by Farley Dunn
“I, um, don’t have any plans to use it tonight. What time can I pick it up tomorrow?”
“Will the afternoon do?” Jantzen had pulled out several large bills, and as he talked, he kept adding to them.
“Before you give me all that, I didn’t drive my car today.”
Jantzen hesitated. “Can you bring it in and leave it later?”
“No, that’s not it. I’m in the Center’s truck, well, transport van. If you need a car . . .” Kevin shrugged.
Jantzen held out the wad of cash, and Kevin grinned. A knock at the door startled them.
“Yes?” Jantzen called.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hefferly. I know you said not to let the elevator be disturbed, but Mr. Rodheimer and Ms. Sunchaser are here. They are demanding to see you.”
“Thank you, Kofi.” He held out his hand to Kevin. “Keys?”
“Oh, of course.” Kevin placed them in his hand. “Good to see you, Garik, and thanks, Mr. Hefferly. I know you’ll take good care of the van.”
“Of course, Kevin. I appreciate your cooperation.” On the way out, Jantzen’s face lost its luster.
“Is this your big trouble?” Garik didn’t need big trouble.
“We’ll see, but likely.”
“Should I let you do all the talking?”
“Halo may do it for us. Just hope that Weston takes my side. That’s our best bet.”
Garik had his own opinion there. He intended to keep his mouth shut and look as small as he could.
― 11 ―
WHEN THEY stepped into the pool’s lobby, Sunchaser was pacing, and seeing them, she seemed to grow four inches, anger swirled around her like windblown debris, and she erupted in a violent assault. Her wrap encircling her hair vibrated with pent-up energy.
“Finally, I put it together. This is the boy that helped that girl steal my passkey, Weston, and here he is, with Jantzen, roaming the tower unsupervised. The lost passkey was not my fault, and this proves it. Something has to be done.”
Rodheimer, massive even next to the towering Sunchaser, darkened, his thoughts tumbling across his face like a storm cloud, and he growled, “Jantzen, are you aware of this?”
Jantzen sighed and cut his eyes to Garik. His shoulders drooped. “It’s likely. The timeframe fits.”
“He admits it.” Sunchaser’s words seemed to boil as they hit the air. “If I had not been pulled away to South Africa, I would have made this connection before. Jantzen, once more you use your position to undermine mine, working behind my back when I am away. Did you arrange for that girl to abscond with my passkey? And to think, it was your suggestion that we not retain her, also. What are you planning now? I was right to fast-track Christian’s removal. I can see it now, this boy. Weston, your number two has plans afoot, and they will not bode well for the project. You must act now.”
“I admit I was furious this morning. Christian’s removal was unexpected. I can only apologize.” Jantzen glanced to Kofi, who had faded into the equipment room with the door cracked. It slipped shut. Kevin had not appeared, likely avoiding the confrontation.
“The boy?” Rodheimer’s voice was the rumble of a train track in the night. “What explanation do you offer for his presence.”
“Coincidence, only. We were in the elevator at the same time—”
“And he locked it out, for a quick escape, I’m certain. His passkey is the inescapable evidence. Keep that in mind, Weston.” The air around Sunchaser vibrated with energy.
“Is Halo wrong?” Rodheimer, for a moment, seemed hopeful.
“Not wrong, just that my actions have been misconstrued. Let’s meet tomorrow, you and me. Invite Halo if you wish. We can work this out, Weston.”
Garik recognized what Jantzen was doing, playing for time to get Justin out of the research facility. He offered a prayer, but he also looked to the elevators, wondering if he could get to one and whether his own passkey would operate it from here.
Rodheimer turned to Sunchaser. “What do you suggest, Halo?”
“Restrict him to levels two and four, for a start. He has demonstrated his disregard for your position and mine. He thinks more of those that fail to perform satisfactorily than he does the success of this program. He has made a mockery of my authority and yours. Today is a perfect example, bringing one of his pets up here with him.”
