The Complex (The Omega Protocol Chronicles Book 3)

by Courtney McPhail

  “We’re just glad he loves the ladies,” Elsie said, “As you can tell by all the little ones we have.”

  “The girls have all proven to be good layers,” Rose said. “Darren said you’re taking two laying hens and one of the mothers and her chicks. We’ve got feed for you to take as well. It should be enough to keep them fed through winter but you can supplement with other things. They’ll eat just about anything except beans. Those will make them sick. Do you have a coop?”

  “We had one built,” Kim said. Craig had been working on it for the last week behind the lodge. “It’s about the same size as yours.”

  “If there aren’t any large predators where you are, you’re best to let them go free range,” Rose advised her. “Let them scratch and eat what they will and they’ll come home to the coop each night to roost.”

  “As tempting as it’ll be, you’ll want to wait to eat them,” Violet added. “They will give you more food laying eggs in the long term. Wait at least until the chicks are full grown and laying before you consider eating them.”

  “I’m not sure we’ll be able to bring ourselves to eat any of them,” Kim said. “The children back home are excited about the chickens coming. They’ve already picked out names for them.”

  Rose smiled. “The children here have done the same with these ones. You’re taking Elsa and Frannie. We don’t have the heart to kill any of them either.”

  “Well, we’ll see come winter when we run short on food,” Elsie scoffed.

  “Oh Elsie, don’t be like that,” Violet said, glaring at Elsie.

  “You know what it gets like up here in January. A roasted chicken will be delightful when we’re freezing our bony asses off.”

  Violet shook her head at her friend but Kim was interested in what Elsie had to say.

  “What are the winters like up here exactly? In Virginia we’d get a bit of snow but it never stayed for long.”

  “We get plenty of snow up here,” Elsie said, “And we spend most of the winter well below freezing. I’m afraid it’s not what you’re used to where you’re from. Have you been gathering things for winter?”

  “We’ve been cutting up firewood. We’ve got woodstoves in our cabins.”

  “That’s good,” Elsie said. “What about clothing? Jackets and boots for everyone? I know it’s hot now but if you only have summer clothes, you’ll freeze even indoors.”

  “We don’t have any of that,” Kim admitted. “Just the clothes we brought with us. I don’t think my son has anything but shorts.”

  “Well, come with me then,” she said, “We’ve got plenty to sort you out with. Rose and Violet can get the chickens ready for you and we’ll send a couple of the boys out to bring them round to your car.”

  They went back inside to one of the stores off the main corridor. Elsie picked up a Coleman lantern and turned it on, light flooding through the store. There were racks and tables taking up the whole space, all of them heavy with clothing.

  “We gathered up all the clothing in the mall, as well as what we found in the houses in town,” Elsie said, leading them between the tables and racks. “If you can find anything, we’re happy for you to have it.”

  “Oh, we couldn’t,” Kim began, not wanting to take anything from the children here who might need it but Elsie shot up a hand to stop her protest.

  “Everyone here has everything they need already,” she said. “What’s here is what we don’t need. This stuff does nobody any good just sitting here gathering dust and I doubt you have enough people to clean us out completely.”

  Elsie stopped in front of one of the racks. “Ah, here we are, winter clothing. So how many people do you have in your group?”

  “Twenty-seven. Soon to be twenty-eight.”

  “Do you have everything you need for the baby?”

  “To be honest, we haven’t really thought about anything past the birth,” Kim admitted.

  “Well, we have plenty of baby clothes,” Elsie smiled as she pointed over to one of the tables, “And diapers and bottles and everything else you might need.”

  “But we haven’t brought enough to trade for it,” Kim said but Elsie waved her away.

  “I’m not going to have a little baby going without on my conscience,” she told her. “I think our groups have moved on from just a bartering relationship. We are friends who help each other.”

  The act of kindness brought sudden tears to her eyes. She had become so cynical, she hadn’t even considered the possibility of friendship.

  Kim smiled. “I’d like that. We’d all like that.”

  Subject File #750

  Administrator: After completing my first session with subject seven-five-zero, my initial observation is that her fear of being alone is her greatest weakness.

  Veronica kept stroking the stock of her rifle as they made their approach towards the island. She was nervous, she wasn’t stubborn enough to deny it. The feel of the smooth wood did little to reassure her but she kept stroking it as the island came into view.

  It was half the size of their own by Veronica’s estimation but the dock and boathouse were much larger. Malcolm had briefed them the night before on the island. The primary customer base for the resort was fishermen. They would need all the slips to dock the fishing boats that would be used during their peak season. They’d also need the large gas tank that was mounted on the dock to refuel those same boats.

  Veronica hoped that the owner’s business sense would be their good luck. The tank was big and even if it was only half full it would be more than enough for their needs. Craig sailed straight for the dock as Mendez and Banks took point on the bow, scanning the island for any threat. Veronica watched Audrey, who was staring out at the island, her hand on the butt of her gun in her holster.

  “You ready for this?” Veronica asked.

  Audrey turned to look at her, fear and doubt in her eyes. “I think so.”

