Everyone set about exploring the place to see what they could find. Mikel answered as many questions as possible, but some were well above his pay grade. After an hour of Q&A, most of the group wandered off. Sal and Polly stayed behind to talk with Jesse while Byron discussed medical supplies with Mikel.
Seth and Stevie found a video game console and were in a competitive round of some shooters while Becka and Julie played with Hope. After a few hours passed, Sal and Mikel pulled the vehicles into the main shed to outfit and refuel. When they got to the station, they were surprised to find a military issue Hummer sitting at one of the pumps, the fuel line still connected to it.
Mikel pulled up short and got out, with Sal following close behind. Neither man appeared armed, though Mikel was strapped with two handguns, as was Sal. There was no sound in the fuel bay, so they walked to the front of the Hummer and felt the hood. It was still moderately warm. The vehicle was empty, but it appeared that at least two, possibly three, people had been inside.
Mikel gestured towards the office on the far side of the room, indicating they moved to either side of the doorway. They ran low and quietly to their spots. Mikel stood, knocked out a specific rhythm, and then introduced himself as “Uncle Nance.”
A moment later, “Aunt Virgil” replied that her two daughters were inside waiting on burritos. Mikel opened the door and walked in.
“You had us scared there for a minute, Nick. Good to see you.” Mikel walked straight to him with his hand outstretched.
Nick was another hugger.
Introductions took place, Sal was let in on the number of active cells in the area, which were six, but so far, only these two had been heard from. Nick mentioned that he was en route to pick up David for a flight to Maine when Sal broke the news about the abduction.
“Those suckers didn’t take the serum, did they. They must have given it to their goddamn families instead. Now they’re a bunch of dogs, and they think David can fix ‘em. Damnit!” Nick was furious.
“We don’t know that for sure. I had my suspicions, but it’s not confirmed. He is still alive, though. Left a shoe behind on a fence post with his box code in it.”
“Okay, well, we’re on our way to Chicago, and once there will pick up where you left off. Good work getting these people out. That’s what you needed to do. Are you going to stay with them, or what’s the plan once you find them suitable shelter?”
“What the hell, man? I can hold my own. David is one of my very closest friends. I want to help find him. I can’t just sit around my cabin knowing you’re out there looking and I ain’t doing shit. I’m coming with you.” Sal ordered them. He didn’t ask, and his tone didn’t give them the authority to question.
“Chill Sal. Nick and his boys are the best at extraction that we’ve got. Remember when President Cortez was taken hostage?”
“What? No!” Sal sounded as if Mikel was making it up.
“Of course you didn’t. These guys got her out in under two hours, and not one of her team was even scratched. The kidnappers, on the other hand, weren’t so lucky. They’re the best. Believe me.”
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“Fuck. Okay, I’ll stick with you, Mikel. I’ve got your back. When are we leaving this place for the cabin?”
“Tomorrow morning at 04:00. We need sleep, we need to relax a bit, and we need to catch up on the news. Plus, I found a copy of Ghostbusters and wanted to watch it in that awesome theater room they set up. Bet it’ll be sweet. Let’s let our minds take a rest for a minute.” Mikel spoke calmly, trying to get Sal to see his side of things and feel the need to take a moment away from the world.
“Okay. We stay. Let’s refuel, then park the cars. I need to talk to the gang upstairs.” Sal sounded almost optimistic. He walked out to the pumps, and the two men with Nick followed to help him out.
#
“Think he’ll stay?” Nick asked, doubt clouding his eyes.
“Maybe. I think he’s probably going to talk Byron, Seth, Becka, and maybe Julie into heading back to Chicago to find David. I hope not, but that’s my gut. You?”
“Same. I don’t know who the hell you’re talking about, but yeah. The dude’s not hanging around. Anything important in that Rover?”
“Na, not really. Why?”
“I could just have my guys go with him. They’d make damn sure he stays safe while not letting him interfere much in finding David. I’d just come along with the rest of you, set up the safe house for your friends, and then the three of us head back to Chicago via the lake. Be there in three days or so. No big delay, plus I don’t technically need to be with my guys on this one. I just need to be with them in Maine.”
“I don’t like the idea of not having Sal around. I love that guy. He’s like my older bartending brother. Always full of random knowledge, never backs down from a fight, and always has your back, even if he knows you’re wrong.”
“Sounds like a good guy. Let him go. They’ll get him back to you.”
“I’ll ask him, then we’ll go from there.”
#
Ghostbusters was all Mikel thought it would be in the theater room. The only thing missing was Sal. Mikel felt like he was missing one of his teeth. It hurt; he was constantly worried, and knowing the guys he was with did nothing to alleviate that fear.
When the three left, several tears were shed, hugs were given, and promises were made. Sal even gave little Hope a big kiss on the head. He loaded up on extra weapons from the locker and told Jesse, Mikel, Byron, and Nick to take care of everyone. As the Hummer was pulling away, it lurched to a stop, and Sal jumped out, ran back, and handed Julie the keys to the cabin, along with the address.
“Wouldn’t do much good if you didn’t know where you were going.” He laughed, jumped back in, and was gone.
The group returned to the barn, ate dinner, had a few drinks, and tried to lighten the mood. Byron and Julie disappeared from the crowd early, and then Jesse and Mikel announced they were off to bed. Everyone else followed in short order. Sleep found them all within minutes. All that is, except for Polly. She couldn’t sleep. She lay awake, quietly praying for the safe return of her new friend, Sal. Sal, the man who had held a knife to her throat only a few short days earlier, the man who had saved his friends countless times, the man that everybody loved. She felt a great weight on her and only felt it ebb when she prayed for Sal’s safe return. She prayed to God, to Jesus, to every Saint she thought might listen, and then she prayed to television characters she found the most caring. Before too long, she was praying to Gods in other faiths that she didn’t have any comprehension of. Buddha, Shiva, or any God she could think of. When she couldn’t come up with anyone else, she prayed to the elements. After that, she decided it was time she slept.
“Time to get up, everyone! It’s almost 04:00. Sorry to wake you all so early, but the earlier we’re on the road, the better. Nick made breakfast to go, and hopefully, you can just move from bed to car and go right back to Slumberland. I’m driving the Rover, and Jesse has the Volvo. Nick is taking Wingman in the Volvo while I get his royal highness, Byron. Okay, off we go!”
Polly rolled over and prayed one more time. This time, she prayed that she could get some quality sleep in the back of the Volvo, away from the baby.