It sounded like there were problems with the communications. Lucas wasn’t sure why the CCTV streaming wasn’t affected—maybe a different channel or frequency.
The tall man tried to respond but the connection was gone.
“Are you the owners?” the lady asked.
“No, we’re not,” the tall man said. “I’m afraid if you’ve come to check out the house, it’s not a good time. We’re undertaking government business.”
“What sort of business would that be?”
“With all due respect, that’s none of your business”
“Oh, I’m afraid it is. We know you’ve located the girl.”
“Sorry?”
“We’ve been listening. And agree with you. There’s an underground bunker. You also should know that your drone up there is out of communication with you. You see, we’re also very interested in the girl and we’d like to talk to her before she embarks on another journey.”
A flash of steel came from the driver’s side of the vehicle. The man furthest from them raised a gun and fired two shots. The tall man was the last to fall. His hand had just reached his own pistol when he dragged his hand back up to his neck. He appeared punch drunk and then he hit the turf.
“That should put them out of action for awhile.” The woman turned and looked towards the barn. “Keep your eye on these bodies. Give another dose if required. I’m going to have a look in the barn.”
The other man followed her.
“Maybe we should set fire to the barn. That would have the vermin scattering.” She gave a soft snicker.
Lucas decided that this woman was crazy and dangerous.
<°)))><
A quick gasp added to the slight hum of computers and monitors in the bunker. Isabella had her hands over her mouth and had started shaking.
Lucas reached over and put his arms around her.
Moving her hands away from her face, Isabella looked at Lucas. “I know that lady. I was friends with her daughter.”
Lucas noticed goose bumps on Isabella’s arms and gave her a hug to comfort her.
“She’s been here before.” Isabella paused and tilted her head as if to align some memories. “The lady worked with Mum and knows about the bunker. Dad told her about it over dinner one night.”
“She worked for your mum? What sort of company did your mum work for?”
“Pharmaceutical.”
Who were these people? Why did they want Isabella?
“Isabella, this woman worries me. If they set fire to the barn, we may not survive. It’s going to get hot, very hot. I’m not sure how we would go on the breathing side, either. It’s something I’m sure your dad never tested.”
There was an old grey steel cabinet behind them. Isabella turned and was staring at it. She walked over and opened it. A couple of rifles leaned against the inside of the cabinet. There was also breathing apparatus, and helmets with mounted lights. A couple of small backpacks sat on a shelf above the rifles. There were some small boxes there also—bullets?
Lucas wondered about the helmets and detected a change in Isabella’s attitude—like she’d now steeled herself for what was coming. “That’s good, Bella. But we’ll still die if we stay here. The heat will get us.”
She smiled. “At least you called me Bella before we died.”
“You’re crazy.”
“I am. But I also have another secret for you.” There was a handle near the floor. She lifted it up to reveal a tunnel. “This leads to a lava tube. I’m glad it’s the colder months. No snakes. But the bats could be a different matter.”
Isabella rolled down her sleeves and gave her body a shake.
Lucas didn’t need snakes and bats, but decided to get his thoughts focused on protecting this girl, although she seemed to be gaining enthusiasm for their current circumstances. Maybe he needed to start to enjoy his adventure with Bella. Who knew what awaited him back at prison.
22 – Hey Ava, bye Ava
AVA PERDU SAT ON A BALE OF HAY while one of her men stood at the entrance to the barn.
“Why did they have hay? There are no animals,” she asked the man at the entrance.
He shrugged his shoulders.
“Must be purely cosmetic,” she said.
Entrance man nodded.
Perdu pulled out a piece of hay and stared fiddling with it. “I know you can hear me, Isabella. We meet again, but in different circumstances. Don’t worry about the men asleep out here. They’ll recover. In time. They may wake to see this barn on fire and come running with buckets of water to put it out.” She laughed. “There are advantages working with a pharmaceutical company, as we can test things. The darts sitting in the bodies of those men are filled with an agent that will affect their short-term memory. Your mother helped design it.”
She threw the piece of hay to the ground. “If it works, those men are going to struggle remembering why they’re here, let alone having any memory of me. Sad, because I think I’m worth remembering.” She sought confirmation from the man at the entrance and got it.
“Yes, your dad gave me a thorough introduction to his ‘bunker’ and all the monitoring pieces that go with it. He even told me his tribulation theory—all garbage, of course. How people with a science background believe in God never ceases to amaze me and to believe he, God that is, is coming back? Well, your parents know the truth now and I bet they’re disappointed. Sorry, that’s callous of me. But hey, I digress.”
