NO SAFE PLACE

by Steven M. Roth

  “If my husband did what you say, he must’ve had a good reason.”

  “Why did your husband quit the SEALs?” Vista said.

  Isabella stiffened, surprised by the question. “What’s that have to do with anything?”

  “I asked you a question. Answer it.”

  “Ask my husband if you want to know. I don’t discuss his personal business with other people.”

  “When did your husband become disloyal to the United States military?”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Isabella said, slowly shaking her head and chuckling out loud. “My husband’s loyal to our country. He’s an ex-SEAL, a patriot, a decorated war hero. Are you a war hero, General? Have you been decorated for valor as my husband was?”

  Vista frowned, but let the question pass.

  “I’m sure my husband will answer all your questions if he thinks they’re appropriate, General. I want to see him.”

  “As do I, Mrs. Austin, as do I. Your husband needs to come in. He’s in danger every minute he’s out there.” He paused, then said, “People are looking for him. We will get him, you know, one way or another.”

  “You’ll have to let him know that, General.”

  “I want you to persuade him to turn himself in. It’s for his own good and for yours, believe me.”

  “My husband won’t appreciate knowing you’re threatening us.”

  “It’s no threat, Mrs. Austin. Just a fact, stated for your edification, to keep you informed of the possibilities. I can’t guaranty your husband’s safety while he’s a fugitive. His safety, right now, is up to you.”

  “Where’s Jenna, the young woman arrested with me?” Isabella said. “I want to see her.”

  “You really should be more concerned about yourself and your husband.”

  “More implied threats?” Isabella slowly shook her head, answering him in a tone of voice that was as mild as Vista’s had been impatient. “I have nothing more to say to you, General. I want to go back to the hotel.”

  “I’m afraid that’s not possible. Perhaps later if you change your mind and cooperate.”

  “I demand to be set free,” she said. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Vista.

  “That would suit us fine, Mrs. Austin. All you have to do is tell your husband to give himself up. We won’t harm him, and when he arrives, you may leave if you wish. Otherwise, who knows?”

  Isabella hesitated and looked at the general, trying to read him by looking at his eyes.

  “He’ll be protected if he comes in?” she said. “You give me your word as an officer?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “He won’t be harmed? He’ll leave with me when I leave?”

  “You have my word.”

  Isabella remained silent, considering the alternatives.

  General Vista stood, leaned toward her, and placed his palms flat on his desk.

  “Make your decision, Mrs. Austin. Make it now. Your husband doesn’t have much time. His safety, his very life, are in your hands.”

  CHAPTER 94

  Quarantine

  Day 31

  Trace stared at the iPad’s screen and reread Max’s response.

  To: mailer@anonymous.sum.to

  From: mtyler@navy.pentagon.mil

  Protocol: OPERATION JUST CAUSE

  Time: 6:28 a.m. EST

  You called it right, ol’ buddy. You’re in deep trouble.

  Isabella’s being held as a material witness against you. You’re the subject of a fugitive warrant. There’s an All Points out on you with an “armed and dangerous” alert.

  Isabella’s being held at the headquarters of the District Military Commander. Assume you will find that location. No write-up yet on disposition of her status.

  Other subject, Jenna Burke, is fourth year college student. Majoring in international relations. Will be cadre second lieutenant after ROTC. Has received several student ROTC merit citations. Clean record. Nothing on her in FBI or INTERPOL databases. Will check other sources if you want. Her mother is active member of DAR. Her father, now deceased, was active in American Legion.

  Apprise me of your intended course of action. I will assist if I am able under the circumstances, but it will be difficult penetrating the Quarantine Zone from my office at the Pentagon.

  Keep your spirits up. My love to Isabella when you rescue her.

  Trace deleted the email, powered off the iPad and closed the cover. He thought about what his next move should be.

  He looked around for Alex and Ibrahim, but didn’t see them. He started to walk to the entrance of the encampment, figuring he’d find them along the way.

  His cell phone vibrated in a silent ring.

  He was glad he had set the phone to vibrate since he didn’t want any of Friday’s Progeny knowing he had received a telephone call. Its presence, with its built-in GPS chip, was a weak link in the encampment’s security, but as far as he was concerned, wasn’t anyone’s business. At least not yet.

  He looked at the CallerID readout on his phone.

  The call was coming from Pete’s cell phone.

  CHAPTER 95

  Quarantine

  Day 31

  Trace answered the call coming from Pete’s cell phone.

  “Trace, is that you? Thank God.”

  “Bella? Are you all right? Where are you?”

  “Trace? I was so worried.”

  “Where are you? I’ll come get you.”

  “I’m somewhere downtown in a hotel. I’m with an army officer. His nameplate reads GENERAL ANTHONY VISTA.”

  Bella’s mention of Vista’s name flooded him with all-too-recent unpleasant memories.

  “Bella, are you under arrest?”

  Isabella looked at Vista. “Am I under arrest?” she asked him.

