by A. American
“I need to see him, and it’s critically important I see him now.”
“I’m guessing from your tone you’re not bringing good news.”
“No I’m not. But he needs to hear it, now,” Bob said with a tone of finality.
“Go in and take a seat. I’ll let him know you’re waiting.”
“Why, thank you, beautiful,” Bob replied, as he flashed his own nicotine-stained smile.
Tiffany returned his with a coy, off-the-shoulder smile of her own. Bob moved for a door to the right of the desk and Daniel followed him. Looking at Tiffany, she gave him a smile as well. They entered another anteroom, a waiting area where the unwashed masses awaited their audience with the power brokers behind the doors on the opposite side of the room.
They each took a seat in the overstuffed leather chairs. Daniel ran his hand over the arm of his. This damn sure wasn’t imitation. After a moment, Bob stood and walked across the room to a credenza and opened a lower door to reveal a mini fridge.
“Want a water or something?”
Daniel looked over. “Yeah. Sure, water’s good.”
Bob tossed a bottle to him. Daniel couldn’t help but notice the Fiji label. Downstairs, they had stopped putting spring water in the water coolers and switched to “drinking water”. He made a smirk and shook his head as he twisted the top off the bottle.
Bob flopped back into his seat, noticing Daniel’s annoyance. “Nothing but the best up here, buddy.”
“So I see. Hey, what’s with Tiffany? You’re fuckin’ nuts by the way.”
Bob laughed, blowing water out of his nose. With a grunt, he replied. “Yeah, hot as asphalt in July, huh?”
“Yeah, I’d say. You know there are cameras up there. Someone saw your little show.”
“Pfft, yeah. Know who saw it? My guys. Andy’s probably already deleted that little piece of evidence.”
A digital tone sounded, filling the small space. “Bob, he’ll see you now.”
Bob rose from his chair. “We’re on,” and he headed for the door. Daniel followed him into a massive office. Opposite the door stood an impressively large and ornate antique desk. Behind it sat a man in his late fifties, Daniel estimated. He looked exactly like you would expect a banker to. He wore a business suit, the coat hanging behind him, sitting in only the vest. As they walked in, the man looked up but did not smile.
“Mornin’, Byron.” Bob offered.
The man simply dipped his chin. “Bob”, just an acknowledgment, nothing more. “What’s on your mind?” He asked, then diverted his attention to some papers on his desk.
“Have you seen what’s going on outside?” Bob asked.
Byron motioned to one of several TVs hanging on the wall to his right, “Of course, it’s all over the news. Looks like more of the same.” When he finished speaking, he looked up as a tolerant father would at a child demanding his attention.
“You’re wrong about that. It’s not more of the same. This crowd is bigger and getting closer to the building. I think we should take some preemptive action.” Bob returned, then crossed his arms over his chest. He was not about to be ignored.
Byron rocked back in his chair and let out a sigh. “And what would you have me do? It’s a job for the APD.”
“We need to call off the staff for the day, and close the building.”
Byron practically leapt from his chair. “Are you out of your damn mind? You know what that would do to our business?”
“What business? Everything is shut down because of the attack. You don’t need all those people here if this riot is THE riot. Call off the staff, I’ll secure the building, and we can wait for this to all blow over.”
Byron’s face jerked into a sneer. “You don’t have to tell me about the damn attack! I have agents from the FBI and the SEC crawling up my ass with a damn magnifying glass.” He looked at his watch. “As a matter of fact, they should be here any minute. Besides, security is your job. That’s what I pay you for.”
“All the more reason to shut the building and get everyone out of here. Security is my job and I’m telling you what needs to be done. If you choose to ignore it, that’s on you.” Then Bob had another thought. “Besides, if the building is empty for the most part, and the shit hits the fan around here, I’ll be able to make sure you get out of here without trying to wade through a couple hundred people.”
Byron stood there for a second, considering the last point. If the shit did indeed hit the fan, the only person he was worried about getting out of here was himself. He looked up at Bob, then at Daniel.
Jutting his chin in Daniel’s direction, he asked, “Who’s that?” As though Daniel weren’t standing in front of him.
Bob looked over his shoulder at Daniel. “He works in IT and is my contact with them during this little incident.”
Byron looked at Daniel. “You the one responsible for fucking my network up, making me the Judas of the entire banking world?”
Daniel stood there stunned, not knowing what to say. His mouth was dry and his voice refused to work. Finally, Bob came to his rescue. “No, he’s the one that pulled the network down from the outside world. He’s the one that saved whatever ass you have left.”
Byron shot Bob a look. “Fine, we’ll shut the building. Tiffany will take care of getting the emails out.” He paused for a moment and pointed at Bob. “You do not leave this building, though, not until I do.” Byron leaned over and pressed an intercom button on his desk and asked Tiffany to come in. “Now, if you gentlemen don’t mind, I have shit to do.”
Bob didn’t reply. He simply turned and grabbed Daniel by the arm and headed for the door. They passed Tiffany in the anteroom. “Sorry,” Bob said as he passed her. She looked at him, confused. “For what?” Bob smiled. “You’ll see; and make sure you get out of here as soon as you can too.”
