by G. K. Parks
“Then what the hell are we doing in here? Shouldn’t we explore?” I asked, but he held out an arm to stop me from passing.
“Not today, Indy. The files are our priority. Those tunnels lead somewhere. I’ll have the surveillance units scout for their endpoints.” He closed a drawer. “This could be how Wilde manages to come and go without anyone realizing it. This is a total game-changer.” He finished searching the dresser. “We need to move. Did you find anything?”
Using an empty plastic bag, I held up what looked like a metal shoehorn. “What the hell is this?”
Decker came closer to examine the item. “Some kind of laryngoscope,” he guessed.
“That’s better than what I was thinking.”
He tilted his head, examining it from another angle. Then he snapped a quick photo. “Anything else?” he asked, and I shook my head. The rest of the drawers had been empty. “Let’s go.”
He cracked the door open and peered into the hallway. As soon as he was certain we were alone, he stepped out first to make sure the mini EMP deactivated the camera and signaled for me to cross the hall and unlock the door to the file room. Once the door unlocked, we proceeded inside in a similar fashion. Decker looked around, clearly in awe at the volume of potential evidence.
The two of us made quick work of the locked drawers, prioritizing Wilde’s ledger and rolodex first. After that, we moved on to the files he was keeping on each of his followers. Decker was a whiz at scanning in the pages with the handheld scanner, and he was making good progress on that front. While he did that, I gave the other filing cabinets a more thorough search, checking for anything hidden or valuable amongst the financial and legal records.
While we hurriedly worked to process everything, time flew by. A noise from downstairs stopped us in our tracks, and Decker checked his watch. “Shit.” He looked at me. “We need to get this cleaned up and get out of here.” He finished the last page of the file, checking the drawer. He had gone through about two-thirds of the folders while I had made a similar dent in the financial and legal documents. Closing the drawers as quietly as possible, he checked to make sure we hadn’t left anything out while I made sure all the drawers were locked. Then he reactivated the EMP and opened the door. Muffled voices sounded from below, and Decker crept into the hallway. “Come on,” he whispered.
While I thought it’d be better to remain where we were, inside a locked room, it didn’t exactly provide much of an escape route. We needed to get back downstairs before the rest of the group returned for supper. Decker hugged the wall, gesturing that I remain behind him. Our gear was safely tucked away, but just being upstairs was considered a violation.
“I need to check on something. Get started. I’ll be there in a sec,” Tim bellowed.
Frantic, Decker swiveled his neck, searching for another way out. We were trapped. “Get the door open. We’ll take the tunnels.” Dashing back toward the door, I pulled my picks free, willing my fingers to tease the tumblers into place. The footsteps on the staircase grew louder, and I realized we didn’t have enough time. “Come on. Come on,” Decker kept repeating to the door. When he heard the third step from the top creak, he hauled me to my feet, pressed me against the wall, and shielded me from Tim. “One of us needs to get out of this with the evidence. In the event he doesn’t buy our excuse, make sure you get everything and get it back to the team.”
“Fuck that,” I whispered, grasping his shoulders and hooking my legs around his waist. “Oh, Jace,” I moaned loudly, making our presence very apparent, “oh god, right there.” Decker buried his face in my neck, gripping my back and knocking his forearms against the wall with a repeating, thudding echo.
“Ahem,” Tim said from the other end of the hallway. He wasn’t pleased that his newest couple was potentially copulating a few feet from his bedroom. I wasn’t sure if it was because he wasn’t getting some or because we were upstairs, but his annoyance was obvious.
“Shit,” I cursed, dropping my legs.
Decker smirked, pressing his forehead against mine while he pantomimed zipping his pants and we both pretended to adjust our clothing. “Damn, you’re good.”
“You say that every time, babe.” I winked. Adopting a humiliated grin, I held the look for when Decker stepped away. “Oh my god…Tim…I…,” I sputtered, covering most of my face in my hands. “We…I…shit.”
