“And probably get caught by that airman at the gate,” she retorted. “He wasn’t too thrilled about being countermanded in front of us. What do you think he’ll do when he gets back to the barracks tonight and finds the moving van still there?”
“We could leave a note that we were waiting for Britnell.”
Vikki threw up her hands. “And when they find out he’s still got six days to go before he can leave Alpha Base, we’ll be up the creek. Think, Anthony. It would have worked if we hadn’t brought attention to ourselves. We’ve got to throw that plan out the window and start over.” She kicked at the pavement. “No one will think of looking for us here. So we just lay low until we rendezvous with Renault.”
Harding mulled it over. The color returned to his cheeks. “All right. I guess it doesn’t matter where we park, as long as we don’t get caught.” He looked around, and seeing no movement, said, “Let’s climb in your van. Time to wait it out. We’ve got two hours.”
“Yeah.” Vikki turned for the Chevy van as Harding opened up the back of the moving van, allowing air to enter, yet keeping the mattress in place so the men would be hidden from view.
Might as well be in the friggin’ military, she thought. Hurry up and wait.
The guard nodded McGriffin past. “Evening, Major.”
McGriffin broke off his whistle. “Good evening, Farquer. How are you tonight?”
“Fine, sir, and yourself?”
“Couldn’t be better. Well, yes it could. I could be going off duty instead of going on.” His thoughts turned to Vikki, and he felt a warm, peaceful sensation. He’d really have to open up with her next time they met, try and overcome this phobia he had about telling her he was in the military.
“I know what you mean, sir.”
“Have a good one.”
“You too, sir.” Airman Farquer palmed open the door to the command post.
Any tension in the chamber vanished when McGriffin walked in. McGriffin sensed a lifting of spirits, a change in atmosphere from the dour day shift, when the other two officers-of-the-day reigned.
Chief Zolley appeared at his elbow. As usual, McGriffin didn’t hear the chief master sergeant arrive as Zolley stood at his side.
“Good evening, Major. Ready for your shift update?”
“Let’s have it.” McGriffin slipped into his chair overlooking the dimly lit room. He swiveled around and eyed the status board. A series of green lights burned steadily on each display. The miller clock still pointed to 1700. “Anything up, Chief?”
Zolley handed him a packet marked secret. “Nothing much, sir. All communication links are up. AUTODIN verifies our status, and we’ve got six more days until a shift change at Alpha Base. The only incoming aircraft scheduled are some T-38’s on a cross-country and a C-130 out of Peterson Field.” He shuffled a page. “The 130’s call sign is Merry Zero Three with an ETA of 2300 local.”
“There’s a reserve unit there.” McGriffin tapped his desk. “I’ve got a classmate stationed at Pete — Moose Monahan. Remind me when they get in, Chief. I want to check them out, see if Moose might be on board.”
“They’re not remaining overnight, sir. They’ve got wheels up scheduled at 2320.”
“That’s strange.” McGriffin frowned. “You’d think they’d R.O.N, being so far from home. Those reserve weenies just don’t appreciate remote garden spots.” He cocked his hands behind his head. “What’s going on outside the base?”
“I’ve included a few messages in the briefing packet that was twixted this afternoon — nothing critical.”
McGriffin flipped through the packet. “All nice and quiet.” He handed the classified bundle back to Zolley. “Thanks, Chief. It looks like another slow one. That’s all I’ve got.”
“Thanks, sir.” Chief Zolley disappeared as quickly as he had materialized.
McGriffin leaned back and watched the board for a few minutes. Another quiet evening. That’s all right, he thought. I’ve got plenty to keep me busy.
Once he had gotten used to the routine, McGriffin took advantage of the spare time. It was too early to nap. He trusted the crew, and with his amicable attitude, the best people pushed to get on his shift. It didn’t matter that it was the night shift — the word was out that working under McGriffin was a “good deal.” Or so Zolley had clued him in.
It would be even better if he had someone to talk to, a peer to shoot the bull with. He never saw the other two officers from the command post — he assumed they just weren’t sociable. Manny Yarnez was a good guy, but Manny’s schedule was nearly as erratic as his. The rest of the chopper pilots all worked during the day, so it was difficult to find a friend. And other than Lieutenant Fellows on Alpha Base, he shied away from the security policemen. They were a different breed altogether — more like Marines than Air Force.
But now that he’d met Vikki, at least he didn’t starve for conversation anymore.
He reached in his drawer and pulled out a programmed text from Air Command and Staff College: Stability and Structure of Third World Forces. He sighed. As much as he hated it, this was the perfect time to do his professional military education.
Oh, well. It might be too early to nap now, but once he started reading, it would knock him out better than any sleeping pill.
Chapter 14
Vikki glanced at her watch for the fifth time in ten minutes. She put up her hair, keeping it from getting in the way. She then slipped off the tank top and quickly stretched her arms through the brassiere. Clasping the snap, she pulled on a dark, long-sleeve top. The bra was snug — it had been a while since she’d even considered wearing one — but there was too much at stake tonight to be caught swinging free. She just hoped it wouldn’t cramp her movements.
A quick glimpse at her watch caused her to move to the front of the van. Harding sat quietly smoking, the cigarette smoke immersing him in a dim purple haze. A single light shone from high above them, starkly illuminating the RV parking lot. Harding didn’t turn as he spoke.
“Is everything ready?”
“If Britnell doesn’t screw up, I’ll be at the end of the runway by a quarter after ten.”
“That doesn’t leave you much time.”
“It’s enough.”
This is it … everything we’ve been waiting for. She felt she should be excited, dizzy with what they were about to do. Then why do I feel like crap?
Harding took a drag from his cigarette. “Good luck.” He opened the passenger door and slipped out, cupping the cigarette so it couldn’t be seen.
Vikki wiggled to the front. She checked the mirrors, door locks, and finally the gas gauge before rubbing her hands across the wheel. She drew in a breath.
She pulled slowly past the moving van, and thought she could make out a shadow in the front seat. Squinting, she couldn’t see him. Wherever Harding had hidden, he made himself scarce.
The fence around the RV storage lot was locked. Base personnel must have bolted the gate. A chain cutter quickly put that obstacle aside. Once outside the gate, she secured the fence so it looked locked.
The road to the main part of Wendover AFB was deserted. Light spilled from the officers’ club, full of the Saturday night crowd. The chance of running into someone was slim — and so far she still headed toward the airmen’s barracks. Her excuse of visiting Britnell would hold up if she were stopped.
She left the barracks and enlisted club behind her after the next stop sign. She glanced at her watch. Five after nine. An hour and a half. She sped up slightly as she rounded the end of the runway. Alpha Base was still five miles away.