Fractured Steel

by T. J. Loveless

  “Come on, Karen, let me take you to your room. We have to talk.” Lifted against the broad chest, we turned from the stables.

  Middleston followed close behind as the Colonel walked various hallways, leaving me lost. He stood before a door, painted a pretty royal purple. He nodded at Middleston, who put in a code and the door swung open silently. Inside, another large room, decorated close to my room at home. Chuck settled me on a well-padded bed. He bent down, picked up the pup and set him in the middle of the bed.

  I watched as he pulled a rocking chair close and sat, facing me. “There is a lot of information, most of which is irrelevant to the current situation.” He looked down, hands clasped between his knees. “I don’t know where to start. Since you called, I’ve had my guys doing research, and I called in a few favors.” He stood, pacing back and forth.

  “Well, just say it. You’ve never had a problem saying what needed to be said.” I settled against the headboard, relieved to be off my feet.

  “Gage’s father, Senator Wheeling, is in the middle of it all, and he crossed the Germans. It centers around a computer chip, which everyone and their dog wants to get their hands on.”

  I couldn’t think of a reply.

  “When Five Alarm was a colt, the chip was implanted just below his withers, which is why everyone wants the horse.” He turned, hands folded behind his back, at parade rest. “It’s why Rupert wanted you to handle the horse. The Germans couldn’t buy him from Jerry, not without you signing off. My understanding is they tried on numerous occasions, but were refused.”

  “What’s on the computer chip?” I fought the urge to check on Five.

  “We don’t know exactly, only that Congressman Wheeling wants it. Gage is somehow mixed up in it. Rupert saw a chance at revenge, and money. The German government has stated the chip was promised to them.”

  “All they had to do was ask,” I gave the statement the look it deserved. “But they had Five, they could have simply shipped him off. Or killed Five and simply taken it out. Why kidnap me? Why not take the easy way out and kill Five? Why let them torture and kill? It doesn’t make sense, Chuck.”

  “No, the horse is too famous to kill, and they wanted him alive. Killing Five Alarm would have eventually pointed fingers, and they didn’t want that. I think there is more, I just don’t know what yet. I’m reading reams of paper to figure it out.” He nodded at Middleston. “He is going to stick nearby, since you seem able to tolerate him for long periods of time. I have to go and get all the electronics fired up, and set up a rotation. It won’t take long for them to find the blueprints.”

  “Chuck? Who was that man? And what about the horses still in the stables? Did anyone let them into the pastures? They might have a chance out there.”

  “The man was your father’s partner in many operations, he won’t stick around long, nor will he see you again. They were paired because of the similarity. I think one of the guys thought of releasing the horses, but there is an older mare who refused to leave her stall. A fairly big chestnut.”

  I closed my eyes, knowing Ringing Alarm would have balked with all the commotion. I hoped the stall door remained open and she had a chance to get away. I couldn’t face the thought of another of my beloved horses harmed.

  Sighing, I had a lot more questions for Chuck, wanted to voice all of them, so none of them fell out of my lips. I nodded and looked at Middleston, with the average looks and high grade anatomy hidden behind layers of black BDU and weaponry. His dark brown hair and tan complexion a good mix. For the first time in a long time, I really wanted to feel something. Yet all I could wonder was, when will he betray me?

  Life was too damn weird. My world was upside down, and I didn’t know how to right it.

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Over the next few hours, men hobbled in from various parts of the bunker, some seriously injured, and others carried the dead. Whatever happened was serious. But word was the invaders hadn’t found the underground entrances. I breathed a little easier.

  They found an old wheelchair, and I was taken to the dining hall. Most of the men changed into sweats and shirts, many carrying weapons of some sort. Bandages were the new black, and I didn’t know what to say. The events were hard to understand, hard to comprehend, too much missing information.

  Dinner consisted of MREs and I ate what I could. My stomach didn’t cooperate. Chuck signaled for me to remain and I was tempted to shake my head in defiance. Early training kicked in and I stayed where I was.

