Bug Out! Part 11

Motorhomes on the Dark Road

Robert G Boren

Contents

Previously - From Bugout! Part 10

Chapter 1 – Slow Speed Chase

Chapter 2 – The Long Dark Road

Chapter 3 – Open Road

Chapter 4 – Curves and Guardrails

Chapter 5 – Over the Cliff

Chapter 6 – Survival Plans

Chapter 7 - Gravel Pit

Chapter 8 – Motion Sensors

Chapter 9 – Pepper Shots

Chapter 10 – Three Canopy

Chapter 11 – Bureau Mole

Chapter 12 – Double Double Cross

Chapter 13 – Urban Warfare

Chapter 14 – Big Freezer

Chapter 15 – Used Tioga

Chapter 16 – Bar Trash

Chapter 17 – Uncle Jasper

Copyright - About the Author

Previously - in Bug Out! Part 10

The war came to a head. Our group destroyed the enemy base at Capitol Reef and captured Saladin. He revealed his plan to infect the country with small pox before dying of his burns. Frank published his apps far and wide. Militia traitors faded into the woodwork, removing their chips. Citizens and the armed forces defeated the Islamist fighters in Colorado and Utah. Islamists in lead-shielded vehicles attacked the Kansas RV Park. Howard and Scott staged a massacre at a family farm house, taking out a biker gang. They hid out in Scott’s mysterious house in Columbus, Ohio. Special Agent Keith investigated the massacre, using it to lure Malcolm and George into another confrontation. Jeb’s condition slowly improved after surgery. Gabe, Earl, and Hilda started the long trip home from the hospital, followed by the enemy, playing cat and mouse on the treacherous road.

Chapter 1 – Slow Speed Chase

Rosie jerked awake, the sound of gunfire jarring her. Multiple shots coming from the parking lot. She pulled her cellphone out of her purse and turned on the short range app. Nothing. Jeb was stirring. She buzzed the nurse.

The nurse rushed in as Jeb woke up. “What happened?” she asked, terror on her face.

“Jeb waking. That gunshot I hear?”

“Yes, in the parking lot. The army is there, and they have more help coming from town. Stay away from the windows.”

“Doctor said want to talk to Jeb when he wake.”

“I’ll tell him, Rosie. Thanks.” the nurse said, rushing out.

There were several more shots sounding closer, and then yelling in Arabic.

“What’s going on, honey?” Jeb asked softly. “I thought I heard gunfire.”

“Bad guys in parking lot, but army here.”

“Apps?”

“Nothing. Maybe they remove chips,” she said.

“Maybe they changed the code again,” Jeb said. “Wish we had an indicator.”

“Ouch! It just buzz. You right, they change codes. App just learn.”

The gunfire noise increased outside, along with the sounds of army men yelling instructions.

“They’ll get them,” Jeb said.

The doctor walked in, looking at his phone. “Jeb still awake?”

“Yes, doctor,” Rosie said. “What happen outside?”

“The army is out there taking care of it,” the doctor said. “Don’t worry. The apps weren’t working, but now they seem to be back.”

“The enemy changed the codes again,” Jeb said. “The app learns. How many around us?”

“I see only eight,” Rosie said. “No more in town.”

“Good,” Jeb said. “The army guys will handle that. Zoom out a little. Any larger groups on the way?”

“No, looking now. Clean.”

“They thought they could come get me,” Jeb said. “Which means they know where I am. We need to watch. Wonder how long the apps were down.”

“We can’t tell,” the doctor said. “Could have started when they got here. If that’s the case, about five minutes.”

“Each time they do that, it’ll get shorter,” Jeb said. “Should have already been less than five minutes.”

“Maybe it was,” the doctor said. “If they coordinated well, it could have been two or three minutes.”

“We need Frank to put the indicator on these,” Jeb said. “He said he’d work on it.”

“You want talk to Jeb, right, doctor?” Rosie said.

“Yeah,” he said. “Jeb, we plan to operate tomorrow, but I need to discuss it with you.”

“Go ahead, doc,” Jeb said.

