CHAPTER NINETEEN

Instead of flying into West Virginia, the men rented a large SUV, bought some camping gear, and drove. Halfway there, they received a call that another team was following them. Dan, Rett, East, and Leif thought ten would be better than six.

"Damn glad to have you," smiled Alistair, shaking their hands at a gas station. "Let's grab some coffee and supplies."

The station was definitely a stop for anyone hiking the Appalachian trails or planning to camp in one of the nearby campgrounds. Everything you needed was available. Plus, there was hot food served from a small lunch counter. Sandwiches, soup, even full meals of chicken and potatoes, roast beef, green beans, meatloaf, and more.

"Who's watching our doctor in D.C.?" asked Rett.

"We turned his name over to the DEA team. They want some revenge, so they'll be watching every move he makes until they can get a warrant to search his office for the drugs."

"Christian said for us to be careful up here. The folks in this area are a tight-knit group and don't fuck around. If they think we're here to stop something they're doing, we might have problems," said Alistair.

"That's why we were nice enough to bring extra weapons," smiled Leif. "A few surprises from G.R.I.P. and the team. Plus, Victoria has some tricks up her sleeve, but she said she'd tell us about them when we needed them. The kid likes surprises."

"Speaking of kids," smiled Rett. "It's mid-fall break, and Macie is home from her master's program. Man, that girl has grown into a beautiful woman."

"Well, Sam and Mia are both good-looking people. I know they're probably happy she's home," said Alistair. He turned in a circle, looking for something. "Where are Garr and Sor?"

"They went back inside for more snacks. They were worried that this wasn't enough," smirked East.

"Why is everyone so much hungrier all of a sudden? Have you noticed that? I mean, Team Big always wins at the table wars, but even they're eating more than usual. Is it going to be a tough winter?" asked Rett.

"Who knows," shrugged Alistair. "Maybe it's like bears getting ready to hibernate for the winter."

"Hey," said Gator, nudging Alistair's arm. "Aren't those the girls we saw the other night?"

"I'll be damned," muttered Alistair. "I guess they're going straight to the source. Let's follow."

Once they were all loaded in the two vehicles, they waited for the girls to fill their gas tank and leave to head up the mountain. It was raining and already starting to get dark, but they seemed to be driving as if they had a deadline. Twice, they pulled over on the side of the road for one of them to get out and pee in the woods. Once, one of them vomited.

"I wonder if they're experiencing withdrawals," said Sor.

"Could be. We know the opioids would make them sick as a dog. I'm just trying to keep a safe distance with no headlights. They damn sure aren't paying attention."

As they crested the next hill, there was a car waiting on the side of the road. The two girls pulled up behind it and stepped out into the cold, rainy night. With their black SUVs, they were hidden on the roadside, their lights out.

"Sirs? This is Victoria."

"We know," smiled Alistair. "What's up, sweetie?"

" Sir, if you look in the blue case in the back, you'll find a small silver disc. Connect it to the cigarette lighter outlet in your car, and it will act as a speaker for their conversation. It can pick up conversations as far off as a half a mile."

"Kid, you're something else," smirked Rett. Connecting the disc, they held it toward the vehicles in front of them.

"You said you'd have ten bottles for us," said a woman.

"I said I'd have ten bottles if you had ten grand. You've only got six grand. You get six bottles. See," he smirked, "that's basic math."

"Don't treat us like we're stupid. We want ten bottles."

"Then I want ten grand." He stared at the girls as they nervously moved from one foot to the other. "Come on, honey. We both know Daddy gives you whatever you want. You've got the fancy car, the designer clothes. Now, you've got the designer body to go with it. You can afford this."

"Fine," said one of the girls. She opened the trunk, and the men all held their breaths. Pulling out a black tote bag, she handed it to him, and he grinned.

"Let me give you the bag back. That's worth at least another two grand."

"No. No, keep the bag, but give us two more bottles," she said.

"Cool. Where's your other little friend? She was a sweet piece of ass."

"She died." No tears. No emotion. Just a statement.

"Now, that's a shame. Who's taking her place?"

"I will," said the blonde. She pulled her skirt up and bent over the hood of her car. It took only minutes for the man to get his rocks off. She acted as if it were just another day in the neighborhood.

"That was good, sweetheart. Next time, put some effort into it. I'll see you girls in a week." His car pulled away, and the girls continued to drive north.

"Anyone notice anything other than the obvious about all that?" asked Sor.

"Yeah. No one had a West Virginia accent. If I'm not mistaken, he sounded like he was from Southern California," said Alistair.

"Exactly," nodded Sor. "So they get these girls hooked on this shit. Charge a grand for each bottle and have sex with them."

" Sirs? I was listening, and I think I know who one of those girls is."

"You do? How could you know that, Victoria?" asked Alistair.

" Because she's famous. She's a pop star. A big one. She uses the name Dove. Her real name is Donna Broadstreet. She's been wildly popular on social media and just signed her first big record deal and is about to start touring."

"I'm really behind the times," frowned Leif. "I have no clue who that is."

"I don't think it matters," said Alistair. "What matters is we now have the name of someone who might know who these people are."

"I'll try to find an address for you. Also, the other guy sounded familiar too, but I can't place his name."

"Thanks, kid," said Sor.

" Um, sir. I'm not a kid."

"Apologies, Victoria. You're right. You're not. You're a brilliant, talented young woman with more brains than I'll ever have."

"Thank you, sir."