Paradise Hacked (First Circle Club Book 2) (34 page)

The road tilted downwards eventually, and he entered a dark tunnel. A headlight on the forklift was the only source of light. The tunnel curved as it descended into the Earth. Alfred thought about the time he had visited Hell to collect mud for Virgil and Lisa.

The path eventually flattened. He entered a lighted area with doorways and mechanical equipment. It seemed everything was made of steel or massive blocks of concrete. The design reminded Alfred of fallout shelters built in the 1950's. Armed soldiers stood guard in many locations. It was an underground fortress.

For the first time, Alfred began to wonder if Virgil and Lisa could rescue him. Alfred hadn't expected such elaborate defenses.

He could see his rescuers in the distance as tiny black dots. They were hundreds, maybe even thousands of miles away. It was hard to tell if they were getting closer. He realized it might be a while before he was saved.

The forklift made several turns before finally coming to a huge, steel hatch. It swung out on hinges thicker than Alfred's thigh. The guards were obviously more nervous as everybody entered a circular chamber.

His box was finally set down. The forklift exited first, and then the soldiers. The last few unlocked the box before running out. The door closed with an impressive thud.

Alfred got out of his box and stretched.

"Hello, Alfred," Sara said.

He turned and gasped. She was pinned to a wooden board like a bug on display. Spikes had been driven through her arms, legs, and abdomen.

"Are you OK?" Alfred said.

"Yes," she said. "Just very irritated. Are you my rescue party?"

"Sort of."

He looked around his prison cell. The only door was the giant hatch which he had no chance of moving. The walls were plates of stainless steel. A high window connected to an observation room, and a tall Air Force officer with a beard was standing there.

"Glad to meet you, Alfred," the man said through an intercom. "I'm Dr. Z."

"Did you do this to Sara?" Alfred said.

"I ordered it done. She has been very uncooperative."

Alfred switched to his special voice. "There is no reason for us to be enemies."

Dr. Z frowned and looked around. "What is that strange buzzing?"

Alfred clenched his jaw in frustration. His ability didn't work through electronics.

"Are you going to torture me, too?" he said.

"I prefer to think of it as an instructive exercise," Dr. Z said. "We'll see how quickly the lesson takes."

"You'll pay for this."

"Sara made that point, too. I think we're quite secure down here."

Alfred had to agree unfortunately.

"I think I'll get some sleep," Dr. Z said. "I'll be kind and allow you two to get reacquainted. Good night." He left the observation room.

Alfred immediately pulled out the spikes. They were stuck deep in the wood, and it took all his strength to wiggle them out, but he finally freed Sara. Her wounds closed quickly.

"Virgil...," he said.

She shook her head urgently and pointed up. He looked at the high ceiling. Speakers, lights, pulleys, and winches were hanging there. It would be easy to hide a microphone. Anything he said would no doubt be recorded.

Alfred settled for giving Sara a hug. He whispered in her ear, "They're coming."

"Soon?" she whispered.

"I hope so."

* * *

Virgil pulled the car over to the side of the road and stopped. A military checkpoint lay directly ahead, and he clearly wouldn't get through wearing civilian clothes and driving a minivan. A sign read, "Burr Air Force Base and Missile Test Range."

The terrain was flat, bare dirt with scattered tufts of grass. He didn't see a single tree, and even the bushes were stunted. Slight hills were the only thing between him and the horizon. He presumed the Air Force Base had buildings, but they were too distant to see.

Virgil detected Alfred a mile or so beyond the checkpoint.

"We're here," Virgil said.

He looked back. Kyle was leaning against a window, and Cat had her head on his shoulder. Mei was lying on the seat in the back of the minivan. All three of them were asleep.

"Hey!" Virgil said. "Wake up."

There was some snorting and smacking of lips. Eyes opened slowly.

"Where are we?" Kyle croaked.

"Western Kansas, and not any of the nice parts. Welcome to Burr Air Force Base."

"Alfred is here," Lisa added.

"You're sure?" Kyle said.

"Absolutely. We need to get inside."

He leaned forward and looked out the front window. "That could be tough. I expect they're not friendly to tourists."