“Tim,” Jace was serious, practically stoic, “I’m so sorry. We were downstairs, and we really needed some privacy, y’know. Everyone was outside. The lights were on the fritz, and it was kinda romantic. One thing led to another, and I thought we wouldn’t get caught.” At least that part was true.
Tim gave us both a hard stare. “Fine.” He focused on Jace. “This wasn’t exactly what I meant when I gave you instructions.” Jace bowed his head, understanding that this was punishment. Then Tim turned to me. “Really, Alex, I would have thought you’d have more self-respect than this. Does the thought of being caught make you hot?”
I stared at the floor. The thought of finding evidence against Tim made me pretty damn hot. “A little,” I said in a meek voice. “It won’t happen again. Please don’t throw me out.”
He waved us both off like we were nothing more than a nuisance. “Return to the trailer until you remember that the point of this church is to establish inner peace and reach enlightenment. Your actions were rash and far from what I would expect from either of you.” He took a key from his pocket and unlocked his bedroom door. “Now go.”
“We’re so sorry,” Decker said, ushering me past the doorway. “I promise it’ll never happen again.”
Decker looped an arm around my waist when we made it to the ground floor, pressing his lips against my temple as we made our way toward the exit. No one interrupted or stopped our escape, and I realized that as a group they were standoffish whenever a couple was in their presence. Collectively, they were uncomfortable with any type of romantic exchange, even though logic dictated that it was usually the minority group that was made to feel uncomfortable instead. Pondering the odd dichotomy of the situation, I decided it was best to appreciate the swift escape.
“Tim is furious,” Decker said as he unlocked the door. “I don’t like this.”
“I’m sorry.” Perhaps my plan wasn’t the best. I’d used that particular move with mixed results several times in the past.
Locking the door behind us, Decker went to the pantry, removed the false back, and did a quick sweep for bugs. Then he emptied his pockets and began uploading the data from the scanner to the DEA server so the team could begin analyzing it. “You have no reason to be sorry. We didn’t have another play.” He rubbed his mouth. “In the moment, I’m sure he bought it. But once he starts thinking about it, it really doesn’t make a ton of sense.”
“Maybe I’m a freak.” I handed him the memory card from my device. “Blame me.”
“That wouldn’t be very gentlemanly.” He began the upload and lifted the evidence bag we had collected. “He can search the entire upstairs, but we were careful. Everything should be the way it was.” Once the upload completed, he placed everything into a second bag, sealed it, and phoned Matt. “I need a dead drop pick-up at the gas station. We’ll go now and leave it in the usual place.”
He hung up, locked the tech gear back in the pantry, and checked the clip in his weapon. A quick run to the convenience store wouldn’t make matters any worse. After tucking the collected evidence inside a brown fast food bag and folding it over several times, Jace dropped the bag on the ground beside the trashcan. Then we entered the store.
“Grab whatever you want,” he said. “I’ll pick up the essentials.”
While he scanned the aisles for whatever reasonable excuse we needed for our departure, I grabbed a few magazines and puzzle books. Brilliant green eyes stared at me from a glossy cover, and I stopped dead in my tracks. Picking up the business magazine, I ran my fingers against the outline of Martin’s face. He was the featured article for starting a ne
w tech movement. He probably had the cover framed in his office. Hell, he probably handed out autographed copies too.
Adding the magazine to my purchase pile, I grabbed a couple others to mask the real reason for the purchase and met Jace at the register. He smiled at me, adding toilet paper, light bulbs, batteries, condoms, and a box of fruit bars to our order. Obviously, we must have been in desperate need of at least one of those things. On our way out, we passed Eckhardt, who was wiping a spilled slurpee off his shirt and tossing the used napkins into the trash. I caught sight of him in the side mirror, picking up the brown bag. Maybe things were turning around today. We had gained a lot. Now we just had to wait for the team to analyze it.
