by Martha Carr
“Surprise? What is it?” asked Peter. “Can you tell me a little?” he said, poking his brother. Jake gently pushed him toward his room.
Mark found Ruthie sitting in front of the TV still wearing her Hello Kitty pajamas and sent her upstairs to help the boys. He sat down on the edge of a chair at his kitchen table and tried to calm down enough to think about how he was going to do this.
At precisely ten o’clock he made sure to spoof his MAC address and went to iTunes to purchase the songs. It wasn’t long before he had the metadata with the longer instructions that were coming from an unknown cell above him.
Robert had made contact and needed to be met. The safe house had been compromised and it was going to take personal contact. He was to drive to a parking lot at the Short Pump Town Center in front of Macy’s and switch cars. The new car would have a license plate with the first three numbers from the current OTP and the keys would be in the driver’s side wheel well. The GPS would have directions to Robert’s location. Get Robert and his boys and drive them to an address in Northern Virginia, switch cars again and keep going. The second car would have details about their next destination. He was to leave immediately. He had been compromised.
He knew there was hardly any time and if he foolishly waited too long Management drones could come in his front door and it would all be too late.
There were things that had to be done first. He made himself sit down and call the realtor from a throw-away cell phone. Mark gave the false name he’d been using as the contact at Rosecroft and said he was returning the signed contract to the realtor with the full asking price in cash but he would need a signature from the owners within 24 hours or the entire deal was cancelled. He told them Rosecroft already had a renter interested in the property and needed to move quickly.
The realtor said the owners were anxious to sell and were already aware of the investment company’s offer. As long as there was no problem with signing the codicil that prohibited commercial use, dividing the land or harvesting the timber on the land there shouldn’t be a problem. He’d get back to Mark within the hour.
Mark hung up and transferred enough funds so that the full amount would be ready to go and he could finish the operation from his phone. The entire transaction had taken only fifteen minutes but he knew it was far too long. Circle’s message had been marked imperative and there was no time. He was expendable to everyone even if Robert was not and they wouldn’t go to any extraordinary measures to save him or his children. That had its advantages when it came time to disappear but not if Management got them all first.
He ran upstairs to his room and pulled the emergency suitcase out of the back of his closet. It was packed with the essentials and always ready to go. This way, anyone who came along later and looked in his closet would think he was still somewhere in town instead of making a run for it. He checked to make sure the cash was still in the bottom. There was more than enough to get them where they needed to be. He would have to cut up his credit cards and use the cash until he was safely in Montana and could access the new accounts.
“Dad? We’re ready to go. What do you want me to do next?” It was Jake trying to sound calm but Mark could see him tapping his fingers nervously against his thigh. “Get Pete and Ruthie in the car with their bags. I’ll be right behind you,” he said. “Thank you, son,” and hugged him tight around the neck, kissing his head.
He went through the kitchen and pulled the vinyl bag out of the back of the pantry that he kept filled with small snacks and juice drinks and carried it all out to the car. His neighbor, the Harkins were standing out on their front lawn.
“Too nice a day,” he yelled. “Decided to take the kids out instead of hanging around a bunch of guys in the woods eating smoky fish.” The neighbors smiled and Mrs. Harkin yelled back, “Sounds like a much better idea. We’ll do it again some other time.”
“We’ll be back late tonight. Maybe we can do something together tomorrow,” he said, giving the Harkins the story he’d want them to tell whoever was stopping by later. He had a momentary thought about what lengths Management might go to in order to get information, but he put it out of his mind. There was protocol to follow for just a little longer.
They pulled out of the driveway and drove through the smaller side streets till they got to the mall where he saw the car tucked in among a row of cars, facing out. The first three numbers on the license plate were nine, six, seven, which was the right code for car until the month was over and the OTP would change again. He parked nearby and turned around to his children.
“Alright, Jake, I need you to follow me and quickly switch everything over to the dark blue Dodge Grand Caravan. We’re taking a newer car on our trip with all kinds of gadgets. Peter, go see if there are any DVD’s under the backseat. If there aren’t we’ll stop somewhere and get some new ones, okay?”
“Can I get some too?” asked Ruthie, halfway out of what was rapidly becoming their old car.
“Absolutely, I’d never leave you out,” he said, grabbing bags out of the trunk. He took the old keys with him and left the car looking like they were hanging out at the mall. All of his old identifications and keys would be disposed of later.
The children climbed in the back as he felt underneath the left side of the wheel well and pulled out the small magnetic box.
“There are DVD’s,” yelled Peter, waving a couple of them around in the air.
“Get your seatbelt on, Peter,” said Jake, as he helped Ruthie get in her seat.
