Day of Doom

by David Baldacci

  “Yes, I am,” replied Atticus quietly. “One of one. Tell me, how does it feel to be number two?”

  Isabel’s features turned even darker. “You should not comment on things you don’t understand.”

  “Oh, I understand a lot. I understand that the Vespers are evil and will sell each other out to get to the top. That makes all of you weak. It’s teamwork and self-sacrifice that makes winners. And that means that you Vespers are losers. And you always will be.”

  Isabel held out a hand and one of her guards immediately placed a syringe in it. She eyed it and took off the protective cap. “As you know, I’m singularly adept with poisons, along with my many other gifts. It’s just how my mind works. My superior mind.”

  “Like your kids, Ian and Natalie? But they were smart enough to figure out you were a loser of a mother,” said Dan.

  Isabel held up the syringe. “This concoction is particularly nasty. Before it kills, it places the person in indescribable pain, for one hour. They will wish to die. And at the end of sixty minutes, that wish is granted.”

  When she advanced on Atticus, first Jake, then Amy, and lastly Dan stepped in front of her.

  She said, “Oh, don’t worry. Each of you will get your turn.”

  “Really?” said Amy. “Well, let me give you your turn first.”

  She kicked the syringe out of Isabel’s hand. At the same moment, Jake plowed into a guard, knocking the gun out of his hand.

  A split second later the train roared into a tunnel. Every single light on the train, including the emergency lighting, went out. They were plunged into total darkness.

  The truck continued to bounce along. In the front seat, Sandy was still sound asleep.

  Casper had rolled down his window and was checking his reflection in the truck’s side mirror. He looked at his sister as she steered the big vehicle.

  He said, “Do I look like I’m putting on weight? My cheeks look a bit plump and my jawline doesn’t seem as classical as before.”

  She gave him a vicious stare. “Who cares? And put the mirror back to where it was. I can’t see on that side.”

  He grumpily did so.

  As the miles piled up he checked to make sure Sandy was still sleeping and said, “So, the plan is all set for when we get there?”

  Cheyenne shot a glance at Sandy, listened to his soft snores, and said, “Yes. He’ll never see it coming.”

  Casper chuckled. “Can’t wait to see the look on his face.”

  “Yeah.”

  “So cool and cruel. What could be better?”

  “And you’ll definitely make the top six,” she said.

  Casper frowned. “What happened in Switzerland wasn’t my fault.”

  She shrugged. “You can believe that if you want.”

  Casper folded his arms across his chest. “You’re V-Six now. You’ll definitely move up.”

  “Yes, I will,” she said sharply. “A lot higher than Six.”

  She glanced at Sandy, who was still snoring peacefully.

  “In fact, higher than him.”

  “Have you heard from her?” Casper asked warily.

  Cheyenne shook her head and motioned to Sandy, who was now moving around a bit before settling back in his seat.

  Neither one of them noticed that when Sandy had moved, he had adjusted the volume on the recorder hidden in his pocket. He smiled inwardly. He had always been so good at feigning sleep. It was a useful skill, now paying huge dividends.

  In the rear of the truck, Fiske was urging the others on.

  All the hostages were slapping the side of the truck where the bolt was located with their length of chain. The floor was littered with wood and composite chips carved out of the truck wall by their energetic thrusts.

  Fiske said, “Keep going. We’re almost there. Once we work the bolt out of the wall, we’re free.”

  Jonah, who was wearily hitting his section of chain against the wall, said, “Free? Bro, we’re still locked in a truck.”

  “True,” said Fiske. “But now we’re chained up in a locked truck. When we’re no longer chained and they have to open the truck to let us out, the truck is no longer locked. Get it?”

  “Got it.” Jonah started whacking the wall with renewed energy.

  Even Nellie, with her wounded shoulder, was taking her turn with the wall. She grimaced every time she hit the wall with her part of the chain, but she doggedly kept going.