“Jantzen, are you taking this in? I have overlooked much for the sake of our history together and your contributions to the program. I forgive people when they fail me, but I expect them to make it right. This is not making things right. You are a brilliant researcher, but I cannot overlook this. I agree with Halo.”
“I am fully supporting our research, Weston. My results speak for me. I can hardly work efficiently if you restrict my mobility about the facility. If we can’t meet tomorrow, perhaps Rachel can schedule a better time.” He smiled hopefully.
“Weston, I expect results, not for this to be put off again. I will not have this man continuing to flaunt my authority, and yours, too. You must support me in this.” Sunchaser’s voice had gone ragged with fury.
“Understood. Jantzen,” Rodheimer turned to him, “I’ll expect you to restrict yourself to your apartment until we get this resolved. I will retain your passkey for the foreseeable future.”
Jantzen’s eyes narrowed and his shoulders stiffened. His pupils glowed purple, and Garik tensed, waiting for the man to evaporate into purple mist. Nothing could hold him. He would be gone. It was an exciting moment, until the impact of his own situation left him flash-frozen in despair. Jantzen’s escape would mean leaving him behind. He tried to catch the man’s attention, and he shook his head, pleading. Don’t leave me, Jantzen.
“I will do as you ask.” Jantzen relaxed, giving in. Garik’s head swam with relief.
“Also, the boy.” Sunchaser turned her eyes to him, fire flying. “He is complicit and uncooperative, and for that, a failure. He must be restricted. Better, reassign him to Level 5.”
Garik’s knees nearly gave way. He was certain he would vomit if he had anything to expel.
Rodheimer looked from Jantzen to Garik, as if evaluating the success Garik had exhibited in contrast to the insubordination of being discovered in the Tower with Jantzen. He seemed to come to a decision.
“I will arrange it in the morning. Airman Vang will escort you both to your quarters.”
Airman Vang moved forward from the shadows with hand restraints ready. He slapped them together noisily. Garik was certain the man grinned.
And he thought things were as bad as they could get. Never, never think that, he reminded himself. You will be disappointed every time.
Then the restraints were pulled tight, and he was yanked forward, with what little freedom he’d earned once more stolen from him.
GARIK LAY in the darkness, his head a vice, his brain squeezed, and his thoughts erupting in clumps of misery that spattered the walls with despair.
Locked! His door, his passkey useless!
He wondered why they hadn’t taken it away, had tried it in his door, only to understand. They wanted him to be crushed with false hope. Well, it was working.
The sound of metal shearing, of voices whispering furtive things, drew him up and pulled him to the living room. Light leaked from around the lock on the door.
Hope? Did he dare? Or was this his end, Sunchaser sending someone to collect him, banishing him to Level 5 in the dark of the night, or worse, eliminating him altogether? Was that a possibility? He suspected it was.
The thump of metal separating from metal, and the door released. Garik slapped a switch, flooding the room with brilliance, and he backed away, prepared to fight, whatever they might come at him with. When the door swung back, Alyna Lindberg stood, held her hand in front of her, blew on her claws, and retracted them with a grin.
“Like a hot knife through butter.” She winked at Garik.
“Or through molten steel.” Julia Cantos leaned in behind her. “Inside, Alyna. I can sense some
one coming.”
They moved inside, and Julia fell against the door, holding it to. She shrugged and explained, “You don’t have a latching mechanism any longer, thanks to Alyna. Sorry.”
“I, um, what’s—” Garik stumbled out the words. “You can cut metal?”
“Not the important question,” Alyna suggested, “but yes. The important thing is what to do with you. Did Weston or Halo find out about the car?”
“Kevin’s?” He shook his head. “Jantzen already had the keys, and it didn’t come up. And it’s not a car. It’s a transport van.”
She looked at Julia and nodded. “Even better. Did Jantzen give you the keys?”
“No.”
