by Jill Cooper
Wendy nodded. She did trust her. Rebecca believed in the innocence in glistenings. She was maybe the only one who really did. If anyone would help her hide, it was her. “Okay.”
Jake squeezed her hand. “We’ll be fine.”
“We’ll drive clear through until morning.” Rebecca handed them their blankets and prepared to sit up front with her two associates. “Our facility has a doctor. He knows you’re coming and he’s going to make sure you’re tip top.”
Wendy often worried that the baby wasn’t developing right. But now, hearing someone else say it made her heart clench.
Rebecca offered a friendly smile, but her eyes darted to Wendy’s belly. “I’m sure you are. Now, no more worries.”
She had a friendly face and voice. Wendy thought this was how moms were really supposed to be; it was what she wanted to be to her baby. She just hoped she wouldn’t screw it up. What did she know about being a mother? Worry first, she thought, about seeing him born. “Thanks, Ms. Seers.”
“Oh please, call me Becky.” Rebecca and George exited the van. She latched the doors shut before getting in the front, taking the passenger seat. George, with his part done, headed toward his unmarked squad car.
Her associate pulled away from the lot. Rebecca spoke with a calm confidence. “They’ll be fine. He’s keeping her calm.”
“If the checkpoint guards don’t buy this?”
Rebecca took a breath and she spoke through gritted teeth. “Do what you need to get us away. We need that baby.”
****
The checkpoint was a ten-minute drive away, but beneath the blanket, it felt to Wendy like hours. Every bump and turn dragged forever. Since she couldn’t see where they were going, what they were doing, it made the fear fester. Her eyes became accustomed to the darkness and she could make out Jake beneath the blanket. Gazing at him made everything feel better. They were really going to be together, like a real couple, where they didn’t need to be afraid anymore. He just needed to pretend to be normal, human, and he was. He so was.
When they came to a stop and she heard voices—Rebecca’s and a stern male—Wendy felt vomit rise in her throat. She swallowed it back, like scorching lava running down the length of her throat. It wasn’t nearly as bad as the fear they would get caught. What would happen to her baby then or to poor Jake? He squeezed her hand, must have seen the fear in eyes. His own seemed to say, it’ll be all right. Just stay calm.
But it was so hard and the rush of panic was taking her. Wendy tried to even her breathing. A fresh burst of cold air rushed towards her as the back door opened and the inspection continued. Her heart skipped and she was sure they were going to get caught. Jake’s eyes were wide, horribly afraid, and they gripped each other’s hands tightly under their blanket. Their eyes locked and the look of love he gave her spoke volumes. It was worth it, it was all worth it if he would just keep looking at her like that.
“As you can see, officer,” Rebecca said, “everything is in order.”
“Uh-huh. We don’t trust you much, Ms. Seers.”
“Well, I don’t trust you either, so we’re even, and we do have a working partnership. I wouldn’t want to put into my report that you were uncooperative, would I?”
“Ma’am, I never said I wasn’t cooperating.”
“Then we can be on our way?”
Paper ripped from a spiral binding. Next was the sound of paper smacking into someone’s hand. “Yup. Just drive safe. We’re supposed to get rain tonight.”
Some pleasantries were traded. Wendy could almost breathe again as the tightening in her chest abated. She almost could, but for her worry that something would change at the last minute. He would double back on instinct, his police-officer gut saying to check under the blankets.
But the passenger door slammed, the engine came to life and they rolled forward.
Relieved, Wendy closed her eyes thanking God over and over. So relieved, so relaxed for the first time it felt in weeks, she almost fell asleep until Rebecca spoke. “Come on out, you two. I’ve got some snacks if you’re hungry.”
Wendy and Jake moved behind them in bucket seats. Wendy was hungry again and grateful for the crackers, fruit, and milk. Jake, though, wasn’t speaking. His eyes were trained on the road. The side was illuminated by bright lights and as they pulled onto the highway the horizon was awake with shimmering skyscrapers. Wendy saw them before on day passes, on trips to her relatives on the holidays. To her it was different, but she had seen it before.
