Cliffhanger Theater!

Mokoto slowly got out of Michelle’s Toyota.  The motorcycle rider took off his helmet as Mokoto put her gun away.  “You’d better not have scratched that” she said as she walked towards the bike.  She glanced back and forth as Jeremiah sat the helmet on the seat.

“It handles real nice.  To bad it will probably get identified.”

“New license plate and some new detailing and I’ll be fine.”

“So, how in the world did you track them here?”

“Honestly?”

Jeremiah pulled a toothpick out of his coat pocket.  He looked around the alleyway and shrugged.  “Nah, I don’t really want to know.  It ruins your mystique.”

Mokoto laughed.  She saw Michelle inside the car, and she wasn’t talking yet.  “We need to get them in and separate them.  Phil and Michelle are the ones we can work over the best.  Bob might be a lost cause at this point.”

“That’s not so good.  He’s the one who was best friends with Gerrard.”

“I have some ideas for that, but maybe we’ll get lucky with Phil.”

“The girl?”

Mokoto took a deep breath.  “She doesn’t have anything to do with this, but we’ll keep her around for now.  I don’t think we’ll have to eliminate her.”

“We’ll see.”  Jeremiah smiled as he looked over the car’s passengers.

“Say, who’s Jebediah on the phone with?”

“Beats me.”  Jeremiah waved at the silver car, and Jebediah slowly got out of the car.  Once out, he flipped the phone closed.

“Let’s get these three inside.  Who were you on the phone with?”

“Mister Man.”

Jeremiah and Mokoto nodded.  They turned towards the Toyota.

***

A loud buzzing went off as the phone was hung up.  The chair spun around, so that the back was towards the door.  As the office door opened, the man in the chair spoke slowly.

“Shaun, what can you tell me?”

Shaun looked into the room.  A large, oak desk almost stretched all the way across the room.  The walls were covered in bookshelves, and the hardwood floors echoed his footsteps as he walked in.  He knew how far forward he could walk, and he walked in no further.  “We have no idea where Laura is.”

“That is…unfortunate.  Her actions could lead to…storm fronts that were not predicted.”

“We haven’t heard from our contact yet.  It’s possible they’re in a dead zone…”

“No.  That’s a case of two fronts…merging I would guess.  Fear not, for soon they will all be in the same isobar.”

“No word on where the F.B.I. Agent is.”

“He isn’t my concern right now.”  The man in the chair’s hand lifted, and three screens on the wall lit up.  The far left screen was a map of the the Dakotas and Minnesota, with some lights blinking red, and other areas were blinking blue, green and yellow.  The screen on the right was a long list of names, amounts and times.  The middle screen was the largest, and on it was the Weather Channel.  The hand lowered as Cheryl Lemke started going over the nation’s forecast.  “That’s all for now Shaun.  I’d like some time to absorb the new weather data now.”

“As you wish” Shaun said, as he walked out of the room.

Bob closed his eyes as Phil started reading the letter.  He was full of questions, but even with his would be assassin in the front seat, all he could think about was whether Phil could find a way to forgive him.  He knew throwing out the letter was wrong, but now he wishes he’d hat the guts to throw it rather than leave it to be found by Phil, or by someone who would give it to Phil.  Bob had lost one of his best friends on Friday, and now Saturday was looking more and more like a repeat.  He pulled his lucky sunglasses from his shirt collar and put them on.  He bent forward, resting his forehead on his hands, hoping no one would see him on the verge of breaking down again.

Michelle pulled onto 6th street, but she was adjusting and checking her rear view mirror more often than usual.  Her stomach was a knot before she came to the Millstone restaurant, and now it was not only tightening, but new ropes were coming in while old ropes were fighting to free themselves from the tangle she was becoming a part of.  Her heart rose when she saw Phil, then sank when he revealed he wasn’t in town for her.  Her anger was on the verge of violence when Bob made his confession, and she was ready to take it out on both Bob and Phil.  All of that rage was still there, but it was now backing down from the sudden surge of fear from the mysterious woman now sharing her front seat.  She glanced over, and saw a gun aimed squarely at her head from the woman’s lap.

