Friction

by Dwayne Gill

  “I hope you’re worse than them,” said Dirk.

  “Oh, we are,” said Daniel. “I think someone made us that way on purpose.”

  Domestic Disturbance

  October 1, 2028

  8:00 a.m. EST

  Miami, Florida

  Barkley was sure Tina and her family weren’t home; she’d rung the doorbell several times and waited patiently, with no response. There were no signs of forced entry, although she couldn’t access the backyard because of a locked gate. Barkley didn’t feel right about intruding but refused to leave until she had answers.

  The Rogers’ home was in a quaint little subdivision with residences butted right up against one another. Barkley considered how difficult it would be to abduct a child from this tight-knit community, but then again, Tina’s first kidnapper had already defied the odds. However, the girl had been snatched from a local playground, far away from the clustered clan of alert residents.

  The area screamed “neighborhood watch” and had likely grown even more safety-conscious following Tina’s disappearance. The marked men would have their work cut out for them if they wanted the girl a second time; Tina’s parents surely wouldn’t let their daughter out of their sight. The perpetrators would have to navigate around the all-seeing eyes of neighbors, but more importantly, they’d have to come through Barkley. She’d promised to keep Tina safe, and that’s just what she planned on doing.

  The neighbors appeared to be home, so Barkley walked over to the open front door and rang the doorbell. After a moment, a young woman came to the door holding a toddler. She was all smiles as Barkley held up her badge, looking through the screen door. The toddler reached forward, was thwarted by the transparent barrier, and frowned.

  “Can I help you, Officer?” asked the grinning mom.

  “Agent Ellen Barkley, FBI. I was wondering if you knew where your neighbors were? The Rogers?”

  The mom gave a knowing smile. “They’re on vacation. I’ve been looking after their place while they’re gone.”

  “Has anything out of the ordinary happened?” asked Barkley.

  The mom’s grin disappeared. “No, nothing. Is something wrong?”

  The woman likely knew of the family’s traumatic past, and Barkley didn’t want her panicking. “Nothing’s wrong. Just doing a quick follow-up on a request she made. Do you know when to expect them back?”

  The lady’s smile returned, but there was also a hint of curiosity in her eyes. Barkley’s cover was hogwash, but this mother shouldn’t know the difference. “Why, yes, they’ll be back around four today. I got a call from Mrs. Rogers this morning. Do you want to leave your card? I will tell her you came by.”

  I’m sure you will, thought Barkley. News probably traveled quickly in this area. “That’s okay, I’ll just swing by another time. Thank you.”

  The toddler was becoming restless now, so the mother nodded and shut the front door. Barkley heard locks clicking and admired once again the aura of safety that seemed to hover over the neighborhood. She walked back to her parked rental and sat inside, looking around for any strange or out-of-place vehicles. They’d be crazy to try something so brash, here in this community, thought Barkley. She looked at her watch, sighed, and decided she’d wait around until four o’clock.

  *

  October 1, 2028

  9:00 a.m. CST

  Naperville, Illinois

  Hart sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee with Calvin and Lynks following a rough, sleep-deprived night. After Hart received Cane’s call about Bowman being missing, he feared the worst. Everyone in the house was getting frustrated, for it seemed like every time they took a step forward, Vinson and his lieutenants set them back.

  Barkley was in Florida at the moment, doing her best to stop Vinson’s momentum. Hart wasn’t thrilled about her being alone with the possibility of encountering marked men, but he had no choice but to let her go. Hart was trapped in Chicago, waiting for Brewer’s call. So far, the Rogers family didn’t appear to be in danger, so maybe Vinson wasn’t aware of Cane’s connection to Tina. The marked men could very well be targeting another unsuspecting child in Miami, but Barkley couldn’t protect them all.

  Lynks had been trying to find a lead to Bowman’s whereabouts, and the obvious place to begin was BioFare locations, but his search had been unfruitful. “There are too many places,” said Lynks. “He could be anywhere.” BioFare facilities were scattered across the country, and because they suspected Vinson, the Russians, and at least some segment of the government of using the weapon manufacturer in their terrorist plot, finding Bowman’s location would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

  “We’ve gotta narrow this down,” said Hart.

