Jackknife 5
Chapter 5 Facility Arrival
[ Index ]
[P] [1] [2] [3 [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]
[21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30]
Arrivals at facilities are mostly forgettable. Cray lived and worked in large military-industrial settings for years and they took on a sameness of character in his mind. The Gloucester location was on the waterfront however, which was a major character difference. The cool breeze off the water, the aroma of the ocean, sounds of gulls, it all stood out.
His accommodations were no different than most barracks he had spent time in. He was issued a pass and shown around to the cafeteria and break rooms. It was all mundane until they took him outside to another building that looked like an aircraft hangar. Inside identical trucks with the Silver Label Logistics logo were parked side by side.
It was an impressive fleet and Cray admired the precision parking until they rounded a corner and he saw her. The bigger cab, smoother lines, air intakes on the aerodynamic hood. It was the flagship truck he was certain. Not as futuristic as a Kenworth SuperTruck, which looked like a vehicle for outer space, but a fair rival to the Mack Pioneer, sleek and powerful, channeling the feel of a modern muscle car.
“This is what you’ll be starting with tomorrow. It’s even more impressive from the inside.
“Well, you’ve had your peek. Time to get you rested up. Tomorrow is going to be a full day.”
The entourage turned back and departed the hangar. When it was down to just Cray and the Ken dolls, the talkative one presented him a phone with flourish.
“Here is your phone, sir. Your home number is programmed in on speed dial and home time zone set as the first alternative for your convenience. Incoming calls have been disabled. Please use the utmost caution when describing anything related to location, stage of the assignment or other clues people could use to guess.”
Cray wasted no time in trying out the phone as soon as he was alone in his room. He imagined he would have to leave a message on at least the first attempt as Marie wouldn’t recognize the phone number and wouldn’t pick up.
“Hi honey, it’s Cray. They gave me a phone to check in with you after all. Still lots of rules. No discussion of locations or times, just that I’m O.K. The calls are probably monitored. Missing you already. Incoming calls are disabled. I’ll call you on this number again.”
Cray kicked off his shoes and flopped down on the bed, his head full of competing thoughts. He felt guilty thinking about the job and not his family but he needed to focus and the one idea speaking to him loudest was an image of the truck. He only had the one glimpse of the magnificent beast. She was like no truck he’d ever driven. He was torn between wanting to start training immediately and fearing he wasn’t going to be good enough.
Cray forced himself up to go grab a shower and wash all the crazy thoughts out of his head. He’d master the truck in the morning, drive her a few days to Washington and then probably never see her again. Now that was sense talking, Cray thought to himself. Old Master Sergeant Mitchell, his first driving mentor, would approve.
The next morning, Cray was up early, buoyed by the excitement of starting his first real day on the job. He went in search of coffee. The corridors were mostly still dark but light from the cafeteria beckoned. He was in luck, there was kitchen staff already working. No coffee on low heat from the night before, a fresh morning batch awaited. His mood kept getting better and better.
Cray filled a mug and took a seat at a nearby table. He looked around while sipping at his drink and started noticing things. Only a quarter of the overhead lights were on. The ones closest to the wing he was staying in. Only one pot of coffee was started. It was an industrial-sized pot but four others stood by cold and unused.
This place could easily serve a hundred people at once, leaving Cray with a sneaking suspicion that the usual residents had all been evacuated for his stay. Directed by someone who knew his habits.
When he went for a refill, one of the cooks addressed him.
“Anything else I can get you?”
“No thanks, I’m good. So, is all of this for me?”
The cook looked at Cray for a moment, deciding how to answer perhaps, and then said with a smile, “Have as much as you’d like.”
The long look and non-answer told Cray all he needed to know. Someone emptied the facility and made these guys get up early to make him coffee.
“Will there be coffee at the hangar?”
“The hangar? You mean where they keep the trucks? Yeah, we can send this pot over.”
“Excellent.”
“Hangar,” said one cook to the other with a chuckle, “That’s a good one. I think I’ll use that from now on.”
Cray finished his second cup and then returned to his room to await instructions. It was time to get focused on the truck. She was his ticket to getting the job done. She was also the collar connected to the leash. He might be driving the truck but someone was pulling his strings.
He considered a morning call to Marie. She would want one even if she was still sleeping. The only problem was he didn’t know how much time he had. No established routine. That would have to change. It was time to take the wheel and start driving this situation.
Cray placed the call. It took a few rings before Marie answered.
“Hello? Hello? Cray, is that you?”
“Yes darling, it’s me.”
“I’m so sorry I missed your call. I didn’t recognize the number and—”
“I know, I know. Don’t worry about it. It will all get settled out.”
“How are you? It’s only been one day but I’ve been so worried.”
“I’m fine. They are taking good care of me. This will all be over before you know it.
“How are you doing otherwise?”
“Things are O.K., I’ve just been such a mess that everything else seems out of control. I’ll get better now we can talk sometimes.”
“I know you will. Love you, babe. I’ll call again when I can.”
“I love you Cray. Be careful.”
Cray thought about what Marie whispered in his ear as he departed their home. “Watch yourself.” It could be taken many ways, a caution about the Ken dolls after what her instincts told her about them, or to to stay calm, cool, and collected. She probably meant both.
On a hunch, Cray watched the phone after he disconnected. He imagined the monitor giving it a moment and then reporting to his supervisor that the call was done. The superior may ask a question or give it a moment and then report it to the escorts. The escorts briefly consult and then call him.
The phone rang predictably.
“I thought you said incoming calls were disabled.”
“Good morning to you too, Cray. Calls are only blocked from outside the compound.”
So now it’s a compound, not a facility, thought Cray. Interesting.
“Are ready to get started?”
“Waiting on you.”
Around the facility, mobile phones vibrated the notice of an incoming text message.
INTERNAL NOTICE
TO: All Teams
SUBJECT: Operation Romeo Papa Status
MESSAGE:
Operation Romeo Papa is fully engaged. Baseline time schedules are now activated.
[ Index ]
[P] [1] [2] [3 [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]