Mokoto kept looking around.  She was aware that any vehicle higher than the small car they were in would see the firearm.  She also was trying to keep an eye on all of the variables in the car.  She had a pretty good feeling that if Bob and Phil didn’t have a wedge between them already, they would now.  Phil was mesmerized by the letter, and he now had something to lose…Michelle.  Michelle was the one Mokoto didn’t know how to read quite yet.  She’d been tailing her most of the day, but she still didn’t have a firm grasp on what to expect or how to handle her.  She was guessing she also had something to lose, but little to offer.  Right now Mokoto was happy to use her as a driver, even if it meant Jebediah would have to bring her motorcycle.

Phil read the letter’s ending, and he went back and started reading it again.  It was everything he’d hoped and feared it would be.  It pulled no punches in specifying where Phil had gone wrong in their relationship, but it also shouldered Michelle with some of the blame.  It touched on everything she realized she missed about him, and about them.  Most importantly, the end revealed she wanted to give Phil options.  Those options ranged from Michelle never writing again, to flying out to Las Vegas and getting married once he had decided.  If he’d gotten this three months ago, he wasn’t sure what he would have picked.  If he’d read this after last night, they’d be in Vegas already.  Now he was hoping that once this was all over he’d be able to choose, and that Michelle not only still wanted him to, she was still able to.

The car hung in silence until they approached main street.  “Turn right” Mokoto said.

Jebediah looked down at his phone.  The number XXX-YYY-ZZZZ was calling.  He flipped open the phone and pressed the button.  “Yes sir” he said as he positioned the phone to his face.

“Jebediah, where is Jeremiah?”

“He’s on his phone already.”

“Well,  you’re the best one to ask.  Our friend Laura seems a bit…how should I say…under the weather and off the radar.  Why might that be?”

“She compromised the mission.”

“Really, she did?”

“Close enough.  Because of her, the two of us are still working.”

“She may be harboring a grudge against you two.  I’m afraid she took a fall in Sioux Falls.”

“Isn’t she being taken care of?”

“No…I’m having trouble finding her.  It appears she doesn’t want to be found.”

“Do you think she’ll be looking us up?”

“Well, I hope not.  She knows her role and her job.  I just found her a new one in Houston, but she seems…offended by something.”

“Mokoto.”

The usual instant comeback from the Weatherman was slow in returning.  “Yes, that might be a reason.  She seems to have a grudge.”

“We know you cut Mokoto more slack than anyone else.”

“Don’t you think that’s justified?  Her work speaks for itself.”

“She does good work, but Laura has worked for you a long time.  I don’t think she’ll be easy to forecast from now on.”

“Very good Jebediah.  You’d be the last I’d expect to speak my language.”

“Just let me know if this is a storm watch or a storm warning.”

“I’d call it a…hazardous weather outlook.  We’ll know more later.  By the way, have you heard from Mokoto?”

“Funny you should ask…”

***

“You…you’re the reason I’ve been an emotional wreck the last few months?  You, the one of Phil’s friends I was always a bit skeptical of?  I knew you were devious, but you actually interfered?”

“You heard what I said ab-”

“You hid her letter from me?  ARE YOU INSANE?  Do you know how much I’d give to get another chance?  To show her how much I care?”

“Look, I hid the letter yes.  I admit it.  I was wrong.  Michelle didn’t call to see if you got it.  And Phil, I know you looked up her info on the web.  Heck, you paid that people search site to get her number and address, but did you ever call?”

“DON’T TURN THIS BACK ON ME!” Phil was on the verge of screaming, and Michelle’s fists were on the table.

“Excuse me, but could you keep it down?” Abbie gritted her teeth as she started to hand Bob his change.  Bob took a ten and looked at Abbie.

“Keep the rest, and we’re just going.”  Bob stood up.  “We should really take this outside.  No use ruining everyone else’s supper.”

Michelle and Phil looked at each other and started to slide out of the booth, while Bob walked towards the door.  He heard them behind him the whole way.

