Torn (20 page)

“Nah. I doubt it.”

Colin paused. “It’s
a pretty big job, are you sure
. . . .
”

“So was the crooked house, Bruce stated. “
Let me see what we can do. Work it out for a week;
then see our progress. We’re pretty fast.”

Colin smiled. “You wouldn’t happen to know someone that works fast on cars.”

“You mean like a mechanic?” Bruce asked.

“No.” Colin shook his head. “W
e’re
wanting to enhance our transportation. Didn’t know if you knew someone with those skills and your work ethic.”

Bruce grinned and looked at Bobby.

Colin nodded. “Somehow, I thought the solution to the vehicles would be here.”

“Yes, sir, we’re your men. As long as we’
re along on this survival thing
. . . .
”

“Absolutely,” Colin said. “My God, your skills will be needed after as well.”

“Got yourself the best contractors in the country.” He shook hands with Colin. “May need to hire on if one of us
is working on the vehicles. But
. . .
don’t know. We’ll see.”

“I have every faith.” Colin’s still blackened eye twinkled in his smile. Phase one of preparations for survival were underway.

In her base lab, Virginia jumped back with a wince, when the seldom seen temper of Colin Reye reared its ugly head for about three seconds. He slammed paper with a mighty force, while blasting the word, ‘Assholes!’ as loud as he could.

Virginia blinked.

Darius snickered.

After a sigh, Colin ran his hand over the side of his hair, and stepped back. “Food poisoning my ass,” h
e said. “What’s the point? Someone want to tell me what
is the point of lying to the public?”

Calmly, Darius answered that question. “Why not?”

“Huh?” Colin looked at him.

“Face it, Colin, people know. We aren’t the top minds in the world. If we figured out what’s happening,
surely someone else has too. So
. . .
knowing this
. . .
and knowing nothing can be done to stop it
,
w
hy cause people to panic?”

“They’ll have to say something sooner or later. The word will get out.” Virginia added. “We’re letting it out.”

“And when?” Darius asked. “We aren’t letting it out until we’re close. Bet me that’s what the government is doing as well. Keeping people calm.”

“While we’re collecting books,” Colin said. “Which I’m late for. Wh
y am I the one collecting books?
No, wait, scratch that. If I am responsible for finding the text books that will shape our future young minds, I know it will be done correctly. I don’t want that to be in Dare-Dare’s hands. Hannah Gives Head will be top the Accelerated Reading book
list
.”

Darius’ mouth dropped open. “Where is that coming from?”

“Frustration. Virginia
,
will you be
okay
monitoring alone?” Colin asked.

Virginia flung out her hand. “I’m good here. If I need you, I’ll
get a hold
of you. Go, I’ll keep both of you posted. Chuck is waiting for you, Colin.”

“Am I gonna have that Blain fell
ow
too?” Colin asked.

Virginia shook her head. “No, Blain is coming here. Remember, you promised you’d fill him in tonight.”

Colin huffed. “As long as he keeps his mouth shut and adheres to our plan.”

Darius added, “Yeah, last thing we need is for the word to get out. If that happens, those books you and Chuck are getting will be scarce. Everything we need to buy, build, you name it will become difficult. Thank God he didn’t let word out about the radiation sickness. I mean, all we need is for the
popul
ace
to think they’ll die riding a plane
;
there goes the airline industry.”

“Speaking of which
. . .
”
Virginia said. “Shouldn’t you be getting Bret. You guys have that plane to catch.”

“Ah, yeah. Pa
cked up and ready. We’re flying
…” Darius snickered. “Light.” He stood. “In fact, I’d better go.” He gathered up his things. “Call me, text me, if anything arises.”

“Will do.” Virginia responded. “I hope
this is it.
I hope this is the place you’re looking for.
We couldn’t fully see
inside and below,
but the markings
were
on the floor as stated. So.
…
”

“I’m positive
that
’s it
.
If it has the markings, it has to be.
” Darius smiled. “
And you found it
. I appreciate you guys taking off to look.”

“That wasn’t a problem,” Virginia said. “It wasn’t just complex hunting, it was a day away
from the kids.
Oh, there’s a great steakhouse right next to the hotel. You have to try it. My husband loved it.”

“Husband.” Colin snapped his finger. “You’re fortunate, Dare-Dare.”

Darius stopped in his dash out. “Why’s that?”

“See this?” Colin pointed to his black eye. “If I got this over lunch, good thing for you her husband left her for a teenage Asian virgin. You’re taking her to Texas.”

“Timing is in my favor, then
. . .
”
Darius smiled.

“You aren’t planning to bed this woman
? Dare-Dare, she still mourning
….”

“God! Colin, stop. No. I’m not planning to bed her.”

“Good. You haven’t seen her in two days. She’s hit that angry phase.”

Virginia nodded knowingly, “I don’t blame her.”

“So a bit of advice,” Colin said.
“Don’t mention ‘Chinese’ and ‘i
nnocent’ in the same sentence.”

Darius left. Colin watch the door close, then turned to Virginia. “He’s thinking sex fest. Trust me.” He winked and then walked out.

Virginia shook her head with a laugh.

“Why are you packing items in a diaper bag?” Luke asked Bret.

“That’s what Darius said to do. He said minimal, pack what can fit in a diaper bag. He’ll buy me clothes there if need be.”

“You’re gonna be owing him a lot.”

“I know. But
. . .
you can spend money you don’t have to pay back.” Bret said. “Done.”

