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PEET AND ALEXA DASHED down the alley that ran between the hospital and the multi-story parking garage. Peet stripped off his hospital scrubs and tossed them into a dumpster after pocketing his doctor’s badge in his pocket. The far end of the alley opened onto the main thoroughfare and the sound of sirens echoed down the narrow passage. Red lights flashed, reflected in the puddles that had formed in the drizzling rain.
Surprised at the unexpected shower, Alexa pulled up the hood of her sweater. Her body cooled as they hurried along the alley, the rain a welcome relief. Even as they ran, she could see the clouds parting and knew the rain would not be enough to end the gnawing drought that gripped the land. Peet lifted his face to the rain and let it flow over his face, soaking into his beard.
“Glorious,” he said, but suddenly pulled her behind a dumpster.
Alexa peeked around the edge of the metal wall. A squad car had turned into the alley, the engine a soft purr as it slowly inched along its length. At first, she thought it was the local police, but the colour of the car was all wrong. On the doors of the slick black doors was an insignia of the security wing of the government.
“Feds,” hissed Peet, pulling her deeper into the shadows cast by the container. “Nasty business. Come on, it’s time to go.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind him as the squad car pulled to a stop beside the container. Alexa looked forward and back. It was the only hiding place and a natural conclusion that someone or ones might be hiding behind it.
“Alexa.”
She looked up, tensed to run.
“Do you see that crack in the alley brickwork, just beyond the end of the car park? I want you to run to it and squeeze into the opening. On the count of three.” Peet shifted his weight, to shield her flight as the door of the squad car slammed and gravel crunched under a heavy foot. “One, two...THREE!”
Alexa shot out from behind the dumpster and ran like the hounds of hell snapped at her heels.
Peet watched her slide into the narrow door opening and then bolted out from behind the dumpster to the shouts of “Halt! Stop now or we will shoot!” Gun shots rang out and chunks of pavement burst into the air as the bullets sought contact with his fleeing frame. He zigzagged, randomizing his gait to throw off the chasing bullets, but it was a gambit with no promise of success. Just shy of safety Peet stumbled, as a bullet pierced his calf. He changed his fall into a dive, to take the weight off his burning leg. Airborne, he tumbled into the opening, coming up hard against the bricks, tumbling into the waiting Alexa and knocking her to the ground. He grabbed her arm before crawling out of range.
“Peet! You are bleeding!” Alexa gasped, as she placed a hand on his leg. A dark stain soaked the fabric and her fingers came away sticky with blood.
“Can you walk? Oh my god, Peet, you have been shot!”
Peet pushed himself to stand, and leaned back against the wall. The break was a narrow gap covered over with tin, bridging the two buildings and lined with garbage containers. He pulled Alexa along, limping to a window covered in metal grillwork. He pulled on the grating and it fell away under his touch. The block was rotten and crumbling. Another shove and the window swung in.
“Inside, now!” Peet picked up Alexa and feet first shoved her through the window.
She squealed as she fell through, landing on a filthy couch and tumbling off its back. Peet followed Alexa through the opening. His descent through the window was much less graceful, rolling to a painful stop on the floor. Alexa scrambled up and slammed the window shut, locking it. She wedged a broom handle under the lock, before helping Peet to his feet to limp off through a doorway to the right. They disappeared around the corner just as flashlights shone down into the room.
“Where are we? Did we just break into a house?”
“Shhh!”
Peet fished in his pocket for his keys. Dangling from the ring was a tiny pen light. He switched it on then limped over to a door on the opposite side of the kitchen where they found themselves. He placed his ear against the heavy door, listening hard. After a few seconds, he pulled open the door and motioned for Alexa to follow. A hallway, decorated with peeling flowered wallpaper, stretched away in both directions, with numbered doors. They were in the central hallway of an apartment building. Peet closed the door and hurried down the hallway. An exit sign flickered over a metal door with a panic bar at the end of the dimly lit hallway. Peet limped to the door and pushed it open, revealing a staircase climbing up to the front doors of the building. A squad car was parked out front, red and blue lights flashing. The car was empty.
“This way.” Peet grabbed her hand and pulled her through into the landing.
Ignoring the squad car, he took her down two flights of stairs. At the bottom was a brown painted door and a sign that announced the parking garage could be found on the other side of the building.
