Check, Part 2
“So what you’re saying is we need to get out now?” Alex said.
“Yes,” Julian said, “The cops will be on their way to arrest you, and after that, they will likely move Thea to a government facility like with the royals. Angelica’s on her way to take you to the airport. She should be there in half an hour.”
“They’re really making their move now?”
“My contacts in the police department say they’re about to head out. They’ll be fully deployed by the afternoon.”
“Damnit.” Alex looked at Thea. She was awake now but still bedridden. “What the frak are we supposed to do?”
“Get in Angelica’s car,” Julian said, “Go to the airport. We’ve set up a safe zone there. Exiles from all over the region are going there. They won’t be able to arrest you there without arresting many more of us, and that would cause a scene. Mozaffar would rather not do that.”
There was a chatter on the other end. Julian was talking to Tania. Then he turned back to his phone. “Okay, there’s been a negative development. They’re setting up roadblocks and military checkpoints. Mozaffar’s declaring a state of emergency.”
“A state of emergency?!” Alex said. “Ridiculous.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve planned for this scenario,” Julian said, “Angelica should have diplomatic passes from the Roman government in exile. That government might be dissolved, but there’s a grace period before the network updates to reflect that. Plus, Angelica should be able to bluff her way through.”
“So we just need to get to the airport?”
“It shouldn’t be that difficult,” Julian said, “The situation is fluid, which only benefits us. The rank and file grunts will move much slower than Mozaffar and his cronies at the top. Now get ready. Angelica’s on her way.”
“Got it.”
“Good luck, Alex and Thea.” Julian hung up.
Thea sat up, wincing as she pulled on her broken arm and ribs. “So it’s really happening…we’re leaving, once again.”
“Unfortunately,” Alex said.
“You know, I wanted to stay here forever,” Thea said, “This was a great place to live. I loved the food.”
“I know Alexandra and Magnus would like to stay too.”
“Five years ago, they welcomed us with open arms. We were fleeing a country bent on murdering us, and they took us into their homes, treated us like their own. Now they hate us too. I wonder who’ll take us in next.”
“I’m not sure if there’s anybody else,” Alex said, “If we want a new home, we’ll have to make it ourselves. Hospitality is great to have, but I don’t want to rely on someone who could always take it back.”
“Making our own home…” Thea mused on that. “I have to admit, that sounds romantic.”
“We were going to get our own home in Isfahan eventually, weren’t we?” Alex said. “Same thing, but somewhere else.”
“We’ll have to build it from scratch, though.”
Alex said. “A bunch of engineers like us? I’m sure we’ll have no problem.”
Alex spent the remaining time preparing Thea for transit. Her condition was stable enough that she didn’t need an IV drip or constant monitoring from the sensors. With August’s guidance, he disconnected all of the remaining wires and tubes connected to her and then put splints on her broken arms and legs. They lifted her off the bed and onto a mobile stretcher, then wheeled her out of the room and down to the lobby. At the curb, an ambulance pulled up to the front door. Angelica rolled down the window.
“
Boujouo, mesdames et messieurs! This is
la navette de Alençon, with direct service to Isfahan International Airport. I’m your driver today, Angelica Haus!
Allons y!”
“Yeah, yeah, let’s get going,” Alex said.
“You’re no fun! I was working on that greeting the whole time I was driving here!”
“Save it for when we’re at the airport.” August opened the back doors and set up a ramp. He and Alex rolled Thea up the ramp and into the back of the ambulance, where they secured the stretch to the floor and walls. Hopefully, it wouldn’t jostle her around too much during the drive.
“I feel so useless,” Thea muttered, “I wish I could do more. Why did they have to break my arm?”
Airport
The drive through downtown Isfahan went just as Julian had said it would. The diplomatic passes got them through most of the checkpoints. Some of the guards were more suspicious, but Angelica managed to bluff her way past them. Soon, they were at the airport, but there was one last obstacle in their path. Just as the airport’s control tower appeared in the distance, Angelica slammed on the brakes and cursed. “
Merde.”
“What’s the matter?” Alex said.
