Exiled Omnibus Read Online Free PDF Page A

You said people would stand with us!” Billy held up the cast on his arm.
     
    “I can sign that for you later, but right now I need to know if you still have access to the San Diego database to look up an address,” Eric said.
     
    Billy dropped the cast. As much as he may have hated Eric, he did enjoy hanging his abilities over other people's heads. It made him feel more important than he actually was.
     
    “Of course I can. It's child's play,” Billy said.
     
    “I need you to look someone up for me. Brooke Fontanne.”

Chapter 4
    The small room was cramped even with only three men inside. All of them were dressed in suits, with American flag pins on the lapels of their jackets.
     
    Smith snapped his phone shut. Both Daniel and Edwards had remained silent during the entire conversation.
     
    “Well?” Edwards asked.
     
    “The USS Ronald Reagan is his. Now he just needs the supplies to help him defend the border,” Smith said.
     
    Daniel let out a sigh of relief. He hadn’t realized he'd been holding his breath in for that long.
     
    “So now all we have to do is make sure our supply route is secure,” Smith said. “Edwards, are your people still willing to help?”
     
    “They're nervous, but they're ready. Although I would like for us to move sooner rather than later, before they second-guess themselves,” Edwards answered.
     
    “The containers of water, along with the ammunition and food rations, are secure at the airport. Once we get the word from Congressman Edwards, we'll notify the pilots,” Daniel said.
     
    “You're sure it's a smart move leaving everything in one location?” Edwards asked.
     
    “It'll be fine. It's a small airport owned under a shell corporation of one of my businesses. Jones won't be able to trace it,” Daniel replied.
     
    “There are a lot of things we didn't think Jones could do,” Edwards said.
     
    “We'll start scheduling shipments every other day. That should give Howard the support he needs,” Smith said.
     
    Once they left the room, they all walked in different directions. Setting up illegal water deliveries would be enough to land all of them in jail. Adding that to the fact that they were supplying the now-exiled Southwest would add treason to their judgment and ultimately end their lives.
     
    The stakes were high, and Daniel was doing his best to hold it together. He found himself looking behind him far too often, and when he was sitting in his office alone, he would catch himself staring at the closed door, just waiting for armed guards to bust it down and carry him away.
     
    But once he had voted against Jones’s bill, he knew which side of the fence he set himself on. It might not have been the safest decision, but it was one that he knew his conscience would be able to handle. He just hoped he would live long enough to appreciate it.
     
    Smith was smart, and Daniel trusted him. There was no way of knowing the amount of dirt and blackmail Jones had on the other congressmen to help swing the vote his way. They were all blindsided that the annexation of the Southwest had passed.
     
    It was harder now, but not impossible, to save that portion of the country. If Captain Howard could keep General Gallo's men from establishing a foothold in the region, then they still had a chance to work legislation on their end to get the country back on its feet.
     
    But even if Howard was able to fend off the Mexican military, and they could pass legislation to reinstate the Southwest, it still wouldn't solve the water crisis. That burden still rested with Dr. Carlson.
     
    That was the one process Daniel was worried about. From what he'd seen of Dr. Carlson, he was not impressed. When Beth had brought him in to meet Smith and Daniel, he’d reeked of whiskey and looked like a homeless man living on the streets.
     
    Still, Smith said he was a genius. Daniel just hoped the doctor would be able to sober up enough to recreate his process. If he even remembered