by Ho, Jo
“We’re fine. You just make sure you’re safe, you got that?”
“I promise,” I said and hung up.
72
Sully
I handed the phone to Sam to find her watching me with a funny look on her face.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m impressed with the way you handled that. You sounded… well, you sounded like her dad.”
I felt myself get a little embarrassed. “Yeah, well, I’m nowhere near old enough.” She didn’t respond but kept on looking at me with that funny expression.
Now that we knew what we had to do, we had a new problem — we were missing one car. Seeing that we were nearing a gas station, I pulled in. “We need to acquire an extra vehicle,” I said.
Gideon nodded and as soon as I stopped the car, he jumped out. Sam frowned, staring at the cars. A young family sat waiting for their dad in one, but the other two were empty, their drivers inside the gas store.
“How is he going to get us a car? It seems unlikely that anyone would be willing to sell one to us, even if we had the cash. They’d be stranded here if they did and there doesn’t look like there’s going to be a taxi firm for miles?”
I avoided her gaze, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. “I don’t think that’s what he has planned.” She frowned at me, unhappy with my response then spun around in her seat to see what he was up to. I cringed inwardly, guessing what her next reaction was going to be.
“Oh my God, is Gideon breaking into that car?”
Before I could reply she jumped out of the car and marched over to him. Feeling helpless at what was coming next, I quickly followed her.
“What do you think you are doing?” she hissed at Gideon over his shoulder. He froze, a lock pick already jabbed into the carlock. Apparently, he always kept some with him for just such an occasion.
“It’s okay, I’ve done this before,” the hapless boy responded. Her eyes flashed dangerously, but he didn’t see it. Focused as he was on the car, he also didn’t see me shaking my head behind her.
“When?” she demanded, hands on her hips. “When have you done this before?”
Gideon gestured behind her at me before I could stop him. “When we were escaping Platinum Industries. We didn’t have a vehicle, so I stole one. Sully said it was fine.”
Sam’s eyes hardened as she spun around to glare at me. “Oh he did, did he?”
I felt it might be time I spoke up for myself. “Well, I did that one time on account of the fact that I had just been shot and Bandit was almost dead. We sort of had more pressing things to contend with. And the truck we took was a rust bucket. No one would miss it. The owner probably made more out of the insurance then he would have done the actual car.” The more I spoke, the bigger the grave I was digging for myself. I forced my mouth shut knowing that Sam would have a lot more to say to me about this later.
“Gideon, please remove that lock pick and step away from the car. I will acquire one for us myself, except I will do it legally.” With that, she stormed into the gas station. I heard her make some sort of announcement then she waved her sheriff’s badge in front of a guy’s stunned face. Moments later she came out with a set of keys and pointed at the car Gideon had been trying to steal.
“Not everything has to be a crime,” she said somewhat testily.
“We don’t all have a badge we can wave around,” I replied, “so I wouldn’t get too high and mighty over this.”
She gave me a withering look that had me wishing I had kept my mouth shut.
73
Chase
I got into the car with the elderly couple.
They let me hang onto the phone which I found comforting. If anything happened, I just had to hit redial and Sully would know.
We drove for another five minutes or so before the eatery appeared. Despite how early in the day it was, cars packed the parking lot. The diner was made to look like it was made in the 50s or 60s and was quaint and charming.
“Margaret and I eat here all the time,” Harold offered. “They do great pancakes.”
At the word pancakes, my stomach suddenly growled. Hearing it, Margaret laughed. “I guess we’d better get some food into you, when was the last time you ate?”
“I had a couple of energy bars through the night” I responded. “Before that…” I trailed off as my thoughts returned to those muffins and Mom. I couldn’t believe that it had only been 24 hours since I was in her car with Bandit. So much had happened it felt like weeks had already passed. An image of Bandit doing his version of a smile as he stared out of the window on the back seat flashed up in my mind. Seeing his face I felt a stabbing pain in my heart and my arms ached to feel his furry body in them. Harold saw my expression and mistook my need for hunger.
“Let’s get you warm and fed while we wait for your dad,” he said.
Inside, country music played on the radio, though it wasn’t loud enough that I could make out the song. The place was heaving with customers, most of whom I noticed were around the same age as my hosts. Apparently, this place was a major hit with the oldies. The smell of coffee and freshly baked waffles hit my nostrils causing saliva to flood my mouth. Although I wanted nothing more than to sink my teeth into doughy sugary layers of goodness, there was something I had promised to do first. My eyes swept the area until they found a phone along the bar area — but it wasn’t a payphone. Margaret saw my consternation and spoke. “I’m sure they’ll let you use their phone. Go ahead and ask nicely.”
I nodded and approached the man who stood behind the counter managing orders. He looked up at me when I neared, even as he barked out an order to the cook behind him in a steamy kitchen. “Haven’t seen you before, young lady?”
I climbed up onto a stool. “No. I’m from out-of-town. Um… I need to use your phone. Margaret said it would probably be OK to ask?”
He scanned through several receipts, mind already elsewhere. “Sure. Go ahead. Just no international calls, please. Some of you kids seem to think it’s funny when I get my phone bill.”
