“She is,” said Cathy, proudly. “And she has the ribbons at home to prove it.”
I reached over and tousled Violet’s hair. “You can run a lot faster than I can.”
“I don’t know about that. You’re pretty fast.”
“Thanks,” I said. I had felt fast; had felt fast for the first time since graduating high school. As bad as everything was, it felt good to become reacquainted with my body. I was feeling stronger each day and I was already considering cutting another hole in my belt. I stared across at the pair of runners that was now crossing the far ditch. I could see that it was Neil and Lisa. If I was going to say something, now was the time. “Violet, I promise not to get mad, but did you tell your mom about our secret?”
Violet hung her head and Cathy spoke up. “Don’t be mad at her, Gary. I raised her to never keep secrets from me. If you were a parent, you’d understand that. Yes, Violet told me all about the story you told her. I wish you wouldn’t fill her head with fairy tales. She’s not a child anymore.”
I stared at Cathy and for a moment considered telling her that she was right, that it was all a big lie I had made up to try and draw Violet out of her shell. But as I looked down at Violet, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was going to have to trust Cathy with the truth. With Lisa and Neil crossing the northbound lanes of the freeway, I set Cathy straight. “Who said anything about fairy tales? I didn’t lie to her. The gold and money are buried a hundred feet straight ahead from where we left the ATV. If anything happens to me, I want the both of you to have it. I’ve got to warn you both about something. If push comes to shove, I plan to trade the gold to get our people out of the camp. We can still split the cash, fifty-fifty. I’m guessing there is about sixty thousand dollars buried there. That’s enough for all of us to make a fresh start.”
Cathy’s expression changed as she stared at me with wonder in her eyes. Neil and Lisa were now crossing into the ditch below us and I scanned the lanes nervously. “Are you kidding me? You really do have three gold bars? The actual gold bars? Holy shit…”
“All I want to know, Cathy,” I said, “is would it make any difference to you if I didn’t?”
“Not a bit,” she said. “I hope you know that.”
I looked into her eyes and while I’m no Ace, I think I’m a pretty good at spotting a liar. I could read nothing in her expression that raised any red flags.
“I’m sorry, Gary,” said Violet, meekly.
I reached out with my free arm and pulled her close to me. “There’s nothing to be sorry about, sweetie,” I said. “Your mom is right. You shouldn’t ever keep secrets from her, especially secrets you share with a grown man. I was wrong to have asked that of you. I’m the one who should be apologizing.”
She looked up into my eyes and gave me a warm smile. It wasn’t much, but it did seem like she was coming back out of her shell and I was relieved to see it. Neil came bounding up the bank, followed by Lisa.
“That was crazy,” he said, bending over to catch his breath.
“That was crazy,” agreed Lisa. She didn’t even look as if she was winded and she quickly turned away.
Cathy rolled her eyes at me and motioned for Violet to stand up. As Ace and Jack began to scurry down the far embankment, she and Violet began to scale the fence behind us. They made it over just as the two men made it onto the northbound lanes. Neil and Lisa then took to the fence. I heard the distant whine of tires on concrete and my heart began to race. “Hurry up!” I said to Lisa as she hauled herself up. “There’s something headed our way.”
“Oh no,” moaned Lisa. I watched her as she athletically popped over the side, like a gymnast dismounting a balance beam, and she struck a perfect landing. I held the .45 gripped tight in both hands and walked halfway down the embankment.
“What the hell are you doing?” said Cathy. “Are you crazy? Get over here!”
“I’ve got to cover them,” I said over my shoulder. “Please, just keep your heads down and be quiet. If anything happens, run like hell!”
Whatever it was, it was heading south and moving at a high rate of speed. Ace and Jack must have heard it too because they paused in the median and flattened out in the tall grass.
“Get down,” urged Lisa. “Hurry!”
