Blind Copy (The Technicians Series Book 5) Read online

  “Come on, let’s find a hotel for the night so you can get a hot shower and some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.”

  “Okay, Daddy,” she said, rolling the suitcase with one hand and clutching the unicorn with the other.

  Mentally, he made a list of all the things she was going to need, including hair ribbons, tights, and all of the crap his mother would buy for his sister. A motel wasn’t far from the eatery, but he opted instead for a closed-in hotel with a complimentary breakfast. They wouldn’t get to eat it, but at least he could snag fruit, cereal bars, and the like from the counter before they rolled out. The check-in to the hotel went smoothly, and they were given a room on the third floor.

  Once inside the room, he turned on the television, which fascinated Karli. Raphael tuned to an all cartoon channel and her eyes lit up. She couldn’t stop staring. Then it hit him: she’d never seen a television. Another thought hit him as well, and he cleared his throat.

  “Karli, what do you mean, I’m going to like her?” he asked.

  “Willow Rayne,” she replied, pulling out the throw splattered in bright colors with the gayest looking unicorn he’d ever seen in his life. “You’re really going to like her. You’re going to like her a lot.”

  “If you say so,” Raphael said, taking his shaving kit to the sink to brush his teeth. “I got you a toothbrush. When I’m done, come brush your teeth and get ready for bed. Shower tonight since we have a very early morning, and we need to go over the plan of how we’re going to get them out when they come to do laundry.”

  “Yes, Daddy,” she said, opening the suitcase to place her sandals inside as well as the yellow sweater. Each were carefully added as if they were the most precious items in the world. He provided one of his tee shirts for her to sleep in, and she added the simple dress to the suitcase with the same amount of care after her shower.

  Anger flowed through him, watching the attention she took with each item. The idea of a man touching her, harming her, and taking away this simple joy of an ugly ass suitcase and a gaudy yellow sweater made his blood boil. He tucked her in, passing the unicorn to her, and she held it tightly. Her eyelids drooped, and in no time at all, she was out like a light.

  Raphael went to lay out her clothing for in the morning, but Karli had beat him to it. The socks, pants, and matching zippered hoodie lay on the luggage rack along with the unicorn bow for her hair. The items meant nothing to him, but for Karli, it was all she had.

  Those simple items meant everything to her.

  THE ALARM ON HIS WATCH went off at five in the morning. He rose, making quick work of his shower and morning routine and getting dressed before he woke Pooh Bear. Normally, when he made service calls for The Company, he wore a suit. It allowed him easier access into offices and buildings. People never paid much attention to a white man in a business suit. Raphael could come and go with no muss and no fuss and no one actually noticing him. On occasion he had to get down and dirty, but those times were rare.

  Every job required a bit of reconnoitering before completing the assignment. As part of the tools of his trade, Mr. Exit maintained dark clothing in his shop, a pair of black slacks with matching cotton turtleneck shirt and black anti-tracking boots with smooth soles. For good measure, he added a dark cap to his head.

  He didn’t want to stand over the bed when he woke Karli, but instead sat on the far side of his own and called her name. He said it again a bit louder, and her small eyes cracked open.

  “It’s time,” Raphael said.

  “I’m awake,” she lied, stretching under the covers like a lazy cat. Slowly, she dragged herself from the bed, taking her clothes into the bathroom with her.

  Raphael heard water running and the flush of the commode, and to his surprise, she was only in the bathroom a few minutes, and she came out dressed complete with shoes. At the sink she washed her face, brushed her teeth, and then for good measure checked her hair.

  “Daddy, I’m going to leave the bow in the car until we have Willow Rayne and Dusty Rose safely inside the vehicle,” she told him.

  “Sounds good. Are you ready?”

  Karli looked around the hotel, ensuring she hadn’t left anything. Unicorn under one arm and the ugly suitcase in hand, and the little lady was ready to roll. He calculated a 30-minute drive from Williamsburg to Pine Knot if he took Highway 92 West. This would put him in the wood line just after sunrise at seven a.m. Several concerns rolled through his head relying on the intel from a 10-year-old, but by the time they loaded the vehicle and got part way down the road, the call he was expecting had come through.

