Astonishing Nina
By
Daniel Whittman
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2009 Daniel Whittman
Discover other titles by Daniel Whittman at Smashwords.com
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Astonishing Nina
By
Daniel Whittman
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Astonishing Nina
By
Daniel Whittman
Chapter 1
I was scared when I saw the three big men break into our house in Tampa, Florida in midmorning when my parents were making love in their bedroom. They looked mean and ruthless, and yes, I know what those big words mean. I am only six years old. My name is Nina.
The alarm was wailing loud too. We live in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. This type of break-in is very unusual especially in the broad daylight.
I did not know what they wanted but I knew it could not be good. I dropped the textbook I was reading for my home school test this morning.
I yelled at the top of my lungs as I ran up the stairs, “Dad, three big men just broke in to our house. Get ready to shoot the creeps.” I knew Dad could take care of them if he needed to. He used to be in the Marines Special Forces. I was not too worried.
Running past my parents’ bedroom door, I went into my room, slammed the door and locked it. Then I got the Smith & Wesson twenty-two with a four-inch barrel Dad made me learn how to use out of my underwear drawer, clicked off the safety and got into the crouch position preferred by sharpshooters and aimed at the door. I had six long rifle hollow points in the pistol. It was a small weapon my size that had enormous stopping power.
I heard the men climbing the stairs rather slowly. They made a lot of noise. Then they stopped at my parents’ room and tried the door. I knew it was locked. I was hoping Dad would shoot the front teeth out of them so they would whistle with their last evil breaths.
The door or doorframe splintered loudly as one of them lunged at it. Two shoots were fired. Someone groaned and collapsed on the floor. It did not sound like Mom or Dad.
In quick succession, I heard four more rapid shots from at least three guns. It sounded like a Wild West shootout with crazed killers with names like Black Bart in the movies.
I always thought of my parents as solid rocks of support ever since I could remember. Now I was shocked to think of them as rather fragile. That frightened me even more.
No one cares about me except my parents. Not many have any use for a smart ass kid my age except for perverts. I have long blonde hair and blue eyes. I just grew over three feet tall. I do not like dolls. I like the study of weapons, drawing with charcoal pencils and oil painting. Sewing and cooking bore me. The other girls my age that I know in the neighborhood are nice but they are so far behind me in my studies they seem like baby baboons with a bad attitude. I read at a ninth grade level. In math, I am studying trigonometry. I am on my sixth book on business. For over a year, I have been taking online college courses of an engineering major.
Mom stays home in order to home school me. Now she only gets books I need and makes up the tests. So I am on my own mostly. Twice a week she takes me to a shooting range. I have learned to use a good rifle there too. My shooting score is almost as good as my dad. I also practice in the backyard with my throwing knives every day.
All of a sudden, it was very quiet, too quiet. I was waiting to hear Dad say that it was all right.
I opened the door carefully and peeked out the door.
Two strange men were sprawled in the hallway, not moving in pools of blood.
Without thinking, I shrieked, “Dad are you all right?”
I heard nothing at all. I stepped over the bodies into my parents’ bedroom.
Mom had a bullet hole through her forehead. One of the bad men was dead just inside the room. Dad was badly wounded but still alive.
I ran to his side. “Dad please don’t die!”
He smiled although I could see massive pain in his eyes. “Honey I am not going to make it. Now listen. Our last will leaves everything to you. We could not decide on a guardian for you that were not greedy bastards. We did not think we would have to so soon. You cannot trust anyone. They might even have a contract on you. You have to disappear and learn to survive in the world the best you can. We have tried to train you to be self-supportive and you learned better than I hoped. Open the safe and take it all with you. You will need it. Remember the survival, weapons, engineering and business studies. Cover your tracks. Be invisible. Do not let me die worrying about you Nina. Be strong…” He stopped breathing just then.
I bawled like a baby for five minutes as I started doing what he had told me. It wasn’t fair! My parents were everything to me and now they were dead. The bastards robbed me of the safe and comfortable future I would have had.
Grabbing an overnight bag, I loaded his small weapons, money, bearer bonds from the safe and clothes from my dresser as well as all the ammunition we had. I wanted the rifle but there was no way to carry it. I put some of the books that seemed most valuable in the bag last.
