Two weeks passed, and life at Hotel California settled into a comfortable routine for Amanda. It seemed strange to speak of comfort after such a long period of danger, flight, and survival. Now she could depend on three meals each day (meager and simple as they may be), a bed to sleep in at night, and a daily shower. Her job in communications kept her mind occupied, and thankfully, all the decisions and maneuvers on the part of the NCP that she learned about felt very much somewhere out there, while her life inside the hotel continued to remain like a protective bubble. Indeed, danger hardly threatened them. Occasionally security would call a warning and they would scramble into hiding, tense that the JPD would search inside the hotel. Yet it never happened.
After that pivotal conversation with her dad, Amanda’s relationship with him improved tremendously. In fact, in many ways, it was better than it ever had been. She didn’t have anything to hide, and she practiced opening up her heart more, sharing her feelings and thoughts. After making her dad privy to her relationship with Ethan, he seemed closer to her—the distance she often had kept between them didn’t feel like it existed much at all. They talked about work during the day and, during off-hours, they would reminisce about their former life.
Chiara seemed to improve as well. She still had nightmares that woke her, screaming, in the middle of the night. Aside from that, however, her general attitude warmed. She smiled more and joked with Joe from time to time. Amanda wondered for a period whether Chiara resented the fact that the Council had assigned her an obviously lower-level task, while they gave Amanda the white-collar communications position. Amanda broached the topic at one point, trying to put a finger on Chiara’s concern. Her sister snapped that she would much rather wash dishes than listen to negative news all day long. Whatever bothered Chiara, it was something besides that.
At night Amanda’s thoughts would wander to Ethan, against her own wishes. She found that, as the days passed, resentment and anger worked as a kind of balm against her wounded heart. Instead of missing him, she considered his ill-treatment, his pride and selfishness, and his ungratefulness. She deserved better! Let him break some other woman’s heart in Europe; better yet, let her break his heart, as Ethan had broken Amanda’s. These thoughts raised her spirits when they threatened to spiral into depression. If he could just walk away with nothing more than a “See you later, Amanda,” then she could move on with her own life—building her family back together and fighting against the NCP’s evil.
Joe appeared the only one unsatisfied with their new life. He sulked when the four of them gathered for a meal and disparaged the Council at every opportunity.
“I just don’t get it.” He rested his cheek in his palm, his elbow on the table. “We’ve been here all this time and still nothing. What’s the Council waiting around for? We did more, just the small group of us in Plymouth, than all these guys are doing!”
“Patience, Joe.” Amanda’s dad furrowed his brow. “Things are happening. You’ll see soon enough.”
Joe frowned. “I’m not getting any younger and the NCP isn’t getting any weaker.”
Chiara squirmed in her seat. “Can’t you just appreciate being safe and together?”
“That’s not what we came here for. We came to fight. Instead, I’m spending my days and nights looking out a window at passing traffic!”
Chiara reached out for his hand. “Maybe you should request a change from security?”
“Nah. It doesn’t matter if I change departments. I’d feel the same.”
Chiara sighed and looked down at the table.
Their dad scratched behind his ear and seemed to hide a smile. “I know I sound like a broken record. But trust me this time: something’s happening. Something really good.”
Joe cocked an eyebrow.
Amanda turned to her dad. “You must have seen an email with news. I guess it’s confidential?”
“Y-y-yes.” He tilted his head to the side. “For now.” Then he winked.
The next day Amanda sat at a desk, working on reading a news report. Olivia sat nearby, watching a video of another news alert.
Joe ran into the room, his eyes wide. “Amanda, you gotta come with me!”
Amanda glanced up from the monitor. “What’s wrong?”
“You just gotta come. Hurry up!”
“I’m working—”
“Look, this is too important. Let’s go!” Joe walked over to her and pulled her swivel chair away from the desk.
“Uh, should I tell my dad first?”
“Didn’t you notice? He’s not even here! Now, come on!”
