by Blou Bryant
Teri raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t know him? You’re too young. When you’re older, we’ll watch a few of his movies. They’re freaky.”
“Yes.”
“How about you try multiple words. It’d make conversation easier.”
Two clicks.
He stood back up and walked towards the road. He’d not seen any traffic at all. “Well, my young friend, it’s time to see if we can get a ride. We just need to hope we don’t get picked up by any vampire bikers or werewolf truckers or alien… whatevers.”
Two clicks.
“Back to clicking again, I see.”
Three clicks.
“Three, what does that mean?”
She signed in reply.
“I don’t get you,” he said, no longer frustrated at not understanding her. After multiple brushes with death, his inability to follow her version of sign language was something he felt less guilty about. He looked at her and she raised one eyebrow, smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “You’re playing coy, are you? You’ll break hearts when older.”
Teri stopped walked and stared at him. “What?” he asked. She leaned in and wrapped her little arms around him, and hugged him tight. Wyatt didn’t understand but hugged her back and she started to cry. He held her, not knowing what to say.
It took a moment, but he realized that he’d been insensitive, they’d left behind the people she knew and loved, in grave danger, now possibly dead or captured. And here he was, the big idiot, joking around, “I’m sorry, Teri,” he said. “We’ll find them, I’m sure they’re fine.”
She let him go and he used his shirt to wipe off her tears and the snot coming out of her nose. She pulled back, but he held her tight. “Blow,” he said, and she did. He took a bunch of leaves and tried to wipe the green mess off his shirt and couldn’t control a slight gagging sound.
“Gross,” said Teri, smiling again. She certainly would break hearts, especially if she continued to change moods like that when older, he thought, but just kept quiet this time, and smiled back.
“Better?”
Two clicks.
“Good. If you need another cry, let loose. Nothing to be ashamed of, you know.”
One click.
They got to the road and Wyatt looked in both directions, there was no sign of cars and no sign of which way to go. He chose right, in the hope it led back to the highway, but he wasn’t sure anymore. They walked for a while in silence, with a stop to drink from a small creek that passed under the road. As the water settled into his stomach, he realized he was famished. “Hey, little girl, do you have any food on you?” he asked.
One click.
“No Snickers bar up your sleeve?”
One click.
“How about a turkey? I could use a good turkey dinner. With apple pie after, if you don’t mind. Or cake. I always can eat cake.”
Teri theatrically pulled up both sleeves of her shirt and shook her head. “Hungry too,” she replied.
“Teri, two words, in a row!” he said and put out his fist. She looked at it with evident confusion. “Make a fist and then bump mine,” Wyatt said.
She looked at him like he might be crazy. “Just do it,” he said, “It’s a thing.”
She shrugged and slapped her fist down on his.
“Close enough,” he said.
They walked in silence for a while, lost in their own thoughts. Wyatt thought about the plan he’d discussed with Hannah and the odds he’d get out of this with his life and perhaps his freedom. The phone was still in his pocket, but it wasn’t time yet to tell Joe he’d escaped and was alive. Besides, he didn’t need to, he was sure Joe already knew.
As they walked, he occasionally looked down at Teri, and wondered what to do with her. He felt a sense of responsibility for her now but did not understand how to take care of her. Being with him put her in danger but given what she was in the middle of, she’d be in danger anywhere.
What was she happening to her, he wondered? Her body was rebuilding itself, he could see that now, there were pink places around her ears and throat, and her skin reflected the changes going on inside her. Her lip was bright red where the skin over her cleft palate was healing itself.
More frightening was the electricity. What was that? Wyatt didn’t bother asking, she wasn’t at the point where she could explain what had happened, even if she understood it, which she likely didn’t. Part of him was terrified at what she might become because of his decision to share the virus with her. What would he be responsible for?
After an hour or more of walking through the woods, parallel to the road, they came to an intersection with another, wider road. The forest ended here and on the other side of the road fields of corn stretched as far as he could see, the expanse broken up by small stands of trees.
