by Tami Kidd
“Isn’t it obvious? You’re with Alex now. I’m not going to try to come between you two. I’m sorry I’ve been acting like such an ass. I guess I just never expected to see you again. Truthfully, I thought they would eventually kill me.”
Mara placed her hands on his bony fingers. “I’m not turning my back on my vows, now that I know you’re alive.”
“Can you turn off your feelings for Alex just like that?” Thomas snapped his fingers.
“I never stopped loving you. And, to answer your question, no. I can’t turn off my feelings for Alex with a snap of my finger, but I am your wife. You’re alive. My place is by your side.”
“How do you think he’s going to feel about it?”
“Alex is a good man. He’ll understand.”
“Baby, you’re so naïve and I love you for it, but life doesn’t always have fairy-tale endings like it does in your books. People get hurt, people die, and all the good wishes and understandings aren’t going to make it better.” He stroked her cheek with his fingertips. “If he truly loves you, he will fight for you.”
Mara felt the heat rise in her throat and work its way up her face. Blinking to fight back tears, she said, “I can’t put you through that after all you’ve endured.”
“Look, this doesn’t have to be decided now.”
“Okay.” Her lips tried to form a smile, but they felt numb as though injected with an overdose of Novocain.
“Tell me more about what happened. How’d you get here? Who is this Michael character? Can you trust him?”
A genuine smile formed as she realized she and Thomas shared the same annoying habit of asking multiple questions at once. “I’ve only known him for a few days, but he’s put his life on the line to keep me alive.”
“How’d you meet?”
Mara glanced at the ceiling and blew out a little whistle. “Long story. Bottom line, he works for the president, and I trust him to do his job to protect me.”
“I’d say he isn’t doing a very good job.”
“We were outnumbered. Two people died and maybe even a third.”
“Who?”
“A secret service agent named Opie and Dr. Sophie Hildegard.”
“Why is the secret service protecting you? Does it have to do with the letter?”
“Yes. The president is worried the cure will get into the wrong hands.”
“How do you know he’s concerned?”
“Because I talked to him about it.”
“You had a conversation with the president?” Thomas’s eyes narrowed. “Of the United States? When?”
“Well, the last time was yesterday before he flew back to Washington. He arranged for me to see the hypnotherapist Dr. Hildegard to help me remember the contents of the letter. Duncan and his men ambushed us at Sophie’s house. Opie died there. We found out today that they killed Sophie too.”
“You said maybe a third person was killed. Who?”
“His name is Dodger. He’s the president’s adopted son. President Riley brought him back from Vietnam during the Fall of Saigon.”
“Is he a little guy about so high,” Thomas said, tapping his shoulder, “wearing a red Los Angeles Dodgers baseball cap?”
“Yes,” Mara squealed, “have you seen him?”
“He was here. They held him in the room next to mine in the lab.”
“What happened to him?”
Thomas shrugged. “I don’t know. They took him away and never brought him back.”
The door opened and Michael walked in.
“Michael, listen to this.” Mara restated the information Thomas had told her about Dodger.
“That could be good or bad,” Michael said. “They could have taken him with them as insurance like you suggested or they could have killed him.”
“I don’t understand why they left us alive. Why not kill us too?” Mara turned to ask her husband, “Does this make any sense to you?” Too revved up to sit still, she paced the floor. “It just doesn’t make sense. What’s their motive?”
“Who knows what goes on in that psychotic brain of hers,” Thomas said, his eyes following her around the room.
“Is Dr. Foster calling the shots here or is Duncan?” Michael asked.
“Duncan does the dirty work, but Foster tells him what to do.”
“What do you think he’s in it for?” Mara stopped to look at Thomas.
“Probably money. Maybe control over the government.” Thomas shrugged. “Who knows?”
“How much do you know about this cure?” Mara asked.
“Not a great deal. Jessica injected me with the serum, and my cancer went away.”
Picking up the pace again, Mara asked, “She injected you to prove it works?”
“She had already proved it worked, on herself. Just how much credibility is she going to garner from the medical community if they discover she tested this on a human subject prior to approval from the FDA?” Thomas countered.