Joe ran out of the room, stopping at the doorway to wave her on. Amanda, shrugging, followed him.
“The stairs will be faster. Hurry, hurry!”
Joe sped down the stairs at breakneck speed. Amanda tried to keep up, with not much success.
“We’re going all the way down to the basement! Come on, one more flight!”
They made it to the bottom floor. Joe looked over his shoulder at her. “Chiara’s already here.”
Amanda tried to catch her breath. “What’s … why …”
Then she stood still, her breath now caught in her throat as she stared in front of her.
“Amanda!”
She gasped, her mouth widening into a massive grin. “Bennie!”
He ran over to her and they embraced, his laughter shaking his back as his joy seemed to flow from him to her.
“You’re here! You’re really okay!” Amanda stepped back, incredulous.
“It’s really me, in the flesh. Through the grace of God!” His merry eyes seemed to sparkle.
“I was so worried you wouldn’t get out of Boston!”
“I think we have some interesting stories to share, don’t you?” Bennie glanced around. “Can you suggest somewhere we could all catch up?”
They agreed to check the first-floor office room. Finding it empty, they filed in. Bennie stood as a soldier called to attention. Joe took a seat in one of the chairs and patted his knee, eyebrows raised at Chiara. Smiling, she perched there, one arm around Joe’s shoulder. Amanda leaned against the wall, hands in her pockets.
“I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see you three.” Bennie sighed, shaking his head. Then a cloud came over his face. “But where’s Ethan? Isn’t he here too?”
Joe and Chiara turned to face Amanda.
She shuffled her feet and stared at her shoelaces. “He’s fine. He got out of Boston with us, but shortly after that, he decided to go to Europe. He figured he’d be safer over there.”
Bennie blinked and opened his mouth. “Oh. I’m glad he’s okay.”
Amanda nodded.
“I can’t deny I’m a little disappointed.”
She glanced up at Bennie. “Yeah. Me too.” Bennie probably thought Ethan was some kind of turncoat, leaving the opposition when they most needed help. That was Ethan’s way though: always looking out for himself, never thinking of a cause greater than his own self-interest.
“I wanted to shake his hand and thank him.”
Amanda’s head shot up. “What for?”
“For saving my life, of course, and for ensuring the success of our whole operation. Ethan went against my orders. You realized that, didn’t you?”
“You mean when we were driving through the tunnel in Boston with the JPD chasing us?”
“Exactly. I instructed him to follow me. He didn’t. Yet, because he chose to distract the JPD and lead them away in another direction, he gave me the chance to get away.”
Amanda gave a half-smile. She thought Ethan had put the whole operation in jeopardy by doing that; go figure, he ended up saving everything. “I guess it worked out in the end.”
“That it did. I’m sorry Ethan’s not here to work with us still.”
Amanda fell silent.
Chiara cleared her throat. “Talking about people being safe, what about Harrison and Victor? Are they alright?”
“They’re fine! The JPD won’t find them now. They’ve both traveled out of the area.”
Chiara breathed a sigh of relief.
“Whoa.” Joe held up a hand. “How the heck did you guys do it? I mean, we had your getaway car! So, how’d you get away in the end?”
Bennie laughed. “I actually believe you had a more challenging time leaving Boston than we did. It was surprisingly easy! We parked the van next to the arsenal and ran from the site. A few streets away, we hijacked a car at a stop sign. As we drove away, we detonated the bombs. In the early confusion, we escaped without any detection and just kept driving.”
Joe cocked his head. “Alright. But what about the blockade?”
“Our driver was a member of the NCP.”
“What?”
Amanda gave a small chuckle. “You hijacked the car, but you didn’t evict the driver?”
“Victor realized we would need her to clear the way for us out of Boston. I’m sorry to say she seemed pretty shaken up. We had to keep a gun aimed at her the whole time. We told her where to drive and she followed our commands. She drove us all the way to safety. Poor girl.” Bennie’s brow creased and he grimaced.
