The Registry (10 page)

“Easier to save money.”

Andrew’s eyelids felt like they had weights attached, forcing them to close, heavy enough to make even the best-trained strongman weak. He was certain Whitney and Mia were sound asleep in the back of the truck and cursed them. Andrew was aware of the rules for travelers. Making conversation was mandatory.

“How do your little buddies in the back fit into your plans?” Scott asked.

For a brief moment panic struck Andrew. He stumbled before an answer came to him.

“I worked with them on my last job, on a farm. There were a lot of working boys. I stayed there for over a year. Those two were always getting picked on, not the brightest. I knew if I left them there, they would face constant torture. So I told them they could see me off and maybe I’d try to set them up somewhere better along the way.”

Andrew glanced over at Scott, who focused straight ahead on the road.

“Well, that’s nice of you,” Scott said without moving his head.

There was no time for Andrew to worry about maintaining Scott’s belief. A roadblock appeared up ahead. The line of vehicles ran about half a mile. Closer to the blockade several trucks were being searched, their owners sitting with officers.

“What’s this?” Andrew asked.

“Hard to say, but my guess is they are looking for something. Whatever it is they’re looking for, they don’t want it to leave the area. That’s an intense blockade.” Scott stopped his truck and waited in the line with a bored look on his face. “Sorry about this, we should sweep right through.”

“Does this happen a lot?” Andrew asked as nonchalantly as he could. “What if they stop us and want to go through your stuff?”

“Nope, every couple of months or so, maybe longer than that. It’s annoying, but I didn’t steal anything.” Scott rolled down his window and spat before continuing. “Did you?”

“No,” Andrew said quickly, not wanting to give Scott any ideas.

“Well then, keep your pants on.”

With each inch closer to the officers, Andrew’s fear grew. His whole stomach turned with knots. He had no options, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. He debated knocking out Scott and using his truck to ram through the blockade. Violence usually got the quickest results, but Andrew hoped to avoid it at all costs.

A RAG agent knocked on the driver’s window.

“Papers, please,” he said in a dry manner.

Scott pulled out his ID card and handed it over. As long as Mr. Morrissey hadn’t mentioned that Andrew left the farm four hours before the girls disappeared, he would be safe. The agent handed back Scott’s ID without bothering to scan it. Andrew saw this as a good sign, but the fear still overtook him. The agent leaned in and stared right at him.

“I’m preservice, no ID yet,” Andrew said.

“Reporting soon I hope? You’re looking a little old.”

“Next month, trying to travel a bit more.”

“You’ll love it, best four years of your life,” the agent responded. Andrew was growing tired of that advice.

He still needed a backup plan in case they didn’t pass. Andrew looked around the cab. There were no weapons. He would have to knock Scott out with his elbow. Taking out the agent would be another issue. Andrew decided he could just run him over. Andrew had his plan of attack set up in his mind. He would wait until the last minute to swing into action.

“Is anyone else traveling with you?” the agent asked.

Andrew’s heart raced. It was over; Mia and Whitney wouldn’t know how to respond, and it was obvious they were girls. He was preparing to make his move when Scott spoke.

“Just me and Andrew. Trust me, I’m hauling manure. I think if anyone tried to ride back there, they would die from the stink,” Scott added, flashing a smile.

Andrew was shocked Scott hadn’t turned them in. He was probably too dumb to remember his other passengers or didn’t want to waste time. Either way Andrew prayed the agent didn’t get suspicious.

The agent did not look amused. But he didn’t look particularly interested either. He pulled out a flyer and passed it over to them. Andrew recognized the girl in the photo. It was Mia. Her hair was slicked back and her face looked plain and defeated. He thought she looked natural and beautiful, with a sweet sadness in her eyes. His heart raced a little. He was sure it was from the fear of getting caught and not the sight of her.

“Have either of you seen this girl?”

“If I saw a face like that, I’d remember,” Scott said, handing the picture back. “That’s a looker. What happened to her? She get kidnapped?”

“They’re being real hush-hush about it. I’m just supposed to ask and search your truck if I think you’re hiding something,” the agent said. He moved his eyes up and down Scott before breaking into a grin. “You guys seem trustworthy, though. Moving manure you say? The girl’s not my problem, no thanks. Go ahead, you can drive on through.”

