Читать книгу The Rising - Stephanie Doyle-Cocchi - Страница 2

It was 9 pm and the house was quiet. John had arrived with the kids and they were all asleep upstairs. John, Thomas and Bobby were going to the meeting at Dove Pond. Reggie was staying at the house just to make sure there weren't any issues with the press or anything else. Teresa had gone home but would be back for the funeral and then in a few weeks for the annual 4^th of July BBQ. She was still teaching and the kids were still in school, their calendar goes much later in June. She would call and check in everyday and if needed she would come back, but needed to finish up at home. Maggie and Marilyn were having tea and brownies at the table and Reggie sat down with a large cup of black coffee to join them. Bobby came in to say good night and to tell them not to wait up. They were heading out early and taking two trucks in case they needed to separate or take a weird route. Everyone was concerned that the press would follow them. It was more paranoia than fact, but they really didn't like the idea of having this meeting with the press right outside her door, but it couldn't be avoided. Bobby was concerned that groups would go off half cocked and it would be not just a mess, but a complete failure and the one thing they could not do at this point was fail. They pulled out of the driveway and went in different directions. The plan was for John to go to the local grocery store and gets some things before he headed to the meeting. Thomas and Bobby would stop for gas and snacks headed out the other way. So people would see them locally. Once they had a full tank of gas they headed to Dover Pond. There was a small hunting/fishing lodge there over looking the pond. The owner was the head of the local chapter. Mark had recruited people very carefully there were only meetings in places he felt were secluded enough, but a meeting looked completely normal. Although he didn't attend meetings at all chapters, all chapters met regularly. All information was verbal. There were no lists of members or locations. No plans written down. No phone calls with conversations. Only face to face and only after everyone involved felt comfortable they were not being recorded. All cell phones and devices were placed in a lead box at the beginning of the meeting and returned at the end. Next meeting dates were announced at the meeting and posted on a web-site but they looked like a regular meeting, tonight's meeting was posted as an emergency discussion about the pollution and garbage being dumped into Dover Pond, voting members only to attend. This gave the location and told the groups only one or two representatives should attend. There were over 400 groups in the US. If everyone sent two that would be 800 people at the meeting it would raise suspicion. Many of the west coast groups wouldn't attend on short notice and in a few days members who attended the meeting tonight would head to those groups and pass on the information.

Bobby and Thomas entered the building. They dropped there phones in the box and headed into the next room. There were almost 200 people both men and women, but no one under the age of 16. Mark felt that this was not a joke and he was not looking to indoctrinate children. If they turned 16 and felt they wanted to join great, but this was an army people signing up knew that there could and would be consequences. The biggest of which could be death so those were the rules he set. Bobby was surprised at how many people were in the lodge many had made a serious effort to attend in the back of the room he saw the man George who had represented the sheriff's department earlier that day, he was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt that said "work is for people who can't fish" he looked very different, but fit in at this meeting very well. Everyone greeted Bobby with a mixture of sadness, anger and joy. Many were glad to see him because they had not in a while. All were sad about the loss of their leader and some were extremely angry. Bobby had been carefully choosing his words for tonight's meeting. He stood at the front of the room and addressed the room.

"Welcome, and first let me say thank you for attending on such short notice. I was afraid it might be too short, but I was also afraid to wait too long an not address the issue. On behalf of my sister and my family thank you for your kind words and we appreciate as much privacy as you can give us at this time. Next, I do not at this time have any real information on whether this was a weird coincidence or a deliberate act taken against Mark. However, that being said I think we need to move forward and put the plan into action. I have not set a date yet, tentatively I am thinking Labor Day, but I will set a definite date right after the funeral." the crowd started to murmur. Bobby could tell that people were not happy. He turned to the crowd "anyone not comfortable with this action please let me know. If you feel we are not ready or Mark's death is not enough of a reason to move forward please let me know. No one is being judged, I am trying not to set us up to fail.

