Chapter 11: On the Move
Benton and Jonny sat cuddled together on the bed, watching an episode of Lassie. Bandit was jumping around in front of the screen, barking excitedly. Benton laughed at the little dog, amused by his antics. Jonny looked up at him and said, "Maybe we should get copies of this when we get home. Bandit seems to love it."
"He does, doesn't he?"
"We could leave it going while I'm at school so he has something to do," Jonny said.
"You want your dog to be a couch potato?" Benton asked teasingly.
"No!" Jonny exclaimed. "He'd be a floor potato. Or maybe a bed potato."
Benton chuckled. "He has plenty to do while you're at school, Jonny. He chases butterflies and birds and squirrels, and anything else that has the audacity to come into range." Jonny laughed, and Benton was glad to see it. "I was thinking it would be a good form of entertainment for the rest of us."
"Yeah. Jessie would love it!" Jonny was grinning as he spoke, but the grin faded as the words sank in. "And Hadji would make some remark about entertainment for the masses," he added, sighing.
"Yes," Benton agreed. "And I would probably walk in around then and be completely clueless about what the rest of you were talking about."
"I don't think you're quite as clueless as you pretend, Dad." Jonny grinned up at him. "I think you do a lot of that to tease us."
"Maybe I do, maybe I don't," Benton said, shrugging.
Jonny rolled his eyes. "Daaaaaad," he groaned.
There was a knock at the door, causing both of them to stiffen. Benton rose and walked over. "Yes?" he called.
The door opened and he saw that Dr. Pascale was there with Patricia who was carrying a tray of food that he presumed was their dinner. He stepped back dubiously, allowing them to enter. "What can we do for you, Dr. Pascale?"
"I would like to see what state Crandall left your son in. From what Patricia tells me, he was –" She stopped speaking abruptly, looking at the boy who had stood up on the other side of the bed. "My God, that's dreadful. Come here, boy."
Jonny backed away against the wall and Benton stepped across her path. "I think Jonny's had quite enough of your 'corporate policies' today."
"That isn't –" Pascale stopped looking over his shoulder and looked at him. "I'm going to put a stop to this. Crandall is out of line and will be dealt with."
Benton took the tray from Patricia. "I'll believe that when I see it. We were promised the rest of the day alone, without interference. So if you please. . ." He nodded toward the door. Sighing irritably, Pascale left, but Patricia hesitated. He raised his eyebrows at her and she left, looking very unhappy. He turned back to Jonny with the tray in his hands.
"Do you think she's lying?" Jonny asked, limping back over to the bed. "She really did sound mad."
Benton was struck anew by how horrific the injuries to Jonny's face appeared. His left eye was swollen closed, and his lips – how could he stand to talk? Benton put the tray down and walked around the bed, pulling Jonny gently into his arms.
"Dad?" Jonny said. "Dad, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I love you, Jonny."
"I love you, too, Dad," Jonny said, hugging him and patting him worriedly on the back.
Benton realized that he was alarming his son and pulled away. "So, are you ready for chicken stir fry?"
"I am kind of hungry," Jonny said. They settled down on the bed to eat. Benton wasn't about to suggest they shift into the sitting room, not after what took place there earlier. He hoped that Pascale really did have the power to eject Crandall. The thought of her trying made him nervous, however. Crandall wasn't a man to take being crossed lightly.
Jonny started eating gingerly. When his own stomach rumbled, Benton realized that he had only been picking at the meals that had been set before him, and he couldn't even remember what Crandall had fed him for lunch. He sighed, watching his son feed Bandit a sliver of chicken. If he could get his hands on Crandall, or that Marcus, he would – he would –
Benton closed his eyes. Race had never failed them, and Benton didn't believe he would start now.
Race was silent for a moment. Then he spoke in a quiet, dangerous voice. "Yes, Corvin, I said 'the corporation.' Why? Does it mean something to you?"
Diana, who was standing across the conference table from him, sank into a chair, her hand to her mouth, eyes wide.
