Jake tried very hard to wipe from his mind the images of the security detail being overrun by zombies. So far he wasn’t having a lot of luck. The blades of the helicopter chopped the air noisily overhead and there was plenty of scenery below to occupy his mind but none of it could clear away the feeling of unease. They’d been expendable to Hinter, but they’d saved his life more than once in the fifteen minutes to the helipad. Jake hadn’t done anything worthwhile and he asked himself why he wasn’t expendable too. Maybe next time he would be.
Hinter wasn’t being forthcoming with the details of their journey, but out the window Jake could see the runways of a large airport beneath them and they were descending. They couldn’t have been far from the airport, as they’d only been in the air about fifteen minutes. What was the name of the airport in Denver? Jake wondered. I can never remember. Or maybe I never knew. He shrugged. He supposed it didn’t really matter what he knew.
Across from him, Max looked troubled. She kept glancing at the Baron, her blue eyes bright one second, dull and lifeless the next. She remained still and almost breathless: scratch that, entirely breathless. Jake hadn’t noticed it before but she was definitely not breathing. The cab of the helicopter was filled with the scent of whatever cologne the Baron had soaked his immaculate clothing in to mask his scent. That wasn’t what was bothering Max though, assuming she could even smell the Baron over her own perfume. The Baron himself merely alternated between staring at Max and staring at Jake with a small smile playing around his lips.
The pilot set the helicopter down right on the runway, and they were quickly transferred to a private jet. When Hinter saw Jake looking around fearfully as they crossed the tarmac, he explained, “We called ahead and they were able to set up a perimeter around the airport to keep the zombies out. We’re safe. We’ll be off the ground in ten minutes with no snags.” He sounded so cold and confident that Jake almost wished he was wrong, that there would be a snag and he would finally get to see some emotion on that blank face, preferably fear.
But Hinter wasn’t wrong. The plane took off and there was no sign of zombies. Jake chose a seat on the jet near Max, but as far from the Baron as he could get. Thankfully Max seemed to be thinking the same thing and the Baron didn’t interject himself.
Once they were in the air, Hinter at last decided to tell them what was planned, at least more than he had.
“We’re on our way to Oregon,” he said without preamble. “There’s a military base there that’s more secure than the Denver facility. There are also… other patients.”
Max leaned forward, her eyes avaricious. “Is this doctor working on a cure for whatever this is?” she asked.
Hinter didn’t pause even the slightest. “Rest assured, Ms. Bait, you’ll be looked after.”
The Baron gave a wet, rattling chuckle that sounded like a whole turkey leg going through a food processor. “Tsk, tsk, such prevarication, Mr. Hinter,” he chided. “Really, must you insult the young lady’s intelligence? Not cricket, dear boy.”
Hinter turned his emotionless eyes to the Baron and said, “There’s not much more I can tell you than that, Baron. I would appreciate it, and I’m sure Dr. Irons would too, if you wouldn’t rattle the cage too much.” The two stared at each other and Jake sensed a battle of wills, and not one that was new to either one. There was no clear winner.
“I’m already feeling pretty caged and pretty rattled without the Baron’s input, Mr. Hinter,” Max snarled.
“All your questions will be answered in good time, Ms. Bait. I simply don’t have the answers you’re looking for.”
Hinter turned on his heel, and to Jake’s surprise, he entered the cockpit of the plane; they’d all seated themselves in first class and could clearly hear the door latch. Under the angry glare of Max and the self-possessed, smug gaze of the Baron, Jake couldn’t blame him for wanting to not be in the room.
The flight to Oregon was short and uneventful. Jake tried to start conversations with Max several times and got so little response he eventually gave up. He sat back and snoozed, though every time either Max or the Baron make any noise he’d jerk awake.
He was dozing off again when they touched down in Oregon. There were none of the normal formalities of flight: no overhead announcements from the pilot, no fasten seatbelt signs. Once they’d rolled to a halt the door was thrown open and Jake was not at all comforted by their welcoming committee.
Dr. Irons himself entered the plane. His cold face made Hinter’s seem as warm as a cozy fire, and Jake tried to ignore him. Thankfully Dr. Irons didn’t seem to have any interest in him anyway.
He was followed by ten soldiers with large guns, held at the ready and trained right on he, Max and the Baron. “Forgive the need for this but we’ve had a few infractions in the last day or so. Can’t afford anymore.”
Max and the Baron were shackled and Jake was ordered to put his hands on his head and leave them there. They were force marched out of the plane.
“Welcome to Oregon,” Dr. Irons said.