He turned away from me, setting down the receipts onto a spike that was already a third full and focused on refilling the coffee machine. Picking up the phone, I dialed Sully again. He answered straight away. “That you, Chase?”
“Yeah. I’m here,” I replied.
“She’s there. You want to run the trace, or are you happy with just the number? It’s come up on my phone?” His voice was further away, as he spoke with Sam. “Hang on, Chase. We’re just checking to see where you are.”
It went quiet as Sam did whatever she needed to do. Moments later, Sully came back on the line. “Got it. We know where you are. You think you’ll be OK to wait with these people?”
I looked across the room at Harold and Margaret. He had pulled out a chair for her and was now tucking her under the table and laying a napkin across her lap. It was clear that he loved her very much and that he took very good care of her. “I’m safe here Sully, don’t worry. Harold and his wife seem like nice people.”
I heard him let out a long breath. “Excellent,” he said. “Gideon is getting ready now to come and get you.”
“Okay. Did Zeb and Pixie stay at home, I haven’t heard them in the car with you,” I asked.
There was a long, long silence. When Sully spoke again, his voice was strained. “Zeb is in the hospital. He had an accident. He’s unconscious.”
“What?” I cried out, shocked. “What happened?”
“We don’t know. I found him unconscious and Pixie was gone. Zeb had a spy cam in his hand… I think someone rigged up the ranch and has been spying on us for a while.” He fell silent as the full force of his words came to me.
“But that means they know about Bandit,” I said, unable to keep the fear at bay.
“Yeah,” was all he could say.
I swayed on my feet, reeling. Who were these people? I felt totally unsafe suddenly and stared at the sea of faces surrounding me, realizing that any one of them coul
d be behind Zeb’s attack and the cameras in our home.
“Chase, we have your location now. So I am going to get off the phone and send Gideon to you. Anything happens, or even if you just want to talk, you call me okay? I’m right at the end of the phone.”
“I will,” I replied. “Just bring him back to us so we can go home.”
“I’m working on it, Chase. I’m working on it.”
74
Chase
I made my way back to the couple.
On my approach, Harold gestured at a chair opposite him. I sat down as Margaret handed me a menu.
“Thanks,” I said. Although I was relieved that Sully was on his way to Bandit, I couldn’t shake the numbing fear that had flooded me since the moment Sully had told me about the cameras in our home. I felt so hopeless here, being so far away from him.
“Since your dad won’t be here for a few hours yet, you should order whatever you’d like. You must be starving if you spent the night in the forest by yourself.”
“I am, but I don’t really have any money on me,” I replied hesitantly. I wasn’t fishing, but I didn’t want them to think I could pay for a meal either. These people had already been so nice to me, the last thing I was going to do was eat and run.
Margaret gave her husband a look as her eyes softened. “Well, of course, we’re paying child, what kind of people would we be if we didn’t help you after your horrific ordeal?”
I looked at them gratefully and saw the kindness in their eyes. I gave them a smile, my first in forever it seemed.
“Oh, Harold, look. Isn’t she pretty when she isn’t scowling?” Margaret said, eyes twinkling. My smile grew a little wider at her comment.
A waitress came and poured coffee in our cups. She obviously recognized them both by the welcome she gave them but didn’t know them well enough to address them by name. I filed this away in my head, adding it to the pile of evidence I was accruing that the Bartlet’s were good, honest folk.
I grabbed my cup and started gulping the scalding liquid down. It burnt my mouth, but I didn’t mind, desperately craving its heat in my stomach. I glanced down at the menu which had all the usual items you’d expect in a place like this.
“Can I have the stack of pancakes with bacon and eggs? And some toast too. And orange juice?” I said this to the waitress but my eyes were on my breakfast mates as it would be they who would be paying for the meal. Harold nodded as if he were happy with my choice.
“Margaret and I will just have some scrambled eggs I think. We don’t usually eat much in the morning, but we’ll keep you company.”
The waitress nodded and went off quickly. She was nice enough but seemed rushed off her feet. Looking around the place, I could only spot two waitresses which seemed silly given how busy they were. Must be short-staffed. I gulped down the rest of my coffee quickly when I suddenly noticed how filthy my hands were. I didn’t want to think about how the rest of me must have looked. Embarrassed I stood up. “I should probably go wash up.”
Margaret pointed to the restroom. “Last door on your right past the counter.” I nodded my thanks and followed her directions.
The restroom was like the rest of the place, quaint and clean. Catching sight of my reflection, I was shocked to see how crazed I looked. It wasn’t just the streaks of dirt over my forehead either which added to that illusion, but I found not one, but two leaves in my hair, not to mention I looked as if I were back to my dumpster diving days. Taken as a whole, I was amazed Harold and Margaret hadn’t thought I was a feral beast. Pretty sure I wouldn’t have let me into my car if I had one. I pumped a handful of soap from the dispenser and started scrubbing. It took a while, but after several rounds of washing and rinsing, I almost resembled myself again. Realizing this was about the best I could do without an actual shower I went back to join the others.