"Are you saying this girl said that the corporation took Benton and Jonny?" Corvin said in voice that sounded stiff with shock.
"Yes, Corvin, I am. What in the hell do you know about this 'corporation,' Phil? I need to know."
"Well, it might conceivably be worse," Corvin said. "They could have been kidnapped by aliens and taken several light years out into space."
"Phil, this is serious."
"So am I. We've been trying to track them for fifteen years, and we've made absolutely no progress."
"Well, we've got four members of it right here," Race said sourly. "I'd call that progress."
"Race, get me that interview tape now. This could be the break we've been –"
"Phil, I'm a little focused on finding Benton and Jonny here. I'll get you that tape, but don't you go haring off on some tangent about another case."
"It's the same case, Race. They're related."
"Would you please fax or e-mail or whatever – get me all the info you have on this 'corporation' pronto." He paused, taking in a deep breath. "Think about it. They've got Benton and Jonny. If they're threatening Jonny to get Benton to work for them – that kid is reckless."
"Jose's already on it. Hadji and Jessie should have the files coming up in their e-mail now."
"Thanks. Now, is there any more news about this plane?"
"Beyond that it headed south, not yet."
"Well, I'll keep questioning these kids, who knows, one of them may drop something useful," Race said, standing up.
"Race, I have a radical suggestion," Corvin said. "Have you got any idea what time it is?"
Race shrugged and glanced at his watch. "Half past eleven."
"How much sleep did you get last night."
"I don't know, three or four hours."
"And Hadji?"
"He –" Race pulled his words up short and sighed. "I get your point, Phil."
"Take the kids somewhere they can sleep, and get some rest yourself. You won't do Benton and Jonny any good if you wear yourself out."
"Right. I know."
"Do I have to make it an order? Because I will if I have to."
"Cut it out, Phil. I'll take the kids to a motel."
"Good. I'll call you in the morning, whether there's news or not."
Race hung up the phone and looked up at Diana. "Do you know of a good motel around here?"
She smiled. "Sure. I'm glad he persuaded you. Estella was planning on coming in here with a crowbar at midnight and dragging you out by your hair."
Race snorted. "Well, we can't have that."
He went out into the waiting room and looked at the kids. Jessie was typing madly on Hadji's computer, and Hadji was sitting on the floor, leaning back against the wall and snoring. Estella saw him emerge, Jessie's laptop in one hand, his cell phone in the other, and said, "Dare I hope you're planning on going to bed?"
"Yup," he said shortly, pocketing the phone and handing the computer to Jessie. Bending, he scooped Hadji into his arms. He had certainly gotten long over the past couple of years, but Race managed to carry him out to the car and sit him in the backseat. Carrying both laptops in their cases, Jessie climbed in beside him and buckled him into his seat. Estella climbed in beside her, and Race, after starting to climb into the driver's seat, allowed himself to be guided around to the passenger side by Diana.
They checked into two motel rooms. For safety's sake, Diana, Estella and Jessie would share one, and Race and Hadji would share the other. Race started to pick the boy up, but he woke up. "I can climb a few stairs," he said when Race offered to help him. Nevertheless, Race kept an arm around his shoulders.
When they reached the room, Race kicked off his shoes, suddenly realizing just how tired he really was. Hadji went straight to the bathroom, but Race just pulled off his shirt and pants and climbed into one of the beds. After a few moments, he felt the bed shift. He glanced over and saw that Hadji, turban removed, had climbed into the bed beside him. The room had two beds, but Race didn't mind. Hadji had to be more than a little scared.
"Good night, Race," Hadji said quietly, reaching out to turn off the light.
"Good night, Hadji," Race replied, reaching out and tousling the black hair. "Everything's going to be okay." Hadji smiled and turned the switch.
Benton remained awake in the dark for a while after Jonny had fallen asleep, thinking about their situation. He would have to do whatever Crandall asked of him. He couldn't risk anything more happening to his son, and he certainly couldn't count on Dr. Pascale to prevent Crandall from going further. For all he knew, it was a 'good cop, bad cop' ploy in any case.