  “The bunker is on lock down. The only way to get in is to know a certain code, and according to Brent, only you know it. Care to share?” He sat on a long, low bench, one leg on each side, an arm resting on the metal table. The lines around his eyes and mouth were deeper, showing his stress. I’d only seen him look all of his years once before, more than a decade ago.

  “I didn’t know Dad had this damn place, much less any codes. Hell, I’ve been living up top for years on my own and didn’t know about it.” I pursed my lips.

  “Don’t give me that stubborn look, Karrie-girl. It’s a sequence only you would know. Now think.” He gave me a hard look.

  “I hate you.” I pinched the bridge of my nose.

  “At least you feel something. Now, what you know of your father, what code would he use?”

  I ran through dates, but if it was something only I would know, it had to be a private moment with Dad. My mind lit on the day we were stalked by the cougar. I looked up and stared at the Colonel. The date was forever etched into my brain. “How old would the codes be?”

  “At least a decade.”

  I nodded. “I think I know the codes, but we don’t need them right now. I need to rest.” I tried to wheel away from the table. Middleston grabbed the wheelchair handles and took me to my room. I expected him to leave.

  “Didn’t you get your own room?” I raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes, ma’am. Right here. There is a spare bed in the far corner. I’m under orders to not leave your side, no matter what happens.” He stood over me, “First, let’s get you to the bathroom, you can brush your teeth, relieve yourself, I’ll look for pajamas. Your clothes aren’t really meant for sleeping in.” He lifted me out of the chair and I threw my arms around his neck. Without meaning to, I put my nose to the skin on his neck and inhaled. He smelled of soap and sandalwood. “Stop that.” He bounced me.

  “Sorry, you smell good.” I shrugged and let him carry me to the spacious bathroom. I shuffled around, found every female toiletry known to man, and set about preparing for bed. He knocked on the door, opened it and shoved an arm through, handing over sweats, a t-shirt and white bikini panties. “Thanks, man,” I mumbled, taking the clothes and changing. It took a good ten minutes, with his, “Doing okay in there?”, filtering through the door once in awhile.

  “I’m ready,” I yelled, feeling refreshed, but ready for sleep.

  The door opened, and Middleston walked in wearing sweats, and wet hair slicked back. He wore a wife-beater, and I stared. The white of the tank top showed off the light tan, and showcased wide, powerful shoulders, six pack abs tapering into a lean waist, and several scars crisscrossing the well-defined chest.

  “What’s your given name, Middleston?” Anything to keep from staring.

  He chuckled, “It’s Aiden. You forgot already?”

  “Can I call you Aiden?” I met his pretty brown eyes.

  “As long as I can call you Karen.” He lifted me against the massive chest.

  “Deal. Now take me to bed, Jeebs.” I pointed.

  He laughed as he carried me to the large bed, pulled back the duvet and carefully tucked me in. He pointed at a corner, “I’ll be over there. You will not be alone again, you hear me?”

  I nodded and rolled away. I listened to him walk across the floor and the sounds of a body sliding into sheets. He rolled twice, punched the pillow, mumbled, and finally settled.

  I fell to sleep, the room utterly dark. Noises and voices swirled around th
e room, and ghost sensations wracked my body. The pain burned my skin, muscles twitched, and I could clearly see Johnny coming for me. He leered, promising pain, and I tried to scoot away. Something held my legs in a tight grip. I had to get away, could get through the open door if I pushed myself.

  Arms wrapped around my waist, pulling backwards. I punched and kicked, screaming. If he got a hold of me again, I wasn’t going to survive. He would want revenge for the butter knife, and I had enough pain for a lifetime.

  Several pairs of arms grabbed me in the dark, and I used every trick I knew to escape. Adrenaline surged at every grunt of pain from my attackers, and the hold loosened. I fell to the floor, crawling away, knowing my legs couldn’t hold me. My hip was a mass of agony, my arm throbbed, and it took all I had to find the door.

