Permission to escape - The Rogue Pack

Chapter 19 - Waiting game

The next morning was bright and sunny. The sunlight streamed through the leafy foliage of the trees, creating a dappled effect on the mossy ground below. The birds twittered happily from their perches in the branches. The air was fresh and inviting, as it was gently heated by the sun. The world smelt fresh and bright. But Sam, Obi and Varshini saw none of it.

Inside the control room, it was dark and musty, with no windows to allow light in from the outside. Sam and her companions kept a close eye on the control panels, and kept in touch with the lookouts in the forest, waiting for the shipment to arrive. After twelve hours of waiting, they were bored. They'd listened to what felt like an eternity of Obi's tales, and even the grand storyteller himself couldn't bring himself to utter another syllable.

According to the papers they'd found, they should be expecting three arrivals, as should Liam and Aiden's compound. But the papers failed to indicate a time. So all they could do was wait.

The two compounds had different instructions for the arrival of the delivery. Liam and Aiden were supposed to pretend everything was normal in their compound so that the truck would drop off its cargo and then drive back to where it came from, a location tracker attached to it. At least they assumed it would be a truck. Sam, Obi and Varshini's plan was to lure their truck into the compound, before capturing the drivers and interrogating them about the third compound. They didn't want to risk doing the same thing in both compounds as should the chosen plan fail, they would risk not getting any information about the third compound. But Sam had to make sure that their actions didn't alert anyone.

At about noon, the alert came from the woods that a truck was approaching the facility. Sam and her companions quickly changed, slipping on the guards' uniforms. Moving towards the front gate, Sam and Varshini didn't make an effort to sidestep the cameras. Sam was worried that the truck might be able to connect to the compound's cameras, and if so, seeing a deserted compound would definitely make them turn around. Obi remained in the control room, ready to lock the gates once the truck entered.

Arriving at the gate, Varshini posted herself in the control tower above, whilst Sam settled into the small cubicle next to the gate, from where she could speak to the truck and open the gate to allow them in. She lowered her cap as the truck approached, trundling down the dirt road towards them. It was a fairly small truck, closely resembling an army van with its canvased back. Other than the driver, there didn't seem to be anyone in the cabin of the truck. As it neared the gate, Sam swallowed. This was where the plan got complicated. They had no knowledge about what should be said during the interaction, and therefore whether the truck entered the compound was entirely reliant on her.

The driver wound his window down.

"You new? I've never seen you before," he barked out. His eyes seemed wary as they darted around, taking in the empty courtyard beyond the gate. Noticing Varshini in the perch above him, he seemed to relax, reassured that despite its emptiness, the compound was still secure.

"Not new per se, but never been to this facility before," Sam drawled, pretending to be engrossed in her nails as she answered. Looking up she added,

"Can I see your papers?" The man narrowed his eyes are, obviously hesitant.

"Can't be too safe ya know." She added, sticking to her drawling accent.

"They put a woman in charge..."

"Yes, is that a problem?" Sam quirked her eyes at him, shocked at his words. The driver glanced inside, realising that he needed to get through the gate and that Sam was his only way in.

"No, no, here you go." The man passed over a single card. On it was printed his name and job description alongside his picture.

"And the cargo?" inquired Sam.