Winds of Change

"Next stop?" asked Michelle.

"Yes." Michelle turned to the page in the folder that would show John the next date and time they were planning to go. "Got it," he said bending over the device to work the thumbwheels.

They were now at the second site on their list, the place where Denise Jensen would be found. This time John placed them on the shoulder of the road just above the ditch where they would find her body. Again, John slowly brought them forward in time until they saw a car racing toward them. The three of them watched as the same man performed the same task as he had at the other site.

This time it was Janice who groaned out loud. The man stopped, looked around and then went back to work. With a flashlight, it was night this time, he fished around in the girl's purse. Finding nothing, he swore and tossed it into the ditch with its owner. He was in his car and down the road in a matter of minutes.

"Where to now?" asked Michelle.

"I've seen enough... "

"But we have no proof, we don't know where, although we know why," Michelle pleaded.

"I know, but we don't know how to work this thing to our advantage, yet."

"Well, time is getting short at our end. We can't keep the wolves at bay much longer," Michelle told him.

"I know, I know. Maybe knowing will be enough... " John started, then bending over the device he started turning dials until they were back at the bluff and the date, time readout matched. "Janice do your men have a way to communicate with those at the ranch?" asked John.

"Of course," she replied.

"Good, when I press this button, called them in," John said, his finger hovering over the time stream button. Janice nodded. He pressed the button.

"Danny, William, come up here," Janice shouted down the slope, "quickly."

Chapter 44

Michael Song watched as three black SUV's rolled quietly down the road and into the driveway of Sheriff Abernathy's ranch.

"Pigeons on the way," he said softly into the walky-talky in his hand.

"Roger," the voice of Victor Eaglefeather came from the speaker of the walky-talky.

The SUV's slowly rolled up to the house. The doors opened and disgorged seven men from each vehicle. Twenty-one men stood in a semi-circle facing toward the house. Michael Song wondered why someone would send so many men to subdue a single man. Nodding he raised the walky-talky to his lips.

"Song to Wind, twenty-one pigeons have landed, over."

"Roger Song," Janice Windwalker's voice replied. "Have you called for backup?"

"Roger Wind," Michael answered, he could hear the Sheriff Deputies cars speeding up the road.

Jimmy was leading the line of squad cars down the road toward the Sheriff's ranch. He slowed and then stopped just behind the last hill on the road leading to the ranch. Getting out of his car, he went to the trunk and retrieved his shotgun and flack vest. The other deputies were doing the same. As he finished a man dressed in camouflaged military fatigues rose out of the grass next to the road. Jimmy wasn't surprised to see him and walked toward him. Bobbie was right beside him, the others followed as they donned their equipment.

"Good to see you again Michael," Jimmy said extending his hand.

"Good to see you too Jimmy," Michael replied taking Jimmy's hand in his.

"Where are they?"

"Right now they are clearing the house. Nineteen are in perimeter defense while two clear the house. The SUV's haven't been moved yet."

"Okay, you guys are running the show, so where do you want us?"

"For now, we stay here. Chief Runningbear has the rest of our men on the opposite side of the house in the tall grass. John wants us to try and take the pigeons alive."

"Can we?" asked Jimmy.

"I don't know, with your four we have thirteen."

"We also have badges... "

"I don't think these guys give a crap about that."

"You're probably right," Jimmy chuckled.

"Okay, follow me, stay low, try not to disturb the grass too much," Michael told them as he led the way.

When they were almost to the top of the rise, Michael got on his hands and knees. The deputies followed his action. At the top of the rise, Michael went to his belly and crawled forward another ten feet before stopping. As Jimmy joined him, he had a view of the ranch and the men waiting there.

"Bobbie, give me the rifle," Jimmy said to her, handing his shotgun to her as he took the sniper rifle from her grasp.

"Nice," Michael said.

Jimmy placed the scope in front of his right eye and scanned the ranch below.

John reined in his mount just before the six of them broke cover. They were just inside the tree line, yet could plainly see the ranch house before them. John counted ten men. He knew there were more, he just couldn't see them from here. Rudy was sitting, growling deep in his chest, toward the ranch, waiting for John to release him.

"Not this time friend," John hissed at him. "I wish I had my long rifle with me."

"Here, use mine," Danny Long said pulling a sniper rifle from its sheath on his mount.

