“I apologize.” I flashed him another venomous smile. “I hate to sound cynical, but if I had a T-bone steak for every ‘nice’ person who has tried to kill me in the last three months, I'd need a weight loss clinic. I know about your flavor of ‘justice,’ and if the reports are even one percent accurate, you’re never gonna make Santa’s nice list.”
Connor opened his mouth to retaliate when a soft scuffing sound in the corner drew my attention. I glanced toward the noise to find a small girl sitting on the other side of a shelving unit. I did a double take, and then felt immediately embarrassed about the knife I was holding to Connor’s nether regions. I raised my eyebrow and ever-so-smoothly restored the dagger to its rightful place at his throat.
“Mr. Dunstan, where are we? And who’s the kid?” I nodded toward the child who was probably about ten, all elbows and knees. She sported Connor’s shiny, brown hair, and her big, dark eyes were focused on the dagger, but she did not look concerned for my hostage. She raised her jaw, staring at me defiantly. The spirit in her eyes endeared me to her instantly.
Connor paused, his expression hidden behind a mask of indifference. I couldn’t tell if he was about to kill me, or sell me oceanfront property in Arizona.
I pushed my knife a little closer to his throat. “Trust me or let me leave. Those are your only two options.”
Connor looked at me thoughtfully.
“Decide, or you’re gonna force me to do something we’ll both regret.”
He nodded resignedly, and introduced the girl. “My niece; Ashley. This is—was—my brother’s store.”
I looked to Ashley for her reaction, but she turned away.
“They’re … gone now. Asked me to take care of her.” Connor gestured toward the girl.
“Alright. So, what do you want from me?”
Connor sighed. “What? Me? What do I want?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Why did you save me? Why am I here? What. Do. You. Want. From. Me?” It seemed an easy enough question and I couldn’t understand why he was struggling with it. “You know, you seemed a lot smarter in the commercials.”
The side of his mouth twitched. “Would you believe I’m looking for a chance at redemption?”
I blinked, and then burst into laughter. The idea of Connor Dunstan seeking redemption was hilarious. “Right.” I said between fits of giggles. “And just yesterday I ran into Mother Theresa—she was looking for a biker bar.”
His eyes grew guarded and hurt. “Am I so horrible that I’m beyond redemption?”
“No.” I couldn’t tell if he was playing me or being real, but my inappropriate laughter left a sour taste in my mouth. In a world where everything had changed, I never should have assumed that Connor remained the same.
“No one is beyond redemption. It’s by grace you are saved, not by your works.” I said the words out of habit, and immediately regretted opening my mouth.
“Grace?” Connor asked. “Grace from whom? From a God who has turned His back on the people He created?” He snorted. “Open your eyes. If there was a God, would He allow His people to become … this?”
Since it seemed a bit hypocritical for me to preach to someone while threatening them with a weapon, I lowered my knife and took a step back.
“You think this is God’s fault?” I shook my head. “That’s rich. Exactly what I’d expect from an attorney; blame someone else. You can’t paddle away from the lifeboat, and then blame it when you drown.”
Connor chuckled. “Great. Stuck with a religious nut.”
“Religious nut?” I spat. “Stuck?”
The most annoying smirk spread across his face.
I eyed him. “A society without religion is like a vessel without a compass.”
Connor’s eyes widened. “Napoleon?”
“Surprised?” I snorted. “I realize that this will probably defy all your beliefs about women, but yes, it is possible to have both: a chest, and brains.”
Trust this infuriating man? What are You trying to do to me? Trust him? Are You sure? Yet there was something comforting about having an argument with someone who wasn’t trying to kill me. Hunger and desperation hadn’t morphed Connor into some sort of brainless brute, like it had so many of the others I’d encountered. His eyes were clear, his words made sense, and I had the strange feeling he was testing me. That, more than anything, made me want to leave. I didn’t know what his game was, but I had my own role to play and Canada was calling my name.
