A Surprise Favor – Chapter 25

We hasten to a different room in the hospital, and I get dressed. Out the window, the sky is a delicate pink and light blue, with traces of orange near the horizon. The sun is peeking over the trees, and birds are singing in the nearby marshlands between here and the beach. The air is still cool from the night before, and dew clings to blades of grass in the hospital garden. Takemo, Kalvin, Declan, Saif, and Nina are all with me now. Carlos, Lia, and Nisrine are not answering my messages or pings.

“We need to find a way out without being seen.” Declan closes the blinds on the windows.

“The elevators would be too risky,” I say, pulling up my pants and groaning. My whole body hurts now. So much for that restful vacation.

“We could take the stairs down a few levels and then double back around to the rear of the hospital,” Nina chimes in. “If we’re careful, no one will notice us.”

Takemo shakes his head. “If there really is another assassin after Skylar, then they probably have people outside too. We’d be exposed.” He runs his hand over his face.

“I think my sister is still here,” Saif says, shrugging. “Maybe she can help?”

“Yeah, maybe.” I’m not sure how Sejal could help us, but I’ll keep it in the back of my mind.

“What about getting out through the roof?” Kalvin suggests. “We could use a drone to make sure there isn’t anyone waiting for us outside. I can rent one and have it dispatched.”

Declan points at Kalvin. “We’ll never make it far on the roofs, but I have a better idea. We can go out through the shopping arcades.” He glances at the clock on the wall. “It’s coming up on opening time. If we leave now, we’ll be at the arcade by the time they raise the shutters.”

“This plan still requires us going outside,” Nina insists, her jaw clenched in fury.

I don’t think she was expecting any of this when she signed up to help me.

Everyone is silent.

“Wait, wait,” Declan says, lifting his hands as he closes his eyes and thinks. I consider his position in all of this, too. He’s my lawyer, and he wants to be in my network, but he’s new to this crazy life of mine. “We don’t have to go outside.” A smile grows on his face. “You didn’t grow up in and out of this city like I did.” He points downward. “The shopping arcade has underground tunnel access. Laguna gets regular tropical storms, so the original engineers built conditioned spaces for people to use. There’s an emergency entrance in the basement. When I was a kid, I saw someone collapse in the arcade basement, and they whisked him right here through the tunnel.”

Nina stops to think about this. “If you know about it, an assassin might, too.”

He shrugs. “Maybe. But it’s a small tunnel. We’ll know someone’s there before they do.”

She nods. “Okay. I like this option. But I’m worried about what to expect when we get to the Amagi. Have you been able to contact your AI?” Nina asks me.

I shake my head. “Both of my AIs are not responding. Nanci, my ship’s AI, has been offline for a few hours.”

“That’s not good,” Takemo says. “What about Carlos? Lia?”

“Also no response. When we get out of the hospital, I’ll try again.”

Kalvin raises his hand. “I’ll get that drone and we’ll fly it over the Amagi to see if anyone is there.”

Nina shakes her head. “They’ll see it unless you pay extra for the smaller ones.”

“I always splurge for the good stuff,” he says with a rogue smile. Ah, yes. The bottle of Laguna 43 we drank together was choice. “Look, we’ll figure things out as we go. It’s good to have a plan, but it’s more important to get moving as soon as possible.”

“I agree. Let’s go.” Nina ushers us all to the door.

We descend the stairs two flights into the basement. The stairwell is buzzing with activity; nurses and doctors in white coats, the sound of tapping feet and voices. The walls are painted a sterile white and fluorescent lighting casts a bright glare across the stairs. My head is pounding with an oncoming headache, and the echo in here is not making it any better.

We reach the basement and a sign lights up — “Exit to Street” on the right, and “Exit to Shopping” on the left. We turn left. No one else is down here. Nina pulls ahead, her eyes searching the corridors for another assailant. My blood pounds in my ears, and my breathing is shallow. I don’t feel well at all. Do I say something or keep it to myself? Looking at everyone with me, I decide to keep it to myself. They’re all stressed out enough as it is.

After a few minutes of navigating through darkened corridors, we come upon a large metal door which leads to an emergency tunnel exit to the shopping arcade.

I sigh as I tip my wrist over and access my Estrela portal. Where is Ai when I need her?

“Hey Ai?” I query under my breath. I hope this time she answers, so I wait and wait for a reply.

“Yes, Skylar. I see you are on the move in the sub-basement of the nearby shopping arcade. Can I help you?”

Thank the heavens. Ai is online! I hang back with the guys while Nina creeps forward and looks around past the mouth of the exit.

“I was attacked earlier in the hospital. Did you know about it?”

“I’m sorry, Skylar. I’ve been in maintenance mode for the last six hours. An unfortunate side effect of my current situation. I cannot access the hospital security systems without Carlos’s help. I knew you were there, but I couldn’t see you or access anything.”

Nina waves us forward.

“Okay. I understand. But you can see us now?”

“Yes, the public video feeds are easier to access,” Ai reports.

“Great. Then I need you to be watching us and looking ahead for any potential problems.” I pause for a second. “And please, Ai, if you see anything out of the ordinary, let me know.”

“Understood,” she replies.

I need to be direct with Ai. She likes to couch all of her replies gently, like a lover would to an ornery mate.

Huh. Suddenly, she makes sense.

“Let’s go,” Nina says, waving us forward.

We walk down the tunnel, and my apprehension heightens as we get closer to the arcade. I stay alert, since I don’t know who might be lurking in these shadows.

