I froze at the top of the stairs, just before the door. Gar looked up at me, but I couldn't read his face, so I slipped into his mind.
'Must do something.... Need new plan.'
If he couldn't travel with me, we had no plan. But Gar didn't back down. "I've been given my orders. I'm to accompany her to her destination. Step aside."
Neither guard budged. "We've got it from here. Return to school and await further orders. You've been reassigned."
Gar smiled, perhaps the first smile I'd seen on him. It sat awkwardly on his face, like an ill-fitting mask. "I'm sure we can figure this out, gentlemen. Let me just check in and clear everything with the boss."
The guards both relaxed their postures and nodded. A quick read of their minds proved Gar's response fit with protocol. They had no reason to believe he would go against orders.
Gar's body tensed as he spoke in hushed tones on the phone. He nodded his head a few times, and I could tell he tried to stay casual in his stance, but his balled fists betrayed his anger.
The conversation ended, and every nerve ending in my body flared to life. Sweat trickled down my neck onto the collar of my jacket, and the moment stretched into eternity as I waited to see what, if anything, Gar would do next.
As much as I wanted to peek into his mind, I needed to stay focused and alert. Should I try to run, stay on the plane, scream, cry, pretend to pass out? A dozen thoughts flittered through my mind, a dozen ways to distract, to get attention off of Gar—but that might make his job harder.
With hyper-awareness, I focused on Gar's every muscle twitch and movement.
His left fist unclenched, and something slipped into his hand. A syringe. He was going to attack.
Oh God! My heart thudded in my chest so hard I was sure the guards could hear it.
Gar chuckled and used his right hand to pocket his phone. "Guess you boys were right. Sorry about the trouble. Do you mind if I use the jet bathroom before I go? It's so much nicer than the one in the office."
The tall guard shook his head. "Sorry, man. Orders are orders. No one else is allowed on the plane."
Gar shrugged. "I understand. Oh hey, you've got something on your collar there."
Before either guard knew what was happening, he leaned into the tall guard on the left and plunged the needle into his neck. In the same breath he pulled the other guard's gun from his holster.
The tall guard staggered to the side with his hands clutching the syringe. "What'd you... do... ack...." He tried to lunge at Gar, but fell to the side on the tarmac and passed out.
Gar's hand didn't shake at all as he pointed the gun at the other guard. "Your partner will be fine, eventually, but you need to step aside and let me on the plane."
Lollie, the stewardess, screamed and ran behind the hanger to hide. The pilot, hidden on the other side of the plane, radioed for help, and I searched for other minds.
"Gar, the other guards are coming and they're armed. Hurry."
The guard being held at gunpoint lunged at Gar just as I spoke, but he'd lost the element of surprise. Gar stepped aside, tripped him, and then pistol-whipped his head. The man fell into a lump on the tarmac near his partner.
Gar pushed me into the plane and closed the door behind us. "Sam, we need to leave now. It might be a rocky ride."
My voice cracked when I tried to talk. "What's going to happen?"
"I'm getting you to California. Seatbelt up!"
He moved to the pilot's seat and flicked switches and buttons. The plane rolled onto the runway.
It took me a few seconds—which felt like minutes—to strap myself into a seat. My stomach flip-flopped and my pulse raced.
I linked to the minds of those outside the plane and cringed at the chaotic thoughts flying around. I traced each thought to its core until their plans became clear. Fear paralyzed me. "Gar, the guards from the office, they're coming after us."
"Drake, you there? I'm scared."
'I'm here. Stay calm. Damn, I wish I could do something. I hate feeling so helpless.'
I wanted to stay lost in his voice forever, but the plane's movement pulled me back to reality.
Sirens blared outside. Gar's radio crackled to life, but he turned it off before anyone could talk.
Neither of us said anything. I didn't want to distract Gar from the task of flying the plane. Once in flight, we'd be safe. Presumably, he knew where and how to land in California so no one would be there waiting to capture us. I could get help. We'd be safe.
The plane accelerated and so did my heart's beat. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
I resisted the urge to throw up, but I did grab the barf bag just in case.
I needed to know what was happening, so I slipped into Gar's mind.
'Oh shit, they have RPGs.... We're screwed... have to hurry... can't let them get her....'