Sick

26

Ash woke thirty minutes before dawn. In the bathroom, he peeled off most of the bandages that covered his head. His face was still swollen, though much less so than it had been the previous day. Bruises still encircled his eyes and covered his cheeks. Those, he knew, would be with him long after the swelling disappeared.

He studied himself in the mirror, trying to figure out what he would look like once trauma caused by the surgery had passed, but his imagination failed him. He’d have two eyes, two ears, a nose, and a mouth. Ultimately, that was all that was important.

After shooting practice the previous day, Pax had given him an extensive tour of the subterranean facility, and set him up with access to the computer room and the well-equipped gym.

The gym was where he headed as he exited his room at 5:45 a.m.

He was surprised to find someone else already there. It was the woman from the day before, the one he’d seen in the cafeteria but hadn’t met yet.

She’d been doing stomach crunches as he walked in, but the second she heard him her head whipped around like he’d scared her.

“Sorry,” he said. He took a few steps in her direction. “I’m Ash.”

As she got off the bench, he thought she was going to walk over and shake his hand, but instead, she headed quickly to the wall, made her way around him in as wide an arc as she could, then exited the room without saying a word.

He stared after her, confused, but ultimately she wasn’t important. There was work to do.

He had to be selective in what exercises he did so he wouldn’t rupture the stitches that seemed to cover his head, but he was still able to get in a good workout.

After a shower, he went back to the firing range and spent two hours working with the SIG. His groupings had gotten to the point where they were consistent from set to set.

His next stop was the cafeteria for breakfast. Bobbi was in the kitchen, apparently on temporary assignment from upstairs. She made him an omelet with bacon and toast on the side. As he was finishing up, Pax arrived, holding a sweatshirt in his hand.

“Just took a look at your work on the range,” Pax said. “We’re going to have to offer you a place on our target shooting team.”

Ash glanced at him, then returned his attention to his food.

“Bobbi, you got some more eggs back there?” Pax called out.

“You already had your breakfast upstairs,” she told him.

“Doesn’t mean I’m not still hungry.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to cook for you again, either.”

Pax made a sour face toward the kitchen. “It’s not like I have time to eat anymore anyway.” He looked at Ash’s plate. “You done?”

“Why? You want this?”

There was still half a piece of uneaten toast, but Pax shook his head.

“No. I need to take you up to see Matt.”

As they walked toward the stairs, Pax handed the sweatshirt to Ash. “Put this on.”

The sweatshirt was zip-up style with a hood. Ash figured it must be a little cold topside, so he did as Pax instructed.

“Hood, too,” Pax told him.

“Why?”

“In case anyone’s watching.”

“Watching?”

“You’d be surprised how good surveillance is these days. Can see right through a window from miles away.”

“That sounds a little paranoid.”

“Welcome to our world.”

At Matt’s office, Pax opened the door for Ash, but didn’t go inside with him.

Matt was the only one there, sitting at his desk and writing something in a hardbound notebook.

He looked up. “You’re looking better today.”

“Not as good as I’d like,” Ash said.

“I can understand that. Have a seat.”

Matt wrote something else in the notebook, then closed it and leaned back, considering Ash.

“What?” Ash asked. “Has something happened?”

Two quiet seconds passed. “The guy who helped you get out of Barker Flats wasn’t our only inside source.” He paused, then put his forearms on the desk and leaned forward. “We got a message this morning from another one of our people that appears to indicate time might be getting short for your kids.”

“What was the message?” Ash asked quickly.

“The number four.”

Ash furrowed his brow.

“It’s simple code,” Matt went on. “It means danger.”

“Can you find out what kind of danger?”

“It doesn’t work that way. This was all he was in a position to tell us.”

“At the very least, can he give us their location?

Matt was silent for a moment. “We’re pretty sure we already know where they are.”

“What? You know?”

“You’ll leave in three hours.”

Pushing his chair back and standing, Ash said, “I need to leave now!”