Then I went out the back door just as I heard the sirens. There was no back fence so I just cut through to the next street and turned right toward a main highway. The bag felt like it was filled with rocks after a couple of blocks. I kept switching hands so neither hand would get too tired.
It was a school day about ten in the morning. The police might pick me up as a truant child so I was watching for them.
I put my thumb out to hitch a ride.
The first car going my way stopped. It was a middle-aged man. He had dirty long brown hair. He was also more than a little overweight. He rolled the window down, “What’s wrong honey? Are you running away?”
I nodded. “My parents are drunken slobs and mean too. Anywhere is better than home.”
He pushed open the door on my side. “Hop in and we’ll talk while I drive.”
I did, put my heavy bag on the floor, climbed in and managed to close the door at the same time so my arms would reach.
He looked at me closely up and down as if he was going to buy a piece of meat.
Dad had warned me about men like this. He was a pervert that liked little girls.
He was licking his lips as he glanced at my crotch. “I have always wanted a little girl like you. I’ll be glad to take good care of you.”
For some reason, I did not get a picture of milk and cookies. Vicious bedroom torture was more like it if I let him have his way. He was a real piece of work. Well all in all, he was simple minded. I was thinking I could use him.
Twenty minutes later, he pulled into a rural farmhouse with the nearest neighbors at least half a mile away. It was near Lakeland, Florida.
He glanced at me as he got out of the car.
I didn’t wait for him to help me out or anything else. I hopped out, grabbed my bag and put my hand on my gun in my skirt pocket under my big t-shirt.
He came around my side of the car. “Do you want some help with your bag?”
I shook my head as I was watching him. “No that is all right. Is there a separate bedroom for me here? Or are you planning that I sleep with you?”
His beady eyes glittered as he considered the possibilities. “I think you had better sleep with me so I can protect you.”
I shrugged. “Well if that is the way you want it, okay.” I kept from shuddering at the thought of it. I knew exactly what he wanted to do. Both Mom and Dad had been very graphic what a pervert like him was likely to do. My hand tightened on my gun.
I followed him into the house.
He locked the door behind me.
The house was dirty and smelly. Being on my own was not turning out smelling like roses. The man eyed me standing there near the front door once then went to the bathroom.
He came out fast as the toilet was flushing. He was worried I had bolted out the door.
I considered leaving, but that could lead to more complications. I looked at him seriously. “Listen closely. Thanks for picking me up but no funny business. My vagina is too small for any sex. You might not know that it could kill me. Maybe you do not care. But if you try anything, I will slice off your dick or shoot you. Call the police if you want and I will tell them you showed yourself to me and tried to get me to give you oral sex. They will put you away like an animal for years in a hellhole worse than this.”
He sneered at me. “Mighty big words for a little cunt. So you are going to play hard to get are you missy?”
I pulled out my little gun and pointed it at his chest. “I mean it you creep.”
He started laughing. “You think you can stop me with that toy pistol?” He moved toward me.
It was too quiet. I did not want to bring the neighbors or the police. I put the gun away and got one of my balanced knives out of the sheath under my skirt.
He got the wrong idea when he saw me get close to taking off my skirt. He moved faster toward me. He was almost panting with a glazed look on his eyes.
I threw the knife as hard and straight as I could. It buried itself in his neck right beside his Adam’s apple. It cut into his voice box as well as the other side of his throat.
He gurgled as he tried to yell. Then he collapsed on the floor near me. All the fight and sexual urge was gone now.
I pulled my knife out of his throat, wiped it on his shirt and put it back in the sheath. I saw he was unconscious. It seemed unlikely he would bother me the rest of the day. Tonight I planned to get moving. I fished his car keys out of his pocket.
Thinking what Dad had told me almost made me cry again, especially when I saw them both dead just after. My whole world had come crashing down. I think I understood what he meant about strangers taking care of me for my trust fund. Now there were even assassins to consider. Why were they targeting my parents and me? What was Dad into that was so dangerous?
Perhaps the answer was in the bag that I had emptied the safe into before I fled.
I went to the kitchen table. Then I took everything out of the bag one by one. My books came first. There was seventy-five thousand dollars in cash. There was a stack of bearer bonds totaling five hundred thousand dollars. Next came two expensive handguns and lots of ammunition. Last was a file marked, “Trojan Horse.”
