Free The Remnant: On The Brink of Armageddon by Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Page B

must’ve wanted to be sure the deal was done before he came looking, Mac said. They’re pretty proud of this change of plans. Looks like they originally wanted to take ‘em all in, including George, and then threaten to kill the others if George wouldn’t talk.
     
    Then, even if he did, they were gonna execute ‘em together if they wouldn’t take the mark. Chloe had turned the page slightly. Did we know this? she said. What’s that? Mac said. The shootings, all three of them, were done by the girl.  Chloe had that tingling sensation inside as the zero hour drew near. Mac had studied the coordinates and determined they were about forty minutes from where George was being held. At 2130 hours he called Stefanich on his private cell phone with the number provided by Chang. Early in the afternoon in Chicago, Buck and Enoch called their people together. Quick update,
     
    Buck said. Chang has a trace on Ming, and it appears she’s probably on her way to San Diego. Then on to China. Problem is, he doesn’t know where their parents are, so she couldn’t either far as we know. How’d she get to San Diego? Alble said. The long way. Guess she got a ride with some private pilot out of Long Grove to South Carolina, then was able to- Whoa! Leah said. Hold on! Long Grove? Yeah. Then she- Buck! Was the pilot this whalum guy? I don’t know.
     
    The point is, if it is him, he’s the guy who wants to ship housing modules to Petra. That stopped Buck. I don’t get it. She might be going to Petra. She’ll never make it. Security’s too tight. Tell me about it. Maybe she just caught a ride with a guy who’s going on to Petra, but she isn’t. That’s worth praying about, Leah said. That’s why we’re here. So Ming used a Co-op contact. . .
     
    Can we move on here, Leah? Sure, but we haven’t even checked him out yet. Don’t know if he’s legit. And here I thought when Ming was reading through all these records that she was just helping out.  Buck cocked his head at Leah. Weren’t you the one who said Ming was an adult and free to do what she wants?  Mac was surprised when the phone rang four times. GC policy was that command officers always be available to the brass. This is Nelson Stefanich, he heard finally, and the only reason I’m answering a call from a hidden number is because of a current operation, so state your business. well, Nelly diggin’-a-ditch Stefanich, how in the world are ya ?  Who-?  Sorry I missed ya today.
     
    Howie Johnson, here. Yes, sir, Commander. Have we met? Naw, but I hear such good things about ya, I feel like I know ya, know what I mean? Thank you, sir. ‘Preciate the info you gave my aide today. No problem. we’re ‘bout ready to roll here, Nels, and I just wanted to give you a heads-up so you can let your guy Aristotle know we’re on our way.
     
    I’m assumin’ your phone’s secure.  Of course, Commander. Good, good. Now I don’t want them gettin’ spooked. They should be expecting us and not start shootin’ the minute they hear us. We want to protect them too, so we won’t be drivin’ right to their door. We’ll approach on foot and when we’re within range I’ll give out two loud whistles. They should respond with one, and we’ll know it’s safe to come on ahead. Got it. You whistle twice; they whistle once. And they understand that as soon as I’m on the scene, I am the ranking officer. Oh, yes, sir. Absolutely.
     
    Pretty creative, the code names, by the way. Thank you. I---  Right. This one’s real name is Elena, last initial A. Hmm, the only one whose actual name is given. Guess they don’t feel any need to protect her. Then a couple of no-account locals, both of which it looks like tried to get out of Peacekeeping duty but wound up on this vigilante squad. Oh, get a load of these monikers. One of them’s the leader, Mac, Hannah said, pointing. Mac shook his head. Aristotle. Other one’s Socrates. Real creative. Given this, shouldn’t Elena be