Tiffany was still looking confused as the two men left the room. Daniel followed Bob to the elevators, not the freight elevator they took up, but the private car for the man in the big office. Bob waved his prox card at the reader by the button then pressed the now-illuminated call button. Daniel just stood there not saying a word. He was still choking on his tongue.
When the car arrived and the doors opened, they were greeted by four men in blue blazers with FBI emblazoned on them in big yellow letters. Bob stepped aside as the men exited, nodding at them as they passed; and he quickly ushered Daniel into the car. Once inside, Daniel let out a long breath, running his hands through his hair.
Spinning around to face Bob, he half shouted. “Dude, why in the hell did you take me up there with you?”
“What, you scared to swim with the sharks?”
Daniel just shook his head. Then his phone vibrated. “Nice, looks like I get to go home.”
Bob leaned against the wall, watching the numbers tick by on the display over the door. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Daniel jerked his head up. “Why the hell not? I’m on the list here. It says I don’t need to come in. Since I’m here, I think I’ll leave.”
“Let’s go to my office and take a look at things.”
The mob on the monitor was not the same one he had seen earlier. Daniel was shocked at what he saw. There was a line of police in front of the bank, all decked out in riot gear, shields, helmets and gas masks. In the center of the road was a burning police car, several piles of burning tires and dumpsters full of flames. A figure erupted from the crowd of rioters wearing one of the masks from V, a flaming trashcan over his head. He ran towards the police in an effort to hurl the can of fire.
As soon as he crossed the center line of the road, marked by the piles of burning tires, the man crumpled and fell to the pavement. In the bottom right corner of the screen, a police officer was racking a shotgun, the spent shell of a less-than-lethal round
bouncing on the pavement. At the same moment, a phalanx of officers rushed forward, the officers in the front holding shields up to deflect the bottles and rocks pelting them. Just as with the Roman Legions, the second row of officers held their shields over their heads, blocking the missiles landing on them.
They covered the man in the road as additional officers in the rear grabbed the stricken man and pulled him back to the police line. The line of rioters surged forward but were immediately turned back with streams of pepper spray from fire extinguisher-size canisters.
“Holy shit,” Daniel said as he watched the scene unfold.
“That’s nothing. Just wait till it’s live rounds they’re using,” Bob replied.
“Bob, you want us to lock down the building?” Andy asked from his console.
Bob scanned the various cameras. “Yeah, everything on the ground level. Send out an email telling everyone to take the pedestrian bridge to the garage. We should never have opened it in the first place. Those idiots upstairs want everything to look normal.” Bob gestured towards the screen. “Does that look normal to you?”
“Done.” Andy replied.
On a couple of the monitors, the large gates began to lower on interior hallways of the first floor. If Bob had had his way, they would have remained down. But earlier in the day, Byron had insisted they be raised. Now, he wasn’t even going to bother to ask. The building was getting locked down. Daniel’s phone vibrated, and he pulled it off to check the message.
“Where are you!?” Malcolm’s signature was under it.
***
Teague closed the phone and let it drop into his lap as his head fell back onto the couch. He let out a long breath that was half groan, half regret. Coming back to the moment, he pulled the cover off the back of the phone and removed the SIM card. Sitting up, he tossed it into a burn bucket with some fuel, lit it and watched as it disappeared in the flame. Crossing the room to where his pack sat beside the door, he reached into it and took another card out and inserted it into the phone.
He’d only been here for two days and it was time to move again. The ambush happened three weeks ago. He thinks it’s been three weeks now; and since then, he hasn’t spent more than four days in one spot. Everyone involved in the ambush had been on the move just as he had. The ambush had been a spur-of-the-moment mission, and while they had been looking for a chance to make a stand, the roadblock had just fallen in their lap. As soon as contact was broken at the scene, they immediately separated into smaller cells. These smaller cells continued to break up until every militiaman was on his own.
Each person was left to their own devices with one simple goal, don’t get your ass caught. In this manner, no one knew what the other’s plan was, unless of course you ran your mouth. The three militia members caught so far were members of the same cell. They made a group plan and discussed it in detail with one another. When the first of them was apprehended, the other two fell like dominos. In their plan, they all agreed not to be taken alive. “From my cold dead hands!” was the unanimous cadence shouted by the three. In the end, only one of them even fired a shot, for which he was immediately shot multiple times in return.
Teague’s plan was a little more sophisticated. He actually had a network of people in place to help him, not that they knew why they were doing the things he asked. He’d known them all for so long, that when he called, they answered. The network he was relying on was so far removed from him that if the Feds ever did manage to put it together, he would already be long gone. So far, everything had worked out. He was already in Arkansas, and this next ride would get him into Alabama. Once in Alabama, it wouldn’t take too long to make his way to Atlanta. He just hoped his cousin would let him crash at his place.