  “He says, no, I’m not under arrest. At least not yet.” She looked again at Vista for confirmation.

  He nodded.

  “Trace, he wants you to give yourself up to him. He says you’re in serious danger if you don’t.”

  “He has to let you go first. Will he do that? What’s he told you?”

  “He made threats against us, if you don’t give up.” She paused and looked at Vista.

  “Trace, listen carefully to me.”

  She looked over at Vista and locked her eyes on his as she slowly and deliberately spoke.

  “I don’t want you to surrender yourself. No matter what he promises or threatens. I don’t care what happens to me. I don’t trust him. He—”

  Vista rushed over to Isabella and slammed his fist into her side, cracking her ribs.

  Isabella screamed, dropped the cell phone, and fell to her knees. She clutched her side, gasping for breath. Her eyes filled with tears.

  “That was stupid,” Vista said, speaking in a low, measured tone. “Stand up now, damn you.” He waited briefly, then added, “I said get up.” Vista stooped down and picked up the cell phone. He looked at the readout. Then he raised the cell phone to his mouth.

  “Come to me, Austin, if you value your wife’s well-being. Come to me soon.”

  He ended the call and pocketed the phone. Then he turned his attention back to Isabella.

  He moved in close to her, leaning in not more than ten inches from her face.

  “Get up,” he said.

  Isabella stood up, trembling as she did, slightly hunched. She pressed her palm against her ribs, holding them in place. She breathed in short, rapid gasps. She felt a sharp, stabbing pain with each breath.

  Isabella looked up at General Vista through rheumy eyes.

  Vista placed the palm of his hand flat against Isabella’s chest and steadily pushed against her, forcing her, step-by-step, backward until she could not retreat any farther. Isabella shoulders blades stabbed the wall.

  Vista moved in closer now, just inches away from her face.

  Isabella could smell him, feel the heat of his fury.

  Vista narrowed his eyes. Sweat beaded on his forehead and streamed down
his cheeks and neck.

  Isabella held her breath and waited.

  Seconds passed.

  Vista loomed over her.

  More time passed. Still he said nothing.

  Then he stepped back.

  The dark red color gradually ebbed from his face and neck.

  Vista spoke quietly now, menacingly enunciating each word, letting each phrase linger before he offered another.

  He smiled a distorted smile.

  Isabella recoiled from this anomaly.

  “Now Mrs. Austin, you will have no one to blame but yourself when we kill your husband.”

  CHAPTER 96

  Quarantine

  Day 31

  Trace walked over to where Alex was sitting and dropped down onto the grass next to him.

  “You seem bothered,” Alex said.

  “I’ve been better. I just talked to my wife.”

  “How’d you do that?”

  “She called me. The District Military Commander, General Vista, has her.”

  Trace summarized his conversation with Isabella, adding, “I don’t think it’s safe to stay here now. They probably have a fix on our location from the cell phone.”

  Alex leaped to his feet. “Move it everybody,” he shouted. “We’ve been compromised. Everybody, move out. Now.”

  He ran from one end of the encampment to the other rousting people. Within minutes, the Friday’s Progeny encampment was deserted and its members disbursed into a dozen or more small groups, each headed in a different direction, moving stealthily into the night.

  At Trace’s suggestion, when they left the encampment, he, Alex and Ibrahim made their way to Pete’s favorite eating spot in Fort Lauderdale for pizza and subs, an eat-in place called Everglade Harry’s, located on 17th Street. This restaurant, like all commercial eating establishments in the Quarantine Zone, had closed almost immediately after the introduction of food rationing.

  At the restaurant, once he was satisfied the property was abandoned for the time being, Trace used lock-pick tools Alex carried with him, and his SEAL-trained lock picking skills, to open the lock on the service-entrance door. They entered the restaurant for the night.

  After they settled in, Trace said to Alex, “I’m going to rescue Isabella. There’s no point trying to talk me out of it.”

  They sat in the dark in the dining area spread around a circular table large enough for eight or ten patrons, drinking warm beer they found stored under a counter.

  “Really? How?” Alex said. His voice didn’t betray his attitude, whether he was being sarcastic or merely curious.

  “I know where she is, more or less. I’ll figure it out as I go along.”

  “You mean you’ll ignore the dictum: plan, practice and execute, the SEALs’ mantra?” Alex said.

  “More or less,” Trace said. “I don’t really have any other choice.”

  “Won’t they be expecting you,” Ibrahim said, “after the phone call from your wife?”

  “Maybe not,” Trace said, “They have no reason to think I’d be stupid enough to walk into the lion’s den at feeding hour. I’ll have the element of surprise on my side.”

  “You won’t get that chance,” Alex said. “Ibrahim’s right. They’ll be expecting you. They’ve probably already moved your wife to another location. I would if I were them.” He paused to let this sink in. Then he added, “It’ll be a useless effort, maybe even a suicide mission for you. That won’t help anyone.”