A
ndrew felt every muscle in his body start to relax as the truck switched gears and rolled past the blockade.

“Sorry about not mentioning your buddies in the back; I just don’t like the idea of some agent sniffing through my stuff. We’d have been stuck there for hours,” Scott said.

“No worries,” Andrew said casually, hiding any hint of gratitude.

“That agent wasn’t too clever, you know?”

“What do you mean? We don’t have anything to hide,” Andrew said, his body once again thrumming with tension.

“Oh, I didn’t mean about us. His not searching the truck was understandable,” Scott said. “Just thought his comment about the girl not being his problem was a little weird.” Scott paused to spit in a can. “You see, his job is paid for by the Registry, and that photo was a Registry shot. The Midwest Area makes money to pay his salary from their homegrown girls. That girl who’s missing is definitely his problem, especially if she gets out of the Midwest.”

“I never heard that before,” Andrew replied. But he was starting to think Scott suspected something.

“Life on the road teaches you things. I know some people who do bounty hunting. Not me, though. The work isn’t steady enough; there aren’t many abducted girls worth much money these days and RAG agents are quick to find them. But I’ve met some guys who make a little extra on the side,” Scott said.

“Have you ever heard of a girl just running away on her own?” Andrew was thinking of Mia’s threat.

“Heck no! They always pin it on some guy. Why would a girl run? Some people think it’s a conspiracy. They like to set an example, you know, the beating and punishment the accused abductor gets. Not me, though. I just don’t think a woman is smart enough to run on her own.”

Shaking his head, Andrew thought about Mia’s belief that Mexico was only a few hours away from the Midwest Area. She was certainly sheltered. He let out a big yawn.

“You look like you’re on the brink of death, boy. Close those eyes and get some rest. I’ll wake you when I get as far south as I’m going,” Scott told him.

Andrew knew he should stay awake and make sure Scott wasn’t putting the pieces of the puzzle together. But he told himself Scott was just speaking hypothetically and if he was going to turn them in, he would have done it at the roadblock. Besides, even if Andrew had wanted to stay awake, it was impossible. The second his eyelids closed, he drifted into immediate sleep.

A
constant
tick tick tick
woke Andrew. It took a moment for his confusion to pass and for him to remember where he was. The truck was parked and the sound was coming from the cooling engine. Scott was nowhere in sight. Andrew rubbed his eyes before opening the door and climbing out of the cabin. His initial guess was correct. They were parked at a rest area. The little building that housed bathrooms and some vending machines was a dead giveaway. Andrew strolled toward the building, hoping to use this opportunity to relieve himself.

He wondered how long he had been out for. The sky was dark and brewing with a summer storm, making it impossible to tell. He knew it couldn’t have been long. They were still surrounded by cornfields on all sides.

Andrew entered the restroom. He was surprised Scott wasn’t in there. He had assumed that was why they’d stopped. Andrew wasn’t too worried. This place wasn’t big enough for Scott to wander off too far. He splashed some cold water onto his face and went back outside.

Making his way toward the truck, Andrew noticed the cargo door was propped open a little. Adrenaline filled his body as he thought about the possibilities of the current situation. His mind was overrun with the urge to protect Mia. He prayed the girls hadn’t thought it was a good idea to stretch their legs and hoped Scott hadn’t thought it was a good time to get a better look at his other passengers.

Andrew had just reached the back of the truck and started to pull the door open when out of the corner of his eye he noticed a quick flannel flash. He raised his arms to defend himself but he was too late. The last thing Andrew saw was the bat coming down on his shoulders. He crumpled to the ground as everything went black.

Chapter 18

Cleanliness and hygiene should always be a priority for a female. It is next to impossible for a dirty girl to land a husband. She should keep herself as pure as possible to ensure a happy life.

—The Registry Guide for Girls

M
ia woke with a start. She thought she had heard a grunt of pain, but she was too out of it to know for sure. Her eyes adjusted to the dark cargo space and she could see Whitney sitting up. A slit of light shone through the back door.