Thirty-two
It was getting late in the evening. Decker decided that it’d be best if we avoided the evening ritual and the main facility in general. Since we were being shunned for our bad behavior, we should wait to be invited back to the collective. A bit uncertain of where to start now that we had obtained so much intel, Decker pulled out a map of the area that contained an aerial view of the compound. While we waited for dinner to heat, we discussed the possible purposes of the hidden tunnel.
“You’ve never seen any openings on the property?” I asked. “What about large drainage pipes or city access tunnels to gas lines or sewers?”
“No, nothing like that.” He looked up with a straight face. “Have you noticed any alligators or rats roaming around?”
For a moment, I didn’t understand the question. Then I glared, realizing he was making fun of my thought process. For all intents and purposes, this was a rural area. There weren’t gas lines or sewers. The co-op had a septic system and electricity. It was amazing we even had running water. “No, but the next time I take the subway, I’ll let you know.”
He grinned. “You do that.” After putting away the maps, he moved dinner to the table. “You weren’t kidding about the files. The team will work that around the clock. I hate that I didn’t finish, but after this afternoon, we can’t afford to get caught again. You’ve already been spotted up there twice. I don’t know if Tim believes in three strikes, but you shouldn’t push it.”
“We could always take the tunnel out.”
“Except for the fact that we don’t even know if it leads out.” Whatever Decker was thinking, he didn’t want to share it. “I hope we have something actionable. You copied everything from the ledger and rolodex, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
He grimaced. “Why do you do that? I’m only asking for verification. I’m not questioning your intellect or abilities.”
“Well, my secondary response would have been to say ‘I thought that was your job’, but you might not realize it was a joke.” I speared a beet with my fork and popped it into my mouth. Chewing was a nice way to avoid conversation.
“So in other words, you’re questioning my intellect and abilities. I see how it is.” He continued to watch me throughout dinner. When we were finished, he leaned back, leaving the dishes on the table. “Why do you do this?”
Before I could ask what he was referencing this time, Wilde knocked on the trailer door. “I’ll get it.” Opening the door, I offered Tim a polite smile. “Would you like to come inside?”
Wilde shook his head. “No, thank you. We missed you at supper and for the evening ritual.” He looked into the trailer. “I can see that you’re having supper here. I don’t want to intrude. I just needed to speak to Jace for a moment.”
I stepped away from the door, turning to find Decker a few steps behind me. “Tim,” he moved closer, and I backed into the kitchenette, “we really do regret our hasty actions earlier.” He took a step out of the trailer, pulling the door closed behind him.
Dammit. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. At least I had a slight visual from the kitchenette window. Leaning over the sink, I pretended to busy myself with the dishes while I maintained eyes on Decker. Wilde was dangerous, and while it would have been incredibly stupid to do something to Decker right outside the trailer, I didn’t quite put it past him. The conversation continued for about ten minutes. Finally, Jace held out his hand, and Wilde pulled him into a one-armed hug. He released him, waving goodbye and moving back toward the main building. Decker waited several moments before opening the door and coming inside.
“Did you kiss and make up?” I asked.
Decker shook his head, as if the entire thing were a bad memory. “I guess so.” He focused on me. “Wilde wanted to make sure that you weren’t too upset or embarrassed about earlier, and he clarified his previous instructions. I should keep you satisfied, just as long as it doesn’t jeopardize the integrity of the church. Apparently, you’re scandalous.”
“Then why is Wilde willing to keep me around?”
Decker chuckled. “He wants to make sure that I impart upon you the dire financial blight that the Church of Perpetual Light is facing. Within the next month, you stand to gain a considerable amount of money. He wants to keep you happy until then because you’re a cash cow.”
“Did he call me a cow?”
“No.” He licked his lips, lost in thought over Wilde’s odd apology. “He wanted to clear the air, and he wanted to make sure that I was aware of the stakes and was acting in the church’s best interest. Tim wanted to remind me of all the things he has done, and that no matter how wonderful you might be, you haven’t been the one to support and provide for me and put a roof over my head.” He glanced up at the trailer. “Hell, he even took credit for putting you in my path.”
“He should only know.”