  “Mr. Exit,” he said into the mouthpiece.

  “The laundry run starts at 7:15. The noisemakers arrive at 7:35. You must be loaded and rolling from the area no later than 7:42,” the Archangel said into the line.

  “Uhmm, any word on how long the packages are to stay with me?” he asked again for clarification.

  “A week or two tops,” the Archangel replied. “I’m entrusting them to your care until arrangements can be made for identifications, schooling, housing, et cetera.”

  Raphael knew what the Archangel was doing, and he knew the response to the line, and with no hesitation he replied, “Arm me with watchful care.”

  “Oh, let me not my trust betray,” the Archangel added.

  “But press to realms on high,” Raphael stated, waiting for the last of the instructions.

  “I know this is unusual for you, but there is a reason. She was chosen for you, so even if the lessons you are supposed to learn come from a pint-sized instructor, open your mind and heart to receive the blessings she’s about to bestow upon you,” the Archangel said.

  “Or the can of whoop ass she and her two hippie mothers are about to unleash on my person,” he said, thinking of which weapon he would take with him.

  “Have faith, Mr. Exit. You’re a clean worker. In and out. Seven minutes. Start the clock,” the Archangel told him and ended the call.

  Seven minutes to enter an encampment of zealots and rescue two women who might not want to be rescued didn’t sound like a morning of fun for Mr. Exit. He thought of all the things that could go wrong and made the decision to go in strapped with his second favorite sidearm, the Nighthawk AA Recon gun with the predator grips. Raphael didn’t plan to take any chances. In the backseat, Karli held tight to the unicorn while snacking on a banana.

  “Pooh Bear, let’s go over the plan one more time to make sure all is clear, what to do if anything goes wrong, but most importantly, getting back to my truck,” he said again. “If things go wrong, get back to the truck, press one on my phone, and talk to the man about what to do next, okay?”

  “Okay, Daddy,” she told him, looking at him with eyes older than her years. “I’m not worried though. We got this.”

  Chapter Two – Mock-Up

  TWICE HE QUESTIONED his own sanity, but the fox was headed to the henhouse and it was up to him to snag two biddies and make a clean getaway. Three times he went over the plan with Karli, not sure if she understood the ramifications or the tight timeline to get in and get out. Seven minutes wasn’t really enough time to bust a good nut but there were times when a man had to get in there and get the job done.

  The black Tahoe, with its black tinted windows and black rimmed tires, eased its way down Roundtop Road, using the marked hunting trails to get to Wolf Pen Creek. The water from the creek bed could barely be heard as the slight trickle wound its way through dense vegetation. Karli knew exactly where they were.

  “They will come through the woods over there,” she said, pointing at a clearing. “We do nature hikes through here and pick berries in the spring. The deepest part of the creek is ahead.”

  “Tracking,” he said, looking in the rear-view mirror. Karli clutched the stuffed unicorn tightly, her small fingers opening and closing around the animal as it brought her comfort. “Pooh Bear, we got this right?”

  “We got this, Daddy,” she told him, inhaling deeply.

>   “Damn straight we do. We are in and out quick fast and in a hurry,” he said, pulling into a cutaway to shield the outline of the truck. The vegetation would serve as a cover, but he was worried that with water being so close, the slithering menaces would be as well. He wore ankle high leather boots. Karli only wore sneakers. Just as he started to question himself, he saw movement in the wood line.

  Ghostly apparitions wearing all white came through the trees. A few carried baskets and others tubs. The white clothing offered a stark contrast against the dark green foliage, making anyone who tried to run very visible. It didn’t matter. Mr. Exit was the consummate Boy Scout, prepared for any eventuality. He slipped out the door, leaving the truck running, and grabbed two black blankets from the rear of his shop. He kept the blankets for times when he needed to do surveillance or lay out on the ground. Today they would be used to shield two women cloaked in white clothing.

