Page 36 of G8
“It’s fucking hard to produce when you’ve never touched another woman,” P8 added. “When all you know is what you see on TV and read in books and magazines. We know nothing about real love and sex.” Turning to F8, he added, “And you know you and K8 don’t count because we don’t look at you that way. Never have and never will.”
“What about using your imagination?” Ingrid suggested.
“Pretty hard to imagine something that’s been reduced to a clinical treatment,” P8 told her.
G8 saw Ingrid give him a sorrowful look. Conversation died, and everyone lapsed into their own thoughts.
After a few more miles, they passed a sign advertising a gas station and restaurant up ahead. Ingrid glanced down the display panel in front of her. “We need to stop and fill up. I don’t think I have enough gas to get us to the labs.”
“Do you need us to do anything?” F8 asked.
“No. Just stay in the car. This won’t take long.”
When they reached the restaurant, she pulled alongside a set of pumps. G8 watched as she removed her wallet from her purse and extracted a credit card.
Noticing him watching her, she held up the piece of plastic. “We’ll see if they’ve cut off my bank account yet. But I figure, since they probably already know where I am, it wouldn’t hurt to try. It would save me having to pay with the cash I withdrew.”
Exiting the car, she went over to the passenger side and slid the card into a slot in the pump. That done, she picked up the nozzle, opened a little door at the rear of the car, and stuck the nozzle inside.
She turned and flashed him a smile as he observed her out the window. Behind them, another vehicle stopped at the next set of pumps, and an SUV pulled up on the opposite side of where they were parked.
He saw Ingrid suddenly look over her shoulder at something on the other side. Her body tensed, and fear marked her face as she jerked the nozzle out of the car and started to run in his direction, when a large man emerged from between the pumps. He grabbed her by one arm, jerking her backwards toward him.
G8 found himself climbing out of the passenger seat to launch himself at the guy. The man threw Ingrid behind him where another man was waiting with open arms. Disregarding the first guy, G8 settled for the second man.
He reared one fist back, plowing it into the second guy’s face the same instant Ingrid fell against him. The man crumpled, and G8 turned to confront the first man when he saw P8 standing over the guy. The would-be abductor was out cold as P8 nursed his bruised knuckles.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here before more of them show up!” P8 yelled.
Swinging downward, G8 scooped Ingrid into his arms and raced around to the driver’s side to find F8 holding open the door. He quickly slid Ingrid behind the steering wheel.
“Let’sgo!”
They peeled out of the parking lot before G8 had the chance to close the passenger side door as F8 kept watch behind them to see if they were being followed. It was several miles before Ingrid managed to stop shaking, yet she continued to cry silent tears as G8 kept a hand on her thigh for reassurance.
Nothing more was said about the incident until they reached the labs where everyone was waiting for them.
18SUBJUG8
Ingrid pulledup behind the nearest cop car. The instant she turned off the engine, she reached out to G8, who pulled her into his lap. She was shaking again. It was her body having a delayed reaction as the reality of how closed she’d come to being kidnapped or killed washed over her again.
P8 and F8 got out to give them some privacy. At the same time a sheriff’s deputy approached the vehicle. Since G8 didn’t recognize the man, he figured the guy must work with Sheriff Korris.
The deputy addressed P8 and F8. “I’m sorry, but you can’t park here.”
“Sheriff Biggs requested us to come,” P8 explained.
“Your names?”
“I’m P8 Children. This is F8 Children.” He motioned to the car. “That’s Ingrid Shyne. She used to work here. And that’s Deputy G8 Children in there with her.” Before the deputy could ask about the two people clutching each other, P8 explained. “We stopped for gas on the way here, and two men tried to abduct Ingrid. We barely managed to get away from them.”
Stunned, the deputy spoke in the microphone attached to his shoulder. “Sheriff Korris, I have four here claiming Sheriff Biggs asked them to come to this location. One is a Deputy Children.”
“That’s affirmative,” someone replied through the mic. “Escort them up here.”
The deputy gestured with an arm. “I need you to come this way. They’re waiting for you.”
Having heard the conversation outside the window, G8 nodded as he let go of Ingrid and opened the car door. They exited the vehicle, but Ingrid immediately went over to him and grasped his hand.
