 12

  As book 12 opened, the sea battle off San Diego was raging, a French submarine surfacing to take on the patriots. The LCS ships used a new anti-sub weapon to sink the sub, and the citizens defeated the enemy armada shortly thereafter.

  In Mexico, Doug and Jorge were still in the thick of things, stuck on the road with their convoy of Bradley Fighting Vehicles due to IEDs on the highway. They found out that thousands of enemy troops were hiding just a stone’s throw away and prepared for battle, hopelessly outnumbered. The L-ATV convoy, which had gotten ahead of them on the road west, turned around and raced back to save the day. The battle started, both sides trading artillery and mortar fire while the armored vehicles fired their main weapons. As the battle raged, word came in from General Hogan that the enemy had been defeated in New Mexico, and Daan Mertins had been killed. The EU sued for peace. The war was over. The enemy forces in Mexico didn’t know. US forces devised a quick plan to convince them before too many people got killed in the battle. It worked, both sides laying down their weapons. The enemy troops were from Argentina, and they were as happy about the end of the war as the US side was. The opposing troops partied the night away together at the scene and then parted ways, the US forces heading for home.

  Robbie called his parents, telling them his army enlistment was a cover story, and letting them know he was part of Ivan’s team, also telling them about Morgan.

  General Hogan told the Kansas team about the hunt they knew was coming, and telling them they’d have to go into hiding, joining the hunted people in Ivan’s group.

  Ivan met with the hunted group in Dodge City, telling them about the new base in Missoula, Montana, at an abandoned shopping mall. After that meeting, the sub-team joined the others for a massive celebration on Dodge City’s main street.

  General Hogan got a call from his intel team, telling him that the Globalist hunters were already on the move, and that the sub-teams in both locations needed to disappear right away. General Hogan told the sub-team in Kansas and notified Ivan in Dodge City. Ivan rallied his forces. Both teams were on the road by morning. Garrett and Anna talked Sam and Erica into taking care of Mia until the operations were over.

  The Globalists met in Manhattan to discuss a strategy for taking out Ivan and General Hogan’s teams. There were twenty people, led by Charles Livingston, an investment banker and former CIA Chief. Other notable people on the team were heiress and English Noble Maggie Hines, UN Secretary General Mateo, Justice Carleton of the Supreme Court, French industrialist and investor Jean Caron, and hedge fund entrepreneur Lance Evans. Rayan Mertins, brother of the late Daan Mertins, provided technical support.

  Mr. White and Mr. Black were on the tail of two enemy commandos in Sacramento. The Globalist operatives had tried to tail them, but Mr. Black and Mr. White noticed, and laid a trap. Ivan told them to be as savage as possible, so it would make a big splash on the news. The attackers came disguised as hotel workers, bringing up room service meals. Mr. White and Mr. Black turned the tables on them quickly, flaying them alive, sending out photographs to the Globalist leader who ordered the hit.

  The Kansas and Dodge City teams were both moving north towards Missoula. The Globalist hunters used their cell phones to track them. There was an attack attempted on the Dodge City team at a Walmart in Nevada, which was put down quickly. This tipped off the sub-teams that their cellphones were being used for tracking, so they dumped them and got burner phones.

  On the road, the sub-teams found out that Governor Nelson of Texas died of a heart attack while giving a speech in Austin. They later found out that the death was a hit, using poison. The Globalist team was responsible.

  Ed and Ryan went to their reservation with Garrett and Anna to see what condition it was in. They found headless bodies in the Casino and booby traps in the hotel, so they called in the bomb squad to investigate.

  The Kansas team made it to Missoula first and got situated, meeting Yuri, Ivan’s employee and head of security for the new facility.

  Globalists Maggie and Charles devised a plan to escape to England, after seeing what happened to their operatives in Sacramento. Maggie left first, flying into Heathrow, Charles to follow later. They planned to hide in one of Maggie’s estates and direct their operations from that location. Maggie’s security team waited at the terminal for her to arrive. Creighton Lee of Scotland Yard was there, having been tipped off by the Prime Minister’s office. Maggie’s security team created a diversion with a small explosion as she entered the terminal, taking Creighton Lee and Airport Security away from the gate. Maggie’s team rushed to her side, but they were attacked by Saladin loyalists, Maggie getting wounded in the legs and side. The lead Islamist was about to finish Maggie off when Creighton Lee appeared, killing him, the others fleeing the scene. Maggie was rushed outside to an ambulance.