Decker snorted. “Feel free to tell him once he’s been taken into custody. Until then, it’s best that he continues to believe that I’m his loyal puppet.”
* * *
I screamed, and Decker grabbed my arm before I could reach for my concealed weapon. He held me tightly against his chest while I fought and bucked against him. “Alex, you’re safe. It’s me. It’s Jace. Take it easy.”
“Oh god.” I stopped fighting and curled into his arms, letting him absorb the tremors that coursed through me. At least this wasn’t the usual nightmare.
“Shh. Easy.” He loosened his hold, but I didn’t pull away.
Images of dark tunnels and Wilde’s followers being kept in cages while being tortured and drugged ran through my mind. I had no basis for thinking any of it, but it felt real. The scary part was my dreams sometimes came from my subconscious thoughts, and I hated to think that was the conclusion my mind had reached concerning this case. Those dormitories were like tiny cages, and the entire facility was a prison. As for the torture, it didn’t take a genius to figure out Anika’s mention of it connected the two in my mind.
“Damn you,” I muttered, “now I’m psychoanalyzing myself.”
He laughed. “It’s about time.” He ran a hand through my hair. “Are you hoping to pick up where we left off in that hallway, or do you just want to see if you’re strong enough to break my ribs after you elbowed me?”
Steadying myself, I pushed away from Decker. “Neither. I was hoping you’d get the point that sharing a bed is a bad idea and you’d stop falling asleep next to me.”
He ignored the comment. “I’ve noticed that your nightmares haven’t been as pronounced or disruptive when I stay here while you sleep. If it’s not my presence, then that means that talking about these things has been helping.” He pretended to hold a pen and paper, channeling his inner Freud. “So tell me, what was this nightmare about? Was it the same reoccurring dream?”
“No.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “No? Well, damn, I guess you’re cured.”
“That implies there was something wrong with me in the first place. For the record, there wasn’t.” I glared at him. “This was about Wilde and the tunnels. I dreamt that he was holding the women prisoner just so he could drug and torture them.” I looked past him, finding other things in the room to focus on. “I know. It’s entirely on the nose.” My eyes came to rest on Martin’s magazine cove
r. “I want to get back to HQ to see how things are progressing.”
“It’d be nice to brief the team on what we found and get an update on the progress they’re making. We’ll go after the morning ritual.” He reached for his phone, setting it to send a delayed message to my number at a predetermined time. “You can say your lawyers need to meet to discuss the case. And since I’m supposed to be doing my part to make sure you remember how great the commune is, I’ll offer to go with you.” He glanced up. “You can go back to sleep now.”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass.” Climbing out of bed, I grabbed the stack of magazines and headed into the living room. “Maybe I’ll just chill out and catch up on current affairs. I’m starting to miss the outside world.”
After skimming through some Hollywood gossip rag, I dropped the periodical on the floor and leafed through a lifestyle magazine. I was aware that Decker was observing me. After twenty minutes, he got bored and decided to fit in an early workout.
“I’m going for a jog,” he declared after changing into shorts and a long sleeve shirt. “I haven’t done that since you moved in, but I used to do it all the time. Tim won’t think anything of it.” He stretched his calves against the doorframe. “I’ll see if I can spot any type of tunnel opening. I’ll be back soon.”
“Take your phone, just in case.”
He nodded, slipping out of the trailer. Letting out a breath, I picked up the business magazine and flattened out on the couch. My back was starting to spasm, and I imagined it was probably from trying to twist away from Decker. Deciding that focusing on a different set of problems might help, I flipped to Martin’s article. I’d read it last night while Jace was asleep.
As usual, Martin gave a good interview. Charismatic as always. The focus was on business, but I couldn’t help but dwell on the brief comment concerning his bachelordom. Perhaps he had disregarded my insistence that he move on and date. Or he hadn’t found Miss Right yet, or he was keeping a lid on his relationship status. Too bad a part of me hoped that he was waiting for me. Memories of our last conversation popped into my head, and I hugged the magazine to my chest. I was pathetic.
