Chương 109

Louis woke under weight and warmth. Donya's leg was thrown over his. Her breasts pressed against his side. He stayed still and listened to the women breathing around him. Then Angelique opened her eyes. She looked at him first, then at the others, then back again. She gave him a small smile.

"Morning," she whispered.

"Morning." Gladice stirred at the sound of their voices. She opened one eye.

"It's early."

"Time to get up," Angelique said.

"We have a long drive." Willa sat up, rubbing her eyes. Donya woke last. Her eyes opened slowly. She looked around the bed, and they widened. Her gaze moved from Louis to Angelique to Gladice to Willa and then down to herself. Color rose in her face before she could hide it. Louis smiled. Gladice lifted her head and grinned at her.

"Good morning, shy one." Donya pulled the blanket higher.

"Good morning." Louis eased himself upright among them. He was sore in his thighs and back, but for the first time in days, his body felt whole and awake. Donya reached for his bandaged hand, then stopped short of touching it.

"Does it hurt?" He turned his wrist slightly. Around the edge of the bandage, the swelling had gone down. The skin around the dressing was no longer red, only pink at the edges.

"Not at all." He flexed the fingers of that hand.

"It feels good, thanks to you and Willa." She looked at him.

"I did not do much." He covered her hand with his.

"You did enough." She nodded, and some of the worry left her face. Then she slipped out of bed and crossed to the bathroom with her clothes held to her chest. They washed in turns. Willa applied ointment to his wrist while Angelique leaned against the sink and checked the skin around the bite. Gladice brushed her teeth with the door open and talked through the foam. Donya took the longest. She stood in front of the mirror longer than the others, looking at herself before she dressed.

By the time they were dressed, they were moving like people with a deadline again. They were halfway down the stairs when they heard a chair leg scrape hard against the floor below. Then Barlow's voice, low and tight. Then Savannah, flat and cold.

"Sit back down." Louis hurried down the last steps. The others followed. Barlow sat in a chair near the head of the table, one hand gripping the edge, his bad arm still in its sling. His face had gone pale again. Savannah stood five feet away with a pistol in both hands. The barrel pointed at Barlow's chest.

"What the hell is this?" Louis asked. Savannah did not look away from Barlow.

"Ask him." Barlow glanced at Louis, then back at Savannah.

"Ain't nothing. Just a misunderstanding." Savannah's finger tightened on the trigger. Her face did not change.

"That's a lie. He sold us out." Barlow opened his mouth before she finished.

"That's bullshit." Savannah kept the pistol steady.

"Say that again."

"It's bullshit." Barlow leaned forward, then stopped when the barrel moved with him.

"She's lying. She don't know what she talking about." Savannah shot him in the knee. The gunshot cracked through the room. Barlow howled and jerked sideways, his chair tipping, one hand grabbing at his leg. Blood spread through his pants. He swore and tried to push himself upright, hissing through his teeth. Donya screamed. Angelique took her by the shoulders and pulled her back from the table. Gladice reached for the pistol in her jacket. Willa stood still, staring at the blood. Louis stared at Savannah.

She had not blinked. Savannah walked closer and pressed the barrel against his forehead.

"Stay still, or the next one goes through your head."

"Calm the fuck down!" Louis shouted.

"Savannah. Put the gun down." She ignored him. Barlow froze, breathing hard, sweat beading on his face.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"You went outside and made a call," Savannah said flatly.

"I saw you leave. I followed you. You walked half a mile up the service road and used a burner phone. I was close enough to hear you. You told somebody where we were headed and when we were leaving." Louis took a step forward.

"Is that true?" Barlow looked at him, anger and fear twisting his face.

"It ain't how she saying it. I didn't—""Shut up." Savannah pushed the barrel harder against his forehead.

"You told them we were headed to Georgetown. You told them what back roads we planned to take. You told them we would be on the road at eight. You told them to be ready."

"I was arranging backup." Barlow's voice was shaking with pain.

"Insurance. In case they tried to stop us on the road." Savannah's face did not change.

"You a liar. And you put everybody here at risk." She glanced at Louis.

"We should interrogate him." Gladice came up beside her, her own pistol still down.

"Why didn't you tell us before?"

"Because y'all was busy fucking and sleeping like idiots," Savannah said.

"He made the call before dawn. I followed him. I heard everything." Barlow shook his head.

"It's a lie. She's trying to turn you against me—" He stopped as Savannah kicked his injured knee. He cried out.

"Shut up." Savannah kept the gun on him and looked at Louis.

"Take him to the basement. Tie him up. We need to know what else he said and who he said it to." Louis looked at her, then at Barlow. He looked at the others. Donya was still trembling in Angelique's arms. Willa had gone pale. Gladice looked at him and waited.

"What did you say to them?" Louis asked Barlow quietly. Barlow met his eyes.

