Richard Stephenson - Collapse

“Of course. No objections,” said Max.

The soldier keyed up his radio and gave instructions. Minutes later, two soldiers arrived with a cart, loaded up the gasoline and hauled it away.

“Chief, ma’am, if the two of you will wait over there in that building, I will contact General Butler. Please be patient. General Butler is a busy man and will be with you in due time.”

“Thank you,” said Max. He and Elizabeth did as they were instructed. The one room building resembled a briefing room of some sort. As they were sitting down, Max leaned toward Elizabeth and whispered, “I’m sure they’re watching us.” Without moving her lips, Elizabeth let out a barely audible “Yeah.”

Max decided to give his hosts something to watch and struck up a conversation with Elizabeth. “Isn’t this exciting? I can’t believe we’re actually in the new capital!”

Elizabeth played along. “You think they might let us inside? I wonder what they call this place?”

Elizabeth deserved an Academy Award for the acting she was doing. “You know, this place gives me hope. They’re really doing something special here. I can’t wait to tell my grandchildren that I was here when it was first built. This is just too cool. To think that folks like us get a front row seat to the birth of a new nation. I’m just beside myself.”

“Me, too,” said Max.

A young soldier walked into the room and spoke. “Can I get you folks anything? Something to drink?”

Max looked at Elizabeth, who shook her head, and then back at the soldier. “I think we’re fine, thank you.”

“Just let me know if you need anything, I was told to inform you that General Butler will be here shortly.”

“Thank you,” smiled Max as the young soldier walked out.

“Wow, we get to meet a general? How awesome is that?” asked Elizabeth.

“Pretty awesome,” replied Max. Someday soon they’d have a laugh about this conversation.

A few minutes later, a man and woman walked into the room. The man was General Butler. Max could clearly read his nametag and see the star on his lapel. The woman was a tall, attractive blonde in her mid-thirties. As Max and Elizabeth stood to greet the pair, General Butler walked forward and shook Max’s hand. “You must be Chief Harris. I’m General Jackson Butler, this is Stacy Reid.”

Max shook Stacy’s hand. “I’m Maxwell Harris, this is Elizabeth Reed.”

With the introductions out of the way, General Butler sat down at the table and the other three followed suit. Once everyone was comfortable, General Butler gave Max his full attention and waited for him to speak.

“General, first of all I’m thankful for your time. I know you must be busy.”

“Not too busy to help a law enforcement official. What can I do for you?”

“Well, I’ll get right to the point. I evacuated from Texas and made my way into New Mexico, where I came across a bunch of nice folks who needed our help. The local chief there had his hands full, so we gladly offered our services. Four of their citizens were kidnapped recently, and I’m trying to find them. I hope that you might be able to help us.”

“In what way?”

“Well, I can’t think of anyone close by who could do a better job of spreading the word and keeping an eye out for these folks,” Max reached into his jacket and pulled out four photographs. “Three doctors and one nurse, taken right out of the little hospital in the town. You have any information that might be of use? Would you ask around and see if you come up with anything?”

General Butler picked up the photographs and studied them. “Well, Chief Harris, these folks don’t look familiar, and I haven’t heard anything about any kidnappings. I will certainly circulate these photographs and have my men keep their eyes and ears open. Do you have any more details that might be useful? Any idea who took them?”

Max knew the man was lying but didn’t show it. “No idea. The hospital staff noticed them missing, and they searched the area but came up with nothing.”

“Well, forgive me for being blunt, Chief, but how do you know they didn’t skip town together?”

“I asked the same question. Three out of four of them have spouses and children and they didn’t leave word with them. Their families haven’t heard from them at all. One person running out on their family I can believe, but four all at the same time? And from the same place? I don’t buy it. Someone took them.”

“What are your plans from here?”

“I’m going to keep searching the area. With your permission, I’ll check back here in a week or so to see if you’ve come up with anything.”

“Of course. In the meantime we’ll do everything we can to help track these folks down. Unless there’s something else I can help you with, I have work to do.”

Max stood up and shook General Butler’s hand. “You’ve been a big help, thank you. Let me just say that it’s a true honor to be here, and we both appreciate everything you’re doing to get our country back on track.”

Stacy stood up. “General, with your permission, I’d like to give our guests a tour of the base’s non-restricted areas.”

General Butler spoke over his shoulder as he exited the building. “Of course, Stacy, go right ahead.”

Once General Butler was out of earshot, Max looked at Stacy. “I appreciate the offer, ma’am, but we really need to get going. We would hate to be a burden.”

“Chief, I insist. It’s no trouble at all. Please, follow me.”

Max looked at Elizabeth and realized they didn’t have much of a choice. “You ready? I know you really want to look around.”

Elizabeth grinned. “I’m really excited! This is going to be fun!”

The three of them exited the building and walked across the road. Soldiers were marching by in formation singing a cadence. Humvees and other vehicles drove up and down the road.

Stacy smiled. “May I call you Maxwell?”

“Max.”

“Max, do the two of you have good poker faces?”

“Excuse me?” said Max.

“I have a lot to tell you, and it’s important that you don’t react. I’m going to lead you around like a tour guide and point stuff out to you. All you have to do is look interested. Are we clear?”

Max was getting very nervous. “Yes, we’ll play along.”

“Good. Just keep smiling like you’re at Disney World for the first time.”

“Is Disney World still standing after Luther?”

“I have no idea, but I doubt it.”

Elizabeth was grinning like a little girl. “Are we in danger?”

“It’s best that you don’t ask questions; we don’t have a lot of time. Just let me talk.”

“Okay.”

“Chances are pretty good that your people are here. They’ve been kidnapping hundreds of people and keeping them prisoner in the detention center. They have the nerve to call it a ‘draft’ so they can tell themselves they’re doing the right thing. They keep the people locked up like they committed a crime and won’t let them contact their families.” Stacy smiled and placed her hand on Max’s shoulder and pointed behind him. Max turned around and looked at a tall array of antennas and appeared impressed.

“Let me guess. We’re about to be drafted?”

“Yes. General Butler was about to take you to the detention center himself, so I volunteered.” Stacy looked at Elizabeth and laughed cheerfully like they were becoming best friends, “The General really likes you a lot, Elizabeth. Said you were going to be his personal assistant.”

Elizabeth didn’t have to fake a laugh; a genuine one was no problem. “He’s not even my type. Besides, my boyfriend here wouldn’t like that very much.”

“Boyfriend? Are we in high school or something?” said Max.