“You’re just trying to keep your best pal to yourself!  You always were jealous of how much time we spent together.”

“You kept a letter from a woman I never got over, a woman who wants me back.  Well, wanted me back.  How much more can you fuck up my life right now?”

Bob spun around and put his hands up, hoping to stop Phil and Michelle from gang tackling him.  “Look, I’m sorry.  I was wrong.  I was very wrong.  I’ll understand if neither of you forgive me, but try to understand why I did it.  I promise I’m done screwing up your life.”

“Not quite.”

Bob’s heart sank further than before, as he spun around and saw Mokoto sitting on the hood of Michelle’s car.  Phil’s eyes opened wider than he ever thought possible.

“Who the hell is that?” Michelle asked loudly.

The rattling of the garage door echoed throughout the storage area. The door rocked gently back and forth for a moment, then the distant sound of traffic was the dominant noise. Laura black walked forward and reached in to her left. A lone fluorescent bulb flickered on, and it buzzed loudly in the Saturday evening air. Laura looked at her phone’s screen, and watched a blinking light travel northward. She walked further into the storage garage, until she came to the back wall. She flipped open a foot locker and started grabbing the contents, which contained bags of various electronics and several firearms. She opened the back door of the black Jetta and started throwing it all in the back seat. She then flipped open a thin, rectangular box and proceeded to remove more firearms, all of which she found homes for in the car. Finally, she came to one last chest. She flipped it open, started throwing handfuls of clothing into the trunk as well. When she got to the bottom, she stopped. Slowly, she removed the sweatshirt and Capri pants she had hastily put on. She then removed her sandals and proceeded to pull on a black pair of cargo pants, followed by a black tank-top. Next she put on socks and a pair of black, sturdy boots. She closed all the chests and started putting her hair into a pony tail as she got in the car and turned the key. The Jetta rolled out of the garage, and she put it in park. She then reached into a bag in the front seat, and pulled out a box with a slim plastic wand hanging off the side. She slid the box inside, and then closed the door on the wand. She heard an audible click, and soon Laura was back in the Jetta, She plugged her phone into the car charger, then left it open. She started driving north towards the flashing dot on the display. “Soon Jebediah…soon” she muttered as she weaved into traffic.

***

Michelle slowly walked to the booth. Phil had sat back down, and Bob was just getting up. Michelle used the opportunity to sit across from Phil, leaving Bob with a decision of where to sit. The look on Michelle’s face was enough to make his mind up for him, as he squeezed in next to Phil. Their waitress, Abbie, soon came over.

“Is everything alright?”

“Yes…we’re fine, thanks. Just had a breathing mishap.” Bob forced a smile as Abbie smiled back. Abbie turned to Michelle with a quizzical look.

“Are you sitting here now ma’am?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure if I’ll be getting anything.”

“Okay…well…I’ll come back.” Abbie could feel the tension, and decided to vacate quickly. Bob envied her for that.

“So…you’re looking good.” Phil’s posture was rigid and stiff, like a teen on his first date.

“You’re looking pretty well yourself.”

“I mean, I just can’t believe I’d run into you here.”

“Yes…well…really? Like you didn’t know where I was living.”

Bob gritted his teeth and braced himself.

“Okay, okay. You’re right. I did know.”

“But you didn’t even reply or acknowledge it.”

“I didn’t think you’d know.”

“Didn’t think I’d know? Are you really that thick?”

Bob squirmed uncomfortably, with a secret that was slowly clawing its way out of his chest.

Agent Garrett said nothing.

He hadn’t said anything since they had left the police station.  He spent five minutes yelling back and forth with Clayton Iron-Horse, until the F.B.I. agent finally backed down.  He stormed out of the Sioux Falls police headquarters, and agent Lewis was right behind him.  She had been on the phone since they’d left Sioux Falls, and now they were zipping up Interstate 29 at eighty miles per hour.  He shifted his eyes to her for a moment.  She was leaning back in her seat, and she was drumming her fingers on her laptop over and over.  “Anything” was the first word Garrett had spoken in almost a half hour, and Lewis just started at him for a moment.