“There are people and governments who don’t care if the serum was tested unethically,” Mara said.
“I’m sure you’re right,” Thomas said. “They’d pay any price to get their hands on the cure and the location of its source.”
“The president thought Dr. Foster was abducted by some group looking to steal the cure. I guess now we know that’s not true, along with her amnesia.” Mara’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“I don’t think any group exists,” Thomas crossed his arm over his chest.
“I agree,” Michael said with a nod. “I think we’re dealing strictly with Dr. Foster and Spencer Duncan.”
“So, Spencer is his first name, huh?” Thomas asked. “I’ve only heard him referred to as Duncan. How’d you find that out?”
Mara walked to the nightstand and pulled out the prescription bottle. “I found this earlier. His name is on it.” She handed the bottle to Thomas.
Thomas examined the label and removed the lid. He poured some of the pills onto his palm. “Holy shit!” he said staring at the green oval pills.
“What?” Mara asked.
“I don’t think these are Duncan’s,” he answered.
“The label has his name on it,” Michael said reaching for the bottle.
“I can see that,” Thomas responded, “but how come I saw Dr. Foster taking them every day?”
“What difference does it make if the prescription is for him or her?” Confusion painted Mara’s face.
“Because that means there’s a doctor out there who may be an accomplice,” Michael said.
“You think there’s a doctor out there who’s part of this conspiracy?” she asked.
Thomas stood and rubbed his temples. “This is all too much to wrap my head around. I have to lie down.”
“Stretch out on the cot.” Mara pointed at the opposite side of the room.
“Mara, why don’t you lie down on the couch,” Michael offered. “I’ll keep watch.”
“Good idea.” Thomas held out his hand to Michael. “I want to apologize for the way I behaved earlier. I—”
“Don’t sweat it, pal. I can’t blame you, considering what you’ve been through.” Michael patted Thomas’s shoulder. “We’re not going to let them get away with this. I promise.” Michael turned and limped into the adjoining room.
From the couch, Mara watched Michael sit on a chair by the front door. Then she thought of Thomas on the other side of the partition. She felt a flutter rise in her belly. Now what? Mara turned to face the back of the couch to hide the hot tears rolling down her cheeks. She should be jumping with joy at the revelation her husband is alive, but all she could think about was how Alex would react to the news. Could she break things off with Alex? Could she go back to her life with Thomas? Would she have the courage to hurt either of them?
Thirty-Three
A smattering of white puffy clouds drifted across the pale-blue sky, providing a brief respite from the blazing afternoon sun. Two scruffy men dressed in camouflage from head to toe h
eld guns on the trio. Alex squinted to get a better look at their faces; the long beards that hung down to each one’s chest made it difficult to distinguish facial features. Shallow eyes stared back at them as if the two men had discovered aliens.
“Uh, fellas, we aren’t carrying any weapons, so it’s not necessary to point those things at us,” Doyle said waving at the rifles.
The two men didn’t twitch or acknowledge Doyle’s comment. They stood still like the Queen’s guards at Buckingham Palace, waiting for someone to dismiss them. The skin on the back of Alex’s neck prickled. He glanced at Kale whose normally dark skin looked pale and sweaty. “I’m Alex and this is Doyle and Kale,” he said. Alex decided to initiate the banter, because it seemed his original abductors had lost their nerve. Perhaps everyone would come to life if he opened a dialog.
After what seemed like an eternity, one man finally said, “He’s JD and I’m Benny.”
Alex released the breath he had been holding. “Nice to meet you,” he said hoping to keep the conversation going. “Do you live around here?” The family resemblance was obvious. Both had long copper hair and severe hazel eyes. One of JD’s cheeks protruded as if it held a golf ball inside. Alex presumed the bulge was tobacco.
“We come here to hunt wild boar,” JD said as he spat on the ground near Alex’s feet.
Gross. Alex ignored the taunt, busier watching Doyle’s wide eyes dart back and forth. He prayed Doyle would keep his mouth shut.
“You’re on our property,” Benny said flatly.