When I started reading it, at first it made no sense. It used funny names for people. It was more of a step-by-step operational plan instead of an overall plan. On the surface, it appeared to be a tactical exercise to cause certain distractions to pull security away from the target. Then the target would be obliterated. I had no idea who the players were or what the target was.
Since my parents were killed, it is likely this document is a rogue operation against some government official in the United States.
What should I care? Chances are the official was corrupt and deserved it. On the other hand, anyone that killed my parents was scum. If I could find who ordered it, I planned to kill him no matter how long it took.
Then I wondered if that operation was what really got them killed. Maybe it was a mistake.
I turned on the television while I continued to think in circles. There was a dopey soap opera on.
I checked the man on the floor. He still had not moved.
Then the television had a news flash. They reported the killing of my parents but did not give their names. Then my picture flashed on the screen, “Anyone seeing this girl call the police. She disappeared from the murder scene. We do not know if she had been kidnapped, killed or just run away frightened.”
Switching off the television, I thought I would get some lunch.
The only things that were in the refrigerator were beer and moldy cheese. The pantry was not much better. There was some popcorn and a half eaten can of mixed nuts. I went for the mixed nuts. They were stale but I ate them anyhow.
I missed my other textbooks and computer. I was doing so well and it was fun. I got mad again as I thought how unfair it had been to turn my world upside down and take both parents away. They were the only people that ever loved me.
The phone started ringing. The man did not move. I decided not to answer either. There was no answering machine. It stopped ringing after just four rings.
It was all I could do to stay here. I repacked my bag with the books on the bottom and the guns were on top. I figured with the way things were happening I would need weapons more than books.
The only plan I could come up with was to lay low until things died down. Hotels and motels were out since they would be on the lookout for me. Besides, Dad told me to be invisible. I could not leave a trail. The creep in this house would not say a word if he did survive. He could not admit a tiny girl got the best of him. I just hoped he would stay unconscious for another few hours.
It was boring there with the television playing the usual stupid shows. I fell asleep in the kitchen chair with my head on the table.
When I woke up late afternoon, nothing had changed in the house. The man was still unconscious or dead. I didn’t check to see which. I was hungry again but I did not want the junk that was left.
Someone started to knock on the door.
I did not move since no one outside could see me.
The knocking stopped after two attempts. It was close to five in the afternoon now. It was a nice January day weather-wise. The daytime outdoor temperatures were very comfortable. The forecast for the night were freezing temperatures by dawn.
I did not bring any warm clothes. I was still in a blouse and skirt. It seemed no problem because I was going to take his car to Orlando before I abandoned it. My fingerprints had never been taken. Dad was against the safety campaign to fingerprint children.
But I knew the police had my prints since that was standard on any crime scene. I had to be sure to wipe off every surface of the car before I was done with it.
I got busy gathering everything I would need to be able to drive the car. I got two pillows to sit on, some gray tape from the garage and some wood pieces I could tape to my sneakers to reach the pedals.
It did not matter that I had never drove before. I knew how. The trip to Orlando would be part of the practice I needed.
****
Chapter 2
Two hours after dark, I started out. Before I left the driveway, I had to make two adjustments in the blocks on my sneakers. When it was perfect, I pulled out and headed east.
I stayed on the secondary road until I came to a sign that pointed to Interstate 4. I turned right and followed the signs.
Five minutes later, I was on I-4 headed northeast. It was after nine at night.
Hunger kept me awake. I wanted to stop at one of those minimarts but that would not make me invisible. I was also thinking if I abandoned the car in Orlando, it would lead some right to me.
When I saw a minimart that was a truckstop, I turned off at that exit. I had to catch another ride with someone. This time I would choose the person if I possibly could.
There was a separate lot for cars and one for the trucks. Since it was late, the trucks were parked solid. The car lot was mostly empty. I pulled in and parked as far away from the store as I was able.
I sat in the car awhile watching what was happening. Frequently cars and trucks came in to fuel. Trucks took a lot longer to fuel. The drivers usually went into the store to buy something or at least pay for the fuel. The cars paid at the pump and quickly left.
If I stowed away in a truck, how could I tell which way it was going. Then I thought anywhere except Tampa would be okay.
