Breaking Out: Part II

by Michelle Diener

  “Sorry. That's not something I should ever say to another Doc Greenway victim, no matter what. Even as a joke.” She opened them again, and pierced him with that cool green gaze. “I need help lifting g-string, here.”

  He walked around, bent and lifted the guard's shoulders off the ground so she could strip his black shirt off him. Giles reached out to take it from her, and their fingers touched.

  He didn't flinch, but then years of combat training had to have been good for something.

  She didn't quite manage to keep her cool. He caught the shiver that ran through her, and forced himself to turn away from her as he pulled the shirt on so she wouldn't see the crazy hunger for her that had reared up inside him.

  He thought it was insane. She had to be ready to run screaming in the opposite direction.

  Simons was staring at him, bringing Giles up short. He'd almost forgotten about him in the back and forth he'd had going with Nina.

  She could even drown out the other voices, it seemed.

  Wonderful. Mind-blowingly wonderful. But right now, maybe not what they needed.

  He focused, found Simons' thoughts were less erratic, calmer. They were still very basic, though. He was afraid of the dark. Afraid of Barker. He liked Nina.

  Giles couldn't fault him there.

  He turned back to her and she held up a dart gun.

  “This seems like all he has.” She still wouldn't look him in the eye.

  Giles shrugged, indicating she should keep it. He'd have liked a real gun in addition to the dart gun he'd taken off Hart, but he had his knife, and the dart guns were effective enough. They were only meant for close-range, impossible-to-miss work, and Giles never missed. At least they contained enough knock-out drugs to down an elephant.

  He'd been the elephant at Doc Greenway's more than once.

  “Ready?”

  She nodded, looked across at Simons. “Come on, Dudley. Let's go.”

  Simons took a step toward her, which Giles saw as a good sign. He opened the door and looked out, but he already knew there was no one, unless they could block as well as Nina.

  He led the way to the main corridor, and thought they might just be in luck. The direction they needed to go was away from the main office, and Giles motioned Nina and Simons to go in front of him, so he could watch their backs.

  He had to believe the cameras were still out, that Kelli had fried them so there was no fixing them short of replacement.

  Nate must have figured out something was wrong by now. The guards outside would be on higher alert, and would have increased their rounds.

  Which meant Plan B. Nate blowing something up.

  Their best bet was to exit the building after Nate's distraction, and unless it had already happened, while he was holed up with Nina and Dudley, then he had no idea when Nate would make his move.

  And they could hardly wait around in the corridor until he did.

  Nina looked over her shoulder at him, frowning. “What's wrong?”

  “My friends are hopefully about to create a diversion.”

  She gave a faint, almost disbelieving shake of her head, and then upped the pace, towing Simons along behind her.

  They were nearly at the exit.

  Giles just didn't know what to do when they got there.

  Chapter Six

  Something had gone very wrong.

  Nate crouched down behind Giles's car as three black-clad guards came round the side of the building, flashlights and guns raised.

  They were searching for someone, and if that someone was Nina Calvados, then Giles had rescued her with more fanfare than they'd planned. And he wouldn't have done that unless he'd had no choice.

  Shi. It.

  If the element of surprise was gone, Giles couldn't take Nina out the main gate, hidden in his car. They'd all have to take the fence.

  Somehow.

  It was time for Plan B.

  Nate looked over at the door. Kelli had slipped inside to fry the cameras five minutes ago, all she claimed it would take her. Which meant her time was up. She'd be stepping out any second, and that was something he couldn't let happen right now, with three trigger-happy guards roaming around.

  There was also the small matter of the main element of Plan B. If things weren't calm enough for Giles to simply drive out, then they'd decided to make things even more chaotic than they already were with an explosion.

  Which he was supposed to set.

  He wanted to do it after he knew Kelli was out the building and safe, but that wasn't viable, because if she stepped out now, she'd be anything but safe.

  One of the guards stumbled over something in the dark and cursed. He was close. And getting closer.

  Nate needed to draw them away.

  He slipped around Giles's car and ran, low and fast, for the corner of the building.

  He'd expected them to hear his footsteps, and sure enough, when he crouched down and looked back, they had all gone still, guns and flashlights turning this way and that as they tried to source the sound.

  He ran again, toward the warehouse. It was open——double doors wide——and a harsh white light shone deep inside, set above the door that must connect the warehouse to the main building. It illuminated boxes and crates, but it also threw some deep shadows.

  As Nate ran, he picked up a good size stone and threw it backward, so it made a nice clatter against the tarmac.

  The sound of running feet was his reward. All coming his way.

  He smiled and made it inside the warehouse just as the first bouncing beam of light cut through the darkness.

  “I think I saw something.” The guard's voice was soft as he called out, and the footsteps became more cautious as they approached.

  Nate crouched beside a small forklift near the entrance, watched as the first man walked through the doors, gun and flashlight held together as he made slow sweeps.

  “Anything?”

  The point man turned to look over his shoulder, gave a shake of his head.

  “We're going to have to call this in. Soon.” The biggest of the men, not just tall but slabbed with muscles, followed the point man in.

