Stranded

by Patricia H. Rushford

  If only she could get Gram and J. B. and the others into the plane. Another pilot was coming in. Stan had talked to J. B. about taking the bodies out in barrels. Would they still do that? If Jennie waited long enough, Stan’s men would load the plane for her. She’d sneak on board, and when everyone was loaded, she’d get into the cockpit and fly out. It’s a crazy idea, she chided herself. It’ll never work. You’ve only had three lessons. Jennie heaved a sigh. Maybe it was crazy, but she was running out of options. And three lessons were better than none.

  “Should we load him on the plane with the others?” Stan asked.

  “No. I have a better plan. How are you fixed for explosives?” the sheriff asked.

  “We have an arsenal … why?”

  “We’re going to blow this place to kingdom come.”

  “Isn’t that taking things too far?”

  “Not at all. It’ll be tragic, but most cults go down eventually. The Desert Colony will go out in a blaze of suicidal glory, and it’ll take the government years to figure out what happened, if they ever do.”

  “So we make it look like Donovan killed himself and his followers in a mass suicide?”

  “That’s about it.”

  “Why not just increase the Ecstasy in their juice?”

  Ecstasy? Jennie recognized the name of the popular street drug. So that’s what they were putting in the juice. Supposedly it made people feel good. Like most drugs, it was dangerous. And in some cases, deadly.

  “That’ll take too long. Bombing will be quicker. We just need to make certain no one gets out.”

  “We’ll lock the gates and cover all the entrances. A couple of rifle shots will send them all to their rooms.”

  Jennie wrapped her arms around her knees. She wished she hadn’t come. She couldn’t bear to hear about their evil plans—plans she might not be able to do anything about.

  Thankfully, they walked out again and closed the door behind them.

  Jennie eased out of her hiding place. This was a nightmare. It had to be. Soon she’d wake up and be in her bed at home. She choked back her anguish and faced the computer screen. Jennie added what she’d learned to her letter and sent it. Even as she did, she knew there was little or no chance of it reaching her father in time.

  She hurried from the office and into the hallway. There she hesitated. Should she try to get J. B. and Gram out now? Face an armed guard? Alone?

  She needed help, and the only person she could trust was Eric. Jennie let herself out and stepped back into the pantry in Donovan’s kitchen. She thought about waking him and telling him what his men had planned. But would Donovan believe her? She doubted it. He’d probably bring Stan in, and Stan would deny it all. She’d be put under guard with the others. Eric was the only one she dared confide in. Hopefully, when she told him what had happened, he’d believe her. If he didn’t, come morning they’d all be dead.

  21

  Not wanting to wake the others, Jennie went around to the back of the building and knocked on what she hoped was Eric’s window. He’d told her the room number. Jennie lined it up with the rooms in the women’s dorm and hoped they matched.

  He didn’t respond. Jennie picked up a rock and tapped on it again. A little too hard. It broke. The falling glass did the trick. Eric rolled over and snapped on his bedside lamp.

  “What …? Who is it?” He came to investigate.

  “It’s me,” Jennie whispered. “Be careful of the glass.” Eric yawned and ran a hand through his mussed hair, then eyed the glass-littered floor. “What’s going on?”

  “Get dressed and meet me outside.”

  “Now? It’s after midnight.”

  “Just get dressed. I think I know where your family is.” Eric didn’t need to hear more. In less than three minute’s time he met her at the back of the dorm. They headed toward Donovan’s, and Eric listened intently as Jennie told him what had happened.

  “I don’t know how you expect me to believe you. That’s the craziest story I’ve ever heard.”

  “I know. I can hardly believe it myself. Come on. I’ll show you the computer room, and maybe, if you’re still skeptical, we can get into the warehouse where they’re storing the drugs.”

  “I don’t care about the drugs. I want to see my family. You’re sure they’re here?”

  “Stan didn’t actually say he had them.”

