“They’d do that?”
“They can and have.”
For the next four days Horace Hayfield was confined to a holding cell at the precinct. He believed in Phillips—that he would come back—but each day felt like a lifetime. He was allowed out after two days to shower, but then taken back into his cell. He got two meals a day. They weren’t very satisfying, and he was hungry all the time. Finally, a guard came to his cell and let him out.
Horace was escorted to the duty officer, where Phillips was standing. He was smiling. “You’re a free man, Mr. Hayfield. We just have to have you sign a couple things.”
The duty officer gave him a bag with his personal things. “Sign here,” he said.
Then Phillips gave him another document that said he must not attempt to climb that fence again. He signed it.
Phillips led Hayfield outside. As they walked down the steps to a waiting cab, Phillips said, “We need to get you out of the country. Don’t say anything yet.”
In Phillips’s office, Horace sat down. “That spiel the other day about how most people have no problem with freedom was for the sake of open ears. People will listen to what any lawyer has to say. What I told you was bullshit. There is no freedom to say what you think in this country. People have disappeared after mouthing off about government.”
“What do you know about my situation?” Horace said. “You know somethin’. You know more than you’re tellin’ me.”
“You’re right, I do. I know about your summer camp for bad children. I know you used the brain probe to change their behavior. This was a secret government program. A man named Grifton invented it. He was given financial support by another man named Schmidt. The government let paramilitary groups in on it in exchange for their protection. When Dr. Schmidt and Dr. Grifton sold the machine to you everyone was pissed, but didn’t know what to do. They were willing to let things go until your patients began reliving their treatment. Then the shit started.
“They wanted Schmidt and Grifton to fix the problem, but Grifton suffered an accident that harmed his mind. He was the brains behind it. As more people started remembering, demands were put on the Congress to investigate. The Justice Department got involved—well, everything began unraveling.”
“They want me, right?”
“I think you know that. That’s why you’re so desperate to get across the border.”
“I got people suin’ me, and I figured sooner or later those government thugs would be after me as well,” Horace said.
“They were initially after Schmidt and Grifton. There’s an organization called NOGOV that is the de facto government in this country. The nominal government does what NOGOV wants. With everything concerning the Brain Probe Program coming undone NOGOV gave the order to cover up the whole program; deny its existence. Anyone who had first-hand knowledge of it was meant to disappear. Schmidt and Grifton knew this and tried to run. They were killed by mercenaries. More of them are on the run.”
“Including me.”
“Yes. There’s going to be a bounty on your head as soon as they find out you’re missing. They don’t know yet, which is why you were let out of jail. But they will soon be after you.”
“How did you get me out?” Horace asked. “You said you had an idea.”
“According to the treaty with the CSA—that’s the Cooperative States of America—once you are on their side, you are free. No one can capture you and bring you back to Old America. I argued that since part of your hand touched the back of the fence, you were in CSA territory and were illegally pulled back into Old America.
“Now the D.A. wasn’t buying that argument, but in a trial our government could get a black eye over such allegations. I argued that I would drop a lawsuit against the county in exchange for your freedom. They bought it.”
“Thanks, but my life depends on me gettin’ out of the country. So, how do I get out of here?”
“I have an idea on that as well, but it will involve a lot of money, about a hundred grand. You have that kind of money?”
“Jesus. I guess so. I’ll need to withdraw money from the brokerage house that has most of it.”
“Good. Let’s get started.”
He turned his computer around and put his browser on the screen. Hayfield began typing and, after a minute or so, reached his brokerage house. He clicked on the sell button. The screen indicated the stock sold, number of shares, and balance. It showed more than one hundred thirty grand. He then withdrew a hundred grand, to be transferred to his bank account. The screen displayed a dialog box indicating he must call the firm to complete the withdrawal.
He reached for his phone and dialed the number on the screen. It took several minutes to reach a live voice. He mentioned the dialog box and gave his name and account number. The person at the other end told him his account was being frozen on orders from the Justice Department. It seemed they wanted to question him first.
Horace looked frightened. “Well they’re officially after me now. I have about a thousand dollars in cash and my car.”
“Getting cash for your car adds to the risk. We need the money—hush money, bribery, and incidentals. Anything less adds to the risk.”
Both sat staring at each other. Then, Phillips spoke up. “I have an idea, but I need to make some calls first. I’ll drive you to your car. Hopefully it’s still parked where you left it. Go back to your room and wait for me to call you.”
The next day Phillips called Hayfield, and he drove out to the office. “Okay, Horace, I’ve got some good news. I think we can get you to freedom. Have you ever heard of a senator named Everson Moore?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“He’s more familiarly known as Ev Moore. Anyway, he used to work closely with another person you may have heard of—Pamela Piper.”
Horace just shrugged.
“She’s the sister of Redmond Piper. Does that name ring a bell?”
“Of course. Everyone knows who he is.”
“Well, Pamela had been working with Senator Moore in helping people escape Old America. She is currently leading a number of people out of the country and is currently in Idaho. Mr. Moore just talked to her. They can provide the money we need to get everyone across the border.”
“Great! What’s the plan?”
“I’ll tell you when the others come. Do you have enough money to stay where you are for about another week?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“A week is all we need. It may not even take that long. Look, Horace, I’m not going to kid you. This is going to be risky. There’s a chance we’ll all be killed.”
Chapter 24:
The One Hundred Thousand Dollar Gamble
“Everybody up,” yelled Pamela Piper to the pilgrims. “Assemble in the front room.”
Tired bodies, shaking off forgotten dreams, rubbed their eyes, looked for the coffee, and began to waken.
Ray and Cassandra were out on the porch standing guard. They, too, were called in.
Everyone gathered there, grumbling. “What’s wrong?” Eugene asked.
“I’ve got coffee brewing, but I need to tell you something important first.”
“Does this have something to do with Hogs or the Squad?” Armstrong asked.
“No, this is different. It’s good. It’s the opportunity to escape that we’ve been looking for.”
“Oh, tell us,” Sandy said. It’s some of the few words Sandy has uttered since the roadside incident.