  “Even if we could, we may end up being too late,” said Calvin. “We need more than just a broad elimination. We have to find someone who knows where he is.”

  “I’m all ears,” said Hart.

  “Director Plumber,” said Lynks. “He has the resources at his fingertips.”

  Hart sighed. “You’re right, but I wouldn’t bank on him getting involved. He’s hesitant about investigating BioFare.”

  “What about Dr. Brewer?” asked Calvin.

  “I’m waiting on his call,” said Hart.

  “Tell Plumber what you have,” said Lynks. “Let him send in a team to uncover the doctor’s activities. It’ll gain his trust.”

  “That’s a thought,” said Hart. “We can’t wait for the doctor’s call. We’ve gotta move now.”

  Hart hated to bother Lindsey again, for she’d just pulled strings hours ago to get Barkley to Miami so quickly. Lynks was right, though; he needed the FBI’s cooperation if he wanted to find Bowman, and he had a decent lead to make it worth their while.

  When Lindsey answered on the first ring, he didn’t feel as bad; maybe she was eager to hear from him. “Is Barkley okay?” she asked.

  Hart was grateful for Lindsey’s genuine concern for the two of them, and she’d proved herself open-minded in their discussions about the marked men and the potential terrorist plot. Hart was glad to have an old friend in the bureau who trusted him, and anyone who knew Hart well enough realized he wasn’t prone to lie or chase conspiracies.

  “Barkley’s fine,” said Hart. “She’s waiting around Miami for the Rogers family to return home.”

  “I can send agents to back her up,” said Lindsey.

  Hart got quiet; he trusted few with the bureau besides Lindsey, and especially not enough to risk Barkley’s safety in his absence. Lindsey knew that, and his silence must have reminded her. “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “No need to apologize,” said Hart. “You’re just trying to help. Believe me, the offer is tempting. I’m worried sick.”

  Hart had already contacted his friend with the Miami PD, Antonio Gonzalez, who promised to meet Barkley at the Rogers home.

  “I need your help,” said Hart. “I have a significant lead.” He told her about Dr. Brewer, Jesse Vercher, and the upcoming shipment of syringes.

  “How do you know the shipment will happen soon?” asked Lindsey.

  “Brewer said they come once a week and drop off a few at a time. He only had two left, so it must be happening any day now.”

  “Why are you waiting on the shipment if Brewer has damning evidence now?”

  Hart didn’t want to mention that Cane had confiscated the syringes. “The only way to tie the vials to the marked men is to catch them in the act.” It was true; if only Brewer was in possession of them, it wouldn’t establish collusion with the marked men. “I’m hoping to connect this whole thing to BioFare.”

  “For something like this, I’ll need Plumber to sign off,” said Lindsey. “If we’re going against these marked guys, and they’re enhanced, like you say, then we’ll need more manpower.”

  “Should I call Plumber?” asked Hart.

  “Let me do it,” said Lindsey.

  Hart was hoping she’d say that. “Does he still think I’m full of it?�
�

  “I haven’t talked to him,” said Lindsey. “However, I heard he’s looking into other people. High-clearance types.”

  Hart took that as a positive development. Maybe Plumber was taking things seriously.

  “It’ll take the rest of the day to get things in place,” said Lindsey. “Let’s hope your doctor doesn’t call in the next few hours.”

  If he did, Hart would go alone; they didn’t have time to wait.

  “Lindsey,” said Hart. “One other thing.”

  “What?”

  “Vinson abducted Captain Bowman,” said Hart. “I’m hoping to get Plumber’s help on finding where he is.”

  Lindsey sighed. “You’re sure?”

  “Without a doubt, they have him. If we don’t act quickly, they’ll kill him.”

  “This all comes back to BioFare,” said Lindsey. “I’ll do everything I can to light a fire beneath Plumber.”

  *

  Calvin glanced out the window again, hoping he’d see the black sedan that had made trips to the house in the past. The last time he’d seen the vehicle was weeks ago, when two men had delivered a cassette tape from Marcene. Why hadn’t she been in touch?