  Hamilton and Reagan were the most aggressive of all. They were slamming their chains against the side of the wall so hard it seemed like they were in danger of knocking the truck over on its side.

  Fiske finally grabbed Hamilton and said, “Appreciate the max effort, son, but we are trying to do this somewhat on the sly.”

  A sweaty-faced Hamilton said, “Oh, right. Sure.”

  They proceeded, but at a somewhat moderated pace.

  Fiske stepped back and studied the loosening bolt and then the rear door of the truck. It was locked, that he knew. He had heard the lock slide into place when Casper had lowered the overhead door.

  He ran his gaze along the distance between the bolt and the door. He made some calculations in his head. Things might come together nicely. He was very much looking forward to knocking Casper Wyoming right on his butt. He figured he could just run Cheyenne over with the truck. Sandy he would string up to the tallest pole he could find, wrapped with metal, and let a stray bolt of lightning finish him off. These thoughts made him smile.

  And they also gave him hope. And energy.

  He picked up his length of chain and began gouging at the wood.

  Nellie looked at him and smiled weakly.

  “Do you think we have a chance?” she asked.

  He smiled grimly back at her. “I’ll let you know as soon as we get this bolt out. When we do, then I think it’s time for something.”

  “Time? Time for what?”

  “Payback,” said Fiske grimly.

  He and Nellie beat the sides of the wall harder than ever.

  Then Fiske suddenly stopped and listened.

  “Quiet, everyone. Stop what you’re doing.”

  They all froze and stared at him.

  Fiske listened more closely.

  Ted Starling had sensed it before anyone else.

  “We’re slowing down,” he said. “I think we’re almost at our destination.”

  Fiske roared, “Go! Go! As hard as you can. Do it.”

  They all started smashing the wall as hard as they could. The bolt started to come out of the wall.

  The truck started slowing down more.

  “Go! GO!” shouted Fiske.

  Hamilton reared back and gave the bolt one more mighty whack.

  It fell to the floor.

  They all looked at one another.

  “We’re free,” gasped Nellie.

  “Not quite,” said Fiske.

  The truck had stopped abruptly, throwing them all forward.

  “Now what?” asked Ian fearfully.

  They all heard it.

  Doors opening and then thumping closed.

  “They’re coming,” hissed Natalie as she drew back from the door.

  “What do we do?” Nellie asked, looking at Fiske.

  Fiske took charge. “Listen to me and listen very carefully. We only have one shot to get this right.”

  They all drew around as he began to explain their plan of attack.

  In the darkness, bodies flew around and crashed into walls, furniture, and one another. There was a lot of yelling, groaning, and panting as the fighting continued.

  Dan took a fist to the head and yelled out.

  “Sorry,” said Jake, and he swung his fist the other way and knocked one of Isabel’s guards into the window. The man slid down, stunned.

  Amy was kicking and lashing out at anyone who came near her. Her foot collided with someone’s stomach, and she was gratified to hear Isabel gasp. She kicked out even harder, but Isabel was no longer there.

 
The shot rang out so loud that everyone stopped fighting.

  Dan instinctively ducked and rolled to his left. On the floor he spotted Amy and Jake, on either side of him.

  Amy said, “Are you hit?”

  “No,” replied Dan.

  “Jake?” she said frantically. “Are you hit?”

  “No.”

  They heard something hit the floor.

  “That doesn’t sound good,” whispered Dan.

  Ten long seconds passed.

  Then the lights came back on.

  Amy, Dan, and Jake jumped up, ready to continue fighting.

  There was no one left to fight.

  But there was someone still there.

  One of Isabel’s henchmen.

  His coat was bloody. His face was gray. He was not breathing.

  “Omigosh,” exclaimed Amy.

  She dropped to the floor and checked his pulse.

  She looked up.

  “He’s dead.”

  This did not come from Amy.

  They all glanced at the doorway as Sinead stepped into the opening with a gun in hand.

  Amy said furiously, “You killed him!”

  “Before he shot you.”

