because they didn’t want to do Charade day, Macy played along. She pretended that they convinced her, when in actuality she saw the chance to sleep in.
She did.
No alarm clock was set and she allowed her body to naturally wake when it was ready. Two hours of extra sleep was a gift to her physical being.
The boys were already awake, eating cereal and playing video games. She had her coffee and relaxed.
A perfect day.
She had errands to run, and figured she could get them done, get back and still have plenty of enough to be lazy. A luxury she seldom had.
“Hey, boys, I’m running down to town to hit the Dollar Barn after I get dressed.”
Clay looked over his shoulder, only briefly removing his eyes from his game. “Do I have to go? I’m old enough to stay home.”
“I’d really like for you to go. I’ll grab a pizza. It’s five buck large day at Little Jim’s.”
Clay groaned. “Why are you bribing me?”
“I want to go,” Thomas said.
“Suck up,” Clay snapped.
“Hey,” Macy scolded. “Okay, let me ask Lila if she keep an ear out for you. It’ll cost us a slice of pizza. If I let you stay, no leaving, lock the doors …”
“Mom, I’m almost thirteen. Seriously. I’ll be fine.”
“Can I still go?” asked Thomas.
“Of course, you can sweetie.”
“Oh my God,” Clay groaned. “He’s totally your favorite.”
“He is not. I love you both the same. He’s just …” Macy walked over and kissed Thomas on the forehead. “He’s my Mommy’s boy.”
Thomas smiled at Clay, and Clay shook his head. While Macy hated leaving Clay alone, he was right. He was old enough.
Dollar Barn wouldn’t take long, and Macy decided she’d enjoy her time with Thomas.
It was going to be a good day.
<><><><>
Kingman, AZ
June 26
Stokes hated to admit it, but the stop was good on many fronts. They were able to rest, get their thoughts in order, and Stokes actually saw that he was able to trust Charles. He was fearful after dozing off in the car, that he’d wake up to find the two scientists gone.
They weren’t.
Instead they had gone into the roadside diner and were having breakfast.
“Morning,” Stokes joined them in the booth.
“We didn’t want to wake you,” Charles said. “We’re just finishing up. We’ll wait on you, if you’d like.”
“No, I’ll get coffee to go. “ Just as Stokes said that, the waitress arrived. She acknowledged that she heard him and walked from the booth. “Did you guys sleep at all?” Stokes asked.
“Not really,” Emir answered. “I did try.”
“Me, too, but my mind was a million miles an hour,” Charles added.
“Understandable.” Stokes nodded a thanks to the waitress for the take out coffee, and after Charles left some cash on the table, the three of them left the diner.
“Conrad,” Charles said. “Would you mind driving my car and following us.”
“Why?” Stokes asked.
“We just want to talk. You’ll be right behind us. We know what’s waiting for us at the Nevada facility.”
Stokes was in debate about it. He walked to the cars with them. He noticed Emir opening the hatch of his SUV. “Whoa. What is he doing?”
Emir answered as he removed the small case. “I’m taking it out of the hatch. It’s too hot in there.”
“Be careful with that,” Stokes said. “That case doesn’t look too sturdy.”
“It’s not,” Emir replied.
“Swell.” Stokes grumbled.
“So can we?” Charles asked. “Even if only a couple hours. With the Aldus thing being a bust and the feds taking us as soon as we get there. We just want to get our stories tight.”
Stokes exhaled. “I’m sorry about it all. I really am. I wish the video footage would have shown the hand off to Aldus. Instead it only made Emir look guilty.”
“We appreciate you trying.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t do much except vouch for your character. Don’t think that will mean squat when Homeland takes … ow!” Stokes’ hand immediately
She did.
No alarm clock was set and she allowed her body to naturally wake when it was ready. Two hours of extra sleep was a gift to her physical being.
The boys were already awake, eating cereal and playing video games. She had her coffee and relaxed.
A perfect day.
She had errands to run, and figured she could get them done, get back and still have plenty of enough to be lazy. A luxury she seldom had.
“Hey, boys, I’m running down to town to hit the Dollar Barn after I get dressed.”
Clay looked over his shoulder, only briefly removing his eyes from his game. “Do I have to go? I’m old enough to stay home.”
“I’d really like for you to go. I’ll grab a pizza. It’s five buck large day at Little Jim’s.”
Clay groaned. “Why are you bribing me?”
“I want to go,” Thomas said.
“Suck up,” Clay snapped.
“Hey,” Macy scolded. “Okay, let me ask Lila if she keep an ear out for you. It’ll cost us a slice of pizza. If I let you stay, no leaving, lock the doors …”
“Mom, I’m almost thirteen. Seriously. I’ll be fine.”
“Can I still go?” asked Thomas.
“Of course, you can sweetie.”
“Oh my God,” Clay groaned. “He’s totally your favorite.”
“He is not. I love you both the same. He’s just …” Macy walked over and kissed Thomas on the forehead. “He’s my Mommy’s boy.”
Thomas smiled at Clay, and Clay shook his head. While Macy hated leaving Clay alone, he was right. He was old enough.
Dollar Barn wouldn’t take long, and Macy decided she’d enjoy her time with Thomas.
It was going to be a good day.
<><><><>
Kingman, AZ
June 26
Stokes hated to admit it, but the stop was good on many fronts. They were able to rest, get their thoughts in order, and Stokes actually saw that he was able to trust Charles. He was fearful after dozing off in the car, that he’d wake up to find the two scientists gone.
They weren’t.
Instead they had gone into the roadside diner and were having breakfast.
“Morning,” Stokes joined them in the booth.
“We didn’t want to wake you,” Charles said. “We’re just finishing up. We’ll wait on you, if you’d like.”
“No, I’ll get coffee to go. “ Just as Stokes said that, the waitress arrived. She acknowledged that she heard him and walked from the booth. “Did you guys sleep at all?” Stokes asked.
“Not really,” Emir answered. “I did try.”
“Me, too, but my mind was a million miles an hour,” Charles added.
“Understandable.” Stokes nodded a thanks to the waitress for the take out coffee, and after Charles left some cash on the table, the three of them left the diner.
“Conrad,” Charles said. “Would you mind driving my car and following us.”
“Why?” Stokes asked.
“We just want to talk. You’ll be right behind us. We know what’s waiting for us at the Nevada facility.”
Stokes was in debate about it. He walked to the cars with them. He noticed Emir opening the hatch of his SUV. “Whoa. What is he doing?”
Emir answered as he removed the small case. “I’m taking it out of the hatch. It’s too hot in there.”
“Be careful with that,” Stokes said. “That case doesn’t look too sturdy.”
“It’s not,” Emir replied.
“Swell.” Stokes grumbled.
“So can we?” Charles asked. “Even if only a couple hours. With the Aldus thing being a bust and the feds taking us as soon as we get there. We just want to get our stories tight.”
Stokes exhaled. “I’m sorry about it all. I really am. I wish the video footage would have shown the hand off to Aldus. Instead it only made Emir look guilty.”
“We appreciate you trying.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t do much except vouch for your character. Don’t think that will mean squat when Homeland takes … ow!” Stokes’ hand immediately
Similar Books