  “I’m getting my wife back.”

  “You will. I’ll help you. So will Ibrahim,” Alex said, nodding at Ibrahim. “But not yet.”

  Trace stood and started to pace.

  “Trace, you will rescue her,” Alex said. “But first we’ll plan carefully so you have a decent shot at it.”

  Trace reluctantly sat down again.

  “We’ll get her back,” Ibrahim said. He looked at Alex from the corner of his eyes, and licked his lips. We will, won’t we? he wondered.

  CHAPTER 97

  Quarantine

  Day 32

  Anthony Vista slammed his office door and stomped back to his desk.

  The major stood at attention facing him. Sweat ran down the back of his neck forming a dark “V” on his shirt between his shoulder blades.

  “You really have no clue, Major? You’re telling me you have no goddamn clue where they are? Is that the best you can do? They just vanished into the night?”

  “I’m afraid that’s correct, Sir” the major said. “The encampment was deserted when we got there.”

  “What about the surveillance tapes, Major? I assume you’ve reviewed the tapes or would that be asking too much”

  “We have the tapes, Sir, but they weren’t helpful. We could see groups of people moving around the city after curfew. Presumably they were the vigilantes moving from their most recent encampment. But the visual feedback was pixilated. It continuously tiled as we watched.”

  “That’s just great,” Vista muttered under his breath.

  “Sir? Sorry, but I didn’t hear you.”

  “What’s being done to find Austin, Major?”

  “We have a full alert out for him, Sir. We also have city-wide patrols looking. They’ve been ordered to report any unusual circumstances. We’ll get him, Sir. I’m confident of that.”

  “I’m glad you are, Major. One of us has to be.”

  “Sir?”

  “Any questions?”

  “Yes, Sir. One. Will the general be releasing Austin’s wife?” Or should we begin her interrogation?”

  Vista shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Why would I release her? She’s my bait. I’m still counting on her to lure in her husband since I can’t count on you to bring him in.”

  CHAPTER 98

  Quarantine

  Day 32

  Late Afternoon

  “Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. This is Derek Peterson. I’m coming to you with a special late afternoon broadcast. Today is day thirty-two since the president announced the terrorists’ bioweapon attack on our city and imposed quarantine and martial law on our community.”

  Derek wiped his face and forehead with his bandana and looked back at his invisible TV audience. He’d better get on with today’s business — meaning, the business of the ODMC — if he wanted to be allowed to continue to broadcast day-after-day.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen,” he said, “I have an important announcement for you from the District Military Commander. Please pay careful attention to this.

  “General Anthony Vista has instructed me to inform you that he has added a new aspect to the nightly curfew, an aspect you absolutely must heed to protect yourself and everyone else from the sniper, Trace Austin, who has been terrorizing our community — shooting innocent men, women and children, as well as police officers and soldiers — and who still is at large.”

  Derek wiped his face.

  “This is what you must now know about the curfew,” he said. “If you are discovered outdoors or in any enclosed public place during the hours of curfew, no matter what your reason, you will be assumed to be an enemy combatant or a terrorist. In that case, you will be shot on sight, without any warning. This is in response to the sniper who has been terrorizing innocent people.”

  Derek let this sink in.

  “Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, having said that, I do have some good news for you. I am happy to pass along to you that the number of people the sniper has killed or attempted to kill the past three days is now zero. . . . None.” He paused, then said, “That’s right. None.

  “The sniper appears to have stopped his reign of terror, thanks to the efforts of General Vista and his military unit, although Austin still is on the run from authorities. I think it is fair to say that the sniper shootings have ended.”

  CHAPTER 99

  Quarantine

  Day 32 8:00 p.m.

  Ibrahim left Alex and Trace sitting at Everglade Harry’s table and walked to the deserted lounge where he turned o
n the flat screen TV located in the corner above the bar. He watched a news broadcast for a few minutes and then ran back into the dining area.

  “Alex, Trace, come with me. There’s something on TV you should see.”

  He ran back into the lounge, climbed up onto a bar stool, and pointed to the TV.

  “Listen to what this guy’s saying.”

  “...and so this is Derek Peterson for CNN wrapping up our broadcast. To sum up and repeat our lead story, the Office of the District Military Commander announced this morning that the authorities will begin tomorrow taking into mandatory protective custody all persons from the Middle East, or who are descendants of persons from the Middle East, located in the Quarantine Zone.

  “This also includes all other persons who practice the Islamic religion,” Derek said. “In doing this, the ODMC hopes to protect such people from the attacks that have been occurring against them with increasing frequency in the Quarantine Zone.

  “In the meantime the authorities are making every effort to identify the hooligans who are assaulting such people to bring them to justice.”

  Peterson continued, “Any Middle Eastern-type persons, including others who study Islam, who have failed to register as required by Field Order No. 2 will be subject to the penalties stated in the Field Order.”

  He waited a beat. “This is Derek Peterson signing off from this special broadcast announcement until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.”