“They’re gone right?”
“Oh, they’re gone alright. One adult remains. The kids, we didn’t send them out. We wanted to send the woman out, but I made the decision to let her stay until the weather warmed up.”
Gil folded his arms and nodded, impressed. “So you’re leading this place.”
“Kind of like a group effort that doesn’t always go well.”
“That’s because a clear cut leader and decision maker must emerge. If not, there will always be arguments and chaos. You stepped forward.”
“Not my cup of tea though.”
“I know. You always were a ‘let things take care of themselves’ person.” He reached out and pulled me into him, embracing me tightly and I felt snug within his hold. “I’m positive though, you are doing a great job.”
“We lost one of our security guys, though. Brutally.”
Gil stepped back. “At least you thought to name a few people security.”
“No, no.” I waved out my hand. “They were one of the guys that were on duty when we arrived.”
“Tom? I saw Tom…”
“No, Abe. One of the guys you had here.”
“Anna… the only person I knew that was going to be here was Tom. Until that decision was made for him to get here before you, you were to be the first to arrive.”
“That was the plan?”
“Yes.”
“But Tony said…”
“Ah,” Gil interrupted. “What did Tony say?”
“They were part of the plan. The team.”
“Now I am getting concerned.”
I gave a quirky and nervous smile. “Why?”
“Because the team was you, Jackson and four others. You brought the others along, I get that. But you keep mentioning this Tony.”
“You say ‘Tony’ like you don’t know him. Tony Garrison of GSS.”
“I know Tony Garrison of GSS.”
“Well, that’s who I’m talking about.”
“The one that helped carry me in?” Gil asked.
“Yes.”
“That wasn’t Tony Garrison. I know Tony Garrison.”
“Well, you only met him once so maybe you’re wrong. It was six years ago.”
Gil laughed. “I met Tony more than once. And even if I hadn’t, I would know for sure that guy wasn’t Tony. Because that guy that helped carry me in, is not a sixty year old black man. The Tony Garrison I know… is.”
45 – IN SEARCH OF
To say Gil’s words took me by surprise was an understatement. All expression had dropped from my face and my mind swam in a world of confusion.
What was going on?
Everything I knew up to that point was suddenly tossed out the window with the arrival of Gil. I needed to handle it, to find out what was going on, so I told Gil that I would be back. He offered to come along with me but I declined his offer. It was something I had to do on my own and he respected that. He gave his word he wouldn’t say anything until I had the chance to talk to Tony or whatever his name was.
Luckily, Duke came in with more clothes and he sat with Gil.
Last I had seen Tony he was in the office going through Gil’s bag. Having always been a trusting person, I was thrown for a loop and placed in a state that I rarely experienced. My mind spun and I double and triple thought everything.
Starting with Tony staying clear once Gil made it inside.
Did he know Gil would expose him? He offered to go with me to tell Gil about Jackson. But was that an offer he knew I would refuse?
What about him going through Gil’s things? It didn’t completely make sense before, but as I made my way to his office, it bothered me. Even more so when I arrived at the office and not only was Tony gone, but Gil’s bag was gone as well.
Panic hit me and I believed for a second that Tony, knowing he was busted in some sort of lie, took off. Hurriedly, I went into the Switch Room.
“Hey, Tom. Did Tony leave?”
“Leave?” He asked.
“Yeah, the bunker.”
Tom laughed. “And go where? Plus, he left his kid if he did.” He pointed to a monitor that showed Nelly with Joie.
I exhaled in relief.
“That was a really odd question, Anna.” Tom said.
“Tom, GSS hired you, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Had you met Tony before we got here?”
“Oh, sure, a couple of times. It was here. It was a good couple months before the comet that I saw him last.”
“And you have always known him as Tony Garrison from the GSS?”
Tom’s face turned white and he turned his chair, lost his smile, and faced the switchboard.
“Tom?”
“Anna…” He lifted his hands, not looking at me. “I really need to keep watching outside, especially since Peter is on his break.”
“Did you ever see Tony Garrison, the head of GSS?”
“Yes.”
“Does he look like him?”
No answer.
“Tom?”
After a heavy sigh, Tom turned around. “No.”
“The Tony Garrison you know is…. I don’t know, black?”
Tom lowered his head.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Tom lifted his hands in defeat. “Honestly, at that point, was it really important, Anna? With all that was going on, was it really important?”
“Yeah, Tom, it kind of was.”
“Why? The world as we knew it was gone. In an instant. I knew him from being here at the bunker during construction. He obviously was in on it somehow, so why did it matter?” He turned away from me. “You want answers.” He pointed to monitor three. “He’s up in the kitchen.”
“Thank you.” Turning to leave, Peter walked in.
“Hey, Anna, how’s the reunion going with the ex?”
“Good. Peter did you….”
“Don’t.” Tom stopped me. “Don’t ask him. Go to the source.”
“I will.” I replied humbled and walked out.
As I left, Peter called out. “Ask me what?”
I kept walking. The kitchen wasn’t far, and it didn’t afford me enough time to think of what I wanted to say or my approach.
Tom was hostile and defensive. Why? Of course, he was also here with Abe and Ben when we arrived. Both of them weren’t part of Gil’s plan either. In my mind at that moment, Tom was probably just as much a part of everything that was happening as Tony was.
On the short journey to the kitchen, I thought of things Tony said.
‘I only met him once and that was six years ago,” he said of Gil.
‘Don’t post that picture of me on line… I go by a different name on there,’ he told Jackson.
‘You didn’t tell me you had a daughter.’
‘You didn’t ask.’
When I found out about Joie, it dawned on me there was a lot I didn’t know about Tony. That was the truth.
I wasn’t mad, in fact I didn’t know how to feel.
Something was ‘not right’ whether it was a negative thing or something minuscule, a piece of the puzzle was missing.
All I knew was that there had to be an explanation. Tony was a good man, with a good heart. As I arrived at the kitchen, I heard Tom’s words in my head.
‘With all that was going on, was it really important’
Was it really important?
I suppose the answer to that question would come after hearing what Tony had to say.
Tony was in the kitchen and I stepped inside.
46 – INCOGNITO
Tony had a small bag set on the prep counter and around it, a few items. He was opening a cupboard when I walked in.
“Hey, sweetie.” He walked to me, kissed me on the cheek. “How are things with Gil?”
“Interesting.”
“Interesting, huh? Does that mean, uh, you’re here to tell me sorry I’m out and Gil’s in, no pun intended to any sexual reference that could be.” He smiled.