“Improvise.”
August let out a tremendous sigh, then howled to his knees, doing so again to a full extension, wincing at the pain and straining beneath his mass. “Where are we going?”
She ignored the question, took hold of his elbow, and led him to the SUV’s passenger side.
August stared at Lauren questioningly. He was nearly three times her size, but he gave her no quarrel. At the open door, he slipped inside, lifting one leg in at a time, scooting forward somewhat to provide his bound hands extra space.
Lauren studied the man’s dilemma. He was bulkier than most grown men and now looked like a gorilla attempting to fit into a toddler’s safety seat. She made some seating adjustments for him, first lurching it backwards as far as it would go, then reclining the seatback, giving him a bit more room.
She acquired the Solve for X folder from the center console and placed it in plain view beside him. “I’m not sure how they’ll react to you. And there’s no telling how they’ll react to learning what’s in that folder, but I’m leaving it to you to explain all of it to them. That’s your penance.”
August’s brows knitted. “Is that all?”
“For now.” Lauren slammed the door shut, and a notion tugged on her. A representative of DHS, this man knew things she and many others didn’t. In all likelihood, he knew the welfare of her grandparents and might know what had befallen Fred and Kim Mason’s sons, Chad and Mark, both of whom had been missing for months. There was no telling what all August could bring to light, but she was operating on borrowed time and needed to move forward.
Christian passed by, conveying little more than a fleeting glance on his way to the driver’s side. “Oh, that’s awesome…he’s going with us.” He gestured to August. “I never got that memo. That’s special…really special. Guess he’s my problem now, huh?”
Lauren tracked him, waited for him to close his door, then made her way over. She tapped on his window when he started the engine.
One hand at twelve o’clock on the steering wheel and staring ahead, Christian rolled his window down. “Is this going to take long? I thought we were done here.”
“We are. I won’t keep you.” Lauren pointed to the folder. “Guard that with your life. It explains everything.”
“Everything, huh?” Christian glanced at it. “What’s in it?”
“Evidence.” Lauren jutted her chin at his passenger. “Anything else you want to know, ask him.” She smacked the SUV’s quarter panel. “Drive safe. Tell Grace I love her. And don’t forget about the GPS.” She then pranced away to take mental inventory of all that needed to be done before the next step in her journey.
Lauren didn’t get far before hearing a tap on the horn. She rotated to see Christian through the windshield, hand formed into a finger gun, index finger actively jabbing in August’s direction. She drew her brows together and went to the passenger window already halfway rolled down.
“I couldn’t leave without saying this,” the burly agent said, looking upon her contemplatively. “I meant what I said. I regret everything, and I’m going to do whatever I can to make this right. I’m a patriot, and I love my country. I didn’t change into a full-blown autocrat overnight, but it did take far too long for me to realize I chose wrong. I should’ve known better…I should’ve been better.” August hung his head. “You said something earlier about unintended consequences. I get what you mean now. I realize it probably doesn’t mean shit to you at this point, but for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I truly am. I’m sorry…for everything.”
Lauren regarded August and bleakly smiled. Despite her rancorous, eternal animosity for men like him and all for which they stood, even in the face of everything that had come about, she couldn’t bring herself to act as judge advocate.
“And I wish things were different.”
Lauren nodded. “So do I.”
Chapter 38
As Christian rolled up his window, he watched Lauren march decisively away and retrieve her gear, and a sensation that was becoming all too familiar struck him with the force of a sledgehammer in mid-swing.
She’d once again drawn a line in the sand; nothing said or done was going to sway her sentiments or change her mind. All he could do now was acquiesce to her wishes, get back to Grace and home as fast as he could, return the missing girls to their families, and advise everyone about what had happened here. If time was on his side, maybe something could still be done to prevent her from making the gravest of mistakes.
Christian picked up the folder that Lauren had only moments ago told him to guard with his life. He gave it a cursory look before placing it on the seat beneath his thigh. As he shifted the transmission into drive, he went to inquire about the folder’s contents, but a small voice called to him amidst the cackling from the backseat, cancelling his thought process.
“Mr. Christian? Can you turn on the buttheat for us?”
Caught mid-thought and somewhat off guard, he began searching for a switch or button.
“It’s there,” August said, jutting his chin. “Below the touchscreen, on the right. The two in the middle.”
Christian sent him a quick glance coupled with a nod of gratitude. He then pressed the buttons until three tiny LEDs were alight on each one. “Buttheat coming right up, ladies.”
“Thank you, Mr. Christian,” the voice cooed.
“You’re welcome.” He pulled away from the camp and onto the forestry road while peeking at his side mirror for Lauren once more.
The girls’ combined attention soon became focused on the soothing warmth radiating beneath them, and they quieted down to watch the wooded scenery scroll by. A silence took over the passenger cabin, bringing with it a dissatisfying unease. The missing had been retrieved, but someone had nonetheless been left behind. And her not being here wasn’t good enough. But what could be