I was thinking that stowing away was the only way. No one would give me a ride if I asked. I knew human nature. They would probably kick me out when they found me but that might be in another state I hoped.
The other problem was I could not stand out there and choose who would be the best, as I wanted. Too many people might see me. That was not being invisible. One of them might report seeing a young girl alone.
Instead, I tried to watch the truck drivers coming in from the road. I could get a decent look at them since I was near the road.
It was about an hour of looking at all sorts of men and women. I did not like the looks of any of them really. Besides, on many trucks it said, “No riders.” They were usually new looking trucks with a fancy logo and paint job. Finally, I spotted a man that reminded me of Dad. I am not sure why except that his eyes seemed to take in everything like he might have been military.
I had finished wiping all my prints off the car, keys and everything else. I had the blocks that had been taped to my sneakers taped together separately ready to throw out. I left the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked.
I quickly put the taped blocks in the dumpster. Then I went back for my bag and the two small pillows. I closed the door with my elbow.
Then I hurried back to the truck fuel island where there were five lanes of diesel fuel. His truck was parked behind the last lane.
No one seemed to notice me. I looked up at the cab and wondered if I could get up there. Not with the bag or pillows I thought. So I climbed up without them and tried the door. I was relieved to find it unlocked.
I opened the door and then got down and brought back one item each time. It seemed to be taking a long time so I was worried.
Finally, I got in and closed the door. I never knew what these trucks looked like inside. At least it didn’t smell bad. I looked behind the seats and found two empty bunks. The top one had some stuff on it but the bottom bunk was made up like a bed.
After two tries, I got my bag on the top bunk, and then threw the two pillows up. Then I scrambled up and tried to get out of sight behind the stuff he stored up here.
Two minutes later, he came back and slammed the door. He was eating some kind of sandwich that was making me hungry, but I dared not say anything.
The truck had been turned off when he went into the store. That made me think he paid for the fuel himself. He waiting until the truck ahead pulled out of the island then he started his truck and moved into the fuel island.
While he was outside fueling, I looked around. He had a small refrigerator, a television with DVD and a bunch of cubbyholes for clothes and snacks. The snack part got my attention. I saw part of a label that looked like little pies and cakes like those that they sell at convenience stores.
I reached down and grabbed two of them as fast as I could. I was starved. Making as little noise as I could, I tore part of the wrapper off the first one and started eating. It was unbelievably good. I started on the second when he got back in.
He just sat there. I could hear the fuel still going into the tanks. Then I remembered it was cold outside and he was not wearing a coat either. He had a coat hanging behind his seat, but for some reason he did not put it on.
At first, I thought he heard the paper crinkling or me eating, but then I wasn’t sure. He did not look behind him. That made me wonder too. If he used his senses as I suspected, he already knew I was up here. I was scared he would put me off right here. That could be a disaster. I tried to be as quiet as I could and stopped eating.
He got back out, hung up the hoses and must have gone back into the store to finish paying and get his receipt. He was gone so long with the motor off it was getting cold in here too.
There was an extra blanket rolled up in the corner of this bunk so I wrapped it around me. Then I must have gone to sleep.
The next thing I knew the motor was running and we either were at the truckstop or had gone a ways, but we were stopped again.
He was standing next to the bunks looking right at me. “Just what are you doing here?”
I came off the pillow wide-awake. “Please do not put me outside. I am in trouble.”
He nodded calmly. “You are Nina Stafford. The police are looking for you. Were you kidnapped?”
I shook my head. “Before Dad died he told me it was not safe and to disappear. From what he told me, assassins had our whole family under contract to kill us. I believe my dad. Three assassins came into our house. Dad killed them all but not before the strangers shot both of them.” Tears were in my eyes.
He looked at me kindly. “Where were you during that attack?”
“I was locked in my bedroom getting ready to shoot anyone coming into my room.”
He did not believe me. “You? How good a shot are you and with what?”
I smiled. “Dad bought me a long barreled thirty-eight. I practice at the shooting range with him every week. I am a decent shot with it at fifty feet or closer. Also, I practice with razor sharp balanced throwing knives every day in the back yard. Well I mean I used to before this morning. It has been the worst day of my life losing both parents I loved so much.” I started crying again more than I did when it first happened.
“Your dad was Greg Stafford in the Marine Special Forces?”
