Loyal to the End: A Scott McCully Espionage Adventure, #5

By Jessica C. Joiner

Scott is forced to decide who he can trust, and choosing wrong could cost him more than just his life.

 

With the Snake's threat ended, Scott McCully tries to piece together his shattered life and focus on his high school graduation. But SATURN isn't sure the danger is gone, warning Scott that the real threat may come from the people he loves - perhaps even within his own family.

 

Now he's on the run from SATURN and the very people he thought he could trust, as well as the terrorists who are trying to kill him.

 

Torn between loyalty and suspicion, Scott finds himself questioning everything and everyone he knows. He can't survive long on his own, but placing his trust in the wrong hands could have dire consequences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Faith, Loyalty, Adventure Publishing
• Release date: Oct 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386750642

Jessica C. Joiner

Jessica C. Joiner is a stay-at-home mom and volunteer teacher with five kids, one cat, and one husband. She loves comic books, classic TV, and writing fiction. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest @JCJAuthor

Book preview

Chapter 1

H ave a good day, Scott . Mom leaned over in the driver's seat of her Humvee, pulled my head toward her, and kissed me on the top of my head.

I will, I promised. I glanced at her side, checking for the bulge of her Sig Sauer handgun. It was there, as always. You'll be careful today?

She rested her gaunt hand on my shoulder. I'm just going to the supermarket. I don't want you worrying about me.

Just promise you won't over do it. I lowered my voice to hide the tightness I felt squeeze my throat. Ever since Dad was killed, caring for Mom had been my responsibility. She'd barely gotten her strength back from the poison that has nearly cost me her as well. I figured I could be pardoned a bit of worry. Just one more week. After graduation, I can take on more responsibilities at home.

Now, who's the mom here? she teased. Her expression sobered, and for a moment I saw the sadness she always hid until she thought I wasn't watching.

I was always watching.

Remember Philippians 4:6, 'Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.' She gave me an apologetic look. I know things have been hard for you this year, but God can give you peace.

I looked out the window of the car, absently watching the other students arriving for class. Normal teens with normal lives, who had parents who weren't secret agents. Give me peace. Philippians 4:6 had been our reminder that God could help us rebuild after the nightmare that had just past. That perhaps now we could have somewhat of a normal life. Some mornings I needed the reminder more than others.

Thanks, Mom. I leaned over and kissed her cheek. See you after school.

Stay out of trouble, she called after me as I pulled the strap of my backpack over my shoulder and climbed out of the car. Her smile widened as she added, As much as a McCully can anyway.

Shaking my head, I smiled just a little as I headed to the parade grounds for morning formation, thankful once again that I hadn't lost my mom as well as my dad.

The early June sun was already hot even at this time of day, and as I took my place with the other students, I quickly wished that I could take off the uniform jacket all students at John Jay Military Academy were forced to wear. When we were dismissed to class, I wiped the sweat from my forehead with my sleeve and headed to the Nathan Hale Administration Building.

Scott, my best friend's voice called from behind me. Wait up!

I slowed and let Matt and Trinity catch up.

Good morning, Scott. Trinity laid her hand on my arm and smiled at me. A loose strand of red hair had slipped from her pony tail and stuck to her sweaty face.

Morning. I smiled back and laid my hand on top of hers. The trials of the last year had left me little time for a girlfriend, but now that the danger was past, Trinity and I had grown to be somewhat more than just friends.

Are you ready for the last finals we will ever take as high schoolers? Matt made a face as he caught up. More importantly, are you ready for that physics final tomorrow?

As ready as I'm going to be. I shrugged my backpack off my shoulder and shoved it into my locker. After Grandma McCully's tutoring, I should at least pass.

I'll pass, Matt laughed, but only because I did like every piece of extra credit offered.

My hard one is Algebra 2. Trinity groaned. If I have to graph one more function...

Just two more days, guys, I reminded them. Saturday's graduation and then we're out of here.

At least until college. Matt slammed his locker closed. Dad mailed me my enrollment papers from West Point to sign. Not exactly what I want to be thinking about right now.

I frowned and nodded my sympathy. Matt's dad had decided that he was going to West Point, and Matt hadn't had the courage to tell his dad he hated the idea. Still, at least Matt knew where he was going. Right now, I had no idea what my future held. Taking Criminal Justice at the University of Baltimore was looking better all the time.

Speaking of graduation, Trinity brought us back to the original topic. I'm looking forward to the Graduates' Ball.

If she had added hint, hint to the end of her sentence, she couldn't have been more clear. After all the exams were over, the Juniors and Seniors celebrated with a formal ball the night before graduation. I hadn't gotten around to asking her and was really cutting it close.

Matt chuckled softly beside me and I drove my elbow into his ribs. I don't see you rushing to ask Melody, I whispered out of the corner of my mouth. Melody was our pastor's daughter. She was a freshman at Bible college and Matt had a serious crush on her. So far he hadn't asked her out to any date, period.

Is that a challenge? he returned as he rubbed his side.

Trinity, erm, I cleared my throat and tried again as my face heated up. I was wondering if you would be willing... if you wanted to go with me to the Graduates' Ball this Friday...

Scott McCully, I seriously was beginning to wonder if I would have to ask you, she scolded with her hands on her hips. Of course I'll go with you. I have my dress already picked out.

Great. I, um, can't wait to see it, I said awkwardly. Suddenly, I wished for the bell to ring more than anything. Even a final exam would be easier than this.

You guys better get out of here, a shrill voice echoed from the men's room nearby. Do you know who I am?

