by Harley Tate
“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 an
d 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 chances. 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.
Larkin beat out the screen with his fist and it fell to the ground. “Gloria, can you jump?”
“I think so.”
“Good. You first.” Larkin helped her to the window as lights hit the door. “Hurry.”
She eased out, teetering on the edge before disappearing. A soft thud sounded outside.
“Dani, you’re next.” Larkin helped her up and over. She jumped without looking and landed on the grass on both feet.
Gloria rose up to stand beside her. “Were you going somewhere fancy?”
Dani wrinkled her brow before looking down at the dress she still wore. “It’s a long story.”
Shouts erupted inside the dorm. Melody leaned out the window, shouting at them to run. Gunfire rat-a-tat-tatted over their heads and Melody ducked for cover. Smoke plumed over the roofline and blotted out the moon.
Dani grabbed Gloria by the arm and dragged her toward the edge of the trees. They couldn’t wait another second. As they rushed into the forested area outside the dorm, Dani’s feet sank in soft weeds and ferns. Gloria stumbled and threw out a hand. Dani hauled her up.
She didn’t look back or slow down. She just pulled Gloria along, deeper and deeper into the shadows. Tree branches thwacked her in the face. Sticks threatened to twist her ankle or break a bone.
Still, Dani didn’t stop. They had to get away from the soldiers and the fight and the light that would mean the end of them. She wouldn’t get shot in the back. Not today.
After what seemed like forever, she slowed, breath sawing in and out of her lungs, and dropped to grab her knees.
Gloria tumbled to the ground in a heap. “I can’t go any farther.”
“We have to. Just a little rest and we keep going.”
“I can’t.”
Dani’s heart slowed enough that she could stand upright. They stood in the middle of a forest full of evergreen trees and wild ferns. The underbrush and branches gave them cover, and the trees blocked most of the light. From gaps in between the forest, she could see the hint of flames and hear the shouts of soldiers fanning out in search.
She glanced around her and her heart stuttered. Melody and Larkin were nowhere to be seen.<
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Chapter Twenty-Seven
COLT
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
3:00 a.m.
“You’re sure the roof is the best option?” Colt pulled a lighter from his pocket and held it to the wick of a Molotov cocktail.
Doug nodded as he took the burning bottle from Colt’s hand. “It’s the only wood I can see. The eaves are painted plywood; everything else is stucco or brick. It’s our best chance.”
Colt lit two more and together they launched the first flaming bottles at the dorm-turned-brig. They exploded on contact, spreading a ball of flame up over the roof and along the eaves and gutters. He launched the third at the front of the building where the roofline hung over the steps with wood rafters and it exploded in a shower of flames and sparks.
Plumes of fire whooshed over the cured timber and in seconds, the roof of the dorm was in flames. A soldier ran down from the front landing, shouting. It would take a few minutes for the base to activate. At three in the morning, all but a handful of soldiers were asleep.
A handheld air siren sounded in a repeated rhythm. A manual fire alarm.
Colt leaned closer to Doug and yelled above the noise. “Light the rest and throw them wherever makes sense.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to find Jarvis and end this thing. As soon as you’re out of bottles, get back to Harvey and Will. Don’t wait to take off.”
Doug nodded and Colt broke away, rifle strapped across his back, Sig in his hand. With adrenaline pumping, his stitches didn’t pull and his bicep didn’t ache. Power and fear and the need to fight eclipsed all the pain. He hoped the army uniform would buy him some time. He pulled the cover tight over his hair and rushed toward the closest building.
A disoriented soldier stumbled out. Colt shouted. “Get to the brig! It’s on fire. We need water. Something to put it out! Hurry!”
The soldier nodded and rushed down the stairs. Colt eased around the now-empty front steps and ducked into the shadows.
