by Billy Farmer
Ignoring what I just said, he handed me a piece of paper. “I want to do this for you. Memorize it because I’m going to burn it before I leave. You were always my favorite, William. I saw you, whether you believe it or not, as almost a son that I never had. I fucked up… and I know this won’t fix things, but it’s all I can do.”
Chapter 10
Everything on Miley’s desk that meant something to him was thrown into a duffle bag. The only exception was the empty bottle of cognac – he planned on taking extra good care of that: right down his gullet. He pulled a drawer open and retrieved two handguns. He placed one of them in a holster on his side and gave me the other. "There’s ammunition for that in the supplies I'm leaving you." He then told me to follow him, except he didn't lead me through the door that led back into the interior. "Grab a blanket off the couch there and cover-up. It's cold where we're going."
In something right out of a spy novel, he opened the doors to a large cabinet at the back of the room. Instead of having any kind of office supplies, it opened to a hidden room that was barely big enough for a normal man to fit through, much less me.
After I squeezed through the door, he closed everything up. I followed him through another door that led to a spiral staircase. It wound the entirety of the three stories. Just off the staircase was another small, rectangular walkway that led to another door. He opened that door and lights automatically flickered on. We were in his personal garage. There was a van, a truck, and two large tracked vehicles inside. One of the tracked vehicles was running and ready to go. I wondered why we weren't asphyxiating, but then I noticed there were silent exhaust fans on the roof. He thought of everything.
He looked at me and smiled. “You can’t be in the business that I’m in, make the kinds of deals I’ve made, not to mention enemies, and not be a lot paranoid.”
“Yeah,” I said, not knowing what else to say.
He walked over to a large cabinet and retrieved a small backpack. "You'll need this. There's a working radio along with a few other things in there. There’s also a phone. Not that it’ll do you any good without service, but it’s in there."
“How?”
“I already told you, paranoia. Some people say preppers are crazy and that they don’t realize it. I suppose I’m the anomaly. I’m crazy, and I know it, but I’m crazy like a fox. I was prepared for this long before I helped cause it.”
Crazy like a fox, maybe, but he was definitely drunk as a skunk. He nearly tripped over his bag trying to pick it up and then stumbled trying to climb up the ladder to get into the cab of his vehicle. Sitting in the driver’s seat, he flipped the lights on. “Have you memorized the information on that piece of paper?”
“I think so.”
“Good.” He grabbed it out of my hand, pulled a lighter from his pocket and set it on fire. He let it burn all the way to his fingertips before blowing it out and crumbling the unburned piece of paper up and putting it in his jacket pocket.
“What now?” I asked.
He looked me over for a few long seconds before he finally spoke. “If fate frowns on me in the same way you are, I’d guess I’ll be dead pretty soon.”
I sighed deeply. “I’ve woken up to a damn nightmare. Apparently, a nightmare you helped create. And the look I’m giving you is your goddamn takeaway?”
He took another long drink of what was quickly becoming an empty bottle. “I’m acutely aware of what I’ve done.” He paused for a moment, trying to grasp and claw at whatever composure he could muster before continuing. “My daughters, remember? If they’re dead, it’s because of…” He said, with a trembling upper lip.
I felt like punching the drunk bastard in the face. For whatever reason I didn’t. Maybe his ruminating over the potential demise of his daughters kept me from it. They were sweet girls. They didn’t deserve any of what was happening.
Having quickly regained his composure, not to mention an unabashed and unrepentant supply of arrogance, he said, “None of this was ever my intention. I’m just a man who got caught up in things that were already in motion – a small cog in the machine that the world has been creating to bring us down a notch or two for a long time.”
I fought hard to stifle a laugh. “You’re so full of shit--”
“Hate me or not, I’m leaving. I’m breaking every rule I have by giving you the information I gave you. No one else can know. Don’t let me down.”
Don’t let me down. I shook my head.
