Scene 49

Brasstown Bald, Northern Georgia

We had transferred from the truck into a van on a small road in northern Georgia and bid goodbye to Susie.

Michael pulled the van into the parking lot of the short trail to the summit of Georgia’s highest peak. A small number of vehicles were also parked there. Diane and Ms. Hawk stayed in the van with David, but the rest of us got out and moved to a small picnic table.

As we waited, a small car pulled in and parked across the lot from the van. Grant stepped out of the car, stretched, and casually walked in our direction. When he reached our table, he sat down with us.

“The others should be here soon,” he said.

We sat and made small talk as we waited. Over the next hour, four more cars pulled into the lot and their drivers came over to join us.

“That’s everyone,” Grant said.

“Good,” I answered, “Ms. Raven?”

She picked up the bag she had sitting on the ground beside her and put in on the table. She reached inside and pulled out five small electronic devices.

“These are the decoys,” she said. “I have adjusted each one so that it gives off a modulated signal identical to David’s on the same frequency. Once you get in your cars, all you have to do is pull out the antenna and flip this switch.”

“Once you have activated your devices,” I said, “we will all drive away at the same time. Once we hit the main road, we will begin separating and driving to different destinations. That way, the FBI will have to trace six different signals. My team and I will take David back to the mountain. Now, it’s possible that we will still be followed, but we will just be one possibility out of six. Any questions?”

“No, but I do have one thing to add,” said Grant. “Once you reach your assigned destination, take the device and plant it somewhere, then quickly leave the area. Hopefully, that will give you enough time to get away before the Bureau closes in on the signal.”

He turned to me and extended his hand. “Good luck,” he said.

“Thanks,” I told him, shaking his hand, “You too.”

We all left the picnic table and got into our vehicles. All the cars started and each pulled out of the parking lot.