My eyes were watering so much I barely saw him. “That is right. Did you know him?”
He shook his head. “I was in the Marines after him. His name was brought up several times as a model. I was sorry to see the report of his death. The mystery of what happened to you is all over the news. I am glad you are all right. Could I see that report you are talking about?”
I sat up and nodded. I opened my bag, dug it out and handed it to him.
He read it standing up. It looked like he read it three times. Then he whistled. “This looks like a blueprint for black ops in a domestic situation. Your dad must have still been in military intelligence or a friend gave him this. Anyhow, it is dynamite! Whoever is organizing this dirty mission wants to clean up the loose ends. By now, they know this copy is missing. They have proven to be ruthless killers so we have to be careful.”
I looked at him carefully. “You are going to help me somehow?”
He shrugged. “I owe it to a fellow Marine. However, you have to do what I say or the deal is off. Do you understand?”
I smiled. “Yes sir. What should I call you?”
He grinned. “You can just call me Chump by not getting rid of you at Polk City when I first saw you get in the truck.”
“You saw me?”
“Yes I wondered what you were doing at the truckstop so I watched you. By the way, my name is Jack Tolliver. Now did you eat the little cakes for dessert or did you miss dinner?”
I was surprised. “You knew that too. I was trying to be quiet.”
Jack laughed. “I do not miss much Nina. Are you still hungry?”
I nodded. “I sure am.”
He smiled. “Are you okay with a sandwich and chips?”
I laughed. “Real food of any kind would be great. Thanks.”
He left the truck and went into the building of the truckstop. This was a much bigger truckstop. Now I knew we had gone some distance while I was sleeping.
About five minutes later, I was eating. It was really good too or else I was too hungry to care.
Jack asked about how I got to the truckstop in Polk City so I told him everything that happened.
He looked more and more amazed. “It is hard to believe you are a tiny little girl after what you told me as well as how you told me. It is as if you are taking college classes but that is impossible isn’t it?”
I laughed. “I have been taking college courses for credit for over a year. I read at ninth grade level, do math at eleventh grade level, am a student of business and engineering, know many weapons and can use them proficiently, can draw and paint. Mom and Dad started training me when I was born. I started reading when I was two years old.”
Jack was surprised. “Wow I would marry you if you were older!”
That made me laugh. I knew he did not have bad motives.
I wondered about something. “Is this your truck or is it a company truck?”
Jack smiled. “It belongs to one of my friends. I am helping him out until he gets a reliable driver. My regular business is waiting for me back in Columbus.”
I thought about that for a few seconds. “Are you a private detective or a security specialist and bodyguard?”
He grinned. “You keep surprising me. I am a security specialist all right. How did you know?”
I felt good that I impressed him. “You are in as good shape as when you were active duty. Your eyes pick up everything around you like the secret service do.”
Jack nodded. “You are very perceptive too Nina. Too bad you are only six years old.”
“Thanks Jack. Where are we now? I wonder if anyone else saw me get into your truck?”
We are near Savannah, Georgia. In a truckstop there are eyes looking everywhere. Some drivers can’t sleep and just watch what is going on in the truckstop. It is highly likely at least one more did and probably more like ten.”
I nodded. “Where are you taking this load in the trailer?”
“It is due in Baltimore tomorrow morning. I am going to get some sleep now. If you go out, grab the key in the ignition and lock the door. On second thought, just wake me and I will go with you. I can help disguise you at the same time.”
Jack helped me in the morning to get to the bathroom with a blanket wrapped up around me so only my eyes were visible to anyone else. I rewrapped it before I left the restroom. Then we had breakfast in the truck with eggs, bacon and orange juice. It was very good.
It was midmorning before we started back on the road. The roads were clear but it was cold as we rolled north. In North Carolina, I saw snow for the first time.
After dark, we stopped near Richmond, Virginia. I thought at the time, we were close to the seat of power of the United States and possibly close to the conspiracy to hurt the republic. I thought we were safe since maybe no one knew where we were.
It was after midnight when I had to go to the bathroom. I woke Jack. Then we started to walk to the building.
That was when a big car drove right up to us and stopped. Two men piled out with automatic machine pistols.
We were too far away for Jack to clobber them.
