Chapter 18

Seconds later:

John opened his eyes to Veronyka, Steve and Malcolm waiting for him. They quickly unhooked his harness and helped him get dressed. He noticed the medical leads dangling uselessly and the small pile of attachments on the floor. He could hear shouting in the distance.

They moved out into the hallway, and turned away from the noise. It sounded like more than one angry person was arguing. John tried to keep up, but he was noticeably slower without his running prosthetics on.

“In here!” Steve ducked into a janitor’s closet at the end of the hall.

He pushed a garbage cart out of the way and slid several boxes of cleaning supplies to the side. They concealed a small access panel, which Steve wrenched open.

“Quick, inside!” He urged, and helped John get into crawling position as the former soldier followed Veronyka into the darkness.

“Good luck!” They heard as Steve closed the way behind them.

Unbroken blackness descended, punctuated by their labored breathing. They crawled for what John thought might be fifteen minutes or so before the small tunnel turned and ended at a grate. Veronyka wiggled around and braced against John to mule-kick the metal mesh free. It clattered to the floor beyond as they wormed their way out.

“Do you have a plan?” John asked as she helped him stand.

“Mason gave me a safe house.” She told him. “C’mon!”

He opened one of the van’s side doors and his eyes watered from the smell. Maybe they’d stolen it from a southern border human smuggler; because it sure stunk like one. He half climbed, half fell into the interior but managed to pull the door closed. Veronyka ran around to the driver’s side and found the keys sitting on the seat. She started the van, then realized the loading dock they were parked in had a roll-up door. The only way to open it was to get back out and hit the button on the wall.

“Hold on.” John called out, when she unlatched her door.

He held out a set of filthy coveralls and a hat.

“Put these on.” He instructed her. “And don’t hurry. Act like we have all the time in the world.”

“Are you kidding?” She retorted as she squirmed into the dark blue garment.

“We’re on the other side of the commercial park.” John reasoned. “We’re better off looking like we belong here than just running away. Tuck your hair up, and smear some grease on your cheeks.”

“Do it.” He ordered when she hesitated.

She sighed, but took the rag he proffered and rubbed it on her face.

“Good.” He approved. “Now remember, you belong here. You’re just doing your job. You’re in no hurry.”

Visibly calming herself, she got out and hit the control panel to raise the door. John maneuvered himself into the driver’s seat, and pulled the van out into the apron beyond. He looked around cautiously, but they were alone. Veronyka took his spot and he slipped back into the van’s rear.

“Drive a normal speed.” He coached her. “And don’t hesitate, act like you know where you’re going.”

“I do know where I’m going.” She retorted.

“Even better. What else did Spooky tell you?”

“He gave me a note with instructions and an address on it. It’s a few miles away, over near the airport.”

“Good thinking. The air traffic control will make using helicopters harder.” He told her. “What exactly did his note say? Do you have it?”

“He told me to destroy it, but I memorized what it said.” She smiled, “benefits of an eidetic memory.”

She glanced around, and made a turn onto the road.

“There was a guy standing there in a cop windbreaker.” She reported.

“What did he do?” John asked.

“Nothing, just watched us.”

“Is he following?”

She checked the mirrors. “Doesn’t look like it.”

“Okay, what’s the next turn you need to make?”

“About a mile down, there’s an on-ramp to the toll road.”

“Then you need to turn before that.” He told her. “Go a different way.”

“Crap, okay. Hold on.” She slowed and made a left at the next light. “I’m not sure where this goes.”

Neither had any electronics, and they found themselves in a residential neighborhood.

“Pull your hat off.” John instructed. “Can you put your hair into a pony tail through the hat strap?”

She did that when they stopped at the next intersection.

“Great.” He approved. “Now, when you see a man, or a teenage boy walking alone, pull over and ask directions. Act as young and stupid as you can.”

He moved farther back and she slowed to a stop a few minutes later.

“Hi there!” She chirped. “Can you tell me how to get to the highway?”

She hammed up her airhead blonde role, and got the guy, who sounded maybe all of seventeen years old, to show her his phone so she could try to figure out a route.

“Look, why don’t I just come with you?” He offered.

“Oh, that’s okay sweetie. I’ll be okay. Here, let me give you my number.” She punched in some information. “Now, I lost my phone, so like, gimme a couple days before you call, okay?”

“Will do!” The guy replied as she pulled away.

John waited a minute before speaking.

“Got a good route that doesn’t require us to use the highway?”

“Yeah, no problem.” She told him.

She wound her way through a couple of neighborhoods, crossed the toll road on an overpass, and continued south before turning toward the airport.

“Can you tell me what the note from Spooky said?” He asked eventually.

“Oh, right.” Her voice dropped, in imitation of the Colonel. “Real spook reported boy’s regrown ear, contra the Gen’s orders. If decide to act, most likely target is him then you. Prep bag of clothes, keep in your car. If they show, take John and head to this address: 13604 Copper Snake Drive, Herndon, VA. Park in garage, disconnect car battery. Leave all clothing in house, both put on scrubs in bedroom. Nuke all electronics, use sweeper device on table, make sure not bugged. Go out back, cut thru trees, to: 13523 Copper Bunk Rd. Path isn’t worn, but he should see. Take new IDs, cards and car. Only comm thru mutual friend after. Memorize and destroy. He signed it ‘S’.”

“Good thinking, Spooky.” He muttered. “The Sergeant Major your ‘mutual friend’?”

“Yeah, I think so.” She agreed.

“So that asshole Johnson fucked us over, did he?” John spat.

“That’s what Mason’s note said. It seems like the most likely scenario.” Veronyka answered.

“Fucker better hope we don’t cross paths again. And you!” John smiled grimly. “No more making me let assholes live.”

Veronyka laughed. “You think his replacement would’ve been any better?”

“Bah, probably not.” He acknowledged.

“We’re here.” She turned into a driveway. “Uh, how do we open the garage door?”

John crawled to the front and looked out.

“That keypad right there.” He pointed to one mounted on the garage frame.

“What code do I use?” She asked.

“Try the other house address number. If that doesn’t work, use this one.” He suggested.

The door opened on the first try.

Inside, they stripped off everything, which John asked Veronyka to help with before she did the same.

“Because if you’re touching me while naked, it’s going to cause a reaction.” He explained when she asked why.

“Oh really?” She arched an eyebrow.

“I’m missing my legs, not my ... manhood.” He retorted.

She winked and grinned, but did as he asked.

“We don’t have any electronics.” He pointed out. “But let’s scan ourselves and the clothes before getting dressed.”

“I think you just want to see me running around naked.” She teased.

“Just go grab the scrubs.” He growled, picking up the scanner.

Both of their shoes had transmitters, as well as one of his prosthetics and her purse.

“Dammit, do you know how much those cost?” She demanded when he cut a hole in each sole.

“Less than your life’s worth.” He shot back.

“Don’t be so sure.”

They tossed everything into the washing machine and set it on the highest, longest settings. She pried off the one on his fake leg and dropped that in too. Dressed only in scrubs and those stupid plastic slip-on sandals he could never remember the name for, they crossed the back yard and he pointed out a path into the trees you would only notice if you were standing directly beside them.

John held her back when they approached the other house’s yard.

“We don’t have time to waste!” She protested.

“Wrong.” He leaned over to pry up a rock leaning on the last tree trunk. “We don’t have time to get ambushed.”

He held up the key the stone was hiding and watched the house for about ten minutes. She waited impatiently, shifting from one foot to the other the whole time.