“We’re clear from here to the gates.” Nina keeps us moving in one direction.

“What gates?”

But the scene before us answers my question. We’re just a little too early. Six fifty-five in the morning, and the gates open at seven.

The iron gates loom tall and imposing in the dim morning light of the arcade. It may only be five minutes, but it feels like an eternity until seven o’clock.

Nina is impatient, pacing back and forth at the front of the group. I tip my wrist and access Estrela again. Tabbing through the local news feeds, I get an idea of what’s going on above us. Police were dispatched to the hospital in the night, and they posted a guard outside that we missed. A few reporters with cameras are asking questions and not getting any answers. Fuck. Everything is falling to pieces. I need to keep up on any alerts that may come up while we’re waiting here at the gate.

“Anything, Ai?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

“I don’t see any current danger, Skylar, but that doesn’t mean you’re not being watched. Keep your guard up.”

I try to stay calm, but this place is foreign to me, and I’m not sure what to expect. Faint voices echo from somewhere in the distance, and passing cars on the street shift the air down a set of nearby stairs. Movement out of the corner of my eye makes me jump, but it’s just other people coming down to be the first shoppers of the day. My nerves are fried, and my chest aches with fatigue. I should be resting, but instead I’m on the run.

Businesses beyond the gate bustle with activity, preparing for the day. The scent of fresh-baked pastries and flowers fills the air, while bookshops and cafés open their doors. Street vendors set up their carts to serve hot food to passersby.

The day is coming to life, and my stomach growls.

When was the last time I ate?

Saif looks down at me. “I heard that.”

“We don’t have time to eat,” I remind him.

He leans in slowly, wrapping his arms around me and holding me to his chest. Ah, that’s nice. I actually like being held now. “I will slow down and get you food.”

I tip my eyes up to him. “Baby, it’s not necessary.”

“Mmmm, I like this new nickname. How about some juice instead?”

“Okay, fine,” I murmur into his chest. This is his way of protecting me, so I rest against him.

“I’ll order ahead,” he says, resting his chin on the top of my head. He tips over his wristlet and gestures, accessing his portal to the duonet. There’s no use in asking him to stop what he’s doing. He likes to help, and this day is about to get really damned stressful.

After what feels like hours, the shopping arcade gate trundles upward. Saved. People bustle about in front as they prepare for opening time. Declan steps forward and motions for us to join him.

We enter the shopping arcade, and Declan and Nina guide us past the sellers. Nina’s eyes scan the area for any potential danger as we weave through stalls and vendors, avoiding eye contact with those around us. Food carts are already serving up breakfast dishes to early shoppers. The smell of spicy chilies mixed with sweet garlic hangs in the air from a nearby booth.

A group of children stands in front of one stall, admiring its colorful array of toys and trinkets. A woman is selling jewelry at another stall, her voice carrying over the noise of conversation as she talks to customers about her wares. Everywhere I look, people are enjoying their morning routines and going about their lives without a care in the world. It’s strangely calming, in a way.

The farther we go into the shopping arcade, the more it seems like an oasis away from our troubles outside. Here, time stands still. It’s as if I’m in a dream world, surrounded by beauty and wonderment. If only I weren’t running for my life, I might enjoy it.

I need to come back here someday.

Saif pulls up next to me as we round a corner and continue walking.

“Here.” He hands me a small bag. “Eat and walk.” Reaching into a bigger bag, he distributes bottles to everyone else. He jerks his chin at me, so I open the bag and find a protein bar and a bottle of juice. Bless him.

“How did you do this?”

“Magic,” he says with a wink. “Just had to pick them up.”

I shove the protein bar into my mouth and chew, trying not to inhale it and choke. Ugh. It hurts to swallow. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until actual food touched my lips.

Slowing down somewhat, I glance at the gorgeous dresses in a tiny boutique store. The dresses along the far wall of the shop are a rainbow of colors, from deep blues and purples to warm reds and yellows. Delicate lace and intricate beading shimmers with threads of metal and glints of jewels, accentuating the exquisite patterns and fabrics. The skirts billow around mannequins like sails in a gentle breeze, making them appear alive and graceful in their window display.

It’s been a really long time since I owned anything like this. Marcelo has rented me a few dresses for events, but I never got to keep them. I glance down at my basic pants and the t-shirt that I grabbed from Declan’s closet before we left for the hospital. There are crumbs on my breast, and I wipe them away.

Takemo is at my elbow. “Come on, Sky.”

His eyes scan the shop too, before he ushers me away.

Just as I’m finishing my bar and drinking my juice, Ai pops into my ear. “Skylar, you have a problem up ahead.”

“What kind of problem?” I slow down, and Takemo, Saif, and Kalvin all slow down with me.

“You’ll need to make a right at the next corridor, and there’s a crowd.”

“Okay?”

“I don’t think you understand the significance of this crowd.”

My heart beat speeds up as Nina stops with Declan at the intersection. Her face is a deep frown.

Crap.

We approach the corner, and the low grumble of voices gets louder and louder.

“What’s happening?” I ask, coming up next to Nina.

It doesn’t take long for me to figure it out. A still-closed shop with its shutters half-way down is at the front of a crowd of angry men. A woman standing in the shop is flushed as she pleads with the men in front to leave her alone.

“We have to get out of here before they see us,” Nina says, gesturing to the men near the rear of the crowd.

Painted on his sign is a slogan I’ve seen before. “No more networks! Women belong at home!”

Fucking hell.

Reformers.