by Harley Tate
Will was curled up in a threadbare upholstered chair with Lottie in his lap, both fast asleep.
Turning back to the window, Dani closed one eye to peer through the rifle scope. She wasn’t tired. Not by a long shot. How could she sleep with Jarvis planning God knew what, Melody and Gloria missing, and a whole army out there searching for them?
She thought about Melody and what she must have done to save Dani’s life. Putting herself between the soldiers and Dani’s unconscious body. Protecting her when she couldn’t protect herself. She owed Melody an apology. Gloria, too. They had taken her and Colt in, helped them, and the whole time Dani held back, wondering if they were too weak to survive.
Scanning the road through the scope, she eased the rifle barrel across the back of the chair, first to the left then the right. Movement caught her eye and she froze. A vehicle emerged from the shadows, driving with the lights off. Dani tensed and tried to focus on the shape and the size. The closer it came, the more her dread grew.
A brown National Guard Humvee.
Crap. She turned around, about to call for Colt when she hesitated. They put her on watch for a reason. She should handle it on her own. Dani swung back around and watched the Humvee slow to a stop outside the building. Easing her finger around the trigger, Dani waited.
No army jerks were storming this place on her watch. She wouldn’t be caught unaware and unprepared again.
The driver’s side door swung open. A soldier emerged and turned to face the building. Dani pulled back.
No freakin’ way.
Major Larkin stood at the door to the Humvee, gesturing to someone still inside.
Dani lowered her head back down and took aim. That jerk. She knew he was a bad guy ever since he strode out of the model home and demanded her weapon. It didn’t matter that Colt knew him or that he let her go. He was one of them.
The passenger-side door to the vehicle opened and Dani moved the rifle to get a better view. Another soldier who looked like he’d fallen out of bed to make the trip, his shirt and pants a wrinkled mess.
Dani almost smirked. They wouldn’t know what hit them. She took aim. Inhaled and let the breath out through her mouth. Her finger twitched as the second soldier took off his cover. Black hair spilled from the top of his head and the man spun around.
Dani sucked in a breath of air and yanked her finger off the trigger. Melody? It can’t be.
She stared through the scope as Melody gestured toward the building. Larkin said something and she nodded with a smile. How did he find her? How did they get away? Dani leaned back and forced her lungs to fill with air.
I almost shot her.
She turned around. “Colt?”
He glanced up, mid-sentence, mouth still open.
“Larkin’s here. He’s brought Melody with him.”
Colt hustled to the window. “She’s not a hostage. Looks like Larkin’s flipped sides.” He unholstered his handgun. “I’ll check it out, just in case.”
“I’m coming, too.” Doug grabbed a rifle and followed Colt to the door.
Dani waited by the window, chewing on her lip as she chastised herself. She should have told Colt immediately and let him assess the threat. If she’d shot Melody…
The door to the apartment opened and Melody stepped inside. She looked ridiculous in a too-big military uniform all rumpled and untucked, but she was alive. Dani set the rifle down and stood up, watching while Colt ushered Larkin in and made the introductions.
He waved at Dani and she peeled off the chair to say hello.
“I think you’ve met Dani.”
Larkin raised an eyebrow. “Not just a pesky street rat, huh? I sort of figured.” He stuck out his hand with a smile. “Major James Larkin. But just call me Larkin. Everyone does.”
Dani shook it and pulled away. “Sorry I shot one of your men.”
“Who? O’Riley?” Larkin waved her off. “He deserved it.”
Dani opened her mouth to agree when Melody’s arms wrapped around her in a sideways hug. “Dani! I’m so glad you’re alive.”
Dani winced from the squeeze and Melody pulled back. “Sorry! Is your shoulder all right? Since you’re not dead I’m assuming Colt patched you up?”
She nodded. “Thank you for all that you did. Colt said I’d have died if you hadn’t slowed the bleeding.”
“I wish I could have done more. There just wasn’t time.”