  “It was dark; how could he see to shoot?” countered Amy.

  Dan piped in, “And you’re the one with the gun.”

  To their amazement Sinead put the gun down, came in the compartment, and shut the door.

  “Look more closely at him,” she said.

  They did.

  Dan was the first to spot it. “Hey, he’s wearing glasses.”

  “Not just any glasses,” said Sinead. “Pick them up.”

  Dan did so. He put them on. “They’re night-vision goggles.”

  “I wrestled the pistol away from him right before he was about to shoot you, Amy. It went off while we were fighting. I actually didn’t mean to shoot him.”

  Jake picked up the gun and looked at Amy. “She’s telling the truth. This was the gun the guy was holding. I saw it when he was next to Isabel.”

  “But why?” Amy asked Sinead. “Why would you help me?”

  “I won’t lie and say it’s because I love you, because I don’t.”

  “Yeah, that I get. You tried to kill me, after all, using your little gun. And you would have if I hadn’t knocked it out of your hand.”

  “All true. Although I really didn’t want to kill you back then. And I don’t want to kill you now.”

  “Right,” snorted Dan. “And I’m actually Harry Potter, only I’ve misplaced my wand, lightning scar, and glasses.”

  “So why?” Amy asked again.

  “I love my brothers. That’s why I’ve done all the terrible things I’ve done.”

  “What does that have to do with us?” asked Amy. “We’ve been trying to rescue Ted and the other hostages.”

  Dan snapped, “And you helped them get kidnapped.”

  Sinead said, “I knew they were going to be kidnapped, it’s true. But I didn’t help them do it. It was a way to provide me with an alibi in case you got suspicious of me.”

  “But Ned got away,” pointed out Dan.

  “That was his own doing. Vesper One promised me that he wouldn’t hurt Ted.”

  Amy said, “And you believed him?”

  Dan added, “If you did, you should have your head examined.”

  “I did believe him. Until he sent those pictures of the hostages. I know that Alistair is dead. And the others looked so . . . so hurt. Including Ted. I begged him to let him go, but he wouldn’t.”

  “Coulda told you that a long time ago,” barked Dan.

  “So, why are you here?” asked Amy.

  “I have no other choice,” said Sinead, looking miserable. “I have no other place to turn. Ted is not doing well as a captive. And Vesper One has made it quite clear that he will not be releasing Ted. He says he knows too much.”

  “Nice little communication you’ve been having with old Vesper One,” said Jake in disgust.

  Sinead looked at him. “I don’t blame you for not understanding why I’ve done what I have. But let me be clear. I’m not looking for your forgiveness, either.” She directed this last comment at Amy. Then she eyed Dan again. “Do you have the serum? I was around you long enough to know that you had a heightened interest in it. And your little excursions? Those were to get the necessary ingredients, right?”

  Dan involuntarily looked over at his knapsack and caught a breath.

  It was gone.

  Then Jake screamed, “Atticus! Where is Atticus?”

  They all looked around. In all the confusion they hadn’t realized Atticus was no longer there.

  Amy said, “Isabel must have him. And she took your knapsack, too, Dan.”

  Sinead said, “As I was struggling with the guy, I felt people rushing past me and out into the corridor.”

  Jake looked sick. “I was just standing here and didn’t even realize my brother was missing? What kind of older brother am I?” he added miserably.

  He suddenly snatched up the gun and rushed out of the compartment yelling for Atticus.

  “Jake, wait,” cried Amy, but he had already disappeared down the corridor.

  She turned to look at Dan and Sinead. “They must still be on the train. We just have to find them.”

  “What about him?” asked Dan, pointing down at the dead man.

  Amy said, “There’s nothing we can do for him.”

  Sinead added, “He deserved what he got.”

  Amy eyed her severely. “That applies to you, too.” She turned to Dan. “The serum? Was it in your bag?”

  He looked at her but said nothing. He could see Sinead waiting for his answer.

  Amy said again, “Do you have the serum? The real stuff?”

