He held up his hands. “Don’t look at me. Cell phones can be tracked. I don’t own one.”
“Great,” Ashley replied. “Well, let’s go.”
Beth led the way to the entrance of the resort—
And almost walked straight through the automatic doors. They didn’t open for her as she’d expected.
“Power’s out,” Don said. He turned to Ashley. “You said the cell network is down?”
“Yes, why?”
“Then it’s not just the Koa.”
“Another EMP?” Ashley asked, her gaze snapping up to the sky.
“No. If it were an EMP, your van would have crapped out before we got here, and your phone is powered on and exposed, so it would have, too. Even the amplifier in your suit that you’re using to talk to us would be offline. This is just a garden variety blackout. Unless...”
Beth’s brow furrowed. “Unless what?”
“Unless they’re on to us already.”
“Shit,” Ashley muttered.
“That’s it,” Don said. “We need to get out of here.”
Just then the doors slid partway open, and Beth’s dad peeked out. “Beth! Where have you been?” He came out and fixed her with a dark look. “The school called to say you took off.”
“Your phones work?” Don asked.
Bill shot him a frown. “Until recently. What’s going on? You know what happened to the power?”
Don shook his head. “No clue. Sorry.”
“What are you doing here?” Bill’s eyes flicked to Ashley, then back to Beth. Her chest grew tight, suddenly realizing that they had no good reason for the three of them to be together.
“It’s my fault,” Ashley said. “I called them in for additional tests at the center.”
“Oh?” Bill asked. “Why them?”
Ashley shook her head. “They were selected at random.”
“I see. And what are you doing back here?”
“I gave Beth a ride from the center,” Don explained. “I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s fine,” Bill replied.
“And I’m here to take more samples,” Ashley added. “Is Corporal Gibson’s team here?”
Bill stared silently at her for several seconds before offering a reply. “No. They’re at Barking Sands.”
“Oh, I see...” Ashley trailed off. “What about Commander Wilde?”
“Yes, he’s here. Why?”
Ashley patted her black case of supplies. “I need to take samples.”
“The commander was also selected?” Bill asked.
“Yes,” Ashley replied, but Beth could hear the strain in her voice.
“He’s upstairs,” Bill said. “Room three oh six.”
“Thank you,” Ashley replied.
Bill’s gaze found Beth, and she flinched at the intensity of his stare. “You should go upstairs too. You’re grounded.”
“But Ashley needed me to—”
“I don’t care. You could have gone after school instead of sneaking out.”
“Fine,” Beth replied, pretending annoyance as she pushed by her dad in the entrance. Ashley followed, but Don hesitated. He was just Beth’s ride. He didn’t have a reason to be there.
“How’s the old gang?” Beth heard him ask. “Everyone still mooching off your generosity?”
“Everyone’s fine,” Bill replied.
“Mind if I come in? There’s something I wanted to ask Wilde about.”
Beth stopped just inside the entrance to listen to their conversation.
“The commander?” Bill asked.
“Yeah, he and I go way back. We served in Afghanistan together.”
“You did?”
“You didn’t know?” Don countered.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Well, I guess you and I didn’t spend a whole lot of time chatting. So, may I?”
“Go ahead,” Bill said.
Beth darted out of sight and up the stairs beside the elevators before he could catch her standing there. She caught up to Ashley on the second floor.
“Where’s Don?” Ashley whispered.
“Right here.”
Beth jumped at the sound of his voice and glared at him.
“What?” he asked.
She looked away with a frown, and they climbed the rest of the way to the third floor. “I have to go to my room,” Beth said, pointing to the end of the hall. “Come get me when you’re done?”
Don shook his head. “We need to stick together so we can make a quick exit.”
“And make them suspicious?” Ashley asked. “Not worth it. We’ll get you afterward.”
“On what pretense?” Don asked.
“I’ll think of something,” Ashley said. “Go to your room, Beth. We’ll see you there soon.”
