SYNCHRONICITY (Dream Walker) 🖋

Homecoming

Alison and Sebastian stood in the waiting area of the military airstrip located at the ENT Air Force Base along with a contingent of Secret Service agents nearby.

Earlier in the afternoon, they'd received an alert from Topher that their cyber security had been breeched...he'd strongly warned them that it could happen; that all it would take would be for a mobile phone to fall into the wrong hands.

This was exactly what happened on the flight...Beth and Lynn had used their phones to book their flights, but it was Debbie who used Alison's computer as well as her credit card to secure her commercial flight. Topher had informed Sebastian that this transaction may have been the catalyst; since there was no telling how long the woman who had infiltrated Alison's home Had been there and what she'd done to Alison's technology.

They had ramped up security months prior to Alison's returned to Manitou Springs, but it wasn't enough to stop a breech...back east.

There appeared to be a mole in their midst.

Alison stared out the window with her arms crossed over her breasts as the small commercial hopper landed. She watched as a small staircase was wheeled to the aircraft and when the door opened, she pressed her hands against the safety glass, willing it to disappear, but it remained as solid as it was supposed to be. She watched Smythe exit the aircraft first, then Mark, and Lynn, followed closely by Beth and Diane. She would breathe easier when she was face to face with them.

She watched the airmen removed the luggage from the aircraft, knowing that most of it belonged to Beth. She moved closer to the glass when she saw two men remove a large vari-kennel, carefully placing it on a flat dolly and wondered what the animal was.

Finally, she heard their voices and she moved to the doorway and stood before it. Smythe met her gaze with his own as he nodded at her and walked through the metal detector, setting it off. He allowed the TSA agent to search him and agent located his sidearm. Having been alerted that he would probably be armed and what the make and model of the sidearm was, he allowed him to pass through; if Smythe was at all shaken up, he didn't show it. Lynn emerged next holding onto Beth. Diane passed through but Mark pulling up the rear, also pinged the metal detector. He too was searched and allowed to pass. Several airmen walked behind them and then, Alison heard fearful barking. Years of training dogs put her on high alert.

"A dog," she asked of Mark.

"Your aunt's. Cute pooch, wild as hell though."

Alison's eyes flitted toward her aunt. "You got a dog?"

"He's a pup," she said. "Help me with your sister please?"

"Just so you know, your dog is terrified," Alison snapped as she circled her arm around Beth's shoulders. "You okay honey? "

"So I'll take him to a puppy shrink...that is what you do, isn't it," Lynn snapped back.

Beth nodded and laughed. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just tired is all. Lynnie and Mother are still pretty shaken up. The guys were super troopers though, so professional and heroic, they took charge without anybody knowing it...It was like being in the middle of a spy movie or something!"

"Are you telling me that it was exciting?"

Beth nodded. "Yeah!"

"You're nutters," Alison said as she shook her head. "A terrorist attack via a mole is not cool...it's like being shot by friendly fire! It's sucks to the umpteenth degree!"

"That's a very good analogy Love," Sebastian said still seething. He looked toward his men who were obviously tired and promised them both R-and-R after their debriefing. Until then, everyone had to stay close together. The airmen wheeled the parcels, luggage and the dog to the armored SUVs awaiting them outside.