Escape The Grid: Volume 1

by Patrick F. Kelly

  “That’s nice, baby.”

  Susan found herself distracted from her daughter’s story. Maxime, Margaret and the Jasper massacre kept creeping into her thoughts.

  “Yeah, the plants grow differently because of the atmosphere and the distance from the sun. They are cool to look at.”

  “I’m glad you found fun things to do while I was gone. I’m sorry I came back so late.”

  “It’s okay, Mommy.”

  AFTER DINNER, SUSAN put Sofia to bed and walked into her bedroom. She had slept on the plane for several hours and wasn’t yet ready for bed. She had other ideas.

  Susan locked the door to the room. She couldn’t risk Sofia coming in and learning her secret. Her special body suit was in the suitcase. She pulled it out and took off her other clothes.

  I need this. I deserve this.

  She put on the suit and gloves. She then snapped on her goggles. The jungle platform surrounded her. She walked right to her boyfriend’s tent.

  “Baby,” she said, tapping one of the tents at the campsite. “I need you.”

  He crawled out to greet her.

  “Hello, dear,” he said.

  “Hello yourself,” she replied and ran to him, embracing him firmly.

  “I really fucked up this time,” she said.

  “What are you talking about?” he asked.

  “I killed a woman. I pointed my gun at her and killed her in cold blood.”

  “That doesn’t sound like you,” he said, touching her hair.

  “I’ve never done anything like that before,” she replied.

  “I’m sure you had a good reason,” he replied, stroking her back and gently rubbing the back of her head.

  “I didn’t have a good reason,” she said. “I killed her to save myself.”

  He kissed her. “That sounds like a good reason to me.”

  “But it wasn’t a good reason. I’m responsible for almost a hundred people being killed. Then I killed the woman to cover up the other murders. I keep digging myself into a bigger and bigger hole.”

  “You’ve killed before, my love,” he said. “What’s the difference this time?”

  She thought of his question. What was the difference this time?

  “So many things,” she said. “I was there in person. I saw them die in front of my eyes. It wasn’t like a video game. It was real. I knew they were all innocent. I mean, maybe they were innocent. I made myself believe that they were criminals, but they were just regular people trying to live out their lives.”

  He kissed her on the lips, but she pulled away.

  “Look at me,” he said, and locked onto her eyes. “I love you. I forgive you. You can’t do anything wrong in my eyes. Let me kiss you and make it better.”

  She hesitated but then submitted. The two of them began to kiss, and Susan put her arms around his head and back.

  “I need you tonight,” she said.

  “I know,” he replied. “I’m always here for you. Just let me take care of you.”

  He began to undress her on the sand. She heard the waterfall and the sound of birds in the background. She felt his kisses on her flesh and let herself be engulfed by the joy of his touch. They made sweet love in the sand.

  He’s the perfect man.

  82

  MARGARET THOUGHT about the mission. Sitting in her living room, the conversation with Joey replayed in her mind. The little weasel had saved them, and she had a debt to pay. She despised owing anything to anyone.

  Maybe the weasel can help me in the future?

  More than just providing nice men on weekends. Maybe he can help her take out these South American rebels? Maybe he can help her with the underground criminal network?

  The general population still largely supported these illegal men. With a new law, where some men could earn their citizenship, maybe it would tip the scales? Shift opinions from enough citizens and create an opening to take out the UR scum? Just the opening that Margaret needed.

  There were too many of these rebels right now. Way too many illegal men. The threat of an uprising was always on Margaret’s mind. They had to be crushed, and she had control of the most powerful army in the history of the world.

  No uprising can stop me, as long as I have the votes.

  In the past, the poor masses could fight a strong government. Three hundred years ago, the weapons available to the French mob and their revolution were competitive with the King’s. The American revolutionaries had similar guns as the British Lords. But that wasn’t the case today, and it hadn’t been for nearly a hundred years.

