Unprepared Pt 02

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this story are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This is the second submission of a three-part story. It won't make much sense if you haven't read part one. I could have put it in a different category, but the story as a whole seemed to fit best here.

OOOOOooooooOOOOOOOooooooo

"Wha...?"

I think I just said that out loud. I'm pretty sure it came out as a groan though.

Where am I? Why do I

hurt

?

And what's that noise? It sounds like something between a buzz and a whoosh, and it keeps changing in pitch and volume. For some reason, focusing on that weird sound helps me climb out of the fog, and I recall what happened, although not exactly why I'm on my back, in the dark.

I remember being startled at the sound of a voice! Then something hit my head. The hatch! It had to be the hatch. The guy slammed it down on me. I...I was on the ladder. I must have fallen. I think the ladder is on top of me. I vaguely remember something falling on me now that I think about it.

I must be on the floor of the shelter. I start to move and my medical training kicks in and I remember to do an assessment.

A is for airway and alertness. Check. I'm certain I was unconscious though.

B is for breathing...check...obviously. Although I do feel a little pain when I inhale.

C is for circulation and control of bleeding. I guess I'll have to figure that out. I clearly didn't bleed out, but the back and top of my head is throbbing.

D is for disability. I can wiggle my toes and fingers. I slowly try to rotate my head...okay. Neck's sore, but no surprise there.

I try to lift it a little and feel a tug. Weird. I reach back and feel stickiness. My hair is stuck to the floor. So, I must have cut the back of my head when I hit. I think it may still be oozing. I feel the top where the hatch hit, and I think there may be a small cut along with some swelling.

I slide the ladder off me, and it barely makes a noise as it settles onto the floor at my side. I'm glad it's lightweight aluminum! Still would have preferred it if it had missed me.

E is for exposure. I'm not cold. I'm glad it's summer and that this thing is insulated. But when I think about it, the ground will cool this thing to around fifty-five because it isn't heated yet. So, I must not have been out for too long.

What

is

that damn sound?! It's coming from my left. Assuming I fell straight back the only thing over there would be... The conduit for electrical, water and HVAC! Nothing's hooked up yet so it's just some empty pipes in a bigger pipe. They come out on a utility box over in the tree line.

It has to be the wind. It's like the sound when you hold a bottle to your lips and blow just right. Damn, I'm lucky. This thing is designed to be airtight. It will be once I finish. That conduit should get me enough air...has been so far.

I need light. I know I had my flashlight, but did I put it in my pocket? A quick pat tells me no. Sigh.

And then it sinks in. Someone tried to kill me! What if they're still out there? I realize I'm shaking a bit at the thought. Okay. Fear is understandable. I need to be quiet...just in case.

My phone! It has a light. I remember putting it in my back pocket. I reach back. It's there! I pull it out and hit the button. Light! Shit. The screen is shattered. Still, the flashlight function should work. I programmed a button to work it directly. I fiddle a bit and... There!

I shine the light around as I inspect things. First are my fingers. Yup, blood, from where I felt the back of my head. The outer hatch is definitely shut. There are some pieces of conduit and a few boxes left from the HVAC parts.

There's the flashlight! It's off. I think I shut it off. I hope so, otherwise it means it went dead. It's a good quality one and I think it would still be lit if I'd left it on. LED's don't drain the battery much.

I look at the phone again. It's almost totally unreadable. I can't use it for anything other than this. I have no idea how much charge is left either. I also have no idea what time it is. Hell, I don't know the day either! Of course, my satellite phone is in my pack...in the trunk of the rental car.

So, now what?

I've got to get out of here. It's a good thing I have the ladder. I guess I'll get up there and try to listen. If I don't hear anything, I'll get out. Logic tells me that he's gone. Why would he hang around? I try to sit up.

Fuck! That hurt. I think I've broken a rib or two. The ladder is the most likely culprit. Okay, slower this time.

After some struggles, and pausing to catch my breath a few times, I've retrieved the flashlight...it works!...and I'm on the ladder. The heavy duty inner hatch opens in and has been hanging down since I put this thing in the ground. If that had hit me...well...it would have been worse.