  “Then what makes you think they’re here?”

  “Stan said he needed to dispose of six bodies—make that seven with J. B. Gram and Lois make two. Your mom, dad, and brother make five, and I’m probably the sixth. The thing is, I don’t know if they’re still alive.”

  He stiffened and took Jennie’s hand. “We have to find out.”

  “There’s a guard.” Jennie tucked stray hairs behind her ear. “With a gun.”

  “There’s two of us and one of him.”

  “I only saw one, but there might be others.” She pulled him to a stop at Donovan’s kitchen door. “I have a plan.” She outlined her idea, then added, “If it doesn’t work, one or both of us could be killed.”

  Eric placed his hands on her shoulders. “If what you said is true, we don’t have much choice.”

  Jennie nodded.

  He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. She put her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. For that one brief moment she had an inkling that they could actually pull it off. They were a team. Jennie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Pulling away, she pushed open the kitchen door, which she’d left unlocked when she went to get Eric. Entering the pantry, Jennie pulled the key and chain from her neck. “Hold this.” She handed him the flashlight and inserted the key. The door slid open. Seeing no one, Jennie stepped inside. She crept to the open door of the computer room. “There’s no one here.” Jennie fingered the gun in her pocket, took it out, and handed it to him. “You might need this.”

  He winced as he took it and slipped it into his pocket. “I hope not.”

  “It’s the room at the end of the hall. You know what to do.”

  Jennie led the way, and when they reached the end, he pushed the button, and the door slid open.

  Eric pushed Jennie inside.

  Jennie stumbled forward, catching herself with her hands as she fell. “Watch it.” She twisted around and stood, backing against the wall.

  “Hey, Eric. What are you doing here?” The guard scrambled to his feet.

  He knows Eric? The hairs on the back of Jennie’s neck stood on end. Why does he know Eric? Jennie hadn’t seen him in the common room or dining area. She hadn’t seen anyone wearing fatigues. Of course, he probably only wore them while he was on duty out here.

  “Got another one for you.”

  Eric was good. He didn’t even flinch when he saw his parents and brother lying on a pile of handmade quilts. Jennie did. Gram, J. B., Lois, and the others were laid out like corpses. Jennie would have thought them dead if not for the rise and fall of their chests.

  “Who is she?” The guard scowled and looked from Jennie to Eric, his gun wavering between the two.

  Eric continued to hold the gun on Jennie. “She’s the Bradley woman’s granddaughter. Boss wants to leave her here with the others. She’s been a pain. Keeps trying to escape.”

  The young man shook his head. “He keeps sending more in. Then he’s planning on putting them in the plane?”

  “You got a point there, James. Plane’s empty. It’s just sitting out there in the hangar. What do you say we load them in? I’ll give you a hand, then you can take a break while I watch them.”

  He frowned uncertainly. “I don’t know.”

  “Come on. You know it has to be done. Why not get it over with now?”

  That wasn’t part of the plan. Jennie’s gaze fastened on Eric’s. He looked away. He knows the guard. He’s one of them. The
thought left as quickly as it came. He can’t be, she decided. He knows about the change in plans. He’s just trying to get us on board the plane.

  “All right. Let’s do it. I could use a break. Haven’t seen Marilee in two days. Maybe I’ll wake her up and see if she wants to hang out for a while.”

  “Good plan. She was asking about you this morning.” Marilee? The suspicions came back full force. This guard was Marilee’s fiancé, James? Did Marilee know what he was up to? How many of these so-called pacifists were involved in the drug smuggling operation? Could Marilee herself be one of them? And Eric? She’d trusted him. Jennie’s mind whirled with possibilities. She had told him everything.

  No way. She chided herself again. Eric was on her side. Their goal had been to get on that airplane. He was doing that and getting rid of the guard at the same time.

  “Better give her something to knock her out.” James opened what looked like a first-aid kit.

  “What’s that?” Eric asked.

