Redaction: Dark Hope Part III

by Linda Andrews

  She shivered and swallowed hard.

  Reaching behind her, he gathered the blankets. Shep woofed softly. He draped the cloth over her bare shoulders. The dog shifted and the blanket fell. David pointed to the floor.

  Shep hung his head and crawled out of bed. He sniffed the bloody water.

  David settled the blanket again.

  Reaching behind her, Mavis unclasped her bra. When she shrugged, the cups released her breasts. She flung the scrap of fabric to the floor. “We hid there for two days. On the third, the storm was dying so we planned to make a break for the airport. We didn’t make it out of the warehouse. Someone had tipped the police off. They came in firing.”

  “Didn’t they see the UN symbol on the truck?” David wrung out the rag again. The water bloomed red.

  “They claimed not. Jack took out two.” She wiped her nose on the blanket and blinked rapidly. Tears shone like diamonds on her lashes. “Oh God, they made him pay for it. And then they realized I was his wife.”

  “And they used him to get you to talk.” He swept the rag down her chest.

  “They tried.” Her smile collapsed under the weight of grief. “He refused to let me. The beatings…I saw them. All of them. I don’t know how he did it but he got one hand loose. He…he charged. There was a gun and he stopped. The guard…he said something…put the barrel against Jack’s temple…pulled the trigger…”

  David dropped the rag into the bucket and wrapped his arms around her.

  Her shoulders shook and her fingers grabbed his shirt front. She buried her nose in his neck. Hot tears slid down his collarbone. “Before he died, he apologized. Said he was s—sorry. Lister did too.”

  David stroked her hair. The bed dipped when Shep set his paws on the mattress. He licked her ear and snuffled her neck.

  Mavis chuckled and sniffed. “Don’t die for me, David. I won’t survive it.”

  It was a hell of a thing to ask of him—to be less than her late husband. And he wouldn’t do it. He was all in, probably had been since he first saw her. David cupped her cheeks and angled her head so she could look into his eyes. Of course, he wouldn’t tell her that. Now, he knew what she needed and he would give it to her. “You need to get over yourself, Doc.”

  “I—What?”

  “Lister didn’t die for you. He died for the ideas your office represents—freedom, justice, and truth. All in one neat package even if you don’t wear tights.”

  She choked on a laugh. “Way to put me in my place.” She flicked the blanket. “I do have the cape though.”

  “The cape is strictly optional.” He kissed her forehead before sinking back to the ground and retrieving the rag. “Thank you for telling me about what happened.”

  “I don’t deal well with loss. It can’t be contained by logic and refuses to be solved by reason.”

  “That’s why they call it emotion. A left-brain versus right-brain kinda thing.” He swept the rag under the curve of her breast, watched her body respond. “No logic or reason can solve it.”

  She held her breath on his second pass. “I’m sure I can get it too. Eventually.”

  He smiled. Not going to happen on his watch. Emotion put her back on the ground with him and other lesser mortals. He swiped down her stomach to her belly button. His child grew there. His. And hers. Together. Forever. Damn. He rolled back on his heels as the world rocked.

  “Are you okay with it?”

  He blinked and rinsed his rag. “With what?”

  She caught his hand, teased the cloth from his fingers. “The baby. Do you want it?”

  His heart stopped. Was she trying to tell him something? “Don’t you?”

  “I’m forty-two. I’ll be sixty when she finishes high school.”

  She? He was having a daughter! Ah, hell! Was this a cosmic joke? He knew what teenage boys were like. Maybe he could convince Mavis to set up a convent in some cavern far, far away.

  “David?” Mavis scrubbed at the blood on her stomach.

  “I’ll be sixty-three. We can take out our false teeth and make them into weapons to chase off the boys.” That and an M-4, maybe a few RPGs, and, if it isn’t glowing too brightly, he might find a tank. That’ll impress anyone interested in his daughter.

  “I’m serious.”

  So was he. “She could be like you and graduate high school at thirteen.”

  “Ten. I was ten.”