Chiara watched his face, her eyes wide. “You did the best you could.”
“Thanks, Chiara. I appreciate that, and we certainly tried to alleviate her fears. We promised her we wouldn’t harm her. It’s still an ugly thing to do though.”
“Where’d you end up?” Joe asked.
“She drove us north into Maine. When the gas tank got close to empty, we had her stop at a large shopping center.” Bennie paused, taking a deep breath. “We knocked her unconscious. Actually, I did it. I knocked her out.” He looked at them, pain in his soft brown eyes. “I knocked her out, after promising we wouldn’t hurt her. I’m sure that really warmed her up to the opposition.” He lowered his head. “I didn’t want her reporting us to the JPD on the heels of our escape. We had to buy time to get away.”
Chiara’s face darkened. “The JPD would’ve done ten times worse. They already have … to so many people.”
“It’s a sad day when we compare our actions to theirs.” Bennie winced. “But I had Victor and Harrison to think of; I felt responsible for their lives. We split up at that point and I headed here.”
Joe cocked an eyebrow. “How’d you know to come here?”
Bennie grinned at Amanda. “Amanda told me her dad went to join the opposition in Peekskill. So, thank you, Amanda, for giving me some directions.”
She smiled back. “I had no idea it would prove so helpful. But am I glad you’re here!”
“I’ve been in communication with your dad, Kevin. I found some opposition sympathizers in town and they knew of an email exchange between leaders of the opposition. I’ve been writing to him and he told me where to find you all.” Bennie rubbed his hands together. “We have a lot of work ahead of us here. I’ve met with the Council all day.”
Joe groaned. “That means next to nothing. The Council’s all talk. We’ve been here for more than two weeks and nothing’s happened but you showing up just now.”
“They have a plan. The opposition’s weakness is our smallness. But the Council has allied itself with a strong force. Together, we can bring down the NCP.”
Amanda’s heart quickened. “You really think so?”
“I know so.”
Joe leaned forward, clumsily toppling Chiara from his lap. “What’s the strong force? Who is it?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Joe collapsed against the back of the chair, sulking. “No, I won’t. The Council will have nothing to do with me.”
Bennie’s eyes wrinkled with his smile. “How about if I told you that you’re on the Council? All three of you?”
Amanda stood up straight, no longer leaning. “How did that happen?”
“Since I told them you’re on it. Anyone who helped destroy a whole arsenal of NCP weapons deserves a leadership position here, regardless of your age. And since I am now the leader at Hotel California, I can make that judgment call.”
Joe let out a whoop. “I knew it! I knew you’d be our General Washington!”
Bennie laughed again. “And now the Minutemen finally have some aid to take down the tyrants. We’re not working alone anymore.”
“This is awesome!” Joe sprang from his chair, moving Chiara to the side. He looked at her. “This is so perfect!”
Chiara swallowed and nodded.
Excitement swelled in Bennie’s voice. “We have a pivotal meeting tomorrow. I want the three of you there with me.”
“We’re there.” Amanda straightened her shoulders. Finally, a chance to move another pawn on their chessboard.
Bennie walked closer to them, clapping Amanda and Joe on the back and smiling at Chiara. “How about you three give me the full tour of this place?”
Joe barely took his gaze off Bennie. “I’ll show you whatever you want to see!”
They began walking out the door.
Amanda glanced over her shoulder. Chiara trailed a few paces behind them, her eyes downcast. “Chiara, are you coming?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m coming.”
Bennie’s arrival immediately signaled a strong shift in the order of things at Hotel California. Instead of spending the rest of her day staring at a laptop screen, Amanda accompanied Bennie on a full tour of goings on at Hotel California. Upon seeing the exercise room, Bennie asked whether the occupants ever trained there. Joe’s answer of “no” prompted a thoughtful crease across Bennie’s forehead.
