Ninety Degrees Out

“Keep it quiet boys,” Bran said as they checked out their earpieces. Tiny clear buds hid inside their ear canals, unseen by anyone watching them. Voice activated mikes hid under their tee shirts hidden buy hunting vests.

“Trust Rico and his guys to be asleep still. I’m glad we had this chance to explore this way. Seems no one has been this way for some time.” Pete was scanning the trail for tracks.

“Probably decided there was nothing worthwhile up here.” The sneer in Jax’s voice brought nods from everyone.

“Time to hide our arsenal. Take a peak. This is what I found the other day when I went out with Rico’s gang looking for meat. They pretty much told me it wasn’t worth going down here. Great hint that they probably missed something.” Jimbo moved into the lead and slipped between a couple of raspberry bushes blooming in a splotch of sunshine sneaking through the trees.

“Well, I’ll be damned. That’s a nice little shelter.” Bran moved forward to try the ramshackle door. It was sturdier than it looked.

“Jimbo, Pete, go grab some branches and deadfall. We’ll build a pile of firewood in the corner. There’s a fire pit in here. We can hide our guns under it. I don’t trust Angel. She’s watching us.” Bran lifted a shutter like covering and propped it open. “This thing is a hunting blind.”

“You feel her eyes on you too?” Jax asked as he checked guns for rounds in the chamber before laying them down against the back wall of the oversized lean to.

“Yeah. The bitch is scheming. She’s been rubbing up against me when she thinks no one is looking.” Jimbo made a face as he dumped a few branches over their rifles.

Pete unloaded his backpack, putting two cases of ammo in the shadowy corner opposite the door. He pulled the only piece of furniture away from the propped up awning.

“You’d never guess that opening is in this wall. Nice place to hunt from. Lots of moose tracks out there.” Pete said as he arrived dragging large branches of wood behind him. He pulled a hatchet of his belt and started chipping them into smaller pieces that fit in the circle of stones in the middle of the packed dirt floor.

“Looks good guys. You still have your silencer, Pete?” Bran asked as he pointed at a yearling moose.

His brother reached into his jacket pocket and screwed it onto the barrel.

“Don’t want to let Rico and company know where we went.” Pete rested his elbow on the window ledge and took aim.

The moose went down in two steps.

“Let’s field dress it here. Leave the guts, maybe Ursa will find them. Nothing like bear tracks to keep Rico and Grange away.”

The men made quick work of it and strung the carcass onto a long piece of lodgepole trunk.

“We’re taking those fake bombs down to Stargazer ranch tomorrow night. Can you make it down there to let Erik know sometime later today or may tonight, Jax?” Bran asked.

“You got it. Meanwhile, lets get this back and start the meat roasting. Grange came back with a couple dozen beer and a fifth of whiskey. Don’t know where he finds the stuff, and I’m not going to ask. Probably some liquor store in Anchorage that hasn’t been totally looted yet.” Jimbo stepped into the clearing and walked past their van toward the loading dock.

Bran put his fingers to his lips and whistled.

“Hey guys, we’re eating good tonight.”

Angel came out of their van, swinging the keys.

“Nice car.” She tossed the keys at him and winked. Her hips swaying the ancient invitation of a woman on the hunt.

Bram shook his head. Bold bitch. Letting him know she went through his things and willing to take what she wanted. He let a long low whistle out and caught Pete’s eye.

Jimbo nodded too. Bran knew he was damn lucky she didn’t find their guns. The girl was the wildcard in this. He couldn’t figure -out what she was up to, except he knew she was out to make sure she took care of herself first.

“Have to watch her.” Jax narrowed his eyes as he followed her into the warehouse.

“We take down the men as they set the bombs. One on one in two nights. It’s a risky plan, but I can’t come up with anything better. Try to bring them in alive. Don’t forget to take zip ties with you to restrain them. They carry the ordinance we carry pistols and take them into custody in the act,” Bran said.

“Risky but we’re onto them. Grange is the one who might give us trouble. He told me he wants Rico gone. Says the man has pussy fever and is useless as a leader now.”

“Angel is a looker, brags about taking what she wants from the men. Told me no one can resist her if she really wants them.” Pete blushed as he spoke. “Came onto me, told me I should be the one giving orders.”

“When did that go down?” Bran knew his brother would shy away from a blatant come on.

“Last night. Went looking for a bottle of water when I couldn’t sleep.”

“Woman sneaks around everywhere,” Jimbo complained. “And woman is wrong. She’s a girl. She got into some beer and started crowing about how she was running the show, not Rico. Proud she is, about only being fifteen. Bragging about how she took out people on the highway, tricking them into stopping because of a fake medical distress scene they staged. Sounded like she prefers a knife to guns though.”

“I knew she was a bad seed. Goes to show you, beauty isn’t always what it seems.” Bran said.

“Can’t wait to get this over with. Bombs ready Jax?”

He nodded. “Putting the fake timers into the circuit tonight. We’ll be ready.”

“Well let’s go put some meat on the fire. Might as well let them get good an drunk tonight. Gives us time tomorrow to do what we need to.” Bran said. He glanced up to see Angel watching them again.

“I hope she can’t hear us over here.”

Pete was right to be worried. Bran didn’t trust the girl at all.