Snatched

by Michael Arches

  It occurred to Leo that Langer might demote him, which would be great except that Leo would probably lose his head in the process. Not so great.

  “Goddammit!” Langer said. “Get as many preggers out of there as you can in one trip. Pack them into the truck like sardines. If you have to leave anyone, make sure the troublemakers stay. And leave no witnesses alive.”

  He hung up without saying goodbye.

  Dominique snickered. “Well, that went better than I expected. He’s got a nasty temper. I’ve heard incredible stories about him torturing anyone who fails to carry out ridiculous orders.”

  Leo thought the same but didn’t say so. “It’ll probably take us fifteen minutes to load everybody up and an hour to get to the airport.”

  She nodded. “Our plane is refueled and waiting. I’ll drive ahead. Follow as quickly as you can. We’ll wait for you as long as possible. Fortunately, the airport is out in the open, so if the police approach we’ll see them coming from a distance. For God’s sake, hurry.”

  -o-o-o-

  Homestead House

  Athena greeted the girls as they approached the porch but paid no particular attention to Cici. She acted just as casual. All of them helped Rick carry the food inside so the women with kitchen duty could make breakfast.

  Once most people congregated in the kitchen, Athena hobbled toward the staircase and slowly climbed the stairs.

  As she hoped, Cici followed. When they reached Athena’s bedroom and closed the door, the girl grinned and whispered, “I’ve been dyin’ to talk to you since last night, girlfriend. Think I found what ya wanted.”

  Electricity seemed to crackle in every nerve in Athena’s body. “Jesus, you found the Wi-Fi password?”

  Cici beamed. “Sure as hell hope so. Found two passwords in the same place. Yeah, I’m that good! One’s got both numbers and letters, and the other’s just numbers.”

  The first one sounded good. The second was probably a PIN for a phone, tablet, or computer. “Start with the first one.”

  Athena whipped out her iPod.

  Cici chanted, as though reciting a poem, “Walt in house, exclamation point, all-caps WANT TO SHIMMY, number 6, shift china hat.” When she said hat, she formed an inverted V with her hands.

  It was a mnemonic. “Think I got it.” As Cici had spoken, Athena had typed Wih!WTS6^.

  Cici grinned. “Looks like. Try it.”

  Athena clicked on the Log In button to send the password. Nothing seemed to happen, but that was good. At least, the damned thing hadn’t given her an immediate error message. “Sweet, so far. How did you find it?”

  “Sister, I searched everywhere in his office while he was tied up with that Mexican woman downstairs. Then I noticed his Russian-English dictionary on the credenza behind his desk. I’d seen it earlier, and it’d been moved. The thing is, his English is better’n mine. He don’t need no fuckin’ dictionary. I picked it up, gently flipped through the pages, hopin’ a slip of paper would fall out. Didn’t happen, but the book naturally wanted to open on page 40. You know how a book’ll do that after you keep turnin’ to a specific page.”

  Athena knew exactly what she meant. Her books often seemed to remember preferred pages, too. “Girl, you’re a genius!”

  Before either of them could say any more, the iPod’s home screen appeared.

  Athena was so excited she felt lightheaded. “Hot damn, kid! We’re in.”

  The device asked for an Apple ID and password. Athena tapped hers in. Next, she clicked on the iMessage icon.

  A text box opened. She typed in Beau’s phone number, and in the message box, Beau, it’s Chris. We’re at an abandoned camp. Homestead House. In the foothills, about ten miles west of Blanding, Utah. Over sixty prisoners now. At least ten armed guards. Come get us fast. Lots of people being killed. Forest fire real close! Worst of all, Dominique Santiago showed up. On your Most Wanted list. Hurry!

  Over the last two days, Athena had thought of a lot more she’d wanted to say, but it wouldn’t come to mind. If she remembered, she could always send another message. Wasn’t going to wait another second. She clicked Send.

  “Fantastic, Cici, you may have saved all our asses. Now, get yourself back downstairs and pretend you don’t know me.”

  The girl giggled and waved as she took off.

