Barry emerged from the shadows behind him. In his hand he held a satellite phone.
“Where did you get that?” Kyle asked thinking it ironic that just the other day Tommy had mentioned sat phones.
“Do you have to ask? I’m the Number Two. Can I go outside? I need to make a call,” Barry said.
“You saw me trying to radio and you didn’t say you had a phone?”
“It wouldn’t have done any good, I need line of sight and the storm was raging. Seemed pointless to say anything.”
“In the large black container box I have a spare pair of rubber boots, I think they’re your size, put them on. Don’t touch anything else outside.”
Barry disappeared to go find the box.
Kyle went back to the room he’d slept and began packing. He heard the front door creak open and close. Dying to know what Barry was saying, he went back to the front window that overlooked the porch. He put his ear close and listened but couldn’t pick up on anything of significance.
Barry finished his call but didn’t come back inside right away, he stood on the porch and stared out towards the mountains beyond.
Deciding there was nothing to be gained from his eavesdropping, Kyle went back to packing. When he closed the lid on the last box, he noticed Barry hadn’t come back in. Wondering what was delaying him, Kyle went to the front door and opened it. There he found Barry still staring off. “What are you doing? I could’ve used your help.”
Barry turned around and handed him the phone. “I think you should call your wife.”
Kyle gave him an odd look and asked, “Why?”
“Trust me, call her,” Barry said putting the phone in his hands and walking inside.
Kyle looked at the phone, concern grew to fear. He quickly dialed the number. The phone clicked several times then started to ring.
“This is Operator Fourteen, number to connect,” a woman’s voice said.
“Connect me to Lima Four Two Six,” Kyle said.
“Connecting,” the operator said.
The phone clicked several times.
“Hello,” Portia answered.
“Are you okay?”
She hesitated.
“Portia, are you there?” he asked.
She could hear his troubled tone. “I, I’m fine and you?”
“I was told to call you.”
“You were? Who told you to do that?”
“Number Two, he said I needed to call you. Is something wrong? Did something happen?”
Again she paused not knowing how to answer.
“Portia, tell me.”
“It was an accident, I didn’t mean to be trouble. I just lost my composure,” she stuttered unable to get the right words out.
“Calm down and tell me what happened.”
“You know Melissa, the little…”
He interrupted her and said, “Yes. I remember her.”
“Well, they did a round of tests yesterday and she was picked to be banished. I couldn’t just let her get thrown out without talking to her one last time. Anyway, there was an incident,” she said and paused.
“What happened?”
“I tried to force my way into the holding room and well, a guard had to subdue me. It was really bad, but Number One, he, he’s forgiven me. I just need to do something for him and all will be forgotten.”
“Do what?”
“I don’t know yet. He said he’ll summon me when it’s time. Those were his words.”
Kyle sighed heavily. Number One wasn’t known for giving pardons so if there was one, it was coming at a heavy price.
“I’m sorry,” she cried.
“Don’t, no, don’t cry. You need to think clearly. I need you to not get emotional, do you hear me? I need you strong. Whenever someone is leading with their emotions they make bad decisions.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’ll be fine. I’ll be home soon and get this worked out. And don’t accept any deals from Number One until I get back, do you understand? No matter what.”
“Yes, I understand,” she replied. “Kyle?”
“Yes.”
“I’m scared.”
“Don’t be. I’ll be home soon and straighten this all out. I’m going to hang up. Again, don’t accept any deals until I get home.”
“I won’t.”
“I’ll see you soon, bye.”
“Bye.”
When the phone disconnected, Kyle cursed loudly and punched the door. This was the last thing he needed to worry about.
Barry appeared and asked with a sneering grin, “Is she okay? I heard the incident at the infirmary yesterday was quite dramatic.”
Kyle didn’t know what to say and now more than ever he needed to watch what he said. He had already gotten on Barry’s bad side but if Number One had something on Portia he was in a no win situation.
“I hear my dad is going to make her a deal. I can’t remember the last time my dad has done that. Your wife must be quite the enchantress to get my dad to not bring down the hammer of the law against her because I do believe what she did is punishable by banishment.”
Still Kyle was speechless.
“Whatever it is, I know this truth, you lose.”
And right there, it was confirmed. Kyle was in a no win situation. In other words, he knew he was fucked.
“Where my father isn’t one for making deals with the exception of your lovely wife. Maybe you and I can make a deal.”
“And what could you possibly offer? And secondly, why would you ever want to help me? I believe I choked you out, put a knife to your face and threatened to kill you.”
“I can forgive. I’m a man that can be bought.”
“I’m a driver, I don’t have anything of value.”
“Oh yes you do. You have something that is priceless.”
“And what’s that?”
“A reputation.”
Seconds after hanging up with Kyle the phone rang again. She picked it up and said, “Kyle?”
“No, this is Bravo One. There’s a car out front, get in it. It will take you somewhere.”
“But I’m not dressed.”
“Get in the car now,” Bravo One ordered.
She put the phone down, walked to the front door and opened it to find a large SUV parked out front. Should I wait? She asked herself.
The driver exited, stepped around and opened the rear passenger door.
Think Portia, think. Kyle said don’t do anything until he got back .
Seeing that she wasn’t coming, the driver approached and said, “I need you to get in the car.”
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll find out soon enough, now, go get in the car.”
It took all off her strength to take that first step but once she did the momentum took her all the way until she was seated in the back.
When the driver closed the door she heard Number One. “Hi Portia, are you ready to know what this unorthodox plan is?”
Kyle sat quietly, both of hands on the steering wheel in a white-knuckle grip. His teeth grinding and jaw clenched as he stewed over his predicament. Barry was right, Number One never offered deals, if he was anything, it was predictable. Knowing Portia was being granted a pardon in exchange for something led him to believe it couldn’t be good. Then there was Barry, he hadn’t asked yet, but he had a good idea what he asking for and that was most likely to keep quiet while Barry leveraged what influence he had on behalf of Portia. Knowing Portia was in Number One’s clutches both panicked and angered him.