The Chemist

If Kevin were the one in Alex’s place, trying to come up with a plan, what would he do?

Alex didn’t know. He had resources she knew nothing about, resources she couldn’t duplicate. But even then, running would have to be his only option. He might come back to try again later, but it wasn’t like he could keep going after the potential vice president’s kill team today. Now was the time to disappear and regroup.

Or, in her case, disappear and try to stay gone.

That obnoxious image of Kevin on the table wouldn’t leave her head. The problem with being a professional interrogator was that she knew, in intimate detail, all the options for what they could be doing to him now. It was impossible not to mark the passing minutes, imagine how the questioning was progressing.

Daniel was quiet. The packing hadn’t taken him long; they hadn’t spread out here, gotten comfortable. They’d known from the beginning that they might have to leave at any moment, whether because of another disaster or simply wearing out their welcome with Val.

She could guess what he was feeling. He wouldn’t want to believe things had gone so wrong. He wouldn’t want to believe Kevin could be dead or that death was the best outcome for Kevin now. He would remember how Kevin had come through the roof in the middle of the night to save him and feel guilty that he couldn’t do the same. More than guilty – helpless, weak, furious, culpable, cowardly… All the things she was already starting to feel.

But there was nothing she could do about Kevin. If she and Kevin switched places, there would be nothing Kevin could do, either. He wouldn’t know where they were keeping her. The bad guys wouldn’t choose a location that either Alex or Kevin would know about. They had thousands of options open to them. And if there were some way to know where their hideout was, they certainly wouldn’t be careless about the security there. Kevin would be just as helpless as she was.

She shouldn’t waste time thinking about the impossible. She needed to focus.

She had to operate under the assumption that Kevin was still alive, and the bad guys would soon know both she and Daniel were also alive, and nearby. They would know Val’s name and address. They would know the make, model, color, and probably plate number of the only two cars they currently had access to. It was time to distance themselves from as many of those facts as possible.

Alex sat up slowly. “We’d better load the car and get moving.”

Daniel was leaning against the wall beside the stack of bags with his arms crossed over his chest. Red rimmed his eyes. He nodded.

Val was nowhere to be seen as they ventured out into the great room, both weighed down with bags. The space seemed colder, bigger without the dog in it. Alex walked quickly to the front door.

They didn’t speak in the elevator or as they walked to the car. Alex dropped her bags by the trunk and fished the keys out of her pocket.

A hushed scraping sound broke the short silence. It sounded like it was coming from close beside or maybe underneath the car.

I’m an idiot, Alex thought to herself as she dropped into a crouch next to the bag that she desperately hoped contained the guns but most likely held medical supplies. She knew how precarious their situation was, yet she’d walked into the parking garage unarmed.

She’d relied on Kevin to hold out longer. Stupid.

Daniel had the heavier bags. She could tell as soon as her hand rested on the bag in front of her that it contained first-aid gear – first aid she wouldn’t have a use for now. At least she had her rings and belt. So she’d have to be close. No resisting at first. That was, if they didn’t just shoot her immediately.

Not even a full second passed as she made these calculations. The first noise was quickly followed by another, a low whine that definitely came from under the car. The sound took her back to a different panicked moment, by a dark porch in Texas. It wasn’t a human sound.

Alex crouched lower, leaned her head down so it was almost touching the asphalt floor of the garage. The dark shadow beneath the sedan pulled itself closer.

“Einstein?” She gasped.

“Einstein?” Daniel echoed behind her.

Alex crawled around to the side of the car to where Einstein was closest. “Einstein, are you okay? Come here, boy.”

The dog crept toward her until he was free of the car. She ran her hands along his back and legs.

“Are you hurt?” she crooned. “It’s okay. I’ll take care of it.”

His fur was matted and wet in a few places, but when she pulled her hands away to check, they weren’t red – just dirty. His paws were cut up a bit and he panted like he was dehydrated or exhausted or both.

“Is he all right?” Daniel asked, close beside her.

“I think so. It looks like he’s had a rough night, though.”

“C’mere, boy,” Daniel said, reaching for him. Einstein got to his feet, and then Daniel scooped him up. Einstein licked his face over and over again.

“Get him upstairs. I’ll load this stuff in the car and follow.”

“Okay.” Daniel hesitated, then gulped a ragged breath. “It’s all true.”

“Yes.” She popped the trunk without looking up.

She heard him turn and walk away. The sound of Einstein’s panting faded.

It didn’t take her long to get things squared for their departure. The garage stayed quiet and empty of people, as usual. Maybe this was Val’s private floor of the parking garage. Maybe all these cars belonged to her. Alex wouldn’t be completely shocked if that was the case.