Dangerous in Transit

by Sidney Bristol

  “I can’t pretend to understand that.”

  “Dad’s priorities are always company first. If you understand that, everything else falls into place.”

  “I don’t get that. I’ve always been family first.” Felix shook his head, his frown so pronounced his cheekbones seemed sharp enough to cut.

  “What’s your family like? You said earlier they came to America?”

  “Yeah.” He didn’t warm up like she’d hoped to that question.

  She chewed while he took his time rinsing the shampoo out of her hair. It didn’t even hurt and his expression relaxed over a few minutes.

  “My aunt and uncle moved to Seattle when I was a toddler. Their youngest son had been born with Down Syndrome, and they had concerns about his quality of life. There was some experimental, new procedure looking for candidates on the younger side happening in Seattle. They got the letter accepting them into the program, and a week later we’d packed up their whole lives into a few containers and shipped everything off to Seattle. A few months later my parents decided we were moving, too. For a long time, it was all seven of us in a three bedroom house, living out of cardboard boxes. I don’t remember it very well, but there are pictures. God, the pictures.”

  Jackie swallowed, afraid to say anything for fear of breaking the spell of his voice, the way he smiled when he spoke. There was a sad chapter to this story, it was the frog in his throat making his voice sound funny that gave it away.

  “Björn was kind of like you. He was the kindest, most caring person you’d ever meet.”

  “Did the treatment help him?”

  “No. Though I do think he had a better quality of life in America than he’d been able to have if we hadn’t moved.”

  “Had...?”

  “Yeah. He had a congenital heart defect that, combined with his extra chromosomes, worked against us.”

  “I’m—”

  “Don’t.” Felix cleared his throat. “Don’t be sorry. Because of Björn his parents moved to Seattle. His Dad got a job that paid twice as much as he’d ever been paid. He’s going to retire in five or so years, fully vested in the company. My aunt was able to go to school and now she works with kids like Björn. Our lives were all changed—for the better—by him. We all knew his life would be short, but he was happy. He even had his own apartment and a girlfriend.”

  “He did not.” Jackie chuckled and sniffled all at once. It was the stupid lack of sleep making her all weepy.

  “He did. Her name was Katie, and he met her at this social group. She’d come into the pub and they’d share a plate of fries on his break. She still pops in now and then. Erik—Björn’s older brother and my cousin—will sit and eat with her. I always miss seeing her, but it sounds like she’s doing pretty good, too. She works at a bakery, and sometimes Erik and my aunt won’t eat these muffins she brings us and I’ll get one.”

  “Same aunt whose hair you washed?”

  “Yes, but not Björn’s mom. This is Aunt Liv.” Felix rolled his eyes and turned off the faucet.

  “Oh man, I can already tell she’d be my favorite.”

  “You two would drive me bonkers.” He wrung the water out of her hair without so much as tugging on her scalp. “It could be kind of fun to see you torture Erik though. Okay, sit up for me?”

  He offered her a hand, and she straightened. Her muscles protested in new ways, aches and pains making themselves known.

  “Yeah, you’re going to feel a lot worse in the morning after all you’ve been through.” Felix grimaced. “Want something? I know we have some painkillers.”

  “That would probably be a good idea. Nothing too serious.”

  “I can do that.” He glanced at her head. “Do you want to leave it like that, or—I know what you’re going to say—I can braid it for you so you don’t have to mess with it.”

  The idea of getting up in the morning and brushing her hair out for the first time in days sounded every bit as much of a chore as it would be.

  “Braid it is. Turn around. Do me a favor and don’t tell the others I did this?”

  “Why? Will they never let you live this down?”

  “Nope. Finish eating that.” He nodded at the protein bar. “This won’t take long. I think I worked the worst knots out already.”

  He pulled a comb out of his pocket and began combing through her hair, separating her bangs from the rest of it. She’d often thought it was silly to let it get so long. Keeping it clean, combed and put up was a chore, for sure, but it was her chore.

  “All done.”

  “What?” She opened her eyes, blinking at her reflection and the man standing behind her.

  “You were starting to nod off there, so I went quick versus fancy. I did a fish tail braid because I think it’ll hold longer and you won’t lose as many strands.”

  “What is a fish tail braid and how is that not fancy?” She was not imagining the blush. Felix ducked his head and chuckled, the color crawling up his neck. “That’s it. You’re just not human.”

  She lifted her hand, feeling the braid that started even with the gash and went down to the very ends of her hair. Hell, she couldn’t even do as good of a job as he did. She turned, the weariness of the last two weeks catching up with her.

  “Anything else I can do?” He leaned against the doorframe.

  Jackie could think of a few things, but she wasn’t up to them. If she had a little more energy and wasn’t banged up, he might have to fend her off at this rate. As is, the best thing for her was to crawl into bed.

  “I suppose you couldn’t roll me into bed, too?” The ten or so yards down to the bedroom seemed daunting.

  “I can.”

  “I’m kidding. I’m not that helpless.”

  “Helpless is never a word I’d use to describe you.” He offered her his hand.

  “I need to get rid of those clothes.”

  “A hazmat team should deal with those.”

