Chapter Twenty Ready, Set, Go!
Chapter Twenty
Ready, Set, Go!
Wednesday
Pensacola, Florida
Izzie approached Regina early that morning. “Let’s grab a drink after work. I have dinner plans nearby, and I have to kill a little time. Sorry, that came out wrong.”
Regina laughed. “I get it. I’d be happy to meet you for a drink. I have a quick errand to run. Same place?”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you there.” Izzie’s plan was on track. She busied herself throughout the day. Time seemed to slow to a snail’s crawl. That was usually the case the day of, or the day before, they were to meet their targets.
Tempe
Annie phoned Theresa and gave her instructions.
“Pack your suitcase. Call Henry and ask him and Frida to be ready to roll around five-thirty. You’ll meet them at Henry’s place.
Put your suitcase in Henry’s trunk. Once you get the ‘go’ from me, Henry will drive you and Frida to the care center.
Tell Henry to park on the side of the building and stay out of the line of sight from the rear door.
The one where you saw them move the body. ”
Theresa was nervously writing down the directions. “Okay, but what about my rental?”
“Someone will call the agency and tell them to pick it up.”
“I’ll probably be banned from renting a car ever again,” Theresa said, then laughed nervously.
Annie continued, “I will send you another message that says NOW. I’ll meet you at the main entrance and let you into the building.
That’s when Henry is to drive to the rear door.
You and I will grab Aunt Dottie and wheel her into the elevator.
I know it’s going to be creepy, but we’ll whisk her out the door and into Henry’s car.
My associate Kathryn will be there and can help with Dottie right after she and my other colleague, Pearl, take care of Turner.
Once you and Dottie are in the car, Henry is to drive you to the Tempe Executive Airport.
Follow the sign to the terminal, and then to the hangar.
I’ll meet you there, and we’ll board my jet.
We’ll fly you and Aunt Dottie back to Virginia, where we’ll have a medic meet us and evaluate Dottie.
If she’s okay, we’ll arrange for her to get admitted to a physical therapy rehab center, then we’ll help you figure out the next course of action. ”
Theresa’s head was spinning. Her jet? Who are these ‘we’ people?
Annie pressed on. “Repeat everything I just told you.”
Theresa slowly recited the instructions back to Annie.
“Great. If Henry asks any questions, let him know you will be guided once you get to the care center.” She paused to let Theresa wrap her head around the plan.
“Theresa, I know this has been a very strange and bizarre experience, but trust me. Everything is going to be alright, including Aunt Dottie.”
Tears were streaming down Theresa’s face. The past week had been fraught with questions, oddities, mean-spirited people, and yet, new friends. To describe it as surreal would be an understatement. She could barely choke out the words, “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You can thank me when we touch down in McLean. Stay calm. Stay strong. This ordeal will soon be over.”
Theresa was trembling from head to toe. “Can I call my sister and tell her we’re bringing Aunt Dottie up there?”
“Wait until our wheels are up.” Annie could only imagine the emotional roller coaster Theresa was on. “We are here for you, Theresa. And Aunt Dottie. See you later.”
Theresa could barely hold the glass of water in her hands.
She took several deep breaths and waited a few minutes to get her bearings before she phoned Henry.
She gave him the first part of the instructions.
She would arrive at his place at 5:15, where they would move to the next phase.
He was like a kid going on a new adventure. “Do I need to wear a disguise, too?”
Theresa let out a big laugh. “Only if you want to.”
Florida
Maggie phoned the hospital and asked Clara to let Jeremy know she would be picking him up. “He’s such a nice fella. I’m glad they took those cuffs off of him,” Clara said kindly.
“It was a case of mistaken identity,” Maggie offered, without going into any specific detail.
“That’s very nice of you. I’ll let him know.”
“Great. What time should I be there?”
“The doctor is doing his final rounds at eleven. I’d say one-ish, to be on the safe side.”
“Thanks, Clara. You’re a gem.”
Unbeknownst to Regina, Jeremy, Danny, and possibly Bonnie, their fate was being maneuvered by a group of loyal, kind, responsible, generous people with the utmost integrity. It would be a mere few hours before their future unfolded.
The night before, Annie phoned a friend who owned a large pharmaceutical chain in Florida.
They served on several advisory boards together.
It was only a matter of telling her colleague that a well-qualified pharmacist needed a job.
The answer was quick. “Just tell me what town, and when,” was the response she got.
