by Elaine Meece
Megan turned to Annie, “Take Aiden and Libby out of here.”
Annie nodded.
Once they left, Megan stood over Hawkins and removed the pocket knife that had played such an important role in their escape as well as cutting Aiden’s umbilical cord. “I should’ve done this in the barn.”
Still paralyzed from the electrical current, he couldn’t speak. His eyes wide with fear.
Megan drew in a nervous breath and inched the blade toward his throat. Her breathing grew rapid. She didn’t want to kill him. But if she didn’t he’d come after them.
She thought of what he’d do to Libby if he took her back, then considered the other girls he had abused and the little girls he would abuse in the future.
Megan closed her eyes as she shoved the blade forward. He gasped, and his blood spattered her arm. She pulled back, then cleaned the blade and her arm on his shirt. “You’ll be preaching in hell today.”
Though his eyes remained open, the bastard was dead.
She quickly joined Libby and Annie. Now they had to deal with Dan. It was different with him. She didn’t think she could kill the father of her child.
♦♦♦
Annie recognized the guilt in Megan’s eyes. But killing someone like Hawkins was doing the world a favor. “Libby, go stand in the center and wave at the plane when it returns.”
Libby ran out to the middle of the airstrip and stood.
Dan left the hangar and spotted them. He walked toward them. His stern expression revealed his rage.
“You’ll have to do it. I can’t. Give me Aiden.” She traded the weapons for her baby, then cradled him against her.
“I’ll try.” Annie held the taser to her side, knowing what she had to do.
“You ladies are in some serious shit. I went out on a limb for you and your sister and you stabbed me in the back. Hawkins doesn’t plan for either of you to live.”
“Hawkins is dead.” Megan flashed him a defiant look. “I killed him.”
He grinned. “Hot damn, God just ordained me to take his place.” He glanced at Aiden. “I see you had the baby. Last thing I need is another little bastard to feed. You won’t be here to take care of him, but I’ll keep Libby. Make her my new wife.”
Annie swallowed back her anger, trying to remain calm. She waited for an opportunity to tase him.
Hearing the airplane return, Dan shielded his eyes from the sun and glanced skyward for a moment. Then he shifted his gaze to them as he pulled a gun from his waistband. “Ladies, this is one flight you’ll have to miss.” Dan pointed the pistol at Annie’s chest. “You die first. Hell, me and Megan were getting along fine till you showed up.”
Annie’s heart leapt. She had hesitated using the taser and now it was too late. She’d pay with her life.
“No, please, don’t,” Megan begged.
Libby covered her eyes.
He pulled the trigger. The hammer fell with a click on an empty chamber. His face showed his shock. “Son-of-a-bitch!”
Now!
She shoved the taser against his stomach. The current popped as volts of electricity flooded through him, sending him to the ground.
“Grab the rope in the tent,” Annie shouted.
Megan’s eyes questioned her. “You’re not going to kill him?”
“No. I don’t want my nephew to learn I’m the one who killed his daddy. Dan will go to prison.”
♦♦♦
Brice climbed from the cockpit and glanced at the wheels. As he feared, one of the tires had been destroyed while landing. He walked toward Annie. He didn’t care that she was dirty and probably smelled. He pulled her in his arms and held her. “I was worried sick about you.”
“I was starting to worry about you.” Annie stepped back and made introductions.
He studied Libby and Megan, taking in her soiled clothes soaked with blood. “You, ladies, okay?”
“We are now. Hawkins is dead. Dan is tied up, and the others will be coming this way,” Megan said.
A newborn cried out.
For the first time, he noticed Aiden. “I see we have a fourth passenger.”
“Born in a haystack yesterday.” Annie glanced at the small plane. “Where’s the jet?”
“I’ll explain later.
“Dan tried to shoot Annie,” Libby told Brice.
“I’m assuming he missed.”
“Not exactly. He forgot to pull the slide back,” Annie said. “There wasn’t a bullet in the chamber. I got lucky.”