  Just as she left, the lights in the room turned off. Has the generator broken down or ran out of fuel? Did my text get out in time?

  She checked the iMessage app, and it was in the Sent file. But no response.

  Chapter 26

  San Juan County Sheriff’s Department, Monticello

  Yang and the local sheriff were pairing FBI agents together with deputies when Beau received a text.

  “Holy shit!”

  Yang looked at him like something the cat dragged in. “Care to share?”

  “Definitely. I just got a text from, of all people, Christina Nielsen!”

  He read the text.

  People started clapping and cheering. No more worries about searching across Utah and Nevada. Beau’s throat tightened so much he could hardly speak for a moment.

  Then, in a high-pitched squeak, he said, “I-I can’t believe it! Anybody know where Homestead House is?”

  “You betcha,” Moore said. “About an hour’s drive from here, less with lights and siren. It’s on the south side of the mountains to the west of us. I thought the place was vacant. Used to be one of those rehab centers for teens, basically a private prison where parents stuck their out-of-control drug addict children until they turned eighteen.”

  “It did shut down, about a decade ago,” one of the deputies said. “Listen, that whole area is under a mandatory fire evacuation order.”

  Beau’s stomach dropped. “How close is it to flames?”

  The sheriff sighed. “Danged close. The wind shifted overnight. Now, it’s blowing one fire straight to that rehab place.”

  “What should I text back?” Beau asked.

  “Hang on,” Yang said. “We’re an hour away. Coming in force.”

  Beau sent the text.

  “Listen,” Moore said, “A few of us might be able to get there much quicker. The Utah National Guard lent us a helicopter we use to move firefighters around. It’ll carry seven passengers in seats plus room for cargo or people.”

  “Athena says they have ten guards,” Yang said. “I hate to drop in outgunned.”

  The sheriff shook his head. “Betsy will blow them away, Stephen. Pick two of your men.”

  Then, Moore pointed at two of his biggest guys. “Jack and Hiram, you’re with us. Everybody else hit the road and get there as quick as you can. Move out.”

  -o-o-o-

  Homestead House

  A dozen shots boomed in the yard outside the dorm.

  Athena had returned downstairs, and she ran to a window see what was going on.

  She couldn’t see much but the truck backed up close to the main dorm building again. Thick smoke swirled down low, blocking her view of parts of the log house. Santiago’s SUV was gone, which was a relief. Athena already had enough to worry about.

  As she was turning away, Leo stepped into view in front of the truck. He removed a magazine from his pistol and reloaded before firing into the front of the truck’s cargo area, namely the wall visible above the cab. Then, he walked to the back and shot a dozen more holes into the tailgate. What? Ventilation?

  Two guards burst into the main dormitory. One said, “Everybody outside, now! We’re leaving. Don’t bring anything except the clothes you have on. No need for coats.”

  Oh, no. Athena’s heart leaped into her throat. Dammit, just when I thought we had a chance to be saved, we’re leaving again.

  She hurried into the closest bathroom to dash off another text. But the iPod still had no Wi-Fi connection.

  Athena strode over to Maggie, who was lying on one of the sofas, and whispered, “We’re taking off again—before hel
p can arrive. I think I managed to send a text to the FBI, but it’s probably too late.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” the older woman said. “I can barely move, and forget about me walking, or even standing.”

  Jackie joined them. For some reason, the guards left the three of them alone while they forced everybody else out of the building.

  Athena returned to a window. The women and girls were being loaded into the truck. All of them stood, tightly crammed together. Was Leo going to try to move everyone with that truck? It was too small.

  Soon, there was only enough room for a half-dozen more people in the vehicle. Leo pointed at Doctor Wu and motioned for her to get moving.

  She yelled at him, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her up the ramp. Most of the guards followed and stood with her at the very back of the truck. Leo pulled down the tailgate and latched it.

  He motioned for a handful of women still outside to follow him into the dorm, and he strode over to Maggie, Jackie, and Athena.