The Council gathered that evening for their daily briefing from each team. Amanda felt strange sitting at the table as a member of the Council, listening to her dad report the day’s news. After the full report, Bennie stood up.
“I am honored to have the position of leadership here. I am thankful to God for guiding me and for my comrades who have supported me.” He glanced in the direction of Joe, Amanda, and Chiara. “I am also impressed by your organization and work here. Well done, everyone! That being said, we are shifting to a very active period. We are going on the offensive against the NCP. So, we need to prepare ourselves! With that in mind, I am going to create a schedule where every single occupant in this hotel will spend some time—every day—working out and training in the gym. Our minds must be sharp. If our bodies are dull and lethargic, our minds will be too. We will make ourselves strong. Additionally, we need to arm ourselves spiritually. Do you have a set time for prayer?”
The members of the Council glanced at each other; some shook their heads. Nasir spoke up. “We have left it to the initiative of each individual to pray as he or she feels inspired.”
“That’s well and good. But we’ve got ‘two or more’ gathered here. Let’s capitalize on the power of group prayer. It will unite us in spirit and truth. We must work as one body.”
Joe cleared his throat. “I’d like to voice my full support for both of these ideas. Anyone second me?” He drummed his fingers on the table. After a moment’s silence, he poked Chiara and gave her a knowing look.
Chiara reddened and tilted her head. “Uh, sure. I second you.”
Nasir, his face as composed as always, nodded. “We can certainly implement both of these. I will ask Jordan to draw up a schedule for both purposes.”
Bennie clapped his hands together and smiled. “Excellent. We reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. sharp. I know that’s early but we have a guest tomorrow and he has a strict schedule to keep. Actually, please arrive at least ten minutes early. I’d like to make as positive of an impression as we can!”
Bennie dined with them and enjoyed getting to know their dad. Their dinner table buzzed with conversation, excitement, and expectation. Amanda wondered at the change, how one person’s addition could produce such a positive influence all around him. Bennie’s presence seemed to radiate warmth and trust.
Bennie excused himself, wanting to acquaint himself with the other members of the hotel. Almost like a child, Joe begged to accompany him, to which Bennie acquiesced, so Chiara and Amanda returned to their hotel room.
Amanda lay in her bed with a wonderful contentment filling her. She fell asleep, for the first time in so long, without thinking of Ethan.
So it jarred her even more when a shrill scream broke her peaceful slumber. Gasping, Amanda jumped up from her bed. Even though Chiara’s nightly screams had become a regular occurrence, it never lessened the shock of waking to them.
Amanda, still half-asleep, stumbled over to Chiara’s bed. “Chiara, wake up. It’s okay!”
Chiara stopped, midscream. She stared around her and then pressed her hands over her eyelids, as though trying to stifle whatever terrifying thoughts bombarded her mind.
“It’s fine. I’m fine.” She mumbled to herself, curling into a ball and turning away from Amanda.
“I don’t think so.” Instead of returning to her own bed, Amanda sat down next to her sister. “Can’t you tell me what’s bothering you? Please?”
“I can’t.”
“I, above all people, know what it’s like to keep something buried deep inside of you. It eats away at your happiness and freedom. It becomes a concrete wall blocking out the people you love. I did that for years. Please don’t make my mistake. Can’t you trust me?”
Chiara sighed and whispered, “I’m afraid saying it out loud will make it even worse.”
“Maybe. But perhaps it would make it better.”
Chiara shrugged, her eyes pained.
“Have you tried talking to Joe about it?”
“No. He hasn’t really been that observant lately. And now that Bennie’s here, forget it. I could dye my hair purple and he probably wouldn’t notice.”
“He’s not that oblivious.”
“Anyway, if I was gonna tell someone, I’d tell you.”
“I’m here, whenever you’re ready.”
Chiara nodded.
“But …” Amanda scooted her body down in the bed, lying next to Chiara. “Until you’re ready, maybe I can just sleep here? That way you don’t have to feel alone.”
