The Eve of Abounding Wickedness

by Mark Spaid

  “They took the RV.”

  “Darn, that cwould’ve come in handy,” Justin said.

  “It could’ve but actually, we’re lucky they didn’t take it sooner,” Little Wolf remarked as everyone got up and moved around to get the blood flowing again after being crouched down for an hour.

  “What now?” Jozette asked.

  “I’m going back to the patrol station and see if there’s any way I can get inside,” Little Wolf said.

  “Brave, that’s suicide,” Julieta said.

  “I hope not, I kind of like living.”

  “But they’ll be on the lookout for someone trying to break the other three out,” Jozette said.

  “I know that, Mom, but I have to see if there’s anything I can do.”

  “He’s right, Jo,” Andy said.

  “I know,” Jozette said and walked over to Belinda.

  “He’ll be okay, Jo,” Belinda said though she lacked bravado.

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Little Wolf said.

  “Wait, Brave, I’m coming with you.”

  “No, Maiden, I need to do this alone.”

  “You want to do it alone but you don’t have to so, I’m coming along. If you take off, I’ll just follow you.” Little Wolf sighed and looked at Jozette.

  “She called it pretty plain, son.”

  “Alright, let’s go,” and they left.

  “Are you mad, Brave?”

  “No, just nervous.”

  “About me messing up?”

  “No, Maiden, you’re as capable as me; well almost but certainly the second most capable of all of us, since Miss Tatiana’s being held captive.”

  “Don’t give yourself too much credit.”

  “I speak the truth, Maiden, you know that false modesty is no help to anyone. Tatiana’s as good as I am but you’re not. But having you with me is the best help I could find and I’d trust you with my life anytime.”

  “I’ll take that, Brave.”

  “There it is, that white building.”

  “Two guards in the back,” Julieta said.

  “I expected more, that’s good.”

  “But how do you get past them?”

  “We don’t; we’ll walk in the front door in broad daylight.” Julieta started to say something but knew better. If Little Wolf was going to go in the front way…he would. “Watch those guys in the back and see if they leave their position, Maiden…I’m going to scout the front.” He left and made his way across the street where he could see the entrance.

  “Well,” Julieta said as Little Wolf returned.

  “No guards out front. I’m not surprised. Every person inside is a guard. They’re all armed.”

  “What’d you learn?”

  “The front desk is watched by one woman. The rest are in offices. There’s a major who walks back and forth but that’s all I saw.”

  “What’s your plan?”

  “Tomorrow, Miss Ariel will go to the café across the street from the station and watch.”

  “Watch for what?” Julieta asked.

  “Delivery people, anyone who brings anything into the station.”

  “And, you’re going to impersonate one of them.”

  “It’s the only way.”

  “I hope Miss Ariel’s up to it.”

  “Sure, I’ll do it. It’s about time I did something worthwhile,” Ariel said as Little Wolf pitched his idea.

  “You shot that guy in the head and saved Miss Tatiana’s life,” Little Wolf said.

  “I know but I want to do more. This adventure stuff is exhilarating.”

  “What you’ll be doing is not that exhilarating All you have to do is sit in the cafe so you can get a good look at the front door of the SS station. Keep track of what companies make deliveries. You’ll also need to make a purchase at the local drug store.”

  “What?”

  “Miss Belinda will tell you.” Little Wolf found Belinda and they huddled for a few moments. Then Belinda put her hand to her mouth and giggled. She wrote down something and gave it to Ariel. Ariel read it and gave Belinda a funny look. Belinda nodded and Ariel shrugged her shoulders and put the note in her pocket.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Dr. Peabody, I’ve been waiting for days for some good news,” Kleinschmidt said.

  “And, I’ve been anxious to give you some.”

  “You have none then?”

  “No, I’ve made progress. I now have the first sequence programmed into the computer.”

  “So, what’s the next step?”

  “I wait for the computer to work through the math and arrive at the second sequence.”

  “How long?”

  “A day, maybe more, then I have to input the second sequence and go from there.”

  “When can we test the weapon?”

  “Maybe within a week.”

  “You may not have that long.”

  “Do I have to remind you that the Manhattan project took three years to find the bomb.”

  “So, you’ve said.”

  “And something else. Not to disparage those great men who worked on the bomb but their work was kid’s stuff compared to what I’m up against. They sought to reach up, take part of the Sun and bring it down to Earth and explode it and they did that. On the other hand, I have to solve the Universe and mind you at the point of a gun.” Kleinschmidt stood staring at Warren for a few moments then turned away. Warren wasn’t sure if he might swing around with a revolver and end it.

  “Very well, Dr. Peabody, we’ll give it a week then see where you are.”

