Keira stirred. Without realizing she reached out across the front seat and squeezed Cam’s right hand that was on the stick.
“Sorry,” she was embarrassed.
“No worries. I wasn’t hurt, yet anyway.” He grinned at the teen.
Keira looked back at Luza. “Have you been up the entire time?”
“Uh-ha,” Luza said. “I haven’t said a word either so you could get your beauty sleep.”
“That was nice of you.” She turned towards Cam. “I’m so out of it maybe you already said it, but where are we going?”
Luza moved to the middle seat and let Riley fall against the window. She sat on the edge and did her best to lean over to hear.
“Don’t mind me. I’m just wondering myself, since Riley said we were going to a costume party.”
“Yeah since you know what one is.”
“Not really, but whatever gets us out of here and over there.”
“The old boy might be on to something actually. We are playing dress up. Don’t worry no one’s going to mess with us. We just need to blend in a little better than our previous attire,” Cam said.
“We’re not stealing a plane are we?” Keira raised her left eyebrow.
“No, of course not. We’re just hitching a ride,” Cam said very nonchalantly.
“How did you manage that?”
“Yeah,” Luza added.
“I told you that I’m good at what I do. His Majesty wouldn’t have sent me to help out if I wasn’t.”
“We don’t have any money,” Keira said.
“It’s covered. All of it.”
“Maybe I should have taken you up on your offer of dinner earlier,” Keira winked at the boy, half serious and yet part of her concerned.
“That might have stream lined things a bit. No worries. We’re good. A little longer till we get to Limestone. Then we’ll get on the plane and off we go.”
“Plane? What is that?” Luza practically fell into the middle seat, waiting for a response to her question.
“It’s a metal bird people can sit and travel in, like this car.”
“Keira’s not driving right?”
“None of us are. They have a pilot. We will be fine.”
“No other gates?” Luza asked.
“It looks like you guys blew those up.”
“We didn’t do anything to those gates. Sohon and his men did. Don’t forget that. We’re not safe anywhere, regardless of what your new German friend has told you,” Riley engaged the conversation. “Whether it’s a plane or a submarine, even the Great Loon couldn’t be trusted.”
“That’s a dig if I ever heard one,” Cam watched Riley’s eyes from the rear view mirror.
“Riley that wasn’t nice,” Luza shook her head at the teen.
“It’s reality, right old boy?” Riley caught Cam looking at him through the mirror. He glared back.
Breaking off his stare, Cameron said, “Don’t fault the Prince of Perucica. It’s not every day he sees his old buddy right?”
“We were never buddies, so don’t make it sound like we were.”
“Oh come on, I lived with you for over a year. We were friends.”
Keira and Luza listened carefully to the exchange. Neither one wanted to interrupt as there was a clear tension developing between the two boys.
“Friends — that’s a funny word choice Cameron.”
“How so Riles?”
“First you always seem to look out for number one, don’t you? Sort of like Keira here.”
She shifted her seat belt and turned around the middle of the front seat. “Don’t bring me into this. I saved your butt today.”
“Riles tends to overlook what others do for him. It’s a common theme. Sorry to break that to you too, Luza.”
“We were doing fine without you,” Riley coldly said.
“I’m sorry would you like me to bring you back? Clearly you had things taken care of. If you want I can stop the car right here. I guess what you’ll turn into a deer and just do your thing.”
“Please go right ahead.”
“Boys,” Luza put her hands out.
“He wants me to stop so he can take credit for saving the day. This will eat at him.” Cam nodded to Keira, wanting to get her to take his side.
“Really Cameron, you can stop the car. I will get out and so will Luza.”
“We’re not getting out of the car.” Luza slapped him on the leg. “You couldn’t even maintain your form. What good will that do? Plus it’s raining.”
“We’d be fine,” he said softly.
“I like how you didn’t include me — noted Riley,” Keira hurt to speak. Riley’s cold manner frankly bothered her more than she wanted to admit. It made her feel sick to her stomach. More than just being drained from the day’s fighting, his non-stop berating of her, was making her feel inadequate and emotionally upset.
“So I’m the one that thinks only about myself? You’re still a piece of work Riley,” Cam said.
“Takes one to know one,” Riley added.
“At least I’m not five.” He reached out and took Keira’s hand.
She wanted to fight off his gesture, but was actually grateful for Cam’s contact.
“I’ll tell you what, when we get off the plane and the king has Keira returned in one piece you do what you need to do. No questions asked, but until then, stop being difficult and follow along like the rest of us. Can you handle that?”
“Riley?” Luza slapped him again on the leg.
“Fine, then we’re going,” he said.
Keira heard his final words but said nothing. A tear fell down her face. She bit her lip, in an effort to maintain any sense of composure.
“Chin up. I’ll follow you Princess,” Cam said with a smile.
He brought her hand over to his lips and kissed it.
“Thanks for everything.” She looked down at the onyx bracelet that had slid out from under the sleeve of her BDU shirt, “And also for this.”
“No worries Princess. Keep it as long as you need. It’s an old family trinket for when you get roughed up the way you did.”
