The Planck Factor

Chapter 36

Jessica Evans

"So nice to see you again, Cyn," I said. "While I could see you, that is."

Once bundled into the car, I was blindfolded. Apparently, I wasn't even going to get a cheap tour of D.C. out of this ride to . . . wherever.

"Relax," Cyn said, her voice dripping with venom.

"Kind of hard to do that blindfolded. And with no idea where you're taking me. Or what you want from me."

"I see you have your laptop." Cynthia snickered. "You and that story of yours." Her voice was filled with disbelief.

"Maybe I can help you," I said. "I . . . I want to cooperate if I can. I'm . . . just not sure I know how." At this point, I knew the agents were listening in. I'd managed to hit the switch on my buckle while pretending to adjust my seatbelt.

Cynthia fell quiet. The only sound was that of road noises and traffic.

"Can you be more specific about what you need from me?" My voice had tweaked up a notch. I hoped I wasn't overplaying my hand. That is, assuming I could even guess what game we were playing.

"Why don't you just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride," Cynthia said. "We'll get into specifics when we get there."

Can't wait. After trying to count turns and listen for clues, I finally gave up and took her advice. The only sound in the car was the road's hum beneath the tires.

After what seemed like hours, we arrived. My door opened and someone grabbed my arm.

"Let's go." A man spoke the two words as if hard-pressed to share them.

He pulled me from the car and maneuvered me across what felt like grass. I tried to keep my wits and my balance. The only sounds were birds and distant traffic. We could be in either a quiet suburb or the middle of nowhere.

My feet hit pavement. A path? We halted. Keys jingled and a lock turned. I heard a door mew open, then was guided up one step and inside.

With a hand on each arm, two people led me further inside. My tennis shoes squeaked on hardwood.

They lowered me into a chair. My face felt warm and I sensed a light shining beyond the blindfold.

Someone tore the blindfold off and I blinked into the brightness. A light was directed at my face. Eventually, I made out a windowless room, barely furnished with a couple of chairs, a desk, a cot.

A man with a swarthy complexion squatted beside me. I gripped my carrying case in front of me, like a shield. My purse still hung from my shoulder.

"Now," the man said. "Tell us what you know."

"A-about what?" I managed to stammer. My mouth felt dry and pasty.

"About our plans. What did they tell you?"

I tried to think about how I'd been instructed to play this, but my memory failed me. I'd just have to play it by ear.

"Nothing. I don't know about any plans."

"How do you know Selby?"

I opened my mouth, but realized it was a trick question. This man wanted me to admit I knew Selby, but I didn't really.