“Then we hope they didn’t search him and take them away. We’ll leave that to Leigh and Paolo. If they did, perhaps Giselle can help. We’ll have to have water, though. She’ll need it if she’s going to get inside the van.”
“Justin is getting rescued?” Garik felt hope return.
“Yes.” Alyna sighed, stretched her neck, and looked up and down Garik’s pajamas. “You, young man, need clothes. How quickly can you dress?”
“What sort?” He grinned. He was being offered the chance to help. He was certain.
“Outside clothes, the warmest you have. Now.”
He turned, excitement racing through him, and caught the doorway with his shoulder. He called back, “I’m okay,” and he leaped for his closet.
As he dressed, he overheard the women talking.
“Has everyone been notified?”
“Marco thought he could do it by the time we got Jantzen out.”
“And Justin?”
“He’s mine, if Paolo can’t manage.” Garik overheard the swish of Alyna’s claws extending and retracting. “If that kid in there will get the rocks out and get back in here.”
“I heard that,” Garik called. “I’m not deaf!”
He heard Julia chuckle and say, “Jantzen said he could do that.”
Then their voices fell too low for him to overhear.
JULIA LED them, a passkey in her hands. Her ability to sense metabolic heat by infrared—the adaptation she had received from her constrictor DNA—kept them from being surprised by people along the way to the parking garage.
Garik was the one they were concerned about, although no one outside of Rodheimer, Sunchaser, and Airman Vang would likely think anything of him roaming the facility. Still, when someone approached, Garik pulled a hood over his head and kept his face averted. He wore a backpack filled with water bottles. Even with the extra weight, he could have done the journey faster and with less fuss if he knew the details of what was happening, but that was wishful thinking.
They worked their way to the research labs, and Alyna pulled out a second passkey. She held it up and whispered, “Let’s hope this works. If not,” and she flexed her claws and grinned. She inserted it into the panel by the door, and after a moment, it turned green. The locking mechanism thumped twice, and Alyna placed her hand on the latch. A twist, and it swung open.
“This is off limits,” Garik pointed out. The off limits didn’t concern him. How Alyna was able to access it did.
“This isn’t a spur-of-the-moment plan.” Julia entered and pulled Garik after her.
“We’re just being forced to move tonight.” Alyna followed and closed the door after her.
“What’s in here that we need?”
“An elevator directly to the parking garage. The labs have two.”
“Oh.” That was new information to Garik. The aboveground parking garage was where Kevin would have parked. He tried to picture the layout of the basement facility and place the parking garage outside the Tower over where he thought the research lab was located. It didn’t fit. “I don’t see how any elevators here could connect to the parking garage. It’s behind the Tower. That’s six blocks that way.” He pointed behind them.
“We’re headed to the underground garage.”
“Okay.” The two women didn’t seem inclined to elaborate, and Garik let it go.
The research lab was massive, nearly a quarter of the size of the aboveground mall, and the corridor narrowed in the distance. A red exit light glowed in the distance. “That’s us,” Julia said.
Garik focused on the red light. He had no reason not to trust them, and a ton to do so.
At the elevator, Alyna inserted the passkey that had granted them entrance into the labs. “One floor up. That’s all we need. Come on, elevator.”
The controls lit up, the door opened, and they stepped inside.
WHEN THE doors released them into the parking garage, Garik was the last one out. The vastness of the space confronting him contained as many parking spaces as he had ever seen in any one location, even more than Waldorf’s Department Store, and their lot went for blocks. This was perhaps not larger, but it also didn’t have a department store sitting in the middle of it.
Vehicles of different types filled about a third of the space, mostly small cars, several trucks, and some minivans. They were concentrated around the lab elevators and the main access that Garik reckoned sat directly under the tower. Numerous military vehicles filled the area to the left—the north wall, if Garik had his directions down. From his early tours of the facility, he pictured the military housing block just to the west on the other side of the adjoining wall.