He pulled open the door and led Alexa over to their parked car, unlocking it with the key fob. Easing his way into the driver’s seat behind the wheel, he lifted his left leg into the car with a groan. In the dim light of an overhead fluorescent bulb, Alexa got a clear look at Peet. His ashen face was beaded in sweat.
“We need to get you to a hospital, Peet!”
“No hospitals,” he said harshly. His voice softened and he squeezed her hand. “I will go see a doctor but it will be someone I trust. Pass me that towel.”
Alexa twisted around and grabbed a towel lying on the back seat, then handed it to Peet. He took it and mopped his face, then wrapped the towel around his leg, tying it into a knot over the gunshot wound.
“Ok, we are going to drive out of here. If we get stopped, I want you to pretend to be getting sick, ok? Just a father and his daughter heading out for the day. I want you to be a total brat, ok?”
Alexa smiled. “I am good at that.”
Peet’s mouth twitched. “I bet you are. Show me how good you are.”
He turned the key and the car roared to life. He started out at a leisurely pace, driving slowly around the bends as they climbed out of the car park. On the final turn, the underground parking door rolled up and brilliant sunshine greeted their eyes. Squinting past the glare, their eyes fell on two black cars parked at the street exit. Peet drove up and as the car leveled off and reached the government cars, a man in a dark suit stepped off the curb in front of Peet’s car and motioned for him to stop. He carried a hand gun in his right hand. His companion closed in on Alexa’s window.
“Begin whining now,” whispered Peet. He rolled down their windows. “Can I help you?”
Alexa put her hand over her mouth and moaned. As the second federal officer stepped up beside the car, she yelled, “Dad, I’m going to be sick!” She rolled down her window and leaned out, gasping.
The agent on Alexa’s side paused and stepped back.
“Get out of the car, both of you,” said the one at Peet’s window.
Alexa moaned and hung over the side of the car.
“I am not getting out the car. I am trying to get my daughter to her kidney dialysis appointment. Who the hell are you to tell me to get out of my car?” Peet hit the button to roll up the window but the agent grabbed the glass.
“Let go of the window, or lose your fingers,” he said quietly, stopping the window.
Alexa groaned again and began to cry. She dry-heaved, her pale hair a curtain around her face.
“Maybe we should let them go.” The second officer stepped closer to the car, to try to peer inside of it but still stay out of range of anything that might spill from the little girl.
“Nah, he’s hiding something.” The first agent sneered at Peet. “Where have you been today?”
“None of your business. Why should I answer you? Are you some kind of cop?” Peet scratched his beard as the federal officer flashed his badge. “You looking for terrorists or something? You might find a few drug dealers in this building, but that is about it.”
“We are looking for a man who stole some private records from the hospital.”
“Since when are the feds interested in hospital records? I don’t think you are cops at all. Now get out of my way.”
“Dad!” gasped Alexa as the second fed put his hand on the door handle. Alexa’s head came up and she projectile vomited down the front of the dark suit. The force of her sick was so strong that it wedged in behind his collar and dropped with a sickening splash onto his shiny patent leather shoes.
“Eww!” He jumped back from the car, shaking off his jacket. The vomit soaked into his shirt, and the sour odour of sick filled the air. “Let them go, dammit!”
The first officer dropped his hands from the window. “Get out of here,” he growled.
Peet rolled up his window and drove out of the parking garage. Two sets of furious eyes followed them as Peet rounded the corner. Once the officers were out of sight, Alexa pulled her head back into the car, grinning. Peet grinned back.
“That was masterful, Alexa. Nice timing.”
Alexa grinned, but then her smile faded. “We need to get you to your friend.”
“Yes, and fast.” Now that the adrenaline was fading, pain slammed into his leg. Peet felt woozy from blood loss. “Keep me awake Alexa, I am losing a lot of blood.”
She reached over and squeezed his arm. “I will keep you awake.”
Peet took the ramp to the highway and sped off to find the only doctor he could trust. He prayed he would not pass out before getting there. But five miles down the road, he pulled over to the side of the road. Sweat covered his face once again. Putting the car in park, he sized up Alexa.
“I cannot drive any further. I am afraid I am going to pass out behind the wheel. You must drive.”
“Me?” she gasped
“Yes. You can do it. You are tall enough. I am going to crawl into the back seat. Take the next exit and turn right off of the ramp. Drive to Timbers Gas and pull in behind the mechanical garage at the back of the property. The man you are looking for is named Steve.”
Eyes wide, Alexa got out of the car then helped Peet into the back seat. He passed out as soon as his head hit the seat.