The leader was on his walky-talky, calling for more aid to carry the boxes across to the city.GG spied a pile of discarded clothing that had been dumped in a nearby doorway.She crossed to it, found a white shirt and used her knife to tear it into strips.She handed one to her companion and he tied it around her bicep.It stood out starkly against her dark blue jacket.She tied one around his arm in return.“Now we look the part,” she said in satisfaction.
“A group is on its way through the Lincoln Tunnel,” the leader of the cops told the others.“More will be heading here to help us from the New Jersey side,” he added, aiming the comments at the lone cop who would be guarding their truck.
GG and Dalt waited for the small group to leave and reach one of the entrances to the tunnel before moving.“I’ll do the talking,” GG said.“Your accent isn’t exactly local.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the rancher said with an eyeroll.
Making sure her lower face was covered by the high neck of her ski jacket, GG strode towards the truck with her ex right beside her.Seeing their armbands, the guard nodded in greeting.
“We were sent here to help carry supplies through the tunnel,” GG said briskly.
“Grab whatever you can carry,” he replied, nervously peering behind them.“Have you heard the news that some rebels are trying to flee from Manhattan?”he asked.
“Nope,” Dalton said.“Who are they?”GG shot him an assessing glance at his ability to mask his normal accent.She’d underestimated his acting skills.
“There are eleven pretty women.One of them is kind of famous,” the cop said in a self-important tone.“I’m sure you’ve heard of Glory Gold, the pro-wrestler?”
GG snorted out a laugh as she picked up a box from the back of the truck.“Everyone’s heard of her,” she said in derision.“What did she do?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care,” he said.“All I know is Mayor Giamano wants her and the other women found.They’re to be returned to the city unharmed.”
“We’ll keep our eye out for them,” Dalt said, grabbing two of the larger boxes.
“Wait!”the cop said when they turned to walk away.GG tensed up, ready to drop the box and punch him in the throat.Shooting him would be too loud and draw unwanted attention.“You’ll need this,” he said, reaching into the bed of the truck to grab a flashlight.
“Thanks,” GG said as he slipped it into her hand.
“It’s pretty dark in the tunnel,” he said, then turned his attention back to guarding the truck.
“I thought I was going to have to shoot him for a second there,” Dalton muttered when they were a safe distance away.
“Me, too,” GG agreed, glad they’d avoided bloodshed.
She had to pause to switch the flashlight on once they entered the Lincoln Tunnel.Vehicles were packed in tightly in all three entrances.The walkway was clear of civilians, since guards were stationed at both ends.They weren’t allowing anyone to enter or leave while the search for the fugitives was still ongoing.GG and Dalton were waved through once the cops saw their armbands.
“How long is this tunnel?”the cowboy asked.
“It’s about a mile and a half long,” GG replied, shining the light ahead.“We’ll be in Manhattan in no time,” she said confidently, hoping no one would recognize her despite her disguise.
It was a long trek beneath the river.They occasionally had to squeeze against the wall to let other people pass them.Their fellow armband wearing officers nodded and murmured greetings each time they passed.GG and Dalt responded in bored tones, then continued on.
“Thank God that’s over,” Dalton said in relief once they exited from the far end.They followed a group of cops into Midtown, then waited until no one was in sight before quietly splitting off from them.“Follow me,” Dalt said, hurrying northward.
GG kept up with him as he headed to Morningside Heights.Their luck was in and they didn’t run into anyone.
“This is the place,” the cowboy said when he reached an old brownstone townhouse.It was far nicer than a humble pastor could have afforded, but it was close to the hall he was using as a church.He put the boxes down, then knocked on the door.
Larry Hogan’s face appeared in the window next to the door.His suspicion turned to delight when GG shone her flashlight on her ex’s face.Dalton winced at the glare and cut a look at her.“Thanks, darlin’,” he said wryly.
“It worked, didn’t it?”she said innocently, then snickered.
The preacher unlocked the door and opened it.“I never thought I’d see you again when you didn’t return yesterday, son,” he said, holding out his hand.“Who’s your companion?”he asked curiously.
“I’m Glory Gold, the most notorious and wanted woman in New York, Pastor,” GG said.“Rahab and his people are hunting for me and some women I helped escape from them.”
Larry’s eyes widened, then he ushered them inside.“They came knocking on the door earlier and I had to let them in to search the entire building.It’s lucky I keep a small stash of food in the pantry just in case I get raided.”They picked up their boxes and stepped into the foyer.“What have you got there?”he asked.
“We have no idea,” Dalt said with a grin.“But whatever it is, it’s yours now, sir.”
