Chapter Twenty-One
Ray
Are we leave Audra's house we make our way to Florida and check into a hotel. Since we no longer have a sponsor we are all crammed into two rooms. We need to figure out a way to now get Chloe out to the country by getting her a fake I.D.
"What about the guy who made Jamie's fake I.D.?"
"No, with the authorities looking for Jamie and I, we can't risk it."
"If we weren't in such a hurry, we could take a freighter."
Jackson nods.
"Yeah, I would give anything for a cruise to Africa right about now."
As we talk about different ways to help get Chloe and Jamie out of the country we hear Abe call out from the other room.
"Hey, guys… Listen to this."
When we get into the other room and see a CDC agent speaking to a new host.
"Afraid, no. Cautious, perhaps. The CDC is, however, looking into the matter."
"We've heard enough reports about aberrant animal behavior that we're considering the possibility of a virus."
"It's not a virus."
"What can the people at home do?"
"If you notice any odd behavior in your pet, see your local veterinarian."
I sigh softly and shake my head, sitting on the bed.
"Well, that was helpful."
Jamie nods and sighs.
"So... I got a question. If we keep driving south, straight through Florida, eventually we're gonna run out of Terra firma."
Jackson claps his hands.
"That's it. Let's go to Clearwater."
Mitch, who has been leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed, sighs softly shaking his head.
"Why? Never in the course of human events has Clearwater, Florida ever been the solution to anything."
"Well, today it is. In Clearwater, there is a way to get back to Africa."
"What's in Clearwater?"
Abe and I look up to each other, realizing Jackson's plan.
"Oh, no."
"You're thinking about Ray, aren't you?"
Jackson nods.
"Yes, I am."
"No, not that. Not Ray."
I stand, shaking my head and hands in protest.
"Who's Ray?"
Abe sighs.
"He's a nightmare."
The next morning Abe, Jackson, and I head out to Clearwater, which is only a little ways away from the town we had stopped in. When we get to the dock where Ray should be he is fighting with a few fishermen.
"Come on, Baggo. I think there's been a misunderstanding… Can you at least take off the high school ring, sport? I know how proud you are that you have made it as far as high school."
Abe calls out to the men as they beat on Ray.
"Alright guys, that's enough."
Ray looks over, as one of the men has him by the shirt collar and he's on his knees.
"All the way from Africa to defend my honor!"
I sigh softly.
"I see you're still as popular as ever, Ray."
"Meet my pals, David and Goliath. Bet you didn't know they reconciled and now they wander the globe doing the good work."
One of the men shakes his head.
"This gotta stop, Ray. Gotta stop now."
"Yeah, yeah."
I sigh softly and crossing my arms.
"I know he probably deserves this, but what did he do?"
"Released 200 pounds of caught shrimp from our holds and that's the fourth time this month he's done it."
Ray stumbles to his feet.
"Tell me something. You know what 'bycatch' is, fellas? Sharks, sea turtles, seals, and other 'non-target' fish that end up in these bastards' nets, only to be tossed overboard because they ain't shrimp."
"It's our living! And your friend here is trying to ruin it."
Abe takes a deep breath.
"He's not our friend."
"This ain't over, Ray. I'll see you soon."
Ray nods and spits out some blood as the men walk away and back to their boats.
"Gotta say, I was surprised to hear from you. Figured you were still sore about Nairobi."
I tilt my head to the side slightly and clench my jaw.
"You almost got them killed in Nairobi. Sore doesn't even begin to cover it."
"Hell, those poachers were bad men. And your boys were on the right side of right."
"Ray, the right side of right doesn't mean anything if they're dead."
"Well, I gotta say I'm happy to see you again too Kat."
Jackson takes a deep breath crossing his arms as well.
"Are you still making that Africa run, Ray?"
"Yeah, now and again."
"We need to get out of the country. Six of us. Off the books, under the radar."
"How soon do you need to leave?"
"As soon as possible."
"That'll cost you."
"How much?"
"Much more than you've got if you're showing up on my doorstep. Since I'm the last resort for you two boy scouts and the young gentlemen killer. So it will cost you, much much more. Or maybe nothing at all."
"What's that mean?"
"My associates and I are doing a little something-something tonight. We could use the manpower."
I sigh.
"Is what you're doing against the law?"
"Not if you're a zebra in a cage."
"No, no way."
"Suit yourself."
Jackson sighs.
"And if we do help you?"
"Then it's simple. You wash my back, and I fly yours the hell out of the country one step ahead of whoever it is that's chasing you."
"What is it that you and your associates are doing?"
"We're breaking into Clearwater Zoo. To liberate the animals."
"Of course you are."
Abe and I are all too happy to get away from Abe. You see Ray has a way of pulling Jackson into all kinds of trouble. That's how Nairobi came about. Jackson and Ray went in to handle some poachers. What Ray hadn't told anyone was that he had been a throne in the paw of those guys for months and they were ready for him when he came around again. Abe ended up going in and had to save the two of them. When we get back to the hotel and try to explain this all to others they are all are rather confused by the idea of trusting someone like Ray.
"Okay, so who's this friend of yours?"
Abe sighs.
"He is not our friend."
I take a deep breath.
"He's an ex-Marine, an animal rights activist, ad he spends a lot of time in Africa, interfering with poachers."
Jackson nods.
"That's how we met him."
"He's crazy."
"He's not crazy. He's… He's just… not uncrazy."
"His group call themselves the Free Animal Rights Militia. F.A.R.M."
Mitch clears this throat.
"I've dealt with these kinds of people before. They're zealots. Don't know the first thing about animal welfare."
Jamie scoffs.
"Well, not to mention some of us are already wanted by the police."
"Well, I agree, but we gotta get out of here, and we gotta get out of here fast. But Ray… Ray can be a bit of a loose cannon."
Jackson sighs.
"Maybe more than a bit. But everything he has ever done has been for the animals."
Abe nods.
"Look, I know desperate times require desperate measures… but this isn't desperate… This is reckless."
I shake my head.
"I understand your reservations, Abe, but I'm with Jackson. I don't really think we have a better option."
"This is a terrible idea."
Mitch sighs.
"I'm gotta say, I'm with Abe… meaning I'm anti-doing this thing with these… losers. But… I'm just gonna put this out there: we could probably get an electroporator from that zoo. Clearwater Zoo has a pathology lab, which means they most likely have one."
"Even so…"
"Guys…"
I point to the tv screen in the room, which is showing all of our photos and names.
"The prime suspects in the murder of FBI Special Agent Ben Shafer. Jackson Oz, Chloe Tousignant, Abraham Kenyatta, Mitchell Morgan, and Katherine Smith. These five people are all possible accomplices in Agen Shafer's murder. We're asking anyone who has seen them or who has any information concerning their whereabouts, to please step forward and contact us on our special hotline."
"Well, all of our names and faces are out there now. The chances of us getting recognized… getting caught… just quadrupled."
Chloe sighs shaking her head.
"Your friend is truly the only hope we've got."
Abe sighs again softly.
"He is not our friend."