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“The wolf that one hears is worse than the orc that one fears.” — J R R Tolkien

Axel

Stationed outside the perimeter, soaked to the skin, I shiver as I stare at my useless cell phone. Through the trees, the ladies continue their trek up the hill. Thank God for my training. Without it, I would shoot the assholes who dared point an automatic weapon at my wife and her friends.

When Bear barks, I squat deeper, tugging open the sharp edges we made in the chain-link fence.

“ Braver Hund.” After he squeezes through, I inspect his body, then spot a piece of paper beneath my brave hound’s collar.

Reading the note in my wife’s hurried handwriting, I curse under my breath. Join Them ? Good God, if signing up was a viable alternative, we’d be home in bed by now.

Once the rest of the husbands approach, I shake my head. “The idiots fired at my dog. They’re lucky he didn’t kill them.”

“What did it say?” When Slate points to the soggy message, I hold it up so they can read it.

Jack crosses his arms. “They’ve got disrupters, so we'll have no WIFI, broadband, or satellite transmissions. Perhaps we could use it to our advantage?”

I pull out a map of the compound I brought, anticipating this exact scenario. “There are caves here. They have at least twelve guards armed with automatic weapons circling the area. We’ll need a lot more gear to get them out.”

“F’n Christmas on a Cracker. How the hell did you let this happen, Wulf? I thought you were a Fed.” As a vein pulses in the drone pilot’s forehead, Lucky, who I hadn’t realized was missing, trots down the hill.

“They’re all fine, mates. They’ve moved our sheilas out of the main compound to here.” He points to one of the caves on my map.

“Shit.” These boys are experienced. Of all the places to breach, inside a mountain will be the most impenetrable.

While I ponder possibilities, Suds stares at the map. “Well, one thing is for certain. We can’t go in, guns a-blazin’.”

Squinting at the paper towel, I try to channel my wife. “Gwen said we should join them. To do it, I need more intel. You guys keep watch, I’m going to find a damn 5G signal.”

About a mile down the road, when bars pop up on my phone, I call Trever. “Listen, I don’t have time to explain. Did Deputy Director Kemp grant you access to the camp’s LLC files?”

My data analyst sighs. “He did. The Russians and the Chinese have funneled millions of dollars into compounds like yours across the country. On the surface, the facilities appear harmless. They book kids' parties, day spas, weddings—you name it—but get this, it’s all a front. The real members include senators, Pulitzer prize winners, Rangers, and SEALs. They’re convinced doomsday is coming within the next five years.”

Taking a step back, I suck in my breath. Have our nation’s adversaries captured a foothold in the few places capable of surviving a catastrophic event? Would they use the advantage to consider launching a nuclear attack? I wonder whether they have comparable sites in their own countries. An evil entity could diminish the world’s population. Basically, it starts all over.

No doubt, taking my silence to imply I want more convincing, Trever drones on. “The concept is not so farfetched. Asteroids, weather, or a crazed dictator could end the world at one touch of a button. Regular folks want to hunker down with like-minded people but can’t afford it. As a rule, these groups don’t take in seniors unless they have experience in the armed forces. They mostly desire highly-skilled vets and offer them free lifetime family memberships.”

While he speaks, a clearer picture emerges. “Are you saying-”

“That you, not the ladies, were targeted? It’s a possibility.” His theory causes me to rethink the Mystery of the Missing Cat Lady.

Grabbing onto the nearest tree, my thoughts drift to Dolly. Any fool could’ve predicted if she went missing, my wife would go looking, and I would tag along. More military spouses in the mix would make Lewis feel like he won the lotto.

Now, Gwen’s directive makes more sense. We simply walk up to the front gate and ask to join them.

Trevor breaks my train of thought. “If the survivalists committed a crime, I could wake a judge. Get a subpoena.”

Under most circumstances, if I witnessed a murder, I’d take his sage advice. However, the scenarios playing out in my head say their next move would be to hold the women hostage.

“Not an option.” I won’t risk their lives. There must be another way.

“Understood.” In the background, Special Agent Johnson’s fingers fly over his keyboard. “Well, it says here that Penn State fired Dr. Lewis for being too radical. His dossier suggests he’s unhinged to the point of clinical paranoia. Also, the FBI’s been trying to place someone inside his organization for over a year. Considering all this, I’m surprised he let your ladies attend the day spa.”

“I’m not.” Finally, the missing neighbor, along with everything else, makes sense. “Thanks, I’ll explain later. I owe you one.” Shoestrings knotted, I stretch until I’m ready for the mile run back.

Sensing the conversation has ended, my friend ups his pace. “Be careful, Wulf. These guys have enough weaponry, money, and power to stage a revolution.”

His warning strengthens my resolve. “Copy that. Tell Deputy Director Kemp my status, but no more than necessary. We don’t want him storming the facility. Over.”

Once I return to the spouses, I elaborate on what I’ve learned.

Wheels, who lost half of his right leg in Afghanistan, lets out a string of curses. “Why does the FBI allow them to operate in our country?”

“They haven’t done anything illegal, mate.” While the Australian shares a worried glance with Hands and Suds, Slate holds up his arms, palms out.

“Assume nothing.” The security company boss turns to me, studies my face, and deepens his frown.

“Out with it.” The man’s a damn mind reader.

No point in holding back. We’re all in this together. “I think they took my neighbor to get to me.” My supposition sounds a lot crazier than it did a minute ago.

“Ego much?” Lucky knows me best, so I cut him some slack as I pace the muddy path outside of the fenced-in area.

“I could be wrong, but what if I’m not? Think about it. Patten Securities and I made headlines last summer when we rescued Gwen from Belarus. It wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to surmise I’d call you again if she got into more trouble.”

Jack’s brows raise. “Surely, they couldn’t’ve foreseen the baby shower.”

Suds scowls while he kicks the dirt. “I’m not sure any of this data helps. The women saw a dead body. There is no way Lewis and friends can release them.”

Having come full circle, I smile. “I couldn’t agree more. Now, listen up.”