At Wit's End

by Lawrence, A. K.

  There was a tiny microphone hidden in the lamp near the lawn chair in the main room. Marie quickly searched the bathroom fixtures and cabinets. First she looked for more microphones and then she began looking for anything that would work as a tool or weapon.

  The rod for the shower curtain had looked promising until Marie realized it was made of aluminium; a flimsy, half metal if ever there was one. She was fairly certain she needed something that would work as a pry bar. The towel rod came to mind and she looked it over.

  The rod was definitely a thick wood. Prying the boards in the window shouldn’t be a problem. It would also work as a club if she felt threatened enough to use it. There was one problem, however; the screws keeping the rod flush to the wall had been painted over several times over several decades. Marie thumped her head into the wall repeatedly.

  A gentle steam began rolling out from behind the shower curtain. Marie looked at it and thought hard. She remembered using hot water and steam to loosen paint on windows. It would stand to reason the same thing would work here.

  She needed a cup or jar, some way to carry hot water. A knife would help, too, so she could unscrew the plates. The water heater needed to hold out and she gave a quick prayer. She slid out of the barely open door – she wanted the steam to keep building – and quickly retrieved the knife and stoneware mug that had come with her dinner. Then she grabbed the whole tray and took it with her to the bathroom. Let them think she preferred to eat there. She’d rather be eccentric than caught.

  The small room felt like a sauna when she returned with the implements. Marie tied her thick hair into a ponytail. The humidity was going to make her look like a brunette Little Orphan Annie. She wiped her sweaty palm on a convenient towel that was beginning to dampen.

  The knife tip wedged into the cross of the first screw. It refused to turn. Her grip was slick and the knife slipped and struck against the paint thickened tile over and over. She gave the towel rod a frustrated slam with her fist and it fell to the floor.

  Marie picked the rod up and saw the ancient tiles had given out. This would work out better. Having the added wedging capability would give her more options. Marie turned off the shower and returned to the other room. It was ice cold compared to the bathroom and Marie shivered.

  There was no thermostat that she could see but a fireplace was across the room. Perhaps she could pull a reverse Santa Claus and disappear up the chimney. She knelt and looked up the flue. Though she had a petite frame there was no way she was squeezing her way up there. When she stood she had a thick film of soot on her hand.

  She could use that to help disguise her white skin in the dark night when she got away. A plan was actually forming and Marie began to believe she really would be able to get out of this room by herself. She imagined Wit was coming – or had a plan – but she didn’t want to wait. She couldn’t wait because she was the only person who knew about the plan to bomb the courthouse. It was her responsibility to tell someone.

  Her jaw tightened with determination. She chose the bathroom window after examining the others in the room. The boards across the windows in the main room looked new and whoever had installed them had done so with pride. Each nail was equidistant from the next. The bathroom window had older boards that were swollen with moisture. She would have to remove fewer planks.

  Marie went to work.

  “Zoom in on that area,” Wit told Hirsch. He jabbed a finger at the screen.

  “Watch the road!” If he’d said it once then he’d said it a hundred times but at the moment it was worth repeating. “I’ll navigate if you promise not to drive this missile into anything at-,” he checked the speedometer and winced, “110 mph. There wouldn’t be anything left of a deer if we hit one. Or us,” he told him.

  “Fine,” Wit stifled a laugh. The situation was intense, frightening, yet he hadn’t felt this alive in ages. “We’re looking for a turn off that wouldn’t appear on a normal map. Logging trails and even two tracks would be in our best interest.”

  “I know what we’re looking for,” Hirsch snarled. This was not what he considered fun. He checked his phone and saw he still didn’t have a signal. A suspicion began brewing but he kept quiet.

  “Slow down,” he told Wit. “There’s a trail coming up in about a mile. It appears to wind around and eventually terminates where Marie is being held. It’s too big to be a game trail and too small to be a road. Left side.”

  “I hope the car fits. It will stick out if I have to leave it on the side of the road.”

  “Fortunately you have the black model. We may be able to hide it.”

  The trail turned out to be a small road. Sections were still paved but most of it had collapsed over the years and the potholes were many. The ride was rough and Wit worried one of his tires would blow out striking against the sharp stones. The trees were thick on both sides of the road and occasional branches would strike against the windshield or side mirrors.

  Eventually the path narrowed enough that Wit no longer felt comfortable driving further. “It looks like we walk from here. I won’t be able to turn around. If we have to make a run for it I’ll have to do it in reverse.”

  “That sounds like a horrible roller coaster ride.” Hirsch’s hand was cramped from holding the chicken stick the entire trip. His nausea subsided as the car rolled to a stop for which he was grateful.

  Wit took the laptop from Hirsch and examined the screen. “The definition isn’t the greatest. It looks like this path branches off into a Y. One path goes to a pond and the other ends at a building that isn’t labelled. We’re going to have to split up.”

  “Not necessarily,” Hirsch said. “This is supposed to be recon which is more of a surveillance thing. You have the look of a man who wants to go vigilante on me.”

  Wit shook his head angrily. “I’m not going to risk Marie’s life without having as much information as possible. There are cabins around the pond and they may be keeping her in one of them. That other building could be a makeshift jail.” Wit’s finger jabbed at the screen.

