“Yes, stick with the plan. He’ll slip out in the middle of the chaos one way or another. Then he’ll be in contact.”
“Listen asshole, do you want to stay here or not?” Bailey asked the governor.
“If I suddenly show up in DC, they kill my family,” he said simply.
“Free ride to almost Oklahoma,” Angelica said. “Then when you know they’re safe, you can blow the whistle on this place and other places like it. Seriously, I don’t think our president knows what’s going on here.”
“Yeah, it’s a damn election year, or was for most folks,” he said. “You’re right. I want to get out of here. My family is in Oklahoma, west of Fort Smith, at a friend's place on the Rez.”
“We’re going most of the way that way eventually,” Angelica told her. “We’re headed to a little farm south of Booneville.”
“Booneville?” Governor Christian said, his eyes widening. “Have you ever heard of the Langtry farm?”
“Oh, that’s us,” Angel said, and did a mock curtsey. The governor almost fainted.
The guards who were stationed at the doors that split the cafeteria were nervous. They were all that separated the outside world of the warehouse to the safe environment and all of their charges. Prisoners. Detainees. With the chaos outside starting to get folks inside worked up, they were thinking two people were not going to be enough to make a difference if the folks inside rioted as well. Every available hand was at the gates or fences, trying to keep the horde out, and the folks within from rioting too.
Two women, one very large, one very small, were making their way towards them. The man they were leading had his hands behind him. Bailey led the way to the door, and the two guards stepped in front of it.
“Nobody goes past here, you know that,” Clint told her.
“Clint, you know who this is?” Scorpia asked.
The second guard pushed the man’s chin up, then grinned. His partner caught his eye and nodded; he’d recognized him as well.
“I do. Why do you have the former governor?” he asked, knowing the big lady sometimes played bruiser for the higher ups, doing work they couldn’t be seen doing. Something about it being too inciting to have actual brownshirts do their own dirty work.
“He was riling folks up inside. I was asked to, er… reinforce what a bad idea that is, especially with what’s going on outside. I was hoping with the chaos, I could use the alternate break room like I did a few weeks back?”
Clint was about to say no, but his partner nudged him. “Who asked you to do the deed?” he asked.
“We can’t say, but it was the same as last time. Plausible deniability and shit, plus I want some new sheets and bras. These itty-bitty things you guys give us itch and never fit right.”
“Plausible deniability. Yeah, ok. I’m watching from the window as you take him in there though. We have so much crazy shit going on, if you pull something funny, I come in shooting first, asking questions next. Savvy?”
“Sure thing, Captain Jack! Angelica said, her voice small and squeaky compared to the large woman’s.
“I… what are you going for?”
“I’m going to kneecap him when she’s done. My big sis worked in his office, and I heard all the horrible things he did—”
“Go,” Clint said, grinning. He knew the big woman would work over the governor good. She’d been an asset since they’d captured her in the big riot that had left a few people dead from some doctor shooting them. She hadn’t been the one to throw the brick, he’d heard, but she was with the group who had.
Goldie, Luis, and Harry had the metal detector, and were frantically trying to find the last ammo can. At least that’s what they expected it to be. The other four spots on the map had been ammo cans. After the police taking the Owens daughters and Don away, they had to decide on what to do. They were going to press charges, since asking them to stay away hadn’t been unreasonable and given the circumstances and how they’d attacked…
“Do you three want any help?” Anna asked.
Luis spun, then saw who it was and smiled. “Si, you’re always welcome,” he said with a goofy grin.
Goldie saw that and smacked him in the back of his head. “Get your eyes up to the top of her head or I’m going to get the spoon out and whack you with it.”
Harry started giggling, holding his side with one hand, the big shovel held up in his other. The dogs had both followed them, and tried to stay away from the big machinery that was going to be put up soon.
“One more spot on the map,” Anna said softly.
“Si,” Luis said, looking at Goldie carefully. “We think it is nearby here. I am trying to find it with the metal detector but…”
“He’s getting tired, and I can’t keep it up for long,” Goldie finished.
“Here, let me,” Anna said, ignoring the sudden flush on Luis’s face.
“But you’re all bruised up,” Luis said.
“Yeah, I’m too sore from the fight to really help out in the workshop, so I figured I could help here.”
“Let her,” Harry said. “She understands it’s a pirate’s job to always get the booty!”
Even Goldie couldn’t hold back a snicker at that. Luis held out for as long as he could, then walked away, red in the face. One hand covered his mouth as he laughed at the sky.
Harry looked at Anna and shrugged. “Do you know how to use this?” he asked, pointing to the metal detector at her feet.
“I do, plus I watched Dante work the dials, so if I get it wrong, can you help me fix it?”
“Sure, if I wasn’t so little and this thing so long, I could for sure find the booty!”
Grandma Goldie walked away, fanning her face with both hands, tears running down
