Another pounding came on the door of the van. Elliott closed his eyes and tried to reason this through without second guessing himself. If they didn’t open the door quickly they’d have the entire staff of the base (If they didn’t already) and their whole plan would be blown. If it was still just one guy on the other side of that door, they had a chance.
Elliott motioned Fipps to one side of the door. Fipps nodded and took his position as Elliott reached for the handle. After a deep steadying breath, he paused. He had an idea that felt sound; he decided to go for it. He silently motioned for Fipps to lie down and Junie to stand in the corner to the right of the door where she couldn’t be seen. Fipps furrowed his brow but did as Elliott instructed. Elliott opened the door. The first face he saw was unfamiliar; the second was Higgins, standing in a military uniform slightly behind the other soldier, whose name tag read ‘Santorelli.” It was good to know he had some backup in case his gamble didn’t work out.
“Everything okay in here?” Santorelli asked, peering inside; his face grew alarmed when he saw the other soldier lying unconscious. He reached for his sidearm and Higgins tensed.
Elliott put up his hands, hoping against hope that Santorelli didn’t know the other soldier on sight. “That guy attacked the other guy,” he said, pointing at the soldier and trying to sound terrified. “He took off his uniform and was going to try to pass himself off as a soldier.”
“Whose uniform?” Santorelli asked skeptically, his hand still lingering near his weapon.
“That guys’,” he said, motioning to Fipps, who was doing a great job faking unconsciousness.
Higgins caught on quickly, pushing past the other soldier and jumping inside, feigning concern for Fipps. Santorelli’s hand moved away from his weapon. “He okay?” he asked.
Higgins nodded, propping Fipps up. Elliott saw Higgins lips move near Fipps’ ear but couldn’t hear what he said. Fipps took his cue as well and opened his eyes, blinking blearily. “What happened?”
“That other guard knocked you cold,” Elliott said.
Fipps looked around and saw Santorelli. “Oh, hey Santorelli,” he said, as though they were chums. “I’m fine, man, just smarting a little. Let that punk get the drop on me. These guys have been a lot of trouble.”
Santorelli blinked and seemed confused for a minute at Fipps’ familiar tone. “Oh hey… you,” he said in response, looking embarrassed that he couldn’t remember Fipps’ name.
“Dismissed,” Higgins said authoritatively to Santorelli.
Santorelli saluted. “Sir,” he said and turned to leave.
Once he was gone, Fipps looked up at Elliott. “See what I mean? We’re just that good.”
Higgins stood and helped Fipps to his feet. He explained to Higgins everything that had happened while he was away. Junie began to edge near the door and Elliott noticed that her hands were shaking a bit. Without even looking at her or acknowledging her advance, Fipps pushed the door of the van shut and stood in front of it. “That was some pretty quick thinking you did there at the end, kid,” Fipps added when he was done with his narrative. “We managed to get out of that one without knocking anyone else unconscious!”
Higgins was nodding appreciatively, and he ruffled Elliott’s hair. “Smart,” he admitted. He nodded to the outside and then held up a finger to indicate he would just be a minute. “Uniforms.” He left the van and returned shortly. With only one word sentences Elliott suspected they might never know how on earth Higgins managed to be one of the men answering the call for backup or how he hid the uniforms so quickly. Just another mystery surrounding the policeman.
The three men turned their backs respectfully after handing Junie her uniform so she could change in as much privacy as possible. She looked a little spaced out and vague, but only a little more so than normal. She was going to need coffee soon though. They all struggled into their new clothes; Elliott’s BDU pants were a little long but tucked into the boots Higgins provided it was barely noticeable. Fipps’ BDU pants were too short naturally but he too improvised.
“Are we good to turn around?” Elliott asked Junie. There was no reply. “Junie?” he said.
“Shit,” Higgins said.
Elliott turned around.
Junie was gone.