Winston. Trinity rolled her eyes in disgust. Seriously? Doesn't he usually wait to cause trouble until after classes start?

Since when has that ever stopped him? Matt clenched his fists and took a step toward the bathroom. Just when I thought he was trying to do better.

Please, guys, really, we can make a deal here, Winston's voice rose and cracked. Don't... Don't you want to talk this over?

Part of me was a bit glad for the distraction, though dealing with Winston now was not exactly the distraction I had in mind. I was attending JJMA only by special permission of the Superintendent as it was. I couldn't really afford to get involved in a fight now.

I don't think Winston's the bully here. Probation or not, I couldn't just walk away. I ducked past Matt to the door of the bathroom. I pushed it wide to reveal Winston surrounded by several freshmen, some of them bigger than him, all of them kids he'd picked on over the past year.

I guess they decided he can't take them all at once. Matt murmured. I could almost detect a hint of satisfaction in his voice. After the misery Winston had put us all through this year, I can't say I blamed him.

The younger boys were murmuring angrily and pressing closer to Winston, who was pinned against the wall between two urinals. Two of the bigger boys carried aluminum bats like the ones the baseball team used. This was going to get ugly fast.

I'll go get Superintendent Hinkly, Trinity offered and dashed away.

I'll see if I can calm them down, I said, stepping into the bathroom. One look at their scowling faces told me that was going to be way more difficult than I bargained on.

Walk away, Scott. Matt laid his hand on my arm. Getting involved will just get us in trouble. Besides, Winston deserves it.

McCully! Winston called to me. There was no doubt in his voice, only relief. In an instant, I realized that I was probably the closest thing to a friend that Winston had at the Academy and I felt incredibly sorry for him. You've got to help me. It's all just a misunderstanding. He chuckled nervously. These gentlemen here don't know how to take a joke.

We'll show you something we think is really funny, Cadet Reeves snarled, tapping the bat against his palm. He was the biggest freshman and clear leader of the group. He pointed the bat at me. You're not taking his side, are you, McCully? Again? Everyone thinks you're such an angel, but if you keep siding with this loser, you're just as bad as he is.

I'm not 'siding' with any one, I snapped. I wasn't sure if that comment was meant to scare me off or make me lose my temper. I wasn't about to let Winston's little band of victims do either. Winston's a jerk, I get it, but this isn't the way to change that.

We've tried everything else, another kid wailed. Nobody will actually do anything to stop him. We have to take care of him ourselves!

We almost got him kicked out a couple months ago, but you stood up for him. The other bat-wielding kid, Cadet Cavill, broke from the group, circled around me, and looked to Matt. Marshall, you were willing to stand up to him before. If Cadet McCully hadn't stopped you from giving him what he deserved then, maybe he'd have left us alone long ago. He smiled meanly and offered the bat to Matt. Which side are you on? Are you a bully sympathizer, too?

The only bullies I see right now are the ones threatening us with baseball bats, Matt shoved the bat away hard enough to send the smaller boy stumbling backward.

Bully sympathizer! Cadet Reeves called. He led the group around us as they joined the chant. Bully sympathizer!

They say bullies are cowards at heart. But you give a pair of desperate cowards a couple of baseball bats and a cheering section and they're capable of anything. I wasn't about to back down and let them injure Winston, no matter what he'd done to them. Please get Trinity back here with Superintendent Hinkly soon.

Still chanting, the group squeezed together until we found ourselves standing between the angry mob and Winston, who was now sitting on the floor against the wall between the urinals with his knees pulled to his chest, whimpering like a baby. The two with the bats raised them up over their shoulders like home-run hitters waiting for fastballs.

You owe me, big time, Matt muttered to me as he raised his hands and took a defensive stance. He kicked his heel back into Winston's shin. But not nearly as much as you do.

Just don't let them hurt me, Winston whined, and I'll do anything you want.

Cadet Reeves took a step toward me as if he were stepping into a pitch and swung. Instinctively, I blocked the bat with the heel of my hand, grabbed it, and yanked it toward me hard enough to send him sprawling into the urinal beside me as Cadet Cavill swung at Matt. Matt caught the bat in both hands and jabbed it back into Cadet Cavill's stomach. Cadet Cavill went down, doubled over in pain.

Don't you boys have class? I glared at the remaining underclassmen as I leaned the bat against my shoulder and shook off the pain in my hand.

The boys looked nervously at their leaders moaning on the bathroom floor and up at the bats Matt and I now held before scurrying out of the bathroom like someone had freed all the mice in the science lab.

Thanks guys, Winston said as I offered him my hand to help him up. That was getting way out of hand!

You know this never would have happened if you hadn't picked on them in the first place. Matt gestured at Winston with the baseball bat. If it weren't for Scott...

Cadets! What is going on here? Superintendent Hinkly's voice boomed from the doorway. Framed behind him stood Trinity and all the boys we'd just scared off.

Matt, Winston, and I all snapped to attention, staring at the bathroom wall as if it were the most interesting thing we had ever seen.

Cadets McCully and Marshall ganged up on us. Cadet Cavill stood, clutching his stomach. Marshall hit me with the baseball bat.

Now wait just a minute! Matt protested. He...

And Cadet McCully pushed me into the urinal, Cadet Reeves chimed in, rubbing a rising goose-egg on his forehead.

I can explain. My heart sank. This looked bad and I was on borrowed time as it was.

I certainly hope so. Superintendent Hinkley frowned. I want you all in my office immediately.

Sir, yes, sir! Matt and I chimed together as we saluted and started marching.

I shook my head as I passed him and