​     "Cecil's having some trouble getting out of the garage," Anne said. "It seems they've closed all the exits. He's telling me that some rather unpleasant looking gentlemen are walking over to talk to him right now."

     "Here comes my SUV," Gramps said as he pointed to it flying their way. "We should be able to get to Cecil in a second."

     "Thank you, but I have my own resources."

     "Yes, but..."

​     "Cecil's with me, Gramps." Anne got back on her phone. "Enrique, I'm afraid we're going to have to go ahead."

     Gramps heard the copters immediately. Within seconds, they were overhead.

​     Armed soldiers dropped out of the sky by the dozens.

​     Their parachutes were gray. Their uniforms were gray. On a cloudy day, this was a military unit that would be practically invisible parachuting from the clouds. 

     "Who are they with?" Gramps asked. "Which government?"

​     "They're more or less freelance."

     "You own them, in other words."

     "A few of us do. This shouldn't take more than a few minutes."

​     The soldiers filled Klawmaker's estate. Gramps heard a few gunshots, a few exclamations of surprise or pain, but really very few.

     Anne's phone rang.

​     Gramps got his own phone out to call Abby. "Honey! Where...Right now? Right this second? Okay, just...just...find a way to hold on. The SUV's...don't bother. I know how to find you. I should be there in less than a minute. Love you, too."

     He put his phone back in his pocket.

​     Anne put her phone away as well.​    

     "Cecil's fine," she said. "My people had very little trouble getting into the basement." 

​     As she spoke, four gray-uniformed soldiers joined them.

​     "It was wonderful to see you again, Gramps," she said. "Thanks for the lovely lunch, although it would have been nice if we'd actually been able to eat something."

     "Perhaps next time."

​     "Go save your family, Gramps."

​                                                    CONTINUE

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