A member in the front raised his hand. He was an African American approximately 45 years old wearing a hunting cap, a sleeveless flannel shirt and jeans. Then he stood up "with all due respect Bobby it should be July 5^th." The crowded spoke quietly in agreement. "Everyone here is ready, we have been ready for quiet some time, our brothers and sisters across the country are ready. We could even do it tomorrow, but then it would be sloppy and we owe it to Mark not to be sloppy and not to fail. We can use the cover of 4^th of July BBQ's to finalize plans and secure loved ones where they will be safe. I knew your brother in law he was in my hardware store often, first working on the house when they first moved in. Then the deck, the play house, the dog run and whatever else he was working on. Then for odds and ends when Marilyn had a little project she wanted done. He was a great man, a family man and a patriot. No matter what we decide accident, coincidence or deliberate his death was a result of that protest. A protest that stood for everything he believed in, that we believe in! It cannot be 3 months down the line it must be soon." He was getting red in the face. trying to be forceful without yelling, they had a rule about yelling if you couldn't control your anger how could you be trusted to execute your piece of the plan? Then he smiled "besides the thoughts you might all be having about the 4^th being a poetic date Marilyn will kill us if we ruin her annual BBQ." this caused the room to erupt in laughter and conversation as he sat back down.

Many of the locals knew about the BBQ. Some were invited others helped her create the perfect event she wanted each year. She did all her own cooking, baking and prepping, but the butcher was sure she had the finest meats. The grocer the freshest fruits, veggies and ingredients. The pool man knew how important it was for the pool to sparkle and the local rental place where she ordered her tents and tables from. All were present here in the hall. They respected the fact that she used local markets and not box stores, not that she didn't shop in box stores, the woman went through a lot of paper towels, but they knew her and respected her and her husband outside of the cause. They all agreed July 5th was the best date.

"Thank you, I myself was concerned that just less than a month was not enough time, but based on what I am hearing in this room we are indeed ready. Therefore, each of you will see me or Thomas before you leave, check in and let us know what groups you will be heading to, your numbers, your targets and your back up plans. We will have another meeting here June 18^th, a celebration of the lodges 100^th birthday to address any issues that may arise between now and then. If you have any issues before then you know who to contact in the chain and we will get you assistance as quickly as we can to address whatever the issue is." everyone around the room was nodding in agreement. "OK meeting.." John whispered in his ear. "Oh we have decided that we will buy some security devices to monitor activity around the lake to try to catch the polluters. We will post signs that cameras are being used and that footage is being stored off site." everyone nodded knowing that the signs and cameras would be posted, but no video would be saved because no one would want all of them on video. This was simply to make the meeting look legitimate and keep people off the property as well. "Meeting adjourned."

Thomas and John stood together on one side of the meeting hall and Bobby stood on the other. there was a map of the United States pinned to the wall and as each person spoke a sticker was added to an area. The map would go with Bobby, if anyone found it, it looked like a map people keep when traveling to mark the places they have seen or want to see. There would be no way for anyone to assume it was a map of hard targets set up years in advance waiting for the signal to go to war and overthrow the government. The map was filling up quickly. much of the west would be filled in within the week, once those areas had been contacted and confirmed. The goal of this movement was to have as little collateral damage as possible, they were not planning to blow up buildings or start shooting people in open areas. They were planning to take hostages and in some extreme cases kill people they felt were a threat that could not be neutralized. They were hoping to act simultaneously on scattered targets so that it would be impossible for the Army or National Guard to be able to engage any group efficiently and if it went down like they were hoping the old government would fall in a matter of days. The plan was to go back to the old way of governing, the way the forefathers had intended. The representatives from each group would form a new senate and congress and Mark would be President, that of course was not going to happen and Bobby didn't want the job, but they would cross the last bridge when they came to it. Most everyone had spoken with someone and had their flags placed on the board, they were assigned a group to travel to if necessary to put those plans in motion and report back. However, Bob, the man who had spoken up sat in the same seat watching it all take place. Bobby went over and sat in the seat next to him. "Everything OK Frank?"

"Yes, I am glad that we are moving forward. It is what he would have done if it had been any of us. It is time, the Government isn't going to suddenly get better and we need to strike before it gets worse. However, I need to speak with you privately I have one concern and you are the only person I trust to share that with." He didn't look at Bobby he simply looked straight ahead and waited for an answer. As he was waiting for an answer John came over and said good bye. The plan was for them to leave at different times and arrive back at the house separately, again to avoid suspicion. Bobby said good bye and he headed out.

"Let's take a walk." he started toward the door stopping to speak with Thomas briefly then headed outside. Frank was waiting for him under a large oak tree. "So, what's on your mind Frank?"

"I am concerned we have a mole. I am local but I am representative of the DC division and you know what our targets are. I am concerned that Mark was a target today, a result of a mole in the DC group. We knew he would be in NY today, we knew about the protests against the President who was in town and we all knew how he would react if the protest got in his way. I am concerned the protest was orchestrated down to the very location of it. I am not sure what to do. If I go back to my group and set the orders I am basically giving the mole, if we have one, all the information for the most important part of this." he paused and ran his hands over his face.