He went left, but didn’t know if that was the right direction; didn’t know what the right direction would be. Any way they went would bring them closer to civilization, which was the right way. A truck came along minutes later and Wyatt put out his thumb, ensuring Teri was visible. A single young man might look like a threat, a single young man with a younger girl was just someone out for a walk.
The truck was old but looked well maintained, a light brown that matched the dirt shoulder. As it approached, it slowed and then stopped next to them. An old man leaned over and rolled down the window. “Where you headed, kids?”
“We’re headed into town if you don’t mind, sir,” said Wyatt, not knowing what town was close, but assuming one was.
“Sir, eh? I like a boy with manners. You and your sister can get on in, I’m headed up to pick up some items for the wife. My name’s Elber.”
Wyatt gave fake names and the man didn’t ask any questions, which was just fine. He’d prepared a story but was glad he didn’t have to use it; it wouldn’t get them very far. Anyone driving an old truck on a back road likely knew everybody in the area and would poke holes in any story.
He enjoyed the comfort of a seat and left the window down, and took in the late summer air and the scent of the surrounding fields. The farmhouses were closer now, the occasional businesses scattered between them. They crossed a bridge and headed into a small town, passing a Ford dealership, a sign advising that one could ‘Trust and Respect James White Ford,’ as well as many tidy homes with clean, well-kept yards, flower gardens out front and tightly mowed grass.
They reached Main Street and Wyatt kept an eye out for trouble as they drove slowly by homes and little businesses, their clean and freshly painted signs advertised everything from fudge and home baking to internet services.
“We can get out anywhere, Sir,” he said.
“Hold your horses, boy, I’ll let you off somewhere safe.”
Safe? The town appeared as safe as a town could be. It made Chicago look like a dystopian landscape. Morgan’s Printing and Design passed by on the right, ‘We do Signs’ emblazoned across a banner out front. Jeremy’s Baking offered cream donuts for a dollar or six for five, and as Wyatt’s stomach growled in desire, he said. “We can get out here.”
“Soon,” was the only reply. The man continued to roll through town, his head turning left and right at each intersection. They passed a Baptist church and then a small park and their driver turned left. They approached a building on the right with a sign over the entrance, City Hall. Elber pulled up out front and stopped so quickly it jerked them in their seats, and Wyatt’s belt pressed painfully into his chest.
He turned to complain, but Elber was already out of the truck, running across the street to a police car that Wyatt hadn’t noticed, parked on the other side of the road.
“Jack, Jack, I’ve got them, come, I’ve got them, take em,” Elber shouted. Wyatt looked out the open driver’s side window in a state of shock and didn’t move.
A deputy in a brown uniform was leaning against his car, he looked blankly at Elber and then into the truck, pausing to processing the scene.
Elber had run to the other
side of the car and bent down, putting the car between him and Wyatt as if he expected a gunfight. “Come on Jack, I’ve got the kids from TV. They’re in my truck.”
Jack stared at the car for a time. Wyatt sat still, there wasn’t any point in trying to run now, he was in the middle of a town, a young child at his side and faced a police officer with a gun. His body ached, his mind was a mess and so he sat there, and waited for Jack to figure out what to do.
There was a whispered conversation between the two men and Jack’s eyes opened wide. Ah, you’ve got it now, Wyatt thought. Good work, but I could have walked away while you figured it out. Teri was quiet beside him.
Jack pulled his weapon and hid behind his car. “Get out of the truck,” he yelled. “Hands up! Don’t make any sudden moves or I will shoot!” A crowd had gathered and was watching, phones out, recording the scene.
Wyatt had seen enough videos of police shootings to know he needed to be careful. He yelled, “We’re not armed. We’re getting out of the car.” To Teri, he said, “Put your hands up, sweetie. Do it slowly and don’t make any sudden moves, don’t give him any excuse to shoot us.”
