“Perfect. Just perfect,” Lionel said, growling while they watched Heather led away by the search parties and to the cars. The additional search group prevented them from ambushing Sylvia and the others. “So much for getting her out of here quietly.”
Mark breathed easy, happy that she was safe and seemed to be in good health. Sure, Heather was a bit of a mess. Yet considering her life on the lam these past months, she still looked fair, those familiar, comforting brown-hazel eyes poking out beneath soft, dyed chestnut hair. His heart did a little jump when he noticed that she still wore the scarf he gave her. He hoped her capture meant they could head home. But Lionel stayed hidden in the bushes with them, watching the group pass. “What are you thinking?” Oliver said. “Tail them in our car?”
“No, it would take too long to get back to ours and find them. But,” he said, turning and looking off into the forest, “maybe we can borrow ones of theirs. This way.” He took off into the trees. Mark guided Oliver quietly through, avoiding rocks and branches.
They stayed parallel to Sylvia’s group, following them back to the vehicles. Once there, Lionel selected a large police SUV near the rear of the vehicles and out of the general light, with two officers in the front seats. A window was cracked in the back. Lionel slipped inside, and a short time later he called for Mark and Oliver to open the back doors.
Mark opened the doors, and Lionel directed him to move the two dead bodies to the backseat. As he carried them, Mark tried to keep his head down and not look at their terrified, gaping mouths or touch their gradually cooling skin. Oliver helped him, and when they’d finished, Lionel crouched next to them. “Okay, the two of you get dressed. Then get in the front and act natural.”
The officers’ clothes were too small for Mark, even if he sucked in his stomach. He managed to hide that his uniform wasn’t completely buttoned when he sat down though. It felt dirty and disgusting to wear a corpse’s clothes. Mark planned to have a long, long shower when they were done.
Ahead, Sylvia and Lydia entered one of the Jeeps and left with several other cars. “That one has Heather,” Lionel said. “Start the car.”
Mark obeyed and inched around the line of other vehicles. The radio crackled with many rangers, employees, and police announcing their return to work or the end of their shift. They blended in with the others, heading toward the sunrise.
“Not too close,” Lionel said. “Keep your distance. Wait until we’re far away from the cops and this forest. Then we’ll take them.”
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Rogues of Overwatch Page 17