“If you’d just open the door, I’ll leave and you won’t have to worry about being stuck with this religious nut any longer.” My body trembled with anger and frustration, and my face flushed. I don’t want to trust him. What I want to do is scratch out his eyeballs, throw him on the ground, and step on his throat to crush his larynx! I took a step toward the door and reached for the handle.
“No.” He held his arm in front of me.
“Excuse me?” I glared at him.
“No.” He shook his head. “I’m not going to let you go out there and kill yourself. Too dangerous.”
Manic laughter mixed with desperation and fear escaped from my mouth. “And you’re going to prevent my death?” I shook my head. “You? You’re not exactly the white knight type, you know, so please forgive my doubt. There are enough enemies out there. I don’t need to be stuck in a safe with one.”
I’ll show him stuck.
I clenched my fists. “By the way, if someone locks you in a safe against your will, they really shouldn’t be allowed to refer to the experience as being stuck with you.”
“I apologize.” He sighed. “That might not have been the best word to use.”
“Ya think?” Why did my first interaction with another human being who wasn’t trying to kill me or run from me have to be this man? He wasn’t a human, he was a dog. No, my dog had been sweet and loving. Connor was more like a wolf, and I was no Little Red Riding Hood to be taken in by his smooth talking. Sure, he’d saved my life, but why? He was a big-shot attorney. They never worked pro-bono, and it required more hope than I could muster to assume he had done anything out of the goodness of his heart. I didn’t need or want the company of a man who would stab me in the back. I just wanted to get to Canada, where I’d find Michelle and some semblance of a new life.
“This may come as a surprise to you but hey, I’m alive. I’ve survived without your help this far, and I’m pretty sure I don’t need it now.”
“I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.” He leaned back against the door of the safe.
“Please open the lock so I can leave.” I could feel tears well up in my eyes. I was trapped and the walls were closing in on me, causing panic to cloud my judgment.
“No.”
“Connor, let me out.”
“No. Just listen …”
“Please don’t make me do this!” I pulled my dagger back up toward his throat. He grabbed my hand and in an impressive display of dexterity and speed spun me around so his chest pressed against my back and my arms were trapped beneath his own. I was bent at the waist with Connor slumped over me.
Ashley gasped. Her terrified face was in my direct line of sight, so I got the full effect of her fear.
“Just listen to me for a minute. We can figure a way out of this.” His breath brushed the side of my hair. “We have food. Our supplies have been adequate so far, but we can’t hold out much longer here. Provisions are running thin. We’re gonna have to leave soon.”
Connor took a deep breath. He had me pinned. It was useless to struggle, so I didn’t even try. If he wanted me dead, he’d had plenty of opportunities.
What does he want?
“What I propose …” He stood up straight, pulling me with him. “Is that you eat with us now, and get some sleep.”
“I don’t—”
“You need food and sleep. And after you’ve rested, if you still want to leave, you can. No questions asked.”
Yeah right. But the idea had definite appeal. My traitorous
stomach growled at the suggestion of a meal. A few days ago my measly supply had been stolen, leaving me with only the pocketful of peanuts I’d eaten yesterday morning. My stomach growled again and Connor smiled smugly. I was too tired to fight and too hungry to disagree. If he plans to kill me, at least I’ll die with a full stomach.
I nodded and agreed to his terms. He released my arms and told me to sit and make myself comfortable. I lowered myself to the floor, took off my pack and leaned against it.
Looking around, I had time to appreciate the shelter. It was kind of cozy, really. Two sleeping bags were laid on top of twin air mattresses. Pillows and a wind-up flashlight topped each of the beds, and books were stacked in a corner next to a few board games. A variety of scenery posters had been paired with chains of artificial ivy in an attempt to spruce up the drab grey walls and shelves. Faintly stale air circulated through small vents in the ceiling, pulling in the fresher air from the store that surrounded the safe. The bucket in the corner smelled faintly of urine and no doubt served as a latrine. All this was tucked safely behind a dial lock that opened and locked from both the inside and the outside and obviously didn’t require electricity.