There was a Christmas tree-sized spruce to my left and I quickly ducked behind it. I groaned, realizing that if anyone was looking, they would spot me first. My foolishness might cost everyone their lives. The large truck seemed to be nearly on top of me and I sat on my butt and prayed for divine intervention. The truck howled by, followed by a whoosh of wind. I could see it was a military tanker truck, but it was boxy and resembled nothing like I had ever seen. Thankfully, it continued heading south at a high rate of speed. A moment later, Jack and Ace were back on their feet, jogging across the southbound lanes.
“Oh shit,” said Jack as he gasped for air, “that was close.”
Ace nodded, like Lisa, he didn’t seem to be the least bit winded. He looked at me for a long minute and finally smiled. “You did the right thing,” he said. “You came back to cover us and I appreciate it.”
I gave him a smile and tried my best not to think about what I had just said to Cathy. Ace gave me a funny look before carefully handing his rifle over the fence to Neil. He scaled the fence and dropped over the side.
Once Jack and I had made it over to the other side, Ace led us across a frontage road and into a large wooded area. We skirted two upscale housing developments the best we could. If the people who owned these homes were awake and looking out their windows, they would have seen us. There was nothing we could do about that. North Branch was no longer the little farming community I remembered from twenty years ago. The town had mushroomed over the years, and I knew we were rapidly approaching the point where we would have to find a place to hole up.
Chapter 14
We traveled in a southeasterly direction as the sun topped the trees behind us. The terrain here was as flat as a pancake and the woods were primarily oak. The only sounds I heard were those of the morning birds and our own footsteps. Occasionally, we’d cross over driveways and gravel roads, and Ace would make sure the coast was clear before waving us forward. We traveled for nearly another hour before Ace held a hand up and put a finger to his lips. He gestured ahead to a ramshackle Victorian home that stood in the distance. The windows were boarded up and the white paint had faded to a shade of gray. “I’m going to head up there and check it out,” he whispered. “I’ll be back in five minutes.”
We were in a small clearing and rays of warm sunshine penetrated the tall canopy of oaks. I nodded and dropped my pack; we sat in a semicircle as Ace ran ahead. I could see the fear lurking in my traveling companions’ eyes. Reflexively, Jack reached back for his flask but stopped himself, and I was happy to see it. Neil picked sandburs off the laces of his tennis shoes and Lisa ran her fingers through her long black hair. Cathy sat to my left and did the same to Violet, picking bits of dead leaves out of her sandy hair.
“I haven’t heard a gunshot,” whispered Jack. “My ears aren’t what they used to be. Have any of you heard any shots?”
We all shook our heads and the others went back to what they were doing. “What if this is over?” I asked. “How would we know?”
Lisa pulled a cell phone out of her pocket and pressed a button to power it up. We all waited and stared at her, but after a moment she slowly shook her head. “Still no bars,” she said. “Damn it, I’m really missing my phone.”
“I’m really missing my phone,” mimicked Jack. “Quit your whining, will ya?” Lisa’s eyes grew large and she glared at him. “Do you have something to say to me?” he asked.
“Knock it off,” said Neil, bravely. “You’re a jerk, do you know that?”
“That’s right,” agreed Violet. “You shouldn’t be so rude.”
Jack put his face in his hands and shook his head. “I’m sorry. You’re right, I’m just scared. Forgive me, Lisa. That was rude of me.”
Lisa started to speak, but a tear slid down the bridge of her nose and she quickly spun away from us. I was angry with Jack, but the last thing I wanted was for the situation to escalate. I desperately searched for something to say. “You can’t beat the weather,” I said. “It sure is a nice day, huh?”
The entire group stared at me as if I had lost my mind. I shrugged my shoulders and Cathy burst out laughing. Jack joined in and soon all of us were laughing. Even Lisa spun back around and through her tears, she laughed along with the rest of us.
Ace was suddenly standing over us. “Are you people crazy?” he hissed. “Stop laughing. Do you want the soldiers to hear us?”
Slowly, we pulled ourselves together. “I’m sorry,” I said. “That was my fault.”
“No,” said Jack. “That falls on me. I was acting like a jerk and the kids set me straight. Lisa, I really am sorry. Please forgive me.”
Lisa wiped the tears from her face and still smiling, nodded her head.