  Bright light flooded the room. Surrounded by men in black, I screamed. Gunshots echoed against the close walls, as the memories in my head morphed. The tiny hut couldn’t hold so many big bodies. I tried to grab the M16 usually slung over my chest, confused at what happened to it. If I didn’t find it soon, good men would die, it would be my fault.

  “Karrie-girl, come back to the present!” Chuck’s voice filtered through the memories, and I turned to the sound. “All of you get back, she’s in an episode!”

  I crawled backwards, unsure why the Colonel was yelling during the firefight. More shots rang out, along with the screams of the dying. “My weapon, Colonel! It’s missing! I have to find it, I have to stop them from killing more!”

  “Captain Karen Barnes, I order you to stand down!” The Colonel gave the order and I was helpless to disobey.

  I pushed to my feet, legs like rubber and threatening to give. My hip throbbed, the gunshot wound burning, and I tried to go to attention, but couldn’t achieve the proper stand. Just as I lifted a hand to salute, my legs gave out. Chuck’s arms went out and caught me, and we both descended to the concrete flooring.

  Chuck had hands like shovels, but they were gentle as they pushed curls out of my face. “Shhh, soldier. You did a great job, saved plenty of lives. You are safe, come back to the present,” he crooned.

  I blinked, realizing I was sitting in the Colonel’s lap, crying, pajamas askew. I burned bright red. “Oh my god, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I struggled to get up.

  “Give her to me, Colonel,” Aiden’s voice was quiet but commanding. He moved forward and picked me up. I buried my face in his neck. “Don’t be embarrassed, all soldiers relive the memories, whether we want to or not. None of us would ever judge you for it,” he whispered.

  I heard booted footsteps walk out, nobody said a word. I hugged Aiden close, wondering how I would face them. Nobody knew my secret, or at least they didn’t until now.

  He put me back to bed, turning on a lamp. “We’re going to leave the light on. I think the dark triggered the episode. I’m going to repeat myself, don’t be embarrassed, Karen. Nobody blames, or judges, you. Considering recent events, we’d be more surprised if it didn’t happen.” He gave me a last assessing look and went back to bed.

  I lay in the pool of soft light, rubbing the pain in my hip. When would the pain end? It’d been a couple of months. The cast was gone. I lived on aspirin, and the weakness was more than I could bear.

  Sleep stole me from the present, and shoved me into the memory of hunting with my father. I preferred the cougar to the memories of battle and kidnapping.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Someone shook my shoulder gently, and I woke to Chuck standing over the bed. I tried to sit up, but the soreness from fighting the demons the night before made it virtually impossible. Aiden woke, his hair an adorable mess, and used the bathroom first. He came out in jeans, t-shirt and tennis shoes. He grabbed me around the waist and walked slowly to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth, as he drew a steaming bath.

  “I have to help you in, so I’m going to see you naked.” Hands on hips, his expression dared me to argue.

  “I wasn’t raised to be shy,” I retorted, stripping off the t-shirt. “You’ll have to help me with the rest.”

  With fast, clinical movements, he had me naked and in the bath. I sighed and sank deep. The hot water worked immediately on sore muscles. I leaned my head back, submerged in the water, and used my feet to push into a sitting position. “This is heaven.” I let my head rest on the back of the deep, clawfoot tub.

  “I’ll be outside, yell when you’re ready. Soap, shampoo, etc, is on the stand to your right.” He turned and left, leaving the door open slightly.

  I languished until pruned, washing my hair and skin repeatedly. I couldn’t seem to get the invisible grime off. I gave up, rinsed and called for help. Aiden appeared immediately, and despite the water, held me close to dry off and get dressed. A pair of sweats and an oversized t-shirt were the fashion statement of the day.

  I was wheeled into breakfast, and breathed a sigh of relief at the lack of MREs. The normal fare of eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage and toast left my mouth imitating Niagara Falls. The men scarfed the food, and I grinned. I could keep up with the best of them during normal circumstances, but my stomach was still a little fussy. I ate a good plateful, and pushed it away, leaning back and rubbing my stomach.