“We could go in two different directions. We could leave you the way you are, and you’d have a 99% chance of survival, but you’d be in a wheelchair for the rest of your life.”

“I don’t think so,” Jeb said. “What’s the second choice?”

“We operate. Your survival rate on that is 70%. The chances you’ll be able to walk again after that are 60%.”

“Oh,” Jeb said, staring up at the ceiling. “What do you think, Rosie?”

“It up to you, honey. I’ll be with you no matter what.”

“I can’t imagine living the rest of my life in a chair, doc. Let’s go for the surgery.”

“Okay, Jeb. That would be my choice as well, but I can’t go forward without telling you both options.”

“When is it going to happen?” Jeb asked.

“First thing tomorrow morning, so get plenty of sleep tonight.”

“I’ll try, doc,” Jeb said. “Thanks.”

He left the room.

“You okay, sweetie?” he asked.

“I worried but okay,” she said. “I call Jasmine about attack and app.”

“Good idea,” Jeb said.

***

Frank was in the clubhouse, on the PC. “Hey, guys, we just had an app outage. Better let people know!”

“How long?” Jerry asked.

“Just over three minutes,” Frank said. “I thought it would be less. It’ll be less next time.”

“Oh, no. I see icons at the hospital,” Jasmine cried.

“How many?” Jerry asked.

“Eight. They’re in the parking lot, and they’re not moving.”

Just then her cellphone rang. She put it to her ear.

“Mom?”

“Yes. We okay.”

“What happened?”

“Bad guys changed codes, tried to attack. App came back up fast, army kill all bad guys in parking lot.”

“Oh, thank God.”

“Jeb go under knife tomorrow. He have 70% chance of survival, 60% chance he can walk after.”

“That’s scary.”

“I know. Keep us in thoughts. You see any other bad guys?”

“No, just those eight. This means they know where you are.”

“Yes. When we come back, need escort.”

“Yes, mom, I agree.”

“Well, I go now. We try to sleep before tomorrow. Take care.”

“You too, mom.”

Jasmine put her phone down. “That was a coordinated attack. They changed the codes right before they hit the place.”

“Nobody was keeping an eye out, or they’d have seen them coming before the apps went down,” Jerry said.

“That’s what I was thinking,” Jane said. “Something is a little strange here.”

“Hey, Frank, you don’t think they might be shielding themselves somehow, do you?” asked Jerry.

“Good question,” Frank said. “Eight guys? Could be feasible. We need to see their vehicle.”

There was commotion coming from the kitchen, and Charlie ran in, with Jackson, Dobie, and General Hogan following.

“Hey, guys, the hospital is under attack!” Charlie said.

“Just talked to Rosie,” Jerry said. “It’s over. The army took care of it.”

“Why didn’t we see them on the apps?” the general asked.

“Wait, guys,” Dobie said, looking at his phone. “It’s back. The bastards changed the codes again, I’ll bet.”

“Yep, the apps were down for about three minutes,” Frank said. “They coordinated that with the attack on the hospital.”

“We can’t raise Hilda, Gabe, or Earl,” Charlie said.

“Well, the short range app is back up,” Jerry said. “There might not be cell coverage where they are. I’m sure they’re trying to avoid the northern part of Colorado.”

Charlie was calming down. “Yeah, Hilda said they were taking the southern route through Utah, then route 50 into Pueblo.”

Jackson smiled. “Hell, we won’t be able to raise them on and off for a good part of the way,” he said. “It’s really sparse along there. They’re probably fine, Charlie.”

“I hope so, but I’m gonna worry until we can reach them.”

“You and me both,” General Hogan said. “Something isn’t adding up here. If the apps were only down for three minutes, why didn’t our guys see them driving up before that? They would have been close enough to set off the app alarms before that three minutes started.”

“That’s what we were talking about when you guys came in,” Jerry said. “They might have shielded themselves.”

“General, I’d call your men and make sure they find the vehicle those cretins came in,” Frank said. “They might have used lead or something else to hide themselves.”

“Good idea,” the general said. “I’ll call Major Harrison.”