  Hirsch breathed out heavily. “I’m sorry, Wit. My nerves are fraying. I joined the FBI to have a team and not so I could Lone Ranger it whenever it suited me.” He held up a hand before Wit could utter his disagreement. “That didn’t come out how I meant it either. Look, I’ll take the pond trail. I’ll check the cabins and if I see any men I’ll take count. You do the same at the other outbuilding. I’ll join you there and we’ll plan our next step. If you find Marie don’t make a move. Wait for me. Two heads are far better than one and we won’t even discuss the difference between four hands and two.”

  “Alright,” Wit nodded. “Grab that satchel.” He’d thrust it into Hirsch’s lap when they’d gotten into the car. “It has some needed elements.”

  At the trunk of the vehicle Wit unzipped the bag. He handed several items to Hirsch. “I assume you know how to use those?”

  Hirsch spun the Night Vision Goggles in his hands. “How did you get these? They just came out and are supposed to be under exclusive contract to the Special Teams.”

  “I have my ways,” Wit shrugged. “Prototypes can end up in the oddest places.” He tucked a few special items into the various pockets of his cargo pants. “That is a customized satellite phone. If things go sideways you may need it. Are you ready?”

  At the end of the trail the two men went their separate ways. A sense of urgency made Hirsch worry they had forgotten something. Wit walked with a confident air that Hirsch wished he could emulate. He had a bad feeling about this situation and it never paid off to ignore one’s gut. He checked his phone one last time and discovered he finally had a signal.

  Without hesitation he began going through his speed dials until an actual person answered.

  A better angle was needed. Marie looked closely at the tub. It was old-fashioned and looked to be made of thick porcelain. It should hold her weight. Her heart rose to her throat but Marie climbed up and balanced her feet on the thick rims on eit
her side.

  The window was now at the perfect level. Marie loosened her knees for balance and jabbed the towel rod hard into the last board covering the bathroom window. She heard a screech and saw the nails were beginning to separate from the wall. With a grimace she swung again.

  Every thud had her watching the door. She had checked all the outlets and fixtures for another microphone in the bathroom and hadn’t found one. That didn’t mean someone standing outside the bedroom door wouldn’t be able to hear her slamming into things and decide to check on her.

  A final swing had the board popping off the wall and falling to the ground outside. It joined the two boards she’d already struggled with. Each swing had her thanking her willpower for getting her to the fitness room on a daily basis. Working as a chef was no physical picnic either and she had strength in her upper body second to few.

  The dimensions of the window were perfect for someone of her size to fit through. It might be tight but at least she would make it. Fortunately the room she was locked in was located on the ground floor. She hadn’t wanted to drop a story but she would have.

  A bucket lay next to the door. She’d found it under the sink. It smelled of cleaning supplies but there hadn’t been any in the cupboard. Bummer. Something toxic to spray into someone’s eyes may have come in handy. For now she’d make do with the bucket alone.

  At the fireplace she slanted the bucket and scooped as much ash and dark soot as would fit without making a mess. She used a napkin to wipe the outside edge of the bucket and carried it into the bathroom.

  Marie latched the flimsy door and quickly removed her blouse. She tied one sleeve around the handle of the bucket and carefully lowered it out the window. The cold air dimpled her skin and she remembered the vest. It had a dark lining that could come in useful. Plus it was going to be chilly outside.

  She retrieved the vest and put it on. The fit was loose but it would work. She levered herself to the ledge of the window and swung her legs out. She landed harder than she had expected and her knee gave a warning ache. She used the bushes as cover while she crouched down and massaged the joint.

  With the ache soothed she reached for the bucket. She hated that it was necessary to do what came next. She removed the vest and put her blouse back on and then the vest again. The powder blue top was one of her favourites and it pained her heart but she followed her plan and completely covered herself in the black sooty mess.

  With a final look at the lit window Marie snuck to the darkness that covered the broad lawn. Her destination was the treeline that lay beyond the expanse of well-manicured grass. She headed straight from where she’d left the window. Another wing of the building lay to her left and Marie was stunned at the size of the compound. A small army could be in there and no one would be the wiser.

  With 25 feet until she reached the trees Marie paused. She peered around slowly and listened intently. All she heard were the natural sounds of night in the forest. With a deep breath she sprinted to the trees.

  At the fourth large oak into the canopy she paused for breath. The arching branches blocked the stars and moon and made the night even darker. She didn’t know which direction she was going or which way she should go from here.

  A deep inhalation through her nose told her a body of water was nearby. She half turned in that direction and stopped. Roger had said this used to be a resort. A resort with a pond or lake generally had VIP or family cabins on those lakes.

  She turned the other way. She’d keep the scent of water to her back. Eventually she’d find a road or house or something. This was America, a very populous country. Surely she’d bump into someone who could help her.

  She walked slowly, careful not to step on branches or leaves. She didn’t make much progress but she also wasn’t seen so she continued on, slow and steady until giant spotlights behind her lit the yard. The light reflected off of dew covered grass and made its way into the forest in which she hid.

