Free Specters: A Monster Squad Novel - 8 by Heath Stallcup Page B

drive. When he was done, he pulled the USB and slipped it into his pocket. He then started a worm and put his computer to sleep. If anybody other than him tried to access his computer either locally or remotely, the worm would be deployed. Once deployed, the worm would physically destroy his hard drive, and if activated remotely, it would infect the user’s computer and destroy it as well. Heaven forbid that person be connected to a network when he tried to hack his computer. The whole thing would go down before anybody could isolate and stop it.
    Bob stepped toward the door and took one last look at his place. Odds were good that he’d never be returning here. He glanced through the shades of his window and once he was satisfied that nobody was watching him, he grabbed his duffle bags and slipped out the door.
    Bob shoved both bags into the back of his car and shut the trunk. He went around to the front of the non-descript sedan and climbed in. He started the car and pulled it from the parking garage of his apartment building. He glanced down the street and headed for the interstate. It was a long drive from Virginia to Oklahoma, but he intended to load up on coffee and energy drinks and make it a non-stop journey. Other than filling the Crown Vic’s tank and emptying his bladder, he hoped to be at Tinker Air Force Base about the same time he was supposed to report to Ingram’s surveillance team.
    They would have their own transit time once they realized he wasn’t coming. Bob could only pray that there would be enough time for him to make his journey and make contact with the targets before things got way out of hand.
     

 
    5
     
     
     
     
    The helicopter touched down just north of the hangar and Mick raised his arms to remove his headgear. He paused and turned back to the pilot. “I meant what I said. Nobody else needs to die this day. Don’t be a hero.”
    The pilot raised his hands in defeat. “You know I can’t be quiet about this. You killed a good man. They will come for you.”
    Mick nodded as he pulled the headgear off. He patted the pilot’s shoulder. “Tell them good luck.”
    He jumped from the helo and stood back as it lifted again, making a quick hop across the base and to the hangar where he knew that Laura was. Mick pulled the wallet and ID he had taken from the dead pilot and began to jog across the base toward the Base Exchange. He’d have a little time, he assumed, before anybody could be gathered and sent to find him. He also knew from previous experience that the BX offered a barbershop and a uniform shop. Losing his facial hair and getting a military haircut might help him to blend in. A set of camo BDUs would help even more.
    As he approached the BX he noted the numerous soldiers coming and going, nobody seemed to really look at their face. “This should be easy enough.”
    He entered the barbershop and reached for a number. “No need son. I have a chair ready.” The older gentleman slapped the hair crumbs from the leather seat and Mick stepped up onto the chair. “What’ll it be?”
    “Shave and a haircut, my good man.” Mick flashed his best smile.
    “I was going to say you weren’t sporting a regulation cut.” The old man wrapped the cotton drape over him and began to lift the chair. “You Special Forces or something?”
    Mick raised a brow and had to fight back a laugh. “Me? No way. I was just…on extended leave. Had a death in the family.”
    “You ain’t from around these parts, are ya?” The old man pulled out an old-fashioned lather cup and began swirling his brush in it. He placed a hot towel across Mick’s face to soften his beard.
    “You got me there, pops. Definitely not from around here.”
    “I’d have to guess the Northeast or something. Funny accent.”
    “My mum was Aussie.” Mick smiled under the towel as the old man continued to make lather. When he lifted the towel and began brushing the lather across his face, Mick sighed. It had been many