Brett Battles - Sick

“Hello?” her mother said, her voice distorted by the fact it was coming out of a speakerphone on a cell that was then being transmitted over the CB.

“Mom?”

A slight delay. “Martina? Is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me,” she said, her eyes welling with water.

“This connection is horrible, sweetie. Can you try calling back?”

“No, no!” Martina yelled. “We don’t have any service here. I’m on a radio.”

“You’re on a what?”

Martina loved her mom dearly, but there were some things she didn’t get right away. “Just don’t hang up, okay?”

A moment later, her dad joined in on another extension. They talked about missing her and wishing she were home. She tried to sound upbeat, and was careful not to say anything about being exposed to the virus. Let them have one more night of peace, she thought.

“I want to know about this video you apparently put on the Internet,” her father said.

“It’s so horrible,” her mother cut in. “Please tell me it’s not true.”

“How did you know I put it up?” Martina asked, confused. Her video account name was a completely random series of numbers and letters.

“We’ve had several calls from people at PCN, including that reporter out in Barstow. They apparently learned about it from your friend Frances.”

Frances, of course.

“Did you really put that up?” her dad asked.

“Yes, Dad. I did.”

“But it’s fake, right?” her mom said. “That didn’t really happen.”

“It’s not fake, Mom.”

Her dad said something, but the static on the line covered most of it up.

“Dad, can you say that again? I couldn’t understand you.”

“…wants to talk to you, sweetie.”

“Who wants to talk to me?” she asked.

“The reporter. From PCN? She gave us her number and wants you to call. I’m not sure you should or not, though.”

Martina looked at Ben. “They want to talk to me?”

He shrugged. “It makes sense. That video must be a big thing right now.”

Over the radio, her dad said, “Sweetie, are you there?”

She moved the CB mic back to her mouth. “I’m here, Dad.”

“Do you want us to give you the number?”

“I’d talk to her, but I can’t call from here.”

Zee cut in. “I could do it for you, if you want.”

“Who’s that?” Martina’s dad asked.

“That’s Zee, Dad. He’s helping us with the radio connection.” She looked at Ben. “Should I talk to her?”

He shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Someone needs to get the word out about what happened to Paul and his friends.”

She thought for a moment, then keyed the mic again. “Dad, go ahead and give Zee the number. I’ll talk her.”

Matt had called the place where Ash and Chloe were going the Bluff. It turned out to be two and a half hours away from the old Palmer Psychiatric Hospital, not one.

The directions took them into the Sierra Nevada Mountains, east of Sacramento. Ash was surprised by how light the traffic was until he realized it was probably due to the outbreak down south. Though there had been no reports of cases up here, that didn’t mean the fear didn’t stretch well beyond the quarantine zone. Better to play it overly cautious and keep your family at home than to risk infection.

They left the interstate behind as they entered the mountains and proceeded up a narrower, windier road into the thickening forest. From there it was down a series of smaller roads. Ash carefully followed Matt’s instructions, but even then he almost missed the gate in the darkening twilight.

It wasn’t anything special, and in fact looked like a half dozen others they’d passed on the way up. Metal-pipe frame, three twelve-inch-wide planks running from side to side, and that was it. The fence it was connected to was made of wood posts with barbed wire strung between, the majority of it covered by vegetation.

Though Ash was tempted to climb out and push the gate open, Matt’s instructions had been clear. “When you reach the gate, stay in your car and wait.”

Two full minutes passed before the gate swung open on its own. Once it was completely out of the way, Ash drove through.

The road on the other side was narrow, the feeling reinforced by the pine trees that grew right up to the edge and the overarching canopy created by their branches. This went on for nearly a hundred yards, then suddenly the trees fell away, and they entered a grass-covered clearing at the top of a hill.

Chloe drew in a surprised breath. “It’s so beautiful.”

At the far edge of the clearing was a house, and beyond it an amazing view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

In many ways, the house looked like a smaller version of Matt and Rachel’s lodge. Wood-stained sides and large windows and warm outside lighting. This Olivia person obviously lived pretty well.

There were two cars parked out front-a pickup truck and a decade-old Cadillac. Ash pulled in behind them then cut the engine.

“Are you staying here or coming with me?” he asked Chloe.

“I’m certainly not staying here.”

They both got out and headed over to the house. As they stepped up onto the porch, the front door opened and Ash got his first shock. The smiling couple who came out to greet them was the same couple who had picked him up in the Winnebago out in the middle of nowhere when he’d been fleeing Barker Flats.

He glanced quickly side to side, thinking he must have missed the RV, but it was nowhere to be seen.

The man, Mike-if that hadn’t been a fake name-thrust his hand out at Ash. “Great to see you again,” he said. As Ash shook his hand, Mike pulled him into a quick hug. “Simply great.” He turned to Ash’s companion. “And Chloe, it’s been far too long.”

“Hi, Mike,” she said.

They hugged with genuine affection.

Janice came over next and gave Ash a coy, contrite smile. “I’m sorry about the coffee. I hope you’ll forgive me, and know I was only trying to help you.”

A day or two earlier, he might have still been mad at her, but now it didn’t seem important. “It’s fine. I know you were doing what you were supposed to.”

Her smile widened in relief, then she gave him a hug. When she stepped back, she said, “Your face looks horrible.”

“Janice!” Mike said.

“Are you going to try to tell me it doesn’t?” she asked.

Ash touched the bandage that covered his nose. He’d almost forgotten about the surgery. “She’s right,” he said. “I wouldn’t even want to look at me.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean that,” Janice said, then turned away. “Chloe, you are as beautiful as ever.”

The women hugged.

“Come, come,” Mike said. “We’ve got a fire inside.”

Mike ushered them indoors and led them into a living room.

“Would anyone like coffee?” Janice asked. She looked at Ash. “I can guarantee you this pot is completely harmless.”

“Are you Olivia?” he asked.

“Me? God, no. I’m Janice.”

“Sit,” Mike said. “She’ll bring us coffee.”

Ash remained on his feet. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m not here for coffee or small talk. I’m here for someone named Olivia. Matt said she’d be here.”

Mike and Janice shared a look, then Mike said, “She is.”

“Then I’d like to talk to her now.”

Mike’s smile disappeared. He nodded. “Of course. This way.”

He crossed the living room and entered a small hallway near the back corner. As Ash followed, he realized Chloe was behind him.

“Just me,” he told her.

“I’m coming, too.”

“This isn’t your business. It’s mine.”

“I’m coming, too,” she repeated.