“No.”

Garrett looked forward once again.  “What’s the hold up?”

“I’m trying to get in touch with their chief or sheriff.  I get the impression that unless we’re the F.B.I. or C.I.A. we have to wait a bit longer.”

“In their defense, the N.R.O. and N.G.A. aren’t agencies that often work with law enforcement around here.”

Lewis arched her body forward.  Her free hand supported her head as she looked Garrett up and down.  “You of all people are going to cut these people some slack?  After how you treated the Sioux Falls police?”

“I gave them the benefit of the doubt.  They didn’t live up to m-”

“Garrett, they’re a town of less than 200,000.  I think they did very well, all things considered.  The death of one of their own, missing people, a pile up and an explosion is a lot to take in.”

“You’re right.  I’m just…that F.B.I. agent…I don’t know.”

“Relax.  His record indicates he’ll refocus on this Dinkley person and that will be that.  Phil and Bob and whoever else we find isn’t his concern.

Garrett frowned and flipped on his blinker.  “I’m going to exit here.  We have a long way to go, and I need some caffeine.”

***

Phil had thought about this day more times that he could remember.  He’d daydreamed about meeting Michelle by random chance at the mall, at a restaurant, at a bar, and even at the Storybook Land park.  He’d thought about what he’d say if he called her, if she called him, or if one of them was working in a call center and called the other.  Phil even had thought of how to break the ice if they’d wandered into a chat room at the same time.  He had not thought of what to say in the event of running into her while saving Bob from choking.  His only comfort was that she looked as genuinely surprised as he felt and probably looked.

“What are you doing in Aberdeen?”

Phil froze for a moment.  He had looked at her number in Kmart for ten minutes, but he’d never considered that he’d have to come up with a reason that he was in town once he talked to her.  “Uh…we were just…passing through.  I thought about calling…but…number…uh…”

“Michelle, come sit with us” Bob croaked from the floor.

Laura crossed her arms. She had washed all of the blood off of her shoulders and legs, and her hair had been conditioned for a good five minutes.  She closed her eyes and imagined herself far away from Sioux Falls. She tried to drift far away from her time with the Weatherman. She yearned for a place in her life before the army. Her mind reached back beyond her tomboyish years in high school, her parent’s divorce, and her always stronger kid brother always getting the best of her. She unfolded her arms and shut the water off. She could never go back far enough.

While she was toweling off, she noticed her answering machine blinking. It wasn’t blinking before she had gotten in the shower. She pressed play, then started pulling on her underwear.

“Laura, we need to talk. I believe you know the number to reach me at. You still have that Nokia, right? If not, I may need your number.”

Laura frowned. She knew the voice on the other end. She walked over to her entertainment center, and pulled out a VHS copy of Twister. The videotape slid out of the cardboard box, and she gripped the sides of the tape. It popped apart, and the Nokia inside popped out and landed on the floor. She put the tape back together, and then she found the battery powered phone charger. The phone charged while she fastened her bra and pulled on a black tank-top. She flipped open the phone and found “weather” in her contacts list. After pressing send, she had to only wait for one ring to hear that familiar voice.

“Laura, I’m so glad you beat the storm.”

“It wasn’t easy. I’ll tell you that.”

“I’m afraid more bad weather is heading your way. It’s really a shame. No one in Sioux Falls expected cop on cop violence.”

“Wait…what?” Laura’s tone was much less calm, and the Weatherman took notice.

“Easy, easy. Laura Black is the problem. Laura Blake, on the other hand, has a good opportunity in Houston.”

“Houston?”

“It is a bit near tornado alley, but I think the skies are much calmer there.”

“Listen here, I’ve done everything for you and your group. You’re hanging me out to dry, and you expect me to get out of this town with the F.B.I. and the locals on my tail? I have to take a fall now too? How is that fair? And where is Mokoto right now anyway?”

“She…is off the grid. She’ll turn up when we need her.”

