Chapter Eighteen

Castle Doctrine

Fleet, Kennedy and Murph were panting heavily and covered in sweat. They had just returned from the forest where they strategically downed trees and dropped off weapons and ammo for themselves. The phone call from Dale was the moment they had been dreading for months. Their living status was now known to the CIB, the Operators and possibly all of the inner circle of the dissident movement. Their location was in the hands of Shiels and Susan and possibly the CIB. Shiels and Susan had engaged the CIB and saved Charlie and Dale’s life. They were now on their way here for god knows what reason. If it was Shiels on his own, it was going to be a fight. Susan on her own would be a reunion and another gun on their side. The pair together like this made the situation a fifty fifty. The CIB were most certainly on their way too. They had to choose between fighting and running. Murph stood up after catching his breath and went to check the camera room. He had a network of cameras on the property and there was a movement of interest flagged on a gate camera, fifteen minutes prior. He rewinded it back and called the other two in. “We’ve got visitors. They landed in at the wooden gate fifteen minutes ago. Is this your two mates?”. “Yes, where are they now?” Fleet asked. Murph found another flagged movement on another camera two minutes after that. “Their heading straight for the safe house”. “I will intercept them, bring them in” said Kennedy authoritatively. “We’ll both go. Shiels is a live wire. Murph your on overwatch”. The pair took off in a light jog across the open field in front of the safe house. Fleet tested the earpiece. “Mic check…”. “Reading you fine” replied Kennedy. “Grand on this end” replied Murph informally. The sound of helicopters in the distance reached their ears. “Murph have you got a read on those helicopters?”. “Helicopters!?”. “On the horizon in the west”. “I don’t have those kinds of cameras lads”. “Just keep an eye out. The only place they can land is in the field in front of the house”. “Will do. The other two are four hundred yards north of your position. They are coming through the forest so there hasn’t been a visual in a few minutes”. Kennedy activated WiDar and pulsed the area ahead of him. The trees were dense but it was still penetrating well through the gaps. Fleet was already doing the same and had his assault rifle already shouldered. After another minute or so the two men slowed their progress and began moving more stealthily. They widened their spread and Kennedy shouldered his rifle too. The snapping of twigs in the distance brought the pair to a stop. “Radio silence boys” commanded Fleet as they prepared to intercept.