  Veronica laid a hand on her shoulder. “It’s good to be scared.”

  “I’m not scared,” Audrey was quick to insist, trying to put on a brave face.

  “I am,” Veronica admitted.

  “But you’ve gone out a bunch of times. You know what you’re doing.”

  “And I still get scared, but it’s not a bad thing. Fear makes you careful. If you go in there cocky, thinking you know it all, that’s when you make mistakes. Fear is a good thing.”

  Audrey chewed on her bottom lip, her fingers tapping against her holster. “Well, maybe I’m scared, but just a little.”

  “Use it,” Veronica told her, “And stick to me and Claudia and it’ll be fine.”

  Craig eased up on the throttle as they neared the dock and Veronica shifted herself into fight mode. There wouldn’t be any more pep talks, it was time to get down to business.

  As they came abreast of the dock, Mendez and Banks made the jump to the boards, weapons and eyes on the treeline. Veronica moved up and quickly tied the bow line to one of the cleats on the dock. Craig killed the engine, the sudden silence deafening for a few second before the ambient sounds of water and birds chirping came back to them. There were no sounds of humans that she could make out but that didn’t mean they were alone.

  Craig hopped onto the dock after tying off the stern line and walked around the tank. “Thank you sweet merciful Jesus. Gage says three quarters full.”

  “Good,” Mendez called back, her gaze never leaving the trees. “Fill up our tank, then start in on the cans we brought. I want us to have the fuel in the boat in case we need to make a quick exit.”

  They’d brought all the gas cans they had and though they wouldn’t be enough to carry more than a quarter of the tank, it would be a good start. If the island was as deserted as it appeared, they could make a trip back to take the rest.

  They worked in silence to fill the cans, Mendez and Banks keeping a careful watch. Veronica took it as a good sign as the minutes ticked by and no one came to stop them. They were taking something worth its weight in gol
d. If there was anyone here, they’d have already tried to stop them.

  When they had the tanks filled and secure in the boat, Mendez gave the order for them to go to the boathouse. They moved in single file up the dock, Mendez and Banks leading the way. They stopped at the door to the boathouse and Banks tried the knob, the door opening easily. Mendez gestured for the rest of them to stay outside as she and Banks went inside.

  Veronica moved up the dock, eyeing the crushed stone path that led from the end of the dock to a flight of wooden stairs. They led up a sharp incline that kept the rest of the island hidden from sight. She wanted to get up there, go through the whole place to ensure that they were really alone here. She wouldn’t feel safe here until she knew it was empty.

  “There are two boats in there,” Mendez said. “Not sure if they’re new or they’ve always been there. We’ll head up. Keep sharp.”

  They climbed the stairs in single file, Veronica keeping Audrey between her and Claudia. When they reached the top of the stairs, a two story building appeared before them.

  It was rustic, built to compliment the surroundings and their customer base. Cedar shingles, stone walls and a large deck that wrapped around the entire building. There were plenty of windows, probably built to bring the outdoors in, and Veronica thanked the designer. It would make it much easier to vet the building before they went inside.

  Mendez gestured for them to circle the building. Veronica put a hand on Audrey’s shoulder and nodded for her to follow her as they moved towards one of the windows. Veronica pressed her back to the wall and Audrey copied her, the two of them inching along to the edge of the window. Veronica leaned forward to peek through the glass.

  She saw several sets of tables and chairs, figuring it must be the hotel’s dining room. There was no movement inside and no signs that anyone had recently sat at any of those tables. Veronica pushed off the wall and nodded for Audrey to follow her as they continued along the wall.

  When they turned the corner, Veronica spotted Craig and Claudia, who gave the all clear signal on their side of the building. Veronica and Audrey crossed the deck to join them, glancing in the windows to see a large stone fireplace in the centre of a room, chairs and couches surrounding it. Craig peeked around the corner and then gestured for them to follow him. Mendez and Banks were on the other side of the building, standing in front of an open door.

  There were wet leaves and a few small puddles in the doorway, a sign that it had been open during the days it had rained.

  “Don’t let down your guard,” Mendez whispered to them. “We got no idea what’s in there.”

  She led the way inside, the rest of them falling into the familiar single file, Banks pulling up the rear this time. The door led into a kitchen, the stainless steel appliances dull in the shadows. The kitchen was much more impressive than their own but the brochure she had seen last night did advertise a top quality restaurant in the hotel.

  There was a drying rack next to the large sink and Veronica noticed a single plate, fork, knife, and glass sitting in it. It was an unsettling sight and her stomach bottomed out.

  There had been someone here since the hotel had closed for the winter.

  Veronica clicked her tongue to get the other’s attention and she nodded towards the dishes. Mendez nodded and then pointed to the swinging door. Veronica moved to the side of the door and put a hand on it to push it open so Mendez could slip through.

  Veronica followed on her heels and found herself in the dining room. The tables she had seen through the windows weren’t the only ones in the room. There were a dozen more but they were covered in sheets with their chairs stacked up against the walls. They must have been put away when the place was closed for the winter, except for the four tables that were set up by the windows. So, either whoever had used the dishes liked to have seating options or there had been more than one person here.