John, Laura, and Joanie stood to the right, with John wearing a backpack, and the two women sorting through several items at their feet. Farther away, Amy and Giselle walked side by side, Giselle rolling a large case, and Amy wearing a backpack. Marco scampered on four limbs beside them. John waved and called, “About time. This way! Paolo and Leigh are on their way.”
“And Justin?” Alyna yelled. Garik remembered her claws. He was certain she would return to the elevator if the news wasn’t what she wanted.
“With Paolo and Leigh, we hope. They volunteered.”
Garik didn’t see Jantzen. What about the keys to Kevin’s van? And if these people were all here, was this a mass exit, an escape of unimaginable proportions? He hadn’t located Kevin’s van, probably because there weren’t any vans down here. If it was in the aboveground parking garage, how were they going to reach it?
And . . . and . . . when were they going to tell him anything!
Sheesh! It was as if he didn’t count. He wanted to shout, “Hey! What’s going on?” Instead, he picked up the pace and followed the others, wherever that might lead.
― 12 ―
AT FIRST it seemed absurdly simple, that they might just walk out. Signs all along the ceiling directed them to the exit. How could they miss it?
It was the massive gate in the way that presented a problem. The passkey was their solution, or it should have been. Alyna pressed her thumb to the small screen on the side and slipped it into the access control panel. The panel turned on, telling her to validate the passkey with her palmprint.
It wasn’t an option the hybrid escapees dared try.
Each person carrying one of the illegal passkeys gave it a try, only to be kicked out like an unwanted child.
“Ideas?” Joanie sat on the floor, her back to the gate, and she pulled out a pack of mints. She popped two into her mouth before putting it away and didn’t ask if anyone else was interested, a sure sign of her levels of anxiety.
“If Leigh were here—” Giselle started.
“She’s not.” Joanie pulled out her pack of mints, shook it as if considering whether she should conserve, and decided to wait, putting the package away. Leigh could find invisible flaws, even accelerate chemical processes with her ultrasound, but she wasn’t here, was she? “Alyna?”
The team knew the question exactly. Was Alyna prepared to slice through the locks, allowing them access to the parking garage above? They also understood the ramifications. As soon as the lock was severed, an alarm would sound, and their escape would be in dire peril.
Catch 22, no good way to find success through either option.
&
nbsp; “I will, but we should exhaust our other choices, first. We will be pursued soon enough. No sense in starting the chase now.”
John had the top of his backpack unzipped. He pulled out a watch with a blank, black face. He used his thumb to polish the glass surface.
“Tell me that works,” Amy pleaded.
“Not in here.” He looked up and around the room. “This place is a faraday cage. Only the project’s electronics work underground, and only on their frequency. Once past this gate, I should have full-spectrum access to everything out there.”
“Listen,” Garik called out.
“What?” John’s question was fair. It was the middle of the night. There had been no one coming or going out of the underground garage, and the sky they could just glimpse through the metal fretwork of the gate was black velvet littered with stars.
“You can’t hear it?” Garik shook his head at the old people around him, their ears already gone.
“Garik’s right.” Amy stood, and she held perfectly still.
“At least Amy has ears,” Garik muttered.
“She’s not using her ears.” Marco settled beside him, curling his tail into his lap and tugging on Garik’s sleeve with a hand that had elongated, paw-like nails. “She’s likely feeling the air pressure. Better than ears, sometimes.”
“People moving this way,” Amy said. “Julia, can you tell more?”
“No, not from this distance. Anyway, the concrete walls are difficult to work though.” She had turned to face the direction of the elevators. They were a good three blocks away, if measured by the city above them.
“The other direction.” Amy pointed through the gate.
Joanie turned, wrapped her fingers through the gate’s openwork surface and pulled herself to her feet.
“Leigh?” she called, hissing the word.
“Joanie? Why isn’t the gate open? We’ve located the van and are locked out. No keys.”
“We hoped Jantzen would have them. Garik said—”