Cans and boxes of food were neatly stacked toward the end of one shelf and though there was not much left, my eyes strained to read the labels. Desperate to remember a time when food came in a wide variety of flavors, shapes and colors. I missed the choices almost as much as I missed the availability. Medical and survival supplies were stacked below the food shelf. The rest of the shelves were bare, reminding me of Connor’s concern. No, you can’t hold out much longer here.
The intoxicating scent of onions, peppers, and chili seasoning focused my attention back on Connor. My stomach erupted into a symphony of growls that sounded more like a five piece band than a single starving artist. “Mmm is that really chili?” I asked, as my mouth salivated. In reply, he put a small bowl of the spicy-scented ecstasy into my hands.
“Wow. You really know how to woo a girl, don’t you?” I picked up the spoon and stirred the thick stew. Steam rolled off it floating to my face and torturing my growling stomach.
Connor flashed me his perfectly straight pearly-whites and handed Ashley a bowl. When she didn’t acknowledge him, he placed it on the floor in front of her, and then sat down with his own bowl across from me. She waited until he was seated before she picked up the bowl and started eating.
A full spoon hit my lips and I didn’t even bother to test the heat. Instead I opened my mouth and shoveled food in. The spices danced over my taste buds as a warm, fuzzy sensation traveled down my throat and heated my stomach. Suddenly needing more, I dismissed the spoon, picked up the bowl, and raised it to my mouth. Leaning back, I poured the chili down my throat, making all sorts of noises that should probably not be heard in public.
When I lowered my bowl, all eyes were on me. Connor smirked. I glared at him and wiped my sleeve over my mouth. Ashley’s eyes were wide as she watched me; her forgotten spoon full of chili hovered above her bowl.
“What?” I shrugged my shoulders. “I was hungry.”
Ashley averted her eyes and continued eating. I tried desperately to think of some way to start a conversation with her, but what could I say? How’s school? See any good movies lately? So … what do you want to be when you grow up? Hey, you gonna eat that? Right. Discouraged by inappropriate conversation topics, I defied the laws of nature and kept my mouth shut.
Connor had warmed the chili using a battery-generated hot plate and a small pot. When we were finished, he took the bowls and rinsed them in a bucket of water. He held a bottle of water toward Ashley, but she ignored him and he placed it in front of her. He tossed me a water and tidied up while I basked in the awkwardness of the situation, wondering what the heck I was doing there.
Connor paused and studied me for a few moments. “The deal was for food and sleep. I’m gonna do some rounds and check on some things. I’ll be gone at least four hours. Get some sleep.” He turned and walked toward the door, pausing once again when he reached it. “When I get back, maybe we can talk for a minute before you go?” He spun the dial a few times, opened the door, and slipped out.
The lock spun from the outside, so I stood and jiggled the handle. Yep. Locked in a safe by a crazy man. Awesome. I sat on the floor, facing Ashley. “Well, looks like it’s just you and me, kid.”
She didn’t climb onto my lap and beg me to sing her to sleep, but she didn’t run away screaming either. My belly was more satisfied than it had been in several days and gravity tugged on my eyelids. Maybe a few hours of sleep wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Ashley watched me dubiously.
“Don’t worry, Sweetie.” I smiled. “I won’t hurt you.”
She picked up a book, walked over to one of the air mattresses, and sat down to read. I considered stretching out on the other mattress, but couldn’t get past the creepiness of sleeping on Connor’s bed. I already had enough nightmares. Instead, I settled down on the floor, and made a makeshift pillow out of my jacket. My eyes closed as I focused on my life and its insane turn of events.
