"Texas Wildfire" - Chapter 22

Texas Wildfire

Chapter 22

By Dwayne MacInnes

Fred Wilson was not pleased. General Davis was not at the Army Reserve Center when the bombs fell. In fact, the very person, who Mr. Wilson had instructed to make sure the General arrive on time, foiled the whole plan by trying to kill the General on his own.

Wilson stayed inside his hotel room the entire day. He was so upset he did not want to leave. The news was playing up the destruction of the grade school, and the residential area hit hardest by the bombs. So now, the populace had lost all appetite for the Oath Keepers.

Only a handful of people called up Wilson to gloat about the bombing of the Army Reserve Center. However, far more people called up to say that, they were no longer going to support or be in the organization. A few even cursed the organization and held him personally responsible for the deaths of the children.

How little did any of them really know how involved Wilson really was. Wilson went to the little refrigerator in the hotel room and grabbed a beer. He was about to take a long drink from the bottle when he heard a knock on the door.

Wilson, now displeased that someone had disturbed him while he was trying to drink, marched over to the door and swung it open without even looking out the little peephole.

"Yeah," he grumbled as the doorway revealed a man in a uniform with arm in a sling.

Wilson broke into an instant smile, "Sorry about that Lieutenant. My nerves are a little raw right now."

The soldier stepped into the room and shut the door.

"I have some very important news that we need to get to the rebels."

Fred Wilson offered the lieutenant a chair and a beer. The soldier gratefully accepted both.

"Okay, this must be big. What is it?"

"This could easily make up for the bombing disaster," the lieutenant stated.

Wilson sat down on a couch and drank his beer as the officer related everything he knew of Operation Texas Wildfire.

"This is big. Very big," Wilson said after the Lieutenant finished his story. "I'll need to get this off ASAP."

The officer stood up and put the empty beer bottle on the coffee table.

"I have to be getting back before I am missed," the lieutenant stated as he headed towards the door.

Wilson stood up and smiled genuinely towards the lieutenant.

"You know you will be remembered as quite the hero after all of this is over. First, the successful ambush you miraculously survived. Second, the information on General Davis. Finally, the data about Operation Wildfire. Yes sir, when Texas is finally free from the United States tyranny, everyone will remember the great service provided by Lt. White."

White smiled in return before he exited the room. After the officer left, Wilson wasted no time contacting the rebels and relaying all that White had told him about Operation Wildfire. The rebels were excited to receive the news.

Feeling much better, Wilson grabbed another beer and was prepared to drink it when another knock on the door interrupted him. Wilson still smiling opened the door to see Sheriff Gracen standing in the hall.

"Come in," Wilson said excitedly. "I am glad you are here."

However, Wilson's smile disappeared when Gracen did not return his affection. Before he could ask what was wrong Gracen reached out with a pair of handcuffs.

"Fred Wilson, you are under arrest for the bombing and the murders of many of the citizens of Littleton," Gracen said as he spun the stunned man around.

The cuffs were on before Wilson could inquire what was happening.

"Are you crazy?" Wilson finally blurted out. "You are part of the Oath Keepers."

"Yes, I was," the sheriff replied. "However, I never planned to partake in any terrorist or treasonable acts. You can count on this as my resignation."

"You'll never get away with this!" screamed Wilson as Gracen handed him off to two deputies waiting in the hallway.

"You may be right. I may even end up in a cell with you. However, I will have you arrested first and I have already been talking to a lawyer about what I should do next."

Gracen knew that there would be an investigation. He prayed that the fact he thought he was joining a neutral organization, whose only purpose was to protect the Constitution, would come to light. He also knew that there were many other law enforcement officers in Littleton and across the United States in a similar situation.

* * * * *

As Lieutenant White left the hotel, he planned on heading back towards the officer's quarters located in a motel further down the road. However, White did not even get the keys in his car when he noticed two Sheriff patrol cars with their emergency lights flashing. They pulled up in the parking lot next to him.

All the blood ran from White's face as he stood there watching as deputies stepped out of the car. White recognized Sheriff Gracen as he walked past the soldier. The deputies were close behind the sheriff and none of them seemed to take much notice of White.

White wiped his brow and was about to unlock his car again when a man walked up behind him.

"Lieutenant White?" the man said.

White spun around to notice four Military Policemen behind him.

"Yes," White said sheepishly as he knew what was coming next.

"You are under arrest for treason and the attempted assassination of General Davis."

Lieutenant White dropped his keys and put his one good arm on his head. The MPs roughly cuffed him and White yelped in pain. His shoulder protested as it was still sore from the old bullet wound he took when the rebels ambushed his convoy.