  “I thought you said you couldn’t smell me earlier.”

  “That was earlier. I can smell those now. Come on. Let’s get you to bed.”

  She took his hand, both because she wanted to and she was quickly losing confidence in her motor skills. He pulled her to her feet and placed his other hand on her shoulder. The room spun, and she was almost certain the floor tilted. Her vision did that fade to black, then pop back to full color routine.

  “Easy. I’ve got you,” Felix said.

  “Stood too fast.” She blinked a few times as the tilt-a-whirl ride slowed to a stop.

  A wall of warmth pressed against her front. She stared at her closed fist, holding tight to the material of Felix’s shirt. He had his arms wrapped around her, hands at her hip and shoulders. She swallowed and forced herself to let go of his shirt.

  “I’m good,” she said.

  “Your body’s trying to tell you it needs rest.”

  “I know. I’m listening.” Though right now she had another voice screaming its needs at her awfully loud.

  “How about I walk you to your room, okay?”

  “That’s awfully nice of you.”

  “I figure it’s in my best interest to not have to scrape you up off the floor.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

  “I don’t doubt you’d make it most of the way.”

  “Not helping.”

  “Sure I can.” He backed up, taking her with him.

  In the hall, he pivoted, but kept the arm around her waist. It was a little awkward, but his nearness was comforting.

  They padded down the tile hall, his hand sliding up and down with each step they took in synch, bodies swaying.

  “This is me.” She gestured at the door.

  “Yeah, it’s either this or the window. I don’t suggest the window.”

  “You think you’re so funny.”

  “No, that’s usually Isaac.” Felix stared down at her. “Get some sleep. If there’s any development, I’ll come get you. We’re going to get everyone
out of here, even if we don’t do it directly. Kyle knows some people.”

  “Yeah, he said that. I’m pretty lucky Dad picked you guys.” She could get lost in eyes that blue. They were like a clear day, full of good tidings and promise.

  “I’m glad we took the job.”

  Because they were up to it? Or because of this?

  There was something magnetic about him. The way she swayed toward him, looked at him, even in those first moments when he’d hauled her out of that truck it was as though her whole world were knocked off its axis. Who was she to fight it?

  Jackie leaned against him, curled her hand over his shoulder and pressed her mouth to his. The instant their lips touched she felt it. Something unique. He slid his arm around her waist, capturing her against his body. He tilted his head and turned her until the wall was at her back.

  “Felix? Hey—Val-holla, where are you?” The foreign voice of one of his team echoed up the stairs coming closer.

  She rocked back on her heels and he glanced over his shoulder.

  Okay.

  That was proof enough for her.

  It wasn’t all in her head, it was all over her, too.

  “Good night,” she whispered and ducked into the bedroom, clinging to the doorknob to keep on her feet.

  She shut the door and leaned against it.

  Felix muttered something and then stomped down the hall, safely away from her.

  Jackie rested her head against the door and sucked down a breath. Her lips, her skin, hell—her whole body—tingled. If things were different, if they weren’t here, she knew where that was going. Felix was right about her, she was impulsive, and that wasn’t only about causes she believed in. She’d jumped into bed and love with more than a few men because it felt right at the time.

  Val couldn’t know. She’d only make things worse.

  Jackie edged toward the bed, finding it by feel.

  At some point Val had shifted and now lay on the far side, her back to Jackie. She stretched out next to her friend, physically exhausted but her head spinning.

  One kiss and she was jumping to conclusions.

  Sounded about right for her.

  6.

  Friday. Aegis Group safe house, Nouakchott, Mauritania.

  Felix laid his hand on Jackie’s shoulder and prayed it was the right woman. In the pitch darkness of the pre-dawn hours it was hard to tell which lump was which. Her warmth barely registered against his palm before the woman he touched karate chopped his wrist and sat up, her feet striking out in his direction.

  “Sh. Sh. Sh. It’s me.” He kept his voice at a whisper and backed up, arms spread wide.

  “Felix?” Jackie sat on the edge of the bed gripping the sides.

  “Yeah, sorry. You need to come downstairs. You okay?” The last glimpse he’d had of her before going on shift for watch was one that’d haunted him.

  “What’s going on?” Val propped herself up on an elbow, her words sleep-slurred.

  “You should be downstairs.”

  “I’m up.” Jackie stood, swaying a bit.

  “Val, she’s not entirely steady.” He reached out and grasped Jackie’s arm. “I need to get back to where I’m supposed to be.”

  “I’m fine. I’m up. Go.”

  “Shoo. We’ll be right behind you.” Val turned on a bedside lamp.

  Felix pivoted and strode out the door, closing it gently behind him.

  Kyle was still reviewing their intel, but they’d make a decision soon. It would be easier to come to a team-wide consensus if both Kyle and Jackie were doing the deciding at the same time. He had a feeling she’d be about as hard to convince to change her mind as Kyle could be at times.

  Felix hadn’t made it to the stairs by the time Jackie and Val stumbled out after him.

  “I think I’m still asleep,” Val mumbled.

  “What’s going on?” Jackie blinked, marginally more aware than her friend.