“Okay,” Beth replied, nodding hesitantly before hurrying down the hall. When she arrived at the door, she ran her keycard through the battery-operated scanner and opened the door to find Melanie sitting on the couch, watching her as she came in.
“Beth! Where have you been? Your father and I have been worried sick!”
“That’s none of your business,” Beth replied, smiling thinly at her as she walked around the dining table, heading straight for the hallway to the bedrooms.
“Whether you like it or not, I’m going to be your stepmother!”
We’ll see. Beth shut and locked the door to her room behind her, feeling suddenly trapped. What if Ashley and Don couldn’t come up with an excuse to get her out? She’d be stuck here, surrounded by infected human impostors. Don’s warning came to mind: the minute they figure out we’re onto them, they’ll kill us to shut us up. Beth shuddered. She could imagine that Melanie might try to gut her with a knife, but surely her dad wouldn’t try to kill her, too.
She hoped Ashley would be able to convince Commander Wilde to help them. He probably had a gun with him, and Gibson’s team was out, so they’d be the only ones armed with actual weapons. With luck, that would be enough to give them a chance if it came to a fight.
Chapter 48
“Some people just came here from the CDC. Where are they?” Corporal Lee asked as he and his team strode into the lobby.
The owner of the resort pointed to the ceiling. “Upstairs. Room three oh six. They’re with Commander Wilde. Is something wrong?”
Lee glanced about, then nodded. “They know.”
“What do they know?”
“Everything,” Lee replied.
“What are you planning to do about it?”
“We’re going to take them back to the center, and then let the Seeders take care of them for us.”
“Good,” the owner replied, nodding.
“Where’s room three oh six?” Lee asked.
“This way. I’ll take you.”
Lee motioned to his team, and they followed the man to a nearby stairwell, then up those stairs to the third floor. Room 306 was just a few doors down from the top of the stairs. The owner led them there, then turned to them and said, “My daughter was with them. Do you need her as well?”
“Beth Steele?” Lee asked. “Yes, we need her.”
“She’s in our room. What do I tell her?”
“Orders are to be discreet. Tell her she’s infected with something and has to return to the center for analysis. No need to go into details.”
“All right. I’ll go get her.”
Lee nodded, then turned and rapped loudly on the door. “Doctor Carter? It’s Corporal Lee from the center. I need to speak with you urgently.”
* * *
Ashley froze at the sound of the corporal’s voice.
“Shit,” Don said.
“I can tell them to leave,” Wilde said.
“Something tells me that’s not gonna work,” Don replied. He drew a silver pistol from the waistband of his jeans.
Ashley’s eyes widened. “You brought a gun?” she whispered.
“That shouldn’t even be a question,” Don said.
&
nbsp; “Hang on,” Wilde said, shaking his head. “Let’s all just calm down.”
Bang, bang, bang! The door thundered with someone’s fist. “You’ve got three seconds to open this door,” Corporal Lee announced.
“Guess I’m not the only one losing their head,” Don said.
“I’ll take care of it,” Wilde insisted. “Give me a second.”
Don caught Ashley’s eye and shook his head. “Pack your stuff. If they see that microscope, they’ll know you weren’t just here to collect samples.”
The door clicked open, and Ashley heard the chain rattle as it snapped taut. “What’s the meaning of this, Corporal?”
“Sir, we need to take you all to the quarantine center immediately. Doctor Carter is infected with a dangerous pathogen of alien origin. You and anyone else she has been in contact with may have also been exposed.”
“Fascinating. That’s what Doctor Carter said about you and everyone else.”
Ashley grimaced at that. She’d barely had the time to finish explaining and demonstrating everything to Wilde before the corporal had shown up. She wondered who he would believe: this Marine, or her.
“Isn’t that exactly what an alien collaborator would say, sir?”
“Collaborator?” the commander echoed. “I thought we were talking about infections, not allegiances.”