“Meanwhile, take a look along route 50,” Charlie said. “With the detail app.”

“I’m doing that now,” Jane said. “Nothing, but remember we need cell coverage for this app. If there’s anybody close to them, the short range app should buzz.”

“How long will the next outage be if they change the codes again?” Charlie asked.

“I can only guestimate,” Frank said. “Probably a minute or less.”

“Wonder if they know their window is depleting each time they do this?” Jerry asked.

“That’s the 64,000 dollar question,” General Hogan said as he walked back over. “Major Harrison has the men looking for their vehicle now. He’ll get back to us.”

***

Howard followed Bailey through the back door of the old Columbus, Ohio house.

“Where’s the kitchen, Scotty?” she cried out.

“Go down the hallway, past the living room. It’s in the front left corner of the house. Fridge should be on.”

“Okay, thanks,” she said.

“Creepy hallway,” Howard said, looking around. It was dark, with old dingy flowered wallpaper, and it smelled musty. The hallway opened up into a large living room, complete with antique furniture. There were two archways, one on the left going into the kitchen, and one on the right going into a large formal dining room. He followed Bailey into the kitchen.

“Wow, look at that old fridge,” Howard said, laughing, as he opened the door. It was cold inside. Bailey set the bin on the floor in front of it, and they loaded the food.

“This is a great kitchen,” Bailey said, looking around. Everything was old fashioned, from the old tile counters to the painted wood cabinets with glass doors, and the large farmhouse kitchen table in the middle of the room.

Scott walked in. “Well, what do you think?”

“Where’d you get the old furniture?” Howard asked.

“Oh, I bought this house furnished,” he said, grinning. “From an estate. There was an old lady living here. She inherited the place from her parents. Same family owned this house since 1910.”

“Wow,” Bailey said. “I’m surprised the family didn’t take that stuff out of here.”

“The lady was a total hoarder,” Scott said. “Took me several weeks to clean the place out. I was surprised at how nice it was once I got all the crap out. There were only two relatives left, and neither of them had the time or the inclination to get involved with the mess. Worked out perfect for me.”

“I’m surprised this isn’t on the historic registry,” Howard said. “Or maybe it is. Can you remodel if you want to?”

“Yeah, but I won’t. This place has class.”

“Where’s Kerry?” Bailey asked.

“I tucked him in. He’s thrilled with his room.”

“I’ll bet,” Howard said. “Want a beer?”

“Sure,” Scott said. Howard took three out of the fridge.

“You want one, Bailey?” Howard asked.

“Sure,” she said, still looking around. “I’d love to live in a place like this.”

“And so you shall,” Scott said as he opened his beer.

“You giving up on the RV Park, Scotty?” Howard asked. “I hope so.”

“Oh, this will continue to be my home base,” Scott said. “There’s much better access to playmates around here. We’re only a couple blocks from the University.”

“So why go back to the RV Park?” Howard asked.

“My stuff is there. Important stuff. Clan history.”

“They’ve probably already found that,” Howard said. “The authorities may have it now.”

“Nah, we would’ve heard about it by now.”

“I can’t believe the family would just walk away from this place,” Bailey said. “It’s a jewel, really. It’s like a time capsule.”

“They had their reasons,” Scotty said, with a sly grin on his face.

“Okay, Scotty, let’s have it,” Howard said. “I know that look.”

Bailey looked at both of them, eyes intense. “This is an evil place, isn’t it, Scotty?”

“You ever heard of the Torso Murderer?” he asked.

“No way,” Howard said. “He was in Cleveland.”

“Which is an easy drive from here, on I-71,” Scott said. “This was the real home base.”

“The family knew?” Howard asked.

“The subject never came up, but neither of the surviving relatives would come into the house, and neither of them had talked to the old bird who lived here for years and years. They sounded scared to me.”

“Why didn’t you just tell us that in the first place, Scotty?” Howard asked. “You’re always messing with us. Always theatrics.”

“I wanted to see if you two felt the vibe. I do. It’s exhilarating.”

“I feel it,” Bailey said. “This place has evil dripping down the walls.”