"I told 'em the route. I ain't give away the beach coordinates. I just wanted to make sure we didn't get ambushed on the way. I swear." Louis studied his face. There was fear, pain, and desperation. But there was also calculation. Barlow was a survivor. Survivors lied well. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Gladice," Louis said.

"Search him." She moved quickly, checking his pockets and sling. From his front pocket, she pulled a small black phone with no markings. She held it up.

"Keep searching." Louis pulled out his M1911. She patted him down again, more roughly. From one boot, she pulled a folding knife.

"Willa," Louis said.

"Can you get into the phone?"

"I can try." Her voice shook.

"Do it. Find another room." He gestured toward the door. She took the phone and left.

"Take him to the basement," he said to Savannah and Gladice.

"Use the restraints in the supply closet." Savannah stepped back, keeping the gun on him. Barlow pushed himself up slowly, his face twisting with pain, one hand pressed to his wounded leg. Blood dripped onto the floor.

"This is a mistake," he said.

"Maybe," Louis said.

"We will find out." He looked at Angelique and Donya.

"Pack everything we can use. Food, water, medical supplies. We leave within the hour." Angelique nodded. Donya swallowed and nodded too. They went upstairs. Gladice took Barlow's good arm, and Savannah kept the gun on him as they moved him toward the basement door. He limped heavily, leaving drops of blood on the wood. Louis followed with the pistol down at his side. In the basement, Savannah kicked a stool toward the support post. Barlow sat on it without argument.

Gladice went to the storage closet and came back with zip ties and rope. They secured his arms to the post behind him, then tied his ankles to the stool legs. When they were done, Barlow sat pale, sweating, and silent.

"Now it's time to talk," Louis said.

"Who did you call?" Barlow shook his head.

"I told you already." Gladice walked around him.

"This is a waste of time. I'm going to waterboard him." Barlow flinched.

"No, wait—" Louis held up a hand.

"Who was on the other end? Give me a name."

"A contact. Somebody I used before." Barlow spoke through his teeth.

"He ain't with the state. He's... independent."

"Who does he work for?"

"Anyone who pays him." Louis leaned against the wall.

"What's his name?" Barlow hesitated.

"If you were looking for backup, why didn't you tell us? Why sneak out like a rat?" Louis looked at him.

"Because you're kids," Barlow said. For a moment, he sounded more angry than afraid.

"Kids playing soldier. You wouldn't understand how things work. You got some magic phone and some magic extraction plan. You think that's all it takes. I been doing this my whole life. I know how to read the angles. I was getting us insurance. A little extra firepower on the road in case things went sideways. That's all."

"I don't believe you," Savannah said.

"I don't care what you believe, girl." Barlow looked past her to Louis.

"You get it. You've got to. Your old man, he thinks the same way. He's got boats and subs and carriers because he knows you need backup plans."

"Then what's his name?" Louis demanded.

"Because it looks like you were just trying to save your own skin and sell us out to the highest bidder."

"I told you. He's independent."

"That's not a name."

"It's all you're getting." Louis glanced at Gladice and nodded. She walked toward the corner and picked up a plastic bucket. She filled it from the utility sink. The sound of running water echoed in the concrete room.

"Last chance, Barlow," Louis said. Barlow's face was slick with sweat. He watched Gladice approach with the bucket.

"You're making a mistake."

"I don't think so." Willa rushed downstairs before Gladice reached Barlow.

"I got into the phone," she said.

"There's an outgoing call from a few minutes before dawn. To a number in Montgomery." Barlow closed his eyes.

"Montgomery," Louis said.

"That's the capital. And you're telling me your contact is not with the state?"

"He ain't military," Barlow said quickly.

"He's private. He just lives in the city."

"He's lying," Savannah said.

"They ain't got private contractors for things like this. You should waterboard him." Louis looked at Gladice. She looked back at him. He gave a slight nod.

"Do it." He heard himself say it before the boy from Beverly Hills could object. Maybe that boy had died somewhere between New Orleans and the mountains. Gladice found a rag in the supply closet. Savannah took the bucket from the floor. Barlow began to protest before Gladice reached him. She covered his face with the rag and held it there. Then Savannah poured water over his face. He thrashed against the restraints, his breath catching. Gladice waited until he started to choke, then pulled the rag away.

"Who is the contact?" Savannah demanded. Barlow coughed, gasping, water running down his chin.

"I can't..." Gladice pressed the rag back over his face and held it there. Savannah poured again. This time she kept pouring until his body arched back against the post, his arms straining against the ties. Louis kept his face still. Willa kept her eyes on the phone screen. After several seconds, Savannah stopped pouring. Gladice pulled the rag away.

"Tell us the name." Barlow gagged and spat.

"Theodore." He forced the name out between coughs.