  Bowman was presumed missing, someone had taken Swelling, and Cane and Daniel were overseas, unable to do anything about it. If there ever was a time they needed Marcene’s intervention, it was now, but the driveway remained empty.

  Did something happen to her? Did she exhaust all her resources? Are we on our own now? These thoughts ran through Calvin’s mind like a whirlwind. He couldn’t imagine Marcene leading them this far without a plan. Was William the endgame? Surely not, for Vinson and the lieutenants were up to something sinister and needed to be stopped. If they’d been turning ordinary men across the country for so many years, there was no telling how many soldiers they had. How were they supposed to compete with such power?

  Calvin had to remind himself to stay calm, trust his friends, and stop putting so much faith in Marcene. He hoped that whoever this William character turned out to be, he’d bring answers and a plan. It felt like they were spinning their wheels and were always a step behind.

  Jordyn and Taryn came into the den and saw Calvin’s face before he could cover it with a smile. The three of them had spent so much time together at this house that it was impossible for any of them to disguise their feelings. They approached and sat on either side of him.

  “Are you okay?” asked Jordyn.

  “Just worried,” said Calvin. He caught himself glancing out the window again.

  “They’ll be fine,” said Taryn, referring to Cane and Daniel.

  “I know,” said Calvin. “I’m more worried about Swelling, Bowman, and the Shauna girl.” This was the truth; although he was nervous about William’s extraction, he was far more concerned about the ones who didn’t have Cane or Daniel coming to save them.

  Neither Jordyn nor Taryn gave him any false consolation; they just hugged him. Calvin sensed something else was bothering them. “Now, what’s up with the two of you?” he asked.

  They looked at each other, and Jordyn turned to Calvin. “I think Natalie and Lynks are up to something with Tom.”

  “Like what?” asked Calvin. He was truly dumbfounded.

  “We don’t know,” said Taryn. “They’ve been going in and out of the library a lot, though.”

  Calvin stood. “Let’s see what they’re up to.”

  The three strolled across the house to the library and found Lynks, Natalie, and Kristy sitting at a table, and Calvin immediately felt suspicious. “What are you three doing?” he asked.

  Lynks looked the guiltiest, for he was less used to deception. Before any of them could respond, Jordyn stepped forward. “I know you’re doing something in there with Tom. I don’t care what, I just don’t like secrets.”

  Natalie and Kristy shot up from their seats with sympathetic looks; the charade was over. “Jordyn, I’m so sorry,” said Natalie. “I wasn’t trying to be deceitful; I was only trying to respect your feelings about Tom.”

  “Me too,” said Kristy. “We were going to tell you when the time was right.”

  “Tell me what?” asked Jordyn. Anxiety covered her face, and Taryn stood beside her with an intense look.

  Natalie told them what she’d learned from Dr. Woody Grayson and what she’d been attempting. “After Jesse died, I thought of trying the same recommended treatment with Tom.”

  “That’s why you wanted my videos,” said Jordyn. “You’ve been playing them for Tom?”

  Natalie nodded. “I wanted to see what he’d do.”

  “And?” asked Jordyn. Calvin could see the hope in her eyes.

  Natalie exchanged looks with Kristy and Lynks, like she hoped they had witnessed something more positive than she had, but they said nothing. “It doesn’t seem to have affected him. But he’s been turned for years. It may take more time.”

  Jordyn lowered her head. Natalie walked over and hugged her, followed by Kristy and Taryn. The four stayed huddled for a few minutes until Jordyn broke the silence.

  Being the strong, courageous woman she was, she looked confidently at Natalie. “I have better videos,” she said. “A few I keep private. But if they’ll help…”

  Natalie grabbed Jordyn by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “Only if you feel comfortable doing that.”

  Jordyn nodded. “If we’re doing this, we might as well bring out the most meaningful ones.”

  *

  4:00 p.m. CST

  When Cane called, Hart answered enthusiastically. “So good to hear from you! Hold on, let me get the others.”