  “Ten?” Christ. His daughter could be super smart. Then he’d embarrass her just by being himself. Look my dad can’t do advanced calculus without counting on his fingers. He couldn’t do calculus if he had his shoes off and a programmed calculator. Numbers should be numbers, not letters and weird symbols.

  “We’re off topic.” Mavis pitched the rag into the bucket and reached for the waistband of her pants. “Let me be clear, I want this baby but I suck at parenting. I need you with me on this.”

  He picked up her shirt from the floor and dunked it in the bucket. “You want me to be a housewife?”

  “No, our community needs its Head of Security. I want you committed to raising the baby, changing her diapers, sucking the snot out of her nose, and watching out for her.” Mavis shucked her jeans and underwear. “I’m fine with the bedtime stories, homework and PTA meetings.

  He could do that and more. A girl needed to learn how to shoot and take a man down when he got out of line. “And here I thought you were planning to make an honest man of me.”

  She shimmied into her clean undies, sweatpants and his T-shirt. “You’re already honest.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  Shrugging off his jacket, he tossed it to the side. He’d come close to losing her today. Too close. They deserved this time together. Those bastards had better not interfere with it.

  She crawled to the top of the bed and patted his side of the bed. “You want to ask me something, Soldier?”

  He kicked off his shoes and joined her. “Ask? Nope.” Shifting his weight, he waited for her to roll into his arms.

  “No?” She frowned and slid against him.

  “You’re marrying me.” He curled against her back, rested his hand over her flat stomach. How long until the baby bump appeared? When would he feel his daughter kick?

  The mattress jiggled. Shep breathed doggy breath on David. He pointed to the end of the bed. The mutt flopped down with a noisy sigh. Mavis shifted her feet under the dog’s body.

  “And when will this happen?” She closed her eyes, laced her fingers with his and sunk deeper into the pillow.

  “After I nab the bad guys.”

  “Soon then.”

  “Soon.” He kissed her cheek. Unfortunately, his gut was telling him, the bad guys set the agenda.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Dirk paused at the fork in the tunnel. He glanced right then left. No one about. “Ask them again, Gavin.”

  “I’m telling you, Bossman.” Gavin adjusted the cuffs of his suit. Wet marks marred the areas where his blonde groupie had washed out the blood this morning. “None of our people ordered the hit on that prick general.”

  So he’d said ten times already. But Dirk wasn’t a fool. His people were in the kitchen. That kid Justin had been everyone’s bitch, doing odd jobs and shit work in a pathetic attempt to fit in. Hell, the boy had even shined Dirk’s shoes.

  Now, he was dead because someone couldn’t stick with the plan.

  Cold sweat beaded his lip. Christ, what would happen to them if the military discovered their stash of stolen weapons before they were ready?

  “Ask them again.” Dirk paused at another corner. Clear. Until he found out who put the dumb kid up to it, he couldn’t be sure he wasn’t the target. Jake Turner had betrayed someone before. Now that they were close to victory, the shyster lawyer may have decided Dirk could be eliminated.

  It would explain why there’d been no communication with his partner, Simpatico since the shooting last night.

  Gavin shrugged. “I don’t see what the big deal is.
We’re gonna kill ‘em all anyway, after they’ve been convicted of war crimes.”

  Dirk grabbed the man’s lapels and shoved him against the rock wall. “Listen up. The military is walking around like they’ve got a beehive up their asses. If they come looking for us before we’re ready, then we will have to sacrifice one of our own to buy time. Got it?”

  Gavin nodded. “Got it.”

  “Good.” Dirk released his candidate. Sometimes, he’d swear the stupidity was an act. Other times, he couldn’t believe Gavin was that gifted. Dirk smoothed the creases from the suit. “Now, last night’s event put us behind schedule. I expect you to win us some votes.”

  “I think I should focus on the safety issue. What do you think, Bossman?”

  “That’s good.” Dirk continued down the hall, wading into the murmur of voices. That’s odd. They were floors away from the lunchroom. “They obviously couldn’t protect one of their own. Tap into people’s fear, plant the seed that they could be next.”

  Gavin pushed up his sleeves. “Fear. Got it.”