* * *
In literally ten months, my life had gone from wonderful to cataclysmic. It all started when several “indestructible” corporations began to collapse. In their freefalls, they held out their hands for support and Uncle Sam grasped them, desperate to rescue companies and save jobs. The economy had been steadily declining, and the government feared the catastrophic results of allowing these corporate giants to fold. Uncle Sam threw money at the failing businesses, hoping to plug the holes long enough for them to stabilize. Everyone said the recession wouldn’t last forever, and the goal was to survive until it passed. The once independently-ran, multi-billion dollar companies turned into taxpayer-subsidized, government-supervised, private companies. Unstable public/private hybrids, they were too public to make their own decisions, yet too private to be held accountable to the tax payers who’d become their lifeblood. Capitalism viewed them as monstrosities, and they were too anarchic for socialism. Financial analysts wrung their hands as the national debt skyrocketed. No one knew the right course of action. The government watched as the hybrid companies bankrupted the nation, and unemployment rates broke records.
Next to plummet came the banks and other financial institutions. Already wounded by the big businesses reductions, they could not withstand the astronomical unemployment rates. People could no longer pay their mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. Taxes weighed heavily upon the heads of a nation struggling to survive. The few banks that endured were hesitant to lend, so money stopped flowing through free enterprise. Companies became insolvent, the stock market plummeted, banks were depleted and the people starved.
Twelve months ago I was a young, bright professional reaching for the stars at a marketing firm in downtown Vancouver, Washington. According to my last review, I had overcome obstacles and proven myself to be a valuable team member. My boss was introducing me to the “players,” and helping me make the right contacts to grow my reputation. It was an amazing opportunity and I loved the challenges as well as the rewards.
Nine months ago it was a struggle to hold onto my job. Many of our clients had closed their doors, and desperation caused us to donate hours and hours of unclaimed overtime, just trying to keep the business afloat.
Six months ago I was in line at the unemployment office—my spirit broken and my hand out—praying for enough benefits to fill my empty cupboards. I had begun staggering payments for rent, insurance, and all the other bills I had accumulated during my success.
Three months ago the government officials disappeared and government benefits stopped.
* * *
And now I’m locked in a safe with a little girl, awaiting the return of a questionable ally. I should have run when I had the chance.
Body and mind thoroughly exhausted, I decided to pump the girl for information before I lost all consciousness. “Hey Ashley, can I ask you something?”
She did
n’t answer, so I softened my words. “You don’t have to answer me if you don’t want.”
I glanced at her, and she gave me another of her way-too-somber looks and nodded.
“What happened to your parents?”
Her eyes shifted back to her book. I was about to apologize for prying when she cleared her throat and replied.
“Connor killed them.”
CHAPTER FIVE
~Fort Lewis, Washington, June 8
A LATINO MAN, dressed in fatigues kneeled near the podium of the small Fort Lewis military chapel. Another soldier approached, hesitating beside the last pew, waiting to be addressed.
The kneeling man crossed himself, kissed the crucifix that hung around his neck, and stood. He turned and asked for the soldier’s report.
The soldier saluted. “Excuse me, Commander; we have word from the V Ranch.” At a nod from the commander he continued. “The Progression reached the ranchers two days before we did, and the ranch has been cleaned out.”
The commander exhaled, closed his eyes, and crossed himself again. “There were more than thirty men there. Tell me, are they all dead?”
“Dead or taken.” The soldier shifted his weight. “We found a lot of bodies, but not as many as we expected.”
The commander nodded, and addressed the cross on the wall. “Recruited or escaped?”
* * *
Connor closed and locked the safe behind him. Then he had second thoughts about leaving Ashley with the religious freak. His hand reached for the dial, so he could open it and correct his mistake.
No, someone that self-righteous wouldn’t hurt a child. He stared at the door as minutes ticked away. There were no sounds of violence; no blood came pooling under it. This is ridiculous. She’s your only chance of getting Ashley out of that safe. Don’t blow it.
Rescuing Liberty: Perseverance Book 1 Page 3