  “Karli, one under each arm. Go to the point and stand behind the tree until you can see Willow. Step out from behind the tree and wave to her to come to you once I get her attention. You got it?”

  “Got it,” she said, accepting the blankets and sliding one under each arm. She looked so adult marching towards the wood line. His heart thudded in his chest, which was not normal for him.

  Mr. Exit was scared, not for himself but the girl. “Wait a minute,” he said in a low voice and jogged over to her. Bending to one knee, he pulled her to him in a fatherly embrace. For good measure, he planted a kiss in the middle of her forehead.

  “In and out, Pooh Bear. Get them in the truck and on the floor. Everyone stays quiet,” Raphael said, turning her small frame towards the woods. “Go, and be quick.”

  Karli didn’t need to be told twice. At a slow trot, she ran to the edge of the woods and made her way down the slope. She found the large tree and hid behind it as the women came down the hill. Quickly, she spotted Willow, but the man told her to wait until she saw him. Karli peered around the tree, careful to stay low so the Guardians wouldn’t see her hiding space. Now she had to wait.

  MR. EXIT MADE HIS WAY down the slope, coming up on the opposite side of the creek. The women would appear on the other end, and all he needed to do was look for Willow. Karli said she wouldn’t be hard to spot since she was only one of two Black women at the site. The other Black woman Karli said worked in the kitchens and didn’t come down to the creek to wash clothing.

  He heard sounds as the women broke through the tree line and gathered around the edge of the creek. In his estimation, there wasn’t enough water in the creek to wash a butthole, but this was not his life and not his way. A bell rang in the background and a flood of water flowed down the creek as if it had been dammed up higher at the source. The women giggled and frolicked at the water’s edge, wetting their feet. Then he spotted Willow, or rather she spotted him.

  Her eyes latched onto him just as he picked up a rock to skip across the water. Raphael held a finger to his lips and pointed at the large tree. Karli stepped from behind the tree and waved for her ‘mother’ to come to her. Willow shook her head no, pointing at the two Guardians carrying AK47s. A loud rumble sounded in the distance followed by the sounds of sirens.

  The men with the automatic rifles ran towards the encampment, and Willow looked up to see the man on the other side of the creek. He was no longer there. Her eyes went back to Karli, who was urging her and Dusty Rose to come to where she waited. The washer women scattered amid shrieks of fear, confusion, and loud noises running towards the encampment. Willow grabbed Dusty by the hand and took off at top speed to where Karli waited.

  Karli shoved the dark blankets at both of them, urging them to cover the pure white garments. The little girl urged them to be quiet as she turned and trotted up the incline towards the truck. She looked back only once to make sure Willow and Dusty were on her heels. Chaos ensued in the background as small arms fire could be heard over the roar of sirens and loudspeakers. Karli didn’t look back. She continued to run along the side of the path, ducking into the clearing. Willow followed closely, holding Dusty’s hand.

  “Get in, down on the floor,” Karli said as she opened the back door of the truck. The women climbed inside, making themselves into small balls on the floor of the vehicle. Karli eased the back door closed and lay down on the backseat to wait for the man. If he didn’t return, she was to take the phone and press one. Just in case, she reached in between the seats to grab the device and clutch it to her chest.

  She was about to sit up and look out the window when she heard the front door open and smelled the familiar scent of whatever he used to wash his hair. She could barely hear the sound of the front door of the truck closing with a slight click.

  “Pooh Bear, are we good?”

  “Ready to roll, Daddy,” she said softly, which made Willow raise her head to look up at Karli, who offered a smile and a wink. Karli then took her hand and pushed her mother’s head down and back under the cover. The truck rolled forward through the trees. Branches slapped at the windows and twigs scratched at the doors as if they were attempting to claw their way inside. Dusty Rose whimpered, uncertain what was happening, then all the noises of driving through dense forest stopped as they made it to the road.

  The speed of the truck picked up, the driver quiet and his passengers silent, and the phone began to vibrate in Karli’s hands. Raphael’s earpiece remained in his ear and he took the call.