“You…I was with you long before she came aboard. I’ve given over a decade to you. Now you’re letting this rouge make her own hours?”

“She is hard to control. Much like the weather, she is not often easy to predict, but she always has a good extended forecast.”

“Let me guess, I’m more day to day?” Laura’s voice was getting louder every time she spoke.

“Your skills are not in question, but your judgements are like correctly picking the path of a hurricane.”

“Let me guess, I should be glad Jeremiah and Jebediah left me to rot then blew up their damn car?!?”

“Those two are like the thunder and lightning that-”

“AHHH!!!! SCREW YOU AND YOUR DAMN WEATHER METAPHORS!!! TRY AND PREDICT THIS!!!” Laura closed the phone and threw it into the living room. She was huffing and puffing, and she had the urge to take a baseball bat to everything in her apartment. She took a deep breath, then walked to the living room, where the breeze from her broken patio window was quite pleasant. She picked up the phone and played with a few commands. She soon had a map, and a blip that was flashing.

“Well weatherman, your ‘thunder and lighting’ are on my doppler. After them, we’ll see about shortening your extended forecast.”

Laura smiled for the first time in hours.

*KREESH*

Glass tumbled to the floor from the shattered patio door. Laura Black walked into the apartment and collapsed onto the couch. She was finally back in her apartment, but the journey was not one she’d duplicate willingly. She had a bump on her head from falling backwards when the police station shook from an explosion that she was assuming was courtesy of Jeremiah and Jebediah. Her left shoulder ached from ramming into Clayton’s midsection when he opened the door to see what had happened. There were blood streaks from her upper arms where she had cut her skin while hooking her shirt sleeves on broken glass and a chain link fence. Knees and ankles were sore from her jump out of a second floor window. Her shirt was ripped across the front where she had ripped her badge off with her teeth. Slowly, she slouched forward and slowly stood up. She walked to her bedroom door which was closed. She opened it with a kick, and proceeded to walk to her nightstand. Her face winced as she dropped to her knees and turned herself around. She bent forward as her handcuffed arms dug in the drawer for her spare handcuff keys. After what seemed like thirty minutes as opposed to thirty seconds, she had found the key and was soon finally able to free her wrists, which were now bruised and bloodied from her four hour trek back here, and her difficult journey to her second floor balcony. At least it will be easier to leave she thought to herself as she tossed the cuffs into the garbage. She tore off what remained of her police uniform and started debating whether or not she should shower before going in search of Jeremiah and Jebediah.

***

“MESSAGE THREE”

“Mabel, this is officer Bucholz from the Sioux Falls police department. We’d like to ask you some questions about earlier this afternoon. We’ve been trying to get a hold of you for a few hours now, so could call us as soon as possible please? Thanks for your time.”

B shook his head, and Mabel closed his phone. “You don’t want me to go back to the station?”

“You heard the news. It’s not safe there. What with cars blowing up and stuff.”

“Seriously, you think that the police station is unsafe?”

“You tell me. You went there to be safe, and saw the two men who had you at gunpoint.”

“What are we going to do?”

B looked down the street. He looked down and saw how tightly he was gripping the wheel of his Pacer. He looked back up as he started the car back up. “We’re going to keep a low profile for now. I have no idea where Bob and Phil got whisked off to. I don’t know how to find them. I…I honestly don’t know what to do Mabel. I don’t know why I’m keeping you out on some damn attempt to be useful again.” B slowed the car as they came to a stoplight, and Mabel put her hand on his shoulder.

“You are a much more complicated man that I gave you credit for Bartholomew, if I may call you that.”

B glanced over at Mabel. “You may, but don’t do it often. Say, would you be up for a short jaunt to Canton?”

In a small hole on the police station’s back lawn, a gopher popped his head out. He didn’t know anything about the case, the government, or any of the people involved. He only knew he was hungry. He ran out of his hole towards the dumpsters near the police station. He stopped for a moment and looked up. This gopher didn’t know a Cadillac from a Studebaker, but something about this car made his nose twitch. There was something different, and something he didn’t like. This gopher had only known hunger, but now he only knew dread. The gopher retreated, opting to find food elsewhere.