  When they were all together, he said, “I simply don’t have room for everyone. I’m supposed to shoot you, but I’ve never killed a woman who hasn’t shot at me first. You’re free, but the forest fire is quickly surrounding us. You’ll have to run for it. We’ll leave the gates open, but stay inside this building until we’re gone, or I will shoot you.”

  “What about Maggie?” Athena fired back.

  He shook his head. “You can use the supply cart to take her with you if you want. Life is full of hard choices, ladies. Sorry.”

  Overwhelmed with disgust, Athena couldn’t speak. She just motioned him away.

  He fired eight shots into the ceiling and strode out. The five newcomers and Athena followed him to the door but stayed inside.

  “Would you mind helping me push Maggie down the driveway to the Forest Service road?” Athena asked.

  None of the women would look at her, but one said, “I don’t know you or owe you anything. Just want to get back to Atlanta. Bringing her will get us all killed.”

  Leo and two other guards jumped into the truck’s cab. The engine roared, and they took off. As soon as the truck disappeared, the five women ran toward the gate without a backward glance.

  She scanned the hillsides surrounding the narrow valley. Fires were raging all around the compound now, at least as far as she could tell with so much smoke around. The poisonous fumes burned her nose and throat. We have to get the hell outta here.

  She used her stick and walked to the supply building and grabbed the two-wheeled garden cart the guards had used to move food. It was made of plywood, about four feet wide and five feet long. Maggie could lie in it, but her feet would stick out the back and press against the metal handle that looped around the back.

  Athena pulled the cart over to the dorm. By holding the handle with both hands, she had no trouble maintaining her balance. Jackie stood in the open doorway.

  “This is our only chance to take Maggie,” Athena said. “Can you grab some blankets for her to lie on?”

  “Sure,” and a moment later, Jackie returned. She and Athena helped Maggie to stand.

  “Really bad idea,” their Fearless Leader said. “I appreciate your goodwill so much, but your only chance to survive is to take off now. Go with my best wishes. Leo’s a bastard, but he’s right this time.”

  “Fuck that!” Athena and Jackie said together.

  “Get in the cart,” Athena said, “or we’ll drag you to it.”

  Without waiting for Maggie to respond, Athena and Jackie lifted her by the elbows, hauled her outside to the cart, and laid her inside next to the walking stick. Then Athena grabbed the handle on each side and pushed Maggie toward the gate.

  Jackie offered to help, but Athena turned her down. Her friend was barely strong enough to walk on her own, still recovering from her long and difficult labor.

  The ground was rough, but they had to move quickly. The fire was racing ahead of them.

  Athena took off at a fast walk, as quickly as she could move with her awkward gait, and hoped Jackie could maintain that pace.

  Athena made her voice as cheery as possible. “Follow the yellow brick road.”

  “Right behind you!” Jackie said.

  Athena pushed Maggie down the rough double track. Jackie did her best to keep up, but Athena heard her stumble several times. But each time she glanced back, Jackie was close behind.

  The women who’d left before them were long gone. That was a damned shame because Athena could’ve used the help. She pushed her annoyance out of her mind. Had to focus on the here and now. If they didn’t make enough progress, they’d burn to death or die of smoke inhalation.

  The strong north wind blew thick clouds of smoke over them, and the fires above them on the hillsides were advancing faster than Athena and Jackie could move. Maggie lay stretched out in the cart and groaned often as she got knocked around, but she didn’t complain. A layer of white ash and black cinders soon covered them.

  Why did Leo wait so long? Are we supposed to be grateful that he didn’t shoot us?

  Before she could figure that out, she heard a helicopter approaching low and fast from the south. The smoke was so thick that even as it seemed to fly almost overhead, Athena didn’t see it through her half-closed left eye caked with ashes mixed with tears.

  “Do you think they spotted us?” Jackie asked.

  Athena shook her head, and she ached with regret. It looked like her message had gotten through, and the FBI had mobilized much faster than she expected. They would’ve been better off staying at the compound. Oh, Jesus, why didn’t we trust them?