Ashley was halfway through packing her bag when Don stopped her. “Jig’s up,” he whispered. “Doesn’t matter what they see now.”
She finished packing anyway.
“Open the door, sir. We need to escort you all to the center immediately.”
“Stand down, Corporal. I’ll escort them to the center. Leave it to me.”
“Negative, sir. They’re dangerous. You need backup.”
Ashley saw Commander Wilde’s hand stray to his sidearm. She held her breath and glanced around quickly, looking for a safe place to hide if the bullets started flying.
Don raised his voice, “If we’re infected with something, we should do as the corporal says.”
Commander Wilde glanced back at them with a frown, and Ashley noticed Don tucking his gun behind his back once more. They traded silent glances beyond the corporal’s line of sight.
The commander sighed theatrically. “One minute, Corporal.” He shut the door, but hesitated before opening it. His eyes were fixed on Don. “What are you planning?”
Don whispered, “You can still take us in your vehicle. Make sure that you do.”
“Open the door!” Corporal Lee demanded, pounding on it with his fist again.
Commander Wilde slid the chain off and opened up to find Lee pointing a rifle in his face.
“Get that weapon out of my face, Corporal!” The commander’s face flushed bright red.
But the corporal made no move to obey the order.
“Did you hear me?” Wilde asked darkly.
“Yes, sir, but I can’t do that, sir.”
Ashley saw three additional Marines standing behind the corporal, all of them aiming their rifles, too.
The corporal’s gaze found Ashley, and his eyes narrowed, but his aim never wavered from Commander Wilde. Ashley wondered if that was because the doctor wore a sidearm.
“Everyone out,” the corporal said.
Before Ashley could reply, she heard Beth’s voice, “Let me go!” Followed by her father’s—
“You’re needed at the center, Beth. They think you could be infected with something dangerous!”
Both Beth and her father stepped into view beside the Marines. Her dad had her trapped in a white-knuckled grip, and he seemed oblivious to the deadly confrontation with the Marines.
“Step outside, sir,” Lee said.
Commander Wilde looked like he was about to argue more—or burst a blood vessel—but then his cheeks returned to their normal color, and he nodded. “Very well.”
The Marines backed up, and Wilde stepped out. Don went next, followed by Ashley. She caught Beth’s eye as she stepped into the hallway. “Beth, it’s okay,” she said. “They just want to run a few follow-up tests on us.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Beth demanded. She kicked her dad in the shins. He winced but didn’t let her go.
“Trust me,” Ashley replied. She hoped Don’s plan was a good one. Her gaze skipped to the insubordinate corporal. “This is just a precaution, right? They don’t think we’re contagious. Otherwise, the CDC would be here—right, Corporal?”
His aim didn’t waver, but he blinked and nodded. “That’s right, ma’am.”
“Fine,” Beth harrumphed and jerked her arms free of her father. She turned to him with a scowl. “But you have to come too.”
“They don’t need me,” Bill said.
“They do,” she insisted. “I’m a minor, remember? They might need you to sign consent forms. Unless you just want me to forge your signature again...”
Bill frowned, and Ashley’s pulse sped up. She knew what Beth was doing—trying to sidle her father off in the hopes that they could cure him—but right now they had more pressing problems, like finding a way to escape from Corporal Lee before they wound up at the bottom of the harbor with bullet holes in their heads.
“Fine,” Bill said with a tight smile. “I’ll go.”
“Negative,” Corporal Lee said. “We don’t have room for five.”
“You won’t need it,” Wilde said breezily. “I’ll take them in my vehicle. You’re just the escort, remember?”
Corporal Lee looked uncertain. “Our orders are—”
“To take them back to the center,” the commander interrupted. “And I’m going to help you. Move out, Corporal.”
Lee hesitated before giving in with a nod. “After you, sir.”
Chapter 49
“We can take two in each of our vehicles, sir,” Corporal Lee said once they were all out in the parking lot.
Beth resisted the urge to turn and run while she still could.
