Fipps was watching their guard, and Junie was watching Fipps. His hands were moving surreptitiously behind his back, and she saw the moment when he released himself from his bonds. He played it off as though he was still restrained, holding his left wrist in his right hand to give the appearance of tension in his shoulders. Junie wasn’t sure what he was waiting for, but she could think of a lot of things: the right time; a weakness in the army’s plans; a flotilla of alligators.
Whatever.
Higgins had noticed too and when he and Fipps made eye contact, he shook his head ever so slightly.
Junie suspected it was Higgins that had warranted them a guard when the others didn’t. When they’d shut the door on Shavian’s van with Jackson inside, Higgins’ face had been a thundercloud of anger directed at McNabb: that was one commanding officer who was not long for the world if Higgins got a hold of him. The convoy of vans had stopped at one point and they heard shouting, mostly Roger, and Higgins had glared daggers at the back of the truck, kicking the door once in frustration.
The guard, whose name tag read V. Jones, was distracted, staring at the door. Junie wondered briefly what he was thinking about, then decided to eliminate all doubt.
“What’s the ‘v’ stand for?” she asked.
“Huh?” Jones said, jerking out of his reverie and turning to Junie. “What’d you say?”
Junie shrugged, sat up straighter and gave a sly smile. “Just wondering what the’ v’ on your name tag stood for.” She widened her eyes, but didn’t bat her eyelashes: too obvious. Not her style.
Jones perked up, his eyes flicking down just for a second.
“Victor,” he replied, only a little warily.
Junie smiled. “That’s a nice name. A strong name. I like strong things.”
Jones puffed up and smiled. “Thanks. And you are?”
“Junie,” she said, lifting the corner of her mouth, allowing her eyes to sparkle a little.
She could practically hear his thoughts as he looked her over, rationalizing that she wasn’t really a criminal, just a lost civilian, that when her eyes cleared of that vacancy she was really quite pretty…
Then Junie was confused about who’s thoughts were whose and stopping trying to hear his.
Elliott’s jaw was hanging off his face.
“That’s a nice name too,” Victor replied, his eyes locked on hers.
Too easy.
Fipps sprang up, his long legs launching him all the way across the van, the chain of his unlocked handcuffs stretched between his hands. He shoved it against Jones’ neck, the guard’s eyes widening with shock. The chain wasn’t long but it was enough. Jones struggled but Fipps was stronger and had more leverage. Fipps waited until Jones passed out then eased up on the pressure. Having nothing against Jones, Fipps laid him out and handcuffed his hands behind his back.
Higgins nodded approvingly at Junie. “Clever,” he admitted.
Fipps shook his head as he fished in Jones’ pockets for the cuff keys. “You never cease to amaze me, Junie,” he said.
Elliott absently rubbed his wrists when Fipps unlocked his cuffs.
He glanced at the barred door, and then at the back wall of the van’s cab, to which they had no access.
“Now what?” he asked.