  Marie’s legs began sprinting without her consciously deciding to run. She was blind in the dark and crashed through several bushes and branches she hadn’t seen coming. A man began shouting far in the distance. Marie looked back and didn’t see anyone.

  Wit crouched under a window that looked into the building they’d seen on the satellite image. No lights were on that he could see. He couldn’t tell if Marie – or anyone – was inside. He ducked back down and considered looking for an entrance.

  The crashing through the forest drew his attention and he turned to look. It was extremely dark but he thought he saw something darker than the patch of night move through the trees. He took a step closer and a body slammed into his. A cloud of dust went up his nose and he immediately began sneezing.

  Wit wrapped his arms around the wiggling mass laying across his chest and struggled to put a hand over her mouth before she screamed. Under the stench of old fire he’d caught a trace of the cinnamon he would always associate with his Marie.

  “Marie, it’s me, Wit,” he whispered after the last sneeze.

  “Bradley?” she asked when he loosened his grip.

  “Are you okay? I’ve been worried sick about you,” he told her. He ran his hands over every part of her he could reach and checked for injuries.

  “I’m fine. Bradley, I’m so glad you’re here. It wasn’t a real bomb in the picture. The bricks were made out of Play-Doh.”

  “Thank God. I was so afraid.” He kissed her sooty cheeks and felt wetness. “Don’t cry, honey, it’s going to be okay.”

  Marie sniffled. “It’s been a little stressful,” she told him.

  “It won’t be for much longer,” he reassured her. “Hirsch is with me. He’s supposed to meet me here shortly. If we hadn’t found you we were going to check the main house. What happened in there?”

  “I met Roger Ingerhoffe.” Marie shivered. “There’s something wrong with him mentally.”

  “What do you mean?” Wit asked

  “I’m not sure I could explain. How did you find me?”

  She couldn’t see the sheepish grin in the dark but she heard it in his voice. “I had a tracker on you. It was in the fob you use to get into your fitness room at your apartment.”

  Marie rolled her eyes. “We’re going to have to talk about personal space and privacy at some point.”

  “I know, I know. I wonder where Hirsch is,” Wit whispered. He thought he heard something on the path and held up a hand to quiet her.

  The glow of the spotlights did not reach them in the shadows of the outlying building and Marie felt a sense of security. Then she, too, heard the steps on the path. All feelings of being secure fled.

  Hirsch tugged on the padlock. Like the locks on the other cabins it held fast. He had carefully checked each of the small buildings and he’d decided the locks were there to keep people out of the crumbling buildings as opposed to keeping Marie in. He could have crawled in through one of the holes in the walls had he wanted to give them closer examinations.

  Without the Night Vision Goggles Hirsch would have been lost. The trees hid the illumination of the stars and moon and Hirsch, having always lived in the city, understood what darker than the night truly meant in a non-philosophical manner.

  It had not taken as much time to check the uninhabited cabins as Hirsch had thought it would. He hoped Wit had found Marie. It was time to make his way to their meeting point. They could compare notes and Hirsch would do his best to stall Wit from going to the main house.

  The conversation he’d had with his boss had been quite uncomfortable and Hirsch was not looking forward to his next work day but he’d accomplished his goal. The FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team would be dispatched. His job was to gather as much information as he could within the time frame given and meet the team leader where Wit had left his car.

  His superior had made it clear he expected the answers to some questions in the near future. Wit’s anonymity may not last much longer and Hirsch was sorry for that. He’d tried to keep him out of trouble as
long as he could and, as per their arrangement, he would throw Witson under the bus when the time came. It had been an aggravating but fun ride these past few months.

  A game trail ran parallel to the cobblestone path the resort had laid and Hirsch used the trail to navigate to the building at which he and Wit had agreed to meet. As he drew near he heard several muffled sneezes in succession. Hirsch stopped and immediately dropped to the ground. He trained his gaze in that direction and held his breath.

  Relief flooded him when he realized the two bodies crouched in front of him and against the shed were Wit and Marie. He exhaled slowly and began to stand up. As he rose bright lights flared into life. The goggles flashed and Hirsch barely stifled the grunt of pain as he ripped them away from his head. He dropped back to the ground and watched the scene unfold. This was exactly what he had feared would happen.

  Three men converged on the couple. Wit pushed Marie so she stood between his back and the wall of the building. The lights were blinding him. He took his own flashlight and flicked it on. He pointed it toward the men. They slowly lowered their lights to a respectable level and Wit did the same.

  No one spoke. It was a silent stand-off and Wit let it last as long as the men wanted. The joker in the wild deck of this plan was still out there. Wit knew darn well Hirsch would call for back-up as soon as he’d had signal on his phone. Wit had been counting on it.

  The idea now was to delay their removal from the area until Hirsch knew they’d been found. By his calculations it wouldn’t be much longer. He hoped Hirsch would stay hidden. While each party waited for the other to speak he scanned the woods and looked for a sign. A stray beam of reflected light deep in the woods told Wit exactly what he needed to know. The cavalry was coming.

  He rocked back on his heels and sucked air through his front teeth in a hiss. “Gentlemen,” he nodded cordially, “nice night for a stroll.”