  Hart called across the house and waited until everyone had gathered around the kitchen table. “It’s Cane.”

  Smiles spread around the table as everyone squeezed in. Hart looked at his phone. “Let’s video chat on Lynks’s tablet,” said Hart.

  “I’ll call back,” said Cane.

  Lynks set his tablet on the table and accepted the incoming call. On screen, Hart saw Cane, while Daniel appeared shortly after. A chorus of gestures and hellos sounded from the kitchen; everyone relieved to see the two of them had arrived safely.

  “We’re in Baku, Azerbaijan,” said Cane.

  “What time is it there?” asked Taryn.

  “1:00 a.m.,” said Cane.

  “My body is thoroughly confused,” said Daniel. “I hate time-traveling.”

  Hart listened to the laughter in the room; he was glad to hear Daniel keeping them relaxed.

  “We’ll be in Turkmenbashi in a few hours,” said Cane. The laughter faded as they suddenly became aware of the impending danger their friends were walking into. “Any word on Bowman?” asked Cane.

  “No,” said Hart. “I’m working on it though. I think Lindsey is getting Plumber to help.”

  Cane frowned. Hart could see the worry in his eyes, which had surely been weighing on him for hours now. “Barkley is posted outside Tina’s house,” said Hart. “I’m waiting on a call from Lindsey. She’s helping me with Brewer.”

  “We’ll be out of touch after this call,” said Cane. “For hours.”

  Hart again felt the pressure riding on him. It would be up to him alone to find Bowman. “I promise I’ll do everything I can to find him.”

  “I know,” said Cane. Though the statement was subtle, Hart couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride at Cane’s confidence in him. Cane didn’t give praise often.

  Kristy maneuvered through the crowd and waved at Cane. “You better be careful,” she said. She was trying to be casual about it, but Hart easily noted her anxiety.

  “We will,” said Cane. “We have some good help.” He panned his phone around to show Orlando, Wayne, and Dirk in the background. They all waved, including Dirk, who was obviously clueless about who he was gesturing to.

  Daniel walked into the screen. “Where are my two angels?” Jordyn and Taryn came forward and waved. “You want to ask me anything?” When the two of them looked at each other and back at
the screen blankly, he said, “I’m nine hours in the future. Wanna know the winning lottery numbers?”

  Jordyn smiled and Taryn asked, “Will you make it home safe?”

  Hart felt bad for the kid. With everything happening so fast around her, she must be afraid and unsure.

  “That I can promise,” said Daniel. “We’ll be back in no time, safely.”

  “We’ve gotta get moving,” said Cane. “We’ll call when we get back.”

  When the screen went dark, it seemed to let the air out of the room. The somber reality sank in, and everyone scattered to do different things. Hart remained in the kitchen with Lynks and retrieved the list of names Cane had given him. It was hundreds of them, every one of them now belonging to a marked man.

  “That’s Brewer’s list?” asked Lynks.

  Hart nodded. “I figured I’d look over it while I’m waiting on Lindsey.”

  “I’ll join you,” said Lynks. “If there’s a name that looks interesting, I can look it up.”

  Hart saw the excitement in Lynks’s eyes; he wasn’t a fighter, like Cane, but was a wizard at all things tech-related.

  “I’ve been striking out a lot lately,” said Lynks. “I couldn’t find William’s family. I need to redeem myself.”

  Hart smiled and looked over the long list of names. They weren’t in any order, unless they’d been arranged by the dates they’d been injected. Jesse’s name was last, supporting the idea. Hart doubted he’d see a name he would recognize until he came across the second page of the printout. He held the paper close, not believing his eyes.

  “What is it?” asked Lynks.

  “Get that laptop ready,” said Hart. He circled a name in blue and slid the list over to Lynks. “Does that name sound familiar?”

  Lynks studied the name for a moment and shrugged. “Should it?”

  “Theodore Simon Jr.” said Hart. “Do you know who Theodore Simon senior is?”

  “I don’t,” said Lynks.

  “He’s a senator from Chicago,” said Hart.

  *

  October 1, 2028

  5:00 p.m. EST