"Thanks," John said taking the rifle.

Placing it against his shoulder, he scanned that part of the ranch house he could see.

"What do we do?" Michelle asked softly.

"You, you stay here and keep Rudy from getting killed," John told her as he scanned the situation ahead of them.

Michelle made a face at him but didn't verbalize her protest. Janice smiled at the bye-play between the two, as she watched the men around the house. Pulling the rifle from his shoulder, John handed it back to Danny.

"Thanks, but you had better use that, go, go find that perfect spot," John told him.

Nodding Danny urged his mount to the right along the tree line.

"Twenty-one guys just for little ole me," John quipped. "When do we move?"

"My father will let us know," Janice replied.

"Rudy, guard," John told the dog pointing at Michelle. "You," he continued pointing at Michelle, "dismount and stay here, please."

"Well as you asked so nicely," Michelle said frowning at John. She slid out of the saddle to stand next to Rudy. She reached behind her and pulled the Sig out of her waistband holster. She checked it over then led the horse to a tree, tethered it and went in search of a rock to sit on.

"Rudy, come," she said softly. Rudy looked at John then followed Michelle.

Chapter 45

John watched the men as they came out of the house. They all climbed back into the SUV's. Once loaded the vehicles backed and filled until they lined up to head up the trail where John sat astride his horse. Just as they started to move, a voice amplified by a bullhorn echoed around the landscape.

"Stop where you are, this is the Barnes County Sheriff's department, you are surrounded. Step out of your vehicles unarmed. Lie face down on the ground, your hands on the back of your head. Do it now!"

The lead vehicle started to move forward. The crack of a high-powered rifle shattered the calm quiet of the meadow in which the house sat. The moving vehicle stopped, steam coming from under the hood. The other two vehicles started to back out. Two more shots echoed in the afternoon sunshine. Steam was now coming from the other two SUV's. The doors flew open and the men tumbled out to stand behind the open doors of the vehicles, ready to shoot.

"Drop your weapons, lie face down on the ground and you will not be hurt," the bullhorn blared again.

"It looks like we have a standoff. It's twenty of us against six, seven of you," a voice shouted from the lead SUV.

"You have been warned. Everyone open fire," the bullhorn blared.

John shook his head as the sound of gunfire ripped around the three vehicles. Within seconds, twenty men were lying on the ground either dead or wounded. A man stood by the first vehicle, hands in the air his weapons at his feet. His face showed complete surprise when he saw the number of armed men that appeared out of the grass surrounding the house.

John urged his horse forward, down the trail toward the three SUV's. Rudy came running out of the trees, slowed when he had caught up with John. Janice was right behind John when another horse raced out of the trees to stop next to John on the trail. Smiling at Michelle, John nodded and nudged his horse forward.

"I have Doc Bajek on her way with the two county ambulances, she told me the hospital will send their two," Jimmy reported as John rode up to the scene.

"You did good Jimmy. No worries got it," John told him.

Jimmy nodded returning to work helping the wounded. John dismounted, turned toward the house, then changed direction and walked over to the only man not wounded in the exchange.

"Who the fuck do you work for?" asked John.

"You wouldn't know if I told you."

"How deep is Harvey Muller in this?"

"Him you can have. If it wasn't for him we would have cleaned this up long ago."

John looked at the man, then around him, then back at the man. "I doubt it," John said.

"You might be right about that. Now, what do you plan to do?"

"You are going to tell me everything you know about the murders of Mary Fletcher and Denise Jensen."

"Of course, Harvey Muller is you, man. He killed them. He was only supposed to get the disk back, the sick son of a bitch, but he enjoys killing young girls."

"You will testify to that in court."

"Sure, why not. What am I going to be charged with?"

"I should charge you with accessory to murder after the fact, but I'm feeling generous, felony trespass and associated weapons charges. I'll recommend probation in the state of your choice."

"What about my men?"

"Same for them," John told him.

"Mike Song said he's on his way... .he just slowed down by the squads on the road," Janice told John.

"Thanks, Janice. Bobbie, Jimmy," John shouted. The two deputies nodded and faded away from the house toward the road. Three of Janice's men accompanied them.

"So he's stupid enough to come here?" the man asked.

"He is," John replied laughing. "What about his cops?"