“Why a diaper bag?”

Bret shrugged. “I don’t know. Keeps it light. We’ll be gone one night.” She tossed the diaper bag over her shoulder and murmured. “Wallet.”

“Am I in charge?” Luke asked.

“Yes. You live here. You’re the oldest, I won’t be gone long.”

He followed her down the stairs. “Don’t you think the airlines are gonna think it’s odd that you’re carrying a Disney diaper bag when you don’t have a baby?”

Again, Bret shrugged. “I’m late
. . . .
”
she set the bag by the door. “O
kay. You have everyone’s numbers, r
ight?”

Luke nodded.

“Bruce is coming by to buy Jesse’s tool
s
before Jesse comes and gets them. If
Jesse
comes by and causes a fit.
…”

“I know. I know. Call the police then Bobby Weiss.”

“Who says he has
plenty of
frustration and is more than willing to come over,” Bret said.

“But
. . .
like
,
is it right to sell his tools.”

“Was it right to wipe out the bank account for that child bride?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re so male. You would say that.” She looked out the door. “Oh, here he is now. Call if you have problems.”

“I will.”

Bret gave her son a hug an
d kiss. “I love you. Be good. Okay
?”

“Call me when you check in.”

“How about I call you when we land, we’re supposed to go directly to the real estate office.”

“That works.”

“See ya.
” Bret opened the door, mouthing the words, ‘I love you’ once more, as she walked out.

Darius waited in the truck
and reached over
,
opening the door for her.

Bret stepped inside the truck.

“Everything okay
?” he asked.

“Oh, sure, all’s fine.” Bret reached down for her bag to place on her lap. She stared at it while Darius pull
ed
out. “Darius?”

“Yeah?”

“Why
did
I have to pack in a diaper bag?”

“The airlines only allow
you on
e carry
on. But you’re allowed one personal bag if it’s small.”

“One carry
on each.”

“Yes, that’s the policy,” Darius answered.

“I don’t have a carry on,” Bret said.

“I brought one for you.”

“You…
you packed me clothes.”

“Actually no,” he replied. “You’ll carry one bag,
I’ll carry another. I packed…
I packed parachutes.”

Her loud ‘what!’ caused Darius to wince.

“Bret, please.”

“Parachutes. As in jumping out of a plane, parachutes.”

“Yes, in nice neat little bags,” Darius said.

“Why in the world would we…
oh my God.”

“What?”

“Oh my God.” She began to panic. “You think the plane is gonna crash.” Bret began to ramble fast. “You think we’re crashing, that’s why you
brought them. Huh? The plane is
. . . .
”

“Bret, calm down.”

“I can’t calm down. You brought
parachutes
.”

“As a precaution only,” he said calmly. “Trust me. Precaution. The plane is not going down.”

“Don’t panic,” Darius turned his body toward Bret in the
first class of the plane. “But
. . .
the plane is going down.”

“What!” Bret snapped.

“Shh.”

Everybody turned around and looked.

“Check it out.” He held up his cell phone. “From Virginia. Read.”

“Why do you have that on? The pilot said to turn it off.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I did. Look.”

Bret read the display of the text message: EMP SIX MINUTES. YOUR WAY.

“Oh, my God.”

“Listen. We have five min
ute
s, maybe less. Calmly stand up, put the diaper bag over your shoulder and follow my lead. Calmly. Nod.”

“Are we gonna be alright?” s
he asked.

“If you do as I say and follow my lead. O
kay
.”

Bret nodded. The
n
she shook her head.

“What?”

“I don’t
think I can do this.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“Oh my God.”

She reached under the seat and grabbed the diaper bag.

“Stand.” He instructed. When she did, he allowed her to stand in the aisle and he reached for the overhead compartment.

“Here comes the air police.”

“Huh?” he looked. The stewardess approached.

“Sir,” the stewardess said. “You have to leave the luggage up there.”

“I’m so sorry. My wife’s medication is in one of ou
r bags and I want to get it out,
” Dari
us said, his voice sweet. “She
needs to have an injection and I need to take her to the back to administer it. As I am sure you understand.”

Bret gasped.

“That’s fine. I do understand.” The stewardess even aided in the compartment hunting, allowing Darius to retrieve the two parachutes.

“Thank you.” He smiled.

Again, Bret gasped.

“What?” Darius asked.

“You disgust me. Flirting. So male.”

“I’m single.”

“Not on this flight, mister.”

“Then not for long.” After taking Bret’s hand he led her through the first class.

“Where are we going?”

“Just follow.”

“Fine.”

Darius looked at his phone. “Three minutes.” He moved quickly.

“Oh, shit.”

“We’ll be fine.” He pulled her along.

In the back of the plane they stood by an emergency door.

“Are you gonna be able to open this? Bret asked.

“I hope.” Darius strapped on her pack. “Latch that tight,” he instructed, then
pulled
on his. After the final snap, he manipulated his phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking out the batteries. We’ll need this.” He shoved them in his pocket. “Ready?”

“No.”

“Too bad. Count to like ten, I guess, and pull this.” He showed her.

“Count to
like
ten? You guess? You don’t know
?
”

“Not really.”

Bret peeped.

“Shh.” Darius looked beyond her. “Shit.” He pointed.

“Excuse me,” another stewardess approached. “What are you doing?”

“Leav
ing,” Darius replied. “In about.…” H
e looked at his watch. “ten, nine
.
…”