Long After Midnight (22 page)

“Twenty minutes.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“No.” Joshua’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. “I’m going with you.”

Seth leaned back in the chair and waited. Let him get it out.

“She
needs
me.”

“Yes, she does.”

“Then tell her that she has to take me.”

“She wouldn’t listen. She thinks this is the best way to make sure you’re all safe.”

“What about her? She’s not . . . He hurt her. He almost killed her.”

“But he didn’t. She was too much for him.”

“He
hurt
her.”

That memory clearly haunted him. “He won’t hurt her again.”

“He killed my dad. He killed Noah.”

“He won’t hurt your mom. I won’t let him.”

“I need to be there. I need to help you. Tell her.”

“No.”

Joshua’s eyes widened.

“I won’t do it because she’s right. You should be as far away from her as possible. If she has to worry about you, she won’t worry about herself. You’d be a danger to her.”

“I’d take care of her.”

“Think, Joshua.”

“I don’t want to think. I want to go with you.”

“Even if it means you may get her killed?”

There was a silence. Seth could see the struggle taking place, but he knew he couldn’t help Joshua.

“You’re telling me the truth?”

“Have I ever lied to you?”

Another silence.

“You’ll take care of her? You promise you won’t let anything happen to her?”

“I promise.”

Joshua nodded jerkily. “Okay.”

Seth sat looking at him, knowing how agonizing that decision was for Joshua. He wondered if he would have been able to handle the trauma that had been thrown at the boy when he was Joshua’s age. The kid was wounded, but Seth could almost see his resilience and strength growing every day. He wanted to reach out and . . .

He didn’t reach out. Joshua didn’t want comfort. He wanted Kate safe and Seth’s promise that he would keep her that way. Joshua had made an adult decision, and Seth would not treat him as a child at that moment.

God, he was proud of him.

Kate stared at the huge southern mansion in disgust. “This is your safe place?”

“Sort of. That’s the Greenbriar Hotel, the main attraction of this resort. There’s also a fine golf course.”

“I don’t play golf,” Phyliss said from the backseat. “Tennis?”

“Yes, but I’m afraid you won’t be playing. Ping-Pong okay?”

“Well, it was good enough for Forrest Gump.” She slid her arm around Joshua’s shoulders. “How about it, Joshua?”

“Why are we here?” Joshua whispered. “It doesn’t look . . . it’s not like the ranger station.”

He meant it didn’t look safe, Kate thought. He was right. “What the devil are we doing here?”

“You’ll see.” Seth turned down a side road, and the hotel was soon lost to view. Three miles later he pulled into a turnout screened by shrubs and stopped the car.

“I thought you said the woods weren’t safe,” Kate said.

“This is just the window dressing.” He got out of the car and approached a group of large rocks. “Come on.”

Kate slowly got out of the car, followed by Phyliss and Joshua. “Window dressing?”

He lifted a smaller rock, revealing a control panel, and punched in a code. Two of the large rocks parted.

“Open sesame,” he intoned.

“Like Ali Baba’s cave,” Joshua said. “Neat.”

“You won’t find any genie in a bottle here.” He started down the ramp. “Wait. I’ll be right back.”

Phyliss warily stared down into the darkness. “Take your time. I’m not in any hurry.”

Light suddenly illuminated the interior, and a moment later Seth was climbing the ramp toward them. “I had to kick on the generator. Go slowly. The main areas are being flooded with oxygen, but it won’t be ready for another five minutes.”

The ramp was wide and curving, the sides of the tunnel smooth concrete. “It’s like a bunker,” Kate murmured.

“Right the first time.” The last curve of the ramp had taken them to a large steel door that resembled a bank vault. “That’s what it was designed to be.”

“A bunker?”

“During the cold war, Congress didn’t like the idea of being blown to bits in case of an atomic attack. So they secretly built a bomb shelter to stay in until it was safe to return to the upper world.”

“I remember seeing something on one of the news shows on television about that,” Phyliss said. “It became public knowledge only a few years ago.”

“I can see why,” Kate said dryly. “Their constituents wouldn’t appreciate their representatives saving their own necks while the rest of the country went up in flames.”

Phyliss was frowning. “But there was something else . . .” Her gaze suddenly went to Seth. “The hotel was going to open it to the public. Maybe give tours.”