"They actually work for me and are long gone by now."

"I see." John pulled the disk from his shirt pocket, "who stole this from the tribal museum?"

"I don't know. We gave it to Professor... what's his name...

"Kane," John inserted for the man.

... yes, Kane... to build the device and write the user's manual. Which you now have," the man said. "He didn't know what was going on, just that first, the disk disappeared and then the device."

"I will have to bring him in and talk to him anyway."

"I figured."

"What were you going to do with the device?"

"The same as you, really, solve crimes. We're actually on the same side. It's just the department I work for will never acknowledge I work for them."

"Ah the Sector Seven Syndrome," John laughed.

"You've seen the movies?"

"Yes, who hasn't," John said. "Who else knew about what was going on?"

"Ah... I really can't say... but I will warn you. Olsen Lambert is not who he seems to be. Nor is Steve Dempsey," the man said.

"Son of a bitch," John croaked.

"Yeah, my words exactly," the man replied.

"You will be taken to the county lockup, but your men will be taken to state holding in Fargo, we don't have the room for all of you."

"I understand, you will have no trouble out of me, except, I will have to keep trying to get that device back."

"I understand. Just know I plan on destroying the device and scratching the instruction on how to build it off the disk."

"You can't!" the name almost shouted.

"I can and I will. This is too dangerous for any one person or government to hold. You know that?"

"I do. What will happen to the disk?"

"It will be returned to the tribe, sans instruction."

"That might not be enough."

"Spill it."

"The information is magnetically recorded on the disk also."

"There are ways to erase that," John told him.

"There are."

Chapter 46

"What the fuck do you think you are doing Deputy?" Harvey almost screamed as Jimmy led, pushed and dragged him down the driveway to the house.

John just stood watching. "What was your first name?" John asked the man next to him.

"George," he answered flatly.

When Harvey saw George, he shut up and stopped resisting Jimmy's attempts to lead him to where John was waiting. Harvey took in the fact that George was not in handcuffs as he was. He also noticed John for the first time.

"Ah, Sheriff, if you would tell you deputy to take off these cuffs... "

"Shut up Harvey and listen. You are under arrest... "

"For what?"

"For the murder... "

"Murder? You have no proof... "

"... of Mary Fletcher and Denise Jensen. You have the right to remain silent. I suggest you do, or I'll beat the shit out of you, you sick son of a bitch."

"George?"

"Shut up Harvey, you're going away for a very long time. You're lucky there is no death penalty in this state."

Harvey stood glaring at George. George just laughed at him. "You dumb two-bit scumbag. You think I'm going to help you get away with murder. Once we had retrieved the disk, I was going to turn your ass in any way."

Harvey looked stunned. John laughed at the stupid look on his face.

"Bring up a squad and put him in the back of it," John told Jimmy.

"Right, boss," Jimmy replied dragging Harvey back up the drive.

"You know I'm going to have to cuff you?"

"I figured as much."

"So, who did you say you worked for?" John asked.

"I didn't and I won't. Besides you wouldn't understand anyway."

"Hey, I know how to use this," John said holding up the disk.

"Yes, we know."

John frowned as he took his cuffs from his belt, put the disk in his shirt pocket and cuffed George. For the next two hours, everyone mostly waited for state police transportation to show up. Leyland Vickers showed up thirty minutes after he was called. He stood in front of John. John was sitting in his rocking chair on the front porch.

"What the hell! You couldn't call me for help. You called the Tribal Police instead?"

"I could have. I did. I have also solved the two murders."

"Who was it?"

"Harvey Muller."

"The Police Chief?" asked Leyland.

"Yes. Of course, I suspected him all along."

Leyland just shook his head and walked away. He had to organize the processing of the twenty prisoners he had agreed to take off John's hands. Olsen Lambert and Steve Dempsey were the next to show up. Bobbie, Michelle, and Janice escorted them up.

"What can I do for you, Steve?" John asked still sitting in his rocker.

"What the hell is going on here?" Olsen almost shouted.

"Well Olsen, it's really none of your fucking business. The only reason I let you accompany Steve was because I wanted you both here to hear what I have to say."

"And what's that John?" Steve asked.

"George, would you come out here please," John yelled over his shoulder.