“Look,” whispered Ace, “I hate to break this up, but the house is empty. It’s a rat-hole, but its solid and we can hide out there for a while. We’ve got to get out of the daylight.”
We quietly gathered our possessions and followed Ace across the gravel road and up a weed-strewn driveway. The old three-story house looked even worse as we approached and it reminded me of every haunted house I had ever seen in the movies. The roof was sagging and it was one match away from becoming a memory. The wooden steps leading to the front door had rotted out and what was left of them looked like bad teeth. Oddly enough, tulips still blossomed along the east side of the house. Ace led us to a set of blackened cement steps that led up to the open back door. Inside, the house looked dark and forbidding. We followed Ace inside and entered a large kitchen.
“Well, this is nice,” quipped Cathy.
“It gives me the creeps,” said Neil. “How long do you think it’s been empty?”
The kitchen was empty, save for the counters and cabinets. The linoleum floor was yellow, peeling, and covered in grime. The plaster and lathe walls were crumbling and colorless. Inky light filtered inside through shuttered windows and the air smelled like dirty clothes. From what I could tell, no one had been in that kitchen for many years.
“I don’t know,” said Ace. “Probably longer than you’ve been alive, kid. I know it isn’t much, but we’re not going to be here long. Gary, Jack, have you discussed our plan with anyone?”
Jack shook his head. “Not yet, we were waiting for you to do it.”
I nodded my head. Ace had assumed the leadership of our group and so far he had proved himself to be more than capable of the responsibility. He sighed and leaned his scoped hunting rifle up against a corner. His checkered shirt was untucked and rumpled, rust-colored spatters covering the front. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was weary but determined. He put his hands on his hips. “Best I can tell,” he said, “we’re about half a mile from the warehouses where the camp should be. Gary had an idea and Jack and I think it’s our best shot at making this thing happen. I hate to ask, but we think the kids would have the best chance at making it to the gate.”
“Oh no,” said Cathy. “I’m not sending Violet up there, not alone.”
“She’d have Neil with her,” said Ace. “That is, if Neil agrees to do it. We send them with a note and some cash, just a few hundred bucks to show them we mean business.”
“I’ll do it,” said Neil.
“So will I,” chimed in Violet. She pulled away from her mother and turned to face her. “Don’t worry about me, Mom. I’ll be okay. Ace is right. We’ll have a better chance of making it to the gate than anyone else.”
“No way,” Cathy said, shaking her head. “I’m not going to allow it.”
I had been afraid this would happen and I watched Ace drop his arms to his side and turn away. Jack just shook his head. I wanted to say something to Cathy, but I wasn’t a parent and it certainly wasn’t my place to step in and try to coax her into allowing Violet to carry out such a dangerous mission. The decision was hers to make. The kitchen was as quiet as a mausoleum as the mother and daughter locked eyes.
“I’ll go with them,” said Lisa.
“No,” said Ace. “You’d only be putting the kids at a greater risk. I won’t allow it. If Neil and Violet can’t go together, I’ll do it myself.”
“Please understand,” said Cathy. “Violet is all I have in this whole world. How would you feel about sending your own daughter out there?”
“Don’t you think I’ve been kicking that around all morning? Shit, I don’t know how I’d feel about it. Sure, I’d be afraid for her. I am afraid for her. Still, think about how many lives she could be saving. I think the worst-case scenario is that the soldiers take the money and turn them away. I mean that. God dammit, I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t believe that.”
“I’m going to go,” said Violet. “Somebody write the note.”
“That’s up to your mom,” said Ace.
Cathy gave me a pleading look, but I dropped my eyes and stared at my feet. My shoelaces were covered in thistles.
“What if I was in there?” said Violet. “How would you feel if you were Ace?”
Cathy let out a sob and covered her face. “I know,” she moaned. She turned and faced Neil. “Promise that you’ll bring her back to me,” she said, stabbing a finger at him. “Don’t you dare come back without her, do you understand me?”
Neil swallowed hard and nodded his head. “I won’t,” he said. “I promise I won’t.”
