Free Storming the Kingdom by Jeff Dixon

around eleven o’clock.”
    “I knew it.” Juliette smiled and shook her head. “You do know something, Grayson Hawkes. You just weren’t going to tell us to keep us safe.”
    “I know a lot of things.” Hawk’s wry humor and arrogance drew smiles from everyone in the room. “What I don’t know is what this is about and what I supposedly have. But I do have a place to start looking. We start tonight.”

CHAPTER TEN
    Six Days Ago
Night
    T he Magic Kingdom was still moving guests through its streets when the clock struck eleven. Though the park was officially closed, there still would be a number of people making final purchases in gifts shops, coming from each corner of the themed lands in the park, and all would stream down Main Street, U.S.A. to exit for the evening. Jonathan, Juliette, and Shep waited inside the lobby of Town Square Theater. When open, the theater is a popular meet-and-greet area where guests get the chance to take photographs, shake hands, and get hugs from Mickey Mouse. A camera center along with a variety of gifts can be found in the lobby. Shep was browsing a collection of collectible pins while they waited. Since Hawk had taken charge of the Disney Company, this area had gone through an extensive remodel. Originally known as the Town Square Exposition Hall, the building had been used for a number of things since the theme park opened in 1971. Once Hawk was at the helm, one of his first official acts had been to design this attraction that allowed guests always to have a place to meet Mickey Mouse; he also revamped and put to practical use the adjacent area, which had originally been the home of The Walt Disney Story attraction. Once the technology had been tested and perfected, he immediately authorized the Talking Mickey Mouse interactive experience. For the first time, guests could hear Mickey talk and were stunned to discover that each personalized visit was unique and unforgettable. Although the lines were long at times to see the beloved icon, there were no complaints; the attraction was worth the wait.
    Many had suspected, because of his love for Walt, that Hawk would bring back a new version of the Walt Disney portion of the attraction. Instead, the results had been a surprising and satisfying redesign that left no remnant of the previous inhabitants of this area. Or so most people believed. Suddenly, the closed doors that led to the queue lines to the meet-and-greet area opened, and Grayson Hawkes emerged. His friends had been watching across the street toward his apartment above the Fire Station. At the base of the steps at the Fire Station, Douglas Hall stood sentry, preventing anyone from climbing the staircase toward the door of Hawk’s home. Hawk’s entrance from inside the attraction startled them all.
    “We were expecting you to come from the apartment,” Juliette exclaimed.
    Hawk pointed toward the window in the direction of his home. “I have a very serious security guard standing at the bottom of my steps. He is under strict orders and is very determined not to let me out of my apartment without an escort.”
    “Considering you have people trying to shoot you, somehow that seems wise.” Jonathan nodded toward his friend. “So you did the unwise thing and snuck out?”
    “Let’s just say I know things about the Magic Kingdom that he doesn’t. I used another way out.” Hawk motioned for his friends to join him. “Follow me.”
    “Wait a minute.” Shep brought the group to a halt even before they began. “Where’s Kate?”
    “She’s working.” Hawk shrugged. “We do have a crisis here that is making worldwide news. The network knows she has an inside track to sources of information. So she’s walking a very fine line as she covers the story from her unique perspective. Somehow she has to do that without giving away any off-the-record information. Hopefully she can catch up with us later. But I promise you, the exclusive you are about to see will be one