****
Chapter 3
Jack kept me between him and the thugs. That gave me a chance to get out two of my knives.
One of them said, “Jack you keep bad company. Stay right there while my partner searches your truck.”
Jack did not move but I knew he wanted to.
When one of them started for the truck, the eyes of the other man briefly left Jack.
That was when I threw a knife at his face. It landed right in his eye and went in deep.
That man collapsed.
I whirled around and hit the other one in the back of the neck. He was way too close to miss. It did not go in deep enough. I rushed too much.
The man growled and started to turn his weapon toward us.
Jack launched himself at the man and clobbered him hard enough to lay him out cold.
Jack looked at both men and then me. “You were not stretching the truth about anything. You are an amazing girl Nina! I never would have believed it. That means they know exactly where we are. They are able to track the truck. They likely know the destination. I have to call my friend to let him know what is happening and that we have to leave the truck. Better get your stuff Nina and make it fast.”
I got my knives back first and then got my bag out of the truck. Then I used the restroom as fast as I could.
By that time, Jack had gone through their pockets, got their keys, wallets and guns. He was loading up the big car with his stuff when I got back outside.
Jack motioned me toward the car.
I saw the two men were either dead or unconscious. Jack had moved them into the shadows so they were not so noticeable to other drivers.
As soon as I got in the car, Jack started it and took off. “Keep low Nina. I know you do not want more people to recognize you.”
“Okay Jack I am tired anyway. I am going to lie down on the back seat and get back to sleep. Thanks for the help back there. I owe you.”
“Nina you should be the one I should thank. They were going to kill me too. Your knives stopped them so I could move. You did very well.”
I was asleep soon after.
Explosions woke me. It was still dark. I was terrified. “What is happening?”
Jack’s voice seemed strained. We were still moving too. “It is worse than I thought. A helicopter gun ship just fired a rocket at us. I do not know how they followed us unless this car has a GPS transmitter. I guess we should not have taken it. We had to abandon it immediately. It is my fault, sorry Nina.”
I started gathering our things together. “It is all right Jack.” I figured there was no way he could carry all his stuff if he hiked in the country any distance. It was too dark for me to see much but it looked like a wooded countryside with snow between the trees.
I was still in tennis shoes, a thin shirt and top. I would freeze in thirty minutes out there. This was not looking good.
The helicopter caught us in a spotlight. Then they shot what I think were fifty caliber bullets at us. Three bullets came through the ceiling behind me and buried in the top of the seat.
Jack was weaving the car all over the road unpredictably. Then he saw an intersecting dirt road, slid, and skidded into it. There was more cover there with large evergreens almost covering the road.
Jack turned off the headlights and slowed down.
That threw off the helicopter as it raced ahead of us. That made me think there was no GPS transmitter or it stopped transmitting. “Jack back up and head the same way you were with the headlight off then turn down the first driveway or road on the left.”
Jack glanced at me. I saw him in the instrument lights. “What is the reason for that Nina? Don’t you think we have a GPS transmitter in the car?”
I smiled. “Yes it does not look like it is working if there is one. I think we can lose them that way. What do you think Jack?”
He nodded. “You might be right.” He started backing right away. Only the backup lights betrayed our position.
We got to the main highway and quickly accelerated. So far, it appeared we had lost them. Of course, they could radio for ground units if there was a big conspiracy. It was important that we got out of this immediate area fast.
About five miles later, Jack turned left onto a smaller county road. That made me feel better right away. So far, the helicopter had not found us again.
Jack was moving slower as there was no light at all, only a faint gray form of the road ahead in near blackness otherwise. It was almost spooky.
I was scared he might drive off the road and get stuck. “Do you think it safe to turn on the parking lights yet?”
He took awhile to answer. “I think I better wait. We are still too close to a helicopter search pattern. We need to go at least twenty miles farther before we put the lights on. We passed I-66 just before we turned off on that state road. It might be safer to get back on it with more traffic, or maybe I can find another state road heading east or north before the interstate highway.”
I smiled. “You know best Jack. I am glad we do not have to walk. I am still dressed for daytime Florida in yesterday’s clothes. But I am not complaining.”
Nothing more was said for enough time that I fell asleep again.
I woke up next when it was daylight. We were going through a city on an interstate. We just passed an I-81 blue and white road sign. “Where are we? Aren’t you sleepy?”
