This definitely is not a drill.

I remember thinking that when I heard the sly, malicious voice of Hiram Lockley, the town mayor, who now held me by the arm as he would a disobedient child; as he would the children who had stood before us only moments ago, silent and motionless except for their innocent staring eyes.

The children, what in heaven's name has happened to the children?

I was certain before I came that I wouldn't be followed.  Even so, I checked my rear view mirror several times in between stop signs on the way.  None, so far as I could tell considering the shifting shadows of the streets.  The grocery mart was only a mile and a half away from my house, and I knew the traffic would be slow if not nil at this time of night.  All the more reason to be extra careful.

Apparently, though, not careful enough.

Now, I would have to make up for my lack of observation with my skills for adaptability.  I would have to adapt to the situation at hand...regardless of the casualties.

"Mr. Mayor," I said, "Your grip is very strong.  Please, your hurting me."

He loosened his grip and raised his hands, palms out, as if to say, "Okay, okay, you win."

"I'm sorry, Ms. B." he said instead.  His laugh told me he wasn't sorry at all.  "But as I said before, I can't allow you to leave town just yet."

"And why not, Mr. Mayor?  I really must be going.  My parents are expecting me, after all.  I called them just before I left and said I would be there to pick up my new car as soon as the bus arrives in another..." I looked at my watch, "ten minutes."

I could see by his shift in posture and the way his eyes darted to the ground that he was making things up as he went, and he was anxious to bring this to an end.  Whether I was bluffing or not I was sure he couldn't tell, but he definitely couldn't risk it if my story was indeed true; if someone expected me and knew where I was right now, waiting to come to them.

"Well, you see, Ms. B., I really didn't want to spoil the surprise, but since you're in such a hurry; there's been a town meeting, and I think there's something you might want to know before you leave."

Town meeting.  I bet there had been a town meeting.  And it didn't include me, at least not in a good way.

In my efforts to keep a few steps ahead of Lockley, I had realized the cold bite in the air had gotten colder.  As I breathed in a fresh, cold breath, the scent of old soil and a hint of Lockley's cologne--Stetson, I believe--came on the wind.  A chill ran down my spine.  I began to shiver slightly and put my hands in my coat pockets for warmth.  What I got in addition, I hadn't expected.

The cell phone!  It's been there all along and I completely forgot!  Stupid!

Now the only question was how I was going to use it.  I had dialed the Bureau back at the house manually without the aid of speed dial.  If I could just remember the button location, I might be able to hit redial and--if I was lucky--maybe Agent Wilkes would pick up and hear what was going on.  If, on the other freezing hand, I was not so lucky, the oblivious voice of Chomsky would answer and get me killed for sure.  Not very good odds, but still, I had to try.

Keep him busy, I told myself, my instincts as an agent kicking in.  All my years of training would be put to the test in the next moments.  Would they pay off?

"Fine.  What is it you want me to know, Mr. Mayor?  What's this big 'surprise?'  And why wasn't I notified of this 'town meeting?'  You do know that if you tell me, it's no longer a surprise?"

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be surprised, Ms. B.  Very surprised, indeed."

Just then the phone rang, and I turned white as a sheet.  I was caught.

"I'm sure that's them calling now," I said, quickly thinking of an excuse to answer it and what to even say when I did.  I took it out of my pocket, flipped it open, and hit the talk button.

"Hello?  Mom?  Dad?"  I said, knowing it wouldn't be; praying whoever it was would play along.

"Ms. B.?  Is that you?"  The voice on the line asked.

"Yeah, Dad.  I told you I'd be there in a little while.  Is there something you forgot to tell me?"

I chanced a quick glance over at Lockley.  He was fidgetting now, no doubt believing every word.  One cold hope.

"Listen, B., I know you're in trouble.  I know what's going on.  You have to get away from that bus stop. Now!  Hiram's in on this; the mayor, he's in on the whole thing!"

The color in my cheeks had returned, and I turned my face away from Lockley, hoping he hadn't noticed.

"Dad, I'm here right now waiting for the bus.  Funny thing, the mayor stopped by to wish me a safe trip."

Lockley smiled a nervous smile and waved a nervous wave as if the person on the line could actually see him.

"He's there with you?  He's there right now?"  The voice was panicked now, which didn't help my state of mind in the least.

"Yes, Dad, the mayor.  Can you believe it?"

"B., it's me.  It's Pete, the school night janitor. I know you can't talk right now but you have to listen to me. I'll make this short and sweet.  I know who you are, and I know what you are.  But there are things even you don't know.  I can't go into all the details right now, though.  Quick, how much time until the bus arrives?"

"It should be any minute now, Dad.  Is there anything else before I go?"

Lockley, getting impatient now.  Looking around and shifting again uneasily.

"B., I've been assigned to you from the very beginning. You haven't known because it's been my job to keep it under wraps. But now you have to know. The agency's gone rogue!  Wilkes, Chomsky, the parents, the mayor, everyone--maybe even the children--everyone's in on it; everyone knows!  They know you survived, B!  I'm coming for you.  Just stay put, and whatever you do, don't get on that bus!"

"Okay, Dad I won't.  See you soon.  Love you, too.  B-bye."  Click.

Even as I closed the phone and put it back in my coat pocket, I heard the words over again in my mind,

Everyone knows!  They know you survived, B!

I stood there silent, my stomach a knot, my breath stolen away from me.  Only three things mattered now: headlights were coming up the street, Lockley was in no mood for any more chit-chat; and yes, I had been very surprised.  Very surprised, indeed.