Cat yawned and stretched her arms. "No problem."

"Oh?" Kyle said. "You're an expert at penetrating secure military facilities?"

"I've busted into tougher places than this, but we need some things. There must be a town nearby. Bases always have towns attached. Prostitutes need a place to live."

"I saw a sign a couple of miles back," Virgil said.

He turned the car around and headed back the way he had come. The roads here were as straight and flat as a ruler. He fought the urge to stomp on the accelerator just to make the journey less boring.

A few minutes later, they came to the town of Zelda, Kansas. It consisted of single-story buildings with plenty of open space in between. Some buildings were made of corrugated metal like oversized sheds, and others had brick walls. Virgil saw only one stop light in the center of town, and the rest of the intersections used stop signs. Water was obviously scarce. The lawns were mostly dried-out weeds and dirt.

"Let's stop for breakfast," Cat said. "We can make plans while we eat."

Virgil drove down the main street until he found the Hitching Post Restaurant. Unfinished wood construction made the place look like an Old West trading post. He parked in back where the minivan wouldn't be seen from the road. He grabbed his leather bag of cash and gold from the glove compartment. Everybody walked around and entered through the front door of the restaurant.

The interior was also made of rough wood. Circular tables had four chairs each. Ropes, spurs, and horse tack hung on the walls. Brass lighting fixtures badly needed cleaning and polishing.

The group found a table in the corner and squeezed around it. A waitress came by and handed out menus. Virgil and Lisa ignored theirs.

"What's the plan?" Virgil said.

"Simple," Cat said. "We just need three disguises and a car."

"Three?"

"For you, Lisa, and Kyle. I'm not going in. My long hair would never pass for military, and neither would Mei's. And I'm not getting a haircut just for this."

"OK," Virgil said. "So where are we getting disguises and a car?"

"And badges," Kyle added.

Cat glanced at him. "You only need one badge to get past the checkpoint. I can get the badge and the car, and you'll help me. Mei, I need you to buy some art supplies. Fine pencils, pens, and an X-Acto knife. We may have to touch up the badge to make it look right."

Mei nodded. "And I also want to buy some electronic components and tools."

"Good thing I brought the bag of cash," Virgil said. He didn't remember ceding control of the team to Cat, but she had a confidence that made him play along. "What about Lisa and me?"

"You two can get the costumes," Cat said.

"Where?"

"Do I have to explain everything?" She rolled her eyes. "The dry cleaners, of course. With the military base here, I'm sure lots of uniforms will be on the racks."

"Uniforms owned by other people," Virgil said.

She made a dismissive gesture. "An unimportant detail. We'll need a place to meet afterwards. A motel room would be perfect."

"I saw one at the edge of town on the way in."

"Then we're all set. Let's order our food and eat! It's going to be a busy day."

* * *

Cat walked into a pharmacy and looked around. The store was small but well-stocked.

Kyle was with her. "What are you looking for?" he said.

"Sleeping pills. Strong ones."

"You're having trouble sleeping?"

She gave him an exasperated look. "I thought you were trained to be a covert operative."

"I was," he said.

"Then why are you so ignorant of the basic techniques?"

A sign led Cat to the right aisle. She found a bottle marked "maximum strength, fast acting."
That will do,
she thought.

She headed towards the counter to pay for the drug. Along the way, she grabbed a bag of black licorice. It was one of her guilty pleasures. She also picked up a pill crusher and a pair of scissors she could use to cut hair. Kyle followed along dutifully.

She was enjoying his companionship. She had had many bad experiences with men, but she trusted him... a little. He hadn't made a single inappropriate remark so far. Nor had he touched her in an ungentlemanly way even though he clearly desired her.

Cat paid for the items with cash. She left the pharmacy.

"What's next?" Kyle said.

"The cheapest, nastiest bar in town."

"I assume you don't intend to get drunk while on a mission."

"Not me," she said, "but somebody will get wasted."

* * *

Virgil and Lisa stopped in front of Zelda's Laundry Service. It was a lonely little building with a neon sign in the window. Virgil peeked through the glass. An old woman was sitting behind the counter, painting polish on her nails. As Cat had predicted, many Air Force uniforms in clear plastic bags hung from a conveyor behind her.