“We are just passing Norfolk, Virginia. We took the long way to get this far. Yes, I am tired. I am trying to think of somewhere we can sleep safely. Hotels and motels are out obviously. I do not have any family in the northeast but that is out too. I am thinking of parking under an overpass in rural Virginia. What do you think?”
I shrugged. “It sounds fine to me but I do need a bathroom soon.”
“Me too Nina. I’ll stop at one of these truck stops up ahead. They are always so busy maybe no one will notice us. You need some warm and bigger clothes to make you look older too.”
“That is a good idea Jack. I wouldn’t mind hitting a mall.”
He laughed. “Yeah you and twenty million other screaming and scheming other women.”
I had to think about that awhile. I detected some bitterness with women in his personal life. I figured he was definitely alone now with no girlfriend. It wasn’t that I was thinking of him as a boyfriend. I was just paying attention to him and all my surroundings for my benefit. “Jack I would not expect you to pay for what I wanted to buy. But I was just talking. I know I do not dare go into a mall the way things are.”
A few minutes later, he pulled off the interstate highway. There were two truck stops just ahead. He pulled into the biggest ones and parked. “It is chilly out. I am going to see if I can find a coat and sweat pants your general size so you will not stand out as much. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He pulled on his coat and buttoned it.
I smiled. “Thank Jack, I’ll pay you back.”
He smiled too then locked and slammed the door. Hurrying in amide snow flurries, he was soon inside the store.
I stayed low but kept an eye on the people walking to and from their cars. They did not waste time looking around. It was cold and snowy. Besides, no one took any interest in me or the car that I saw.
He came back in about ten minutes with a big bag. He handed it to me from the front seat. “I looked at all the clothes. This store had very little. I got the smallest coat they had. They had no small pants or any kids’ clothes, sorry Nina.”
I looked at the coat. It was black leather like a biker’s jacket. I put it on the best I could and stood up. The bottom of the coat was all over my feet. It was a lot longer than I was. If I tried walking in it, I would trip and fall.
Jack saw it immediately and he had the funniest expression on his face, as he was disappointed.
I started laughing. “I would look like a clown in this always tripping and falling down. I do not think this would make me invisible Jack. I will just pee beside the car and use the coat to hide me, okay?”
Jack tried to look serious and then he started laughing. “Y…yes that is a good idea, I can bring you some toilet paper then.”
I nodded. “I better wait until you do in that case. I would hate to wipe myself on the new coat.”
After he did, I took care of business. Everything came out. It was awkward, cold and smelled bad. Being on the run sucked a big one! I made a smelly mess beside the car.
I climbed back into the warmer car as fast as I could. I was glad I had the coat. It was big enough to cover me completely like a heavy blanket. It was also warm. The car started to cool off a lot when he was in there getting food.
Jack brought me a good hot breakfast with eggs¸ toast and even jelly. There were plastic utensils to eat it with and spread the jelly. I liked it.
After he bought some gas, we got back on the highway. There was a lot of traffic so I felt better. We would be harder to track.
I watch the traffic for a while then asked, “Jack, are you still planning on going to Columbus?”
He nodded. “That is my home. However, I am not going directly to my place. I am going to wait until dark and check it out on foot. If there are snoopers or bugs in my place, I will find them and eliminate them. Anyone with a gun getting to close to me is going to die after I get what I can out of him.”
I nodded. “That sounds dangerous Jack. It seemed those men back there in Richmond knew you already. That means your home and office will almost certainly be a trap for you. With modern electronics, they do not have to be visible. You might see nothing until they surround you with deadly force.”
Jack thought for a few seconds. “You may be right. Then what do you suggest?”
“Do you know how to get phony but good new identification for both of us?” If we had new names we could start over as a father and daughter team maybe in another city such as Birmingham, Alabama.”
“Nina are you thinking of making this a permanent arrangement?”
I shook my head. “I do not know. That would be a good cover story as all. What do you think?”
He smiled at me in the mirror. “Why did you say Birmingham? Do you have friends or family there?”
I laughed. “No it is just further south and maybe not as cold. Columbus is probably miserable and dangerous this time of year.”
