Gabriel had another advantage, too. In the several days he’d been in the area, he’d scouted most of these streets so he had a good knowledge of the area. When he realized the kid was headed for the stairs that led to the ridge overlooking Elysian Park, he decided to take an easier way up a few blocks west.
He cut down the road behind Elysian Heights Elementary School and turned up the street that would take him to the top. When he reached the end, he stopped behind several bushes and peered up the ridge toward where the stairs let out.
Nearly a minute passed before the kid showed up. After walking about halfway to Gabriel’s position, the kid stopped and looked out over the park.
Gabriel eased out from his hiding spot and maneuvered himself into position not far behind the kid.
Raising his rifle, he said, “Stop right there!”
Ben looked over his shoulder.
It was the man in the leather jacket, his rifle pointed at Ben’s chest.
“All right,” the man said. “Here’s what I need you to do. Very slowly, turn toward me and set your bag on the ground.”
Ben did as ordered. “All yours.”
A brief moment of confusion passed over the man’s face. “You got me wrong. I don’t want your stuff.”
A chill ran through Ben. If not his stuff then…?
“I’m trying to help you,” the man said.
“I don’t need any help, thank you.”
“You do. You just don’t know it.”
Was this guy a psychopath? If so, Ben could imagine what kind of “help” the man wanted to give him.
He glanced at the gun. “You said before that you didn’t want to hurt me.”
“I don’t.”
With a nod at the weapon, Ben said, “But…”
After a second of hesitation, the man lowered the barrel, aiming it now at the ground by Ben’s feet. “I’m sorry. I need to make sure you come with me.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s my job.”
Ben had heard enough crazy for the morning. If this guy was going to kill him, Ben would prefer that happened while he was trying to get to Martina than after he was taken back to whatever hovel the guy was now calling home.
“Okay. Fine. I’ll…I’ll go with you,” he said, trying to sound defeated.
“Good,” the man said. Then, as Ben had hoped, the guy dropped the barrel of the rifle so that it was pointing straight down.
Knowing he might not get a second chance, Ben threw himself backward, hitting the top of the slope on his ass and shoulder, then rolled down the hill, bypassing the path altogether.
Gabriel was glad it was over. After he delivered the kid, he might take an hour or two off. Hell, he might even take the rest of the day.
“Good,” he said, and lowered his weapon.
He was about to step forward to give the kid a hand with the bag, when the kid leapt toward the slope like he was a wide receiver diving over the goal line.
Gabriel rushed to the edge and watched him roll down the hill in a cloud of dust.
“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s wrong!” he yelled. “It’s safer here with me then where you’re headed!”
He half considered running after the kid. The rolling would probably make the kid disoriented for a few seconds, possibly just enough time for Gabriel to grab him. But the ridgeline represented Gabriel’s boundary. If he ventured into the park, he would likely be seen and the mission could be blown.
The kid was on his feet now, a bit off kilter as he jogged the rest of the way down the hill.
“You don’t know what you’re doing!” Gabriel yelled. “There’s nothing but death in that direction! We can help you here! We can save you!”
But the kid was having none of it. As Gabriel watched him head toward the center of the valley, he spotted a van with a nice big UN painted on the side heading down the road on the other side of the park.
Goddammit.
Gabriel pulled his radio out of his bag. “L-One, this is L-Four. L-One.”
“Go for L-One,” Nyla responded.
“Lost one. A runner. Caught me off guard.”
A pause. “No chance for retrieval.”
“He’s already in the park, and they’ve got a van headed to meet him.”
“Copy, L-Four. One lost. Let’s make it the last.”
“Well, duh,” he said, without pushing the talk button.
“L-One out,” Nyla said.
“L-Four out,” he responded.
12
Ash sent his kids ahead to the cafeteria while he went through his new morning ritual of stretching his wounded muscles. Every day the pain receded more, but not quickly enough as far as he was concerned. He figured he was at about seventy-five percent of his pre-explosion self.
Dr. Gardiner had told him he was unlikely to make it all the way back, which was the motivation Ash needed to push himself to prove otherwise.
Once he was as limber as he would get that day, he took a quick shower, shooed Lucky the cat away from his clothes as he dressed, and went down to join his kids for breakfast.
The mood in the cafeteria was lighter than it had been since Ash had arrived at the facility. Matt’s death had been hanging over everyone, but while the loss would be felt by all for years to come, the funeral had given people the opportunity to move forward.
He must have been greeted over a dozen times with “morning, Captain” and “how you doing today, Captain?” and “good to see you, sir.” He patted a few backs, shared a few words, and then went up to the counter to get his eggs and bacon and cup of coffee.
His kids had chosen a table at the far end of the room. Ginny Thorton was sitting with them, though her cousin Rick didn’t seem to be anywhere around. That wasn’t surprising. The kid had pretty much stayed to himself since Ash and his group had arrived in Nevada.
“Hey, Dad,” Brandon said as Ash set his plate and mug on the table.
“How are you feeling?” Josie asked.
“I’m fine, sweetie,” he said.
“How’s the pain?”
“Better.”
“Good morning, Mr. Ash,” Ginny said as he sat.
“Good morning, Ginny. How’s the food?”
“It’s okay.”
Ash smiled and took a sip of his coffee. Some sort of dark roast today, he realized. Word around the base was that one of the resupply crews had found a whole truck full of premium coffee beans, all vacuum-packed and ready for sale. Someone had said the same type of coffee had not been served twice since they’d been at Ward Mountain.
Ash was almost done with his eggs when he saw Chloe enter the cafeteria, holding one of Matt’s journals. She stopped near the doorway and scanned the room. When her gaze landed on Ash, she began weaving through the tables toward him.
“Hi, Chloe,” Brandon said as she walked up.
“Good morning, Brandon,” she said, then glanced at the girls. “Josie, Ginny, good morning.” She then leaned down and whispered in Ash’s ear, “I think I found something.”
“Your room,” he whispered back.
With a nod, she was up and gone.
“What was that all about?” Brandon asked.
Ash set his mug and utensils on his plate. “She needs my help with something.”
“What?”
“Nothing that important.”
“A secret?”
Ash pushed out of his chair. “That would probably be why she whispered to me.” He smiled. “I promise, if it’s something you should know, I will tell you.”