Mind Trace (17 page)

Garrett grew silent for a moment, face darkening. "Then,
things took a turn for the worse. EngineerCorp suddenly came into possession of
supposed evidence that proved Cyberconn was ripping them off.  My parents were
devastated. They wouldn't believe me, no matter what I told them. After that,
they kind of disowned me.  Nice of them, huh? You more or less know what
happened since then. Business crumbled and we were reduced to the sad, pathetic
excuse of a company you saw in Newport. I've been struggling all this time just
to keep us from going under. I'd practically given up hope, until you came
along."

He gave her a genuine smile with no hint of mockery or
sarcasm.

Alice felt a new sense of appreciation for Garrett. He was
clearly a brilliant, hard-working man. He had been exposed to difficult
circumstances, but he had never given up.  His past had changed him, more than
likely adding to the veil of heavy sarcasm he wore.

What would I have done if my dreams had been crushed by
some greedy corporation? And to have my parents disown me? I can't begin to
imagine.

Without trying, Alice found herself wanting him to succeed.
She had been so wrapped up in her own circumstances, wanting only to get away from
Eric and the mess she was in.

But, what is going to happen when all of this is over?

I have absolutely no clue.  Who knows? Maybe Garrett will
be a part of it. Even if he isn't, I'll do what I can to help him.

She managed a shy reply. "Well, it looks like things
are going to change for you really soon."

"Yes…yes, it does," Garrett replied, lost in
thought again. For the remainder of the drive, they were both content to stare
out the window, distracted by what lay ahead.

***

It was only a short time later that Garrett pulled into the
rest stop on the side of I-87. He couldn't fight a growing sense of
apprehension about situation. He trusted Jeremy, but he worried for Alice.

She's young and a little naïve, but she's different from
anyone I've ever met. In the short time I've been around her, I can't help but
notice the vast potential she possesses. Unfortunately, it's a danger to her
and everyone around her as long as Eric is looking for her.

They were fifteen minutes early to the meeting. Garrett
parked near the front of the building, and they surveyed the area as they
walked through the rutted parking lot. In the early morning hours, it did not
seem to be very busy. There were a few people refueling at the pumps, and
several others inside, probably dining at the small restaurant just inside the
store.

It seems too quiet here. I have a bad feeling about
this... No. I'm just being paranoid.

Inside, Alice parted ways, saying she was going to the
ladies' room to freshen up. Garrett surveyed the area for an open table.

He was surprised when he saw Jeremy, already sitting in a
dingy corner booth. He was looking down at what appeared to be a newspaper and
had not yet looked up.

Jeremy? He's early too, I guess.

When Garrett was half-way there, he lifted his face,
noticed him, and gave a broad grin. He stood up as Garrett approached the booth
and gave him a hearty pat on the back.

"Garrett, it's so good to see you again! Been a long
time, hasn't it? Years!"

See? Nothing's changed. Same Jeremy. Stop being so
nervous.

"Yes, it certainly has. Thank you so much for coming
on such short notice."

"What are friends for?" Jeremy sat back down,
gesturing for Garrett to do the same.

Jeremy gave a quick glance around. "Where's your
friend?  Didn't she come with you?"

"Oh, she took a detour and will be joining us shortly.
We had a long drive."

Garrett studied his friend as they made small talk, waiting
for Alice to return. Jeremy had hardly changed in the years since he had seen
him, but he did have quite a bit more grey hair than before.   He still had the
same piercing green eyes and generally stern expressions.

Jeremy was a serious man, but he had his moments. To
Garrett, he had always acted like a big brother.

It's good to know that will never change.

Garrett noticed movement out of the corner of his eye and
saw Alice looking around the room for him. When she turned his way, he waved
her over and she hesitantly made her way through the tables.

Upon her arrival, he introduced them and then scooted over
to make room for her.