Dani pressed her lips together and willed her emotions back. She wouldn’t cry. Not now. Not ever.
Melody turned to her brother, her smile sliding into a frown. “Do you know? Did you see it?”
He stilled. “Is it gone?”
Melody nodded and her voice caught when she tried to speak. “T-They burned the entire street. There’s nothing but ash and smoke.” She reached for her brother’s hand. “Everything’s gone.”
“Not everything.” He pointed toward Will sleeping in the corner.
Melody followed his direction and stifled an exuberant shout. “Lottie! Oh, thank you.”
She moved to go grab her dog, but Doug held her back. “How’d you know to come here?”
Melody glanced at Larkin and shrugged. “It’s the only place I could think of and I knew Jarvis would never look for us here.”
“Why not?”
“Because Lucas is dead.” Melody swallowed and walked over to the window, looking out into the darkness as she relayed what happened at the University.
Dani shuddered as Melody explained the shooting. She knew Jarvis was a bad man, but to shoot a man who gave him information… A man who turned on the sister of his supposed friend to help the army… She chewed on her lip as Melody voiced the same thought screaming inside Dani’s head.
“We have to rescue Gloria.”
Everyone agreed.
Colt spoke up. “You with us, Larkin?”
The major nodded. “After seeing what they planned to do to Melody and hearing her description of Lucas’s murder, I can’t support Jarvis. Even if it creates a power vacuum in the town.”
Doug stepped forward, almost cutting Larkin off. “What did they do to you? Are you hurt?”
Melody shook her head. “I’m fine, thanks to Larkin. He saved me.”
Larkin held up his hand as if no thanks were due. “I wish we could have rescued your friend as well. There just wasn’t time.”
“There is now.” Colt gathered everyone around the table. “Will told me about the University’s transportation department. It’s not guarded and easy to access.”
Larkin nodded. “I’ve never heard anyone even mention that part of campus.” He pointed at a spot on the map maybe half a mile away. “They are most likely holding Gloria here, at the new brig.”
Colt nodded. “I wondered where they were setting one up. The airplane passengers were always kept far, far away from this side of campus. We can use the Humvee to get into the transportation area, park it behind some buses, and sneak in on foot the rest of the way.”
Colt and Larkin hashed out the rest of a plan while Dani committed it to memory. It meant everyone playing a part. No spectators this go-round.
Melody stripped out of the uniform and handed it to Colt. “It’s big for me; it might fit you.”
He took it with a nod. “Can you stand watch? Larkin needs cover.”
Melody took the rifle from Dani and hustled over to the chair while Larkin hit the stairs.
Colt busied himself in Lucas’s kitchen, rummaging around in all the cabinets. He fished a bunch of empty beer bottles from a recycling bin and put them on the counter, along with a handful of dish towels and soap. Then he grabbed a bottle of some sort of liquor and unscrewed the cap.
Dani scrunched up her face. “You’re doing the dishes and drinking?”
Colt raised an eyebrow as Larkin appeared carrying a big rectangular can. “No, dear. He’s making Molotov cocktails.”
She watched as Colt went to work, pouring a little bit of dish soap into each bottle and following
with some of the fuel. Larkin cut the towels into strips and soaked them in the liquor before stuffing them into each neck.
After they finished, Colt glanced around with a frown. “I need some stoppers. This guy had to drink wine. Dani, find me some corks.”
She went through the trash, drawers, couch, and coffee table, but came up empty. There had to be something. She rushed into his bedroom and spun around in a slow circle. Come on. Come on.
Her eyes landed on a palm tree hanging on the wall and she grinned. After wrestling it off the hook, she rushed back into the kitchen and held it up. “Will this do?”
Colt almost laughed. “What is that? Recycled art?”
Doug rolled his eyes. “Lucas liked to think he was cultured. More of a professor than a social media monkey. He bought that off some student artist at the art fair last month. He only used items found in the college trash as supplies."