Tina Vig was not a gopher, but she knew a Cadillac, and she knew when one was parked in an odd place. “Will, this car is a mess. There are coffee cups in the backseat, there’s a pile of CDs in the back…wait. Look at this.” Will walked over and looked in the back window. He saw CDs, along with DVDs and game discs. He also noticed a hard drive or two in the back, including one that had been ripped out of a desktop PC. He pulled out his cell phone and started taking pictures. “What are you doing?”

“The way our luck has gone, somebody is going to drive this car off and we’ll lose any evidence again.”

“I say we wheel lock this son of a gun, then break out the windows. It is in a loading zone after all.”

Will clicked another picture and smiled. “I like the way you think officer Vig.”

Tina started walking away. “I’ll get some wheel locks. You keep an eye on the car.”

Will watched Tina walk away. He thought about what Clayton had said about telling her how he felt. His mind was far, far away from Sioux Falls, and the Cadillac behind him.

***

“About time!”

“Relax, would ya? I remember when you hadn’t showered for a week or three.”

“That was a rough patch. I think it took me five showers that day. Today might be two.”

Bob slid the key card into the door. “You’re in luck. I got extra shampoo and soap for you.” Bob opened the door. “I’m just happy I was able to talk our way in here.”

“Say what?”

“They wanted ID and a name and a credit card and everything. I had to make up some story about having my wallet stolen, and getting money from my friend who was on his way here.”

“She bought that?”

“I had to lay the charm on pretty thick.”

“What did you use for a name?”

“Oh, I figured I’d just use an old college friend’s name to sign in. Not a big deal.”

“Which friend?”

Bob plopped into the chair in the room, and tossed his lucky sunglasses onto the desk. “Eli Elson.”

***

Tina heard footsteps behind her as she was about to turn towards the front of the station. She saw Will running up to her. She was worried for a moment about the car, but then she was worried about what he might be saying.

“Tina listen…I…I realize this is a bad time…”

“No time like the present?” She arched her eyebrows and gave a half smirk.

“Listen…I…you…me…let me start over. Look, I don’t want to…I mean, we work together and get along, and…”

“Will” Tina said, as she moved closer. “Are you trying to ask me on a date instead of watching the car?”

Will reached out to Tina’s shoulders, and spun them both around. “There, now I can do both.”

***

Jebediah scrolled through his contacts. He got down to Z1, Z2, and Z3. “I really need to clear out the other two” he said.

“I’m going to miss that car.” Jeremiah turned the unmarked car into the airport.

Jebediah hit send. After three rings, he hung up. “It’s done.”

“I was expecting that to be much harder.” Bob was walking at a brisk pace to keep up with Phil. The Super 8 motel was getting closer with every step.

“I must admit, I didn’t know it was this close.” Phil felt how grimy he had become with sweat and whatever grime he’d picked up from the boxcar and old man B’s backseat. “I hope we don’t come off too much like vagrants. Maybe they have a no-rent policy?”

“Remember when Super 8 was the kind of place that didn’t care?”

“Barely.”

“Me either, but I’ve heard stories.”

“I’m calling dibs on the shower.”

“Go for it. I won’t stop you at all. That is all you and a bag of chips, but I call dibs on the bag of chips. I’m still freakin’ hungry.”

“Well, you’ll be happy to know I splurged for a toothbrush two-pack and some toothpaste while we were at Kmart.”

“Geez Phil, who thinks of dental hygiene while on the run from the police?”

“So I have good brushing habits and it’s driving me nuts to not brush right now. You do raise an interesting point.”

“I do?”

“Sure. Do people on the run shower as often as they’d like? Do they floss? Are they worried about making their credit card bills? If they have a pain in their shoulder, do they see a doctor or take a boatload of asprin? Are they concerned if their pants get a bit tight?”

“Those are all…interesting questions Phil. I know who you can ask.”

“Who’s that?”