“Wait until you guys see the basement. The door was nailed shut, down at the bottom of the stairwell. I don’t think anybody had been in it for decades before I cleared the stuff out of the stairwell and pried open that door. The old lady tossed anything she didn’t want down there. On purpose. Couldn’t even see the door at first. Probably didn’t help her avoid the vibe.”

“I’ve never heard of the Torso Murderer,” Bailey said. “How long ago was he active?”

“Mainly in the 1930s, but some think he was active into the early 1950s.”

“Yeah, some think he was actually responsible for the Black Dahlia murder,” Howard said. “I always thought the evidence was a little thin.”

Scott gave him another sly grin.

“No way,” Howard said. “What did you find down there?”

“We can go look in the morning,” Scott said. “You’re tired, remember?”

“Screw that,” Howard said, laughing. “You think I can sleep now?”

“Look at our girlfriend,” Scotty whispered, nodding over towards Bailey. She looked like she was about to swoon with excitement.

***

“What should I do?” Hilda asked. She had one eye in the rear view mirror, watching the van that was following them.

“Too many other cars on this road to blast them here,” Gabe said. “Let’s just drive casual and stay on the interstate. Better than getting off at this point.”

“Yeah, I agree,” Earl said. “I’m still not getting anything on the short range app. They’re close enough.”

“Okay, I’ll keep heading for Grand Junction,” Hilda said.

“Why don’t you pass me the rifle without the scope, just in case,” Gabe said.

Earl picked it up and handed it to him. “You got ammo?”

“They’re both fully loaded, and there are two boxes of ammo in the back. I’ve also got my pockets full, in the coat down there on the floor. Left them in there after our tour of Hilda’s park.”

“Good,” Earl said. “Then I say we relax and keep an eye out.”

They rode along silently for the next half hour, Hilda splitting her time between the road ahead of her and the rear view mirror. It was getting dark. Earl dozed off, but Gabe was still sitting sideways in the front seat, watching through the back window.

“We can stop in Grand Junction and switch if you want to,” Gabe said.

“I think that’s a bad idea,” Hilda said. “You can shoot a whole lot better than I can.”

“That’s a good point,” Gabe said. “This guy isn’t trying to hide himself. He’s changed lanes a couple of times, but he’s going at the same rate of speed as we are.”

“Maybe it’s just cruise control,” Hilda said. “I’ve been running that all along, set at 70 mph. My legs cramp up otherwise.”

“Yeah, if he’s set at the same speed, he’s going to stay back there.”

“I’ll bump it up to about 75,” Hilda said. She hit the gas and made the adjustment.

“He’s falling back, slowly,” Gabe said. “Maybe we’re worried about nothing.”

“How much further to Grand Junction?” Earl asked, sitting up, stretching.

“Ten minutes, give or take,” Gabe said.

Hilda’s phone rang. She answered.

“Hi, Charlie!”

“Oh, thank God,” he said. “You guys okay?”

“So far. We’re just outside of Grand Junction.”

“The hospital got attacked.”

“No! Everybody okay?”

“Yeah, the army detail killed all the bad guys. They coordinated a code change right before they attacked, which took the apps down for about three minutes.”

“Oh no, then they know Jeb is there.”

“Yep. We’re still trying to figure out how they got so close before the apps went down.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to tell you this, but we’ve seen a van behind us. It might be following us.”

“Crap. Have they made any moves?”

“No, not yet, and we have two rifles and a pistol with us. Earl’s got one in his lap, in the back seat, and Gabe’s up front with the other. I’m driving.”

“Good. You stopping in Grand Junction?”

“No, we were going to get on Route 50 there, and drive straight through.”

“That’s a really long drive.” Charlie said.

“We’ll take turns.”

“Is the van close enough for the short range app?”

“Should be, but we aren’t getting a hit, Charlie.”

“Okay. How’s your gas? Maybe it’d be good to gas up in Grand Junction. Lots of people around there.”

“Probably a good idea.”

“You do that. If that van shows up again on route 50, call me.”

“Okay, Charlie. Don’t worry, it’s probably nothing.”