Brice’s breath hitched. His chest tightened in anxiety as though his entire world was crashing down around him. “Annie, you could’ve died.”
“Apparently, it’s not my time.”
Megan frowned. “Don’t jinx us.” She glanced toward the driveway, then back to Brice. “Hawkins sent the sheriff for help. We need to leave.”
“In that case, we’ll need Dan’s gun. I’m afraid we can’t take off. That was a rougher landing than I’d expected. One of the tires got shredded.”
“Libby, hold Aiden,” Megan said. “I’ll go get the gun.”
“Don’t shoot yourself,” Annie said, then turned to Brice. “Is there a spare?”
“I didn’t see a FAK aboard,” Brice said. “So, I doubt there’s a spare.”
Annie motioned toward the hangar. “Can you use a tire from one of the old planes?”
He frowned. “I’m not sure. They’re probably dry rotted. I could radio for help.”
“We can’t sit here waiting for help. It could take hours for someone to get here. What do you need me to do?”
“I need something to use as a wheel chock for the other wheel. Go find a couple of big rocks. I don’t want it rolling while I’m working on it.”
Annie nodded. “Got it.”
“Right now, I need to figure out how to fix the tire.”
Not finding anything useful in the plane, Brice headed toward the old hangar. Outside the building, a graveyard of planes cluttered the ground. Most were hulls and had been stripped of all their parts. As he entered the hangar, he didn’t expect to find anything. The place had boxes of tools on the shelves. He’d hit the motherlode.
Brice found the tools he needed. He walked around the discarded planes but didn’t find a tire that wasn’t dry rotted or that had a smooth surface. Two of the planes had storage compartments. In the first one, he discovered a tire in good condition. After pumping up the tube, he headed back to the plane.
Walking back, the Arizona sun blared down on him. Dry red mountains ran across the land in the distance, looking like the spine of some prehistoric creature. The red, dry dirt blew up in his face, making him feel gritty.
What he wouldn’t give for a shower and a shave. The sun blinded him, causing him to squint. Dan laid to the side. Brice debated whether to untie him. If no one showed up, he could die.
Breathing the intense dry heat made his sinuses burn. The items Brice carried weren’t heavy. By the time he returned, he was parched. He guzzled down a bottle of water.
Annie had the rock in front of the other tire.
“You ladies sit in the tent. I’ll try to hurry, but it could take a while.”
“We’ll be in the hangar,” Megan said and walked that way. “I’ll shout if I see anyone.”
Annie waited until they had gone. “Hawkins’ body is in the tent. She doesn’t want Libby seeing it.” Rather than go with her sister she stood beside him, staring at the destroyed tire. “Fix that tire and get us out of here.”
“I’m for that.” Brice hadn’t done this but once. He wasn’t sure if this tire would fit. Before removing the tire from the axle, he depressurized it. He removed the cotter pin that secured the main axle nut and unscrewed it. With a grunt, he pulled the wheel free and slid it from the axle. Removing the brake was the tricky part.
Annie remained quiet while he worked. He was glad, because he wasn’t sure what he’d say. He wanted a few more days to think about his relationship with her. He didn’t want to
claim he loved her only to walk away.
Finally, she asked, “Anything else I can do to help?”
“Go get the others. As soon as I tighten it up, we’ll leave.”
Waves of intense heat radiated from the sun and washed over him. Everything was hot to the touch. A pair of oven mitts would be great to have right now.
Once they returned, he helped Libby and Annie climb into the storage space behind the seats. Then he helped Megan and Aiden in. He ran around to the other side and climbed in. “Buckle up. We’ve got company.”
There wasn’t time for a preflight check. Hopefully, the tire was the only thing damaged in the landing. He pulled the choke and turned the key. It started right up. He taxied down to the far end and turned, then started down the runway.
The sheriff’s car followed by a truck drove straight for them as though in a game of chicken.
Megan gasped. “He’s going to hit us!”
“I can’t see,” Annie said. “What’s going on?”