She clicked twice, put her hands up, and Wyatt followed her lead. “I’m going to lower my right hand and open the door, is that OK,” he yelled to Jack, who had a panicked look in his eyes that could be seen even from across the street.
Officer Jack didn’t answer the question, and continued to aim at him. “Keep your arms up,” he yelled but didn’t move. Several bystanders were now within feet of him, recording his every move. One person, a country hipster with a ponytail, had walked right up to the truck and was filming Wyatt and Teri through the open window. He was in the line of fire, but that didn’t bother him, images of the cash he’d get for selling his video likely dancing in his head.
Time stretched as they waited for Officer Jack to make a decision, hands held high. He came out from behind his car and walked up to the truck. “You move an inch and I’ll shoot, I’ll end your killer asses. You hear me, boy?”
“We’re not going to move, Officer. Don’t shoot,” Wyatt yelled back, playing to the cameras. Under his breath, he reassured Teri, “We’ll be fine, just keep still.”
The Officer reached the driver’s side of the car and thrust his gun through the open window. “Get out,” he yelled, “slowly,” and opened the door, keeping it between himself and Teri. She inched over, her face impassive and Wyatt followed. Once out, they were marched to the police car and told to stand up against it, hands on the hood.
Here we go again, thought Wyatt. This time, he resolved to not get kicked between his legs.
“Do you have anything?”
“Anything?” asked Wyatt.
“Anything. Weapons, drugs, you know,” replied Officer Jack.
“No, we don’t,” said Wyatt.
“What about you, girl?”
“She doesn’t either,” replied Wyatt.
“Did I ask you, scumbag?” said Jack, still yelling. He grabbed Teri by the hair and yelled the question at her again. A couple of onlookers shouted for him to stop.
Jack looked at the crowd, seemingly surprised at the reaction and a fair bit scared at being the center of the scene. “She’s a murderer!” he yelled. “Get back, everybody get back!”
Elber still stood behind the patrol car and yelled out to support the Officer, “They’re the Chicago Bonnie and Clyde. The ‘kid killers.’”
The guy who’d been recording through the window was now standing next to them, filming Officer Jacks poorly executed search. He took his eye off of his phone for a second and looked at the two. “He looks like the guy, but she’s not the girl. She’s just a kid.”
Elber shook his head. “No way, that’s them. I’m getting the reward. I saw it online, there’s a reward, one million dollars. It’s mine.”
“Ain’t her,” said Ponytail.
Officer Jack was losing his cool. “They’re nobodies, shut up everyone and let me do my job.” He waved the gun in the air like a talisman. “MOVE AWAY,” he shouted.
Ponytail muttered something about his amendment rights but backed off a few feet. Elber sputtered, “I better get the reward, Jack,” but walked away, and joined the rest of the crowd.
Officer Jack seemed to relax as they gave him space, and let go of Teri’s hair. She seemed nonplused by the whole situation. “Girl, do you have anything on you?” he asked again.
“She can’t talk,” said Wyatt. “She’s mute.”
“It’s not what the media says. I’ve seen her video.”
“Does she look like what you saw?”
Officer Jack didn’t answer. Reality had become what other people posted on the internet. It saved time and was easier than thinking. He patted them both down. Finding nothing, he opened the back to his car and waved at them. “Go on, get in the car.”
Wyatt considered asking about being read his rights but, with his hands still free, thought he’d avoid questions about what processes the Officer should be following. “Come on Teri, get into the car,” he said. The last thing they heard as the door closed was Elber whining again that he wanted his reward.
Officer Jack got in and took off, narrowly avoiding members of the crowd that had gathered around the car. One turn later and they were heading out of the small town. Wyatt asked, “Where are we going,” but received no response.
One thing was clear, they weren’t going to a police station. The phone in his pocket buzzed once and Wyatt pulled it out. There was a simple and short text message from Joe. “Stop resisting, Wyatt.” He didn’t reply. It wasn’t time, yet.
