March 18, 2023
I’M IN
Colvin and Clay finished dinner at the diner. Clay went to the cash register to pay. Colvin walked to the men’s room. As Colvin walked out, the television over the cash register caught his attention when he heard the news reporter say, “FBI.” He stopped and watched as the man introduced himself as Special Agent Liam Doyle.” Colvin thought to himself, “Well, hello, agent Doyle.” Elizabeth Baldwin was introduced as a cyber security specialist, and he immediately concluded that Elizabeth Baldwin could be a problem. As he walked out of the diner, he contemplated how to tie up loose ends. His next thought was, “Mason.” They drove to the Starlite Bar and Grill, where they planned to meet Mason.
“All right, I’m in,” Mason said immediately after sliding into the booth.
There were only two people at the bar, and they were engaged in a heated conversation. With authority, Colvin said, “Ten thousand, and you’re on our time now, agreed?”
“Agreed. When can I get my money to get those guys off my back? What do you want me to do?”
“I’ll tell you when I give you the money. We’ll meet you back in the parking lot in one hour.”
“Okay.” Mason rose from the booth. “I will see you later then.”
***
When Colvin and Clay arrived at Rebecca’s house, Colvin directed, “Clay, wait in the car. I won’t be long.” Colvin walks up the porch stairs and rings the doorbell.
Rebecca said fondly, “What a surprise.”
“Hi, Mama.” As he kissed her cheek, he said, “I can’t stay long. I need to get a few things out of my bedroom. Clay is waiting in the car.” Colvin threw a backpack on the bed and opened the closet. Moving shoe boxes on the shelf, he took down a box filled with cash wrapped in an old Marine shirt. He placed two bound stacks of ten thousand each in the backpack. After putting the box back in the closet, he reached under the bed and pulled out a long rectangular wooden box. Opening it, he looked at the disassembled rifle: the action, stock, barrel, and scope. He takes each and places them in different sections of the backpack. Altogether, the weight of ten pounds is easily transported.
“Do you want something to eat, honey?”
Colvin shouts back, “No, Mama. I just ate. Clay and I have some other plans.”
He opened the bottom dresser drawer and pulled out a box of bullets. He muttered to himself, “I’ll only need one.” He placed them in the front zippered pocket of the backpack. Slinging the backpack over his shoulder, he walked to the living room.”
He hugs her and apologizes, “Sorry, I can’t stay, Mama. Love you.”
“I love you too, Colvin.”
Colvin walked out the front door, threw his backpack on the front passenger floor, and asserted, “You’re driving.”
***
The Starlite Bar and Grill parking lot was almost empty when Colvin and Clay pulled in next to Mason’s truck. “Get in.”
Mason climbed in the back seat.
Clay pulled out of the parking lot. Colvin threw a wad of money wrapped in a rubber band at Mason. “Just as we agreed.”
Mason looked at the money and put it in his pocket. “Okay, what do you have in mind?”
“Mason, we plan to punish NMC for their crimes, starting with the mountaintop removal at Darknight Mountain.”
“How are you planning on doing that?”
“Mason, that is why we need you to place charges in front of the NMC coal impoundment dam upstream from Darknight Mountain.”
Surprised, Mason asked, “That’s it, just blow up the impoundment dam?”
“That’s it. Of course, you will be out of a job because that will flood the area around Darknight Mountain.”
“Now, that is a problem.”
Colvin reached into the backpack, pulled out another bundle of cash, and threw it at Mason. Laughing, “Yes, we thought that would be a problem, so we have another job tomorrow morning in Charleston.” Colvin handed him an envelope with an address printed on the front.”
“What’s this?” Mason asked as he opened the envelope and took out a picture. Looking at the picture, a woman’s face stared back at him.
“That is an FBI agent in Charleston, Elizabeth Baldwin. The address is her office. She needs to have an accident tomorrow morning. That’s five thousand. You’ll receive an additional five when the job is complete. Are you in?”
“Ya, I’m in.”
“Good.” Colvin advised, “Leave now for Charleston. We’ll talk tomorrow after the job is done.”
Mason returned to his truck and quickly drove out of the parking lot.
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