Mark got in and smelled the new leather. It always took him back to his childhood for just a moment. His father had insisted on turning in his car every three years and driving something new off of the lot. He started the car, plugging in the GPS. The destination was on Lady Street in Oregon Hill. He headed for the highway as he docked his iPhone in the pad that was already in the car and put in his blue tooth. Further instructions immediately downloaded and a woman’s voice told him to get the baseball hat, sunglasses and jacket out from under the front seat and put them on immediately. Proceed to the alley behind the address and knock sharply on the door four times. Once all of the Schaeffers were loaded into the minivan they were to get back on the highway and drive to the Virginia Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia where they’d find another car and instructions for where they were heading next.
Mark was hoping that destination would at least be in the general direction of out west where he was planning to stop for good.
Ruthie got to pick the first DVD and Jake started One Thousand and One Dalmatians for her as Peter groaned. “Your turn will come next,” said Jake. Mark felt a twinge of regret at making Jake let go of just being a kid but he knew there was no choice until they were safely in Montana. He was just hoping that when Jake realized the full extent of what was changing he’d forgive his father some day.
Mark put on the jacket and sunglasses while he drove. The GPS told him to take the exit that was marked ‘Hollywood Cemetery’ where most of Richmond’s famous was buried. He pulled the baseball cap down snugly and tried to steady his nerves. They were almost there.
He easily found the alley and pulled up to the back door.
“We’re taking a few people with us on our road trip,” he said, looking in his rear view mirror at his kids. “Everyone welcomes them and stays put while I go collect them. We understand each other?”
Ruthie was absorbed in her movie and ignored him. Peter nodded his head and looked out the window with a worried look. He didn’t take to strangers very quickly. Jake leaned over and whispered, “It’ll be okay, I’m here.”
Mark walked up to the back door and knocked four times, standing back just a little. He heard a small commotion and wondered what he’d find when the door opened. He should have told Jake to take the wheel and get out of there the best he could if there was suddenly trouble.
The door opened slightly and he saw Robert looking more exhausted than before with his two sons standing close behind him. “We have to mov
e,” he said quietly. “What can I carry?”
“Nothing,” said Robert as he moved past Mark toward the car. He opened the sliding door and said, “Trey, you get in the far back with me, come on.”
Management was now hunting both men and it would have been stupid to sit them both up in the front seat for every camera to scan as they passed through stoplights or toll booths. It was possible to fool them with a small disguise with one man but both would have been impossible.
Mark noticed how Robert’s boys followed orders so quickly. Trey threw the sleeping bags in back and quickly climbed behind Jake. He didn’t even make eye contact or say hello. He put on his seatbelt and curled up against the side and shut his eyes.
Will got in the front seat and leaned his head back against the headrest and shut his eyes. Mark slid in behind the wheel and said, “Look under your seat and see if there isn’t something for you to put on,” he said, tapping his baseball cap. Will opened his eyes and gave Mark a weary look.
“Look under your seat,” said Mark.
Will pulled out a sweatshirt from Georgetown University and another cap and put them on. He did all of it without saying a word, crossed his arms over his chest and shut his eyes. Mark wanted to pat him on the shoulder and tell him everything would be alright now but he wasn’t sure that was an accurate assessment of the situation just yet.
He got to the highway again and was finally able to take a deep breath.
“There is food in the bag just behind your seat. Help yourself to whatever you want,” said Mark.
Mark made a point of keeping his eyes on the road when he was speaking just in case there was someone watching the highway cameras that were attached to the top of the oversized green highway signs.
The drive was uneventful until they neared Springfield and the traffic started to slow down. Mark had done his best not to grip the steering wheel and to carry on whatever conversation he could with Will who never really carried his end.
“Are we getting close?” asked Robert.
“Yes, we’ll be at our first stop within the next hour but we won’t be staying long,” said Mark. Robert had not said much of anything to him yet. At one point he had gathered the sleeping Trey in the crook of his arm and stared out the window as they passed the endless pine trees along the highway. The only break to the monotony was the signs for outlets and the stretches of thick kudzu vines that engulfed the trees leaving only a leafy outline of what was underneath.
Mark kept looking in his rear view mirror to check on everyone but each of them was in their own little world. Only Ruthie occasionally asked Jake a question or laughed at something she saw on the drop down screen. They were already on Peter’s choice of Pirates of the Caribbean. Twice Mark heard Ruthie gasp and his heart raced for a moment as he quickly looked up to see her staring at the screen and grasping Jake’s arm. There was still a huge smile across her face even though she was gripping Jake tightly. She loved to be scared.
They came to the Seminary Road exit and the soothing female voice on the GPS told him to take a right. They wound down a busy six-lane street and past a large hospital complex on the right that quickly gave way to a much narrower road and McMansions packed tightly against each other on both sides. But after only another mile the landscape opened up and there was suddenly a wide campus with a small white post office on the edge of the road and older brick buildings spaced back and well apart.
“Turn left,” said the automated voice, as they neared the middle of the campus. There were two large cement pillars and a stately bronze sign that read, Virginia Theological Seminary and tucked just behind that was a smaller green and white sign that read, Slow, Children at Play.
The instructions were to take an immediate left and head to the parking lot just behind the tennis courts.
