What She Wants (19 page)

Mac shrugged.
“It’s getting late, and very dark. At this point, it might be more dangerous to go wandering around outside. Come on.” He killed the burner, dousing their only source of light. He grabbed a handful of their things and took the empty rum bottle to hide it.

Katy picked up the rest of their clothing and walked with him to a pantry-type closet lined with shelves on either side. There was just enough floor space for a couple of bodies to stretch out.

“We’ll sleep in here,” he told her. He spread one layer of coats and scarves on the floor and closed the door. Lying on top of the coat stack, Mac wrapped his arms around Katy and covered them with his jacket. “How’s this?” he whispered, his lips against her forehead.

“
Nice,” she replied, snuggling into him. “But what if someone comes in?”

He reached behind her for the knife he
’d slipped out of her coat. “I’ve got this, if I need to use it. I really hope I don’t.”

Katy chuckled.
“Were you joking about being a cop?”

He smiled.
“Not all soldiers like war. I’m just trying to get by the best I can.”

“
That surprises me, considering the way you’ve had to live for the past months or years—however long it’s been.”

Mac shrugged.
“I used to have a calendar, but I threw it away. What difference does it make? It’s easier to take life day by day.”

“
You call this life?” Her voice rose sharply. “I call it existence. I’m trying to get back to D.C. and make a difference in the world. I want my life back. Don’t you?”

“
I don’t have a life, not anymore.” He sighed, and rested his cheek against hers.

“
That’s sad,” Katy whispered in a softer tone.

He could tell the effects of the alcohol and sex had kicked in enough to wear her out. She was nearly asleep. He wished she
’d close her eyes and let it happen. There was nothing more to talk about tonight. “Sleep,” he murmured, and listened as her breathing slowed and evened out.

* * * *

Mac opened his eyes and took a moment to figure out where he was. Warmer than he usually felt in the morning, he’d actually gotten some sleep. His whole right side was numb from the weight of the woman sleeping next to him. He blinked and recalled the previous evening. “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” He scooted Katy off him and clambered to his feet.

“
What’s wrong?” She sat up and yawned.

He opened the closet door and peered out.
“I can’t believe we spent the whole night in here. I have no idea what time it is, if there’s going to be anybody out there, or not.”

Katy pressed a button to illuminate the watch on her wrist.
“It’s 5:30 a.m. What time does the pub open?”

He breathed a sigh of relief.
“Not for a couple hours yet. Grab your stuff. We’ve got to get out of here.”

“
Uh, excuse me? I just woke up and my head is pounding. I’ve got to pee before I go anywhere. I’m about ready to burst.”

“
Demon rum.” He shook his head. “Okay, there’s a john at the back of the pub. Take your stuff with you and make it quick. I’ll meet you out front. It’ll still be dark, so we might be okay.”

She gathered her coat and layers of scarves and muttered to herself as she passed him by.
“You could have said something about ‘demon rum’ last night. And you think women are the only ones who pee? Just because we can’t do it in a bottle…”

“
Quiet! Go!” He swatted her ass.

She jumped and tossed him a seductive look over her shoulder.

Mac considered following her to the john and fucking her on the counter like he’d done last night. But his morning hard-on would have to wait. They were tempting fate staying so long in one place, and needed to get the hell out.

Unsure where they were going, he decided to hit the bathroom himself, and then he met her by the front door of the pub.
“Cover up. It’s freaking freezing out there again today.”

She smiled at him as she layered clothing.
“Ozone layer. Who knew?”

“
No shit.” He adjusted the scarf covering her face and decided they were ready to go. He opened the outside door slowly and stuck his head out, glancing both ways. “Let’s go.”

They
’d taken one step out the door when two men appeared in front of them, wielding automatic machine guns. “What do we have here?” The taller of the duo peered closely at Mac and Katy.

“
Can’t be anything good, this time of morning.” The other waved his gun in their faces. “Back inside, fellas.”

Mac clutched Katy
’s arm and they backed up into the pub.

The first man poked his gun in Katy
’s chest.

Mac cringed when it became obvious she was a woman, and not the
‘fellow’ they’d been expecting.

“
Oh, I don’t know.” The soldier tugged off his knit face mask, and a leering grin split his face. “Looks like we might have found something good.”

Chapter Four

Mac positioned his body between the gun and Katy. “Leave her alone. She’s sick. I’m trying to get her to a clinic to get her HIV meds.”

The soldier
’s face fell. “You have HIV? Fuck!”

“
Not today, I guess,” Mac offered cheekily. “We’ll just be going. Really need to get to that clinic.”

“
I don’t think so.” The man poked his gun at Mac. “We’ll be taking you to the director’s center for interrogation.” He yanked the scarves off Katy’s face and shook his head with disappointment. “Damn shame, too.” He groped her breast through her bulky coat.

Katy clenched her teeth but didn
’t move a muscle.

Mac wanted to knock the man
’s hand away, but at that moment he was more concerned about the expression on the second soldier’s face.

The shorter of the two men hadn
’t removed his knit mask, but his eyes were visible and glued to Katy.

He recognizes her
. Mac casually felt his pocket for the knife, but it wasn’t there.
Damn it!

“
Hey.” The shorter soldier looked at his partner. “The director told us to search this whole block. She’s going to be pissed if we don’t follow orders. Why don’t I take these two in and you keep looking?”

