Chapter Twelve
Tony eased on the brakes and approached the guard shack outside the gates of the air force base.
“Act normal,” he ordered Henry while staring straight ahead.
A man stepped from the shack, wearing a light tan uniform with a security badge resting above the left breast pocket of his shirt. A small, shiny nametag lay beneath it with the name Baltzly engraved on it. He stopped next to the vehicle.
Tony popped a piece of gum into his mouth and rolled down the window before pushing his sunglasses up on top of his head to meet the guy’s eyes.
Baltzly glanced at the ID badge Tony wore and straightened his frame. He gave a sharp salute. “Master Sergeant Farlow. Where would you like to go, sir?”
“I was asked to bring Doctor Sutherland in for some testing. They’re expecting him.”
“Yes, sir.” Baltzly ran a finger down a piece of paper attached to the clipboard he held before meeting Tony’s gaze once again. “Once you pass through the gate, follow the signs to E7. It’s an underground bunker on the east side of the base.”
“Roger that,” Tony murmured, watching as the guard stepped back inside the shack and pressed a button.
He waited until the window was firmly in place before speaking. “That went a lot smoother than I’d hoped.”
“Now what?” Henry asked, nervousness apparent in his voice.
Driving through the now-open gate, Tony studied the signs for directions to E7. “Now we walk in that place like we own it. And you had better get your shit together before we arrive. We’re far too close to get caught now because of your cowardly sniveling.”
“Why are you risking your life to help them?”
Henry’s question caught Tony off guard. Why was he helping the Bracadytes? He’d told himself it was all for Abbie, but he wasn’t so sure anymore.
No matter what the reason, it definitely didn’t have anything to do with the dark-haired temptress wearing the white shorts and tank top who he’d left back at Henry’s place. No, it definitely wasn’t because of her.
“This isn’t about them. I’m doing it for your daughter,” Tony snarled, stopping in front the building with E7 marked on the front. “Now straighten your ass up, put on your best game face, and let’s get this shit done if you ever want to see her again.”
Climbing out, Tony waited for Henry to round the vehicle before approaching the giant steel door. He pressed the call button on the intercom. “Master Sergeant Mike Farlow here with Doctor Sutherland.”
A click sounded, signaling the lock’s release. The door opened inward to a brightly lit foyer.
Tony studied the area below as he and Henry descended the stairs. Three men sat at a table, looking over what appeared to be a map, while one man stood next to a door attached to a large square room.
“Doctor Sutherland,” one the men called out from the table, getting to his feet. “Good of you to come.”
“Did I have a choice, Brandon?”
The arrogant tone of Henry’s voice surprised Tony. He had no idea that Abbie’s father could project such false bravado.
“There’s always a choice, Doctor,” the man murmured, extending his hand. “Good to see you again.”
Henry stared at Brandon’s outstretched hand for long moments before accepting his show of greeting.
“Master Sergeant,” the man acknowledged, nodding in Tony’s direction before disengaging his palm and turning toward the square structure situated in the center of the room. “Right this way, gentlemen.”
Tony glanced at the other two men seated at the table as they continued to peer at the map in front of them.
So far, Tony had counted only three men in the bunker. It wasn’t going to be easy to pull off such an elaborate escape. But not impossible, he mused, following Brandon into the belly of the bunker.
“Sir,” two men barked simultaneously while jumping to their feet with a salute.
Tony immediately recognized them both. They’d been present the day of Hauke and Abbie’s capture. The man on the right had been responsible for shooting Hauke. Tony’s stomach tightened in dread. If either of them recognized him, it would be game over.
“Leave us,” Brandon ordered the soldiers, holding the door open for them. “We won’t be needing you this evening. I’ll expect to see you both in the morning.”
Tony held his breath as the two men lowered their arms and turned toward him. Spivey cocked his head to the side on his way past Tony.
“Sir,” the corporal acknowledged, a wrinkle lining his brow.
Tony nodded, but kept his mouth shut. If he spoke now, one of the men might recognize him, blowing his cover and costing him his life.
Once the door closed, Brandon clapped Henry on the back. He nodded toward the two holding tanks in the center of the room. “As you can see, we have recently managed to acquire these two specimens.”
Henry’s mouth dropped open in feigned surprise. “Where on earth did you find them?”
“It doesn’t matter. Suffice it to say, they cost us a pretty penny.”
Tony peered at the big Bracadytes floating in the tanks and wondered if they’d been terminated prior to arriving at Eglin, or if the two giants were dead on discovery. Of course, he couldn’t ask.
“May I?” Without waiting for a response, Henry meandered over to one of the Bracadytes and pressed a button. The tank made a humming sound before slowly lowering to a horizontal position.
Removing his lab coat, Henry placed his arms inside the black expandable sleeves built into the sides of the tank and picked up one of the subject’s hands by the wrist. “How long has he been without a pulse?”
It didn’t escape Tony that Henry had referred to the Bracadyte as he, instead of it.
“Neither of them have had a pulse since their arrival two days ago,” Brandon confessed. “But we are keeping them in salt water to help preserve them as long as possible.” He turned toward the door. “I would advise you to keep your guard with you, just in case.”
Henry nodded and pulled his hands free of the rubber tubing. He waited until the door closed before whispering,” How the hell are we going to get them out of here? They’re dead. And in case you haven’t noticed, they’re huge and probably weigh close to three hundred pounds each.”
Tony moved close enough that only Henry could hear. “Open the tanks.”
“But why? We can’t possibly lift them and carry them out.”
“Let’s hope we don’t have to,” Tony murmured in a low tone. “You are going to give them blood and hopefully awaken them. If it’s not too late.”
Henry’s eyes grew huge. “What’s to stop them from killing us both if we manage to revive them?”
“You let me worry about that. Now let’s get started.”