Jake had seen it only in photos, and in movies that were made before the plague came. Now his mouth had fallen open, his skin was pale, and he appeared mystified as he glanced around out at the windows at the passing cars and rolled down his window to take a deep breath of fresh air.
“Welcome to the world, Jake.” Rebecca said with a smile.
“It’s so … big.”
Wendy laughed slightly, nearly spitting out her milk. “It is big. We’re going to drive across two states.”
“Wow,” Jake nearly laughed. “I want to see it all. Oh, what’s that?” He pointed out the window.
“McDonalds. That’s what they call their golden arches,” Rebecca explained.
“Oh, like a rainbow?”
“They sell cheeseburgers,” Wendy said.
Clarity lit up his face. “I like cheeseburgers.”
“Take a small detour,” Rebecca ordered her driver.
“Ma’am, we don’t know how long we have to make our getaway,” he argued.
“The boy has lived eighteen years and never had a McDonald’s cheeseburger and fries. If he’s going to live among us, we need to start corrupting him as quickly as possible.” Rebecca glanced back at Wendy and gave her a wink.
Wendy felt good; better than she had in a long time. Deep inside her, she felt the strong kick of her baby. Rather than being repulsed or afraid, she felt happy. Whatever would happen next, she was sure that Rebecca would make sure they were safe.
Red and orange flame shot up and out as smoke smothered the base of the home, blowing out the grass and trees like a saucer-shaped UFO landed on the property. The roof collapsed on itself like a house of cards. The mailbox snapped and rocketed across the street, bouncing up on the sidewalk and smashing the front bay window of the Waters’ home. It corked their dog, Sparky, right in the snout.
He yipped, running in a circle around the living room. Mr. Waters cleaned his glasses as he ogled at the sight across the street. “Marge.” his voice cracked like an old chimney. “I think you best get the police on the phone right away.”
They gathered across the street. Others from nearby streets walked by, some in slippers and their bathrobes, clutching the hands of their children. Silent horror and unspoken dread descended on the group. Sirens beckoned closer and the glistenings feared they were too late if anyone were home. What would this do to the community? Who would the police think was responsible for this?
Before the fire engines arrived, the glistenings went to their houses, safe in their homes, and latched the doors shut. Like it would make any difference if the humans wanted in.
Chapter Nine Jenna Morgan
Jenna’s head swayed back. Her hands clamped onto Dirk’s pecs and squeezed with enough strength to cause him to yelp, short of air. Her hips ground against his, driving him further into her. His rough hands traveled up the length of her body, passing over her abs and her bare breasts, sweat glistening along the nubs of her nipples. Her mouth fell open, her breath erratic as her senses heightened.
Dirk’s eyes closed and he moaned, with that look on his face she liked so much but could never admit. His hands slipped beneath her sweat-laden red curls, forcing her head down so he could kiss her. Their lips met and his tongue slipped against hers. The urgency drove her on further.
A moan she didn’t mean escaped her lips, and her eyes squeezed tight. She grabbed both his wrists, holding them against the mattress slightly above his head and drove her body further into his. Their pelvise
s moved in time, Jenna using her upper body to keep him pinned, and their kisses tapered off. With a devious snarl, she bit his neck and throttled her intensity.
Dirk’s eyes fluttered open with surprise. Jenna gave a little laugh, dangerous and not kindhearted. Her head rolled against his chest and she sought to finish it. Pleasure rippled through her body with each thrust, and their breathing fell in time as if the sex were something they did often. She felt in that moment that they were one, that she wanted nothing more than this. But she tried to force it out of her mind and only feel the pleasure.
Just feel the pleasure.
Her body trembled in an uncontrollable spasm. Slowing her movements down, she pushed herself up to look into Dirk’s eyes. His eyes were closed as he grabbed her ass, rocking her forward to kiss her again. A small smile played across her lips at his sweet expression, the beauty of his face. She couldn’t help but think, I love you.