***
Daniel looked at the phone and grunted. Bob looked over and he showed him the message. Bob snorted and took the phone. Daniel watched as he typed a reply. Been sent home. All nonessential personnel have been furloughed today. He sent the message and handed the phone back. Daniel took it and snapped it back into the cradle, giving Bob a smile as he did. “What now?”
“Let’s go get a coffee.”
Daniel nodded and the two of them headed for the door. On the way out, Bob said, “Andy, call me if anything happens.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
They took the elevator down to the level with the pedestrian bridge. The little coffee shop was located inside the building where the bridge connected, and they ordered a coffee before the two ladies working there shut down. They took up a seat at one of the high tables where they could watch as all the employees left.
“How bad do you think it’s going to get out there?” Daniel asked.
Bob took a sip of the coffee before replying. “Dunno. It may blow over or they may try and burn the damn city down. Either way, I didn’t want the building full.”
Daniel nodded and looked out across the small mezzanine area where the shop was located. It opened up onto the large foyer of the main lobby, and the open space there continued up for one more floor. From where Daniel sat, he could see the windows on the front of the building, though at the moment, all he could see was the back of the large security shutters covering them. The sound of Bob’s Zippo popping open caught his attention, and he looked back just in time to see him light a smoke.
“Are you freakin nuts?”
Bob blew out the smoke. “What, who’s going to complain?”
“Still, you’re not supposed to smoke in the building.”
Bob flicked some ash into an empty creamer cup. “Aw, come on. You’re also supposed to pay your taxes on time, wait thirty minutes after eating before you swim or eat red meat. Come on, man; you can’t be that big a pussy.”
Daniel’s back stiffened. “I’m no pussy.”
“Calm down there, John Wayne. Just fuckin’ with ya.”
Daniel sipped his coffee. Who the hell did this guy think he was anyway?
Daniel’s phone vibrated. Malcolm again. I am leaving now. You need to be here in the morning.
Daniel jumped up from the chair, startling Bob. “What?”
“Malcolm’s headed down here now. I don’t want him to see me. Let’s go.”
“I ain’t worried about him. Let’s finish our coffee.” Bob shook his head and took another sip.
The elevator bank was only twenty or so feet away and he was able to hear the ding announcing the car’s arrival. With nowhere to go, Daniel ran around the counter of the coffee shop and crouched down. Bob was laughing at him as he did. Malcolm came around the corner of the elevator bank and saw Bob, who was still laughing. He walked over and stood on the other side of the half wall that enclosed the café area.
Bob simply sipped his coffee, never acknowledging the other man’s presence. After a minute or two, Malcolm got irritated. “Why are you still here, Bob. I thought everyone was told to leave.”
“Actually, the email said all nonessential personnel were sent home. I’m essential,” Bob replied with a smile.
“You know you aren’t allowed to smoke in here.” Malcolm replied in an attempt to get the upper hand.
Bob’s response was to light another one up. He inhaled deeply while looking Malcolm in the eye then blew out three perfect rings into the air. When he finished, he smiled. “So sue me.”
Malcolm walked off in a huff. Bob smiled at himself. It wasn’t every day you got to piss someone off so easily. Daniel waited behind the counter, not wanting to chance a look and getting spotted by Malcolm. Bob left him there for a couple of minutes before he finally said, “Coast is clear.”
Daniel peered over the counter with one eye, looking the café over. The only person he saw was Bob, sipping on his coffee and smoking. Cautiously, he stood up and walked around the counter, still looking for Malcolm. Finally making his way back to the table, he
took a seat across from Bob.
“What’d he say?” Daniel asked.
“Who?”
Daniel lifted his hands off the table. “What’da you mean, who?”
Bob laughed. “Don’t worry. He’s got no idea you’re here.”
Byron suddenly appeared. Having come down his private elevator with Tiffany. He has two of the security guards with him. His briefcase at his side he looked at Bob and said, “These guys are escorting me home.” He waved his hand in the air. “I’m not taking any chances with all this.”
Bob smiled, “Sure thing Byron. I can understand.”
As the two men talked the elevator dinged again. Daniel turned just in time to see Amber round the corner. He rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, shit.
She walked up and smiled coyly, “Hi Daniel. I was hopng you could help me. I don’t have my car today. Can you give me a ride home?”
Daniel shook his head, “No sorry. I’m not leaving. I have to stay here to work on the breach.”
Byron shot Daniel a look. “Breach? Is that what you call it? A fucking breach?”
Bob put his hand on Byron’s shoulder. “Give the kid a break. He’s an IT guy. That’s what they call it.”
Amber’s lips formed a pout. “Oh. I’ll find some way.”
Tiffany smiled. “I can give you a ride.”
Byron was eyeing Amber up and down. Like a predator sizing up it’s prey he said, “I’ll give you ride. I have a car and driver.” Nodding at the two security men he added, “Not to mention these fellas.”
But just as Byron thought he was sizing Amber up, she too was like a cat with a mouse. She smiled, “That would be very kind of you,” she replied. She never acknowledged Daniel again as a much more worthy conquest now presented itself.
The group quickly walked off as the two sized one another up like a starving man before a buffet. Daniel rubbed his head, “That was fucking weird.”