Code Name: Buffy and Buddy
Chapter Nine
The pavilion was empty. I knew I did not have much time before someone figured out where I was. Too many of my moves had been intercepted for me not to believe that someone was informing on me. I wanted to trust these two ladies, but I was not sure I could. Still, I needed sleep, and I could do nothing until after dark. “You should alternate standing watch while the other sleeps. I’m going to relieve myself in the woods. I’ll be right back.”
I walked into the wooded area next to the pavilion, picked up a path and kept walking. When I reached a small stream, I walked to the edge of the water and lifted off. There was no way I was walking in that water. I knew what lived in that water and I wanted no part of any of it. I knew I had time before the launch to solve this thing, but I also knew that every minute Beth Anne and Buffy were captive was a minute too long. Still, I was no longer thinking straight, and I needed sleep. I flew across the lagoon and hid on the raised platform near the restrooms on Black Point Drive. In the winter, the place would be full of birders since it was one of the state’s best bird watching sites, but this time of year it should be deserted. I rolled under one of the benches on the uppermost level and passed out.
When I awoke, one of the sharpshooters was asleep on the bench above me, and the other sat on the floor staring at me. “You know, you make us crazy. We can’t protect you if you keep running off.”
“How did you find me?”
“We didn’t believe you were just answering nature’s call. We’ve been tracking people too long for you to give us the slip that easy. Besides, we still need to kick your ass, and we can’t do that if you run off because we don’t get paid if the rocket does not blast off safely.”
I sighed. “Who else knows we’re here?”
“I think we got away clean.”
“Where’s the drone?”
“There’s one circling the warehouse and another over the storefront.”
“Where’s Mrs. Carson?”
“They got her at the warehouse.”
“Captive?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Right after we left your cousin’s.”
“What about the lady who pretended to be Air Force the first day we met?”
“They got her too.”
“When?”
“About the same time they got Beth Anne.”
I felt better for having slept although I stank worse. I would throw out my underwear at the first opportunity.
“Buddy, you know this place like the back of your hand. Why is that?”
“I live less than an hour from here. Wednesdays are short school days. In birding season the camera club comes out here a couple of times a month. We know every back road in the place.”
“Is that how you knew about the nude beach?”
“Yes, and in tourist season we bribe someone’s older brother to drive us out here for the afternoon so we can watch the northerners turn into lobsters. It’s pretty funny actually. Did you sleep?”
“A little. Not as much as you, but you needed it more.”
“Any word from my parents or Chief Johnson?”
“I haven’t heard anything.”
I wondered, given the presence of the drones, who knew how much and how much it might or might not matter. The second sharpshooter started to stir.
“Good morning,” I said as cheerfully as I could.
She rubbed her eyes. “Hey.”
“Tonight we hit the warehouse.”
“Your plans haven’t always worked out so well.”
“That’s why you will help me with this one. You know, I don’t understand why the cops aren’t all over that warehouse.”
“They need just cause.”
“What does that mean?”
“They need enough evidence to convince a judge to issue a search warrant, and you can’t tell them anything because they probably won’t believe you and you would have to tell them that you can fly.”
“So how do we get the cops into the building?”
“They need another reason.”
“Like a fire?”
“That would work, but you can’t set it because they’ll get you for arson. Are you telling me you’re a fire-starter, too?”
“I tried that. Didn’t work, but I can short wires together and make a spark. That might help.”
“I don’t see how.”
“The place was a complete mess. I should be able to find something to ignite. If nothing else there should be metal filings to short circuit a battery.”
“So, are you planning to go in to get the captives out?”
“Yes.”
“Are you planning to call for help?”
“If I thought I could and not tip everyone off where we were, I would.”