  Ivan got word that a Globalist commando team was hiding out along the escape route, waiting for instructions. He sent Mr. White and Mr. Black there to set up a stake out. They knew which hotel the commandos were in, and set up in a bar called the Tattooed Lady, across the street. There were two commandos sitting at a table inside. Mr. White and Mr. Black noticed them right away, and took seats at the bar. After a little while two women approached them, dressed for action. A light conversation ensued. Mr. Black left for the restroom, Mr. White going with him. The two women followed, pretending to be ready for a sexual encounter, but trying to kill them instead. Mr. White and Mr. Black turned the tables, killing both the women and then hiding, waiting for the other two commandos to check. They showed up after five minutes. Mr. White and Mr. Black killed them both and made their escape. They contacted Ivan as they drove away. He ordered them to head for Manhattan.

  Lance Evans
was invited to a meeting with Charles Livingston at Tavern on the Green, in Manhattan’s Central Park. He arrived with his bodyguards, wearing a bullet-proof vest, his limo parking in the VIP lot. An English hit man attacked, who said Charles says hi after shooting him in the chest and arm. The hit man was walking over to finish the job when Torrey, Lance’s cousin, jumped on the hitman’s back and slashed his throat with a knife. He picked up Lance and rushed him to a waiting van, helped by his brother Zippy.

  Ed, Tyler, Sid, and Yvonne met the bomb squad at the reservation. The bomb squad got to work on the booby trap in the hotel. Ed and Tyler wanted to check the outbuilding that housed their power sub-station to see why they didn’t have electricity. They opened the door of the cinder-block structure, and noticed a detonator beeping inside, trying to run away. Bombs went off in all the buildings at the reservation. Tyler was too close to the sub-station building. He was killed by a flying piece of cinder block.

  { 1 }

  Rubble

  T he forensics team walked towards the rubble that used to be the reservation’s casino-hotel complex, Ed limping alongside them, Garrett and Anna following. Sid and Yvonne rushed to catch up, Sid’s left arm in a sling.

  “My God,” Yvonne said as she saw the buildings, parts of walls still standing up a few floors, rising above the pile of debris. “What are we gonna find out from that?”

  The lead forensics investigator, a large man with short red hair and a sad face, turned towards her. “You’d be surprised.”

  “What’s your name, officer?” Sid asked.

  “Investigator Dooley. You’re Sid, right?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “I know about what you folks did with the resistance. My hat’s off to you.” Several of his team nodded in agreement.

  “Isn’t everything going to be smashed to smithereens?” Yvonne asked.

  “This was a large, complex job,” Dooley said, “and there was no fire, from what I can tell. The brains of the system they set up here might have been far enough away from the explosion to survive.”

  “Have you ever seen a setup like this?” Garrett asked.

  “Some moron wrote an article about using motion sensor counters to drive bomb triggers, and posted it on the internet. One was uncovered in Israel before it went off.”

  “So this was probably Islamists, like we thought,” Anna said.

  “Remains to be seen,” Dooley said. “They might want us to think that.”

  “Can’t walk through here anymore,” Ed said, looking at the rubble that filled the pool area and surrounding walkways. “They haven’t gotten all of the bomb squad’s bodies out of here yet, have they?”

  Dooley turned to him, his face grim. “No, not yet, but it’s been less than thirty-six hours. I heard that Dulzura was contracting with a K-9 company. We might see them before we’re out of here.”

  “K-9 company?” Anna asked.

  “Cadaver dogs, honey,” Garrett said gently.

  Anna looked at him, the tears coming back. “This is so horrible. Wish we would’ve just forgotten about this place.”

  “You folks should rebuild,” Dooley said. “Screw the enemy. I was a frequent customer before the war. I hope to be again.”

  “We’ve probably already killed everybody involved with this,” Sid said.

  “What if it’s them?” Yvonne whispered.

  “Them?” Sid asked.

  “The people hunting the others.”

  Garrett shot Yvonne a glance, shaking his head no. She nodded, her brow furrowed.

  “Did everything blow up in the residential areas?” Anna asked.

  “I saw dust rising from that area,” Ed said, “so I’d say probably.”

  “We’ll check out all of the areas, but a map of the facility would be helpful,” Dooley said.

  “Had a whole stack of those in the office,” Ed said. “Probably scattered to the four winds now, though.”

  “I’ve got it on my tablet,” Anna said. “Should’ve brought it. Didn’t think.”

  “E-mail the file to me when you can,” Dooley said as he looked at the pile of rubble. “These two buildings alone will probably take us a week to sift through.”

  “I think we can climb through over there,” said one of Dooley’s men, a much younger man with a crew cut, tall and lanky.

  “Thanks, Jamie,” Dooley replied. He turned to Ed and the others. “I don’t think you should follow us in there. Way too dangerous. We need to go back to our truck and grab equipment.”

  “And our hard hats,” Jamie said.

