All Is Silence - Deserted Lands #1

Chapter 31 - Part III

Carter led her into a holding cell. He slid the door shut and hollered, “Clear.”

Lizzie heard the bolts clunk into place. She glanced around. The cell had been modified from its former purpose, pink bedding, art on the wall, and a shower curtain around the toilet. There were a couple chairs and a pair of beds with a pile of reading material on one.

She lay down; she hadn’t slept well. Self-doubts spun through her head as she lay there feeling queasy.

An old Rolling Stone magazine with Johnny Depp on the cover caught her eye. The thought of no more new music and no more new magazines made her sad. She tossed the pile onto the floor and crawled into the covers.

Carter had been dumb enough to leave her with her cell phone, and it was fully charged now. She pulled it out to text.

No signal. But there was an answer to her last text from Zach. Okay. Waiting.

Lizzie had done the right thing rescuing her friends. They were worth it, but letting herself get caught was making less and less sense. She’d hoped to be with her father by now. Was he worth it? The voice on the phone had said he was passed out drunk. She closed her eyes, tired emotionally and physically.

                                                *      *      *

Zach, Duke and Nev talked strategy over lunch, cans of stew Rachael had found and heated up. They made a list of sporting goods shops in Salt Lake. They agreed to scout for vehicles and guns on the way.

Zach snorted. “Not like people have stickers on their doors that says ‘Registered Gun Owners of America.’”

“Wait,” Nev said. “That’s it. I wonder if Glen can get us that info?” She was already dialing. “I bet it’s on a computer somewhere.”

“Good idea,” Duke said.

“Yeah.” Zach nodded. “Using your head.”

Glen was still hiding, but no longer hungry. He’d stolen a case of army rations from the guys staking out his building. He ran some searches and e-mailed them a list of addresses of gun owners.

Duke mapped out a route on his laptop. “We’ll look for a second vehicle as we go.”

Zach scanned the streets as they drove. He was tired of driving in a vehicle crammed with people. Something smaller would do fine. He spotted a small white RAV4. “Stop. Back up. Down that street."

Duke whipped a u-turn, squirreling the tires.

Zach grabbed the oh-shit handle. "Thanks.” It was a Toyota hybrid, not the big Highlander he’d had his heart set on in Bellingham, but the smaller RAV4. Ought to fit four comfortably. Hopefully it had a full charge. He hopped out. It was locked, of course. The dashboard alarm light was flashing. That was a good sign. He turned to Duke.

Duke shrugged. He reached into the bed of the truck and hefted a metal baseball bat. “Here. You might need a house key."

Zach caught it with his left hand, “Thanks.” He strode to the house, swinging the bat loosely. He hit the doorbell. It echoed in the house.

He twisted the doorknob. The door opened. Zach pushed it gently. “Hello? Can I borrow your car?” Breaking in still nerved him up, but it came out as energy. He gripped the bat with both hands, holding it ready. There was a coat rack right inside the door with some key hooks full of assorted keys. In a dish on a little shelf lay a full ring of keys, including a Toyota key and a bunch of others. He pressed the unlock button and heard the vehicle chirp softly. “Bingo.” He walked back outside.

“Always wanted to drive one of these.” Duke opened the door and beckoned for Zach to get in. “And check out the engine."

“Yeah. Me too.” Zach sat down wondering if Duke was humoring him. A button glowed green on the dashboard. Zach pushed it. There was a low hum and barely perceptible rumble. “So far, so good."

“You sure you don’t want a gas-based one?” Duke smiled. “No need to save the planet, right?”

Zach wanted this car. “It’ll do for now.” He climbed in and played with the vehicle. Duke got in the other side. There was a red button on the dashboard. Looked like an aftermarket add-on. “What’s this? The ejection seat?” Zach pressed it. Suddenly he heard engine noise, loud pistony engine sounds. The digital readout read V8 truck.

Duke was laughing. “It’s a fake.”

Zach pressed it again and again. VW Bug. Then Harley Davidson. Then Landspeeder. “Awesome.” He grinned and left it humming.

His phone buzzed. Nev. He answered it. “Yeah?”

“Lizzie sent a text,” Nev blurted. “Her dad and Jess are in some kind of trouble.”

Zach sighed. “We’re on our way.”

At the safe-house he glanced around at the crew. He’d gotten another text, too. “They’re not headed for Provo, some kind of delay. This is probably our last chance to get her back the easy way.”