White nodded again and tried to compose himself. Finally, he was able to speak. “We grabbed her at City Hall. We sedated her then I don’t know what happened. When it got dark an ambulance pulled up and I helped put her into it. I don’t know what happened after that, I promise.”
Patton nodded, grateful for the cooperation. He hunched down so that their eyes were level. His voice was softening and White was beginning to feel that maybe this was going to end soon.
“I believe you. So when you said she was dead you were just trying to be a tough guy?”
White nodded, closing his eyes and wishing he could just go home now.
“Did they take her up to the prison?” Patton asked, the pieces beginning to click into place.
White closed his eyes, trying to concentrate. He was sure, but his instinct for loyalty was kicked in as the pain faded.
“I guess so, yeah. I don’t know though. I know if you go up there and try to get her out they’ll catch you. I’m sure Asher has that place swarming with people.”
Patton nodded and said, “Thanks for the advice.” He stood and walked away from the restraint chair. He grabbed something and put it into his front pants pocket and turned to White again.
“One last thing,” Patton said calmly. “Where were you when Mike Wilson was shot?”
The question, totally out of order with the others, hit Brian White like a freight train. He had no chance to make up a story or hide his reaction. The reaction was answer enough for Patton Larsen, who now had a resolved expression.
“That’s what I thought,” Patton said, pulling a small pistol from his pocket. He pointed it between Brian White’s eyes and pulled the trigger.
By dawn the whole Security Service was on alert and actively looking for both their boss and the person who’d most likely abducted him—Patton Larsen. No one dared to call the Governor, but by 7 A.M. he was down at City Hall, trying to get answers about the previous night’s debacle.
“So you saw Patton Larsen and Frank Norton load Brian White into the back of a pickup truck and drive away?” Asher asked the new leader of his security team, former Marine Anton Brown.
Anton looked down at his right foot to bring Asher’s attention to the huge walking cast that was there.
“And?” Asher asked petulantly.
Anton wanted to jump across the desk and knock his ass out, but he wanted this job, especially when it looked like he might become the new Chief of Security.
“I was hauling ass down the stairs to answer Mr. White’s distress call but I twisted my ankle,” Brown said. “However, I saw the truck pulling away and I got a shot off.”
Asher’s eyebrows raised at that. He was impressed. ‘At least someone had the balls to fight back last night,’ he thought.
“Did you hit anything?” Asher asked stupidly.
The former Marine looked proud now, drawing himself into an almost full parade rest.
“Yes Sir,” he said, his chest poking out in pride. “My round entered the rear window and exited the windshield. I don’t know if I hit anyone inside, but I know I didn’t hit the driver because the vehicle continued to drive away.”
Asher was getting weary of the formality, but he knew he would get nothing less from this guy. Asher excused Anton and once he was out of earshot, the governor swore bitterly under his breath and went to his liquor cabinet. It wasn’t yet 9 A.M. but he badly needed a drink, both to fight his hangover from the night before and to calm his frazzled nerves.
Headlights shined through Bao’s window. He carefully approached the window and peeled back the curtain, careful to not be seen. He was probably being overly paranoid, but he knew how David Asher operated. He’d already been his prisoner. Bao moved away from the window and sat on his couch. Bao’s house was nearly dark. He sat and watched, waited, and listened. He realized he was literally wringing his hands. He consciously placed them in his lap, but, within seconds, he was doing it again.
Word of events at City Hall spread through the spy network like a virus. Although the spies’ communication network had been compromised and, no doubt, was under constant scrutiny, Bao and his colleagues had built an informal network. However, the linchpin had been Patton Larsen. He had gathered the spies’ reports and had transmitted them to Michael Varner. With Patton in the wind, however, this line of communication was now broken. Bao had to do something, but what? He was sure that everyone was being watched. Any attempt to contact another Insight spy would lead to his arrest.
Bao moved to the window again. Another car was driving by, but it didn’t stop. There were no dark, suspicious looking cars parked along the opposite curb. He moved to the couch again, and after another hour of sitting and doing nothing, he realized he was being ridiculous. Bao screwed up his courage and walked to his front closet. Already dressed in all black, he put on a black hooded jacket. He pulled the hood over his head and opened his back door. The air was brisk and Bao could see his breath as he exhaled. He jammed his hands into his jacket pockets and headed through his back yard. He walked down a dark alley and tried to drum up a plan.
If he tried to go through the main city gate, especially this time of night, he would surely be caught and arrested. His Subaru would never make it over the rough terrain, or even on the gravel roads that led out of town. He needed a truck, but didn’t know anyone that owned one. He had his delivery truck, of course, but it was too conspicuous. He needed another way. He thought of Lindsay.
She would be angry with him showing up at her house, but Bao knew that his friend and fellow spy hated David Asher as much as anyone. It wouldn’t be easy, but he knew that he could talk her into leaving Blue Creek. What they would do after that… he had no idea. No, he knew what he should do, but getting to Michael Varner’s house in Ogden, Utah without getting caught by Blue Creek Security guards was going to be difficult.
The closer Bao got to Lindsay’s house, the crazier he thought his idea was. What did he have to lose?
Bao made his way to the alleyway behind Lindsay’s house, careful to stay in the shadows. It was past midnight and the streets were empty, but he forced himself to remain vigilant. Bao entered her backyard through a gate and crouched low. The house was mostly dark, but Bao could see the flickering lights from a TV. Lindsay was a night owl like himself.
He took a deep breath and made his way to her back porch. He stalked slowly towards the stairs. Halfway across the grass, a security light suddenly came on. The backyard was basically as bright as day. To add to his failure, a large dog started barking. Bao ducked behind a small shed, but the game was up. Lindsay was at the back door, peering through the glass for her intruder. His cover blown, Bao removed his hood and walked briskly towards the door where Lindsay stood. He could tell that she was rattled.
“What the hell Bao! What are you doing here?”
“Shh!” Bao whispered harshly. Go inside. We need to talk.”
Bao led her into her living room, making sure to shut off every light on the way. He sat her down and explained why he had come.
Ten minutes later they were both on the couch, sitting in an uncomfortable silence. He looked at her, but her gaze was miles away and she was trembling in fear.
“Bao? What are we going to do?”
Bao didn’t want to seem over confident by responding too quickly, but he had concocted a plan while walking to her house.
“We have to get out of here. We have to tell Mr. Varner what’s going on.”