Page 10 of Isla by Any Other Name

Isla spent the afternoon painting and prepping a chicken casserole. The house was quiet, everyone going about their business. She’d serve lunch at one. She was just about to clean up her paints when Lara came flying up the stairs. “Molly, run upstairs and get Mitch and then go into the safe room and lock the door. Don’t open it until we come for you.”

Isla headed up the stairs without question, her heart beating fast. Looking over her shoulder, she asked, “What’s going on?”

“We’ve been breached,” Lara said. “It could be nothing. But until we check it out, I need you in the safe room.”

Isla pounded on Mitch’s door. “Mitch!” She opened the door, and Mitch flew off the bed.

“What’s up?” he asked as he grabbed his gun off the nightstand.

“We’ve been breached. Lara sent me to get you. She said for me to go into the safe room.”

“Do what she says. Don’t worry, Molly, it could be anything. We’ll check it out and come and get you. Don’t open the door unless it’s one of us. Do you understand?”

“I do. Just be careful. Please!”

Mitch pulled on his clothes and his boots and went down to the basement to the control room. His team stood behind Lara as she tried to zoom in on a guy with a rifle slung over his shoulder on an ATV. “Could just be a hunter that’s come onto the property,” Lara suggested. “Hunting season. Is the property posted?”

“It is, but that doesn’t mean someone couldn’t trespass,” Mitch answered. “Let’s go guys. Lara, keep a visual. Colt, do you have our gear?”

“All ready to go,” Colt answered. “The ATVs are in the driveway. Let’s go figure this out.”

Mitch drove while Dirk hung on with his firearm at the ready. It took ten minutes to circle behind the suspect before the team was in place. Sliding off the ATVs, the team spread out and silently crept up on the stranger who had left his own ATV and was headed in the direction of the house. Dirk used hand signals to let them know that he was in position to take down the suspect. Mitch nodded and Dirk sprung out from behind a tree and tackled the guy to the ground.

“What the hell!” screamed the man in a choke hold on the ground, with Dirk straddling his back and his rifle now in the hands of Max who stood at the ready. Dirk dragged him to his feet as the rest of the team had him in their sights. “Who are you guys? Jeez!”

“No, the question is, who are you and what are you doing on our property?” Mitch asked sternly.

“Your property? This property belongs to Curt Olson. It’s not your property! I was only hunting. Curt’s a friend of my Dad’s.”

“Did Curt give you permission to do just that?”

“Well, no, I just figured.”

“You figured wrong,” said Mitch. He looked straight into the young man’s eyes and said, “You didn’t see us, we aren’t here. Do I make myself clear? If I hear that you told anyone, I mean anyone, I’ll throw your ass in jail! Are we understood?”

“Yes, sir,” the young man stuttered. “I understand.” He jumped on his ATV and roared out of sight.

“Let’s get back to the house,” said Mitch. “This guy could have been a diversion. I don’t want to leave the house unprotected. Dirk, take his information and connect with Kip Norton. Find out about this kid. Colt, get the ATVs refueled and take care of the equipment. Max, you go and check out the surveillance tapes with Lara. Check the perimeter with a fine-tooth comb. Make sure we’re still wired. Let’s not take chances. Things are starting to heat up and I don’t like the feeling I’m getting. Stay on guard. I’ll let Molly out of the safe room and get in contact with headquarters for any updates they may have.”

They made good time getting back to the house. All was quiet on the home front. They piled off the ATVs and went in their separate directions. Mitch ran up the stairs and entered the master closet and pushed aside the shelving unit. He pushed a button on the panel. “Molly, it’s Mitch. Open the door.”

The door clicked. Mitch pulled it open and Molly stood in front of him, tears staining her cheeks.

“Is everybody okay?” she asked. She’d never looked so upset. “I was so worried.”

“Everyone’s fine. It was just a kid trespassing on the property.”

“Mitch, I was so scared. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if anyone got hurt because of me.”

“Come here.” Mitch pulled her into his embrace. He knew he shouldn’t—but he couldn’t help himself. She needed comfort. “Everyone is fine. We’re trained for this. It’s what we do. You needn’t worry about us.”

“How can you say that?” she said, pulling back a little. “You’ve admitted to me that this Hernandez is dangerous. He can outsmart any of us. He’s desperate to get at me. Nothing is going to stop him!” She sobbed now, her tears dampening his shirt.

“Fine, I won’t tell you to not worry,” said Mitch. “But keep in mind it’s our job, okay?”

Mitch rubbed her back. Molly pulled herself from his arms and looked up into his eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m embarrassed. I haven’t cried since my marriage ended—and now I can’t seem to stop. Please don’t judge me. This isn’t me. I don’t know why I’m acting like this.”

Mitch put his fingers under her chin and lifted her face, staring back into her eyes. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I promise I won’t judge if you stop apologizing for your feelings.”