  “Not scare them. Sympathize with their fear. You want them to think that you’re on their side, that you feel their pain.”

  “Oh, right. Right.” He pulled his sleeves back down. “I’m a man of the people.”

  “Exactly.” Maybe Dirk should have written a few lines for the actor turned politician.

  Gavin rotated his head on his neck. His spine popped.

  They rounded the bend. People stood in single file along the side of the passage.

  Crap! They must have closed the kitchen because of the shooting. Dirk’s stomach rumbled. With a line this long, he’d have to wait until lunch before being served. From the corner of his eye, he watched Gavin. Perhaps, there was a way he could turn this to his advantage. “You ready?”

  Gavin stood on tiptoe. “We’ll be waiting awhile.”

  “That’s not how people like us, people with vision, should be treated. We’ll make our way to the front of the line. You’ll shake hands, listen and commiserate with the masses.”

  “Ahhh.” Gavin grinned at a girl with black hair and red roots. “They’ll thank me for helping them pass the time.”

  God, was the chick even old enough to vote? Dirk didn’t need some sex scandal before his candidate achieved office. “All of them, Gavin. Pay attention to all of them. Equally.”

  “Of course.” Capped teeth sparkling, Gavin approached the woman at the end of the line. “Good morning. I’m—”

  “I know who you are.” The woman tucked her black hair under the handkerchief tied around her head. “And I ain’t voting for you.”

  Dirk gritted his teeth. Well, they were bound to find a few rabid Mavis fans. He stepped farther along the line.

  “May I ask why?” Staying put, Gavin lowered his hand to his side. “I’m sure if you just talked to me, you’d see that we both want the same things. Safety, food, respect.”

  “I’m sure you can charm the scales off a snake, Mr. Fancy suit, but I’m not the devil here.” She jerked her chin in Dirk’s direction. “Your company is damning.”

  Gavin leaned closer. “I can assure you that Mr. Benedict has only the good of the people at heart.”

  “Mr. Benedict has only his own good at heart.” The woman sidled away and waved her hand as if something foul invaded her space. “Now move along, I want to meditate before I vote.”

  Dirk sucked in a quick breath. No. No, Jake had promised two days. Only one had gone by. One. His fingers curled into fists. “You’re voting? Today.”

  The woman sniffed and turned her back on him.

  Bitch! He would not be ignored. He reached for her.

  Gavin caught his hand and forced it to Dirk’s side. “Thank you for your time, Ma’am.”

  Dirk inhaled slowly and nodded once to Gavin. The cow didn’t know any better. None of them did. That’s why he and his people had to take charge, guide humanity down the right path, mold them into a cohesive unit.

  Gavin stepped up to the next man. “Sir—”

  “Don’t waste your breath,” the man grumbled and focused on the solitaire game on his laptop.

  Dirk plowed his fingers through his hair and tugged on the clumps. This was not happening to him. Not when they were so close.

  “Ma’am.” Gavin beamed at the next person in line. “Do you think the soldiers can keep you safe?”

  The woman eyed him from head to toe. “Yes.”

  “Even after you saw one of their own die last night?”

  “My son died on the way here. He brought twenty of us down from Billings all the while he was sick.” She pulled a red and white handkerchief out of her sleeve and blew her nose. “He and the general, they died for what they believed was important. My question to you is, what do you think is important enough to die for?”

  Gavin stroked his chin. “That’s a mighty fine question. And I’m glad to have the opportunity to answer it.”

  “Then answer it and stop stalling.” The man glanced up from under beetled brows.

  Good, Gavin was winning them over. Now Dirk had to delay this early ballot nonsense. He marched up the line and around the corner.

  Two girls stood in the middle of the path. The line of people laughed, looked bored or shook their heads behind them. The word vote here was written on a cardboard sign and pointed into the community room. Excellent. Not many people had taken advantage of the early voting. He had plenty of time for Gavin to impress them.

  A dark-haired Asian held a camera and pointed it at a blonde girl. “Okay. I’m pushing the record button in three. Two. One. Go.”

