Chapter 24 — Hijacking the Truck
Judy’s car was parked about thirty feet from the rental truck. Sam and Judy had listened to music, played 20 Questions, played I Spy, and talked about the meaning of life. They considered various ways to have car sex but decided it would be too distracting if not too conspicuous. They were now sitting quietly, trying not to get on each other’s nerves.
“I think maybe I’m a surgeon now," said Sam.
“Is this a new game? Am I supposed to ask you questions or something?” asked Judy.
“No, sweetie. Remember I told you I was a Samurai sword before. I think that now I’m more like a surgeon. I am still involved in life and death decisions, but I am always working to make things better. A scalpel is still a deadly sharp blade, but it can be used to repair a broken body or to cut someone’s throat.”
“Sam the surgeon. I like it, Daddy.”
Sam was feeling dizzy and knew she was getting dehydrated. She was almost ready to send Judy on a water run when an older, Arabic looking man approached the truck. Sam got out of the car and called to him in Arabic, “Excuse me, Sir. At last, I see a friendly face. My name is Sam. My friend and I are new here and were wondering if you could tell us something about this area.”
“Hello," he replied. “My name is Tadros, and I would be happy to help you. Unfortunately, I am also a stranger here, so there is not much I can tell you.”
“Is this your truck, Tadros?”
“Well, it is the truck I’ll be driving," he said.
Sam approached the man with a peculiar expression on her face. Something was tickling the back of her mind, but her brain injury was keeping it in a fog. “Your name is Tadros? Really? That’s not a common name in the Mid-East, is it?”
“No, it is a Coptic name," he replied, cautiously.
The tickle crystalized. “You have no idea why you are here, do you, Tadros?” she asked.
Now it was Tadros’ turn to have a peculiar expression. After a short chuckle, he responded, “That’s a very unusual question, young lady. Do you mean in the existential sense, or are you talking about my physical presence here with you today?”
“May you be well every year," she said with great formality.
“Oh, and may you be well every year, also. Greetings, sister. You are indeed a friendly face. We Coptic are few and far between over here.”
Sam struggled to remain calm. She approached the man and saw a religious amulet hanging on a gold chain around his neck. That was the final confirmation she needed.
“Wait here. Don’t move!” shouted Sam in English. Then she ran to Judy’s car and very excitedly said, “Open the trunk. I need to get some stuff from your emergency kit.”
“What emergency kit?” Judy asked.
“Don’t you have an emergency kit in your car?”
Judy’s blank look communicated everything. “Do you mean like road flares?”
Sam smiled, then leaned in and kissed Judy. “I love you, sweetie, but you are in way over your head right now. How about your gun? Is your gun in the trunk?”
Judy shook her head.
“That’s okay. Look, I’m going to ride with Tadros. You need to call Dan right away. Tell him I’m driving the truck. Have him call Kehm. If everyone can stay cool, we’ll find the puppet master.”
“What’s happening, Sam? Are you sure everything is okay?”
“Don’t worry, baby, you should go home now, I’ll make sure you’re safe. Sam the surgeon is scrubbing up for a major operation.”
Judy had no idea what was going on. She watched Sam dart off, then reluctantly pulled out her phone and dialed Dan’s number.
“Hello, Detective Slater here.”
“Dan. You don’t know me. I’m a friend of Sam’s. She wanted me to call you and give you a message. She acted like it was important.”
“Go ahead," he said.
“She was very excited, and the message was kind of confusing. She wants you to know that she’s driving the terrorist’s truck now. You’re supposed to call Kim. Sam’s going to do something with a puppet master.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Ma’am?” Dan spit out.
Judy was getting irritated. She didn’t like the police and she didn’t like men growling at her, and most of all she didn’t like not knowing what was going on. “Look, I’m not sure, okay? Sometimes she doesn’t make much sense.”
“Did she seem rational, or has she gone paranoid again? She’s still on our side, right?”
“It’s not paranoia if someone actually is trying to kill you," Judy said.
Dan was silent for a moment as he tried to sort through what was happening. “Yes, well, someone is actually going to try to kill her if I can’t get in contact with her first. I’m not the FBI liaison anymore and I don’t know how much influence I’ll have over the agents. I have to call Kehm and get him involved, and I don’t want to do that until I have more information.”
Judy wasn’t sure why she was bothering to talk to this guy if he couldn’t help.
“Do you have her phone number?” he asked.
“No, she destroyed her phone when she learned the FBI was in town.”
Dan felt like he was chasing his own tail. “Look, I need to talk to her before she gets to Milford.”
Judy remained silent. There was really nothing she could say.
Suddenly Dan had an idea. “What kind of truck is it, and where is she coming from?”
“It’s an orange fifteen-foot rental box truck, and she’s coming from the Cincinnati airport.”
“Good. I’ll find her. Now, tell me everything you know about the terrorist attack. Start from the beginning," he said sternly.
Judy wasn’t sure if Sam wanted her to tell Dan what they knew about the attack or not. Too little information could endanger Sam, but too much information would show they were part of the conspiracy. She understood that Sam was friends with this guy, but she didn’t like him and didn’t trust him. She did, however, trust that Sam could take care of herself.
“I was asked to give you a message, and I’ve done that.” Judy hung up the phone.