“If I were you, I would go back the way we came before I open this door. This garage is soundproof, but it won’t be as soon as I open the door. Good luck, William.”
I turned around to leave without saying a word.
Over the loud whine of the powerful engine, he said, “Remember when I told you I left one of them alive?”
I nodded.
“He’s in the second-floor conference room. He’ll have answers, but you have to hurry. It’s only a matter of time before those people regroup and come back. They’ll not make the same mistake of only sending a handful of people this time.”
I didn't bother looking back. I exited through the small passageway as the large garage door opened. Once back in Miley's office, I rifled through the backpack he'd given me. There was a wad of cash; hundred-dollar bills and a lot of them. There was a radio and phone, and just like he said they both worked, aside from the cell phone not having a signal. There was also a GPS receiver, a notebook with some numbers in it, and a few other odds and ends, including a key to what I imagined was the other tracked vehicle. A small penitence for all the shit he had caused.
I threw everything back into the bag and hid it under his desk. I then went back to the conference room where everyone was sitting quietly around the long, black-lacquered table. It looked like they were eating MREs. I hadn’t seen those since I was a little kid. My uncle would bring home some for me after his summer national guard training. Avery and I would sit around on warm summer days, imagining we were in the army. Avery didn’t like to play war much. He was more of the strategic planner. That left me with the dirty work of doing all the fighting. Kind of like real life, honestly.
“The Salisbury steak is pretty good, son. Ya should try it,” Sam said.
“They are better than the ones we used to eat when we were kids,” Avery said, smacking his lips.
“Not really in the mood to eat,” I said.
Sam’s eyes got big. “You not hungry? Must be a pocolypse or somethin.”
“Not now, Sam.”
He sucked on his fork for a second before saying, “Just tryin ta lighten thangs is all.”
“Will Miley be joining us, soon?” Tish asked.
“No.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“He left to go find his daughters--”
“So, he’s gone?” Tish asked.
Before I could reply, Kelley practically jumped out of her seat. She grabbed her stomach and quickly asked Tish if she would mind watching the baby while she went to the bathroom. Tish flashed a look at the woman. I couldn’t tell if it was out of anger or disbelief or maybe both. She angrily tossed her fork on the table before taking the baby.
“What’s that all about?” I asked.
The baby squirmed in Tish’s loose embrace. For a moment, I wondered if she was going to let the baby squirm out of her arms. But as if someone had flipped a switch, Tish’s demeanor instantly changed. She began to examine the child. “The bitch,” she uttered just loudly enough those nearby could hear her. “There’s something the matter with this poor baby. Not only that. This baby is white, but Kelley is Inupiat.”
“Oh, shit, son. Playin the race card durin end times? Not cool,” Sam said, smiling.
“Shut the fuck up,” Tish said. I’d never known her to flash so much anger, especially towards Sam.
"Come on, guys,” I said.
Tish had the blankets off the baby. "This poor baby girl.” She began examining the baby in earnest. “She’s bruised all over her back and bottom.”
“Shhh,” Titouan said. “Do you hear that? She’s whispering herself.”
“Or to someone else,” Avery observed.
I ran to the bathroom door and jiggled the knob. I heard the metallic racking of a pistol slide. I cursed silently to myself. How could I have been so stupid. All the signs were there, but I had completely ignored them. I quickly withdrew my hand from the door knob. No sooner than I had, the door burst open and Kelley was through it in an instant. I caught a quick elbow to my face, causing me to stumble long enough for Kelley to maneuver behind me for cover. Goddamn she was fast.
“If you move another inch, I’ll blow your fucking head off,” Kelley said, aiming her pistol at Sam, who had moved way too slowly, because of his injury, towards the rifle leaning against the wall.
“Where are they?” Kelley asked, her hot breath and spittle bathed the back of my neck.
“What are you talking about?” I said, my voice was almost embarrassing high pitched.
“Don’t play stupid!” She waved her pistol to an empty chair at the table. “Have a fucking seat.”