“
Think you can handle both of them?”

The soldier scowled at them and aimed his gun at Katy.
“I know I can handle them. If he gets frisky, she’s a goner.” He smiled at Mac grimly. “Look at it this way, it’ll save you a trip to the clinic.”

Mac raised his hands innocently.
“Not getting frisky. No worries.”

“
You sure?” The taller man scratched his head.

“
Look, I’ll see that you get your share of credit for the capture. Now go on. We’ve got more places to check out before our shift ends.”

“
All right.” He gave Katy one last, leering glance, covered his face and headed back out into the cold.

Their lone guard waved his gun at her.
“Cover your face. We’ve got about two miles to walk.”

“
Two miles?” Mac frowned. The closest director’s center loomed just a few blocks from the pub.

“
Shut up!” The man snapped, then for just a moment, his tone softened. “Everything’s gonna be okay. Just stick with me, and don’t make trouble.” He motioned them out the door.

Mac exchanged glances with Katy as they headed out.
What the fuck?
He had no idea what the man was doing.

She patted her pocket.

She has the knife!
He nodded subtly, and with prodding from the soldier behind them, they walked.

He tried to make conversation a few times, but the soldier would have none of it. They walked in silence. Their feet grew heavier after twenty minutes in the freezing cold. Mac took Katy
’s arm and they supported each other enough to keep going. Every few minutes, the guard nudged one of them with his gun barrel.

The soldier guided them past where any director
’s centers that Mac knew of might be located. As the dim morning suns rose, they walked down a residential street and up the sidewalk to a nice, large, older house.

“
What is this?” Mac asked.

“
Shut up,” the man replied. He looked both ways on the street before opening the door and shoving them inside.

“
What’s going on?” Katy pulled the covering from her face.

The soldier moved past them into the living room and called,
“Grandpa! Come here!”

An older, stooped man with a shock of white hair rivaling Albert Einstein
’s entered the room. He looked at the soldier in surprise. “Scotty? What’s going on?”

“
Look, Grandpa.” The man pointed to Katy. “It’s Katherine Garza. I found her coming out of a known hideout in Chic-L this morning.”

The old man
’s eyes widened and he moved closer to look at her face. “Katherine Garza? Is it really you?”

“
There’s been a mistake,” Katy answered. “My name’s Michelle Lewis. I’m a secretary at the Power Company—”

“
Madame President.” The older man’s face creased into a warm smile. “What an honor to have you in my home. I’m Raymond Shell. This is my grandson, Scotty. Our family members are Libertarians from way back. We pretend to be Progressives, and do whatever we can to help the cause from this end.”

Mac caught his breath.
Can this guy be telling the truth?

“
Mr. Shell.” Katy seemed to choose her words carefully. “I appreciate what you’re saying, but I’m not sure I can trust—”

Raymond turned to his grandson.
“Where did you say you found them?”

“
At the Cock and Bull Pub.”

The old man
’s eyes lit up, and he looked at Katy. “Mad Dog Gleeson! He and I go way back. His real name is Harold, you know. And he used to be a plumber.”

Mac exhaled in relief. He removed the scarf from his face.
“He hates to be called Harold. And the fact you know his name is good enough for me.”

Raymond extended a hand to Mac and they shook.
“Are you Mr. Garza, or one of her security officers?”

Katy spoke up quickly.
“He’s not an officer, just a friend. My husband is dead.”

“
Sorry to hear that,” Raymond said sympathetically, nodding with understanding. “Don’t worry, you two. I know what happens to people of your stature in the world today. I don’t enjoy the arena matches, myself. In fact, I’m sure a lot of people don’t. But it’s safer to go along with the Progressives some times.”

Katy frowned.
“I believe it was Edmund Burke who said, ‘All that’s necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing’.”

Raymond smiled.
“Actually, a similar line was in the English translation of Tolstoy’s War and Peace. It was never officially attributed to Burke. I do, however, get your meaning. Not everyone can be a general, Madame President. Armies need foot soldiers, working in the trenches.”

She nodded in acceptance of his point.
“Please, call me Katy. My friend is Mac.”

“
Katy, Mac.” The older man waved them deeper into the house. “Come in and warm up. I was making some ham and potatoes. I might even check my rations and see if I can find an egg or two. I assume you could eat?”

“
Eggs.” Mac closed his eyes briefly and smiled. “Can’t remember the last time I had an egg.” He’d thought Sloan’s fatback soup smelled good yesterday. The aroma of actual ham, wafting from the kitchen, smelled heavenly.

Raymond looked at his grandson.
“Stay for breakfast, Scotty?”

“
I can’t, Grandpa, but thanks.” He turned to Mac. “I need to talk to you privately.” To Katy, the soldier said, “Good luck.” He walked to the front door.

Mac followed, and wasn
’t surprised when the man handed over his gun, butt first.

“
I need you to hit me. Give me a good lump on the head.”

He understood, but hated to do it after the man had been so kind.
“Scott, I—”

“
I know.” Scott raised a hand. “When I recognized her, I knew right away what I had to do. The two of you would have been tortured at the director’s center. This way, you’ve got a chance to make a clean getaway, and I won’t be blamed for it.”

“
Thank you.” Mac took the gun, got a good grip, and cracked Scott in the temple.

The man grunted and doubled over. When he rose, blood trickled from the cut on his head.