  “We’ve got a source that helped us find you. They sent us a report about that part of town, some updated images of the roads in and out.” He slowed down on the stairs, keeping pace with the ladies.

  “Can this source get our people out?” Jackie asked.

  “I wouldn’t trust them. We didn’t exactly share what it was we were looking for when we zeroed in on you guys. Given this guy’s connections to PPM intel, he’s probably high up, and pissed. Could be a trap.”

  “Damn.” Jackie sighed. She did seem steadier after a bit of rest. Too bad he’d had to wake her.

  “This way.” He gestured to the right of the stairs.

  Felix led the two through to the room where they’d set up their equipment. Bench-like sofas lined three sides of the wall. They’d used tables from around the house to create work stations and one, main intel desk.

  “Morning, ladies.” Kyle glanced from Jackie to Felix.

  No doubt he’d get an earful later from Kyle. He liked to have plans in place before they presented to an asset. But Jackie wasn’t just any asset. She wasn’t going to shut up or do what she was told without question.

  “Felix said you had something?” Jackie asked.

  “It’s all still preliminary. I’m trying to verify a lot of it still, but we are building a bigger picture of the situation.” Kyle’s mouth twisted up. It wasn’t a good picture.

  “While Kyle has been working on the timeline to determine who had you kidnapped and why to help us figure out how we’re getting out of here, I’ve begun studying the images of the roads around the restaurant where you were held for the last week.” Felix laid three tablets in a triangle, creating a disjointed picture of the building and the surrounding streets.

  “It didn’t look like this when they pulled us out of there.” Jackie leaned over the table. The tail of the braid fell forward over her shoulder.

  Kyle stared at the braid.

  Felix swallowed and focused on the map. “Those PPM busses have been moving into new areas of the city every night. The locals who haven’t evacuated or gone to the refugee camps are building bonfires and blockades to keep them out, and where they don’t, people are starting to fight back. The military is moving in on some key areas near major roads, but this part of the city they don’t appear to have much presence in.”

  “Because it’s the slums. Why expend the effort when what they really want to protect is elsewhere?” Jackie shook her head.

  “Yeah, the military’s going to protect the central part of the city where the wealth is. They won’t bother with the outer parts.” Val gestured at the distinct line that indicated where the original city had been built and planned from the other areas that grew from the central area.

  “Our difficulty getting back there is primarily transportation and man power.” Felix tapped their list of resources. “We only allotted two vehicles for this op.”

  “And we’ll need several more. Those people are going to be in worse condition than when we left,” Val said.

  “What if we hired a truck? Or a bus?” Jackie glanced at Felix then Kyle.

  “How do we protect it?” Kyle asked.

  “Given the problems the PPM are creating, we are worried that people might attack a bus even if it’s not outfitted like the others.” Felix grimaced. It would be so much easier if they could load up the people they had and get them out of there.

  “So, several smaller vehicles then?”

  Jackie’s brow wrinkled. Concern was etched into every crease of her face. She didn’t care what happened to herself. It was hard to not respect a drive like that.

  “That would be ideal, but our concern about manpower is still an issue.” Felix gestured at Kyle, who no doubt had more to say about it.

  “What if we put Jackie somewhere?” Val leaned on the table. “I mean, that’s the problem, right? Someone targeted Jackie, either because they know her family has money or because her dad owns mines here. It’s not a secret. If she’s not with us when we make the run, would it be safer?”

  “I
think so,” Felix said.

  “Okay, so where do I go?” Jackie’s shoulders slumped, but once more the greater good was what motivated her.

  “Hear me out.” Felix held up his hands as though he could fend off the questions before he was done. “What if we stash you at the hospital, go get the group, and bring them there? With all the unrest in the city, no one will look for them. We can coordinate moving them through other people once they’re healthy enough to travel. Myself and the others can stay behind, advocate on their behalf, while these guys get you out of here.”

  “I’d really prefer to stay with them if I can. You don’t speak the language. Either I can foot the bills, or one of the charities will. I bet we can raise money. I don’t care if I’m eating ramen for a week so long as those people get taken care of.” Jackie jabbed at the table top with a finger.

  Felix glanced at Kyle. This girl kept surprising him. It was hard to not like her.

  “It is not in your best interest to stay, Jackie. If we can get these people help if this plan works—fine. I’m willing to spread ourselves a little thin if we can cross all our t’s and dot the I’s. That said, we still haven’t covered the important question—how are we getting out of the city?” Kyle sighed.

  “Why?” Jackie glanced at Felix.

  “Because PPM forces are building bonfires on the runway at night. Flights can’t land or take off until those are cleared. After two weeks and not enough trucks to haul the debris away, its piling up along the tarmac,” Kyle said.

  “It’s still possible though, right? To get the people to the hospital? After that we can revisit me leaving.” Jackie would not give up.

  “Jackie?” Felix stared at her. “I’m telling you now, you have to leave. For everyone’s safety.

  Jackie’s stare intensified, her whole focus on him. They’d made a deal. Would she stick to her side of things?

  “It is very likely possible we can execute my plan without risk to our team or you. Right now that’s our best scenario to get everyone where they need to go.” It was all circumstantial. They were relying on people they could only guess at trusting and nothing more.