Page 53 of Invincible
They were exhausted and frustrated.Dex drove them back across town to Tyler’s apartment.Trudging up the stairs behind her, they all were hopeful that Greer would be waiting for them inside.He knew it was a pipe dream, but he couldn’t help but be disappointed when she wasn’t there, ready to rail on Knox.
“Do you not have to work tonight?”Tyler asked Knox, tapping him on the shoulder with one of the beers she had pulled out of the refrigerator.
“I turned in my resignation.What’s the point now?”he growled, taking a drink.
“True.”Tyler sat staring off into space.
“What’s on your mind?”Dex asked, watching her.He knew she was as worried as he was, but she had become especially quiet on the way back from the diner.
“She broods just like Memphis when something is on her mind.Fascinating how three siblings raised not knowing about each other could still turn out alike, huh?”Knox said.“Of course, being the oldest, I still have the wisest head on my shoulders.”
Tyler rolled her eyes before turning to face Dex.
“I don’t know.I just worry that we won’t be able to pull this off.I think I’ve figured out how we can get on that ship, however.”
Tyler then began to elaborate on her plan.They already had work permits letting them onto the dock.Everyone had agreed the best chance they had was when it was at the dock loading containers.
“I can print up a phony work order to get past the guard who will be checking in everyone boarding while the ship is at dock.It should get us on board but we’ll have to sign in with him.”
“What happens when we’re still listed as on board when they’re ready to sail?They won’t just ignore stowaways,” Knox asked.
“What if Dex finds a way to pull him away from his post for a few minutes?The guard will eventually call me for a location and I’ll just tell him we didn’t see anyone when we got off.I think it’s our only option, unless you have something better.”Tyler sat waiting for one of the men to answer.
Finally, Dex shrugged.“I think it’s the best we’ve got.”
“Fuck, I hope this works,” Knox said.The worried crease between his eyebrows was quickly becoming a permanent fixture on his face.
“Me too.Unfortunately, I think we’re going to have to be very lucky.I just can’t let Greer go without trying everything I can to find her,” Tyler answered.
The next morning, they were back at Tyler’s apartment early.All three had spent a short, sleepless night tossing and turning, worried about how the day would unfold.
Tyler had hit it on the head when she pointed out that they were going to have to be very lucky.If something went wrong or they couldn’t find Mia, Greer, and the rest of the women in time, they would be lost forever.They had to find one container in a sea of them in only four hours before the ship reached the ocean.
No one had even brought up how they would get off the ship if they failed.It was understood between the three of them that, once committed, there was no fail-safe.
“Where do you even find coveralls that size?”Dex asked Knox as they stood at the kitchen bar loading up on pastries from the bakery down the street.Knox simply scowled at him before returning to his cinnamon roll.Yeah, the constant intake of sweets from the bakery wasn’t doing anything to help his waistline, but damn.
Dex had told him it would be necessary to wear something he could conceal some equipment under so Knox had layered in jeans, T-shirt and a larger pair of coveralls.Currently the coveralls were hanging loosely around his waist.
“Anyway,” Dex continued, undeterred by the giant scowling at him.“I talked to Memphis this morning.He’s doing better and was able to check on Mia and Greer.They were loaded back in the same refrigerated container.He said Mia told him she overheard one of the men saying something about transferring them to another boat when they got to wherever they’re going, so I assume the container will be easily accessible.”
“They have a noon load time, according to my contacts,” Dex added.“Which should give them a castoff time around midnight.Unfortunately, if you go in around the shift change, you’ll have a long time to stay hidden.It should be the best time, however, to board without too much scrutiny.You’ll have to wait until the ship starts moving before you come out of your hiding place.”
“Wait, if we aren’t sneaking on the boat until almost evening, why am I already wearing the coveralls?”Knox asked.
“I didn’t tell you to get dressed already.You took that on yourself.”Dex shrugged.Rolling his eyes, Knox flopped down on the couch.
“Never mind, these boots are too hard to get off.I’ll be fine.”
“You’ll die of heat.It’s supposed to be pushing ninety-five with a heat index near ninety-nine today,” Tyler said, following him into the living room.
“I’ll just have sweaty legs.”
“Gross, that’s disgusting.”
“Then I’m going to sit for hours in some closet with my wet, sweaty jeans all up in your bubble,” he said with a smirk.
“Eww.”