  Chuck left his place at the head of the table and sat next to me. “Keep the codes to yourself at the moment. Don’t give them to anyone. There is some disturbing news. I’ve gone over the notebook Gage gave you in the hospital in Denver, and my contacts have gotten back to me.” He rubbed a hand over his face, looking away. “The chip belongs to the German government, it was always theirs. It contains some very sensitive information about the U.S.” He held up a hand as I opened my mouth, “No! Every government does it, spying on allies and enemies alike. Apparently their man attacked you because Rupert told him you were there as an implant by the Senator. He convinced Wolfgang you were the enemy, trying to keep the chip from them.”

  I stared, slack jawed. I shook my head, “Yeah, because I would break my own arm and beat the hell out of myself, among many other things.” I tried to wheel away, needing to get far from the conversation, and the guilt of killing a man with all the wrong intel.

  “Wait, I’m not done.” Chuck grabbed the armrest and pulled the chair back in place.

  “It’s ludicrous! That chip is old news! And yet they storm my house? Send me into hiding on my own property?” I glared, eyes narrowed.

  “The stuff on the chip isn’t old news, that’s just it. The Senator wants the information. Top it off,” he pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing deeply. “To top it all off, there are some codes and history on the chip the German government doesn’t want discovered. It’s a Cold War BS type of espionage.”

  “So give them the damn chip,” I shrugged, unable to see the problem.

  “If it was only that easy. They are convinced you are the enemy and took the chip on purpose, not to save yourself, or your horse.” He grabbed my chin. “This has to be done through diplomatic channels, and that will only work if we can find someone we trust. Gage’s father has a long reach.”

  “Just do it. Get the chip out of Five, get this over with so I can go home.” I slapped his hand away as I wrenched the wheelchair from the table. “I don’t give a flying leap about that damn chip, I don’t care what’s on it. If it was the German’s, give it back to them.”

  “Rupert is pointing the finger at you as a knowing accomplice. The law is after you for questions, and that daring rescue of Gage’s son? The Senator has named you as the reason for the kidnapping in the first place, and he has some damned powerful allies.”

  I couldn’t listen anymore. I wheeled away, pushing forward with angry actions. I heard Aiden behind me and felt the moment he grabbed the handles.

  “Where are we going?” he asked, taking us down a long corridor.

  “Nowhere fast, apparently.” I covered my eyes, shaking my head. “I don’t know it down here. Is there an atrium of some kind?”

  The chair picked up speed, and after a ma
ze of twists and turns, he put in the code and the enormous steel door swung open on silent hydraulic hinges.

  Aiden maneuvered me through the door and I gaped. The room was fifteen feet tall, with plants everywhere. The smell of greenery and dirt mingled with the smell of flowers. The room was hot and humid, causing tingles to race over my skin.

  “I thought maybe you could enjoy yourself in here for a bit. The path is even and you can walk some of it.” Aiden faced me and put a hand out.

  I slid my hand in his and he gently pulled. We took careful steps as I gawked at the sheer diversity of plants.

  “This is an air filtration room. Your father designed it in case there were issues and he had to do a full shut down.” He held me close, but let me take some of my own weight.

  “How do you know all of this? I think it’s time to talk,” I glanced at him.

  “Remember the Colonel said I was from a ranch in Montana?” he met my gaze.

  I nodded.

  “Your father owned the ranch. Your father and mine were friends in high school, and he bought all of my father’s debts years ago. Let us stay there for no charge, as long as we kept it up.” He grabbed a leaf as we walked by, letting his fingers run along the waxy surface.

  “So you’ve known about me for decades, and I never heard of you,” I tried to hide the hurt.

  “No, he never spoke of you. He never spoke of Wyoming at all. I think Father knew, but wasn’t going to spill any beans your father didn’t want spilled.” We circled back to the wheelchair. “Now sit, you’re going to overtax yourself.”

  “There is more to this. You were in Fallujah, knew my connection to the Colonel, but I barely remember you.” I watched him closely.

  “Yes, I was there. I didn’t realize who you were until long after, while I was recovering.” He pushed me down another path.