“Okay, shit.” How would she know who Miley was, and more disturbing, how in the hell did she know about the guy he captured?
Being that it looked like she was my new enemy, and even though Miley was majorly on my shit list, I was going to help him escape. An enemy of my enemy was my friend came to mind. “Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do. When my people attacked, he took one of them prisoner. He murdered the rest.”
Perplexed, Titouan asked, “Your people?”
Through gritted teeth and a clenched jaw, she said, “My people. That’s all you need to know.”
“Now, where are they?” She demanded.
“Miley left. I already told you that.”
“Where? I’m going to shoot one of them the next time you don’t answer my question.”
“William, what the hell is going on here?” Titouan asked.
She fired over Titouan’s head, missing on purpose.
Looking at Titouan, I said, “Just be quiet. I know where Miley is going, and I know where the guy he captured is, too.” Everyone’s attention turned to me.
Sam looked confused. “What’s goin on, son?”
“You’re wasting time. Now tell me!” Kelley yelled.
I motioned for everyone to calm down. “Miley is headed to Prudhoe Bay, and then Fairbanks.” I honestly didn’t want to tell her exactly where he was going, but there were no real clear alternatives. In other words, I couldn’t think of a good enough lie she’d believe, so I told her the truth. Miley had a decent head start. That was the best I could do for the bastard.
“And?”
“The person you’re looking for is on the second floor, tied up in a conference room,” I said.
“If you lie to me, I’m going to make their deaths painful instead of quick,” she said, as she frantically typed something out on the phone, having a difficult time because of the pistol she held.
“What about the baby? What the hell have you done to her?” Tish said, her voice trailing off to a whisper.
Kelley seemed genuinely surprised by Tish’s sudden outburst. She cocked her head to the side, and with what bordered on a grin, said, “I poisoned her. Like her parents, she’s going to die, but then so is a lot of people.”
“You’re a bitch,” Tish yelled!
Kelley began to say something to Tish but paused. With her smirk from before gone and replaced with an anger-soaked expression, she said, “Watch yourself.”
Tish seethed. Her jaw was set hard. I thought she was going to scream or even charge Kelley. Instead, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Sam tried to say something to her, but it went unanswered.
Kelley, satisfied that Tish was no longer a problem, nudged me over to where the lone rifle was leaned against the wall. She quickly put the pistol in her waistband and had the rifle in her hands in one fluid motion. She checked to make sure a round was chambered before saying, “Let’s go to that conference room. Now!”
***
I tried to close the door that blocked off the second floor from the third, but Kelley wouldn't let me. She told me that her people would need the door left open, so they could get in. Kelley paused. The second floor was almost completely dark. “Turn on the lamp,” she said.
I fumbled with it for a second before finally finding the switch.
“Hold the lamp up, so I can see where you’re taking me,” she said, pushing the barrel harder into my back.
“Okay, okay.”
Other than making sure Kelley didn’t reunite with Miley’s prisoner, I didn’t have much of a plan. The only thing I had going for me was the pistol Miley had given me hidden in my waistband. I just needed a chance to get at it. I thought about dropping the lamp and going for it, but I’d already seen how nimble and fast Kelley was. I didn’t have a chance in hell. I would take her on as long of a wild goose chase as Miley’s office building would allow for and hope the opportunity would present itself.
Something occurred to me. There was a small cafeteria in the back of the second floor. Miley had a private dining room where he ate with executives. For reasons only known to Miley, he had the floor lowered in that room. There was a decent step down that maybe if Kelley wasn’t prepared for, it might trip her up just enough to give me the extra time I needed to go for the pistol. I mean, that’s all I could come up with. Saving my friends rested on that winner.
SHIT. I went for it and failed miserably.
“Well?” She asked, pushing the already imbedded barrel deeper into my back.