  Dan said, “Yes. It was in my bag.”

  “Meaning Isabel has it now,” said Sinead. “Great.” She looked down at the man’s body and then listened for a moment to footsteps heading their way.

  “Unless we want to waste time explaining why a dead body is in your compartment, I suggest that we get out of here. Now.”

  Amy, Dan, and Sinead ran out of the compartment and headed away from the sounds of the onrushing feet and in the direction Jake had run.

  As they were running, Amy whispered to Dan, “How did Isabel know you had the serum?”

  Dan shrugged but then an idea hit him. “As she was pretending to send me texts as Dad, I . . . I might have mentioned something about the serum.”

  “Might have or did?”

  “Okay, did.”

  “Because she asked you about it?”

  “Yeah,” Dan admitted. “She really conned me.”

  “She’s good at that, Dan. After all, she’s conned millions of people.”

  They were suddenly hurtled forward and slammed into Sinead. All three went down in a tangle of limbs.

  “Get off me!” wheezed Sinead. “You’re on my stomach. I can’t breathe.”

  “What happened?” said Dan as he rolled off her.

  “The train just slammed to a stop,” explained Amy.

  “That I get. But why?” snapped Sinead.

  “Trains usually stop when someone wants to get off,” replied Amy.

  They all stood and Dan glanced out the window. “But we’re still in the tunnel. Who would want to get off in a tunnel?”

  The train lights suddenly went out. They were once more standing in the pitch black.

  “I can think of one person who might want to get off,” said Amy.

  “Isabel,” added Sinead.

  “And if she’s getting off, so are we,” said Amy.

  “How?” asked Dan. “I can’t see a thing.”

  “But I can,” said Amy.

  “How?” asked Dan again.

  “I took the man’s night-vision goggles. Dan, hold on to my hand. Sinead, take ahold of Dan’s shirt. Now let’s go. That woman is not getting away with Atticus.”

  As they were trying to get off the train th
ey heard an announcement over the repaired PA.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re experiencing some difficulties with our power system. Please remain where you are while our crew addresses the problem. We should be up and running shortly. Thank you for your patience, and thank you for choosing Amtrak for your travel needs.”

  “Right,” grumbled Dan. “Never again.”

  “Amy?” The voice came at them from out of the darkness.

  “Jake?”

  Amy focused her goggles a bit better and saw Jake at the end of the corridor. He still had the gun in his hand. They hurried forward to join him.

  “Jake, what happened? Did you find Atticus?”

  “No,” he said miserably. “I lost them.”

  The lights came back on and Amy took off her goggles.

  She said, “If Isabel got off the train, we need to as well.”

  Jake said, “We’re in a tunnel. Why would she get off here?”

  “I don’t know. But I can’t believe that the train just happened to come to a stop here for no reason. She has to be behind it.”

  “I was listening for any exterior door to open,” said Jake. “I didn’t hear any. And if there’s no power, can they even get the doors open?”

  “There must be a way to do that in an emergency,” Sinead pointed out.

  Dan piped in, “Look, we don’t know enough, okay? We’re just grasping at straws here. We need more information. Like, why would Isabel want to be getting off at the Rocky Mountains in Colorado? Because that’s where we are. I checked the schedule. The Cascade Mountains are a long way from here.” Even as he said it, Dan looked puzzled, as though a curious thought had just occurred to him.

  Sinead said, “Dan’s right. Maybe the train really has broken down.”

  “Who cares?” exclaimed Jake. “We need to get Atticus back. He’s the last Guardian. She’s going to kill him.”

  Dan looked to his right. “Hey, isn’t that your compartment, Jake?”

  “I doubt Atticus is in there,” he barked.

  “But your laptop is. Let’s get online and try to figure this out.”

  “How will going online get Atticus back?” snapped Jake.

  In response Dan pulled his phone out of his pocket and brought up the photos of the Lewis and Clark compass he’d taken in DC. “Before everything happened, I was studying this.”