“In the future,” Fipps said drily, “we’re not going to worry much about Junie’s modesty.” He twisted his lips sardonically as they jumped out of the van.
Elliott shook his head disbelievingly, and Higgins only grunted. He couldn’t seem to find just one word to sum up his feelings. At least this time they knew the security would likely keep her from leaving base. Zombies weren’t going to be a threat this time but she might blow the cover they’d worked so hard to establish.
The three men tried to look like they belonged as they left the truck; it was easy for Higgins but Fipps and Elliott were not quite as natural. Elliott kept casting his eyes around almost suspiciously and Fipps didn’t seem very comfortable around so much authority. Elliott hadn’t asked yet what specifically Fipps had done to earn his time in Portland’s holding cells but he suspected it wasn’t a jay walking charge.
They saw the other truck across the parking lot where their friends had been but it was now emptied. Soldiers strutted around, looking busy. A few jokes and laughter were shared but the stress of their situation was apparent in drawn eyes and edge to everyone’s voices.
“I think the first thing we should do is find Junie,” Elliott muttered to Higgins. “She’ll probably be easy to find and we need to make sure she doesn’t ruin everything.” Higgins nodded. “Let’s find the mess hall. There might be a coffee shop there, and that’s where Junie will be.”
Elliott hoped the mess hall would be easy to find but after a few minutes, they weren’t having any luck. They didn’t want to interact with anyone they didn’t have to but they didn’t have a choice.
Fipps looked around, trying to find someone to ask. “I’m looking for someone who looks worried or scared,” Fipps said quietly.
“Why?” Elliott asked.
“Someone like that is less likely to question us about what we’re doing or who we are. They’re too busy worrying about whatever they’re worried about,” he answered with a smile. Elliott frowned; he wouldn’t have thought of that.
As they strode around the corner of a large building they spotted a young man directing heavily armored military vehicles into and out of large hangar doors. He looked almost too young to be in the military at all. He was tall, skinny, had short, scruffy brown hair and frightened brown eyes that were constantly casting around. He looked like he’d already seen far more things in the last few days than he was expecting when he signed on.
“Hey soldier,” Fipps called, his voice comradely. They came towards him as another truck cleared his waving hands. The young man’s eyes widened as if he expected them to snarl and tear him to pieces any second. Fipps slowed his pace, not making it obvious he was approaching cautiously to avoid spooking the soldier.
The skinny kid tentatively lifted his hand to his forehead, then lowered it, then lifted it again, unsure what their ranks were and whether he needed to salute them. Fipps let him keep guessing and the hand went up and down several more times. Elliott tried to act natural but one wrong move with this jittery soldier and they could be right back where they started.
“At ease,” he said at last. “We’re just new here and looking for the mess hall.”
The kid’s eyes darted around as if he too had no idea where the mess hall was at, but then he pointed. “It’s-it’s down that way,” he stammered. “Two buildings down and then to the l-left.”
“Is there a coffee shop in there?” Elliott asked.
“D-don’t know,” the kid said.
“Thanks,” Fipps said. “We’re famished and we thought we’d never find it.” He smiled reassuringly at the kid and then led them away.
Elliott saw Fipps’ shoulders relax once they were a few paces away.
They followed the directions two buildings down and to the left. The building wasn’t marked, but there were people streaming in and out of the hall, more so than any other building they’d seen so far.
“Here more than ever, you need to act normal,” Fipps said to Elliott. “There’s probably going to be a lot of folks in there.”
Elliott sighed when he realized that he wasn’t directing that statement to Higgins because Higgins was smart enough to know that already. Elliott’s confidence wavered.
“Let’s just hope that Junie is in there,” Elliott said.
Just then two soldiers walked out of the mess hall and past them.
“I don’t have any idea what she was talking about,” one of them said to the other. “All that business about halter tops and slow lorises? Totally lost me. But she makes a hell of a cup of coffee.” He took a sip from a paper cup and made a pleased sound.
Fipps, Elliott and Higgins exchanged looks.
“She’s in there,” Fipps said.