“Negative, Corporal. They all ride with me,” Commander Wilde replied.
“Sir, with all due respect you don’t even have seatbelts for—”
The commander cut him off with a wave of his hand. “I’ve been tolerant of your insubordinate demands this far, but I won’t take another. The civilians ride with me. There’s no sense exposing yourselves to whatever they’ve been infected with any more than you have to.”
Corporal Lee had the look of a man who’d boxed himself into a corner. Beth resisted the urge to smile smugly at him. Staying together sounded a lot safer than riding with those impostors—even if it did nothing to change their destination. Beth hoped the others had some kind of plan.
“Very well, sir,” Corporal Lee said. “We’ll take point and rear.”
“Of course,” Commander Wilde replied.
“Move out!” the corporal said.
“Oorah!” his men replied in unison, and the four of them marched off in synchrony, their feet pounding the asphalt at exactly the same time.
Don looked like he wanted to say something about that, but then he glanced back at Beth’s dad and clamped his mouth shut.
“Let’s go,” Commander Wilde said, pointing to his Humvee. It was the one they’d seen when they arrived.
The five of them piled in. Ashley took the front seat to make room for her bulky suit, while Beth and Don each sat by the back doors, leaving her dad to perch on the flat-topped storage compartment running between their seats.
Don looked to be sweating through his shirt. His eyes were wide and darting. He laid his head back and gasped, squeezing them shut. “Fuck, not now...” he muttered.
“Are you okay?” Beth asked.
He shook his head quickly, his skin pale and waxy.
“What’s wrong with him?” Beth asked, her eyes flicking to Ashley.
The doctor twisted around as best she could. “Don?” she asked. “Don! Look at me. What’s going on?”
“I can’t...”
“Just breathe, okay? Deep, slow breaths.”<
br />
“What’s wrong with him?” Beth asked.
“He’s having a panic attack,” Commander Wilde said, and Ashley nodded inside her suit.
“Great timing,” Beth said.
“He can’t help it,” Ashley replied.
“Harden up, son!” Commander Wilde said.
“Yes... sir,” Don replied through clenched teeth. The glazed look in his eyes passed, and some of the color returned to his cheeks.
“Rolling out,” Commander Wilde said as he started the engine. Beth heard another Humvee rumbling along behind them and saw a third one flash its lights at them through Don’s window—the vehicle didn’t have a rear window. Beth noticed the third Humvee hanging back, giving them space. Commander Wilde reversed out and then accelerated after the lead vehicle.
Minutes later, they were rolling down the streets of Koloa at forty miles per hour, pinned front and back between their escort.
Apprehension constricted Beth’s throat. How were they going to get out of this? “Guys...” she began but trailed off when she saw her dad staring curiously at her.
“Yes, Bethy?” he prompted.
“Let’s not distract the driver with conversation right now,” Don interrupted. “Wait until we’re out on the highway.”
“Okay,” Beth replied in a small voice.
They passed the next ten minutes in silence. The town of Koloa fell away, replaced by the dense foliage of the three-lane highway between Koloa and Lihue.
Don stretched his arms...
And grabbed her dad in a choke hold. Bill’s feet began kicking and strangled noises spluttered from his lips as his face turned red.
“You’re killing him!” Beth cried.
Don shook his head. “He’s fine.”
“Let him go!” she screamed.
Bill struggled to pry Don’s arm away. When that failed he swiped blindly at Don’s face. Beth grabbed Don’s arm, trying to help Bill break free.
“Stop it!” Don said.
“Beth, he’s trying to knock your dad out,” Wilde added.
Beth withdrew, biting her lip, and watched miserably as her dad’s struggles became progressively weaker and more desperate. Ashley watched them with wide eyes.
“Ash, tell me you packed some kind of sedative in that bag of tricks!” Don said.
Under Darkness (A Sci-Fi Thriller) (Scott Standalones Book 1) Page 18