“Hope so. Talk to you soon.” She set her phone back in her purse, beside her on the seat.

“Charlie?” Earl asked.

“Yeah. The hospital got attacked, but the army took care of it.”

“Gathered that from the conversation,” Gabe said. “We’re getting further ahead of that van. It’s probably not the enemy.”

“Yeah, looks like that to me, too,” Hilda said. “Charlie thinks we ought to gas up in Grand Junction since there’s so many people around there.”

“Sounds good,” Gabe said. “I could use a bathroom break, anyway.”

“Okay, there’s the first off-ramp. I’ll take it.”

She drove off the interstate, and cruised down the main road, choosing the third gas station she saw.

Gabe got out of the car and pumped gas while Earl got out and stretched his legs. Hilda went to the restroom. The area was well lit, with plenty of people around, but Gabe was nervous. He scanned for the van.

“Mind if I go hit the restroom?” Earl asked.

“Go ahead,” Gabe said. Earl walked away, passing by Hilda as she returned. She had a bag in her hands.

“More goodies?” Gabe asked.

“Soft drinks, cookies, and chips,” she said.

“Good, I could use a snack. I’ll hit the restroom when Earl gets back.”

“No sign of our friends?”

“Nope. Why don’t you get on your map application and find us a good way to get to Route 50. I’d rather do surface streets if we can get away with it.”

“Okay, on it,” Hilda said. “Want me to keep driving?”

“For a little while,” Gabe said. “You okay with that?”

“Sure, stretching my legs helped. Here comes Earl.”

“This thing just finished filling,” Gabe said, pulling the nozzle out and putting it back on the pump. He waited for his receipt.

“Good, all done,” Earl said.

“Yep. Be back in a minute,” Gabe said, walking off towards the restroom.

***

The general rushed back into the clubhouse. “Major Harrison found the vehicle.”

“How does he know it’s the right one?” Charlie asked.

“They came in a modified van,” he said. “The interior is shielded, from right behind the front seats to the back end. Lead plates.”

“No, seriously?” Jerry asked. “Son of a bitch.”

“Hilda and Gabe saw a van following them,” Charlie said. “I just got off the phone with her.”

“Uh oh,” Frank said. “If they’re being followed by a shielded van, they won’t know about it until it’s too late.”

“What about the driver?” Jackson asked.

“The two men up front had scars on their arms,” General Hogan said, “both of them got shot in the gun battle with the rest of the cretins.”

“I’d better call Hilda back,” Charlie said.

Chapter 2 – The Long Dark Road

Charlie called Hilda.

“Charlie, what’s up?”

“We found out how the cretins got near the hospital without being seen.”

“How?”

“They tricked out a van. The back had lead lining inside. The driver and front passenger both had their chips removed.”

“Clever. Wonder if the van that was following us is set up the same way?”

“Is it still behind you?”

“No, but we aren’t back on the highway yet. We’re taking surface streets to route 50.”

“You already hit the gas station, I take it.”

“Yeah. No problems there. No sign of the van. Lots of people out and about, too. Feels almost normal here.”

“Well, I just wanted to let you know that the apps might not protect you. Keep your eyes open.”

“Will do, honey. Don’t worry. I think if they were really after us, they would’ve shown up at the gas station.”

“Talk to you soon, Hilda.”

“Bye.”

“Sounds like everything is okay,” Frank said.

“I think we ought to get on the road and meet them,” Charlie said. “This makes me nervous as hell. If the cretins do make a move, we won’t be able to get there in time.”

“I’m with you,” Jackson said. “What do you want to take?”

“We can take my SUV,” Charlie said. “Maybe we should see if anybody else wants to go.”

“I’ll go,” Dobie said.

“Good,” Charlie said.

“I’m going to send my boys in the Humvee too, if you don’t mind,” General Hogan said. “This doesn’t smell right to me.”

Jerry started to say something, but Jasmine jumped in. “No, Jerry, don’t even say it. You’re staying here. Having my mom out there is bad enough.”

He looked at her and smiled. “Okay, I understand,” Jerry said. “I was actually thinking more of following and then going on towards the hospital.”