  “Not sure. Got it from the infirmary. Knocks them out cold.”

  “How come you have so much of it?”

  “Have to inject these guys every three or four hours.” He plunged the needle into the top of the bottle and began to draw out the clear liquid. “Getting tired of it, if you want to know the truth.”

  “Seems like it would take too long. Why don’t we just tie her up?”

  “She might make too much noise. This stuff keeps them from talking—kind of paralyzes them. It works pretty fast.”

  Eric raised his eyebrows as if impressed. “Let me give it to her.”

  “You know how?”

  “Sure. Used to give animals shots all the time on the farm.”

  Jennie pressed herself against the wall. “Don’t. Eric, please.”

  “Hold the gun on her.” Eric turned to Jennie. “I wouldn’t fight too much if I were you. This is a lot better than being dead.”

  Eric pressed her against the wall.

  “What are you doing?” She tried to push him away, but he was too strong.

  He jerked the jacket off her shoulder and pushed up her sleeve. He then pulled the cap off the needle with his teeth. “This isn’t going to hurt a bit.”

  Jennie squeezed her eyes shut. She knew he wouldn’t actually stick the needle in. He’d only pretend to.

  “Eric, no!” Jennie cried out as the needle sank into her upper arm.

  22

  “Ow.” Eric, why? I trusted you. Jennie’s startled gaze latched onto him. He looked away and eased the jacket over her shoulder.

  She sank to the floor. Jennie couldn’t bear to look at him—to let him see how shocked and dejected she felt. A tear slipped from between closed lids. She brushed it away. “Let’s take the girl first,” she heard Eric say. “If this stuff works as fast as you say, she should be out of it by the time we get her to the plane.”

  “Sure. Let’s wrap them up in these quilts. It’ll be easier to carry them.”

  James grabbed a quilt from the corner. He took one arm and Eric the other. She resisted, but her heart wasn’t in it. They rolled her in the quilt, and with one at her head and the other at her feet, they carried her out of the room and down the hall.

  For several long and painful minutes Jennie believed Eric had actually betrayed her. As she lay in a heap in the cargo hold of the plane, though, Jennie realized that instead of putting the drug into her tissues, he’d shot it onto her sleeve and only pricked her with the needle to make it look real. She felt the wet cloth against her skin. She was still very much alert, and suddenly very hopeful.

  She stiffened when she heard them come in again with another load. Not that she could have moved. Her arms were pinned to her sides mummy-fashion inside the quilt.

  In just fifteen minutes they had loaded everyone on. Eric slapped James on the back. “I don’t know about you, but that was hard work. Those last three guys were heavy. I think we both deserve a break.”

  “No way. Can’t leave them alone. Don’t know how long it’ll be till the other pilot comes in, and we have to keep them sedated.”

  “Right. Don’t worry about it. I’ll stay.”

  “Great. I’m out of here.”

  She heard a click, then footsteps. “Jennie, he’s gone.” He unwrapped the quilt and helped her up. “You okay?”

  “Yeah. You had me worried there for a minute. I thought you were one of them.”

  “Sorry about that. I had to make it look real. He was right there watching.”

  “I know.” She rubbed the injection site. “I don’t know how you kept your cool like that.”

  “Hey, my heart is still going ninety miles an hour. I was scared spitless.”

  “Me too, but we did it.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. “All we have to do now is get this thing out of here.”

  “Help me unwrap everyone first. We don’t want them to suffocate.”

  They removed the quilts. Though they stirred, all of them, including J. B., were still out of it.

  “Oh no.” Jennie heard the drone of an airplane and a bright light approaching the end of the runway. “It’s the new pilot.”

  Jennie moved up to the cockpit and peered between the seats. The plane was already landing. “I don’t think there’s enough room for us to get around it.”

  “Stan,” someone yelled, “the prisoners have escaped!”

  “Simmer down.” Stan’s deep voice sounded dangerously close. “We’ll find them.”