Tears welled in Chiara’s eyes. She brushed them away with a small smile. “I’d like that.”
“I should have done that from the beginning.”
“That’s alright. I’m sorry I’ve been off-putting.”
“It’s okay.”
“How are you doing? Are you alright with … you know … Ethan not being here?”
Amanda cringed at the sound of Ethan’s name. “I won’t lie. I struggled a lot. I kept thinking about him, even when I tried not to. But for the first time today, I felt better. He’s got his new life; I have mine. We’ve gone our separate paths and that’s for the best. Having Bennie here made a big difference to me.”
“I’m glad.”
“We should probably go to sleep since we have to get up extra early. Are you okay now?”
“Yeah, I’m alright.” Chiara took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Night, Amanda.”
“Sleep well, Chiara.”
They awoke before the sun and got ready in the darkness, hurrying to get downstairs at the time Bennie specified. All the while, Amanda speculated about who the mysterious visitor might be and what help he or she would offer.
The Council gathered around the table in the basement. Bennie explained that someone from security would see the guest in. They waited in tense silence, and all heads turned at the whisper of the elevator doors opening.
Amanda recognized Will, one of the men on the security team. He gestured toward the table. “Here you are, sir.”
Bennie rose and the rest of the Council followed his example.
A man entered the room. The first thing Amanda noted was his military uniform, brown pants and a dark olive-green coat, with a matching dark green tie nestled within. Most noticeable though were his badges, which seemed to fill his entire left side, miraculously staying within the confines of his coat. He was a little shorter than average height but broad-shouldered. His dark brown hair was closely shaved on the sides but a little longer on top. Steel gray, deep-set eyes quickly cast an analytical look around the room from behind silver glasses. His square jaw was part of an emotionless mask showing no response to what he saw before him.
Bennie left his place at the table. He shook hands while also grasping the military man’s upper arm with his free left hand. “Captain, I am honored to have you with us this morning! On behalf of the Council gathered here, let me express our gratitude for the partnership we are forging together.”
The Captain nodded curtly. “Thank you, Benedict.”
Bennie laughed. “Please, just call me Bennie. The only person who ever calls me Benedict is my father, and that’s when I’m in trouble.” Grinning, he pulled out an open chair. “Have a seat, if you wish, and make yourself comfortable. I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
His back straight in the chair and hands poised on the table, the Captain sat without comment.
“Everyone, this is Captain Davis. He is the commander of an army brigade at Indian Point, the nuclear power plant across the street from us.”
Amanda’s mind wheeled. The military was poised to help them—the opposition—fight the NCP? If it were anyone but Bennie at the helm, she would doubt the integrity behind the offer. Could they really trust the military, who pledged obedience and loyalty to the commander-in-chief, President Starkley?
She wasn’t alone in her thoughts, as many of the council members stared at Captain Davis with doubt and hesitancy in their eyes. Bennie must have noticed their reaction. “I think my comrades, if I may be so bold as to speak on their behalf, are a bit surprised at your being here this morning with us. Perhaps you could give us a brief history to explain your position?”
“Yes, of course.” Davis adjusted his glasses, straightening them on the bridge of his nose. “A substantial portion of the United States military resists the program advanced by the National Citizens Party. The military lauds honor, order, and tradition, yet the NCP is the harbinger of chaos and anarchy. Many of my men consider it our patriotic duty to restore proper order to our nation and the only means to do that is by overthrowing the NCP.”
Amanda gripped the edge of her seat. If the opposition had the might of the U.S. military behind it, they had a fighting chance!
“My commander at the Pentagon stationed me here two weeks ago. I have been preparing my men according to our stratagem. If all continues as planned, we will launch our operation in three weeks’ time.”
Bennie leaned forward. “I hope you trust, Captain, that everything you share with us we will hold in strict confidentiality. Would you be able to explain the exact nature of your plan?”