Jenna slipped her arm out to brace her body on the headboard. It stopped her head from slipping down too far and Dirk’s eyes opened with more than surprise, but a bit of anger. She slipped off him and grabbed for her jeans. “Want some more wine?”
Dirk pushed himself up on his elbows to look up at her. “No.” His voice was quiet, but angry. Jenna heard it enough times to recognize it even before he did.
She slipped a slinky top over her bare breasts. It compacted them against her body in a way she knew drove him crazy. “I have a frozen pizza if you’re hungry.”
“I’m not hungry, Jenna.” He flopped down onto the mattress, one arm tucked behind his head. “How long are we going to do this?”
Jenna sat on the other side of the bed, lighting a smoke. She took a deep inhale. “I thought you liked doing this. You’re the one who came looking for a booty call.” Truth be told, she expected him to, and if he hadn’t, she’d be disappointed.
“I don’t want just a booty call. If I wanted that—”
“You’d knock on the door of a glistening?” Jenna smirked, turning her head to look at him. He looked hurt. It made her heart pulse with pain. She turned her attention forward again to look out the window. The night sky was beautiful and dark with just the glow of the blue dome against the tree line. “So what, you want to cuddle? I thought we were beyond that.”
Jenna could feel Dirk shifting on his side. She jumped when his fingers stroked her arm. “I want more than just this. You know how I feel about you.”
“Yeah.” Jenna said simply, but she was afraid the emotion might be evident anyway. She took a long drag of her cigarette and tapped the ashes into her empty wine glass.
“You used to feel the same, but ever since you got back—Listen, you’ve been back for almost a year and you still…don’t seem like you.”
“Maybe this is me. Maybe you just refuse to see it, just like you always do.” Jenna turned her head slightly to glance at him.
Dirk gave a labored sigh, “Maybe talking about it would help. You ever think about that, Jen? For seven months you were just gone. No one heard anything from you and then boom, you were on the news for what, executing glistenings in the field? I thought you were in trouble, maybe even dead. And after us taking shit for what you did, Travis put you in charge of the squad again, and you didn’t offer any explanations. Not to me or Jameson. For all I know, Travis doesn’t even know why you went apeshit.”
He knows, Jenna thought, closing her eyes for a moment. “So you’re upset that I came back and displaced your leadership, is that it?”
“Right, because I’ve been living with a grudge against you for the last year. That’s why I waited to have this conversation buck naked in your bed.”
Jenna tried to suppress a smile, but was having trouble even pretending to be angry. “Dirk, let’s not do this, okay?”
Dirk sighed and his eyebrows rose to the ceiling. Jenna fumbled with her cigarette pack, but couldn’t work the lid well enough to flip it open. Stupid fingers.
“Excuse me if I thought it was time we have a meaningful conversation. I know these nights mean more to you than you say. I feel it when we’re together. I’m just not sure why you keep me at a distance?” He sat up and stroked her hair back.
Jenna tensed, aware at how close she was to spilling everything. “I can’t offer you what you want. This is all I have to give you right now, so you need to accept it.”
“Just like I had to accept you were gone, then you were back. No questions? No answers? Just this is the way it is?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
“And if I don’t?” Dirk asked with a defiant edge to his voice.
Jenna shifted to look at him. She needed him to see her eyes when she spoke. “Then it’s over, even this.”
“Maybe it should be over if it’s never going to amount to more. Maybe I’m tired of being your damn sex toy.”
It wasn’t what she thought he’d say. Jenna dropped her eyes, avoiding his gaze. “Maybe then you should go.” Her voice was even, without a tremor.
Dirk’s tongue clucked along inside his cheek. He threw the sheet off and Jenna stared out the window again as she listened to him get dressed. She managed to get another cigarette lit and watched the smoke slowly drifting up from the glowing amber of her butt until Dirk stepped into her line of sight. Jenna studied him and he studied her.