The cafeteria was no more. It had been completely torn out and was in the midst of a full remodel. “I haven't been down here for a while. They’ve remodeled the place since I was last here. We’ll just have to keep looking…”
“You’re stalling.”
"It’s dark… they’ve changed things.”
“I warned you. Put the lamp down on the floor,” she said.
“Come on. I can take you…”
“Now!”
I kneeled enough to sit the lamp down. Sweat poured down my face, as I was reacquainted with the rifle barrel. I was afraid and embarrassed. Mostly, though, I was angry with myself. I was a buffoon. I had failed my friends once again. I was going to die without even going for the pistol. Was that what I was going to do. Just die without a fight, I wondered to myself in those last seconds. Did I really lack that much of a spine? “Fuck that,” I said aloud, as I went for the pistol.
Kelley screamed something. Then there was a single loud pop. I recoiled as I felt intense heat on my face. It hurt but not as much as I thought it would. Over the terrible ringing in my ear, Sam yelled something. I heard something else, too. Kelly was chambering another round in the rifle. She had missed everyone on the first try, including me. She must have fired wildly at Sam and Titouan. There was no other reason I was alive.
There was a struggle – a body hit the floor. I fought with the pistol tangled in my belt and oversized fleece top I was wearing. “Goddammit,” I yelled.
I saw Kelley swing the butt of the rifle around, catching Titouan hard on his upper shoulder or the side of his face, it was hard to tell. With lightning quick reflexes, she had her pistol up and ready to fire at Sam, who must’ve been unlucky enough to be hit with the rifle as well, as he still seemed to be reeling from something.
I finally managed to untangle the pistol and brought it up to firing position just as she was getting ready to shoot Sam. I remember hoping that I had clicked the safety off before leveling it to fire. Kelley shrieked while staggering backwards before finally falling hard to the floor. She lay there screaming and kicking, as much out of anger as anything, I thought.
I kicked the rifle out of her reach, and then picked up the phone she had dropped. It was big for a modern phone, somewhere between the size and look of a satellite phone and an older Blackberry. On the keys were symbols I didn’
t recognize – maybe Korean or Chinese. Goosebumps spread up and down my arms as the potential implications washed over me.
“What do we do with the bitch?” Sam asked, his face set in a hard grimace, as he hobbled his way to my side. With his leg banged up like it was, he was very lucky he didn’t end up dead.
“We take her back upstairs. We’ll deal with her there.” I then handed Sam her pistol and told Titouan to get the rifle. He didn’t move, though. He was probing his mouth with his fingers.
“Are you okay, Titouan?” I asked.
“No!” He walked over to where she sat, and, without any warning, kicked her in the face with his heavy boot. Her neck snapped back with such force, I thought he might’ve broken it. “You crazy bitch,” he spat. Something solid hit the floor.
Kelley was a tough chick. I had to give her that. A solitary tear flowed down her cheek. She angrily pawed at it, erasing any signs of weakness. With the copious amount of blood flowing from her busted lip and potentially broken nose, she looked to be possessed. She glowered at Titouan, and he returned the favor, moving ever so slightly back in her direction.
“Easy, son, she’ll get hers,” Sam said.
“Fuck!” Titouan yelled.
Sam and I gathered her up and took her back upstairs.
When we got back to the conference room, Avery stood at the door, nervously awaiting our fate, while Tish sat in the corner of the room, blankly staring at what seemed like nothing. From what I could tell, the baby was no longer with us. She lay limp in Tish’s equally-limp embrace.
Tish finally looked up as I sat Kelley down hard in one of the executive chairs. The two of them exchanged angry glances, but no words were proffered. Kelley didn’t flinch or look away. There was no remorse or anything bordering guilt residing on her anger-ladened and battered face.
I asked Avery to fetch me some duct tape and a wet rag. He quickly did as I bade.
“You alright, bud?” He didn’t answer. Instead, he gave me what I asked for before walking over to where the baby’s blankets were, grabbed them, and draped them over both Tish and baby.