Yoko contacted one of her landscape vendors just outside of St. Augustine. She knew he was expanding his business and was looking for qualified people. Two simple recommendations from Yoko were all he needed to say yes to hire Danny as a foreman and Regina as an apprentice.
Lizzie was able to secure a position for Danny’s girlfriend Bonnie at a law firm in the same area, should she choose to go with him.
The position offered more money, benefits, and the opportunity to advance.
It was a no-brainer, as far as Lizzie was concerned.
But the decision would be up to Bonnie, who had absolutely no clue as to what was in the offing.
Life was going to be a little topsy-turvy for the four of them, but in the best possible way.
Maggie arrived at the hospital at one. Jeremy was wearing normal clothes, his arm in a sling, with a much smaller bandage on his forehead. “Ready?”
“More than you can imagine.” Jeremy was smiling from ear to ear.
“Let’s go, champ.” Maggie wheeled him to the nurse’s station. “We’ll be on our way, Clara. Thanks for taking care of my cousin.”
“You stay out of trouble, young man,” Clara teased.
“Don’t you worry about that.” Jeremy smiled. “And, yes, thank you. You were the nicest person here.”
Maggie handed Clara a shopping bag with the See’s Candies logo. “Just a small token of our appreciation.”
“Oh, my! How did you know I love chocolate?”
Maggie jutted her chin toward Clara’s desk. “Evidence.” She winked. “Enjoy!”
Jeremy waved as Maggie rolled him into the elevator. “You really are an investigative reporter.”
“That I am.”
When they reached the main level, Maggie handed the parking attendant her ticket.
A few minutes later, her rental car pulled up.
Jeremy was able to get out of the wheelchair on his own.
It was hospital policy to have every patient who is being discharged wheeled out of the building for safety and insurance.
On the way out of the parking lot, Maggie began to tell Jeremy about his future, and a little bit about the past. He sat dumbfounded as the words poured out of her mouth.
“So, I was set up?”
“That would be a yes,” Maggie replied.
“But why?”
“You were getting too close.”
“So now what happens?”
“You are being relocated,” Maggie said, as she looked straight ahead.
“I’m what?” There was a sense of panic in his voice.
“For your protection. No, it’s not witness protection, but we felt it would be in your best interest to distance yourself from Sunnydale. Literally and figuratively.”
“Who is we? I am really confused,” Jeremy said.
“I work with a group of people. Yes, I am a real reporter for a real newspaper. Let’s just say we help people who find themselves in a situation they did not deserve.”
Jeremy remained silent.
“I can’t go into too much detail, but when we get back to your place, you should pack what you’re going to need for a week. We’ll arrange for a shipping company to pack and move your stuff.”
“Move it to where?” he asked earnestly.
“St. Augustine. You have a new job waiting as a pharmacist for the Family Pharmacy.”
“The retail chain?”
“Yep.”
“But where am I going to live?”
“We arranged for a short-term hotel. You’ll be able to look for a new apartment once you get there.
“You’ll be going through a training period. You should be ready for full-time employment by then.”
“Who are you people?” Jeremy was insistent.
“Please don’t ask me again. You’re going to have to trust me.”
“Well, you did find a lawyer who was able to get the cuffs off.”
“Exactly.” She pulled into the driveway. “I’ll give you a hand with the necessary items.”
“How soon do I have to get out of here?”
“As soon as you’re packed.”
“But my car was totaled in the accident.”
“We have an SUV rental coming shortly.” They went inside, and Maggie worked with Jeremy to get him ready to go. An hour later, a concierge service arrived and delivered the rental. “You can look for a new car while you’re looking for a new apartment.”
Jeremy was still in a state of disbelief, but he had no other place to be. Might as well go with the flow.
Maggie helped put his suitcases in the vehicle, then handed him a slip of paper.
“Here is all the information you will need. You have my phone number in case you get into trouble, but please don’t.
” She grinned and tapped the roof of the car.
“Good luck,” she said, as she gingerly hugged the befuddled young man.
Yoko asked Danny to drive them to the area where they were breaking ground. Once they were parked, it was her turn to advise Danny of what the future of Sunnydale might look like.
She explained that there was a lot going down, and it was in his best interest to follow her lead.
Once the investigations started, it could take years for things to settle.
He listened intently. He seemed to grasp every word she was saying.
“The place was getting weird, especially Zhukov,” he said, nodding.