Dani raised an eyebrow. That explained the wine-cork trunk and the beer-bottle palm leaves. But the sand that looked like chewed up and spit out rice? She shivered. She didn’t want to know.
Colt pointed at it. “Dig those corks loose and shove them in the top of the bottles. But leave some of the wick out. We need to be able to light it.”
Dani followed his instructions, popping the wine corks out of the trunk before wedging one down tight into each neck.
Larkin scooped up the finished bottles and loaded them into the empty recycling bin. “I searched the Humvee, but there’s no extra ammo. How much have you got?”
“Not nearly enough.” Colt checked his handgun. “A full magazine and one spare. None of the rifles are full.”
“Shit.”
Colt nodded. “We need more of a diversion than a handful of Molotovs.”
Larkin glanced at Dani. “Ever act in a school play?”
She shook her head.
“First time for everything.” He pointed toward the door. “Come with me. We need to find you a costume.”
Dani glanced at Colt, but he just shrugged and motioned her along. She followed Larkin into the hallway. “What are we doing, exactly?”
Larkin grinned. “We’re going to be act one. Colt and his little bomb buddies will be act two.”
“What’s act three?”
“Running like hell and hoping we don’t get shot.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
DANI
Streets of Eugene, Oregon
3:00 a.m.
“I can’t believe I’m wearing this.”
“It’s not that bad.”
Dani looked down at the little black dress and heels. “I’m going to break an ankle.”
“You can take them off as soon as we get outside.”
“No.” She shook her head and kicked off the shoes before tugging back on her worn-out Converse. “I’ll wear the stupid dress, but I’m not wearing those shoes.”
“It’s for effect. You—”
Melody interrupted from the front. “Leave her alone, Larkin. No guy will even look at her shoes.”
He waggled a stick of something Dani’s direction. “How about mascara?”
She scowled but snatched the tube from him and unscrewed the cap while they bounced down the road in the back of the Humvee. “I still don’t see how this will work.”
“How much do you know about nineteen-year-old men?”
She scrunched up her nose. “Nothing.”
Colt spoke up from the front seat. “It’ll work.”
Dani scowled and managed to swipe some mascara on her lashes without poking out an eye. “Fine. But this is the last time I’m ever wearing a dress.”
“Not even when you get married?”
The comment earned Colt an obscene gesture and he laughed. “Don’t ever change, Dani.”
They drove slowly down the streets of Eugene, headed straight for the transportation department of the University. Melody sat in the front in a bright flowered dress and exaggerated makeup to hide her features. She couldn’t do anything to change her hair, but a preposterous sun hat hid most of it. She ran the risk of being recognized, but they didn’t have a choice. It would take two women to make the plan work.
Harvey, Doug, and Will followed behind in Lucas’s little electric sedan. They couldn’t ever charge it again, but the thing still had enough juice to drive to the University and hopefully back out.
They pulled into the transportation department and snaked through the inert buses before Colt parked. Harvey pulled up right beside them. Everyone clambered out and Dani smoothed down the front of the dress.
Melody pulled Lottie’s carrier off her shoulder and handed it to Harvey. “Keep her safe, okay?”
Harvey nodded and glanced down at his grandson. “We’ll be here, waiting and ready.” They ducked back inside the sedan to wait.
Dani took a deep breath. Acting wasn’t her thing, but Melody flashed her an encouraging smile. “You can do this. I’ll be right there with you, every step of the way.”
Larkin stepped between them. “Everyone know where to go if we get split up?”
They nodded.
“Then let’s do this.”
Larkin, Dani, and Melody headed toward the dorm-turned-prison while Colt and Doug lingered among the buses, loading up with rifles and bombs.
Larkin leaned into Dani’s side. “Pretend you’re drunk, remember? It’ll be easier that way.” He canted his cover off to the side and untucked part of his shirt before listing into a half-swagger, half-stumble.
They emerged from the shadows and Melody let out an exaggerated giggle. “Oh, Major. You’re too funny. You s-should be a… what’s-it-called? One of those guys who makes people laugh?”