The outer hatch that slammed down on me opens up and out and is essentially protection from the elements for the inner hatch, and depending on how the entrance ends up, is sometimes removed altogether.

It's thinner sheet metal and I get my ear as close as I can. I don't hear anything for a bit. Then...what was that? Coyote!

He's got to be gone. I have to try and get out. It's not like I can sit here forever. I push up very carefully. Nothing. It won't budge! What the...? Then I notice a dent in the door. What caused that?

Well shit.

Then I remember the escape hatch! I remember asking the client about it. He opted against it. Although we haven't discussed his motivations, I can guess a few things based on his choices. I doubt he's 'hardcore' because the shelter is smallish. More of a temporary refuge, like a storm shelter. I have to say, in a single container unit, an escape hatch wouldn't be easy to hide. It would be close to, and in plain view of, the entrance.

The hatch is there anyway as they come preinstalled in these. It's just that I didn't set it up like I would have. It's really just a round hatch in the ceiling, kind of like a hatch to get into a military tank, but upside down, in the ceiling of the unit.

Normally, I would cover the unit with up to four feet of fill but use a cardboard form to keep from covering the escape hatch. Then, I would fill all but the last six inches or so with sand in a large plastic bag so it wouldn't get wet. After that, top everything with something that blends in with the natural ground cover.

If you didn't know it was there you wouldn't, well, know that it was there.

In the event you needed it, you'd just pop the hatch from inside, slit the bag, and the sand and six-inch topper would run in, leaving you a clear escape route. Of the dozen or so of these I've installed, only about half the clients chose to do it. Their choice, not mine.

That meant I was going to have to dig.

I moved the ladder over, got up and released the hatch. A few bits of dirt fell down, but not as much as I'd hoped. At least I hadn't tamped things down! I decided I'd use a piece of conduit and began to chip away.

I had to take breaks frequently to catch my breath, and give my throbbing head, aching ribs, and now sore arms, a rest. I was trying to be quiet too...just in case. After what seemed like forever, a solid jab finally caused the remaining soil to cascade down into the shelter. I'd been just slightly to the side and managed to avoid most of it.

No light shone through, so that meant it was dark out. I waited while I listened, but other than the occasional coyote howling in the distance and the whisper of the wind in the evergreens, it seemed clear. Time to climb out.

The ceiling in the shelter was a little over eight feet. The top of the step ladder came within inches of it. I slowly climbed it until my head poked above the surface, which was about four feet above the top of the shelter. A careful look around made me believe I was alone. It also showed the reason I wasn't able to get out of the entry hatch. A large tree was laying across it. I was lucky it hadn't blocked this way out as well!

After a couple of minor dirt slides, a few muffled gasps of pain, and a lot of dirt under my fingernails, I was laying on the ground, face up. The stars were beautiful! Funny I noticed that given the circumstances.

I realize I must have looked like a zombie clawing its way out of a grave. I took a few minutes to catch my breath and let the ache dull a little. During that time, I didn't hear anything unusual. It's actually peaceful and that helps keep me calm.

The rental car is right where I left it. I walk over, stopping every few feet to look and listen, getting more confident I'm alone. I get in, get the keys, pop the trunk, then retrieve my pack.

I walk away from the site, toward my usual lunch spot then make a call on the satellite phone. As the screen comes on, I see that It's about three in the morning. He sealed me in a little over thirteen hours ago.

"Hi Bear. This is early. How's it going?"

"Well..."

I told him my story. Or at least I eventually did. He interrupted me with questions multiple times. He sounded cold and methodical which with anyone else would have been odd, but not CJ.

First, he asked me how I was. I gave him an update. He asked if I could drive, and I told him I was pretty sure I could. The next thing he asked was if I had any idea who it was. By then it had hit me.

"I recognized the voice. It was the same guy she called that day. The one she owes two more fucks."

It had come out a little angrier than I was feeling. I guess I wasn't as calm as I thought.

"Bear, where the hell are you? I mean, I know it's Idaho, but where in Idaho?"

"It's about an hour west of Coeur d'Alene. In the national forest."

"I'm looking at the digital map now. Damn...that's wild."

