Chapter 21 Marcus
MARCUS
The path winds around a corner and opens up onto a dirt road. We emerge from between the trees, worn, battered and bone-tired. My shoulder throbs, but Allegra by my side keeps me steady.
The dirt road leads to the small supply town.
A dusty pickup truck rattles past, and the owner slows to peer at us.
I grip my handgun at my side where he can’t see it as I smile and give him a friendly wave.
Just another backpacker hiking the trail.
He looks uncertain but raises a hand and keeps driving.
I pocket the gun but keep the safety off.
The dusty road leads to an intersection with a collection of buildings on either side.
It’s bigger than the last town we stopped at. There’s another general store that doubles as the post office, as well as a bakery, a hair salon, a pet supply shop, and a few other shops that are worn with age.
There are more people around too, and we get curious glances as we walk down the main street.
I keep my hand firmly in Allegra’s—just another tired couple straight off the hiking trail. I smile and nod to the locals as my gaze checks over every face.
A scrape of a boot has my head jerking around, but I relax when I see a farmer hauling a sack of feed onto the back of his pickup.
At the end of the street is the general store, and we head in there to collect our supply box.
There’s a picnic table outside, and I plunk the box down there. Allegra goes to get a couple of cool drinks while I get food out of the box.
I charged our cellphones this morning with a solar charger, and I’ve got two bars of signal. It’s the first comms we’ve had since the satellite phone got damaged. There are several missed calls from Allegra’s dad, but I need to arrange our extraction first.
I send him a quick message.
We’re safe. Will call soon.
I put in a call to Hudson and explain the new situation. “We need a pick up. ASAP.”
I give him the coordinates of the town, and he says he’ll call back once he’s arranged the extraction. We’ll have to lie low here until someone can pick us up. I don’t like the idea of Allegra being exposed, but we don’t have much choice.
“There’s something else.” I tell him about the body and the injured perps and the one I left tied up.
He listens and takes notes. “You want me to call the local authorities? Get them to pick them up.”
“Hold up. I have a contact in law enforcement. He may have jurisdiction this far.”
“Listen, we found where Future Enterprises was sending its money. A Professor Wainwright.”
“Wainwright.” I glance up at Allegra, but she’s in the cafe scanning the pastries in the display case. “The professor who denied Allegra’s grant.”
“Yeah, we made that connection. He’s been blocking any research that could go against their interests. Looks like she didn’t stand a chance.”
Allegra points at a fluffy cupcake in the cabinet, a small smile on her face as she speaks to the shop assistant. At least this means she wasn’t rejected for the reasons she thought. Her professor was on the take. She was never going to get the grant.
I hang up the call and put in another one to the sheriff I know in the area. “Marcus,” he answers on the first ring. “What can I do for you?”
I explain the situation. Calvin, or Badge as he’s known in his motorcycle club, is a veteran and the sheriff of Wild, which is the town on the other side of Wild Heart Mountain from Hope.
The Wild Riders MC has its operations there, and I’ve visited their headquarters more than once. They’re all veterans who like to ride and good guys. I like to know who I’ve got around me, in case of situations like this.
I explain the last few days as briefly as I can, leaving out who I’m working for and Allegra’s name.
It’s out of his jurisdiction, but he promises to speak to his counterpart in this county.
I make a mental note to extend my reach. It’s good to have a passing acquaintance with law enforcement in my surrounding area.
Allegra comes out of the bakery as I finish the call. She holds out a brown bag to me, and inside is an oat bar.
“I guessed you’d prefer it to a cupcake.”
Which is what she’s got. With pink frosted icing and sprinkles. She bites into it, and her eyes close as she lets out a small moan.
With that little sound, I’m transported back to the forest and her body moving under mine as my lips press against her soft skin.
We haven’t spoken about last night. I get the sense that she doesn’t want to. Neither of us wants to break the spell. If we talk about it, we have to face reality. The reality is that she lives five states away, and I don’t know where I’m going to be six months from now.
There’s a pang in my chest, and I rub it as I watch Allegra finish her cupcake. She smiles thinly, and I’d give anything to make her laugh right now.
“You should call your father.”
She pulls her pack towards her and retrieves her phone.
“Hey Dad.” Her voice is raw but steady. “I got my samples. But I’m going to need your help.”
Her voice grows stronger as she talks. For the first time, she tells her dad exactly what she’s got in her sample case.
“I’m going to need your media contacts. It’s dangerous to sit on this any longer.”
She glances up at me, and the steely determination is back in her eyes. “Meet us in Hope and bring the media.”
Her back straightens, and her eyes find mine. Something unleashes in my chest. Her fight isn’t over yet.