“Our future cell mates if the hotel reports us. Why don’t you wait by the side entrance? I’ll get you once I get the room. Give me some cash too. I don’t think I have enough to get the room.”

“Hey, it’s your ball game.  Just don’t woo the front desk girl yet.”

“I don’t know Phil. I might need to get two rooms. Redheads are a weakness.”

Phil rolled his eyes and started trying to think of anything else to forget how badly he wanted to shower, and how much he didn’t want to share a room with Bob and a new conquest.

***

Jeremiah walked slowly to the car. He didn’t want to spill either of the coffee cups he was carrying. Jebediah had moved to the passenger seat. He was typing on his laptop at a feverish pace. “I didn’t even see you grab that” Jeremiah said as he handed a coffee into the open window.

“I strapped it to my back while you were getting our long jackets out of the trunk. I knew we’d need it. I found our new ride.”

“Oh?”

“Take us to the airport. I found a car whose owner won’t be back in town for three more days. He left this morning and the car is in the regular parking area. No one will notice for three days, and I can get us in and get it started.”

“Well, we’re off to the airport then. Any other loose ends to tie up first?”

“Just one.” Jebediah pulled his Nokia out of his pocket.

“I’m going to miss that car” Jeremiah said.

Jebediah pulled out his Glock, and Jeremiah did the same. The elevator doors opened and Jebediah walked with purpose into the garage. Jeremiah stayed close, but behind him. “Let’s not kill too many people today. That draws too much attention.”

“Attention isn’t my goal, but escape is.” Jebediah walked towards an unmarked car. There was an officer inside, talking on his radio. He opened the door and ran towards the elevator.

“Hey, don’t you two know? There’s a hostage situation upstairs! Get out and get to safety!” The officer ran past, not even noticing the guns they were holding behind their backs. Jebediah looked inside the car.

“Keys, let’s go and get another car before they lowjack this one.”

Jebediah got into the passenger seat while Jeremiah gunned the engine. Soon, they were in daylight and on the move. “Maybe we owe Laura one. She allowed us to escape relatively easy” Jeremiah said.

“I’m pretty sure that wasn’t her intent.” Jebediah deadpanned, as he accelerated away from the police station.

“Why don’t we double back and get the Caddy?”

“That” Jebediah said, as he looked right at Jeremiah “is not part of fall back alpha.” He again looked straight ahead and flipped on the radio

***

Julio Perez handed Officer Bucholz the list. “That’s all the train times, departures, and destinations from last night between midnight and six AM. I included all the trains that came through town, and their destinations as well.”

“Thanks for your cooperation.” Bucholz started walking to the door. He stopped and turned around. “You really don’t think they’re in Dell Rapids, do you?”

“I’d almost bet my reputation on it.”

“Well, I don’t know your reputation, but I’ll take your word that it’s worth risking.”

Julio nodded as the officer left. He logged into his email account and checked. He didn’t have any replies yet to his mass email about mysteriously open boxcars at other rail yards.

***

“Laura…you don’t have to do this. I’m sure this is all a misunderstanding…” Will kept his hands up and took a small step towards Laura. She had her back to the middle wall between the elevator doors.

“There’s no misunderstanding. I need to get out, and Mr. Moore here is going to help me get out.”

“Laura…please…you’re in a police station.” Felix was able to speak the words clearly for the most part, but Laura’s arm tightened on his neck after he spoke.

“I know I’m at a police station, but my brief time in Sioux Falls hasn’t really made me a believer in your town’s hostage negotiating skills. I’d rather just get a car and get out of town.” Laura locked eyes with Will. “I’ll drop him off in the next town once I’m away.”

“Look, just let Felix go, and we can talk. Nobody else here has a gun drawn.”

The down arrow on the elevator illuminated. “Sorry Will. I’d like to say I’d love to stick around and see if you all sort it out, but I need to get out of here. Trust me, it will be the best for everyone.”

The elevator doors began to open. Will took another step forward. “Don’t do this. We can talk it out.”

“Sorry Will. No more talking.” Laura took a step back to the open doors.

***BLAM***