“Well, my husband and son, along with a friend are coming tonight. He might like to meet you. He’s always looking for culinary inventiveness and introducing of new flavors.”
“Of?” Rachel asked.
“Sandwiches. My husband is Barry of Barry’s Bashin Beef.”
Rachel let out an excitement noise as if she met a teen idol. “I love the Triple B. Oh please bring him tonight. I’d love to meet him.”
“Absolutely. And I saw you with your family. They’re lovely.”
“They aren’t mine,” Rachel said.
“Excuse me?”
“The potato chip people thought it would look better if they found me a fake family.”
“Oh. That’s …”
“I’m joking.”
Anne laughed. “You’re funny. Was the contest hard? Did you just submit an idea?”
“No, I had to submit a recipe. Then when I was chosen with like a hundred others, we had a cook off in Pittsburgh. It was a process.”
“Well you won a nice prize.”
“I did. We flew first class, I just … I’m cringing thinking about the 1099 I'll get. I have to claim this on my taxes and there goes the refund.”
“We have a wonderful accountant,” Anne said. “I bet he could whittle that down for you.” Anne lifted her drink and held it toward Rachel. “Here’s to meeting new people under extraordinary circumstances.”
Rachel clinked her drink to Anne’s. “You don’t get much more extraordinary than this.”
“No, you do not.”
<><><><>
Barry saw it on the pilot’s face when he stepped out of the cockpit. Then again, he had a bad feeling when he saw how far from the terminal they had landed.
“What’s wrong Greg?” Barry asked.
“Sir, I … I didn’t have permission to land,” Greg said.
“What?” Barry stood slowly. “How is that possible?”
“They denied us, saying there is a quarantine that went into effect. They said no one was going to let us land. I called Miami and they denied us as well. So I landed.”
Barry glanced back to Rigs who already had his phone out. “Jeremiah, see what they’re saying now.”
“What do we do?” Len asked.
“Obviously we aren’t leaving,” Barry replied, “Not because we can’t, because we won’t. Not without your mother.” He also pulled out his phone and started moving his fingers “Resort is six miles from here. We get a taxi, or hell we walk.”
Len chuckled sarcastically. “Dad, a taxi. There’s a quarantine. I don’t think we’ll get a taxi.”
“Sir,” Greg said. “We also have to deal with the fact I landed. I am sure authorities will be here soon for at least me.”
“Let’s not wait for them,” Barry said. “Open the door and lower the stairs.”
“Yes, sir.”
“We’ll give them a few minutes, if they aren’t here, they won’t be. You can come with us to the resort. No need staying here.”
Greg walked toward the front of the plane to the door.
Barry turned to Rigs. “Anything?”
“Same. No news on the web has updated in hours, which is unusual. Especially if Miami shut down.”
“How can this happen so fast?” Len asked.
“It’s a percentage thing,” Barry answered. “Once a certain percent of the population is showing symptoms, they have to issue a health warning and …”
“Sir.” Greg stood at the door. “Odd, but one security guy is coming.”
“One?” Barry asked in shock and stepped to the door. He didn’t have what he called his ‘distance’ glasses on because he was reading on the plane. He reached to his pocket for his glasses so he could see the man.
When he put his glasses on, he saw it looked like a security uniform, and the guy was young. Why was he alone?
The guy waved out his arm and then proceeded to run to the plane.
Before Barry could get out a ‘what the heck’, the young man bolted to the steps and up.
“We have to go. We have to go.” He spoke rushed. “Fly us out of here, please.”
“We can’t,” Greg replied. “We're under quarantine. Planes are grounded, there is nowhere to go.”
“Oh, God,” the young man sounded panicked and spoke fast. “This shit is real. It’s real. I saw it. I saw it right before me. I ran. I mean, I ran. I should have never taken the job. I’m not from around here. I can’t be stuck here.”
“Son,” Barry spoke soothingly. “Calm down. What are you talking about?”