  Her remorse brought her to tears. Should she go back alone using her walking stick? There was no way she could push Maggie back up the hill, and Jackie probably couldn’t make it back either. Plus, now that the compound was empty, why would the chopper hang around? Totally confused, she kept moving down the seemingly endless driveway leading to the Forest Service road.

  Her throat was already raw and sore from breathing so much smoke and coughing. Rivulets of sweat ran off of her like she was in a sauna and mixed with the ash to form patches of slime on her skin.

  The simple truth was, they’d made their choice. Now, they had to live with it.

  Several times, one of the cart’s wheels hit a particularly large rock. Each time, the cart almost flipped forward, which would’ve dumped poor Maggie onto the ground. Luckily, Athena was a big woman and kept a tight grip on each side of the cart’s handle. But her strength was fading, particularly on the left side. That part of her seemed feebler than ever.

  She kept looking ahead through gaps in the smoke, seeking the spot where the hill on each side dropped almost straight down to the road. A narrow opening had been carved by the creek and widened by the old miners, but hundreds of trees and bushes grew right alongside the driveway there. Athena, Jackie, and Maggie had to reach that section before it caught fire, or they’d be trapped in a poisonous tunnel full of smoke and flames.

  Then, again, the helicopter passed somewhere overhead, this time heading south. Once more, Athena couldn’t see a damned thing. Jackie seemed to be in a trance and didn’t react to the thundering roar of the rotors. Maybe she was too discouraged to say anything. So much ash had fallen on her and Maggie that they looked like ghosts. The same with the occasional deer or smaller animal that raced past them trying to outrun the inferno.

  Chapter 27

  After what seemed like a lifetime, Athena spotted the narrow gap she’d worried about. Too late. Thickets of trees and bushes surrounding the driveway burned furiously, creating an uninterrupted wall of flames. Every bit of strength within her seemed to dissolve into nothingness. She couldn’t hold the cart handle up anymore.

  With her burning, half-closed left eye, she turned to check on Jackie. The poor woman had been stumbling along, a dozen feet behind, but now, she bent over at the waist and wheezed.

  “Chris, I can’t go on!” she gaspe
d. “My lungs are burning, and I’ve got a stabbing pain down low. Save yourselves.” She collapsed to the rocky ground, her body blending into the ash and soot covering everything around them.

  “Forget that!” Athena yelled back. “You aren’t getting out of this nightmare that easy, girl. We’re all in this together. Nobody gets left behind. I’ll add you to the cart. There’s enough room.”

  Athena lifted Jackie under her arms and settled her into the cart next to Maggie, who was barely conscious.

  But when Athena lifted the metal handle in the back, it creaked and threatened to snap off. The damned cart hadn’t been designed to handle so much weight.

  But it was their only chance to stay together and survive.

  With each bump, the cart groaned and creaked, like it was falling apart. And the flames in front of them were white-hot like they were walking into a blast furnace.

  Jackie gave her a furtive glance, as if to say, This can’t end well.

  Athena agreed, but they had no choice. “The faster we get this over with, the better.”

  “Just do it,” Jackie said. “Either way, it’s going to be over soon.”

  Athena pushed the cart forward. One wheel hit a rock she hadn’t seen because her eyelashes were almost sealed shut by ash soaked with tears. The card’s right wheel snapped off, and that side of the cart crashed to the ground. Jackie slid onto Maggie. Athena eased both of them out of the cart.

  Athena raised her face upward and screamed. “This whole stinking, fucking mess is because of Hugo Langer. If I ever see him in hell, I’ll choke that bastard with my bare hands for eternity.”

  But her fury wasn’t doing anyone any good.

  “Damn, Jackie, sorry I lost my head for a second. I can try to carry Maggie through first, walking slow to stay upright, then come back to get you.”

  “It’s the only option left,” Jackie said. “I’ll crawl forward on my own, as best I can until you can get back.”

  Athena tried to lift Maggie, but the woman was unconscious—and incredibly heavy. Athena had seen soldiers carry other soldiers using the fireman’s carry, but she didn’t know the trick to it.