In Sheep's Clothing by David Archer Page B

apparently he took a couple in the chest and a hit in the head, but Doc Parker says he was still conscious when they carried him out. That could be a good sign. They found John Hackett, but he's dead, so Parker is in charge for now. Mr. Jackson is acting as his deputy.” He turned to Neil. “I need you to get online, see what you can find out about Nicolaich Andropov. I don't know the details, but Doc Parker seems to think that he was involved in this attack, and if he was, then I want to find him as soon as we can. We are authorized to act on our own and go after him.”
    Neil jumped up and ran out the door, but came back a few moments later with his computer. He plugged it in and turned it on as Moose turned to Noah.
    “What can I do, Boss?” Moose asked.
    Noah glanced at Sarah, who was busying herself with the little kitchen, then turned back to Moose. “Right now, I think the most important thing for you to do is try to help me keep things on an even keel. We’ve got to focus, Moose, try to either come up with a game plan on our own, or sit and wait to see what the home office has to say. Doc Parker didn’t seem to know when they might be back up to running properly.”
    Moose nodded. “Okay. I just want to be able to check in with Elaine, now and then, is that all right?”
    “Yeah, at this point I’d have to say it’s not a problem. They’re putting everything back together as quickly as they can and I’m certain security there is as high as it could possibly be right now.”
    Neil cleared his throat, and Noah looked at him. “Noah? You said Mr. Jackson is okay?”
    “Yes, he's helping Doc Parker run the show for right now, doing Mr. Jefferson’s job.”
    Neil turned and looked at him. “Would you mind if I take a minute and call Lacey back? She and her mom are worried sick, they haven't heard from her dad since the attack started.”
    Noah looked at him for a moment, then nodded. “Be careful what you say,” he said. “You're not on a secure line, so don't give her too many details. Don't mention Doc Parker, just say that you got word that her father is okay.”
    Neil grinned and nodded, and hit the redial button on his prepaid phone instantly. Noah sat quietly as Neil became a hero to his girlfriend for letting her know that her father was alive and apparently well.
    Neil cut the call short and then got back on the computer. He was feeling a rage beginning to build within himself, anger at whoever had done this and caused so much harm and grief. He quietly told himself that it didn't matter who it was, Neil wanted his own chance to take a shot at them.
    “Hey, Noah?” Neil asked.
    “Yeah?”
    “Can you get me a sawed-off shotgun? From everything I've read, even I can hit what I'm shooting at with that.”
    Noah cocked his head and just looked at the skinny young man for a moment. “Tell you what,” he said finally. “I'll see what I can do.”

NINE
     
    S arah had decided on spaghetti, which pleased everyone, and it was done in fairly short order. She scooped it out onto plates and set one in front of each of the three men before making one for herself and taking a seat at the table.
    “Be careful, Noah,” Moose said. “She’s acting domestic. I think that engagement ring must be too tight, it’s cutting off circulation to her brain.”
    Sarah backhanded him on his shoulder. “Shut up, jerk face,” she said. “Remember the emergency protocols? We’re supposed to remain in character. According to the file they gave me, I’m Rosemary Wingo, engaged to be married sometime soon. Gotta act the part, right?”
    Moose chuckled, and Noah simply turned and looked at Sarah. “Realistically, you’re right, but if we really were Wyatt and Rosemary, you don’t think I’d want you to wait on my friends, do you?”
    “You shut up, too,” Sarah said as she spun her fork in the spaghetti and shoved it into her mouth.
    Neil had spent the time before dinner hacking into every government