Davis frowned. “That is classified. I am actually the only one at my station who is aware of the full details. However, I may be able to share certain aspects of the plan as the date approaches, and as they relate to you and your group.”
“Of course, we understand completely.” Bennie nodded.
Nasir squinted his eyes in thought. “I have long worked with the opposition in New York City. I previously communicated with other members of the military, who directed me to secure this particular location as a stronghold for the opposition forces. I can only imagine, due to the closeness of our headquarters as well as yours, that the military foresees our mutual alignment in goals. Would you be able to elaborate on what you envision as the opposition’s role within the military’s coup?”
Davis met Nasir’s look with an unblinking stare. “The opposition has proven most successful with smaller scale, direct attacks. I recently gained information that there is a detainment center located not far from here in Connecticut. It is my strong recommendation that we coordinate our offensives. As the military unfolds its attack, the opposition can hit that detainment center. The simultaneous nature of our actions will increase the likelihood of success for both of us.”
Bennie glanced at Chiara. “Some of us have been prisoners at such camps. Others have already participated in attacks like the one you propose. I think this course of action would greatly suit our group.”
Davis nodded. “I’m glad we are in agreement then.”
“Now that we have a goal, we can work toward achieving it.” Bennie took a deep breath, his eyebrows raised.
The rest of the meeting consisted of reviewing details, maps, logistics, and assignments. Captain Davis provided helpful advice and recommendations. Though, in Amanda’s opinion, Bennie did a capable job on his own. Amanda watched the Captain. If Bennie exuded warmth and familiarity, the Captain offered the exact opposite. He rarely smiled, though she couldn’t fault him for acting rude. His responses may have been frank and direct but always polite and respectful. Yet there was something … different … about him. From his polished dress shoes to his papers—clipped in the left-hand corner and highlighted with notes in the margins, to his regular, even-paced, intentional movements, Amanda discerned that Davis was a man of order and control. She couldn’t put a finger on why she disliked him though.
As the meeting concluded, Captain Davis gathered his papers, pressing them together and straightening them by hitting their edges against the table. He stood, pushing his chair back under the table. He shook Bennie’s hand once more. “We will be in communication. Do not reach out to me; I will notify you when I can come once more.” Davis took one more sweeping look at the table. “I trust you are all aware that any leak of what we discussed here could prove disastrous for both of us. If you value your lives, you must remain silent.”
“Captain, I wholeheartedly trust these individuals. They will not let you down.” Bennie pressed his lips into a thin line. “You can depend on us.”
Captain Davis nodded and, turning on his heel, marched from the room and took the elevator up.
The Council had much to discuss for the remainder of the day, breaking only for short meals. Three weeks seemed a short time to prepare to attack a strongly guarded and fortified detention center. But at least now they had a concrete goal.
Amanda took the elevator upstairs during one of their short breaks. Accustomed to the bright lights of the basement, the darkness of the first floor surprised her. Evening had already descended. She stopped to get a drink of water from the fountain. Wiping her mouth, she turned and began to walk back toward the elevator.
Someone came sprinting down the hallway toward her. “Amanda! Amanda!”
“Chiara?”
Chiara stopped short in front of her, panting, a wild look in her eyes.
Dread rose in Amanda’s throat. “What’s wrong?”
“I—” Chiara seemed to search for the words. “I can’t believe it. I was just downstairs in the basement and someone from security came down …”
“Is there an alarm?”
“Nooo, not that.”
“Well, what happened?”
“I … I wanted to prepare you …” Chiara twisted her fingers together.
“Maybe I should just go down to the basement and see for myself!” Amanda, shaking her head in wonder, brushed past Chiara.
“No!” Chiara grabbed her arm. “Wait, Amanda! It’s Ethan!”
Amanda stopped dead still, like a statue, her breath caught in her chest.
Chiara swallowed. “Security found him outside the hotel. I saw him myself. It’s Ethan, Amanda. He’s here.”