"Hargrove." Louis went still.

"You sold us to fucking Theodore Hargrove?" He took a step forward. Barlow shook his head, still choking.

"It wasn't... like that. He wouldn't... kill you." Willa looked back at the screen.

"There is a text confirmation. Payment upon delivery. Transit guaranteed for D. Barlow." She paused.

"And S. Ellington." She looked at Savannah.

"That's you." Savannah stared at the phone, then back at Barlow.

"You put my name in your deal." Barlow coughed again, his face twisting.

"I was... trying to get you out."

"You was trying to save yourself," Savannah said.

"And you used us to do it."

"No." He strained against the ties.

"No, girl, you listen to me. Your father put you in a car with people every soldier in this country wants to catch. You think that boy's father was going to save you? You think a submarine fixes roads? You think the Dominion can just reach into the Holy States and pull you out because he says so? He was half dead upstairs. The border was closing. The coast was going to be watched. Every hour we stayed here made us easier to find."

"So you called Hargrove," Louis said. His voice came out low.

"Because he's the only one who could cut a deal!" Barlow's voice cracked.

"He said he only wanted to take you into custody!"

"Fuck you." Gladice kicked his wounded knee. He screamed. She kicked it again.

"You fucking traitor."

"I did it to survive!" Barlow shouted.

"Y'all don't get it! I wasn't gonna die for a bunch of white kids I just met!"

"I should have let the Klan hang you," Louis said.

"Is this how you repay us?"

"I saved your life!" Barlow shot back.

"I brought you here. I helped you!"

"Until you sold us." Louis looked at Willa.

"How much info did they get?" Willa looked back at the screen.

"Enough to know we are here, or close. Enough to know we were trying to get out by the coast. Enough to start sealing roads and looking for a specific van."

"Fuck," Louis said.

"I need to inform my father."

"Don't call now," Willa said.

"They might be monitoring the signal." He shook his head.

"I have to tell him. We can't just let his men walk into an ambush."

"Wait until we are ready to leave," Willa said.

"When we start moving, send a short burst. Tell him the mission is compromised." Louis considered it. Then he nodded.

"Alright." Barlow was still breathing hard, his head hanging forward. Savannah stood over him, her gun pointed at his forehead.

"What else did you say? Speak. Did you give them the cabin location?"

"Nah," Barlow mumbled.

"I only told 'em the route." Savannah did not lower the gun.

"I think you still lying."

"I'm not. I meant to keep this cabin safe. They don't know exactly where it is. Only that we were up in the mountains."

"They are going to block the roads," Louis said.

"We will need to find another way."

"We can't," Gladice said.

"We have no other way. All routes go through their checkpoints."

"We will find one." Louis turned to Willa.

"How much did they pay him?"

"Ten million euros," Willa read.

"Payable upon custody transfer. Safe passage into Virginia for himself and Savannah." Savannah's jaw tightened.

"Ain't no way in hell I'm going with you." Barlow lifted his head slowly.

"I ain't betray you. I made a promise to your father. I was trying to protect you. I thought—" Savannah pulled the trigger. The gunshot cracked through the basement. Blood and bone splashed against the post and the concrete floor. Barlow's body sagged against the restraints. His head lolled to one side, his face unrecognizable. Louis lowered his M1911. The gunshot left a ringing in his ears. He stared at Savannah. Blood spattered her cheek. She was still breathing hard. Willa had dropped the phone.

"Savannah," Gladice said, her voice flat. Savannah lowered her pistol.

"He was a liar and a traitor."

"Yeah," Gladice said.

"But we could have used him." Louis walked toward Willa and held her trembling shoulders.

"Are you alright?" She nodded, her eyes fixed on Barlow's body.

"I need a minute." He kissed her forehead.

"We all do." She picked up the phone, her hands shaking. He turned to Savannah and Gladice.

"We need to pack and leave."

"What about him?" Savannah asked, gesturing at Barlow with her gun.

"Leave him." Savannah nodded and holstered her pistol. They went upstairs in silence and shut the basement door behind them. In the kitchen, Angelique and Donya were stuffing supplies into bags. Donya stopped when she saw them.

"What happened?" she asked.

"What happens to traitors," Savannah said.

"He got what he deserved." Donya looked at Louis. He nodded once.

"Keep packing," he said.

"We have to leave."

"Where are we going?" Angelique asked.

"Georgetown is a dead end now," Louis said.

"And the van is compromised. We need a new plan and a new vehicle." Willa opened the laptop again.

"We might be able to find another road on the map." Louis shook his head.

"It's too risky. They know we are trying to reach the coast. They will be watching." He checked his watch.

"The staff couple's house. We will talk to them."

"About what?" Gladice asked. Louis looked at her.

"We are going to make an offer. And we are going to get out of these mountains before they close every road."