  Margaret had access to weaponry that would destroy thousands or millions of people. She could push a button or make a phone call and take out nearly anyone she wanted. The only thing holding her back was the democratic process, the votes of the Congress which represented the votes of the citizens. She needed the citizens fully on her side, but they weren’t yet.

  Not yet, but they will be.

  She made the call to Joey and watched her screen count the seconds.

  “Hello,” Joey answered.

  “Do you know who this is?” she asked.

  “I do,” he replied.

  “Your information was exactly what we needed. You did your part. I’ll do mine. Expect to hear something within thirty days.”

  “Thank you. One thing before you go,” he pleaded.

  Who does this man think he is?

  “Yes?” she asked.

  “I know you liked Maxime, but he’s no longer with us. I can find a replacement.”

  Shocked, she wasn’t sure what to say.

  “What do you mean? Did he escape?”

  There was a pause.

  “Let’s just say that he told me some things. Things that concerned me. He knew who you were. I started thinking he might get you or me into trouble. So I took care of it.”

  Margaret let the words sink in. There was silence for nearly ten seconds.

  “Hello?” Joey said.

  “Thank you,” she replied.

  “Oh, thought I lost the connection. Of course. I always take care of my clients. Please let Linda know about a replacement. You know, whatever criteria you have,” Joey replied.

  “I will do that,” she said. “It’s too bad about Maxime. I liked him.”

  “Me too,” Joey replied. “The kid was too smart for his own good, though.”

  “Anything else I need to know?” she asked.

  “That’s all. Thank you,” he said.

  She disconnected the call. There was a part of her that felt sadness. Her lover was gone. But the pragmatist in her knew that love and politics don’t mix. If he threatened her, there was clearly no love.

  How could there be? He was less than half my age and was paid to be with me.

  There could be no love. Margaret accepted it. She could have the simulated love of a computer avatar or the fake love of a real escort. Anything else was an unrealistic expectation of hopeless romantics.

  Maxime had been good for her, but she was becoming bored with him. Maybe this was a good thing. Maybe it was time for a new man. She would think about what she might like and call Linda tomorrow.

  Intellect may be too much to ask for, though.

  This time, she would make it easier on Joey. Focus on looks and one or two topics of conversation. The problem with Maxime was that she had asked for too much. She had wanted too much sophistication and too much intelligence. It was a tall order. This time, she would pick a couple things for him to learn about. Things that would make for good dinner conversation.

  I’m ready for a new man.

  A reward for the recent accomplishment.

  The first underground mission had been a success. The news media played their part to perfection. Illegals and foreigners received most of the blame. Stephanie and the Nashville police department got the rest. With any luck, copycats would start taking out other underground sites. The environment was perfectly ripe for new legislation.

  Ma
rgaret would be the woman that stomped out the last remnants of the criminal underground. If everything went to plan, she would be the Vice President of the most powerful and prosperous America ever. A peaceful America, without violence or crime, where all of society’s cancers were eradicated.

  I will lead America into a golden era.

  83

  THOMAS LOOKED at Julia, who was sleeping in his arms. The back of the van was like a tiny apartment, with a mini-kitchen, mini-bathroom, and a small bed where he and Julia were lying. Tinted windows in the back prevented prying eyes or cameras. Leslie turned to Thomas.

  “We just crossed into Florida,” Leslie told him. “No signs of anyone on our trail. I spoke to Sam and she’s perty sure that federale agent was the only one. No satellite teams. Nobody searchin’ for this van.”

  “How is that possible?” Thomas asked. “Didn’t you say that the woman in charge is the Defense minister or something?”

  “Secretary of Defense, yeah. Very high up. But Sam don’t think it’s a US mission. More like somethin’ personal.”

  Julia began stirring and opened her eyes.

  Thomas was concerned, “What do you mean, personal?”