  “I suggest you folks take off,” Dooley said to Ed. “No reason to hang around. I’ll call you right away if I find anything.”

  “Okay, thanks, Mr. Dooley,” Ed said. He led the others back to their Jeeps.

  ***

  Justin was driving the Jeep on Angeles Crest Highway, approaching Wrightwood. “Wish Steve’s phone was working. How are we going to find them?”

  Katie looked at him, eyes still red from crying and lack of sleep. “He was working with the sheriff’s office. We should check there first.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t have left. We’ll miss Tyler’s memorial service.”

  Katie shook her head. “Something feels wrong to me. Steve could’ve called us when the war ended. He didn’t. Not sure I’m believing that the reservation bomb was set up way back when the reservation got overrun, either.”

  “You think we’re being hunted, like the others?”

  Katie sat silently for a moment. “Yes… no. Hell, I don’t know, honey. Probably just paranoia. I’m sorry.”

  “Our team has been to hell and back,” Justin said. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

  “There’s The Grizzly. Let’s stop there and get a bite to eat. Maybe some coffee.”

  “Suits me,” Justin said, making a left into the parking lot, parking in front of the two-story log structure. “Maybe somebody in there can direct us to the Sheriff’s office.”

  Katie nodded, getting out, meeting Justin by the door. “Did you cover the guns?” she whispered.

  “Yeah.” He held the door open for her, and they walked in. “There’s spots open on the counter.”

  “Fine with me, maybe we can chit-chat with the waitress. Don’t say who we are.”

  “Was just gonna say that,” Justin said as they sat down. The waitress was there in a second, holding a coffee pot.

  “A little joe?” she asked.

  “Yes, please,” Katie said. The waitress eyed her. “You okay, honey?”

  “Just lost a family member,” she said. “Been a tough week.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry,” the waitress said. She pulled two coffee cups out from under the counter and filled them. “Breakfast?”

  “We’ll check out the menu,” Justin said, pulling two from the holder behind the condiments where they were sitting.

  “Comfort food for me,” Katie said, not opening her menu. “I’ll take the pancakes.”

  Justin looked at his menu. “The Combo, with bacon.”

  “Coming right up,” the waitress said, walking to the kitchen window.

  “I have good memories of this place,” Katie said.

  “They went to a place that Colleen’s family owned, didn’t they?”

  Katie nodded. “Yep. We never owned property here. Just came up and rented for weekends. Mostly during ski season, but I liked it better when we came during the summer.”

  They sat quietly for a while, Katie still on the verge of tears. Justin took her hand and held it.

  When the waitress walked back towards the counter, Katie got her attention.

  “Need something, honey?”

  “Can you tell us where the Sheriff’s station is?”

  The waitress eyed Katie, her brow furrowed. “Are you here because of what happened yesterday?”

  Katie shook her head no. “What happened there?”

  “Shoot out. The Sheriff’s in the hospital, fighting for his life. Two of his dep
uties are dead.”

  “Oh, no,” Katie said. “Was one of them named Steve?”

  The waitress got closer to them. “No. Do you know Steve?”

  “He’s my brother,” Katie said softly. “We got separated during the war. I’m trying to find him. He’s not answering his phone.”

  “Oh,” the waitress said. “He wasn’t there when the incident happened. He only works the weekends. Hope he’s okay. Such a charming young man. His wife’s family is well known around here.”

  “Colleen,” Justin said. “Could you tell us where their house is?”

  “I don’t know, exactly. It’s in the sticks a ways. Colleen works at an insurance company, only office in town. She won’t be there today, since it’s Sunday. Probably can catch her there tomorrow, though.”

  “Where is it?” Katie asked.

  “Keep going west a few blocks. Turn left on Park Drive. Can’t miss it.”

  “Nellie, it’s up,” the cook said through the window, sliding two plates onto the high counter.

  “Oh, there it is,” she said, grabbing the plates and putting them in front of them. “Enjoy.” She walked away.

  “You think the shoot-out was related?” Katie whispered as she buttered her stack of pancakes.

  “They left before we got involved,” Justin said.

  “Maybe they’ve targeted all of us. We should’ve gone with the others.”

  Katie poured syrup on her pancakes and took a bite. “This is good.”

  “Yeah, good potatoes, too. Should we go to the Sheriff’s station?”

  “Might raise too many questions,” Katie said. “They might be hunting us too, you know.”

  “Shit. So what should we do?”

  “Get a room and wait until tomorrow,” Katie said.

  “Glad we have plenty of cash. Turn off your phone.”

  “Oh God,” she said, reaching into her purse for it, Justin turning his off too. “I thought we were done with this.”