“I’m surprised they didn’t set up an amusement park and sell tickets. But I guess the Greenbriar has too much class.”

Kate drew a deep breath and spoke very precisely. “You’re settling Phyliss and Joshua in the middle of a tour site?”

Seth grinned. “It might not be a bad idea. Didn’t you ever hear about hiding in plain sight?”

“It would be a lousy idea and I won’t—”

“Easy.” He punched in a code on the door panel. “I didn’t think you’d go for it. This isn’t that facility. Congress’s hideaway is over a mile away. There’s a tunnel linking the two facilities, but no one knows about it. No one is going to run a tour through here.” The steel door lumbered open. “The lights go on automatically when the door is opened, but the control panel is on the left as you enter.” He entered the facility and turned to face Phyliss. “No dishes here. Throwaway paper plates, so water isn’t wasted.”

“I should have known. You’ll do anything to avoid housework.”

Joshua looked around him. “It’s like a house.”

A bachelor pad, maybe, Kate thought. All sleek black and white modern furniture and lots of mirrors. It was too cool for her taste, but the white velvet couch across the room looked comfortable. Joshua evidently was finding it so as he bounced on the cushions. “How much room is there?”

“A kitchen, storage area, two bedrooms, and an exercise room.” He smiled at Joshua. “With a Ping-Pong table.”

“Neat.” Joshua jumped off the couch and went exploring.

“Why doesn’t anyone know about the tunnel?”

“Because Jackson made sure that it wasn’t included in any of the blueprints. He hired people he trusted . . . well, not trust. Actually, he hired people he had something on to build this little bit of heaven.”

“Jackson?”

“Lionel Jackson, a senator who was involved in the building of the bomb shelter. He wasn’t sure that the air and food would last long enough in the main facility. Too many people to share it. So he built himself an escape hatch and this little safety net to come home to while his fellow congressmen were suffocating or starving to death.”

“Charming,” Phyliss said.

“He was charming. He was elected to the Senate for twenty-four years.”

“And is he likely to show up here?” Kate asked.

“He died eight years ago.”

“Without telling anyone about this place?”

“He told his son, Randolph. There came a time when it was necessary that his pride and joy have a hideout. Randolph was as charming as his father but not nearly as smart. He got the daughter of a New York Mafia boss pregnant and then beat her to death in a fit of rage. Lionel decided his son needed to be out of sight until he could smooth things over. He hired me to bring Randolph down here and guard him.” He shrugged. “I did my best.”

“They found him here?”

“No, he got bored. One day I came back from getting supplies and he’d flown the coop. The stupid bastard went back to New York. He lasted one day.” He gestured around him. “So you might say I inherited the place.”

“Have you used it since then?”

“Once or twice.” He smiled. “But I never brought anyone else here. No tours. No unexpected visitors. It will be like living in Fort Knox.”

“Just what I always wanted,” Phyliss said.

“Best I can do,” Seth countered. “I’ll spring you as quickly as I can.” His gaze went to Joshua, who was back and prowling around the living room. “You’re going to have your hands full. He’s excited now, but in a few days he’s going to go stir-crazy.”

“We can’t go out at all?”

“No,” Kate said sharply. “Please, Phyliss. I have to know you’re both safe.”

“I wish we could be as certain about you.” She turned to Seth. “You take better care of her than you did that senator’s kid or I’ll cut your throat.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll have Rimilon bring fresh food and supplies and set them inside the tunnel. You take one trip to the surface to pick them up and meet him and then you stay behind that locked door.”

“Wait a minute,” Kate said. “Who’s Rimilon?”

“He served under me in South America and Tanzania. I called him yesterday when you were sleeping and told him to meet us at the fork in the road at four o’clock.” He checked his wristwatch. “Forty minutes. We don’t have much time.”

“I don’t like him knowing they’re here.”

“And I didn’t like the idea of relying only on a steel door to protect them. Rimilon is good.”

She smiled sardonically. “Like you?”

“Hell no. He’s good, not magnificent. You don’t get magnificent every day.” His smile faded. “I can trust him, Kate.”

“Can you? I don’t seem to be able to trust anyone anymore.”

“I’m not overflowing with the milk of human kindness myself. But I have leverage with Rimilon, and leverage translates to confidence.”

“What kind of leverage?”

