Chapter 7: Alice

        Jay Burchell leaned against the wall of David's makeshift medical center and opened a manila folder. It seemed like days since Tyler had left, when in reality only four hours had passed. 
The short rest Jay had taken had worked wonders for his aching head; but his ribs still screamed at him with every movement, so he sat relatively still.

Watching Will was his only other task for the moment. David's firm direction had made it clear that Will was not to get up. 

It was about five in the evening, Will was resting in a fitful sleep. Jay sat in a comfortable chair, a few of the much puzzled over files in his lap. Somehow, he wished that a clue would fly off the page and present itself. 
Knowing nothing about a situation had always been a hard thing for Jay. He spent hours of time in school studying every topic he could find; it had taken him years to control his habit of asking prying questions. His mind always needed to know. 
This, the Drexler, Tyler and himself, Will....it was all too much. He had no information. He had no help. He'd pored through the files a million time and come up short. 
In disgust, Jay tossed the files onto the floor and put his head in his hands.

"What's going on, Jay?" Will's voice asked.

Jay looked up at him. “Hi.” he pulled his chair a little closer to the bed. “How are you?”

Will shut his eyes. “I've been better.”

Jay almost laughed. “I'm sure.”

"Will you let me get up? I'm sick of being stuck in the bed."

"David doesn't want you up." Jay hesitated.

"Jay. Just for a few minutes."

Jay shrugged. "I won't stop you."

Will stood up and took the chair next to Jay.

"Will, I need you to tell me everything you can about these files." Jay thumped the stack of paper with his hand. "I need to know why the Bellman Law Firm has references to the Drexler. I need to know everything."

"I'm sorry, I don't know anything about this. I only had the information I needed to do my job. Plausible deniability and all."

Jay ran his hands violently through his hair in frustration.

"The information to do your job. What did you think you were protecting by bombing a museum? What was the point?"

"Again, further up in authority. I only knew what I needed to know for the job. Trust me, I wish I had reasons. All I had was trust in my bosses."


Jay clenched his jaw and stared at Traveler. He couldn't read Will, but he seriously doubted that the spy was being honest with him.

Will gasped a little bit, and Jay helped him put the oxygen mask over his face. Traveler looked uncomfortable and almost scared. Nervously, Jay tried to reassure him.

"We're going to get you some help, okay? You're going to be fine."

"I know." 

"By the way, why didn't you tell us that the bullet was still in you?"

Will shook his head. "Tell me if there was anything you and Tyler could have done, or would have done...besides Tyler wanting to kill me."

“Did he ever threaten you?” Jay asked furiously.

“Of course he did. I didn't tell you because you two need unity to survive." Will winced. "Believe me when I say that I'm your friend. I made sure you didn't get hurt."

"You framed us, Will. I don't think I could talk Tyler out of hating you."

Jay passed the back of his hand angrily over the back of his eyes and took a shaky breath.

“This is so out of control.” he growled, embarrassed that he was crying again.

“Tell me about it.” Will agreed, pretending not to notice. 

"Do you still trust your bosses?"

"After what happened? Did I mention that they killed Maya and tortured me when I didn't follow the orders to the letter? They killed Maya, Jay. We were in love. She never hurt them."

“Jay.” David's voice said from behind.

Jay stood up quickly when he saw the look on David's face.

"What's going on?"

 “Kim called your phone five minutes ago, from a payphone.”

 “What? Where is she? Is she okay? What's going on?”

David put the phone on the table. “Tyler is at Nel's house.”

“We should have guessed he would go back there eventually.” Will sighed.

Jay sank back into his chair. “What are we going to do?”

“What we should have done a week ago.”

Jay raised his eyebrows.

“We should bring Kim and Nel here.” David said.

"Don't play with me." Jay demanded.

“It's too dangerous, David.” Will cautioned.

“The FBI is watching Kim day and night. She can't escape. If we go to the girls, we'll get caught.” Jay said.

“No we won't.” David protested smugly.

“Do you have a plan?”

David smiled and said one word.

Alice.

---

Alice Patterson, David explained, had been Maya's best friend. She helped to preserve Will's identity and mission, and had often proved herself as a reliable resource.

“How do we get in contact with her?” Jay wondered.

“I'll call her." 

“That can't be safe.” Jay cautioned.

“It's not.” David admitted.

Jay threw his hands in the air and turned to walk away.

“But we have a secret code that can keep it safe.” David added.

“So you want her to come pick us up, and take Will to the hospital.”

David smiled as he and Jay set some food on the table. “No. I have a better idea.”

“Why didn't we talk to this lady before?"

“There was no need to involve Alice and risk her life. Now, she's our only option.”

“Okay, so what's the plan?” Jay asked.

“That's the fun part, actually."
he paused and glanced at Jay's face.
"Really, Jay. Try to find something good in all this.
"Alice is a master of disguises. She also has access and connections to hundreds of resources. She always had a knack for pulling strings that none of the rest of us could reach.

“This plan could be tweaked as needed, but basically, she'll disguise as some sort of delivery service or moving company and pick up Tyler, Kim, and Nel in boxes. After that, we'll take advantage of her hospital resources and get Will the care he needs.”

“I don't like this idea.” Jay groaned.

“Why not?” David bent and opened the fridge.

“I won't be involved in a kidnapping again.”

“Who do you think we're kidnapping?"

Jay looked at him curiously. "Hospital staff?"

“There will be no kidnapping of any type. Just let Alice work her magic.”

---

Hours later, Jay helped Alice up into the high seat of the moving truck and smiled.

“Be careful, Alice.”

The woman nodded and touched his hand reassuringly. 
Her wavy blonde hair framed matter-of-fact brown eyes; her face was sweet and honest, and her strong jaw complimented the unusually powerful arms and shoulders.

“Alright, let's hear your 'Queens'.” David prompted.

“Why in Pete's name do you want to know?” she demanded in her accent.

David laughed. “You'll do great.”

“What's the accent for?” Jay wondered.

Jay felt like his life was revolving around the unknown answers to all his questions. He wanted to know something.

“Just in case I get caught,” Alice answered. “It just makes my profession more convincing.”

Jay looked up at her.

“Here's the letter,” he handed it; “and here's my ring.” he looked pleadingly at her. “Bring her back safe.”

Alice nodded.

“Tyler was stupid.” Jay spoke with regret as Alice drove off. “Nel and Kim wold have been safe if he hadn't run to them.”

“What are you thinking about doing to him?”

“I think...” Jay contemplated for a long moment. “I think right now I have to be merciful. I need to hear from his own mouth why he left.”

David nodded approvingly as they walked back into the house.

“You're smart, Jay. I'm glad we've got you here to help us out.”

Jay laughed. “I haven't really done anything to help.”

“You will. I know it.”