Chapter 13 - The Revelation of 8 PM
They sat on the tailgate of Arthur’s rusted 1998 Ford F-150, parked deep in an abandoned logging trail half a mile from the diner.
The rain had stopped completely, leaving behind a heavy, cool mist that clung to the pine trees. The pale morning sun was just beginning to streak the eastern sky with pale lines of pink and grey.
Maya was wrapped in an old, wool military blanket Arthur kept behind his seat. She held a steaming thermos of black coffee in her hands, taking small, slow sips. Her face was washed, though deep purple bruises were already forming around her neck where Vance had choked her.
Arthur sat beside her, whittling a small piece of pine wood with a pocketknife to keep his fingers from shaking.
"The manager's alive," Arthur said quietly, breaking the silence. "He's at the county hospital. Tracheotomy. He'll live, but he won't be talking for a month."
"And... the man in the suit?" Maya asked, her voice raspy.
"Tied to a tree with tow-straps in the creek," Arthur replied grimly. "The sheriff’s department found him an hour ago. Along with his gun, his tech, and his fake federal credentials. The state police are involved now."
Maya lowered the thermos. She looked out at the mist-covered road stretching into the distance.
"It’s not over," she whispered.
Arthur paused his whittling. He looked at her sideways. "What do you mean? We got the guy."
Maya pulled the USB drive from her dress pocket and placed it on the wooden bed of the truck between them.
"He was just a hunter," she said. "The man who pays him... the man who runs Oakridge... he’s the one coming tonight."
Arthur stared at the tiny metal drive. "The white Volvo."
"Yes," Maya said, her eyes darkening. "Doctor Victor Vance—that guy's brother. He's the Director of Psychological Restructuring at the facility. He drives a white Volvo XC90. He comes to the Starlight Diner every Thursday at 8 PM to meet with his field operatives to collect the wiped subjects."
Arthur’s eyes widened. "Every Thursday?"
May you like
"He thinks this diner is a blind spot," Maya said. "He thinks because it’s out in the middle of nowhere, with an idiot manager and an old cook, nobody notices who comes and goes."
Arthur slowly closed his pocketknife with a sharp click.