Cathy began to weep and crouched down and took Violet into her arms. “You be careful and listen to Neil,” she said. “I’ll just die if anything happens to you.”
“I took the liberty of writing up a note,” said Ace, pulling a folded slip of paper out of his shirt pocket. He stepped across the soiled kitchen floor and handed it to Neil. “Leave your weapons here. You’re going to take a right at the end of the driveway and follow it down to the frontage road. Just follow that to the south. You should walk right into it. Gary, why don’t we send them with four hundred bucks?”
“I got it,” said Jack.
“No,” I said to Jack. “I’ve got it,” I took out my wad of cash and began to peel off twenty dollar bills. I counted out four hundred dollars and handed them to Violet, who had pulled away from her mother. She folded up the money and tucked it into the front pocket of her jeans. She then smiled and gave me a hug.
Neil looked down at Violet. “Well, are you ready?”
“As ready as I’m ever going to be.”
“Let’s do it.”
Violet looked back at her mom. “I love you.”
“And I love you. Be careful, baby!”
“I will.”
“We’ll give you two about an hour and a half,” said Ace. “If you’re not back by then, we’ll come after you. If anything goes wrong, don’t put up a fight. Just follow whatever orders the guards give you. You two might be turned around before you ever reach the gate. If that happens, just walk back here and we’ll come up with a new plan.”
“That’s right,” said Cathy. “If there’s any sign of trouble, just hustle your buns back here. Neil, remember what I said. Don’t come back without her.”
Neil nodded his head and a second later, both he and Violet were gone. Cathy wrapped her arms around me and buried her head in my shoulder. “Don’t worry,” I whispered. “They’ll be all right. I know they will,” I looked at Ace for reinforcement, but he quickly turned away.
Jack and Ace walked deeper into the house and Lisa followed. I wanted to know the rest of the story about Violet’s father. I wasn’t sure if this was the best time to ask, but I had come to the conclusion that there would never be a good time to ask about him. “That was brave of you to allow Violet to leave with Neil,” I said. “I’m sure they’ll be fine.”
“I pray you’re right,” Cathy said. “I’d never forgive myself if something happened to her.”
&nb
sp; “You were telling me about Jim, Violet’s father. What happened to him? Where is he now?”
Cathy jerked away from me and stood facing the cupboards. “I don’t like talking about it. I should have been able to help him.”
“Is he dead?”
“He is to me.”
“Where is he now? Does he want to be a part of Violet’s life?”
Cathy turned around and shot me a look of disgust. I wasn’t sure if it was meant for me or Jim. “Fine, I might as well tell you,” she said. You’ll just keep badgering me until I do tell you. Do you want to know what happened?”
I hadn’t been badgering her and I was in no mood for melodramatics. I wanted to tell her that I didn’t give a shit about her, or about what had happened, which was close to the truth. I nodded to her out of respect for Violet. I wanted to know why she acted the way she did.
“Jim’s drinking was out of control. I tried to get him to stop, but he wouldn’t listen. I was working two jobs and I hated leaving him home with Violet, but what could I do? One day about a month ago I came home and he was gone. He took his rucksack and all of his weapons. He told Violet that he loved her and he gave her a three-page letter to give to me.”
“What did it say?”
Cathy chuckled and shook her head. “He was a very disturbed man. He wrote that he was going to try to get help, but if he couldn’t get it, he would make those pay who had stolen his life away from him. He named names and made it very clear that he would hunt them down. Let’s just say that he went into great detail what would happen to these people when he found them.”
“Oh shit, I don’t suppose the letter came in a sealed envelope, did it?”
“No, as a matter of fact, it didn’t. Violet read every word of it.”
“And you never notified the authorities, did you?”
“Why, so they could have hunted him down like a dog? No, I couldn’t do that. He was a damn good man. Besides, Violet begged me not to tell anyone. She’s young, but she’s no fool. She knew that if we breathed a word of that letter to anyone, we’d never see him again. I couldn’t do that to her.”
Stealing Second (The Amendments Book One 1) Page 17