Carlie Simmons (Book 2): In Too Deep Read Free

Phillip, who was nervously fidgeting with his fingers.
    Boyd nodded. “It’s one hundred fifty feet
down with the main compound being around thirty million square feet in size.
Then there are separate wings with medical, weapons, and food and water storage
along with a science department,” he said as the elevator platform settled on
the cement ground and the overhead doors began sealing off the top. Boyd
stepped away from the helicopter and motioned the group to follow him off the
platform. “We’ve got the basics here for sustaining life but after a while it
feels like you’re living in a mall from the 1970s as the architecture is pretty
dated.”
    As Carlie walked alongside Eliza with
the soldiers forming a line behind them, she momentarily craned her head back
to watch the bay doors seal out the sunlight and the sound of weapons fire
above. “Are these platforms the only way in and out of here?”
    “I’m not at liberty to say but I can
tell you that this is one of the safest military installations in the world.
Given the focus here has always been on testing missile capabilities, you can
imagine this place is secured tighter than a camel’s rear in a sandstorm.”
    Boyd led them along a corridor lined
with close to a quarter-mile of shelves that went up seventy feet high. Each
was lined with nondescript wooden crates that had serial numbers stamped on the
side. A forklift operator was moving supplies off a green eighteen-wheeler that
was parked near an up-sloping tunnel entrance to the right. The aisles were
bustling with an assortment of workers dressed in fatigues, jeans, or ranching
accouterments. Everyone bore the same tired, frightened expression in their eyes
that Carlie had come to accept as a familiar sight in recent days.
    Boyd spoke into the radio mic on his
left shoulder and then came to a halt and turned to face the group. “After
President Huntington arrives, you’ll be taken to medical for a quick exam and
then I’ll show you to some makeshift quarters where you can get cleaned up. Following
that, I’ve been instructed to debrief each of you before you meet with General Adams
and get your new assignments.”
    Carlie looked at Shane with a startled
expression and then back at Boyd. “I think most of us would like to find out
about our families first and see about getting back to them,” she said.
    “I understand that, Ms…” Boyd said while
glancing over her figure.
    “Agent Carlie Simmons.”
    “Right now, Ms. Simmons, I was told to
escort you down here and then get you familiarized with your new home.” He took
off his mottled tan cap and ran a hand over his stubbly hair. “I won’t pretend
to know what you’ve all been through but in case you’ve not gotten any fresh
intel on this pandemic, we are, ugh…” He paused while swallowing hard. “We’re all
that’s left in the American Southwest as far as we know, other than a few
scattered pockets of survivors in the smaller towns.”
    “But what happens after…” Shane paused
as everyone stopped to look at the approaching entourage of people led by
President Huntington. Four men were dressed in the typical garb of the Secret
Service that Carlie knew all too well. She didn’t recognize any of them. The
other three people looked to be assistants.
    All eyes turned towards the president
and everyone stood at attention as he walked by. Boyd quickly stepped aside and
he and his men formed two lines on either side of Carlie and her group. Eliza
pushed past everyone and burst into her father’s arms. The president engulfed
her, running his hands over her hair while he closed his eyes, sighing and
squeezing her tighter.
    When he was done, the president took a
deep breath and adjusted his tie. Then he walked past Boyd and stood before
Carlie and her group, quickly glancing at Carlie and then into each person’s
eyes. “I am indebted to each of you for your valor. When time permits, I’d like
to speak with each person here