When Jonny whimpered in his sleep, Benton stroked his hair worriedly. He had to sleep, he knew that. He was going to be expected to work in the morning, and if he was too sleepy, he knew who would pay the price. Sliding down in the bed, he closed his eyes and forced himself to think calm thoughts. Sleep was slow in coming, but eventually he slipped off.
It seemed like only moments later when there was an almighty pounding on the door. Benton leapt to his feet, flipped on the lights and looked at his watch. Four-thirty in the morning, and it wasn't as if he could open the damned door. He glanced back to see Jonny cowering on the bed, clearly terrified.
Bandit leapt off the bed and started barking at the closed door. Benton grabbed him. That dog had no concept of how small he really was, and Jonny was liable to do something idiotic if someone harmed or even threatened him.
A second later, the door was flung open and Crandall came in with his goons. He seemed almost incandescent with rage. "I'd say good morning, Dr. Quest, but it isn't one. It seems we underestimated that Bannon fellow."
Benton felt a chill feather through his gut, and Bandit started squirming. He squeezed the little dog more firmly against his chest. "What do you plan to do?"
"We're moving you," Crandall said, and Benton sighed in relief, reflecting that it could have been much worse. Then the dark-haired medic from the house came in, and Benton stared at her in surprise. "The plane is here. You have to be sedated for transport."
Jonny came up behind him, putting an arm around his waist. "I'd rather remain conscious if that's possible," Benton said in as calm a voice as he could muster under the circumstances.
Crandall gestured with two fingers and Marcus moved swiftly forward, seizing Jonny by the arm and dragging him away from him. Jonny tried to hang on, and so did Benton, but Chris raised his rifle, pointing it not at him but at his son. Benton released the boy instantly. The medic looked slightly stunned, but she didn't speak.
Crandall smiled at him. "It's all the same to me if young Jonathon is sedated or if I knock him out myself. Which will it be, Dr. Quest?" Benton didn't speak, he just started rolling up his sleeve. "Good man, you do learn, eventually." Benton clenched his teeth.
"Let go!" Jonny cried, trying to pull away from Marcus' grip. "You're hurting me!"
Crandall turned his glare on Jonny, but Benton stepped forward. "Please don't be angry with him," he said. "He's –" Chris raised his rifle in his direction, and Benton stopped, his hands balling into fists. He didn't think they'd shoot him, but he didn't dare take the risk.
The villain ignored Benton as if he hadn't spoken. "I distinctly recall telling you, boy, not to speak unless you were asked a direct question." Jonny froze, like a deer in headlights. "Do you remember me saying that?" Jonny nodded. "I can't hear you!"
Benton started forward again, but Chris pulled back the bolt on his rifle. Benton stopped dead.
"Yes, sir," Jonny said in a high, clear voice, his eyes wide with fear.
"So, you aren't going to speak out of turn again, are you?"
"No, sir," Jonny replied. Benton wanted to strangle Crandall for frightening Jonny so badly. The medic looked frankly appalled, and Benton began to wonder if Dr. Pascale and Patricia weren't telling the truth that this behavior was beyond the pale even for their operation.
"Fine. Marcus, let him go back to his father." Marcus let go of Jonny's arm, and he shot across the room to Benton's side. "You, sedate them."
"No, sir," the medic said, her mouth set in a firm line.
Crandall whipped around furiously. "What did you say?" he demanded in a soft, dangerous voice.
"I said, no," she said in a calm clear tone. "Sir. Respectfully. Look at the boy, he can't be sedated in that condition."
"Don't be ridiculous!"
"He could have a concussion. I can't sedate him. He's no good as a hostage if he's dead."
"Our doctor checked him out last night. He's fine." Benton blinked. That certainly hadn't been what Pascale had said to him.
"No, sir. I can't sedate him. You'll have to blindfold them."
"You can sedate the father, can't you?"
"No, sir. The boy will need someone to take care of him."
"Fine, then I'll take care of him," Crandall snapped.