  “Not a call I want to make.” The last man, thinner than Muscles but with the wiry build of a mountain climber, stepped in after his friends.

  “Better if we have her back. Hart's out of it, so's Barker. Barker might not even make it, apparently, and she has Simons with her. Given she's never said a word to him and he's absolute dead weight, he's got to be along as ammunition for her.”

  “So he'll slow her down, make it harder for her to hide, but if he's with her, she can take us out.” It was Point Man again.

  Nate tried to make sense of what they were saying. Were they talking about Nina? If so, something had happened tonight that had nothing to do with their breakout attempt.

  Slowly and carefully, he slipped his backpack off his shoulder, inched down the zipper.

  “Management gave her the perfect weapon months ago, all but dangled it in front of her, but she never took it. Barker sure as hell stirred her up tonight, but the bastard managed to totally fuck it up.”

  It was Muscles speaking, and Nate could hear the contempt and fear for the man he was talking about in his voice. The pack was half-open now, and he carefully put his hand inside, brought out the small explosive device he'd made.

  “However much it's on him that she got loose, do you think head office is going to care? I'd rather have her tucked up in her room when I make that call than tell them she's in the wind. Damned if she isn't still right here. No one's breached the fence and the gate is secure. Nothing leaves this place tonight without being under a microscope first.” Mountain Climber had lowered his gun as he spoke, his stance more relaxed than the other two.

  “They'll want to know why we took so long to let them know.” Point Man still had his gun raised, and he stepped deeper into the warehouse, flashlight moving back and forth in a steady arc.

  Nate carefully slid th
e explosive under the forklift, far enough that it was invisible but close enough he could still reach it easily to set the timer.

  “We can tell them time was of the essence, we had to pin her down before we could do anything else.” Mountain Climber shrugged. “They don't need to know the exact timeline.”

  “And what about the cameras going out?” Muscles asked. “That's no coincidence.”

  “Must be Calvados. She's got one freaky power, why not two?” Point Man looked over his shoulder. “You two helping me look, or what?”

  “What exactly did you see, again?” Muscles moved to the side, lifted his flashlight and gun, and pointed it in Nate's general direction.

  Nate kept still. Nothing gave the game away more quickly than a sudden movement. He waited it out, let the beam of light sweep off to the left. But something in the way the light had lingered told him he'd been seen.

  He reached under the forklift, tapped the timer.

  Now to make sure he wasn't here in ten minutes.

  “You heard the running, same as me.” Point Man turned round fully this time, from the sound of it. “I thought I saw someone duck in here.”

  “Someone who looked like Nina Calvados?”

  “No.” Point Man was quiet for a moment. “It wasn't a woman. Too big.”

  “Simons wouldn't be able to outrun us,” Mountain Climber scoffed.

  “Who knows what she's done to him?”

  Muscles shuffled his feet nearby. “So you're saying we're looking for Simons as well? And not zombie Simons, but a Simons who can actually run?”

  “I'm just saying, who else would be out here? Unless head office didn't just send Barker in tonight.”

  There was silence for a moment.

  “Holy shit. Would they do that?” Point Man started walking back to the other two, his voice getting louder.

  Mountain Climber gave a snort. “What do you think?”

  “Well then, I guess I better not shoot him.” Muscles' voice was close. Too close.

  Nate looked up, saw the barrel of the gun pointed right at him.

  Oh well. He'd guessed Muscles had seen him the first time.

  “You got me.” He held his gun out to the side, raised his arms and straightened up, leaving his pack on the ground.

  Mountain Climber snatched his weapon, eyes hard. “Yeah. We do.”

  * * *

  “So.” Mountain Climber was definitely the leader. Nate kept his gaze on him, ignoring Muscles and Point Man as they jerked his arms behind him and fastened handcuffs around his wrists. “Who the hell are you?”

  “You don't need to know.” Nate kept his face blank.

  “Sure we do.” Point Man twisted his arms up, forcing Nate to bend so they didn't snap. Pain shot through his shoulders, but as soon as Point let go, his body started to heal, and by the time he'd straightened up, he was good as new.

  Mountain Climber's radio beeped, and he stared at Nate as someone spoke, the sound crackly and unintelligible. “No. Just drills and maneuvers,” he said into the mike. “We've got a few of our people pretending to break in. Sorry, we should have let you know.”

  The radio squawked again, and Mountain Climber cut it off. “The guys at the gate are too interested in what's going on here. Let's take it inside.”

  Muscles looked toward the gate, gave a salute. “Good thinking. I like the way you covered us for Nina, too. They won't be surprised if we take her down.”

  “If?” Nate put as much derision into his voice as he could. “You haven't got her yet?”

  “What would you know about it?” Point asked, shoving a hand between Nate's shoulders to get him moving toward the door connecting the warehouse to the building.

  “Enough.” Nate smirked. Let them think he was from head office. It could only be to his advantage. And maybe save him from a little pain.

  Muscles opened the door, and they shoved him into a corridor, through a security door and into a small conference room.

  He kept his body loose and relaxed, a small smile on his face. All the better to irritate them.

  “Don't know why you're smiling,” Point Man said. “Even if you're from head office, you got caught, asshole.”