  Veronica went back to the door and waved for the others to join them, Banks locking the back door behind him. Mendez was standing guard at the archway out of the dining room and when the rest of them were ready, they moved as a group into the next room.

  It was the one with the large fireplace and she saw that there was a reception desk in the far corner next to a curving staircase and the main entrance to the hotel. Veronica noted the book lying open on one of the end tables and the knitting needles and ball of yarn tucked in the corner of one of the couches. More signs of people.

  Mendez clicked her tongue to get their attention and then nodded to the staircase. Mendez went up first with the rest of them following.

  It curved up to the second floor where a long hallway spread out, closed doors on either side. They filed down the hallway and Veronica quickly counted the number of doors. Twelve rooms in total, six on either side.

  “You stay here, watch the stairs and our backs,” she whispered to Audrey, who nodded and moved to the top of the stairs, her gun trained down on the main floor.

  Veronica went to a door and stood on the one side, reaching across to turn the knob and push it open. She scanned the room, her eyes darting over the queen sized bed in the centre and the chest of drawers with a mirror over it.

  She zeroed in on the folding closet doors and the open door next to it. She crossed the room to the open door to clear the attached bathroom.

  It was empty of people but she spotted the three toothbrushes next to the sink, one of them small, like for a child. There was also a contact lens case and a man’s razor.

  She left the bathroom and went to the closet, pushing open the doors. The closet wasn’t hiding anyone but it wasn’t empty. Clothing hung in the closet; pants and shirts for men and women as well as children’s clothing folded neatly on the top shelf. All signs that a family had been here.

  She left the room and crossed over to the opposite side of the hall. When she opened the door, she found this room much the same as the other one, except it had two double beds and both the closet and bathroom were empty of any personal effects.

  She heard the others calling out clear and she joined them in the hallway.

  “Nothing in this one. There are some clothes in the other room though. Looks like three people were staying in there.”

  “Both of mine had suitcases with clothes in them,” Banks said and Claudia nodded.

  “Mine too.”

  Mendez looked around. “Including my room that’s six of them used. Craig, what about yours?”

  “Y’all better check this room out,” Craig called from the door of one of the rooms at the end of the hallway.

  The room was like the others, except they had been clean, as if ready for the next guest.

  Here the sheets on the bed were clumped up, pulled off the corner of the mattress, the smell of dried urine wafting off of them. Empty medicine bottles were scattered on the bedside table, as well as towels and a bowl.

  “Someone was sick in here,” Mendez said, her nose wrinkling. “So that makes possibly a dozen people that were living here but what happened to them?”

  “We better check the rest of the island,” Banks said, “See if there are any other buildings, hunt up where they might be hiding.”

  “Do we have to?” Craig asked and Banks looked at him questioningly.

  “Why wouldn’t we? What if they try to stop us?”

  “If they were planning that, don’t you think they already would have? If there’s anybody here, they’re hiding from us. That means they’re more scared of us than we are of them.” He turned to Mendez now. “They want to be left alone so let’s not hunt them. Just let them hide.”

  It wasn’t a bad idea. The people here obviously didn’t have the strength to meet them face to face. They might be hiding beneath the hotel floorboards in some crawlspace or something. They could be huddled together, praying for the intruders not to find them, whispering to their children to be quiet.

  “We can’t risk not confirming whether or not there are people here,” Mendez said. “The whole point of u
s going out and exploring the other islands is to know if there are other people out here. We’re going to have to come back here for the rest of the fuel. If we don’t make sure there is no one here, we risk getting ambushed on the next trip.”

  Craig didn’t look happy about the decision but he nodded his head once, accepting the order.

  “Fine,” he said. “Let’s go out there then.”

  Mendez split them up into pairs, giving them each a directional point to cover and instructions to radio on the walkies if they found anything. Veronica was with Audrey and they headed to the west side of the island, sticking to the worn path tread in the ground.

  “What exactly are we looking for?” Audrey asked in a low whisper.

  “Any sign that someone moved off this path,” Veronica told her.

  “How can you tell?”

  “See how there’s grass and underbrush on the edge of the path,” she said pointing to the layer of fallen twigs and leaves woven through the long grass. “If someone steps off, they are going to disturb them.”

  Audrey nodded as she looked through the trees along the path. “Do you really think anyone is hiding out here?”

  “Possible, but not likely,” Veronica admitted. “See how you can spot the lake through the trees? There isn’t enough cover and they could be spotted easily. It wouldn’t be smart to hide out here.”

  Of course, there was no guarantee that these people were smart. If their plan had been to hide, they hadn’t done a good job of erasing their tracks. Anyone with half a brain would have been able to tell that people had been here and they’d end up doing the same thing Veronica was doing now: flushing them out.

  It didn’t sit well with her that this was what their lives had become. It was one thing to be scavengers who rooted through the belongings of the dead. You could excuse breaking into someone’s home and clearing out their cupboards. It was a matter of survival and the dead didn’t need them.