He asked more questions, and I ultimately gave him the GPS coordinates from the sat phone.

"And who knows about this location?"

"Me and my client. And I guess anyone he may have told. He took care of permitting. He had a connex brought in with tools, and I've had a couple things brought in at the end of the road."

"And what's his name?"

"John Doe." I sighed. "I know that's not it, but it's what he went by. I never talked to him. All our contact has been via email."

"Somehow, I doubt Julie was having an affair with a delivery guy. I'd bet your client is someone in her company that she was involved with to get a promotion...the same guy she was talking to...the same one that tried to kill you."

"Yeah. That's the conclusion I came to as well."

"Bear, listen to me. We need to make some decisions here. Technically, you should call the authorities. But something about this stinks."

"If you call the cops, they'll be all over the area and you'll probably be in the news and the talk of the town. If he's smart, he's not planning on going back. But if he pays attention, the fact that the police have been out there will be public knowledge. And a police investigation this soon would mean you survived. I think you'll be safer if he thinks you're dead and he got away with it."

"It's not like I can give the police a name anyway. Even the money is electronically transferred." I said.

"Exactly. They'll hit a dead end quickly. They'll have to dig into records for the property, and my gut tells me it won't be in this guy's name. If it's really an executive in her company, I doubt he'd be dumb enough to try to kill you on his own land.

He paused for a moment, then exhaled and continued.

"Okay, now we have to figure out who will notice you missing first."

"Probably the car rental company."

"Not the hotel?"

"No, I checked out yesterday"

"Good. Have you used this rental agency before?"

"Yes, I try to use them everywhere I go. After returning cars late twice, they suggested I rent for a week. They don't penalize you for returning them early. So, it's not technically due back for five more days."

"Good. Most of them only start legal action and report it stolen after about a week of trying to contact the renter. With any luck, we'll get things settled before then."

"If not, it'll cost me...ugh."

"Don't sweat the small stuff yet! Are you sure you don't need to get to a hospital?"

"I'm sore, but I'll live."

"It sucks that you're so remote. I don't know anyone in that area. Let me think."

I leaned back against the tree and thought how damn crazy all of this was. A few days ago, I was just hoping to make Julie happy and get our marriage on track. Now, I'm bloody and bruised and trying to figure out what the hell to do.

"Got it! I've got an old buddy from the service that lives near Seattle. Listen. I'm going to hang up and take care of a few things. Don't touch the car, if you think you can, see if you can cover up the hole you came out of. If he does come back, we want it to look exactly the way he left it."

"I'll see what I can do."

"If you hear anything, get to cover!"

"Got it."

With that, we ended the call. I hobbled back over to the site and looked around. It was about four now and the sky was beginning to brighten. The sun would be coming up in about an hour.

I looked at the hole and realized I could scrape away an inch or so of dirt around it, lay a half sheet of plywood over it and then cover it with enough dirt to hide it. I retrieved the wood from the container and in about twenty minutes had finished.

I took a closer look at the tree that was laying across half the shelter. It was the big dead one that I had mentioned should be cut down. The client had said he'd get to it. Oddly, it hadn't been cut. It looked like it had snapped off at a weak point a little above the ground.

It had been on the opposite side of the shelter as the tool container and had fallen roughly in that direction. I walked that way again and now, with a little early light, I saw it...tire tracks. From the size, I'd guess a pick-up truck. And there were areas that looked like it had been kicking up a rooster tail of dirt.

It dawned on me that he must have pulled the tree down with his truck and some kind of rope or cable.

With that to think about, I headed back to my spot. I'd been back at the tree watching the sun rise when CJ called.

"Still doing okay?"

"Yeah. Head is throbbing a bit, but that's to be expected."

I told him what I'd seen with the tree and tire tracks.

"He wanted it to look like an accident...like the wind blew the tree over onto the entry, hitting you and sealing it. I doubt he cared whether you died from the trauma, suffocation, exposure, or lack of food and water. Dead is dead, and all he would care about is that it couldn't be traced to him."

That was a troubling thought. I was pissed and a little scared at what almost happened.