“We’re sorry and we’ll gladly be on our way now. Didn’t mean to trespass.” Alex lowered his arms slowly, not taking his eyes off the brothers. As he eased forward with one foot, the rifle JD thrust against his chest stopped his retreat. Alex threw his arms up and stepped back. “Whoa.”
“You’ll need to come with us now,” Benny said using his rifle to point toward the woods. Without a word, the two men herded their captives deeper into the woods. Alex, Doyle, and Kale walked in a straight line without saying a word.
After walking for a while, Doyle couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. “Where are you taking us? You can’t do this.”
“Shut up, Doyle” Alex hissed. He stared at him in disbelief. You can’t do this? You did it to me, you knucklehead. “Don’t make it worse.” The tune Dueling Banjos reeled in his mind.
Kale let out a little yelp and held up his hand as if he were in the first grade. “Excuse me, Mr. Benny, I have to pee.”
“Okay, all of you stop,” he ordered. The men stopped and Benny looked at Kale, “So go.”
“I can’t go in front of everybody,” Kale moaned.
“Got a shy bladder, huh? JD take ’im over behind those shrubs.” Benny motioned the gun toward a thatch of bushes.
JD grabbed Kale by the arm and led him away for privacy.
Alex watched Kale as he looked back. Embarrassment etched his face. Alex felt his heart drop. Being shanghaied by two characters from Duck Dynasty was not part of the plan. He could have escaped from Doyle and Kale any time he chose, but knew they would eventually lead him to Mara. Now things had changed and time turned against him.
Soon the group came to a small stream. They turned right and walked another twenty yards crossing a low sandy area. The tall pines and scrub brush gave way to acres of wide-open grasslands. Alex didn’t have to look back at JD and Benny. He felt their presence, heard their breaths and the occasional splatter of tobacco juice hitting the ground. The rifle-toting, camo-wearing duo guided them straight into the center of the field; tall bronze grass whipped at their waists. The sun now fully below the horizon, the sky had turned a pink hue, painting the landscape with a breathtaking glow. Tiny trails of sweat ran down Alex’s neck. His dry mouth craved water and his stomach grumbled.
Soon they came to a split rail fence. The three captives awkwardly climbed over the rails one at a time. The two men scaled the fence with cat-like agility. These men aren’t human. Alex exchanged glances with Doyle, his face stricken with worry. Kale’s eyes held a faraway gaze. Alex worried he might be in shock. He stopped and stared. In the distance, he spied a house. Far from a shack as he would have expected, a fancy brick home with a well-manicured yard graced the landscape.
Doyle’s mouth dropped open as he said, “Do you think they live in that house?”
“I guess we’re about to find out.”
JD walked up to the patio and opened the sliding glass door. He motioned the three hostages into the house.
“I guess that answers your question,” Alex whispered.
“Sure does,” Doyle agreed.
Benny nodded his head and said, “Go inside.”
They found themselves in an immaculately clean dining room with rich and tasteful furnishings. A large light-oak table gleamed, adorned with bright, colorful place settings. The room shouted happy; cheerful people enjoyed their meals here. Off the dining room, a living room blanketed with snow-white carpet came into view. French doors opened onto a porch lined with tropical plants.
“Sit at the bar,” Benny said. “The restroom is down the hall on the left, if any of you need to go.”
The three perched themselves atop the barstools next to the marble countertop.
Alex glanced sideways at Doyle and Kale, who seemed to be amazed at the change in their captors’ attitude. “I think I’ll take you up on the restroom offer,” Alex said as he got up and walked through the archway that led down the hall.
This house did not fit the typical stereotype of its inhabitants. Although puzzled by it all, Alex decided to concentrate on more pressing matters first: like finding a way out or a phone. From his peripheral vision, he noticed Benny watching him as he stepped into the bathroom. After his business, he leaned over and flushed the toilet. Turning the faucet on, he washed his hands and then reached down to fill his palms with cool water. He drank some before he splashed the rest on his face. He looked into the mirror at the unrecognizable man staring back, rinsed his hands, and then finger combed his hair. Revitalized, Alex stepped out into the hallway and headed toward his fellow hostages.
When he returned, Kale and Doyle were chowing down on sandwiches overflowing with lettuce and tomato.