Jack chuckled. “Well it is not so bad. I was used to the miserable winters. Come to think of it, further south would be a good idea. The best place to hide is where there are a lot of people. What do you think of Houston, Texas?”
Thinking about it for a few seconds, I nodded. “That sounds good to me. Let’s go then. I would feel better going southwest instead of steady north. I do not think our enemies expect that.”
“We are almost to I-70 now. Rather than continue northeast, we need to start west. I am planning to take that to I-64. Then we can follow that west to I-75. From there, we can go south to Chattanooga, Tennessee.”
I nodded. “It sounds like a good plan to me as long as the police do not stop us. We will be on the road a long time. Anywhere traffic is light, we might be easy for the police and our enemies to find us. Is there any place like that up ahead?”
Jack said, “Damn, there sure is. On I-64 from I-70 to I-79 at Morgantown, West Virginia, traffic is always light. It is mountainous with mostly straight road. We would be sitting ducks for any kind of aircraft or police cars. Another thing, if we continue northeast much farther we will be going through toll booths on all federal and most state roads, which will keep a record because this car has an easy pass transmitter.”
I thought a few seconds. “Are you an aircraft pilot?”
Jack shook his head.
“How are you at hot wiring cars then?”
He laughed. “I do not know how and do not want to steal a car.”
My eyebrows went up. “This car was not yours Jack.”
“You are right. It was the only thing we could do at the time. We need to get rid of this car as soon as possible. After that, I do not know. You are still without warm clothes that fit you.”
I smiled. He was a nice guy. “One thing I do know that if you stick this in a major airport long term parking it might be months before it is noticed. Also at large airports, there are small freight carriers that might be bribed to take a couple passengers with the freight with no questions asked. What do you think?”
“I think that is our only option. Reagan National is the closest one. That is where we will go. Do you have money for the bribe or whatever? I am a bit short now unless I hit an ATM”
“What kind of money do you think it will take Jack?”
He scratched his stubble on his face. “It could be anywhere from five hundred to a thousand dollars to get him to look the other way. We have to find a flight near Houston so we won’t have to do the same thing again.”
****
Chapter 4
“Okay Jack no problem. I will leave it up to you to find the right flight and the right person to bribe. My education does not yet deal with that sort of information.”
Jack laughed. “I am surprised it wasn’t with all the rest you seem to know. I keep thinking you are sixteen or eighteen the way you talk instead of just six years old. Are you almost seven?”
“I grinned. “My sixth birthday was less than a month ago. It was December 30.”
“Nina what did you get for your birthday?”
I smiled fondly as I remembered the day. “I had a birthday cake and dinner I wanted. My wrapped present was another good set of throwing knives. I know that would not interest most six year old girls but I was fascinated by all weapons and loved to learn how to use them and master them. It was sort of a prize of achievement when my Dad gave them to me. I had mastered other inferior knives. These new ones were made by the best materials and the blades stay sharp much longer than my old ones.”
Jack got off the road to the airport. “First I need to get you some new clothes and other stuff. There is a mall up ahead. You stay in the car out of sight while I get them, okay? Now what are your sizes?”
I told him.
He did not write it down but I guess he could remember.
That took another hour. I dozed off again while he was in the mall. The parking lot was busy but it was cold. I wrapped the coat around me before I went to sleep.
Jack came back with a big bag. When he opened the door, I woke up. He got two dresses, two shirts, six underwear, two warm pants and a coat my size. I liked his choices.
While I was getting dressed, he drove toward the airport.
Ten minutes later, we turned into the airport freight area. Jack was ignoring the major freight carriers and looking for an operation a lot smaller. He paused at one of them and then moved on forward.
He looked back at me. “Security has been increased a lot. Anyone getting in there needs a special badge. The days seem to be gone in this country where anyone could drive into a freight area. I have not been near airports for anything in over ten years, sorry Nina. I am out of suggestions now.”
I thought for a minute. “Park in long-term parking Jack. We are going to drive out of here in another car.”
He started driving and following the signs. “What is the plan?”
“Go to the top level if you can. That will be the quietest for what I have in mind.”
Jack laughed. “So you know how to break in cars Nina?”
I shook my head. “Do you know some people get their keys stolen or lost when they travel? As a result, they hide keys in the engine if it can be opened, in a wheel well, or in a small case under the car. You just have to find the car of a smart person.”