The Fey (46 page)

“
Get on your knees.” The
man pushed her to the ground.

Dropping to her knees, she gasped as the
glass on the ground cut into her blue jeans. The man dropped a
black fabric hood over her head. Yanking her to standing, he pushed
her in front of him. They went up seven creaking wooden stairs,
then turned left down a corridor or tunnel. They walked what felt
like an entire city block. With the handgun at her back, he pushed
her up a series of wooden steps. He unlocked a door, then pushed
her out into the snow.

The cold hit Alex with the force of a truck.
Her feet froze through her modified shoes. She shivered in the cold
while he slowly opened the van door. He pushed her inside. Falling
forward onto a bench seat, her chin hit the seat. Hearing him lock
the door, she rotated to sitting. He stepped into the driver’s
seat. Without warning, he punched her face. Her head knocked
against the seat. His hand dropped two pills into her lap. He
pulled the fabric off her head.

“
Antibiotics.”

She picked up the pills with her tongue. To
cover her motions, he hit her with an open hand. Alex spat at him.
Wiping her spit off his face, he laughed then started the car. He
turned the stereo to blast Arabic music.

Alex had been in that dark room for so long
that every sound, every sensation, every sight assaulted her
senses. Closing her eyes, she dropped her head to her lap. Every
inch of her body hurt. Even the follicles of her hair ached.

“
Sick?” he said under his
breath.

“
Yes,” Alex replied. “Need
to eat.”

“
Just make you sicker.
Rest while we drive. It’ll be a couple hours.”

A couple hours? Then what?

Alex smiled.

Whatever happened, she was ready.

FFFFFF

October 14 – 2 P.M.
Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado

“
Sir, Arvada Police are on
scene. As you know, they responded to reports of gun fire.” Alex’s
Sergeant came into the conference room where Patrick, Ben, Matthew,
Raz and Sean waited. “There are two men down. As we expected, they
are non-nationals on Homeland’s terrorist list. Sir, the room? They
said there is blood everywhere. There is a pool of blood near the
door. It looks like… well, their forensics is there. I’m
sorry.”

Patrick searched the Sergeant’s face
wondering what he wasn’t telling him.

“
And the gun
shot?”

“
They found a 9 mm shell
in the brick wall. They do not believe the bullet hit
anyone.”

“
Sean, have you heard from
your guy?”

“
No,” Sean said.
“According to Agent Rasmussen, they are driving west on the
interstate. My operative has been staying at a remote cabin in the
Pikes Peak National Forest. I assume he is taking her
there.”

“
Satellite?” Patrick
asked.

“
I have a picture of them
leaving the building, sir,” Raz said. “She’s wearing a hood. He
pushes her in the car. We can’t tell exactly but I think he gives
her some pills.”

“
He was going to give her
antibiotics,” Sean said.

“
Probably. They slap at
each other in the car then he takes off. We are following them by
the transmission in her hip.”

“
And Eleazar?”

“
He is in the country,”
Ben said. “He’s taken a private jet from New York State. We believe
he will land at a private air strip near the cabin.”

“
What’s his travel
time?”

“
Three, maybe four
hours.”

“
So your guy will take her
to the cabin, then they wait for Eleazar?” Patrick
asked.

“
That’s our assumption,”
Ben said.

“
Will you hear from your
guy, Sean?”

“
I might. He’s fairly safe
since the other people are either dead or in Arvada City Jail
awaiting transfer.”

“
And the rest of the team?
Matthew, when do they arrive?”

“
They will touch down
around four o’clock. I have spoken with the pilot and he is going
to fly them to Fort Carson. They should be at the cabin by five
o’clock, give or take a half hour.”

“
Shall we go?” Max asked
walking into the conference room.

Matthew and Raz looked up at him then
Patrick.

“
I can’t,” Patrick said.
“US Senators don’t mobilize on targets. I’ll stay here.
Sean?”

“
He’s my guy. I’m
going.”

“
I’ll go.” Matthew stood
from his seat.

“
Ben?”

“
I’ll stay
here.”

“
Sergeant?” Patrick
asked.

“
I think Major Drayson and
the team will need me here. I can keep track of movement and the
satellite. I mean no disrespect, sir, but should Max go? He’s a
civilian.”

“
I don’t think we can stop
him,” Patrick replied.

“
Then we’re leaving?” Max
asked.

Raz stood, stretched and walked toward the
door. Max’s face was set in an expression he recognized from Alex’s
face. Max was done talking. Putting a hand on his shoulder, Raz
said, “Shot gun.”

Matthew laughed and followed them out of the
room leaving Sean to speak with Patrick and Ben. They were standing
at the elevator when Sean caught up with them.

“
Weapons?” Sean
asked.

“
We’re set,” Matthew said.
He pulled a handgun from the holster.

“
Got your forty-five?” Max
raised his eyebrows at Matthew.

“
Yes. You made that face
at me yesterday. Why does every fucking Hargreaves make that face
about my handgun?”

Raz put his hand on Matthew’s shoulder. He
opened his mouth then laughed. Stepping onto the elevator, he
pressed the button for the garage.

“
Hargreaves family
saying,” Raz said. He looked at Max.

“
We’re just concerned for
Erin,” Max said. Raz laughed.

“
What?!? Just fucking tell
me.”

“
Patrick says that weapons
were like penises. If you know how to use your, uh, weapon, it
doesn’t matter what size it is. People only need large weapons when
they can’t… well…”

Sean burst out laughing looking from
Matthew’s indignant face to Max’s laughing smile.

“
That’s great. That’s just
great,” Matthew said as the elevator doors closed.