  “Good,” Warren said and Kleinschmidt left. Warren sat down on a stool and breathed again. “I’m sweating like a racehorse. Boy, that guy scares me, every time I see him. He’s fierce and domineering or is it because I’m an abject coward. But I have a titanium leg and those people should be treated gingerly. I can’t run like I used to and I’m naturally timid because of my handicap.” He sat for a few minutes then started laughing. “Warren, you were always timid; scared of your own shadow and as a matter of record, you could never run. The first day in high school in P.E. everyone had to run two laps and you took three steps, tripped over…nothing and fell sprawled out on the cinder track. You were cut to pieces and cried in the nurses office. The other freshmen saw you crying and you were instantly named Crybaby Warren for four years. You’re a big chicken; just admit it and move on to something else. You have no physical prowess and never will. You have a solid mind for physics and your math skills are exceptional. You’ll have to be happy with that. You’ll never win the marathon unless you ride in a car like that woman in 1904 then get out at the last minute and cross the finish line first because everyone else was running. Hey, maybe I could perfect a life-sized teleportation device and send myself across the finish line in two seconds.” He chuckled at that but only for a moment or two. “Okay, now you have a week to show some results or Kleinschmidt could get really ugly.” He went back to work on his latest equations. He was actually very close but he didn’t dare tell Kleinschmidt that or he’d be hovering over Warren with his pistol drawn…safety off.

  * * *

  “Where’s Little Wolf?” Justin asked.

  “Belinda and he went off in the woods somewhere,” Lexi said.

  “I told him everything I saw yesterday, his face lit up and he thanked me,” Ariel said. “Then he found Belinda and off they went.”

  “What’d you get at the drug store?” Lexi asked.

  “Cosmetic items,” Ariel replied. An hour passed then someone came walking towards them from behind.

  “Who are you?” Justin asked as he and Andy confronted the man.

  “I guess it worked,” Little Wolf said smiling.

  “What the…”Justin said then broke out laughing.

  “Little Wolf?” Julieta said as she examined her husband closely.

  “How’d you do this?” Jozette asked then it dawned on her and she chuckled.

  “He came to m
e and said, make me a white guy,” Belinda said as she rejoined them carrying the sack that Ariel bought for her at the drug store.

  “You see you white people have converted me to your cause.”

  “I can’t believe how…white you look,” Justin said.

  “Incredible, son,” Jozette said as she examined Little Wolf closely.

  “Yeah, I even feel white and that’s the scary part.”

  “I have to say, Lind…you’re a wonder sometimes,” Jozette said grinning as she looked over her son.

  “Do you think you’ll want to stay like this forever?” Andy asked grinning.

  “No, Dad, you people are so…pale. You all look kind of sickly. I look like I’ve never been in the Sun. I should be from Sweden or someplace like that.”

  “Well, now that you’re white, what’re you going to do?” Jozette asked.

  “I’m going to be a sandwich delivery boy.”

  “What?” Lexi asked.

  “The SS Patrol station sends out for lunch every day. According to Ariel there were three deliveries from a sandwich place. Now, there’ve been studies that’ve shown that people who are eating lunch or when lunch time approaches take their minds off their duties. They let their guard down and are vulnerable. Banks are often robbed at lunch time.”

  “And you hope to find the staff of the station languishing in the solitude of their sandwich when you make your move,” Justin posed.

  “I’m hoping,” Little Wolf said.

  “But, how’ll you get the job and the uniform?” Andy asked.

  “I’ll become a temporary delivery boy for today only.”

  “What about the boy with the uniform,” Jozette said.

  “I’ll try to knock him out but if necessary, I’ll.” Little Wolf stopped when he realized the girls were listening.

  “When’re you going?” Justin asked to shake the girls from what they might’ve been thinking.

  “Right now. Wish me luck folks.” He hugged Julieta and left.

  “Miss Belinda, come with me,” Julieta said and they disappeared.

  “Lind, where’s Julieta?” Jozette asked after fifteen minutes when Belinda walked back to the group.

  “Where do you think?”

  “She didn’t.”

  “She did. She thought Little Wolf might need help and she’s probably right. He wasn’t about to risk any of our lives,” Belinda said. Jozette patted Belinda on the shoulder.

  “Thanks, Lind, you’re right of course.”

  “Did you give him what he asked for?” Ariel said.

  “Yes, Belinda said.

  “What’d he ask for?” Jozette wondered.

  “Hairpins?”

  “Why would he need hairpins.”

  “These weren’t the usual hairpins, Jo. They were five inches long and very thick, almost like an icepick,” Belinda said. Jozette knew everything now and she walked away to Andy who held her for a moment.

  “Maiden what’re you doing here?” Little Wolf asked as he came up from behind Julieta.

  “I thought I’d pulled it off.” She was cautious and quiet, just like Little Wolf had taught her but let’s face it there’s no one as good as Little Wolf. He suspected she might try something and he was on the lookout and spotted her two blocks away then doubled back behind her.

  “Why’re you here?”

  “Because, you’re my husband, I love you and you might need some help. People just assume you can solve any problem. But you’re not perfect, though you’re very close.”

  “That was a good sentence, Maiden. Almost perfect…I think I like that.”

  “Well, I see your still self-congratulatory.”

  “Yes, and thank goodness because you wouldn’t change anything about me, would you?” He asked grinning. Julieta shook her head and sighed.