A shout from the building steps jerked Larkin’s head up. “Oh, hey there, Private! I’ve got me a couple lady friends and we need a room.” He dragged Dani and Melody up the steps, stumbling two forward and one back. Melody giggled and went along with him. Dani tried to keep up.
The soldier at the door screwed up his face at the smell of alcohol radiating off all three of them. “Sir, this isn’t the barracks. It’s the brig. You can’t bring them in here!”
Larkin rose up to his full height, teetering back and forth. “Are you questioning my authority?” He hiccupped in the kid’s face. “Don’t you question my authority, boy.” He reached for his sidearm and the soldier shook his head.
“N-No, sir. It’s just this isn’t…you’re in…I’m watching the brig, sir. Not the dorms. The brig.” He stressed the last words, imploring his superior officer to understand, but Larkin waved his hand in front of his face like the kid was a pesky fly.
“Get out of my way before I report you to the colonel.” He shoved the soldier out of the way and reached for the door handle all while Melody and Dani giggled and stumbled about on the landing.
Melody eyed the soldier with a grin. “Ever had a threesome, sweetie?”
The soldier’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “N-No, ma’am.”
She giggled and turned to Larkin. “He called me ma’am!”
Larkin tugged the door open and pushed both Dani and Melody inside. “The nerve of him!”
The bewildered soldier stood on the front step, staring as the door shut in his face. Larkin straightened up. “All right. Let’s fan out. We’ll find Gloria and get the hell out of here.”
Dani nodded and took off down the hall. Rising up on her toes, she checked the first room. Empty. Second, third, fourth. All empty. She kept checking, rushing down the hall and back up. Gloria wasn’t there. She ran back to the front.
Larkin hustled up. “Anything?”
“No.”
Melody rushed up from the shadows. “Over here!”
Larkin took off running and Dani followed right behind, thankful she insisted on her old shoes. They slowed to a stop outside a door. “It’s locked. I can’t get in.” Melody yanked on the door handle.
“Is she in there? Can she open it?” Larkin pressed forward and cupped his hands around the glass. “Damn it.
Why did they have to tie her up, too?”
“Can’t you just shoot the lock open?”
Larkin looked at Melody like she’d been drinking for real. “No. This isn’t the movies. Even if I did manage to do any damage, I’d probably seal her in there for good with a ruined lock.” He glanced around before walking back up to the glass. “Gloria! Can you hear me?”
Muffled sounds came from inside.
“I need you to hop over here and open the door.”
She said something that Dani couldn’t hear, but Melody shoved Larkin out of the way to look inside. “It’s our only chance, Gloria. Please!”
Dani chewed on her lip while Gloria shuffled and hopped across the room. They were taking too long. Either the soldier from out front or someone else would find them. “We need to hurry!”
“Tell that to the massive chair they’ve tied her up to. It’s lucky she can move it at all.”
Every second that ticked by reduced their changes. Dani could barely stand still as she listened for the sound of feet in the building.
At last, the door handle jiggled and the door popped open. Melody rushed in with Larkin on her heels while Dani stood watch.
She eased toward the exit and froze. Angry, shocked voices peppered the front hall. She rushed into Gloria’s room and shut the door. “We’re too late. They’re coming.”
Melody pulled the rag out of Gloria’s mouth before setting to work on her legs. Larkin cut the zip ties around her hands and the older woman sagged in relief. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank us yet, we might all be dead in a minute.” Larkin eased to the front door and looked out. He swore. “I smell smoke. Colt’s already launching the Molotovs. We need to move. Now.”
Dani rushed to the window. They were ten feet off the ground. It would be a rough landing, but nothing like the jump from the third floor she and Colt survived.
Larkin shoved on the window handle and grunted with the effort. “Help me get this open.”
Melody rushed over and ducked beneath Larkin to push with both hands while Dani grabbed the metal with her one good arm. Together, the three of them opened it wide.