Jonny made a small sound of pain, and Benton realized that he'd gripped his son's injured shoulder too tightly. But Jonny didn't pull away. Bandit started whimpering, and Benton squeezed the dog to quiet him.
"That's not really feasible, sir," the medic said. "He'll need his father, and it will keep the father busy." Crandall just glared at her, not relenting, and Benton started taking deep breaths. "I have the authority to demand this, sir."
"Fine!" Crandall spat. "Marcus, Chris, take them." The medic moved a shade faster and put an arm around the two of them. "I'll get them to the plane, Mr. Crandall. If you feel your guards are necessary, they can come along."
Benton walked out of the room almost willingly with this unexpected guardian angel. She took them into the hall and out into a larger room that they hadn't seen before where there were others who had been in on their capture. He found it quite alarming to discover that he was glad to see them now.
Some of them turned to stare open-mouthed at Jonny. Clearly, they had not expected to see him in this state. Benton didn't know what to think.
"All right, Dr. Quest, Jonny, please stop here for a moment." They complied, and, after beckoning to an angel-faced young man, the woman pulled a couple of ace bandages from her medical bag. "I'm going to wrap these around your eyes, and then Andrew and I will guide you onto the plane."
Jonny clutched at him, but Benton stroked his back reassuringly, though he himself felt anything but reassured as the medic began winding the makeshift blindfold around his eyes.
Race was clearly on their trail or Crandall wouldn't have said what he did. He kept that thought firmly in mind, that Race had them on the run. As they were led forward to the plane, he kept one arm around Jonny's shoulder and the other holding Bandit tightly.
He heard whispered exclamations around them for a few moments, then the sound of a door opening. Several steps later, the medic said, "We're starting up a ramp now." They walked onto the plane under her calm, confident guidance. Finally, Benton heard a panel open before them and then close behind them, and the medic said, "We're here. Let's get those blindfolds off you now."
She rapidly unwrapped the bandages and Benton saw that they were in a compartment that was twin to the one they'd flown here in, always assuming it wasn't the same one. Jonny looked around nervously, not moving away from his father's side. Benton took Jonny across to the fixed bed and got him settled with his injured leg outstretched, putting Bandit down beside him.
Then he turned back to the medic. "Thank you," he said. "Where are Marcus and Chris?"
"Outside the door," she replied, giving him a rueful smile that he didn't return. "Do you need anything, Dr. Quest? An ice pack or –"
"That might not hurt," Benton said. She nodded and left, bringing the ice back in a few minutes later.
"It will be about fifteen more minutes till we take off," she said. "There are fruit cups and juice in the refrigerator if you're hungry."
As she turned to go, Benton took a step forward. "Why are we being moved?" he asked.
She turned back and gave him another rueful smile. "That's only an intake facility, sir," she said. "There are no decent lab facilities."
"Is that the only reason?" Benton asked quickly before she could leave.
Pursing her lips, she sighed. "It's the only reason I'm permitted to give you, Dr. Quest. I'm sorry." Her eyes echoed that emotion and Benton shrugged. She turned to go and he didn't try to delay her any further. Perhaps wherever they were going, Crandall would not be in charge. He went back to the bed and sat down with Jonny and Bandit. Both boy and dog were unusually subdued. Bandit, always sensitive to tension, was cuddled up close to Jonny's leg, offering what comfort he could.
"I don't think Dr. Pascale got him taken off the project," Jonny said after a moment.
Benton sighed. "It doesn't seem likely, does it?"
"What are we going to do?" Jonny asked.
"Whatever we have to, son."
Jonny was silent for a moment, then he turned his head and looked into his father's eyes. "If you get a chance to escape, Dad, don't let me slow you down. Just go."
Benton looked down at his son's earnest face in complete astonishment. "I can't do that, Jonny," he said at last.
"But, Dad –"
Benton shook his head. "No buts, Jonny. I could never leave you in this situation." Jonny opened his mouth, but Benton put a hand very gently on his cheek. "That's final, my boy. We're getting out of here together." He pulled a blanket down from the overhead compartment. "Now, get some sleep. It looks like we may have a long day ahead of us."