“I don’t get you.” His chest rose with a deep breath. The rippled muscles of his chest still glinted with sweat, drawing her eye to every curve.
She studied him and exhaled a long puff of smoke. “Thanks for the bulletin, but I already knew that.”
“Right, because you have me all figured out. You know what I’m feeling and thinking better than I do.”
It was accurate, but Jenna didn’t say anything.
“That’s because I’m accessible to you. I let you in. You shut me out a long time ago, Jen. I don’t know why I try so hard to get back in.”
“Other than the great sex?” Jenna asked.
Dirk grabbed his shirt from the floor with a quick flourish and it snapped in the air. “You’re a real pig for a woman.”
“So are you,” she said sourly.
Dirk shouted at her, his teeth exposed, but his words were drowned out by a high-pitched rolling thunder. Their attention went to the window and Jenna watched as the night sky glowed like amber. Flames and smoke rose up through some trees and the perches of low roofed homes. It soared, growing higher and wider, before settling down into a burning heap.
Jenna stood without realizing she did it and took a final drag on her cigarette. She grabbed her collapsed jacket from the floor. “Have Jameson pick us up.” She snuffed the filter into her wine glass and then they tore through her loft for the street.
*****
The van was outside in less than five minutes. Jenna took the front seat, while Dirk was regulated to the back. She turned to Jameson who was dressed in a t-shirt with a giant iron emblem on the front. The guy was nothing if not dedicated to his hobby. “What’s going on?”
Jameson’s jaw was tight with a quick glance at her. “It’s,” he stuttered, “Travis.”
Jenna couldn’t hide her surprise and for a moment, the van spun in a way that meant it was only in her mind. She rubbed her forehead and felt the shift of weight behind her thanks to Dirk leaning forward into the front. He spoke while she couldn’t speak for a moment. Dirk leaned in. “That explosion wasn’t far enough away to be the Outpost.”
Jameson was speeding and he didn’t let up as he took a sharp right, gripping the wheel. Jenna had to lean a hand on the dashboard to keep herself in her seat. “They targeted his home?” She asked.
“Yeah, we don’t know yet how bad it is.”
“Get us there in one piece, Jameson, but get us there yesterday.”
Dirk’s hand was on the back of her seat to steady himself, but she wished it wasn’t so close to her exposed flesh. “Who would do this? He’s the chief of police, for God’s sake. Glistenings?”
Jenna didn’t know, “We’l
l find out.” If it was glistenings, if they hurt him or his family, she’d make sure they all paid for it. She’d burn the place to the ground if she needed to.
****
She opened the door to the van before it came to a stop. Across the street, firefighters worked on putting the flames out while squads of police officers formed a grid around the entrance to the street. The Reynolds home was reduced to a pit of burning ash, and the path that led to the front door was streaked black.
Jenna hopped out of the van and moved toward an officer before she even realized it. Her body was on autopilot and her mind played back memories of Travis, meeting him for the first time, all the confidences they shared, and how in some ways he had been more like an older brother than a boss. George, an officer she knew only in passing through Outpost, was glum as he watched the scene.
It was bad, Jenna knew that. She could see no way for any of them to get into the building before the flames were put out. Even then, it was going to be more of a dig operation to remove the bodies than a rescue mission. Jenna hung onto hope that they weren’t home when it happened. “Was he in there?”
Startled, George’s head snapped to attention. “Jenna, hey.” He cleared his throat.
“Was he in there?” Her tongue thrashed against her lips.
“No confirmation yet, but there’s no evidence to say that he wasn’t. Car is still in the driveway.”
Jenna turned her attention to the melted, disjointed piece of metal sitting among the fragments of the house. “Suspects?” Her voice sounded hollow, flat.
“Who do you think?”
Jenna understood the gut reaction, but this didn’t look like an arson to her. “Do you really think they have the right materials to level his place like this? Fire maybe, but that was an explosion.”