  Leslie answered, “Sam ain’t sure. She asked that agent point blank a buncha questions, but it was like squeezin’ blood from a turnip. Like the agent herself don’t know nothin’. Alls we know is: Margaret Lane called the shots but she didn’t have the full US army behind her. They just a small team, keepin’ everthang quiet.”

  Julia looked at Leslie with wide eyes.

  “Good evenin’, Sunshine,” Leslie said. “We just crossed into Florida. Want some orange juice?”

  “No thanks,” Julia replied. “Can it be true that Margaret Lane is involved?”

  “All signs point to yes,” Leslie responded.

  “Then we are in a world of trouble.”

  Leslie looked at her. “I would think so, but nobody’s chasing us. Sam is convinced they don’t know where we are.”

  “She’s the most powerful woman in the world, and the most vindictive. Who knows what else they know about us. Maybe they know about the CNT tunnel? Maybe they are watching us lead them to the tunnel?”

  “But Julia,” Thomas replied. “The truth serum. The agent told us that there wasn’t satellite surveillance. They tried to kill us in Jasper and then in Georgia. They wouldn’t do that if they really wanted to follow us.”

  Julia replied, “But the drone didn’t shoot us in Jasper. It could have, but it let us go.”

  “We should have asked the agent about that,” Thomas said.

  Leslie interjected, “Thomas is right. Even if they let you go in Tennessee to foller you, why would they try to capture you in Georgia?”

  Julia responded, “But Joey called us about the car. We would have gone all the way, except he found out that they knew about the car and he detonated it. They had to come get us in Georgia. We didn’t have a vehicle. Plus, they knew Thomas’ exact location at the peach farm. How could they know that without satellite tracking? That agent must have been trained to lie even when under the truth serum.”

  Thomas said, “All I can tell you is that when I had the injection, I could not tell a lie. Not even when my life depended on it.”

  Julia said, “But she could have been trained. Like the way people can build up a tolerance to drugs or poison. She could have been tricking us.”

  Leslie thought for a few seconds and then replied, “Then why give us a name like Margaret Lane? I don’t know, Julia. I trust Sam’s judgment. But I agree that it seems real unlikely.”

  Julia looked at Leslie, “Are you planning to go straight to Key West? I have family in Miami where we could stay, but I’m afraid to pull them into all of this now.”

  Leslie replied, “I thought it best to go straight to Key West. Get as far away as possible. Nobody’s gonna look for us in the Keys.”

  Thomas asked, “We still need to wait three months for the tunnel to be ready, right?”

  Leslie answered, “I talked to Tito about the tunnel. He’s tryin’ to get something in place in a week.”

  Julia said, “How is that possible?”

  Leslie replied, “I don’t know. The man has worked wonders so far, though. I don’t put nothin’ past him.”

  Thomas asked Leslie, “How long are you able to stay in Key West?”

  “I can stay for a week, maybe a little more. Not three months, though. No way.”

  Thomas and Julia nodded.

  Julia asked, “How long until we get there?”

  “We’ll have to stop several times to charge the batteries. This van uses a lot of electricity. If we took the main roads, we could make it in ten hours. But on these old roads, it’ll be two full days, forty hours or more. Good thing I got a toilet in here,” she smiled at them.

  “You’ve been so good to us,” Julia said.

  “You can repay the favor in the future. If this tunnel works, I’ll send a hundred people through it myself. I know another thousand that’ll probably go. Not sure if Cuba can handle all the refugees.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” Julia replied.

  “Are there really that many people trying to escape?” Thomas asked.

  “That ain’t nothin’, son,” Leslie said. “Half the population used to be men. Not anymore, but it used to be. I figure there’s at least a hundred-million people that wants things to change.”

  “That’s… that’s so many people. Why can’t they change it?”

  “Ain’t got no vote,” Leslie said bluntly.

  “They also have no power,” Julia said. “They can’t communicate without being monitored. They have no real weapons compared to the federal government.”

  “Plus, most of ‘em ain’t got no ambition. They play online all day,” Leslie said.

