Chapter 35

“I thought the parade was over,” Garcia complained as their vehicle ground to a halt. The tide of humanity that they were moving against was now too much for the car to continue. That was unless, Tony felt like running some people over.

Danni commented, “they’re all trying to get away from the place we’re going. Oh god, we’re too late.”

Tony put the car in park and shut down the engine, “looks like we’re going to have to do this on foot.”

“Damn Tony,” Garcia complained again, “I thought you said this was the VIP gate we were headed for. Don’t none of these people look like no VIP’s to me.”

“It is,” said Tony as he climbed out of his vehicle. When his two companions joined him he nodded, “it’s just up there. Come on.”

When they reached the gate, that had signs clearly marking it for VIP’s, the place obviously no longer was. In fact, it was equally obvious that any operating security here was completely gone. Even the Germans had lost control of the situation as they were overwhelmed by a stampede of humanity that no longer cared about little things like orderly lines.

It did not take long for Tony to tell his friends, “guys. I don’t know what to tell you now. This is,” he held his arms up, “hopeless.”

Danni took one of his arms when it dropped and she squeezed for all that she was worth. Danni felt lost in a way that even seemed worse than the time she had been shot. With all these people, all this anarchy, it really was hopeless. Then her eye caught something that fired up her hope center.

On the curbside, just past the gate, there was a line of fancy cars with the people to match. It was not so much the celebrity people that caught Danni’s notice. It was their security guards and how many of them were dressed. They looked just like the guys that snatched her mother. Then Danni saw that guys face. She could not be mistaken. She had sat on his lap and, even kissed the ass hole. He still had the marks from where she pounded his face on the counter. He and his friends were ushering some guy into the back of a stretched car.

Danni snapped. She pulled her new gun out and began marching right at the man. She ignored Tony and Garcia’s calls for her to stop. Suddenly the guy, as he scanned around, caught sight of Danni. He too recognized her in an instant. He saw what she was doing and what was in her hand. He went for his weapon. Danni raised hers. Her finger tightened up on the trigger.

When the sound of the shot rang in Danni’s ears, she noticed a moment later, that she was face first in the ground. There was a heavy weight on top of her and she had no idea what it was. All she knew was that when she tried to get up it fought her, so, Danni fought back. The grapple that followed proved to be a loosing battle as the other side had the high ground and was on her back.

As Danni stopped screaming in anger, she began to realize the other voice she was hearing was that of Tony. She began to ease off and, when she finally managed to look back and confirm that he was holding her down, she also saw the German. The guy had his weapon at the ready and pointed right at her head. Only then did she realize that the shot she heard had come from this guy.

Tony bitterly told Danni, “you almost got yourself shot!”

Danni began crying tears and pleading, “that was him Tony! I saw the guy from the bar! He’s right over there!”

Tony let her get up but, only slowly. The nervous German looked as if he was ready to shoot them both. It took Garcia waving a badge around to finally get the guy to back off. As Danni finally managed to get back up to her knees, she looked back to where she had seen the guy with the broken nose. He was gone. His friends were gone. The vehicles they were guarding were gone.

Fresh tears welled up in Danni’s eyes and she screamed out, “NO!”

Then a very calm voice said her name. Then Barbara knelt in front of Danni and gently took the child’s face into her hands. Barbara looked the girl in the eyes and in a motherly voice she said, “Danniealla. Your mother is safe. She’s in the Palace and with the medics. I’m going to take you to her but, first, are you ok?”

Danni could not stop crying as she shook her head, “I think so. Are you.. Barbara? Is that really you.”

Barbara smiled for Danni’s benefit and told her, “yeah it’s me. You’re mother is safe. We’re all safe.”

Tony had to help the girl back to her feet. When she was standing, Barbara pointed the way and told Tony, “just follow Kent. He’ll show you where she is.”

Barbara stood in the middle of the street, occasionally having to push the unobservant pedestrian out of the way. She watched Tony and Garcia lead their sobbing friend towards the palace. Kent even helped as they reached him. Amy, who was right next to Kent, was back in her meek and distracted mode. She stayed clear of the others as they walked off. Barbara realized that she was too taxed to care about that right now though.

For many years now, Barbara knew what it meant to be a mother. To put it bluntly, it meant putting aside your own concerns, no matter how large, when your child was crying. Just then, with Danni, Barbara suddenly realized that she had more than one child. It made her want to cry because she was not really sure she could take it.

Instead of shedding a tear, Barbara made herself do something a little more useful instead. She looked around for a certain ass hole and wondered if she could get away with murder in all the chaos. It was just as well that should would never find out. Conner was nowhere to be seen. He was probably already gone.

Barbara did see one familiar face in the crowd. Norm was carelessly walking past people and he looked too tired to care who might bump into him. He stopped in front of Barbara and told her, “after some careful consideration, Barbara. I think I’m going up to Shady Lawn to see my mother in law. I feel that this experience today has adequately prepared me for the task.”

“Why Norman Scoggins,” she replied, “that has to be the most… well, non profane thing you’ve ever said to me. See you tomorrow.”

“Oh,” he replied as he turned to walk off, “that’s another thing Barbara. You still owe me for a goddamn paid holiday and I damn well plan on collecting tomorrow. See you when I get back.”

Barbara couldn’t help herself. She laughed.