The food had arrived and now covered the table. The smell of buttery pancakes wafted into my nose as the sight of the crispy bacon caused my stomach to clench in anticipation. I sat down quickly and grabbed a piece of bacon meaning to shove it in my mouth when I suddenly remembered what had happened the last time I had eaten. I hesitated, lowering the hand holding the piece of meat.
“I know this is going to sound strange, but, could you eat a mouthful of all the food on my plate first?” Harold’s eyebrows raised in question while Margaret just looked confused. “Please,” I continued. “I can’t eat until you’ve had some first.”
They looked at me funny before giving each other a perplexed look, however, they each grabbed a fork and took a nibble of everything.
Relieved that the food wasn’t drugged, I crammed the piece of bacon into my mouth, forgetting all about utensils. Although Harold and Margaret seemed a little taken aback by my lack of etiquette, neither of them said anything. I chewed fast, inhaling everything in sight while they picked at their eggs with a fork. In no time at all my plate was empty. Harold must have sensed I could still eat as he signaled the waitress. “Tess, can we have the same again? Thank you.”
With horror, I heard myself making a strangled sob and had to physically choke it down. I would not break down in here, not in this nice place with these nice people. I would not repay their kindness by embarrassing them like that. Harold looked away respectfully while Margaret’s own eyes crinkled over with sympathy as she stretched out her hand and patted me on the arm.
They sat silently across from me sipping out of their cups of coffee while I demolished the second round of food. Finally, I leaned back against my seat, hands across my swollen stomach. I had expected to feel satiated but instead, I just felt sick. Turns out sleeplessness and exhaustion coupled with worry and food don’t mix.
“Can you tell us what happened to you?” Margaret asked concern etched over her face. “Do we need to call the police?”
I shook my head warily. “Trust me there’s nothing they can do. I just need to regroup with my dad and we’ll be able to sort this out. But thank you,” I said, finally remembering my manners. I took a gulp of OJ and waited for the waitress who came back and cleared the table. After she filled up our drinks once again, she disappeared off.
“If you don’t want us to call them, you’re going to have to explain why that is,” Harold said kindly but firmly. “I don’t want to intrude, but these are not normal circumstances and I need to know that we are doing the right thing by you.”
I looked at them, knowing that I owed some sort of explanation even if it couldn’t be the real story.
“My mom and dad have been fighting for years. They’ve never gotten along, but dad had finally decided to get a divorce, only my mom wasn’t happy about it as dad pays for everything. So, anyway, one thing led to another and when she found out that I didn’t want to live with her she went crazy. She got drunk and must have drugged my food because when I woke up, I was in that forest. Our court day is today so I think she had this crazy idea inside her head that if I couldn’t make it there to stand against her that she would win somehow. I don’t know. It’s messy.”
Normally I can lie without blinking but I felt bad about doing it to them. Still, it wasn’t like I could tell them what was really going on. Margaret squeezed my hand.
“That’s a terrible thing your mother did, I’m so sorry dear.” Harold nodded in agreement, but he looked more stern about it. “Are you sure we shouldn’t tell the police? I would have thought this would help your father’s court case?”
I shook my head. “No. Despite what it looks like we have it under control now.”
“And what about Bandit?” Harold asked. “I heard you mention his name a few times.”
I looked him square in the face and hoped that he was buying my story. “He’s my dad’s dog. She knows he loves him — he’s had him for years — so she took him out of spite.”
Margaret shook her head, making clucking noises even as her eyes turned hard. “Some people just shouldn’t be allowed to have children or pets.”
She would get no
disagreement from me.
75
Sully
The tracker had finally stopped moving a few hours ago and was fixed at a location just outside of Cleveland, Ohio.
Google maps showed that it was a disused school. I suppose as evil headquarters went, it was a pretty clever choice. No one would be poking around and they — whoever our enemy was — would be free to do whatever it was they were doing.
The building flashed up before us as I slowed the car to a crawl, coming to a stop by a dense bank of trees. I didn’t want whoever was inside to be notified of our arrival. I was getting a sense of déjà vu except the last time I had hidden a vehicle behind trees, it was a crop-duster, and Gideon and I had just arrived by Platinum Industries. This deserted place was a far cry from that high-tech behemoth, however.
The school was old and sprawling and made up of several one-story buildings. At some point, this must have been a fun learning establishment going by the faded painted calculations and symbols that I could still make out beneath a blanket of ivy. A good number of the buildings were boarded up, but that still left five or six possible buildings where Bandit could be housed which seemed a lot of ground for the two of us to cover.
“We need to get to him quickly since they’ve already had him for some time. God knows what they’re doing to him. We should split up.”
Sam gave me a look that showed she clearly disagreed with my suggestion. “Nope. We stay together.” Her voice had no room for argument, but I tried anyway.
“Come on, Sam, I know how to take care of myself.” I knew she wasn’t worried about herself so her insistence on staying together must be out of her concerns for me, and my ego didn’t like this one bit.
“Yeah, well, last time you thought that you were shot so...” She left it hanging, but I filled in the dots.