“Be glad you can’t.” Brice sighed. “Megan, keep a tight grip on Aiden.”
The plane barreled down the runway building speed. Brice had calculated it’d require more thrust with the added weight.
With the extra cargo, he needed to reach a ground speed of at least seventy to take off. As the vehicles closed the distance, Brice’s stomach twisted. He didn’t think they’d lift before smashing into the patrol car.
Chapter Twenty-two
“That crazy bastard!” Brice cried out. “He’d better stop.’
Megan prayed out loud.
With less than twenty feet between them, Brice drew in a deep breath and moved the throttle to full power. The small plane lifted and barely cleared the vehicles. The men in the back of the pickup ducked as they went over.
The small plane soared upwards, leaving the sheriff and men behind. He’d expected to be fired on, but no one did. Maybe because any plane that crashed would bring out the FAA to investigate. That could lead to an investigation of the commune.
Brice grinned. “Ladies, you’re free.”
Libby and Annie whistled and cheered from behind the seats.
Brice grinned. “Annie, our mission was a success.”
“Yes, we did it. We’re almost home-free.”
“Thank you, Jesus,” Megan whispered. “And thank you both for coming after us.”
“I’m just glad it went well,” Annie said. “And we did it without getting a scratch on Cynthia’s jet.”
Brice checked the ALT. No reason to fly too high since they only had fifty miles to go. After he leveled out, he trimmed the air plane to maintain a level flight.
Nearing GYR, he radioed the tower control that he was six miles out and requested to land. Considering he was the only plane in the sky, it wasn’t a problem. Fortunately, Ben didn’t charge him over the three thousand for being late. Brice added the cost to replace the tire.
They wouldn’t fly back to Atlanta until the next day. He decided to remain at the Buckman motel and let Annie take Megan and Aiden to a hospital. They could stay in Phoenix. If lucky, maybe he’d be able to override Vega I before they returned.
♦♦♦
After landing, Annie and her family changed into clothes she had left on the Citation. The jet was supplied with feminine hygiene products, but didn’t have anything for Aiden other than clean hand towels. When they took a taxi into Phoenix Annie had the driver to stop at a Walmart where she purchased items for Aiden. They checked into the Hampton Inn on Catalina in mid-town near the hospital. Once mother and son had bathed and dressed, they climbed into a taxi. “St. Joseph on West Thomas,” Annie said.
Annie and Libby waited for the doctor to see Megan. The hospital decided to keep them overnight. Aiden’s little belly button was infected, and he had a terrible diaper rash due to the makeshift diapers.
Annie and Libby stopped by the Phoenix FBI office and disclosed the truth about Cactus Point. The female agent informed them she’d still need to speak with Megan.
Annie used the evening to take Libby shopping. They took a taxi to Paradise Valley Mall and shopped at Macy’s. They picked up everything they needed and ended the evening eating at Chipotle’s. Libby hadn’t slowed down on the junk food.
“Slow down, kiddo, or those clothes we just bought won’t fit.”
Libby smiled. “It’s just so good. I haven’t had food like this in ages. I don’t want to ever look at another potato.”
Annie laughed. While Libby finished off an ice cream cone, she noticed Brice had texted her. The grounded warning issued had been lifted.
As soon as the hospital released her sister and they returned to GYR, they’d fly to Atlanta. It troubled her that he hadn’t called.
He wants to avoid talking.
The following morning, they made it to the hospital. They carried clothes for Megan and a big car seat for the baby. Annie and Libby entered the hospital room.
Megan held Aiden in her arms. “Guess what?”
Annie shook her head. “What?”
“Aiden’s full term. My calculation was off. They gave us both a clean bill of health and an antibiotic ointment for his belly button. We can leave as soon as they prepare the discharge papers.”
When several FBI agents entered, Annie recognized the apprehension on Megan and Libby’s faces. They didn’t trust anyone. “It’s all right. Libby and I spoke with them yesterday. But they need to ask you some questions.”
