“Yes. He left another message.”
“What did he say?”
“He reiterated the invasion is over. There will be no rescue. Aggressions are to cease immediately. He says he has a human woman with him, and they are holding meetings. Then there’s a word in your language I have no translation for.”
“Gillioz,” she said.
“What is a Gillioz?”
“We’ll find out.” Why didn’t the woman give an address! On the other hand, until she got a map, an address wouldn’t help much.Where the heck am I going to find a map?She’d gotten lucky at the gas station on the interstate and at the Big Creek Chamberof Commerce, but it would be harder here.Another needle in a haystack.
“Kevin needs a pee break.” She pointed to a grassy area on the hospital side.
They rode their bikes over, dismounted, and she let the dog out. He ran around sniffing for the right spot. Chloe stretched, her gaze skimming over the automobiles in the parking lot.
“Cars!” she practically yelled.
“Cars are everywhere,” he replied.
“Cars might have maps! Keep an eye on Kevin.” She darted to a nearby row and tried the door of a Mercedes SUV—locked tight. Same for the Jeep, the Ford, and the Lexus. An out-of-state Buick beater was unlocked, but there was nothing inside but fast-food wrappers, soda cans, and other trash. Loose coins rattled as she slammed the door.
Her grandma used to deposit her change in the arm well of the door, too. It was a senior thing.I need old-people vehicles. They’re the ones who would have maps!Everybody else had used their phone for navigation.
She scanned the lot. There! Handicapped parking. She ran to the vehicles in the spaces marked by blue-and-white signs. She yanked on the door of a van.Locked. A humungous tanklike Lincoln—locked.Damn security-conscious drivers!A little Honda SUV was unlocked—but had no maps.
Next to it sat a Chevy Suburban—and there on the passenger seat—a map of Springfield.
Of course, the vehicle was secured tighter than Fort Knox. “Dammit!” She pounded on the driver’s side window in frustration.
Eee-yoooo-eee-yoooo! Honk! Honk! Honk! Eee-yoooo-eee-yoooo!The car anti-theft alarm wailed.
Rok ran over, Kevin at his heels. “Are you all right? What’s that noise?”
Eee-yoooo-eee-yoooo! Honk! Honk! Honk! Headlights flashed.
“The car alarm,” she yelled.
Eee-yoooo-eee-yoooo! Honk! Honk! Honk!
“Can you shut it off?” He winced.
“Not without a key. Ignore it. Everybody does.” Probably not anymore, though! If anyone heard an alarm, he’d come running. She looked around expectantly. Nobody.If a car alarm goes off and there’s nobody to hear it, is the alarm really going off?
Eee-yoooo-eee-yoooo! Honk! Honk! Honk!
Yes.
“It will shut off by itself soon, but let’s move.” She picked Kevin up, covering his sensitive doggy ears. As she hurried across the lot, she spied a motor home in a faraway parking area.People with motor homes travel with a lot of stuff.Nobody but an out-of-towner who needed to spend the night would drive a ginormous vehicle to a medical appointment. An out-of-towner who might have a map…
“I’m heading to that motor home—the big vehicle—over there. Would you please get my bike so I can get Kevin away from the noise faster? Then get yours and meet me there.”
“Got it!” He jogged for the bike, and she walked briskly toward the far lot.
Thirty seconds later, Rok rode up. She settled Kevin in the trailer, Rok ran back for his bicycle, and she pedaled toward the motor home.
Leaving Kevin in the trailer, she tried all the doors of the RV. Locked. Dammit!There’s a map inside. I know it!She rounded the RV, tugging on doors to be sure. Then her gaze skimmed off a window on the driver’s side.It’s open!
She sized it up.I bet I can fit.