  A young man made the peace sign behind the blonde.

  “Hi. I’m here in Colorado where for the first time since the world ended…” The blonde made a motion across her neck. “Cut. That sounds stupid.”

  “Audra.” The other girl blew her bangs out of her eyes before focusing on the buttons on the back of the camera. “It was fine.”

  Audra swept her hair over her shoulder, exposing a line of purple bruises. “I don’t see why you couldn’t be the anchor and me the camerawoman.”

  Dirk’s heart quickened. Anchor. Camerawoman.

  “Because I won the coin toss.” The Asian raised the camera again, stepped forward and adjusted her friend’s shirt to hide the bruises. “Ready?”

  “Relax, Hon. You’ll do fine.” A man in a bomber jacket set his hand on the anchor’s shoulders.

  “Come on, can’t you see Tina Tsao in lights.” Audra blocked off air as if making a marque. “T-and-T, our dynamite ace reporter.”

  The crowd laughed.

  “Cute.” Tina smirked. “But save the cleverness for the camera. I’m filming.”

  “Fine.” Audra smiled and straightened her shirt. “But next time I film and you think of something to say.”

  “Three. Two. One. Go.”

  Dirk smoothed his clothes. A camera was just what he needed. Gavin would shine on the screen. He strode forward.

  “Hi, everyone. I’m Audra Silvestre reporting from Colorado. Today, we’re reaffirming that the United States is still a democracy.”

  “It was a Republic.” Tina peered over the top of her camera. “America didn’t directly elect its representatives. They were—”

  Audra stared at the ceiling. “Is this a government lesson or a report on the election?”

  “Geez, I thought you wanted accuracy in the media, but I see the spin doctors are already at work.”

  “Stop filming.”

  “Nah, Sunnie can just edit it out.”

  “Ladies.” Dirk opened his arms wide as he stepped into their personal space. “What is this you’re doing?”

  “We’re sharing our election process with everyone.” Tina stepped back and frowned. “It’s our get out and vote message.”

  Perfect. Absolutely perfect. He grinned at them. “Then I think you should interview the candidates. Gavin would love to share his vision of the future with your viewers.”

  “
This is about the people, not the candidates.”

  She wouldn’t get away from him that easily. “Ah, but the people need to know who best reflects their views, don’t they?”

  “We know who the best person for the job is,” a man growled.

  The air thickened around Dirk. He ignored the hostility. One day the people would thank him for giving them a worthy purpose.

  “Come on, Audra.” Tina bumped her friend’s arm. “We should be fair.”

  “We haven’t interviewed Doctor Spanner.”

  They hadn’t? Dirk rubbed his hands together. Well, well, Mavis wasn’t very smart to let these two bits of eye candy go without exploiting them.

  “We will when we’re done here.” Tina hit the power button.

  Audra blew her bangs out of her eyes. “When we’re done here, we’re supposed to go outside.”

  Outside? What the hell would they be doing outside? Tina would tell him, or more accurately, Gavin. “My candidate is just around the corner.”

  Dirk turned. He’d get him now. This was an opportunity not to be missed.

  “Why don’t we interview your candidate later?” Audra’s voice snared him before he took two steps. “In his home setting, so to speak.”

  “Yes.” Tina pumped air.

  “Excellent.” He could prepare the stage, polish Gavin’s speech and his teeth. “Section Seven, before lunch dinner?”

  “After. I have an appointment.”

  “I look forward to it.” Finally, the break they deserved. He’d have to alert the men. Couldn’t have anything bad happening to the pretty little anchorwoman or her camerawoman. Now he’d tell Gavin the good news—they were about to make history.

  Then they’d rewrite it.

  Just like he’d planned.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “Oh, for pity’s sake.” Mavis lifted his hand off her stomach and flung it at him. The bed wobbled as she tried to scoot away. Unfortunately, he was heavier and she kept rolling back. “You cannot keep the fetus in my uterus by holding my belly.”

  Neither was she sold on this bed rest thing. But if she didn’t listen to Doctor Jay, others might not as well. She had to set an example.