“I’m from Delaware. They needed two of us security guards to escort the owner …”
“No. Stay focused.” Barry cut him off, placing his hands on the young man’s shoulders and turning him to face him. “What has you so …" Barry’s words paused as his eyes shifted down. “Scared.” His hands slid from the young man. “Is that blood on your shirt?”
Instantly, the young man freaked. He stepped back with a scream, whipped off his shirt and frantically moved about. “Stay back. Stay back, I might be infected.”
“Stop.” Barry snapped. “What … happened?”
“There are sick people. I mean, like really sick people. We landed …” He paused to catch his breath. “And we weren’t in the airport five minutes before these people in these white suits, like the disease people wear, were marching with the army. Someone said a guy got off the plane with it. It hits you really fast, like in minutes.”
“Then you’re safe.” Barry patted him on the arms, “You saw someone sick?”
He nodded. “Then another, then another. They ... they throw up blood. I mean, like it pours out of their mouth, they shake, then they get crazy.”
“Holy shit,” Len said. “Are we talking zombies?”
“What? No. Oh my God, don’t scare me,” the young man said. “They aren’t zombies.”
“You said they went crazy,” Len said.
“Yeah, like in pain, vomiting everywhere, freaking out stuff.”
“Oh, he’s nuts,” Rigs waved out his hand. “He probably murdered someone.”
“Oh my God!” he shouted, offended. “What is wrong with you?”
Barry turned to face Len and Rigs. “He’s not lying. He’s too scared. We need to get somewhere isolated. Away from people. Maybe get to the resort, lock ourselves in the room.”
“Gather what we can,” Rigs said. “Water, snacks, any food. We’ll need that.”
“What’s your name, son?” Barry asked.
“Kasper.”
“Like the ghost?" Barry asked.
“Yeah, with a K though.”
“Okay Kasper, you can stay here on the plane or come with us.”
“Um, Mr. Bicks, sir,” Greg called from the door.
“Bicks,” Kasper said. “Wait. The BBB on the plane. That’s not the better business bureau that’s Barry’s Bashin Beef. Are you Barry?”
“I am.” Barry walked toward the pilot.
“Ah, man, I love that place.”
Barry joined Greg. “What’s up?”
Greg pointed. “Told you. We may not have a choice. I landed the plane.”
Rigs peered out the window. “Ha, what did I say?” He indicated to the two police cars with flashing lights pulling up. “Murderer.”
Barry lifted his hands in a surrender manner when the police stopped and stepped from the squad cars. Fortunately, they weren’t there to arrest anyone, they were they to make sure they were all right and not sick.
The airport without a doubt was infected. After informing Barry and the others they needed to get inside because a mandatory quarantine was in effect, they discovered who he was, and helped the five of them find a way to the safety of the resort.
<><><><>
They looked uncomfortable. Rachel looked at her children by the potato chip reveal table, both of them dressed up for the occasion and looking horribly miserable.
She shifted her eyes to the sound of crunching.
“Well?” Rachel asked. “You seem to be enjoying my flavor.”
“Um, it’s not yours.”
Rachel stared at him.
“Not to say that your flavor wasn’t awesome.”
“But … there’s a but isn’t there?”
“This one is really good.”
“What is it?”
He handed her the small plate and she grabbed one. “California roll with soy and ginger.”
Rachel crunched. “Oh my God, this is good. Damn it. See I knew it. People are gonna walk around trying the other flavors and think mine wasn’t as good.”
“You have that in every competition.”
“True.”
“I’m gonna head out with the kids,” Cliff said. “You want another drink?”
Rachel handed him her glass. “Please.”
No sooner did Cliff shuffle away and Ann approached her.
“Rachel, your Pepperoni lasagna chip flavor is amazing.”
“Aw, Ann, thank you”
“But I have to tell you, the Mississippi Pot Roast chip ... should have won.”
The smile dropped from Rachel’s face.