“We’ll make this brief,” the female agent said. “We found the bodies of four girls where you said to look. So far, they haven’t been identified. Dan James has been arrested.”
When the agent asked Megan about killing Hawkins, her sister’s face drew a blank. “I…”
Annie interrupted. “My sister did what she had to do to not only save herself but to save her children. He didn’t intend to let any of us live.”
The agent nodded. “No, I’m sure he didn’t.”
After all statements were given, the agent pinned her gaze on Megan. “We have enough against Cactus Point to close it down. We’ll make sure all the women and children receive help. We’re not detaining you. You’re free to go. Are you willing to testify against Dan in court?”
Megan nodded. “Yes, I will.”
That afternoon, they arrived back in Buckman. Brice met them on the jet’s steps. “You ladies clean up well.”
“You do too,” Annie said, noticing he’d shaved. You got a lot of sun yesterday.”
“More than I wanted.” He came down the steps and reached for the car seat. “Let me carry Mr. Aiden. Go take your seats. We’re about to depart.”
“Has Vega I quit behaving like a bitch?” Annie asked, playfully.
He chuckled. “Finally, thank God. She has relinquished her control. Vega I is once again just the copilot, and I don’t plan to involve her on the trip home. I’m not sure why I couldn’t override her and regain control.”
Annie directed Megan and Libby to seats, then put the four large shopping bags she carried away. “Buckle up. He’s already completed the preflight check. We’re ready to request departure.”
Rather than sit in her seat, she sat with Megan and Libby. She didn’t want to go inside the cockpit. She wasn’t ready for Brice to announce he was returning to Shea.
The engines roared on the Citation as it rolled down the runway. It lifted upward.
Megan nursed Aiden, and Libby painted her fingernails a bright blue. Something the commune wouldn’t permit.
Megan smiled at Annie. “Thanks for everything you’ve done. In ten lifetimes, I could never pay you back.” She looked sad. “I guess we’ll have to move back in with Mom and Dad.”
“No way,” Annie said. “You’re coming to my house.”
“We can’t impose,” Megan said.
“Don’t argue about it. I want you staying with me.”
The intercom came on.
“Annie, I need you in the cockpit.”
Annie’s heartbeat s
urged, but she remained calm on the surface not wanting Megan and Libby to sense her concern. The jet didn’t seem to be having any problems. They hadn’t hit any pockets of turbulence. Maybe, he wanted to talk about their relationship. “I’ll be right back.”
Annie entered the cockpit. Immediately, her gaze landed on the robot that sat in the seat fully activated with glowing eyes and a humming sound coming from inside it.
“I thought you weren’t going to use it.”
“I disconnected it from the jet’s power source. I didn’t activate it. It’s connected to our Internet and is running on its power pack.”
Vega I checked with ASOS for an updated weather report, but then rattled out sequences of numbers rather than words.
“What do you want me to do?” Annie asked.
He initiated autopilot. “Bring me the FAK from the back.”
When she returned, Brice used the tools to help remove the robot’s back panel. It came off with ease. He tried to yank the power pack from it with no luck. Then he wedged a screwdriver beneath it and forced it off. “Holy shit. We’re in trouble.”
Annie’s stomach lodged in her throat. “Oh, my God!”
A digital clock secured to a mass of colored wires registered the depletion of time as it counted down.
“Seconds or minutes?” Annie asked, trying to remain calm.
“If it’s seconds, we’re dead.”
Twenty seconds passed without the jet exploding.
The minutes counting down continued.
“Can we make it to TUC in Tucson?” Annie asked.
“No. PHX is closer. I’m turning around and heading back. I’m going to get us to Phoenix in a hurry.” After turning around, he called the tower. “Mayday, Mayday. This is N303EC nine miles southeast, traveling at 300KTS. I have an activated bomb aboard. Request to land.”
“Did you say bomb?”
“Yes. I repeat; I have an activated bomb onboard. I have four passengers besides myself. If the clock on the damn thing is right, we have less than seven minutes.”