“We’re here,” he said, as he parked the car. He could smell ham and realized he was hungry.
“Where are we?” asked Ruthie, blinking at the bright sunlight. The dark, tinted windows made the interior of the car deeply shaded and the boys were all holding their hands up over their eyes as they got out of the car and stretched. Robert got out and stood on the side of the minivan away from the street even though they were hidden by a stand of fir trees.
“I smell something good,” said Trey. It was the first words Mark had heard him say all day.
“Let’s go check it out,” said Mark. There were no instructions about which building to head into first and he knew they all had to be just as hungry as he was. A door opened on the back of the long, low building and a large woman wearing a white uniform and a hair net leaned out, holding open the screen door.
“We’ve been waiting for you. Leave your things in the car, they’ll be okay there. Come on in, quickly now.”
Jake picked up Ruthie and waved to the other boys as they fell in line behind them. Robert followed as Mark locked the car. He passed by the woman as the smile dropped from her face and she said in a low voice, “Someone will switch all of your belongings into the next vehicle while you’re eating. You’ll be ready to go by the time you’re done.”
Mark knew he needed to rest a little before the next leg of the journey. He didn’t even know yet just how many miles there were left to travel but he knew they needed to get out of Virginia and put some distance between them and the Management cells operating on the east coast.
They were ushered through a large, industrial kitchen full of men and women in similar white uniforms who were busy cooking in large pans and didn’t even look up to see the tired group moving through the area.
Ruthie passed by a man who was stirring what smelled like vegetable soup and she took in a deep breath. “Smells good. Boy, I’m starving,” she said, looking up at the man as if she was hoping he’d spoon some out for her. He nodded and smiled at her but said nothing. She looked back at her father.
“It’s okay, dear,” said the woman who had let them in the door. “There’s plenty in the refectory. You’re only a few feet away from lots of good things to eat.”
It was true. There was a long, narrow room set up with a line of steaming trays of ham with circles of pineapple, turkey or pork roast followed by green beans and stewed tomatoes and macaroni with cheese. Mark counted twenty dishes in all.
The children ran to the stack of trays and dishes at one end and started quickly down the line, filling their plates.
“Show a little restraint,” said Mark. “You can go back for seconds.”
“We knew you were coming,” said the woman. “By the way, my name’s Elizabeth,” she said, shaking Mark’s hand. He noticed she was missing a couple of fingers but still had a strong handshake. “I hope your journey has been uneventful so far.”
“As uneventful as packing up and leaving everything just ahead of a pack of hounds can be,” said Robert.
“Are you okay?” asked Mark. Robert turned to him and said, “No, I haven’t been since they found my wife and I’ve been a little less so every day since that moment.” He turned to Elizabeth. “Is this going to be it for us? Are we going to keep moving for the rest of our days?” Robert looked like he was so tired he could barely stay on his feet.
“No, that’s not much of a life. There is a destination in mind. More will be revealed in just a little while. I’m sure you don’t like all of the bits and pieces of information but much as it might seem like it right now, this is not all about you. We have many people to protect as well so we’re going to have to keep following guidelines.”
Robert looked like he was about to say something but Elizabeth cut him off.
“You’re always free to leave with your boys and take your chances if you prefer,” she said. Robert clamped his mouth shut and walked away without another word. He went to the start of the line and picked at the food, barely filling a plate.
“Sorry,” mumbled Mark.
“No worries,” said Elizabeth. “None of this is easy but occasionally we need to be reminded we have chosen to take the help that wa
s offered. You’d better get something to eat while there’s time.”
He went and got behind Robert and once he had some food followed him into the large dining hall full of long tables. No one else was in the room besides their little group.
“Follow me, the children are all in Scott’s Lounge where there’s a little added privacy,” said Elizabeth. Mark followed Elizabeth into a small comfortable lounge where a round table and chairs had been set up with the children already seated. There were still two seats left.
“We knew how many to expect. The students and staff won’t be in until later. You can eat in privacy without worry,” said Elizabeth. “Help yourself to whatever you need.” She turned and left them alone to eat in silence.
Food was only making Mark feel more tired. He desperately needed a nap.
“I can drive,” said Robert.
Mark looked up and realized he had almost nodded off.
“No, that’s okay. I just need to lie down for a few minutes. I’ll be okay.”
“It’s not going to do us any good to get in an accident. I’m still capable of following directions and driving,” said Robert.
Mark didn’t answer him. He didn’t want to tell Robert that he didn’t completely trust him with the lives of his three children. Besides, Mark had an entirely different plan in mind and he wasn’t sharing the details with anyone.
He got up to go for more food and felt his phone vibrate. He kept walking toward the narrow room that was now empty of people and started dishing up more spoon bread as he pulled out his phone and glanced down.
The contracts had been returned with the necessary signatures. He felt some of the tension leave as he made the transfer of funds and sent a message back to the realtor that new renters would be arriving in two days. They still had a chance.