"I'm not going to beat up an old lady just to steal some clothes," he said.

"I'll keep her busy while you collect the booty," Lisa said.

"This feels so dirty."

"You're cute when you try to act nice. Come on."

She entered the shop first. She had barely stepped through the door when she started yelling about ripped and stained clothing. She walked around the counter and between the racks of clothes. She headed towards the back, still shouting like an enraged lunatic. The old woman protested feebly as she followed but was powerless to stop Lisa.

Virgil slipped into the shop. He grabbed a half-dozen uniforms in a variety of sizes and styles. With clothing heaped over his arms, he left.

He headed towards the motel at a quick walk.

He was half-way across the small town when the sound of footsteps made him look back. Lisa was catching up.

"Looks like you got a full load," she said. "That was easy."

"Too easy," Virgil said. "That old woman will probably have to pay for the stolen clothes."

"Let's find a way to slip her some cash."

"Sure. We'll mail it to her when the mission is done."

Chapter Twenty

Cat and Kyle were sitting on a park bench in a tiny park. It was an oasis of green in a land of browns and yellows. The park even had a couple of oak trees, although they weren't very healthy.

Zelda's Saloon was across the street. The parking lot was empty, but Cat was willing to wait for the right customer to show up for a drink, however long that took. Patience was a key trait of a good con-artist.

"What do you think about Virgil and Lisa?" Kyle said.

"Scary," Cat said. "Have you seen them fight?"

"Yes. Intimidating."

"What a messed up, crazy situation." She paused. "When I first met Virgil, I could tell right away he was different, but I didn't know how different. I came back to him because some instinct told me he could get me off the dark path. He is uniquely qualified to confront evil."

"I expect he is an expert on the subject."

"By the way." She nudged Kyle's arm. "I should apologize for stealing your friend's wallet in the coffee shop."

"That was you!?" He stared at her.

"Kleptomania is just one more addiction I need to break."

He put his hand over hers on the park bench. "You want my help? I can teach you better habits."

Cat almost argued she didn't need his help. She was a strong, independent woman who could find her own way. All her life, men had done nothing but hinder her progress.

She looked into his brown eyes and knew he was being honest. He wasn't playing games or trying to manipulate her. He didn't just want to get into her pants. He really cared, and that was unfamiliar territory for her.

"OK," she said, "but don't patronize me. I can't stand that. There are some things I need to change, but I do a lot of stuff right."

"I promise to treat you like an equal partner," Kyle said.

A Humvee parked in front of the saloon. A young male soldier stepped out, and he was alone.

Cat smiled. "That's my mark. Wait here, and be patient. This might take a while."

She opened the bottle of pills and poured a pile into the pill crusher. She didn't skimp on the pills because the over-the-counter stuff wasn't as strong as the label suggested. She gave the bottle and the other items she had purchased from the pharmacy to Kyle. Then she used the crusher to smash the pills into powder. She held the powder in the palm of her hand.

Cat hurried across the street and entered the saloon. The soldier was already seated at the bar. He had a puffy, tanned face and a crewcut. Lieutenant's bars were pinned to his collar. A bartender was pouring a beer for him.

Cat sat next to the soldier. "You're cute!" she said in a girlish voice. "Want to buy me a drink?"

His gaze travelled up and down her fine body. "Sure," he said. "Bartender, make that two beers!"

She had made this play a thousand times before. She praised his handsome face and thick muscles. She giggled and squeaked like a teenager. She encouraged him to drink heavily while she only sipped. He tried a variety of liquors to impress her. When he was getting tipsy, she made a distracting move and slipped the sleeping powder into his beer. She stroked his leg with her fingertips so he wouldn't notice the funny taste. A few minutes later, he fell off the barstool and collapsed to the floor. He would be unconscious for several hours at least.

"Oh!" Cat yelled. "Oh! What's wrong with him? Call 9-1-1! I think he stopped breathing!"

The bartender went to the phone. While he was calling, she swiped the mark's wallet, nameplate, rank insignia, ribbons, car keys, and cash. She only left him his wedding ring, but she considered stealing that too.