George, accompanied by one of Lazarus Runningbear's men, stepped out onto the porch. The look on Olsen Lambert's face was priceless.

"I thought you worked for us?" he shouted at George.

"Not hardly," George responded.

"Bobbie, place Olsen under arrest. The charge, conspiracy to commit murder," John told her.

"John," Steve started.

"Steve, you too are going to be arrested. Same charge as Olsen. George here is going to testify at both your trials."

Steve just closed his eyes and dropped his head in resignation. "What are you going to do with the device?"

John turned to George. "He knew about the device?"

"He did. So did Olsen. They had big plans for its use."

"I bet they did. Steve the device is going to be destroyed. Jimmy," John shouted that last, "help Bobbie with the prisoners."

The deputies led the two men away. John closed his eyes and dropped his head as he started to rock in his chair.

"Are you all right," Michelle whispered squatting next to John's chair.

"I'm fine... maybe a little tired."

Getting up out of his chair, John walked over to where his horse stood quietly. He detached the saddlebags, turned and walked toward the shooting range behind his barn. Michelle, Janice, and Rudy followed. Rudy was somewhat upset, yet excited by all the activity at the ranch. At the table, John slammed the saddlebags down on its top. Opening the bottom one, he pulled the device, still intact, out and walked toward the target area.

Michelle followed him out, while Janice waited at the table. Taking the device, John placed it on the ledge on one of the target holders. He then backed away four paces, drew his Colt and took aim.

"You're sure you want to do this?" Michelle asked softly standing beside him.

"Yes."

The shot rang out echoing across the landscape. The device lay in a thousand pieces at the foot of the target holder. Walking over to the debris, John smashed it further with his booted foot making sure there wouldn't be a way to reassemble the damned thing.

Chapter 47

Six months it took. Six months to prosecute everyone involved in the murders of the two innocent young women, Mary and Denise. Harvey pled guilty once George had given his deposition. Steve and Olsen also pled guilty. All of George's men pled their cases too. Even though it was just a matter of hearing them plead guilty, it took six long months.

So all was quiet in Barnes County, and things had settled into a routine. Michelle had moved in with John. John was happier than he had been in a long, long time, as was Michelle. Susan and her husband were frequent visitors to the Abernathy ranch as where Bobbie and Kevin Shelton. It had taken some persuasion from Susan and Michelle, but Bobbie finally caved.

"So when do you want to do it?" Michelle asked one night when they sat on the porch.

The weather had not been conducive to sitting outside for a couple of months. Winters were a little harsh this far north. Tonight, the weather had cleared and the temperature had climbed to a tolerable level to allow them to sit outside for a while.

"Soon, soon," John replied.

"That's what you've said every time I've asked you about it," Michelle huffed.

"I know dear, I know. I just don't know if I have the right to destroy such a thing."

"There is that, but just look at the problems it caused."

"But just think of the good someone could do."

"Yes and look what happened when that one person tried to do good."

"Indeed. It's safe for now. No one but I know where it is."

"You and Rudy," Michelle giggled.

"Yes, me and Rudy," John chuckled. "But I don't think Rudy is going to blab to anyone."

"There is that," Michelle quipped leaning her head on his shoulder.

Chapter 48

The days rolled into weeks that rolled into months. John and Michelle were truly enamored with each other. Soon there came the day that John thought she would accept his offer of marriage. He planned a romantic dinner at Fallon's Steakhouse.

"Oh this is nice," Michelle said as Elliot seated them in a private booth.

"I thought you might enjoy a night out and Fallon's has the best food in the county."

"Well thank you, dear," Michelle said leaning over and kissing John on the cheek.

They ordered drinks and dinner. John was extremely nervous, yet Michelle didn't pick up on it. It was when the waiter placed dessert in front of them that John planned to pop the question. Soon, actually, too soon for John, dessert was set on the table.

"Oh, this is unexpected. If I had known you ordered dessert I wouldn't have pigged out on my steak," Michelle joked.

John chuckled as he rose and walked to Michelle's side of the booth. Getting down on one knee, John cleared his throat. Michelle gasped as she realized what was happening.

"Oh god," Michelle croaked her hands going to her throat in surprise and excitement.

"My dear, sweet Michelle, will you marry me?" There he had asked her. Now that the words were out of his mouth, his heart left his throat.