Tom Brand Escapes

9-Escapes NJ

The gun was a beautiful piece of hardware. Although it was pointed directly at his chest, Brand couldn't help but admire it.

"It's a nice gun, the Beretta 92A1," Brand said.

The officer narrowed his eyes, "Thanks."

"All secure, Lieutenant," said the other crew member as he finished tightening the zip tie.

"Thanks, Scotto," the Lieutenant replied.

A warm blanket was draped over Brand's shoulders and the Lieutenant waved him over toward Kate and Petras. They were each covered in blankets as well. Petras raised his hands. They were tied in front of him, as were Kate's. That surprised Brand. He could see how Kate would not be perceived as much of a threat but the assumption that Petras was not was a rookie mistake. Petras shrugged his shoulders. Brand knew what he was thinking. That zip tie was no match for Petras should he chose to act. But Petras was never impulsive and no doubt had thoroughly assessed the situation. They were in no immediate danger so there was no reason to commandeer the aircraft, however, Brand was happy they were swiftly underway. There was a loose end that concerned him.

Leah was opposite them, hugging her blanket around her. Her hands were free. She glanced quickly at Brand and then turned her face away, avoiding his stare. Brand sat down next to Kate.

"Are we under arrest?" he asked the Lieutenant.

"No. This is a safety precaution," he said.

"So you feel we pose some kind of threat," Brand said.

The man nodded.

"Given that your boat exploded and some information we received during your rescue, we think it's best. Everything can be sorted out back at base."

"I see."

Brand leaned forward a little and looked up at him from under his eyebrows, "You may want to consider binding her hands as well."

The Lieutenant's eyes narrowed again and he seemed to study Brand's face. He reached his hand into his shirt pocket and took out a zip tie. He handed it to Scotto.

"Do it," he said to him with a tilt of his head.

"But Lieutenant," Scotto said.

"That's an order," the Lieutenant said. His dark eyes locked on the young man's and his jaw clenched.

"Yes, sir," the airman walked over to Leah.

"I'm sorry, Miss," he said. Leah put her hands out immediately and without complaint. She leveled her blue eyes on Brand and then looked away.

"Eyes like those sink ships," Petras said.

Within 15 minutes they were landing on the barrier island of Sewell Point, home to the United States Coast Guard training center in Cape May. They were greeted by several more armed Guardsmen and escorted via jeep to a long, low gray building. Leah was taken to one room and Brand, Kate and Petras to another.

In turn they were each taken out, questioned, and returned. Brand had been questioned by a low-ranking ensign to whom he declined to give his name but did give an account of the orb, their decision to abandon ship, the subsequent explosion, the arrival of the speedboat and a description of its occupant. The ensign took it all down as if she were taking a lunch order, thanked Brand and walked him back down the hallway and back to the room where Kate and Petras still sat. The Coast Guard was the only branch of the military with law enforcement authority and they all knew well enough to not speak amongst themselves. They were certainly being monitored.