“Teri,” he asked, “Can you do what you did yesterday?”
Officer Jack yelled into the back, “Shut up, and keep quiet back there.”
Teri put a hand on Wyatt’s forearm and tapped three times. Perhaps yes, perhaps no. We’ll have to see then, he thought and watched the scenery flash by through the window. We’ll have to see.
A few minutes later, Officer Jack signaled a turn and pulled into an auto wrecker, driving past what appeared to be a vacant entry booth, and weaved his way between piles of rusting cars. At the back of the lot, beside a tall fence, they came to a stop. Wyatt wasn’t shocked to see Jessica and several officers in brown waiting for them.
Chapter 23
The car rolled to a stop and Officer Jack got out at a wave from Jessica, who was carrying a small revolver. She’d changed into a thin, white summer dress and had let her long black hair down. Jack opened the back door and let Teri and Wyatt out. “I got em, where is Mr. Golde?”
“I am Ms. Golde, and I’m running the company now,” she replied, ambling up to the group. “Good work, officer, I see you got my fugitives.”
“Yes, ma’am. But, the email said to turn them into Mr. Golde.”
“Do you want to meet my Daddy or do you want your money?” she asked. Wyatt just watched, feeling bad for the poor officer who’d taken them. He didn’t understand who or what he was dealing with. Jessica waved and winked, “Hi Wy-Wy.”
“Hi, Jessica. Where’s your Father?” he asked as casually as possible, glancing nervously around the yard. She was a piece of work, but it was her father that really scared him. The place appeared deserted other than her and her guards.
“We disagreed over business strategies. Hold on a minute, would you, honey?” she asked. “Officer, if you’d like to go with my second-in-charge, Frankie, here,” she said, pointing towards a man that Wyatt recognized.
“You,” he said, “You killed Wilbur.”
Frankie grinned at him. “Last I remember, you had pieces of his guts all over you.”
Wyatt would have run at the man, but was stopped at the sight of six guns pointing at him. He said, “Come on, coward, you killed an old man and now you hide behind the guns of your fake deputies? How about you man up?”
Jessica laughed, “Oh, stop being boys. Wyatt, leave Frankie alone.”
Wyatt turned to her, “Kill him and I’m yours. Shoot hi
m. Dump his body by the side of the road on the way back to Chicago, I’ll go with you. Kill him, you know you can.”
“Honey, I’d never hurt Frankie, he’s in charge of the entire force now. Be nice to him, he was only doing what my father wanted.”
Frankie walked forward with a swagger that made Wyatt want to punch him even more. “That’s right, she’s with me now,” he said, making it sound like she’d been with Wyatt in the past. “And you’re on your way to nowhere.” He smirked and said, “It somehow seems appropriate, doesn’t it?”
Wyatt balled up his fists, guns be damned, he would not let this smug bastard taunt him but again stopped himself, this time at the faint sound of a click behind him. He looked back to Teri and saw her shake her head, ever so slightly.
Again, he listened to the child instead of his own instincts. He stepped back. Frankie laughed at him and turned around, with a motion to Officer Jack. “Come on, I’ll take care of your payment.”
Jack beamed, “One million dollars, that’s right?”
“As advertised,” said Jessica, as the two men walked off towards a police car parked away from the rest of the vehicles. She turned back to Wyatt, “So, you’re quite the escape artist. How do you plan on getting out of this one?” She pointed to the private security officers around them. “Will you take them all out?”
He ignored the question. “What happened at the farmhouse?” he asked.
Jessica sat down on the hood of the car and swung her feet, despite being in a wrecker's yard, she wore killer white heels with straps that wound their way around her comely calves. She noticed him glance at her feet and beamed, “You like them? They’re Prada, I love them!”
“Sure, they’re great, although they’re a bit out of place. How about we talk clothes later. What happened?”