  “I hate to say it but no, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

  “Me either…about you I mean and I have to say you make a hot white girl.”

  “Funny but we both look kind of pale and sickly like you said. Would you want to stay this way?”

  “Not a chance, I like our color...our skin tone makes us look alive but this,” he said pointing to his white skin, “lifeless at least for us. Am I right?”

  “You are.”

  “Well, since you’re here we need to make a plan.”

  “You mean you didn’t have a plan worked out before now?”

  “No, not completely.”

  “Oh, brother…so what do we do?”

  “I’ll go to the sandwich shop and wait for the order to be phoned in then I’ll follow the delivery guy to his car in the back and change places.”

  “What if he refuses to change places?”

  “Then I’ll persuade him that it’d be in his best interest to do as I say.”

  “Brave, he’s probably just a kid.”

  “I know, Maiden but the people holding our friends aren’t kids and they kill for any reason or no reason.”

  “I know that, Brave…just thinking about all the killing we do, including me.”

  “I know but that’s who we are and the situations we get ourselves into sometimes.” They went into the sandwich shop and sat sipping a soda waiting for the order from the station. At eleven thirty the phone rang and a girl picked it up and began writing down items. That’s twelve sandwiches. So, there are ten people plus the major and the receptionist.”

  “There could be more people if not everyone ordered.”

  “That’s right but we have to go with what we have.” The order was prepared and set on the counter as the boy was checking the bill and counting the sandwiches. Little Wolf and Julieta paid and went out back behind the delivery van.

  “Here he comes,” Julieta whispered. The kid was juggling the keys and the bag of sandwiches when Little Wolf came up from behind and put the kid in a hold.

  “Do as your told and you’ll be fine,” Little Wolf said.

  “What?”

  “Give me the keys and the bag then you walk away and come back in an hour.”

  “Or what?”

  “Or, you’re going to get hurt.”

  “Okay.” The kid handed over the key, the bag of sandwiches and walked away rapidly.

  “Let’s go, Maiden.” He took off driving and parked in front of the SS station.

  “I’m nervous,” Julieta said.

  “I hope so, I’d hate to think you were complacent.”

  “Not that, I assure you.”

  “When we strike it’ll have to be very fast; there can be no hesitation,” Little Wolf said.

  “I’m ready, Brave.”

  “Love you, Maiden.”

  “Love you back, Brave.” He took a deep breath and opened the door as Julieta followed.

  “Where’s Bobby?” The receptionist asked as Little Wolf and Julieta stood at the counter.

  “We’re new, Bobby’s sick today,” Little Wolf said. All the time he was talking he was looking around as quickly as he could and taking in everything. He saw offices and a room C and a one, two and three. They’d be in there if anywhere. Julieta saw a narrow hallway leading to an office that said Major Ostweiller. He was the one that worried her.

  “You can deliver the sandwiches. Here, I’ll write the names on the bags,” the receptionist said.

  “You take these,” Little Wolf said and they both started down the hall.

  “Sandwich delivery,” Julieta said as she walked into an office where a man was sitting at his desk.

  “Wow, where’d they get you?” the lieutenant said as he eyed Julieta and when she came up to his chair he reached out and felt her behind. Her jaw went rigid and she had a look on her face that he didn’t see. He also didn’t see the hairpin that went through his throat. He fell forward on his desk and Julieta left with his gun tucked into her waist.

  “I have a spicy tuna wrap,” Little Wolf said and he handed it to the lieutenant and when he grabbed it Little Wolf stabbed him in the heart and removed the hairpin f
or the next one and took the revolver from the guys holster and hid it in his pocket. He left and saw Julieta in the hallway.

  “Where are they?”

  “I don’t know, let’s try these rooms.”

  “You check those and I’ll take out this guy here,” She said and opened the door. “Lunch is here.” She killed the guy and took his gun as well. Little Wolf checked all three rooms and found nothing. But in room C, Tatiana and Dave were sitting at a table.

  “Little Wolf,” Dave said and they got up. Julieta came in and tossed one of her guns to Tatiana.

  “Where’s Mr. Sol?” Little Wolf asked.

  “We think in the basement,” Tatiana said.

  “Is he guarded?” Julieta asked.

  “Probably; I’ll get him,” Tatiana said.

  “Mr. Dave stay here behind this door,” Little Wolf said and they continued to deliver sandwiches and killing all they could.

  “There’s no one left,” Julieta said.

  “We can’t be sure, be alert,” Little Wolf said and started down the hall towards the front.

  “Don’t move,” A voice said and they turned to see Ostweiller holding a gun on them.

  “Your sandwich is here,” Julieta said.

  “Caldwell, Anderson, Olaffson!” Ostweiller shouted but no one came out of their offices.

  “Still enjoying their lunch,” Julieta said smiling.

  “Guess, I’ll have to finish this myself,” Ostweiller said and pointed his gun at Julieta. But before he could fire, Dave came from behind and grabbed the major around the neck and twisted then it snapped and…well the Major fell dead.

  “Where’s Tatiana?” Little Wolf said and then two gun shots could be heard in the basement.