He woke up as the day broke. His vision was clear but he wasn't sure where he was. He could hear people murmuring in another room. Rolling over, he quietly slipped off the bed. Where did they put his shoes? He found them next to the chair by the bed. Now he needed a shirt. Something to cover the bandages. A quick scan of the room revealed no other clothing than the suit jacket on the back of the chair. In the pockets he found keys, a cell phone and an ID badge. Tossing the phone on the bed, he shrugged the jacket on. A little long in the arms but better than no shirt at all. He eased the door almost closed. Then an inch at a time he began to raise the window. He wanted to go home.
At the laptop, James typed in the pattern that Sue discovered. Running through his team's database for codes, it took less than five seconds to ping a match. He did the small version of the YES fist. Then he encrypted the code even further and sent it into the etherworld of the Internet for safekeeping. One of his crew on the other end would find it and pull it to safety. Now, he had to get his teammate home in one piece.
"So what happens next?" Sue asked. She and Bobby had joined James at the table as Hector was sleeping soundly.
The silent man switched programs and typed on his computer. He spun it toward the pair and moved next to Sue.
Now that we have the code, Wreck will be of no use to them. But they don't know we have it so I have to keep him safe until his system clears. The mind altering drugs should be flushed out soon. When that will be? About five or six hours. Maybe less. They had him for a day before I got there.
"What about us, mate?"
My squad will be here in a couple of hours. Until then, you'll need to stay here. I can't protect you out there. Once we're gone, you'll be safe. They don't know who you are. I—
James jumped up and pulled his gun about the time Levi started to bark. He went tearing down the hall. Bobby looked at Sue and they both took off after him. By the time they reached the bedroom, James was gone. The tall Aussie heard a car start and swore. Spinning around he saw his jacket missing. Sue handed him his phone. He put it in his pocket.
James was kneeling, taking aim at the tires of Bobby's car when they came racing out.
Bamm! Bamm-Bamm!The car fishtailed wildly as the driver regained control even with two flats. James sprinted across the drive and took aim again.
Bamm-Bamm!The car came to a screeching stop and the driver bailed out, making a mad dash for the open field. James holstered his gun and took off motioning for Bobby to cut across. Sue watched them chase the very confused man. Levi nosed her and she reached to pat him when it hit her.
"Levi, fetch. Get Hector. Push." She motioned for him to jump and push and pointed at the fleeing man. "Go!"
Barking once, the golden Retriever stretched his legs getting in a good run. He bounded over small bushes and caught up with the running man. Gathering himself, Levi jumped up towards Hector's back and pushed off. He landed safely and waited for the other men to catch up. This was a fun game.
James rushed up and flipped the fallen man over. He was pushed away when a pair of legs sent him reeling backwards. Recovering, he dropped into a defensive posture as Hector rolled up to his feet. Bobby arrived seconds later to see the flash of a knife. He grabbed Levi before he could jump again. "Go to Sue. Go and stay there," he told the dog pushing him in the direction of his mistress. As the lab bounded back to the woman, Bobby set himself to watch for an opening. A knife fight was bad. He was going to be ready to act.
In his mind, Hector wanted to get away. Now they were saying that Mara was dead and his daughter didn't exist. And the one guy kept trying to subdue him. He needed to get away from these people. He slashed with the knife he'd found in the car. The silent man side stepped the blow and returned with one of his own to the back of Hector's head. He cried out in pain but rolled with the blow and came up behind his opponent. Spinning, James ripped off his overshirt and wrapped it around his hands like a rope. Hector feinted with the knife and came in with a roundhouse kick to the silent man's head. Leaning back, James used the shirt to loop the flying foot and toss the body attached to it into a spin. Hector used his momentum to continue forward and landed on one foot and one knee. He rared his hand back. James whipped his shirt around and heard Bobby yell "MATE!" just as Hector let go.
Time slowed down as Bobby shouted. Hector registered just what he'd done as he heard the Aussie yell. He dove forward after the knife as if to catch it. James threw himself backward and down, bringing the shirt up to deflect the weapon. Sheer timing pushed the blade a hair off course to pass over his body and bury itself hilt deep in a tree twenty feet behind him.
The silent man slammed to the ground.
"NOOOOOO!" Hector was up and running toward his fallen teammate.
Bobby beat him there and grabbed him in a bear hug grip. He gritted his teeth and spat at the distraught man "What the hll? He's your mate! You tried to kill him!"Hector struggled to get loose. "Oh, God!" He shrugged out of the taller man's jacket and was down on his knees, his head clutched in his hands. Great dry heaves shook his body as he curled into a tight ball. "No, no no no no no no no no no no—" he rocked back and forth until a strong hand on his shoulder caused him to look up. Cloudy ocean blue eyes met clear hazel as they came down level. Slowly the rocking stopped.
James signed slowly enough for both men to read. 'It's okay, Wreck. I know this is not the real you. You are almost home.' He kept his friend's gaze. As the sun fully broke over the horizon, he watched the clouds in the oceans of blue burn away.