Soon after, a tired-looking waitress approached to take
their order. Garrett and Alice opted for coffee, while Jeremy passed, having
already gotten his food. They waited for the waitress to return with their
drinks before Jeremy started discussing the reason they were there.

 "So, Garrett…what is this all about, exactly?"

Garrett told him the story. He began by confessing how he
had sent out the initial email, earning a frown of disapproval from Jeremy. He
recalled how Alice responded and had been successful in getting the information
he needed to prove his innocence in the "scandal." Garrett
conveniently left out all the other parts, including Alice's capture and escape
from EngineerCorp.

When he finished, Garrett asked beseechingly, "Don't
you see, Jeremy?  You believed in me back then, even though there was no proof.
Now, I have all the evidence I need to make everyone
else
believe me. I
just need your help to get this to the right people."

Jeremy had been intently listening to his friend's pleas,
giving an occasional glance toward Alice. Now, his face clouded and it seemed
as though Garrett's words were only confirming his worst fears.

Please help, Jeremy. Don't do this to me.

"Garrett, do you really think this is what's best
here? You were lucky to get out last time without a prison sentence! There's no
guarantee that you won't suffer a worse fate this time, and now, your life isn't
the only one on the line."

Jeremy turned to Alice. "And, you…I don't pretend to know
you at all, but I can't help thinking that you're taking an awfully large risk
when you have your whole life ahead of you. Don't you have anyone at home
worrying about you?"

"There's no one left to worry," Alice softly
replied. She had been quietly listening to the conversation, sipping her
coffee. She resumed her silence.

He'll come around. He won't approve of the risks, but we've
come too far to give up now. If we don't do something, Alice will be captured
eventually. We can't run forever... We have to try.

"Jeremy, I know you're worried and I know you don't
want anything to happen to us, but believe me when I tell you that this is the
only option we have. I can understand if you don't want to get involved, but it
won't stop us from seeing this thing through to the end.  So, you might as well
help." Garrett gave a wry smile. "You know we stand a much better
chance with your help, anyway."

Garrett looked at Alice for confirmation. She gave a small
yawn and did not seem to notice him. He realized for the first time how
exhausted she was, with dark circles around her eyes.

How did I not notice that? These past few days have
begun to take their toll on her. Is this really the right thing to do? To put
her through this?

I can't think like that. If I'm going to undo the damage
I've caused and attempt to protect her, I have to see this through. It's the
only way she will be safe.

Jeremy watched the exchange of nonverbal communication
between the two of them. Looking back to Garrett, his expression was grave.

"I was afraid you would say that, Garrett."

"What?"

Garrett barely had time to register his friend's sudden
change of tone, when Alice fell over onto his shoulder, unconscious.

Was she drugged? By Jeremy? Why would he do that? Who
else could it have been?

He glanced between her and the half-consumed cup of coffee
in front of her. He had not yet touched his own drink, wrapped up in explaining
everything to Jeremy.

Did EngineerCorp find us?

He panicked and struggled madly to wake Alice. When he
found that to be fruitless, he tried to move her limp form.

"Garrett, please don't."

Garrett was caught off-guard by his friend's voice. He froze,
slowly lifting his head. Several of Jeremy's men had materialized, guns trained
on him. At this range, there was nothing he could do.

This can't be happening.

"Jeremy, what's going on?"  He hesitantly formed
the question, not sure if he wanted an answer.

"You have no idea what you've gotten into here, Garrett.
I know you want retribution and I know what happened to you was incredibly
unfair...but, there is more at stake here than you could ever know."

"I can't believe you…"

Jeremy cut him off mid-sentence. "You think I
wanted
to do this to you, Garrett? You think I enjoy this? They traced me when I ran a
background check on the girl, and demanded that I tell them everything I knew.
When I didn't help them, they took my family. My ex and my son! They told me I'd
never see them again unless I gave them this girl.

"They don't want you, Garrett. They don't even know
you're involved. I'm going to keep it that way. I don't know why they want her
so badly, but they will stop at nothing until they have her. You need to get
out now, while you still can."