  “We’re sunk,” Eric muttered.

  “No. This is the last place they’ll think to look for us. At least until they find James.”

  “Yeah, well, when they find out he’s missing, they’ll go straight to Marilee.”

  “Maybe he and Marilee are out in the hills somewhere …”

  Eric rubbed a hand across his mouth. “I doubt it.

  They’re probably in the dining room in plain view.” “Which reminds me. Why haven’t I seen him?”

  “He’s been working a night shift lately. Sleeps during the day.”

  That made sense. Jennie sucked in a breath and climbed into the pilot’s seat. “Everyone’s gone inside. If we’re going to go, it has to be now.”

  “I thought you said there wasn’t room.”

  “I’ll make room. I just hope I can remember how to fly.” Please, God, get us out of here. She reached for the ignition.

  “The keys …” Jennie hit her face and tore her hands through her hair. “I didn’t even think about the keys.” Panic rose inside her and crashed. Her breath came in gasps. Stop it! Just calm down.

  “This was a crazy idea. I knew it wouldn’t work.”

  “Be quiet. Let me think.” Jennie gripped the controls, willing herself to slow her breathing. Keys, where are you? She closed her eyes and imagined J. B. coming in. Of course.

  “Okay, J. B. flew in. They must be in his pocket.”

  “I’ll check.” Eric hurried back to where J. B. lay crumpled on the quilt. After digging into J. B.’s jacket and pant pockets, he came up with the keys. He smiled triumphantly and tossed them to Jennie.

  Jennie went through two of them before finding a fit. The other plane had come to a stop about fifty feet from the hangar. Before twisting the key to start the engine, Jennie mentally went through the motions of pushing in the throttle. Not too hard. Give it enough gas, but not too much. She imagined herself rolling out of the hangar, around the other plane, going faster and faster, then lifting off. “Jennie, let’s go. What are you doing?”

  “Practicing.”

  He climbed into the seat beside her. “You have flown before, right?”

  “Yeah, but only three lessons.”

  “That’s three more than I’ve had. You can do it. I know you can.”

  She swallowed back the bile rising to her thro
at. “I have to.”

  Jennie twisted the key. The engine started. The propeller started spinning. Jennie eased the throttle, feeding fuel to the engine. She held her breath as the plane began moving.

  “Hey!” someone shouted. “What … who’s in the plane?!”

  “Someone stop them! Give me that rifle.”

  Jennie could barely hear the shouts above the sound of the engine. She didn’t know who was talking and wasn’t about to look back. She focused on the runway and skirted around the other plane just as the pilot and his passenger were disembarking.

  Crunch.

  “You hit it.” Eric leaned forward. “Wing looks okay. Keep going!”

  “I am.” Jennie’s mouth felt dry as cotton. “Hang on.” She shoved the throttle all the way in. A gun shot split the air, then another.

  “They’re shooting at us.” Eric looked back out the passenger window. “There must be half a dozen guys out there.”

  Jennie leaned back as the end of the runway approached and pulled the yoke back as far as she could, willing the plane to rise.

  “You did it!” Eric grinned. “You got us up.”

  Jennie looked down and back. They were out of shooting range now. All she had to do was fly. Later she would figure out how to land. For now they were safe.

  “Eric, I don’t believe this. Look!” Glancing down, she saw what looked like an army command post. Four tanks crawled over the desert heading toward the compound. There must have been a hundred men on foot wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying guns.

  “Looks like they mean business. Good thing we got out when we did.”

  “J. B. must have known they were there. Maybe he was supposed to give them a report. When he didn’t come back …”

  “They decided to move in.”

  “Something like that.”

  Eric groaned. “Don’t look now, but I don’t think they want us up here.”

  A helicopter came up beside them, close enough for Jennie to see his face. The pilot spoke into his radio.

  The radio inside the cockpit crackled. “This is the DEA. Turn the plane around and land.”