Angelica pointed at the last checkpoint ahead of them. “That’s not a police checkpoint. It’s
military.”
“Military? Like the Artesh?”
“It
is Artesh. Look at those uniforms. Artesh military police. They will be held to a stricter level of security.” She shifted into reverse and drove back around the corner. “Going to put us out of view to avoid suspicion.”
Alex looked at his diplomatic pass. “So these won’t cut it?”
“The military database was most likely updated first, of all of the government databases,” Angelica said, “They’ll flag our passes as fraudulent and arrest us.”
“Can’t we say we’re delivering an injured Roman?” August said.
“Injured or not, they’ll flag the passes and stop us,” Angelica said, “What’s more suspicious than a Roman man and his injured wife trying to escape to the safe zone? They are on the lookout for anybody who fits the profile you and Thea set.”
“Frak,” Thea said, “So what do we do?”
Alex sat up. “I have an idea. But I don’t think you’ll like it.”
“I’m all ears,” Angelica said.
“You’re saying the profile they’re looking for is based on me and Thea, right?” Alex said.
“Yes, they will be assuming you’re traveling…” Angelica realized what he was saying. “…Together.”
Alex nodded. “So if they see me and an injured woman in the back, and we both speak Persian with a Roman accent, and they flag our fraudulent passes, they’ll arrest us all. But if I’m not here, Thea just has to stay quiet and you guys can bluff your way through with the doctor card.”
“Alex, what the hell are you saying?” Thea said.
“I’m saying I have to stay behind,” Alex said, “You can’t. As long as I’m here, they won’t let you through.”
“No, you can’t be serious,” Thea said, “This whole plan hinges on both of us getting out.”
“If we go together, neither of us will get out,” Alex said, “This way, I can at least know you’ll make it out.”
“Alex…” Thea said. “We made a promise to stay together. This—I can’t let you stay behind.”
“We both know you can’t stay here,” Alex said, “I don’t want Mozaffar to make you into another Wilhelmina and Gunduz. I want you to be free. So just let me go. I’ll meet you at our destination eventually. I promise.”
“Damnit, Alex, you can’t do this!” Thea said. “I don’t want to do this alone. We were supposed to build our new house together.”
Alex bowed his head. “Well, you’ve got one good arm. I’m sure you can draw up some ideas by the time I join you. And I will join you.” He took Thea’s good hand. “Thea, we’ll always find each other in the end. No matter what happens or how screwed up this world is, we’ll find a way back to each other after it’s all said and done. This I swear.”
Tears ran down Thea’s cheeks. “You know, I feel really useless right now.”
“Mozaffar’s going to throw whatever he has at me, but he’ll never break me. Because I know you’re safe. That you’re out of his clutches. You’ll give me strength, Thea. You’re not going to be useless.”
“Promise me one thing, then,” Thea said.
“Anything,” Alex said.
“Don’t take too long.”
Alex nodded. “I’m sure Julian will figure something out.”
He kissed her one more time. “I love you, Thea.”
“Love you too, Alex.”
Alex climbed out of the ambulance. Angelica drove around the corner and approached the checkpoint. Alex watched from a distance as the vehicle halted and Angelica and August explained their situation to the military police. After what seemed like an incredibly long minute, the ambulance drove past and entered the airport. Alex sighed with relief. They’d made it, and that was what mattered. They hadn’t seen him yet, so perhaps he could sneak off somewhere. He’d have to get in touch with Julian about shelter. Surely that boy had safe houses lined up for these kinds of situations—
“There he is!” Alex heard the clicking of guns and the whirring of drone rotors. A second later, a squad of military police and their drone escorts surrounded him. “Don’t move!”
Alex sighed.
Guess I was pushing my luck. The drone patrols surely recognized my face and alerted the military. There’s a chance they could trace it back to the ambulance, but by now they should have entered the safe zone. They won’t get their hands on Thea.
“Alexander Humboldt-Frank!” A soldier jabbed his gun in his face. “You are under arrest for murder!”
Alex calmly raised his hands. “Alright, alright. You got me.”
Huh, now they remember my full name.