“That’s as soon as our plane can get back here. If you leave now, you’d still get there quicker if you wait. I know it’s not easy, but we can use the time to finish prepping you as best we can.”

Matt pressed a button on his desk phone.

There was a single ring, then Rachel’s voice said, “Are you ready?”

“Yes. Bring her in.” He hung up, then looked back at Ash. “Sit down. Please. I promise you we’re doing everything we can.”

It took all of Ash’s effort to lower himself into the seat. Moments after he did, the door opened, and Rachel and the girl from the gym entered.

The girl’s long black hair had been pulled into a ponytail when she’d been working out, but now, except for a strand she twisted nervously in her fingers, it hung free over her shoulders.

Rachel had a hand on the woman’s back, urging her across the room. As they neared, Ash stood. Instantly, the woman took a quick step back.

“It’s all right, Chloe,” Rachel said. “We’ve already talked about this. He’s not one of them.”

One of what?Ash wanted to ask, but he held it in, not wanting to scare the woman again.

Finally, Chloe gave Rachel a nod.

“Good,” Rachel said in a calm voice. “Chloe, this is…” She stopped and looked at Ash. “What do you want to be called? Adam? Cooper?”

“Ash, if it’s all right by you,” he said.

She smirked. “Your call.” To Chloe, she said, “His name is Adam Cooper, but he apparently goes by Ash. Ash, this is Chloe White.”

“Hello,” he said, trying to keep his voice gentle.

Chloe cringed a bit, but didn’t retreat. “Hi.” There was a momentary lull, then she said, “You’renotone of them, are you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Chloe motioned at Rachel and Matt. “They say you’re in the Army.”

“Yes…well, I don’t know now. Maybe.”

“Some of them are in the Army. Not a lot, but some.”

Ash looked her in the eyes. “I’ve only been in the Army. Nothing else.”

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.”

She nodded to herself several times. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I just…I don’t want to…go back, you know?”

“Go back where?” Ash asked.

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to think about it. Please don’t make me think about it.”

“Come on, Chloe,” Rachel said quickly. “There are a few things we need to take care of before you leave.”

Chloe allowed herself to be led back to the door. Once there, she turned to Ash and said, “Nice to meet you. I’m sorry. I’m not…I’m not always like this.”

As soon as she and Rachel were gone, Ash looked at Matt. “What was that all about?”

“She’ll be going with you.”

“Her? Why?”

“She’s your guide.”

Ash stared at him. “Did you not just see her?”

“She’s the only one familiar with the facility your children are in.”

Ash glanced back at the door. “This girl can really help me?”

“Yes. She can.” Matt paused. “You need to understand that these people did something to her while she was with them. She used to be strong, uncompromising, but they broke her before we could get to her. Piece by piece she’s putting it back together, but it’s slow. Most of her life…well, let’s just say that it’s like she’s starting out again. Sometimes she slips. Maybe we shouldn’t have told her you were in the Army, but it was better it came out now than later. She’ll be okay.”

“If she’s taking me to where these people are, isn’t there a danger she’ll slip again?”

Matt hesitated. “Perhaps. But you were a surprise to her, an unknown. She already knows what to expect where you’re both going.”

“Are any of the rest of you coming?”

“I wish we could. This…outbreak has stretched our resources. We’re already working with a skeleton crew here. If any of us leaves, it’ll make it all that more difficult to support the rest of our organization, and many are in just as much danger as you will be.”

Ash couldn’t help but frown. “I’m having a hard time understanding just what your purpose is.”

“Do you want to know? Because we’ll tell you if you do. It’s pretty heavy stuff, though.” He paused, thoughtful for a moment. “Your children are your goal right now. Anything we tell you will only distract from that. It’s your choice.”

Several silent seconds went by.

Matt was right. Until Josie and Brandon were with him, Ash didn’t need anything else clouding up his mind.

“Tell me about where they’re keeping my kids.”