“Is ham and cheese okay with you?” Benny asked.
Alex hesitated. “Yes, that would be great, but you don’t have to go to any trouble.”
“It’s no problem; a guy’s gotta eat.”
After he shot a look at Doyle, who wiped his mouth, Alex stole a glance at Kale eating heartily. Am I in the Twilight Zone?
Benny finished fixing Alex’s sandwich and handed it to him on a delicate china plate.
“Can I get you something to drink? Momma makes a mean sweet tea.”
“Sounds wonderful. Thanks.” Alex picked up his sandwich, ready to dig in. “If you don’t mind me asking, how much property does your family own?”
Benny looked at Alex and waited a beat. “Sixty acres.”
“Beautiful area. I’ve been thinking of buying some land down here. Do you know if there’s any land nearby for sale?”
“Is that so?” Benny waited another beat and then added, “I don’t think so. There was some property for sale to the northwest of ours, but someone snatched it up about a year ago. We didn’t expect it to sell.”
“Why’s that?” Doyle asked.
“Well, the property was way overpriced, even for this area. We thought about buying it, but for what they were asking, it wouldn’t have been worth it.”
“Do you know who purchased the property?” Alex asked.
“Nope,” Benny said as he put away the last of the sandwich fixings into the refrigerator.
Kale stood up with his plate in hand. “Do you want me to wash this?”
“No need. We have a dishwasher.” Benny took the plate and placed it in the dishwasher.
“Mind if I use the restroom?” Kale asked.
“Go right ahead.”
“Thanks,” Kale said as he headed in the directio
n Benny had indicated earlier.
Just as Kale left, JD appeared. Alex had not noticed he wasn’t in the room earlier.
Benny looked at JD “Where have you been?”
“I had to make a phone call for your information,” JD answered in a sharp tone.
His lips pursed, Benny nodded.
Alex doubted JD was telling the truth.
“Are we ready to go?” JD asked.
“Soon. Be patient.” Benny pushed the wash button on the dishwasher.
JD shook his head and walked out of the kitchen. Seconds later, a door slammed in another part of the house.
Cocking his head, Alex asked, “How long are you going to keep us here? You two seem like reasonable people. We apologized for trespassing, and I assure you that we’ll never do it again.”
“Where you from?” Benny asked.
“California.” Alex watched Doyle’s head swivel back and forth, following the conversation between him and Benny.
“Pretty far from home.”
Benny nodded to Doyle. “What about them two fellas? Are they friends from Califor-nye-a too?”
“No.” Alex paused. “They’re friends from Arkansas.”
The relief that washed over Doyle’s face was palpable.
“Arkansas, huh? I thought I detected an accent.”
“Yep. Arkansas. We wanted to explore the river and look for gators,” Doyle chimed in.
Kale returned and took a seat at the bar next to Doyle. “You have a very nice home.”
“Thanks. What nationality are you?” Benny asked.
“Hawaiian.”
“You don’t say. Woo doggie, I never met a Hawaiian before.”
Kale’s face reddened and his gaze focused on the counter.
“Well boys, I have to apologize for the way we treated you. We thought you were part of those survivalist idiots who bought up that property.”
Alex felt the blood drain from his face. Is that where Mara is being held? Is Doyle supposed to deliver me there too? Alex pulled himself together. “Survivalists? Really? Near here?” He masked his eagerness for more details by keeping his voice on an even keel.
Doyle’s eyes shifted toward him.
“Yeah,” Benny said. “At least that’s what we think it is. We’ve seen it a few times from a distance when we were out hunting, but never really paid it much mind. Then a few nights ago, we heard a helicopter and saw bright lights off in the distance in that direction. So, we decided to take a look. It’s not really any of our business, plus with all the military around here, it’s not unusual for there to be night exercises. JD just wanted to get a closer look. We weren’t going to trespass or anything like that.” Benny wiped the counter down, and said, “Well, it may not be a survivalist camp, but we’ve seen some men dressed in military-type clothing coming and going on the road. They looked the type.” He looked down at himself and added, “I guess we look like survivalists too with our hunting clothes, shaggy hair, and beards, huh?”
