He left his workshop and went to the kitchen. He’d earned a beer. He grabbed an ice-cold Budweiser from the rack and went out onto the porch to enjoy the afternoon sun beating down from on high. Like a blessing. Like God wanted him to succeed.
He laid waste to the beer, watched the sun wither the weeds under the scrub oak. It shouldn’t take him long to drive the bombs to their final resting place, only three hours at most. He’d have to use some of the gas he kept stored, but that was no small sacrifice when he weighed its use against the greater good. A tank of gas would be well used. He could be in and out of the building in less than thirty minutes if all went well. Forty-five if it didn’t.
But it would. He didn’t do things halfway, he’d been plotting this out for weeks. And he wasn’t dumb enough to tell anyone about this part, either. That’s how you got caught. That’s how you ended up behind bars for life, or ended up lying on a cold steel table while grave men stood over you and poison dripped into your veins.
Not that he hadn’t done a bit of misdirection, just in case.
He shifted on his bench, finished the beer. He had so much more to do before tomorrow, and the day wasn’t getting any younger. He went to the kitchen and tossed the bottle in the trash, marveling again that there were people who thought they could save the world by putting glass and plastic and paper into their proper receptacles. Poor things. The world was fucked. They were all fucked. He was just going to help hasten them along the path.
“Daddy?”
The little voice startled him. He turned and saw his daughter standing in the door to the kitchen, trailing her bear with one arm, her blond hair haloed by the afternoon sun, wiping her eyes.
“What’s the matter with you? You’re supposed to be asleep.”
“I was, but I had a bad dream.”
“In the daylight? Don’t you know there are no bad dreams when the sun shines, little girl?”
“I know.” Her lower lip quivered. She didn’t like to show weakness, he’d taught her that there was no room for weakness in their world. But she was scared, and he remembered what it was like to be a little kid who didn’t understand why bad things had to happen.
“Why don’t we read for a little bit. Would that help?”
“Yes, Daddy. It would.”
“All right. You get the book, I’ll meet you in a minute.” He didn’t need the book, they’d read it so many times he knew the words by heart, and so did she, but it completed the illusion to grasp the well-worn Laura Ingalls Wilder in their hands as he recited the words of another pioneer, who shared her story of life in the woods of Wisconsin, and was well loved for her stories of truth and suffering and sacrifice and love.
She disappeared from the doorway, and he washed his hands and rinsed his mouth.
He whispered the other words he’d memorized, from another book full of love and sacrifice, as he went to read his small daughter a naptime story.
“And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.”
Chapter 28
Denver, Colorado
Dr. Samantha Owens It was dark when Sam landed at Denver International. She was tired, and overwhelmed by the information she’d gathered on the three-hour flight. She knew Xander was most likely at his parents’ place, and she knew that address, so she figured she’d just get a car with GPS and drive west until she found him.
It was as sound a plan as any she’d had today.
She had an account with Hertz, so she decided to take the bus to their counter in the hopes that they could hook her up with a vehicle that wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. She was walking out to the buses past the baggage claim when she heard a voice call her name.
Xander was standing by the doors, a huge smile on his face.
She went to him immediately, didn’t say a word, just let him fold her in his arms and buried her face in his shoulder.
God, that felt good.
After a few moments, she pulled back and looked up at him.
“How did you know I was coming?”
“I was trying to call you forever, and I got worried when you didn’t answer, so I called Fletcher. He told me what was up.”
“And Fletcher didn’t insist that you turn yourself in immediately?”
“No, strangely enough.” He gave her a grin. “I’ll tell you everything in the car. We’ve got a couple of hours on the road. There’s just one little hitch. Are you ready to meet my parents?”
There was an intriguing note in Xander’s voice, like he was half worried she’d say no, and half worried she’d say yes. She had to admit, the idea of the Whitfields intrigued her tremendously. She wanted to see the couple who’d created this amazing man. And she’d never been on a commune before. She had no idea what to expect.
“I’d love to meet them. You know that. I’ve talked to your mom before, she seems very sweet.”
“They’re going to go bonkers for you, that’s for sure. Come on. Let me take you home.”
She accepted his hand, and took a deep breath. Having him by her side would make everything so much easier. Everything.