We received a radio message, urging people to head to Washington State. I keep thinking of my run-in with the other traveling party, but my new friend is insistent we join the new civilization emerging on the coast.
—The diary of Megan Jean
The sun flooded Mia’s hotel room and she was happy to get out of bed. Whatever sleep had come to her the previous night had been minimal, and at least now she had an excuse to start getting ready for the day’s activities.
She had become so obsessed with speaking in a French accent that even her internal monologue was producing one. Still, she hoped Agent Barker would have fewer questions today.
Mia showered and tried her best to style her hair. She found it strange the short hair took longer to get presentable than her long hair did. Once she was finished she dressed in a pair of orange wide-legged pants and a white short-sleeved blouse. She plopped her wide-brimmed hat on her head just as a knock on her door came. In the hall were Albin, Flo, and Agent Barker. Mia forced a smile before joining them in the hall, pulling her small suitcase behind her.
“Did you sleep well?” Albin asked.
“I miss France,” Mia said.
She meant it too. The hotel room wasn’t a single percent as exquisite as Flo’s home. It was a tiny space with a small, uncomfortable mattress, but Mia knew that wasn’t the reason for her lack of sleep.
“Well, maybe you shouldn’t have come,” Agent Barker said.
Flo turned around to defend Mia, but the agent was already starting down the hall.
“Where is the security?” Mia asked.
“They’re waiting outside,” Flo said. Under her breath she added, “It seems Agent Barker had them sleep as far away from us as possible.”
“Why?” Mia whispered back.
“To prove he is in control,” Albin said.
“We have a strict schedule,” Agent Barker said. “Please keep up.”
The trio broke off their conversation and followed the agent down the hall. They stayed on the first floor of the empty hotel and nobody noticed their presence. When the group went outside the two black SUVs were waiting. Agent Barker opened the door to one and climbed inside. The driver grabbed Mia’s bag and loaded it into the rear.
“Where is our security?” Flo asked him.
The driver did not respond.
“Sir,” Albin said. “Please answer the question.”
“They are in the second car,” he said. “Already loaded up.”
Mia took note of the fact that the driver responded to Albin with ease yet ignored Flo altogether. She was more used to this behavior than the prime minister but had a feeling it wasn’t affecting Flo in the slightest. Mia wished she had the older woman’s self-control.
The three entered the SUV. Flo sat next to Agent Barker and Albin sat across from him, giving Mia the seat farthest from the man. She was grateful for that distance.
“We have an eight-and-a-half-hour drive,” Agent Barker said. “Then we’ll stop and tour a youth home. After that we’ll drive four more hours and rest for the night. All your meals are scheduled.”
“We didn’t get breakfast,” Flo said.
Agent Barker kept his eyes glued to Albin.
“There are pastries for you and your guests in the side compartment,” he said.
Albin smiled and leaned over, coming back with a white box. He offered Flo the first choice, then Mia. She shook her head. There was no way her stomach could hold food. Albin shrugged and picked out a frosted treat before putting the box on the seat.
“They should be serving you,” Agent Barker said.
“Can we keep it civil?” Flo said. “If you have such a problem with our ways maybe you can switch places with a member of my security? They have been much more agreeable.”
Barker didn’t look at Flo. Instead he tapped twice on the partition and the driver took off. Mia gazed out the tinted window. She didn’t want to stop at the orphanage. More than anything else Mia wished this trip were over with.
“You look so familiar,” Agent Barker said.
“I am in many pictures with the prime minister,” Albin said.
“Not you,” Barker said. “Jeanette.”
Mia turned to face him.
“Where do I know you from?”
Her heart jumped in her throat. The man was examining her face and Mia tried her best not to tremble. The government might have destroyed all photographs of her, but if Agent Barker had been active during her escape there was no doubt her face had crossed his desk on many occasions.
“Jeanette used to model,” Flo said. “Mainly cologne.”
Barker laughed. “Cologne is for men,” he said.
“Sorry for the translation issue,” Albin said. “She means perfume.”
“I bet you could sell a lot of things to men,” Agent Barker said.
The car went silent.
“I value my mind more than my appearance,” Mia said.
“That’s a shame,” Agent Barker replied.
He appeared content with the explanation and reached for the box of pastries.
“Tell me, are you married?” Albin asked.
“No,” Agent Barker said. “I want to wait, maybe another ten years. My wife will be beautiful. Perfect.”
“Then maybe you should stop speaking of things you have such little knowledge of,” Albin said.
Agent Barker leaned back in his seat. He did not have a response and Mia was grateful. She went back to staring out the window, certain the agent’s eyes were still fixed upon her. Mia closed her own, hoping sleep would come and take her away from the ill feeling that she would never make it across the country alive.