“Kidding,” Ann grinned. “Payback for the family fib you told me earlier. I overheard you and your husband.”
“You’re funny. Is the pot roast one really good, though?”
“Yeah, yeah, it is.”
Rachel grimaced.
“I’m actually going to tell Barry about it,” Ann said. “Speaking of which ...” She pointed toward the open ball room doors. “They’re finally here.”
Outside in the hall, Barry stood with Rigs and Len.
<><><><>
“Remember,” Barry said to Len out in the hall. “Don’t say a word to your mother.”
“I don’t get why,” Len replied.
“Because you heard the police,” Barry said. “It's contained to the airport. She’ll hear about it soon enough.” He faced Rigs and then Kasper. “That goes for both of you as well.”
“What about the pilot, Greg?” Rigs asked. “Did you give him instructions?”
“He’s in his room. I doubt he’ll talk to a single soul.”
Kasper lifted his hand. “I swear I won’t say anything. I’m excited about the potato chip contest.”
“How are you explaining him?” Len asked, pointing to Kasper.
“Like I always do. Met him at the airport,” Barry said. “Your mother knows I always pick up strays. Now let’s go inside, act normal.” He straightened his tie. “You know how I love a good party.”
Even if it wasn’t, Barry would make it a great party. Especially on that night.
More than anything, with what seemed to loom overheard, a good party was truly needed.
THREE
Baha Breeze Resort, Nassau Bahamas
Rachel didn’t have a clue what time the party ended, she just stayed in the ball room with Ann and the others until management told them it was time to go. They drank, danced and laughed.
The kids went to the suite earlier, then Cliff caved. It was probably a good two hours before Rachel stumbled into the room and passed out on the couch.
They woke her for breakfast and told her they were going to go to the beach, she opted to sleep a little more and enjoy the Bloody Mary bar that was offered in the lounge.
She wasn’t a drinker, not back home, maybe a glass of wine occasionally, but the free vacation was bringing out the would be alcoholic her mother warned her about. The family trait, her mother would say, everyone in the family was vulnerable to it.
When she finally woke up she had her coffee and was pleasantly surprised she wasn’t hung over at all. After showering she made her way down to the lounge. The Bloody Mary bar was as big as any breakfast buffet she had ever seen. An entire section of vodka to choose from. She wasn’t a vodka connoisseur, so she just picked one that looked expensive. It all tasted the same to her.
With her beautiful and overflowing drink, which was also breakfast because it had bacon in it, she saw the two guys from the party the day before and walked to their table.
“Can I join you?” she asked.
The one guy, Rigs, pulled out a chair. “Please.”
“Thanks.” She sat down. “Where’s your other buddy?”
“Len?” Rigs asked. “Sleeping.”
“You’re not having a bloody Mary?” she asked Rigs.
“No, coffee. Maybe later.”
She turned and looked at Kasper’s drink. “Yours looks good.”
“Lots of bacon,” Kasper said. “Ever notice everything is better with bacon?”
“Oh, I know. Do you like bacon, Jeremiah Rigs?”
He peered up. “Just Rigs.”
“Oh, sorry. Barry kept on calling you Jeremiah Rigs. I thought you were one of those people who liked going by the first and last name. Like Walter Cronkite.”
Rigs gave a quirky smile. “I’m pretty sure when Walter Cronkite was with friends they didn’t call him Walter Cronkite.”
“I’m sure they did. I read that somewhere,” Rachel said. “So do you?’
“Do I what?” Rigs asked.
“Like bacon.”
“No.”
She gasped. “I never met anyone that didn’t like bacon.”
“Why would you ask, then?” Rigs questioned. “I mean, if you assumed everyone liked bacon, why would you ask me if I did?”
“Ignore him,” Kasper said. “He’s moody. When he met me he accused me of murdering someone.”
“Why would he accuse you?” Rachel asked.
“Because I had blood on my shirt.”