“He knows I’d kill him if he betrays me,” he said simply.

She watched him as he moved across the room toward Joshua. Toughness, humor, and a streak of deadly violence. He was still an enigma, but she no longer felt at a loss with him as she had the first time she’d encountered that lethal side of him. The other facets of his character were still there; he was just more than he had first let her see.

“You take care of yourself,” Phyliss said.

Kate turned back to her. “I’m leaving my medical bag in case you need it. I feel guilty about this. I don’t see any other way. I’m going to worry.”

“Of course you feel guilty. You’re one of those people who think the world rests on their shoulders.”

“Joshua is my responsibility.”

“Granted. But he’s mine too. Loving someone carries a price tag. Don’t insult me by assuming you’re the only one who can keep him safe.”

“Sorry.” She gave Phyliss a quick, hard hug. “I hope it will be over soon.”

“It may not.” Phyliss shrugged. “At first I thought it would only be a matter of time before everything returned to normal. I’m not sure now. It may never be the same. I’ve just got to deal with it.”

Kate felt a rush of guilt. “I didn’t know all this—”

“I know you didn’t,” Phyliss interrupted. “But I don’t think you’re thinking so much as reacting now. While you and Noah were working, I had lots of time to think about this. Even after the first threat is over, there are going to be repercussions.” Her smile was sad. “We’re stuck in Oz. We’re not going to be able to go back to Kansas, Dorothy.”

“That’s not true. I’ll find a way to—”

“Come on.” Phyliss took her arm. “I need to talk to Seth before you leave. There are things I have to know.”

Kate let her lead her across the room to Seth and Joshua. Phyliss had changed, she realized. She had always been strong, but now there was a subtle difference. She had usually been content to let Kate make the decisions, but now she was taking control. Why was she surprised? Kate wondered wearily. Everything was changing.

“I want to know how all the controls work,” Phyliss said.

“That’s not necessary. It’s still state-of-the-art technology. Just press buttons. Everything’s pretty much automatic,” Seth said.

“I’ve had too many appliances blow up to trust automation, and oxygen pumps are a tad more important than a coffeemaker. I want to know how to jury-rig everything if it becomes necessary.” She put a hand on Joshua’s shoulder. “And I want Joshua to learn too.”

There was both affection and pride in Seth’s smile. “Good idea.” He turned to Kate. “It will take a few minutes to go over everything in depth.”

She nodded. “I’ll go up to the car and start bringing down their luggage.”

He walked her to the door. “Satisfied?” he asked in a low voice. “It’s the best I can do.”

“Nothing would satisfy me right now, but I suppose a shelter that would repel an atomic bomb is fairly safe.” She made a face. “But it won’t keep me from worrying.”

He turned back to Phyliss and Joshua. “That goes with the territory.”

She hugged Joshua. “I’ll be back soon,” she whispered.

Joshua nodded. “I know you will.” His arms tightened around her fiercely. “You mind Seth, Mom. Do you hear me? You mind Seth. He’ll take care of you.”

Tears stung her eyes. “I’ll be fine.” She brushed his forehead with her lips and released him. “And you take care of Phyliss.”

“Sure. Seth said that was my job.” He turned to Seth and thrust out his hand. “Good-bye.”

Seth gravely shook it. “Good-bye, Joshua.”

So grown-up, Kate thought with a pang. He was caught in the barbed net Ishmaru and Ogden had woven, and his childhood was being torn away from him.

Damn them.

She turned away and strode quickly into the tunnel.

She heard the heavy vault door slide closed behind her as Seth caught up with her. “Okay?”

“No,” she said shortly. “I’m not okay. I’m scared and angry and I want my life back.” They had reached the surface and she watched Seth close the entry. She shook her head as she saw the rocks shift smoothly into place. “It’s incredible. You’d never know it was here.”

“That should make you feel better.” He strode over to the jeep and got in. “Come on. We have to meet Rimilon.”

Rimilon was waiting at the crossroads. He didn’t look like a mercenary, Kate thought as he got out of the Volkswagen and walked toward them. Or maybe he did. What did she know? He was a squat, powerfully built man in his early forties. His hairline was receding and he was wearing khakis, a Ralph Lauren sport shirt, and Nike tennis shoes. He’d fit in very well with the golf aficionados at the resort only a few miles away.