“At least one part of me is healing.”
“Give it time,” Cam squeezed her hand and rested it on his right thigh. He then pressed down more on the gas pedal and shifted the Mustang into the next gear.
* * *
Another seventy minutes of driving and then the car slowed. After Riley’s negativity, not only did the others go silent, but even Luza went to sleep.
Not until Cam slowed the Mustang at the security gate to Loring Air Force Base did the other three stir. There was a small line of cars waiting for entry into the base.
“I thought for sure you had some clandestine activity planned. In the very least you were going to have us climb over an electrified fence, rush past a team of dogs, and smuggle ourselves onto a plane,” Riley shared from the backseat. He adjusted his camouflage cap and put it on his head.
“Not this trip. Sorry to disappoint. This is more realistic. Come on Riley this is a real facility and not something from your imagination,” Cameron shook off the boy’s comments. He nudged Keira gently. “Put on your cover. We’re almost to the gate. You too Luza and maybe even put your hair up.”
She looked confused. The cover was in her hands.
Riley took it from her. “Like this.” He took her long strands of hair in the front of her face and pulled them back gently. “You can’t look like you rolled out of bed. We’ll put this into a bun. Then plop the cover on.”
As he spoke the words, Riley fixed Luza right up. The bun wasn’t a necessarily good one or tight but it would do.
The rain continued to pound on the car.
“At least they won’t make us get out. I don’t think so anyway,” Cam had a tinge of doubt in his voice, but then laughed. “Maybe you though Riles.”
A military police guard wearing a white helmet with black “MP” letters painted on the front waved the car forward with his l
eft hand while his right held an umbrella.
“Let me do the talking, please.” Cam unfolded his billfold and took out his driver’s license.
He shifted the car to park and lowered the driver’s side window.
“What a sucky day to pull guard duty huh?” Cam handed his license to the guard.
“Tell me about it. Seems to always work out that way huh?” The guard examined the license carefully. “Cameron Milojevic, I think I saw your name earlier. Let me take a look.”
He stepped away and went into the guard station. Reading over a clipboard of names, the guard seemed satisfied.
“Here’s your license Cameron.” He shined his flash light in each window of the car. The light went from face to face until the man seemed satisfied. “The rest of you and your JROTC group have fun. I won’t say you’re necessarily lucky. Maybe if you were on an overnight trip to Pease, but not here. Good luck with that.”
The guard was already waving Cameron on, but the teen kept his window down. “Sir, where is the PX? That’s where we have to meet up with the others.”
“Even better, at least you can have some real grub before you play Air Force. Just head straight down Hedges Ave. At the four-way take the left onto Denotti Way.”
“Thanks again,” Cameron said with a smile. He raised the window and then rubbed the rain drops off the console.
Shifting his Mustang to drive they left the security station.
“Are we really going to the PX?” Keira said.
“What’s that?” Luza sat on the edge of her seat.
“You’re favorite, a place to get food.”
“Just try not to bring any unnecessary attention to us,” Cam said.
“Have you seen Luza eat?” Keira laughed.
* * *
Riley, Keira, and Luza were surprised to arrive at the PX. It wasn’t some small shopping center, but an actual mall with stores inside and more than one place to eat. Perhaps if they had been here for a different reason, there might have been some excitement over this development.
From the parking lot, there were signs for several fast food restaurant chains including a kebab place called Youssef’s.
Getting out of the car, Cameron slammed the driver’s side door and stood in a military position, almost like he was ready to lecture the others. He shrugged at the sight of Riley and Luza’s undone mismatched colored hair.
The rain had lightened up enough that a light mist was all that remained.
“Now listen, my contact won’t be here for another twenty minutes. That’s promptly at 8pm. When that time comes, we have to be back out here. No exceptions. If you can’t handle that, just stay in the car, and have someone bring you back some food.”
“I’m not a little kid Cam,” Riley held out his hand.
“You sure about that Riles?” Cameron placed a perfectly crisp twenty dollar bill on the teen’s hands.
Riley closed his hand. “Anyone else coming?”
Luza and Keira looked at one another, torn over what to do.
“We’re going to the bathroom,” Keira reached out and grabbed Luza’s hand.
“Yeah, that’s what girls do,” Luza smiled awkwardly.
“You’re a human for one day and you’re already embracing the team bathroom antics. My goodness,” Riley waved the teens off and walked towards the entrance.
“Princess,” Cameron beckoned Keira. “Be careful and be quick. We’re not out of the woods yet if you get my drift.”
Keira nodded. She said, “Would you feel better if you walked us to the bathroom?”
Cameron tilted his head slightly. “No, I think it will be fine. Just stay away from Riley. He doesn’t understand this is your only way out of here.”
“I imagine he knows that already.”
“I don’t know Keira. I don’t trust him, never have really.” He looked at Luza. “He’s not the best choice of a boyfriend if you ask me. But then again, our hearts aren’t selective are they?”
“You don’t know him like I do,” Luza said.