  “True.” Nate kicked out a chair from the table, turned and sat as he watched them secure the door. It was uncomfortable with his hands tied behind his back, but he didn't let that show.

  He was behaving like he was the one at home, they were the visitors, and they shifted nervously, knowing something was wrong, but not able to put their finger on the problem.

  “Of course, that presupposes I didn't want to get caught.” He slid down a little, got comfortable.

  Muscles lunged, punching him hard in the gut and toppling the chair backward. Nate managed to get a good kick in under Muscle's chin with the tip of his boot as he went over.

  Muscles stumbled back, and before the other two could react, Nate flipped to a crouch.

  “Well, that was a mistake,” Mountain Climber said.

  Nate grinned. “I agree.” He rose up, cocked his head to the side. “So, let me get this straight. You've lost Calvados. And instead of searching for her, you're beating on me?”

  “I don't know who the hell you are. And if you are from head office, they didn't say anything about it, which gives us carte blanche, far as I'm concerned.”

  Nate shrugged. “Sure, they won't get too fussy about what you do. Unless it negatively affects the outcome. Goes both ways, though.”

  “You think you can take us? With your hands behind your back?” Point Man laughed.

  Nate hooked his foot under the back of the chair, flicked it and it flipped upright.

  Everyone jerked at the sudden movement and the sound of the feet of the chair scraping on the floor.

  They'd all flinched.

  Nate smiled.

  Muscles sent him a narrow-eyed look, rubbing under his chin. He glanced at Mountain Climber, seeking direction.

  “Sit down.” Mountain Climber jerked his head to the now upright chair.

  Nate shook his head. “I don't think I will, after that carte blanche crack.”

  A cellphone chirped out a merry little tune, and Mountain Climber kept his gaze fixed on Nate as he pulled it from his pocket. He looked at the screen and Nate saw him visibly straighten.

  “Yes, sir?” He shifted, uncomfortable, and looked away. “We were going to inform you about Mr. Barker, but he let Miss Calvados get away, and we thought it more important to contain her first before we——”

  He stood, head bowed, while he listened to whoever had interrupted him.

  “Well, we already have one of Mr. Barker's colleagues here,” he said at last, looking up at Nate again. “No need to send any more. We have the situation under control.”

  Nate kept his face blank, but his cover, flimsy as it had been, was finally blown.

  “Barker came alone? No, don't worry, I'm sure it was just a communication error. I'm sorry sir, something urgent has come up. I have to go.” Mountain Climber jabbed his finger at the screen, his eyes fixed on Nate's.

  “Well, well, well. Seems head office doesn't know anything about you.”

  Nate shrugged. Kept quiet.

  “If he won't sit down, make him.” Mountain Climber flicked Muscles and Point Man a look.

  As they grabbed for him, as he tried to fight them off, he got ready for some pain. Things might start to get ugly.

  Also, while he was in here, he wasn't helping Giles and Nina outside. Wasn't watching Kelli's back.

  “My pack. I left it in the warehouse. It's got the proof you need that I'm legit.” He spoke through gritted teeth.

  “Go see if there is a pack.” Mountain Climber told Point Man.

  Muscles watched him go, then hit Nate in the face.

  Nate guessed he'd decided to get some punches in before Point came back, just in case he found evidence Nate was from head office and he wasn't allowed to do it anymore.

  Muscles had worked his way down to
Nate's abdomen by the time Mountain Climber's radio chirped, and his eyes flicked up to meet Nate's as Point Man reported back.

  “Bring it back with you.” Mountain Climber said.

  The radio chirped again, and then a rumbling, booming sound rocked the room, rattling the door and making the chair Nate was sitting on vibrate.

  Guess it had been ten minutes.

  Chapter Seven

  Kel snuck around the side of the building and dropped to a crouch in the shadows against the wall. Nate hadn't been watching the door when she'd come out from frying the cameras, which meant there was trouble.

  He'd told her to keep to the plan, but that wasn't possible if he wasn't keeping to the plan.

  She felt a sick, throat-squeezing worry for him.

  She went left, toward the warehouse, instinct guiding her. It was the only thing she had to go on.

  Further off to her left was the main entrance gate, and they seemed a lot more active than they had been earlier. More men milling around, more lights on.

  They were riled up, which just reinforced the feeling she had that something had gone down tonight. When she'd had to hide from three different guards as she came back from frying the camera circuits she figured either Giles had been blown or the whole thing had gone south.

  Those guards had been looking for someone, and if it wasn't Giles, then she'd stumbled into the middle of some other op.

  Either that, or Greenway had guessed what they were going to do and he'd guessed the first prisoner they were going to break out.

  And that was impossible. They'd chosen Nina Calvados at random, for that very reason.

  No. This was just a case of bad luck. And their plan to stuff Nina into the car Giles had been coming in to work with every day and just drive out was shot to hell.

  They'd all have to get out the way Nate and Kelli had gotten in. Over the fence.

  Kelli didn't know if she could get three people over, as well as herself, but as long as the guys could carry her afterward, she'd happily burn herself out trying.

  She slid along the outer wall of the warehouse, ears straining to hear any sounds within, but it was quiet.