Garrett fiercely glared across the table. "You're more
of a fool than I imagined if you think that I'm going to just sit by and let
you turn her over to those monsters. She's just a girl, Jeremy! Do you know
what they'll do to her?"

"You hardly even know her, Garrett. You're not
thinking rationally right now and I don't expect you to. Give it a few days and
you'll come around. You'll thank me then."

I'll never thank you for this.

"I thought we were friends. I trusted you. I won't let
you do this to her!"

"I am your friend, Garrett. That's why I'm not letting
you get involved." He motioned to someone Garrett could not see.

Garrett was blinded by his fury, oblivious to the man approaching
behind him. Just as he had decided to take Alice and barrel his way out of the
restaurant, he felt a sharp prick on his neck.

No!

He fought to stay conscious, but it was a futile gesture.
He was aware of the sad, sympathetic face of Jeremy watching him and the
realization of how much of a fool he had been.

Alice, what have I done?

Then, his vision darkened completely.

***

Alice was completely disoriented and dreadfully
uncomfortable. She tried to move, but her hands would not obey. There was
something pinning them together behind her back. Her eyelids slowly lifted, not
wanting to open. She caught a brief glimpse of the interior of some sort of
vehicle, and a solemn looking man sitting on a bench in front of her.

Where am I? I was drugged again?

She quickly shut her eyes and waited a moment, hoping she
had not been noticed. After no one reacted, she relaxed a little and tried to
understand what had happened.

How did I get here? The last thing I remember was
sitting in the restaurant with Garrett and his friend…then, nothing. Did Eric find
me?

The sensation of the moving vehicle was amplified through
her body since she was lying on the floor. A strange, bitter taste lingered in
her mouth and distracted her.

Hmm. Lying on the floor, tied up, bitter taste in my
mouth, surrounded… I guess negotiations with Jeremy weren't successful. That
strange taste in my coffee was more than just cheap coffee grounds. What happened?

Alice had difficulty recalling the conversation between
Jeremy and Garrett, most likely because of the drugs. She had not been
conscious of everything at the time, especially after she fell over onto
Garrett, but her mind had still been somewhat functioning. Whatever they drugged
her with must have affected her nervous system first, allowing her mind to
continue to operate a few moments longer.

The other side of her brain began to recall bits of
conversation that it had recorded just prior to her lapse of consciousness.

So, it was Jeremy who betrayed us? Well, specifically,
me. I guess he didn't really owe me anything, but he still felt compelled to
protect Garrett. Strange...

I can't hate Jeremy for what he did; he was only
protecting his family. But that doesn't mean I have to sit here and meekly
accept this situation. I know they're probably on their way to deliver me to Eric
right now. If I'm going to get out of this, I have to do so before we get
anywhere near him.

From the sound of the engine and her brief glance around,
her mind was able to determine that it was a type of cargo van. She also heard
muffled voices near the front of the vehicle and slow, steady breathing of at
least three different bodies near her own.

If I'm counting right, that makes five other people in
this van. Definitely not the best odds.

Near the front, she heard a phone ring.

Jeremy's voice answered. "Yes, sir? We have the girl
with us…Yes, we are heading to the rendezvous point now… No. She is still
unconscious…We gave her a hefty dose. Can't be too careful. She should be that
way for some time yet… Yes, sir. Will do, sir. The first movement we see, we
will administer another…We will keep a close eye on her… Affirmative."

The phone clicked shut, and she heard Jeremy sigh deeply.
Then, a gruff muttering, "Who does he think she is, Rambo? What could she
possibly do to anyone?"

A lot more than you think, apparently.

After that, Jeremy must have turned his head to address the
other men, because she heard his voice more clearly.

 "We will proceed to the rendezvous point as planned.
Martin said to take no chances with the girl, so keep your eyes on her and be
careful. For some reason, he believes she's incredibly dangerous and should not
be engaged."