“I know him well enough that given the chance, he’ll run. I’m just telling you, don’t listen to him.”
“Cam, if you have so many concerns why did you let him walk off?” Keira looked curiously at the young German. She felt like his glistening deep blue eyes were speaking directly to her.
“Why do you think? You two are reasonable. He was ready to jump out of the car and blindly head into the woods again. That would have been a dumb thing to do, let me tell you.”
“I’ll take care of Riley,” Luza crossed her legs, “but we do need to go.”
“Of course, just be quick.”
Luza squeezed onto Keira’s hand and led her away from the German.
“Not a word,” Luza put her finger up to her mouth.
Keira nodded. The two girls scurried up to the main doors of the mall and disappeared into the building.
Not even three steps in, Keira released Luza’s hand. “Are you two leaving me when we get over there?”
“Can you smell that food? Did we enter a bit of heaven? Everything smells so delicious, especially that meat. Oh my goodness, I need some like now.” Luza pointed in the direction of the electric green and white lit sign for Youssef’s Kabobs.
“Seriously Luza. Give me one minute before you hit Riley up for money.”
“I’m just so hungry. I can’t help it. At least tell me it smells good. I can’t be the only one.”
Keira crossed her arms and frowned. “Yes it smells quite amazing, probably because we haven’t eaten for hours. Focus on me now.”
“Can’t we focus while we are over there in line?”
Grabbing Luza by the hand, Keira lead her down the vast corridor away from the food court and the alluring smells. She didn’t let go of the petite teen until they were well past anyone’s earshot.
“Be straight with me. What’s going on?”
“Nothing that hasn’t already been said.”
“You’re hiding something Luza. I can feel it. I’m not talking about your hair color either or the fact that you’re taller.”
“I don’t look like a freak, do I?”
“No you don’t, but I would keep that hat on a little longer unless you want people asking questions.”
“Really, is it that bad?”
“If you keep getting more black hair it will even out soon enough. Now come on be serious and tell me what is going on.”
“Riley is focused on protecting me at whatever the costs. He doesn’t think you help in that process.”
“That’s ridiculous. I mean —”
“You’ve already stepped in and saved me and him several times. I get it. I don’t know what else to tell you. He’s fixated on being rid of you.”
“But why? What have I done that would cause him to turn on me like this?”
Luza didn’t want to say what she knew. She certainly left out the vision they had.
“I know he’s still being a butthead over me and Bobby. You know what? He can stay upset about that, because I would do it again. At least I am willing to stand up for something and not hide in the shadows.”
“I’m sorry Princess. He’s not a bad guy, he really isn’t.”
“Whatever. Just don’t walk up and leave. I hope both of you have the common courtesy to tell me when you’re leaving. I think that’s the least I deserve,” Keira found herself getting emotional.
Luza held onto Keira’s wrists and nodded. “If I can, I will. Maybe he’ll change his mind, I don’t know. It’s not like we even know where we are going.”
“Fine,” Keira broke away from Luza. As she did, the onyx bracelet slid down into view.
“Did Cam give that to you?”
Keira rubbed the beautiful black stones. “At least someone is treating me nicely.”
“I would take it off if I were you.”
“Come off it. Really?”
“Nothing ever good comes of onyx.”
“You’re jus
t saying that because it’s from him. If Riley had given it to me, then it would be okay.”
“That’s not true. It just seems weird. He doesn’t even know you. But hey what do I know? I would at least see if you can undo the clasps.”
“Aren’t you a suspicious little fox? No see it comes off.” Keira unlatched the sterling silver clasp and the bracelet fell into her hands.
“That makes me feel a little better. How do you feel?”
“The same — exhausted.” Keira held the bracelet in the palm of her hand.
“Don’t ask me why because I can’t tell you, but don’t put it back on. Let your body heal itself. That’s our way. You’ll thank me later, I promise.”
Keira stared at the round stones. They sang to her and beckoned. Already she felt more drained and fatigued, as though the day was rushing over her again.
“I need to eat. Do you want anything?”
Shaking the teen off, Keira looked back down at the bracelet.
“I’ll meet you in the car then.” Luza gave Keira one final look before she ran back towards the food court.
Leaning against the wall, Keira rested. She squeezed the stones in her hands and wondered how the little bracelet could stir that response. Somewhat reluctantly she unbuttoned her side pocket and placed the bracelet securely inside.
Chapter 18
Cameron made the trio wait under a bus stop cover while he gave his keys to a dark skinned man clad in a service uniform. There were no words said between them, just a simple nod and the key drop.
He walked towards the teens acting as though nothing had happened.
The head lights of the Mustang flipped on, the engine revved, and seconds later the car drove off out of sight.
Riley chewed quietly on his kabob and what he didn’t want, he passed onto Luza. He watched Cameron carefully with any additional attention spent on Keira.
“Now what?” Keira looked up from the hard plastic seat.
“We don’t walk I assure you of that. No pick up will be any minute.”
“How did you do this?”
Cameron looked surprised. He pointed at his muscular chest. “I told you, I get things done.”
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