Chapter Two – Mock-Up
TWICE HE QUESTIONED his own sanity, but the fox was headed to the henhouse and it was up to him to snag two biddies and make a clean getaway. Three times he went over the plan with Karli, not sure if she understood the ramifications or the tight timeline to get in and get out. Seven minutes wasn’t really enough time to bust a good nut but there were times when a man had to get in there and get the job done.
The black Tahoe, with its black tinted windows and black rimmed tires, eased its way down Roundtop Road, using the marked hunting trails to get to Wolf Pen Creek. The water from the creek bed could barely be heard as the slight trickle wound its way through dense vegetation. Karli knew exactly where they were.
“They will come through the woods over there,” she said, pointing at a clearing. “We do nature hikes through here and pick berries in the spring. The deepest part of the creek is ahead.”
“Tracking,” he said, looking in the rear-view mirror. Karli clutched the stuffed unicorn tightly, her small fingers opening and closing around the animal as it brought her comfort. “Pooh Bear, we got this right?”
“We got this, Daddy,” she told him, inhaling deeply.
“Damn straight we do. We are in and out quick fast and in a hurry,” he said, pulling into a cutaway to shield the outline of the truck. The vegetation would serve as a cover, but he was worried that with water being so close, the slithering menaces would be as well. He wore ankle high leather boots. Karli only wore sneakers. Just as he started to question himself, he saw movement in the wood line.
Ghostly apparitions wearing all white came through the trees. A few carried baskets and others tubs. The white clothing offered a stark contrast against the dark green foliage, making anyone who tried to run very visible. It didn’t matter. Mr. Exit was the consummate Boy Scout, prepared for any eventuality. He slipped out the door, leaving the truck running, and grabbed two black blankets from the rear of his shop. He kept the blankets for times when he needed to do surveillance or lay out on the ground. Today they would be used to shield two women cloaked in white clothing.
“Karli, one under each arm. Go to the point and stand behind the tree until you can see Willow. Step out from behind the tree and wave to her to come to you once I get her attention. You got it?”
“Got it,” she said, accepting the blankets and sliding one under each arm. She looked so adult marching towards the wood line. His heart thudded in his chest, which was not normal for him.
Mr. Exit was scared, not for himself but the girl. “Wait a minute,” he said in a low voice and jogged over to her. Bending to one knee, he pulled her to him in a fatherly embrace. For good measure, he planted a kiss in the middle of her forehead.
“In and out, Pooh Bear. Get them in the truck and on the floor. Everyone stays quiet,” Raphael said, turning her small frame towards the woods. “Go, and be quick.”
Karli didn’t need to be told twice. At a slow trot, she ran to the edge of the woods and made her way down the slope. She found the large tree and hid behind it as the women came down the hill. Quickly, she spotted Willow, but the man told her to wait until she saw him. Karli peered around the tree, careful to stay low so the Guardians wouldn’t see her hiding space. Now she had to wait.
MR. EXIT MADE HIS WAY down the slope, coming up on the opposite side of the creek. The women would appear on the other end, and all he needed to do was look for Willow. Karli said she wouldn’t be hard to spot since she was only one of two Black women at the site. The other Black woman Karli said worked in the kitchens and didn’t come down to the creek to wash clothing.
He heard sounds as the women broke through the tree line and gathered around the edge of the creek. In his estimation, there wasn’t enough water in the creek to wash a butthole, but this was not his life and not his way. A bell rang in the background and a flood of water flowed down the creek as if it had been dammed up higher at the source. The women giggled and frolicked at the water’s edge, wetting their feet. Then he spotted Willow, or rather she spotted him.
Her eyes latched onto him just as he picked up a rock to skip across the water. Raphael held a finger to his lips and pointed at the large tree. Karli stepped from behind the tree and waved for her ‘mother’ to come to her. Willow shook her head no, pointing at the two Guardians carrying AK47s. A loud rumble sounded in the distance followed by the sounds of sirens.
The men with the automatic rifles ran towards the encampment, and Willow looked up to see the man on the other side of the creek. He was no longer there. Her eyes went back to Karli, who was urging her and Dusty Rose to come to where she waited. The washer women scattered amid shrieks of fear, confusion, and loud noises running towards the encampment. Willow grabbed Dusty by the hand and took off at top speed to where Karli waited.
Karli shoved the dark blankets at both of them, urging them to cover the pure white garments. The little girl urged them to be quiet as she turned and trotted up the incline towards the truck. She looked back only once to make sure Willow and Dusty were on her heels. Chaos ensued in the background as small arms fire could be heard over the roar of sirens and loudspeakers. Karli didn’t look back. She continued to run along the side of the path, ducking into the clearing. Willow followed closely, holding Dusty’s hand.
“Get in, down on the floor,” Karli said as she opened the back door of the truck. The women climbed inside, making themselves into small balls on the floor of the vehicle. Karli eased the back door closed and lay down on the backseat to wait for the man. If he didn’t return, she was to take the phone and press one. Just in case, she reached in between the seats to grab the device and clutch it to her chest.
She was about to sit up and look out the window when she heard the front door open and smelled the familiar scent of whatever he used to wash his hair. She could barely hear the sound of the front door of the truck closing with a slight click.
“Pooh Bear, are we good?”
“Ready to roll, Daddy,” she said softly, which made Willow raise her head to look up at Karli, who offered a smile and a wink. Karli then took her hand and pushed her mother’s head down and back under the cover. The truck rolled forward through the trees. Branches slapped at the windows and twigs scratched at the doors as if they were attempting to claw their way inside. Dusty Rose whimpered, uncertain what was happening, then all the noises of driving through dense forest stopped as they made it to the road.
The speed of the truck picked up, the driver quiet and his passengers silent, and the phone began to vibrate in Karli’s hands. Raphael’s earpiece remained in his ear and he took the call.
“Exit,” he said.
“The leader got away. Did you get the packages?” the Archangel asked.
“Packages acquired. Heading home,” Raphael said.
“I’ll be in touch,” the Archangel said and ended the call.
Raphael never exited the same path on which he entered, opting instead to take Highway 27 into Strunk and crossing the border into Tennessee. Once across the border, he finally spoke to his new guests.
“You’re safe,” he said. “You can sit up now. I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry, and me and Karli could use some breakfast.”