“Could have been a nosebleed,” Rachel said. “Why did you have blood on your …?” she paused and lifted her eyes when the television caught her attention. “What is this?” she asked of the news alert.
“That …” Kasper pointed to the television. “Is the reason I had blood on my shirt.”
Lifting her drink, Rachel stood and sipped at as she walked to the television to get a closer look and to hear better.
She absorbed the information given by the newscaster with a sense of surreal.
Quarantine.
Numbers sick.
When did it start?
She turned and spoke to her table. “Did you guys know about this?”
Rigs nodded. “Yeah, it started a few days ago. It’s moving really fast.”
“I was at the airport,” Kasper said. “When the outbreak occurred there. Whatever this is, it infects the person instantly. It’s the scariest thing I have ever seen in my life. I watched dozens of people fall, and it all started with one person.”
“Did they die?” Rachel asked. “I mean, did they just drop dead?”
“I don’t know.” Kasper shrugged. “You can’t catch them. They start acting weird, panicked and freaking out.”
“Are they zombies?”
“No!” Kasper barked. “Why is that the first assumption? No. They’re just sick and they get their blood on you and you’re done.”
“So let me get this straight,” Rachel said, walking back to the table. “They want us to stay put. No travel. Keep away from people.”
Kasper nodded.
“Well what if our reservation is up before the quarantine is lifted? What are we supposed to do?” Rachel asked.
“Stay,” Rigs answered.
Rachel huffed a laugh. “That’s easier said than done. I can’t afford this place.”
The bartender must have been eavesdropping because he called out, “Management isn’t asking anyone to leave. They can’t. They’re going to be sealing off the hotel for safety. No one gets in, no one gets out, so no infection.”
“I’ll help out,” Rachel told him. “In any way I can. Cooking, cleaning, I’ll help. You let them know.” She brought her lips to her straw and drew in a long drink. It slurped as she finished the last of her beverage. She then exhaled. “What do you guys think?�
��
“I think,” Rigs replied. “As long as we stay inside, away from people until the virus runs its course we’ll be fine.”
“We still don’t know if this is deadly, if the sick are dying, right?” Rachel asked.
“They have to catch them first,” Kasper said. “They just run around spreading the sickness to everyone and …”
Rigs cleared his throat.
Kasper stopped. “I’m sure they’re all fine. Probably better now.”
“I hope. I need another Bloody Mary.” Rachel stood and when she did, her phone went off. She grabbed it from her purse and answered it. “Hey, Cliff, I’m at the … oh my God.” She didn’t even say goodbye, Rachel put down her glass and grabbed her purse.
“Everything okay?” Kasper asked.
“No. It’s my son.” Without saying anymore, Rachel took off running.
<><><><>
She was oblivious to anything but running as fast as she could to the beach. Cliff sounded bad, panicked, when he said for her to get to the beach by the pool. Now. And that it’s Brad.”
Rachel didn’t need to know exactly what happened, she’d get the details, she just knew something did and it would only be a matter of minutes before she arrived.
It was.
Yet, two ambulances, lights flashing were already on the beach. Just as scary was the sight of several people wearing hazmat suits.
When she arrived at the beach, her breath erratic, she saw her daughter, Sami, standing at a distance crying.
Where was Cliff?
Another few steps, as one ambulance pulled out, Rachel learned the second ambulance obscured her view of him.
She raced his way, the doors to the ambulance were open. She saw Cliff, he was crying, then she spun to look inside the emergency vehicle.
Brad was strapped to a gurney, his body convulsed violently, jolting up and down as blood shot from his mouth. Emergency workers tried diligently to turn his head to stop him from choking.
Rachel barged toward the ambulance but was pulled back.
“Ma’am you can’t go in there. He is highly contagious.”
“I don’t care,” Rachel fought to get inside. “Brad! I’m here!” she called. “I’m here, sweetie, I love you. Brad, please know …”
The Eliminators 1 Page 2