The reality if Frank's statements hit Bobby hard. He was still trying to decide if he believed it was a coincidence and now he was basically being told it was not. The DC cog was the largest and most important piece of the puzzle. "OK, go back and tell them we are green light lit, but no date. Let's see if we can flush out the mole. If there is a mole and it is not just our paranoia. I will come down in a week see if anyone is pushing about dates, etc. I am not sure how else to handle this, we cannot succeed without your group and we cannot allow them to be slaughtered if there is a mole."

There was a long silence when suddenly Thomas came out. "Bobby everything OK?"

"Fine, just enjoying the fresh air."

"OK I am going to catch a ride with Marco and he will drop me at Mark's. We are going to grab a few beers."

"OK, be careful!" Thomas was a grown man, but he was also his nephew and he watched over him like he was his own son. He was his ex wife's, sister's son but she was a drunk and a drug abuser, she had been for as long as he knew her. No one knew who his dad was, no one was even sure if Louise knew, but having a baby didn't change her behavior or her habit and so Thomas had come to live with him and Susie when he was a toddler. When he caught Susie cheating and filed for divorce he attempted to gain custody of Thomas. Because he and Susie were not his biological parents and her sister had never given up custody it was denied. However, he was lucky that the judge was sympathetic and was impressed that Bobby wanted to be part of his life so he arranged a visitation schedule that continued even after Thomas was placed back with his mother. Both Susie and her sister Louise hated that Bobby was allowed to see Thomas, but they had a great bond. When Thomas turned 18 he moved in with Bobby and had been there since. Louise had died of a drug overdose about a year ago and occasionally Susie would call or visit him, in the end Bobby was the only real family Thomas had.

"I will, jeeze! Bet I beat you home!" he laughed and headed to the truck with Marco.

Frank spoke suddenly. "It isn't the best plan, but it will have to do. Now that I demanded a closer date I am worried it isn't enough time to flush out the mole. The bigger problem is I am not sure there is a mole. I will assemble my group day after tomorrow. Green light lit no date. We will expect you a week from then and in the mean time hope for a miracle." The men shook hands and half hugged patting each other on the back and headed back inside. Most of the men had gone and Bobby shook hands with Peter, Marco's dad and the head of this local group.

"I knew your brother in law pretty well, we had been friends and comrades in this movement long before he moved here. Frank is right about several things. Sooner is better than later, Labor Day looks like we were not an organized machine, it might look like we rose up in three months as a result of what happened and we don't want to look like that, If we expect the support of the average American we need to look like we are organized and that we know what we are doing. That we are a BETTER choice than what we are being force fed. Next, the 5th is the perfect date, I love the idea of 4th BBQ's everywhere being a cover for the final staging area. He is also correct if he just told you that there is a mole in the DC group." the last sentence shocked Bobby, how could he know that is what they were talking about? Was this group bugging the trees? That was a violation of the charter rules.

"What makes you think that is what we were talking about?" he tried to play it off, but he had already reacted to the statement, there was no going back.

"Mark thought there was too. I don't think he believed they would try to take him out. If he had thought that he probably would have been more careful out there today. However, he was concerned about a small group down in DC who have many questions that don't relate to their piece of the puzzle. Everyone knows that the whole point to the way he set this up is no one knows the whole thing except him, and maybe a few others. This allows people to feel safe that they only know their part and others DON'T know their part. It allows deniability and if it was a disaster lesser charges. He was planning to handle it himself, but mentioned it to me on a fishing trip not too long ago. The concern was DC is a crucial part of the operation. It has to be flawless. He often felt if the rest of everything fell apart we could still be successful if DC was. What can I do to help without getting involved with DC's piece?"

"Right now nothing, did he happen to know or say who he was worried about?"

"No just that it was a group of 8, he wasn't sure if all 8 were moles or one of the 8 or a combination. However, they are too nosy and he didn't trust them. They might not be moles, they could just be too eager and he wasn't a fan of that either. Either way, if they think you have all the information you might now have a target on your back."

"Thanks, will let you know if you can help in any way, but right now just work on your piece and I'll see you at the 100^th anniversary!" the men shook hands again, Bobby retrieved his phone from the box in the lobby and headed to his truck. He got in and started to drive out. As he was driving he noticed a piece of paper wedged under his wiper. He pulled over and pulled it out getting in and driving home 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.