Samantha killed the engine at the Continental Divide sign at the top of Hagerman Pass. She needed to think and was exhausted from the driving, the long night, and the stress.
She stepped out of the Jeep to silence. The Forest Service sign stood pale in the starlight, a brown board with carved white letters: HAGERMAN PASS — ELEVATION 11,925 FT. — CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. The sky was clear and the stars shone brilliantly. She took a deep breath, letting the cold air settle in her lungs. She looked back at the Jeep — Vlad was busy on his tablet. She couldn’t see Marcus in the darkness. This was so fucked up. She turned to look down the Divide and took another deep breath.
Marcus climbed out of the passenger side with the faraday bag in his hands. She heard him, turned, and saw him involuntarily shiver. She could see the anxiety on his face — he wasn’t in control of the situation and it showed.
“We can’t leave the Jeep on the pass,” Marcus said. “Anyone who comes up the road sees it from a mile out. It’s a flare.”
“Yeah — I know. I just needed a minute to think. The Midland Grade Spur is probably the best place to ditch the Jeep. It’s about five miles away and then we can hike from there. The Colorado Trail connects at the Timberline Lake Trailhead and we can jump on the CT from there.”
“The CT? What are you thinking about?”
“We’ve got to get off the road into the mountains. The CT gives us the best choices right now as we figure out what the fuck is going on. Vlad is convinced we are being tracked and he’s probably right. I just want some space between us and the world right now.”
“We could call —”
“We are not going to fucking call anyone,” said Vlad. “You are not going to touch your phone. The only connectivity we are using is Mirage. I have two tablets — one for me and one for Sam. You need to shut up for a while. The more I look around online, the angrier I am at you.”
“Vlad, c’mon, calm down. It can’t be that bad,” said Marcus.
“Here’s how it works now,” he said. “Nobody communicates anything unless I say it’s ok. Right now Sam is going to figure out where we go to hide. I need to keep figuring out what is actually going on. And you, Marcus, get to show us how much endurance you have by carrying a bunch of extra gear.”
“So you’re the switchboard,” Marcus said. Flat. Stung.
“I’m the switchboard that saves your ass. Now hand me the phone bag.”
Marcus opened his mouth. He looked at the bag in his hands. He looked at Vlad. He closed his mouth and handed Vlad the bag.
“Vlad, I’m your partner. I’m on your team.”
“Marcus, I know. That’s why I’m doing this. I’m protecting you from yourself as much as I’m protecting me and Sam.”
“Boys, get in the car. It’s freezing, and I need quiet to think.” She closed her eyes and clenched her fists.
Marcus climbed into the passenger seat, head down and not looking at Vlad in the back. Samantha took the wheel and started running through the route in her head.
Vlad broke the quiet. “Marcus, what did you text to Seth? And it looks like you used iMessage — true?”
Marcus turned around to face him.
“All I texted was ‘We have figured out something monumental — call me when you wake up.’ And yes — I used iMessage.”
Vlad studied his screen. “Seth’s an early riser, but he works out first. When he finishes and reads that, I bet he calls you inside a minute. Seth answers everything fast.” He kept scrolling. “You won’t pick up, so he calls me and Sam next. On Signal, because Seth is careful. Which is more than I can say for you.”
“Is he up?” Marcus couldn’t help himself. “Has Seth said anything?”
“Not yet. And you don’t get to ask me that again.” Vlad kept his eyes on the screen. “Your entire job right now is to help us with the gear. When you get the urge to reach somebody — Seth, Daniel, your mother — you come tell me first, and I tell you no, at least for now, until we understand more.”
“You are a real motherfucker Vlad.”
Vlad said nothing. He just kept typing.
Samantha had the route by the time she opened her eyes. “My first thought was the right one. We’ll drive down past Windsor Lake — scree and ruts, low range the whole way — to the Midland Grade Spur, hide it in the trees, and disconnect everything we can so there is a minimal signal from the Jeep. It’ll cool off fast so there won’t be a heat signature. Maybe we’ll get lucky and no one will find it. Unlikely, but maybe. Fortunately for us, there wasn’t much snow this year so the trails are not that easy to track. We’ll sneak through the trees back to the road down from the Spur and try to figure out a way to end back on the road without it being obvious we came from the Jeep. We’ll head down to Timberline and then hop on the CT.”
Vlad nodded while he typed. She knew how to disappear, and so did Vlad. Marcus didn’t — but if he listened to them, they could keep him safe.
Marcus looked at Samantha. He caught her eyes. “Sam, I trust you. I trust Vlad. I know I fucked up. I know the two of you don’t trust me right now. I will do whatever you tell me to do. Ok?”
Samantha started the Jeep up.
“Ok.”
Vlad just kept typing.