F

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

October 14 – 3:53 P.M.
Pike’s Peak National Forest

Alex stumbled on a branch covered by a layer
of snow . Her captor pushed her forward under the trees. They
arrived at a small cabin. Rather than taking her inside, he pushed
her around the cabin. Stumbling and walking, they reached the river
about two hundred yards from the cabin. He pushed her against a
pine tree.

“
Turn around,” he said.
“I’ll unlock them.”

Alex jumped through the handcuffs so that
her hands were in front. He laughed and unlocked them.

“
The entire house is
monitored with video and audio by everyone including British
Intelligence. No one can see or hear you here.” He pointed to the
trees. “No satellite either. We can speak freely here.”

“
Thanks Sumit.” Alex
smiled.

“
I’m sorry Alexandra,” Dr.
Sumit Roy said. “You are at risk for clotting from your injuries.
You need an ice bath and I cannot give you one in that monitored
bathroom. The river will have to suffice. I’m sorry.”

“
Sumit, what is the plan?”
Alex asked.

“
Eleazar will be here in
two, maybe two and a half hours. In the meantime, we will dress you
like a proper woman. Of course, I’m going to rape you
first.”

Alex raised her eyebrows indicating that
she’d like to see him try. He laughed.

“
We will pretend,” he
said. “I know you find me irresistible but I am
married.”

Alex laughed. “How is Dalal?”

“
Very well. Excited to
lose a child. My eldest boy was admitted early to Harvard. He will
attend next fall.”

“
I can’t believe he’s old
enough for college.”

“
They grow up fast,” he
said. “Alex, I have to stay with you while you clean up. Do you
mind?”

“
No.”

“
You were so kind with
me.” Sumit stopped talking for a moment as the memory came to him.
“You gave me a warm bath, warm clothing, even held me while I
shook… I cannot repay the favor.”

“
I’d be grateful for some
food.”

“
We’ll eat a proper meal
when we go inside. Rice for you. You will throw up anything
else.”

Alex nodded.

“
How is the
wound?”

“
Infected.” Alex looked at
her left forearm.

“
We’ll take a look at that
as well. I have bandages in my pockets.”

Alex nodded. She peeled off her filthy
clothing. The cabin was located over nine thousand feet. It was
very cold. Taking a deep breath, Alex walked naked into the three
foot high river. The frigid water shocked her to the core. Moving
through the river to a deep pool, she sat down and rinsed her body
with her hands. Sumit threw her a cloth and a small bar of soap.
Using the cloth and soap, Alex did her best to clean up. She lay
back in the pool letting the cold water numb her bruised and broken
body.

“
I need to burn this
clothing,” he said. “I’ll set this here.”

Sumit held up the Leatherman Mini-tool then
set it on a rock by the river. While Alex soaked, he built a large
bonfire. One piece at a time, he burned her clothing.

“
It’s time,” he
said.

Moving to the bank of the river, she set the
cloth and soap down. Sumit threw her a small towel. He pointed to a
spot by the fire where she could warm up.

“
Raping?” Alex
asked.

“
Ah yes,” Sumit said.
“God, you are bruised. Is that from me?”

“
Fucker,” Alex
replied.

“
Let me see the
arm.”

Alex held her left arm out to him. He
unwrapped the wet strips of T-shirt away from the gash and made a
noise.

“
Did you do this
scraping?”

Alex nodded.

“
Probably saved your
life,” he said.

Tearing open a small packet of disinfectant
ointment with his teeth, he smeared the injured area. He bandaged
the arm with gauze and tape. He checked her pulse then her
temperature.

“
You won’t take aspirin,”
he said.

She shook her head. He shrugged.

He gave her a black abaya, robes that
covered her from head to toe. He gave her a black niqab, a scarf
covering her face and a scarf to cover her head. Only her eyes were
seen.

“
Would you like me to
bandage your forehead?” Alex asked.

“
No, I will do it for the
cameras. You need these.” Sumit gave her a pair of long black
gloves.

“
Sexy,” she
said.

“
You are not a Muslim
man,” he said.

“
Not today.
Shoes?”

“
I don’t have any,” he
said. “You need to know… I will do what I can for you but… I’ve
been informed that my placement in this organization is of greater
importance…”

“
Than my life?”

“
I’m sorry.”

Alex shrugged. “They’re probably right. I
will do what I can for you as well.”

“
It is what we can do.
Remember you have just been raped.”

Alex nodded. While Sumit put the waning fire
out, she tucked the Mini-tool into a seam of her right glove.

“
Shall we?” Sumit
asked.

Alex nodded and they began their dance of
distain.

Sumit grabbed her arm and pulled her toward
the cabin. They moved from the cover of the trees. Alex stopped
half way, bending at the waist and pressed her hand to her crotch
as if in pain. He yanked her arm and pushed her toward the cabin.
She fell forward, catching herself with her hands, then glowering
at him.

He unlocked the cabin door and they moved
into the one room cabin. Alex limped to a chair next to a tattered
Formica table. She plopped herself into the chair while Sumit began
making a mid-day meal. Resting her head on her hand, she was asleep
by the time he finished cooking. He shook her awake then threw a
plate of rice at her. Glowering at him, she stuffed rice into her
mouth. He ignored her while he ate his meal. Standing over her, he
pressed his hips toward her face, covering her from the cameras.
His hand slipped more antibiotics into her mouth.

After the meal, he pulled her into the main
living area where he handcuffed her to the couch. She fell asleep
to the sound of soccer on television.

It would be over soon.

FFFFFF

October 15 – 1:07 A.M.
Northern Scotland

(October 14 – 5:07 P.M. Colorado)

“
Wake up John,” Alex
whispered.

They were backpacking through Yosemite
National Park. Opening his eyes, he stretched his sore body. He
blinked. Alex was naked surrounded in an almost neon blue
light.

“
We must rest, love. We
have twelve miles uphill tomorrow” He turned over in his down
sleeping bag.