  “Exit,” he said.

  “The leader got away. Did you get the packages?” the Archangel asked.

  “Packages acquired. Heading home,” Raphael said.

  “I’ll be in touch,” the Archangel said and ended the call.

  Raphael never exited the same path on which he entered, opting instead to take Highway 27 into Strunk and crossing the border into Tennessee. Once across the border, he finally spoke to his new guests.

  “You’re safe,” he said. “You can sit up now. I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry, and me and Karli could use some breakfast.”

  A voice, as melodic as angels on High spoke, making Raphael look up into the rearview mirror. He blinked several times to make sure he wasn’t seeing or hearing things. The lips were moving and the sound was coming from Willow. The other mother, wasn’t a mother at all, but a teenage girl with reddish hair.

  “I have a great number of questions, but I assume now is not the time,” she said.

  “No, it is not,” he replied, “but we have the entire day and an eight-hour drive ahead of us. I’m taking you to my home in South Carolina until the dust settles and we can get you situated in your own home, get the girls in school and so forth.”

  “Forgive me for biting the hand which has to feed me, but it is the so forth which concerns me, that and my daughter calling you Daddy,” she said, buckling the seat belt.

  “Mommy, Dusty Rose needs to call him Daddy too, and you have to pretend he is your husband and that we are a family,” Karli interjected, holding onto the unicorn.

  “Karli, no they do not,” Raphael corrected.

  “People are going to see us in your house and start asking questions,” Karli said. “It’s easier to pretend we are your family. I’m your daughter with Willow and Dusty is you daughter from a previous marriage.”

  Raphael looked in the rear-view mirror at Willow whose deep brown cheeks were glowing in embarrassment. He couldn’t help himself and teased at the lady a bit to break the tension.

  “I tell you, Willow, I’m deeply shocked at the things you’ve been teaching our daughter. Is there anything else I need to know?”

  It was then that Willow smiled at him, nearly making Raphael lose control of the vehicle. He swore he heard singing when she smiled, but when he looked in the rearview mirror again, he wasn’t mistaken. Karli was humming an aria that sounded as if it were straight from a Disney movie.

  “Oh, good grief,” Raphael said, chuckling at the ridiculousness of it all.

  “Yes, our Karli is a handful and smart as a whip,�
� Willow commented, looking away from the mirror. Her hands went to her hair, which she knew was a fright. She patted Dusty Rose who sat in the seat staring at the man driving. In her heart, Dusty Rose prayed he wasn’t a bad man.

  Willow said the same prayer.

  Karli must have read their minds and spoke up. “He is a good man. I looked into his eyes and saw his heart. He has taken care of me and rescued me from Theodore and no harm has come to me. I saw an opportunity for us to get free. We are free of that place and those terrible people.”

  Dusty Rose spoke softly, “But what is he going to charge us for this freedom?”

  Karli snapped at her, “Don’t be that way. He lets me call him Daddy and has been very good to me. He even gave me the cute nickname of Pooh Bear! I think we can be a family if we’re good to him and show him how wonderful it can be to come home every day to us. Don’t ruin this for us, Dusty.”

  Willow knew that having a family with a home and her own bedroom was a dream of the child’s, but as a mother, she didn’t know if they had been taken from the chicken coop to lay more eggs or to be fricasseed for dinner.

  “Karli, we can’t assume this man wants us in his life. He has been gracious to help us and we will be in his debt. We will care for his home and see to him until the time comes for us to depart his care. It is not fair for us to ask anything more of this gentleman,” Willow said.

  “Raphael Hoyt,” he found himself saying. For the damnedest reason, he wanted to hear the lady say his name.

  “We are in your debt, Raphael Hoyt, and will endeavor to not be a burden on you during our stay,” Willow replied.

  He growled a response, seeing the exit he wanted and pulled into the Cozy Corner Café in Oneida. “I’m hungry and need some food.”

  Raphael located a parking space and eased his truck into a spot away from the door. “Let’s get some food.”