The Trials of Being Loved

Part 55 - Active Engagement, Polar Bear

It echoed, resonated, brought a chill through the body, no matter the climate.

For all Team Members, bar one, the words safe house, was pure adrenaline for the first 48 hours. Your senses were on high alert, then the wait settled in... 

They ALL agreed to NOT notify Ms. Tam of the move until after her interview. As soon as they fininshed the interrogation, and Tam sent the location of the safe house, they packed up the gear and left. It was done in less than an hour. 

Tam sent payment to the hospital and a thank you letter to the hospital 30 minutes before Tay's next check-up, 4 hours after they left. The only 'patient' who knew for sure what was going on was New. He simply sighed and looked at Three, with pursed lips. "Can I know now?" 

Three held up a single finger to his lips, signalling silence. HE was too busy holding back giggles from watching Vihokratana stuff a clean sock into his son's mouth and tape it shut. Asking Tay politely to stop praying had failed. Miserably. 

For the first time in 48 hours, silence was truly golden. They wheeled Tay into a transport van and over their tac gear, had dressed like attendants, even New. All gear was packed into 4 bags, now tossed into the back. 

Six took the driver's seat, Vihokratana the passenger side, but only after Tam confirmed it was safe to arm him, and Three sat in the back with the 'patients'. 

New leaned back and loosened the hot shirt. "Can I take the vest off now? You know I hate the bullet proof vests." Three shook his head. "You're taking us to another safe house." One short nod. New continued to pull at exposed threads. "You have leads, which means that I did something?"

Vihokratana snorted from the front. "You want to know why?"

Mad now, New yelled, "Yes, I want to know why! Do you know how this has ruined my damn life? Years! I have no life." He could feel himself sinking into the rolling black, his eyes fluttering... "Fuck, Three... pills..."

~~~~~~~~~~ 

Joko had done recon on the farm and reported back to Ms. Tam. "He's there. In a shed. That big man, he's out in the fields." He went into parade rest as he waited. In the car, #8 had all sorts of cameras recording and a hotlink to the police in case things went bad. There was always the possibility, no matter how prepared you were... 

"Let's move out." Ms. Tam's voice broke through his thought process. Joko gave a sharp nod, heading to the packing house, before her voice stopped him. "No, I think the big man first. If he is protecting the little rat, we talk to him first." 

Only pausing for a moment, Joko pivoted, turning towards the fields. Sunlight glinted off his mirrored sunglasses, a status symbol for all of his 'street wear'. Then again, no matter how he dressed, he could never be taken for what he wasn't - ordinary. Peacefully, a slight smile on her face, backpack strapped tightly across her waist even here, Ms. Tam followed behind.

Both of them knew instantly when the big man noticed them. They could see when the 'shepherd's' body language changed from overseer to protector. Joko sniffed. "He's served. You can see it." 

"Mm. It doesn't matter. We are not hiding anything." Ms. Tam took a deep breath and approached the big man. "Excuse me, I believe you can help me." She held out the CCTV picture of Sayen Sangenthian. "I need to speak with this man. He is a lawyer from Thailand. I only need a conversation. He is not in trouble WITH me, but he is with other people who may be following me."

The Overseer studied Ms. Tam carefully, then Joko. "Why do you have a bodyguard"

"I help innocent people who have been targeted for knowing too much. There's a lot of bad things happening right now. People dying. I think this man," Her finger tapped the photograph lightly, "Knows a lot, which is why he ran." She rocked lightly on her feet, waiting patiently.