"Alright. Here's the plan. My friend Gary is going to pick you up. He's just leaving his place a little outside of Seattle. He should make it there in about five hours. I've sent him a photo of you.

He'll bring a change of clothes and a first aid kit as well as some extra bandages and a hat. I'd like him to take some pictures of you and the site as well. We may or may not need them."

"Okay."

"Good. He'll be in a long term rental car that he'll pick up in Coeur d'Alene. He's going to give you some food, cash, and a prepaid debit card. He'll also bring you a prepaid cell phone so you can stop using the sat phone. You just need a destination. Can you think of any place you could lay low?"

"Actually, yes. A group in Tennessee. Good people. They'll put me up."

"That's a long drive..."

"I know, but it's the best I can think of."

"Alright, we'll check in frequently. When does Julie expect to hear from you?"

"Around the first of August. I said about four weeks when I confronted her."

"Good, that gives us a little over three weeks before she might begin to wonder where you are."

"Unless...I...CJ, do you think she knows or even worse..."

I couldn't bring myself to finish that statement. My wife may be involved in this... CJ sighed.

"I don't know Bear. I just don't know. I've obviously considered it given what he said to you, but I didn't want to say anything to make you feel even worse. I guess you already realized it's a possibility."

"Yeah. Well, hopefully not, but I guess we'll see. So, Gary is on his way?"

I said this to steer away from the unsettling talk.

"Yes. All you need to do before you leave is drop him off at his car, and then hit the road."

"Got it."

"Now listen. You have to leave the place the way it was before you escaped the shelter. I think you can take your bag, because you said he hadn't been in the trunk."

"Right. I'd left the car keys under the front seat...old habit...they were still there."

"Good. Put them back before you go. Human nature is to pick up, close doors...stuff like that. Don't. If the car windows were open...leave them. If the tool shed was open...leave it. If there was trash on the ground..."

"Got it!"

"The reason is, if he decides to check, or sends someone, it needs to look like how he left it."

"I understand."

"Good. Here's the next thing. Try and go as far as you can before your first stop. Don't speed. Don't use your credit cards. That's why I'm getting you cash and a debit card. Don't stay in hotels. Sleep in the car for short periods in safe places. Get your food at drive-thrus or convenience stores. Try to go to those places when they're busy. That way you're not the only person to look at."

"Okay."

"And take the battery out of your phone. Just because the screen is smashed doesn't mean it might not still be connected to the network.

"Wow. Right"

"Just think of it as off-grid living from a different perspective."

That got a laugh out of me. The first one since this happened!

"The satellite phone is the weak spot in this, but cops don't usually check to see if people have one. Does Julie know you have it?"

"I just got it not too long ago. I'd mentioned I was looking into getting one, but she didn't seem to pay attention. She really didn't like me talking about my work at all. I hadn't given her the number yet."

"Good. Besides, we're not trying to hide you forever. We're just buying time to dig up more dirt. And, I've got to think of how we bring law enforcement into this."

"Right. Hey...CJ."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. Thanks for this, for everything."

"My pleasure Bear. Really. I'm enjoying this!"

"You're crazy."

"I know!"

We both laughed.

I stopped outside of Fort Collins, Colorado as the sun was coming up the next day. I'd been on the go for about twenty-four hours. I'd stopped twice to grab some sleep and one other time for a meal, which I got at a fast food drive-thru. I'd made a couple other stops for gas and bathroom breaks.

Gary had been quiet and efficient. He introduced himself, reviewed the plan and took some pictures of me and the site. Then he got a trail cam and concealed it in a tree where it could capture pictures of anyone that came in by road. He'd barely spoken and after dropping him off...I drove.

In some ways, I thought I was doing well. But the fact of it was, I felt a little fuzzy and didn't recall as much detail about the drive as I normally would have. I know I'd suffered from a concussion. And every time I wince at the pain of inhaling, I'm reminded the ibuprofen isn't dulling that pain enough.

On top of that, the cut on the back of my head is still oozing blood. I knew I'd have to get it looked at soon. I'd been smearing antibiotic salve on it and wrapping it but suspect it will need stitches. The one on top is better, but I haven't dared try to wash it, thinking it will start bleeding again.