  “I guess there aren’t many people as foolish as me,” Thomas said.

  Julia looked at him, hurt. “It was a crazy risk we took,” she said.

  “I would make the same decision again,” he said. “In a heartbeat. I got to be with you, babe. You’re my soulmate.”

  Thomas hugged her.

  “I wouldn’t have gone to Jasper,” he continued. “I wish I could take that back. All those good people.”

  “Jasper,” Julia agreed somberly. “It’s so terrible.”

  “Best not to dwell on it. What’s done is done,” Leslie told them. “We all gotta use their sacrifice for a greater good. Work together and stop people like Margaret Lane.”

  “I don’t think Cuba could handle a hundred million refugees,” Julia said.

  “Like you said, we’ll figure somethin’ out,” Leslie replied. “Even if they don’t have the best weapons, an army of a hundred million people would be mighty powerful. They just need the right leadership.”

  84

  TITO SAT IN his office and waited for Jean Daniel to pick up the call. There were Christmas decorations all over the office, halls and the entire cigar factory. It was Christmas Eve, and the wait was nearly over.

  “Bonjour,” Jean Daniel said as he answered.

  The Haitian billionaire had become close friends with Tito over the last month, as they worked frantically to get the tunnel ready.

  “Any news?” Tito asked, in Spanish.

  “The barge just released the tunnel minutes ago. The fishing boat is on the way out there, and the team is in place underwater. Everything should be ready for tonight,” JD replied in broken Spanish.

  “No problems with the structure?”

  “None reported. We have sensors along every half-mile to detect a break, but they are all green lights. Over fifty miles of tunnel. Would be the eighth Wonder of the World if anybody knew about it.”

  “I’m glad we waited,” Tito said.

  “Yeah, we needed those extra weeks. Better safe than sorry. How are the travelers?”

  “Ready to come home,” Tito replied.

  “They’ll be home for Christmas,” Jean Daniel said in English. �
��You can count on me.”

  “I’ve always loved that song,” Tito smiled.

  SUSAN FINISHED listening to the recorded cell phone calls from the NSA archive. It was the third time she had pored over the calls from the night before Thanksgiving.

  It had taken several weeks, working alone, but Susan had pieced together many of the people involved. She had to work alone since everyone on the covert team believed that Julia and Thomas had been eliminated.

  Cell phone calls were easy to track for a senior NSA agent, especially given Susan’s access. She had found all cell phone traffic from Jasper to north Georgia during the hours of the chase and had been able to identify several key people. Unfortunately, there were no phone recordings of Julia or Thomas. They had likely used non-network VOIP, making digitally encrypted calls. Susan had identified with 99% certainty Julia’s phone number, but only digital traffic had been sent over the phone. The NSA could pull out the bits and bytes sent and received, but Susan had been unable to decrypt them to find the hidden audio conversations. In every case, the digital conversations had been with servers in Eastern Europe, and Susan had been unable to track down the final endpoint.

  Whoever made those calls knew what they were doing.

  The sisters in north Georgia were a different story. Susan had unraveled their mystery very quickly: Leslie, Sam, and Sam’s two helpers, Dawn and Shirley.

  Sam had used her personal cell phone and made normal network calls, which Susan had full access to decrypt. Sam was local law enforcement and was most likely the one in Camouflage wearing the John Deere hat.

  Susan had pulled up all of their profiles for her research. Dawn and Shirley worked with Sam at the small police station. Leslie was the town hermit, and she was likely housing Thomas and Julia. Neither sister seemed particularly bright, but they had bested Susan in a dangerous game.

  They won Round One, but this isn’t over.

  After Santa Day, Susan planned to fly back to Georgia and take care of business. She’d retrieve her briefcase and eliminate all of the loose ends. It would be an ugly business, but it had to be done. Like the thing with Jasper and Stephanie, which was still headlining the national news. Susan had accepted her fate. In this life, she had a role to play, and she would do it without regret.