“Where—” Mia started to ask before she was shushed by Whitney.

“Stay quiet, something’s not right.”

The sliver turned into an outbreak of gray light. Both girls had to shield their eyes. A large figure stepped into the truck. The light behind him made it impossible to tell who he was. Mia sat straight up and put her hand over her eyes, fearing the worst.

“Andrew?” Whitney asked with a shiver in her voice.

The outline moved closer toward them, his footsteps echoing with each stride. He was five feet from the girls when he squatted down to their eye level. Mia recognized the face of the truck driver who had picked them up. She relaxed a little, thankful it wasn’t a RAG agent.

“Sorry, just me, name’s Scott. Andrew’s knocked out at the moment. Boy, was he tired.”

Their driver flashed a grin. Mia could see the stains on his teeth even in the poor light. She wished he would go back to the cab and leave them alone.

“Why are we stopped?” Mia cleared her throat, trying to make herself sound more like a man.

“I was trying to figure out what I should do and over the last several hours I decided. Might not be the world’s best idea, but I think it’ll meet everyone’s goals,” Scott said, grinning.

“Is dropping us off here the plan?” Mia already knew the answer.

“Lady, you are the plan. I hope you were able to rest well?” The smile never left Scott’s face.

“I’m no lady.” Mia dropped her voice several octaves and started to stand. She looked for a way to get around him.

“Shut it. There’s no way out of here, so sit or else I’ll make you.” Scott left his squatting position and towered over Mia. She lowered her body back down to the floor, knowing she couldn’t take him out.

“You see, it’s my lucky day. You two are a present. I thought something was off when I first saw you, but I didn’t put it together till we crossed through that roadblock. I bet you’re worth a lot of money, with a large finder’s fee.” He signaled to Mia. “They showed me your picture, when your hair was long. I knew it was you right away. I thought I’d better not turn you in, though. I can’t get mixed up in your scheme, getting labeled as an abductor myself.”

It was clear Scott was proud of himself. Mia wasn’t about to give up.

“I have no clue what you are talking about,” Mia said, her voice shaking.

Scott ignored her and continued.

“I spent the last couple hours thinking about what I could do with you, going over every situation in my head. My admiral told me to always have an idea! I thought about taking you for myself. You’ve been gone awhile and we could live in hiding together. You’d give me some pretty children.” He reached out toward Mia, hoping to run his hand down her face, but she pulled away. “But then, I’d always be scared you would try to run and that’s no way to live. Don’t be scared, I can’t hurt you. I wouldn’t get any money if I turned you in damaged. Hell, I’d get thrown in jail for violating something as pretty as you.”

He cracked his jaw and turned his gaze toward Whitney. He reached his hands out and tried to grab between her legs; she fell back and screamed before he made contact.

“Thank you. I had a feeling you were a girl, too. Based on that scream I know for sure now. And I bet you have nobody looking for you. I could have some fun with you and not get into a bit of trouble.”

“Touch her and I’ll kill you.” Mia could feel the fire growing in her eyes as she moved to block Whitney.

“That’s sweet, sisterly love. But, ladies, I think I’m in control here. I am going to have some fun with your friend, then turn you in and get some reward money.”

“
Andrew!
” Mia started screaming at the top of her lungs. She was out of options.

Scott just laughed at her.

“You can’t wake him ’cause he’s almost dead. I left him lying under the truck. I’ll kill him in a little bit, act like I was saving you from him, your abductor. But I gotta make sure the time of death syncs up. See, if I killed him now, how would I explain the time gap? Plus, I always enjoy a good rough-and-tumble.”

Scott grabbed Whitney by the forearm and yanked her toward him. Mia lunged forward, trying to protect her friend, but was met with Scott’s other hand. He pushed her against the wall.

“Stay,” Scott said with a grin.

He turned and began dragging Whitney out toward the doors of the truck. She reached out for Mia, but Mia was too stunned to react. They were almost out the door when Mia started running toward them. All of a sudden, Scott dropped Whitney’s arm and stumbled out of the truck, falling to the ground. Mia hurried to the edge and wrapped her arms around Whitney.