“It’s too early,” Jasmine said. “Jeb won’t be released for a few weeks. I’m thinking we ought to take the coach there when it gets closer, maybe with an escort.”

“That’s a better idea,” Frank said. “We don’t need everybody gone from here at the same time. We’re vulnerable, remember, and the enemy knows where we are. We’re already a little thin with Earl, Gabe, and Jeb gone, and now Charlie, Dobie, Jackson, and the privates are taking off. That’s enough.”

“Yes, that is enough,” general Hogan said.

“Okay, I get it,” Jerry said.

“I’ll go talk to my boys,” the General said. “When are you leaving?”

“We can be ready to go in half an hour,” Charlie said. Jackson and Dobie nodded in agreement.

“Okay, sounds good,” General Hogan said as he walked out the door.

“Charlie, why don’t you call Hilda and let her know you’re on the way?” Frank asked.

“I’ll do that from the road,” Charlie said. “So she can’t try to talk me out of it.”

“Think we should take Duchess?” Dobie asked.

“Couldn’t hurt,” Charlie said. “There’s room in the back.”

“All right, let’s load ‘em up,” Jackson said. The three of them left the clubhouse.

“You think this is a good idea?” Jane asked.

“Yeah,” Frank said. “Otherwise I don’t know how we can save them, if they are being followed.”

“What about the army?” Jasmine asked.

“We want them fighting the enemy while it’s still like shooting fish in a barrel,” Jerry said. “That window of opportunity is closing fast.”

“Wonder who’s running things for the enemy now,” Jane said.

“Good question,” Frank said. “The highest ranking people not in custody are the guys south of Big Bend.”

***

Scott led Howard and Bailey down the steps to the basement door. The walls around the stairs were scratched and pitted. The door had a new dead bolt on it, which stuck out like a sore thumb over the old-fashioned glass doorknob and key hole. The musty smell hit them in the face as Scott pushed the door open.

“This lightbulb is liable to go out any time,” Scott said as he pulled the chain to turn it on. “Looks like it’s from the 1930s.”

The room was bathed in eerie yellow light.

“What’s with the stuff on the back of the door?” Bailey asked, looking at the thick padding fastened on the inside.

“Poor man’s soundproofing,” Scott said. “Probably worked okay.”

“This looks like a 1940s photographic studio,” Howard said, looking at the light stands and the backdrops hanging on one wall, and the selection of props sitting on a table to the left. There was a changing screen on the right side of the far wall.

“Yes, this was the photo and screen test room,” Scott said. He turned on another bank of lights, and the room brightened up. It didn’t look dangerous. More photo and movie hardware came into view, including small boom microphones and an expensive looking movie camera.

The only thing that looks odd is the window up near the ceiling,” Bailey said. “More of that soundproofing stuff.”

“Makes sense, if you’re going to make sound movies down here,” Howard said, chuckling. “Perfect cover.”

“He’s got the same stuff around all of the windows down here,” Scott said. “That’s why it’s so stuffy. None of them open anymore.”

“Wonder what they did about that problem back in the day?” Howard asked. “Had to be a tip off to the victims.”

“Good question, Howie. I’m going to run some vent pipes up through the roof. Ought to hide the noise okay. Check out what’s back here.”

Scott went to a door on the far wall and opened it. There was a seal around this door made of rotten rubber. They walked through, and Scott pulled the light chain just inside. This was a much larger room, with the look of a dungeon.

“This is where the sausage was made,” Scott said, grinning.

“Nice cells,” Howard said, looking at the three cages along the wall. “Why so many, though? Didn’t this guy work alone?”

“Nobody really works alone, Howie,” Scott said. “You know that.”

“Look at that table!” Bailey said, rushing over to the middle of the room. There were tools hanging on one side by hooks. Bone saws and other orthopedic medical tools. The table top had a channel all the way around the edge, going to a spout that was over a dirty old tin bucket. “Did he cut people up down here?”

“Yes, that’s the way this guy worked,” Scott said.

“Is that what you do?” she asked, wide eyed again. “Cut them up down here?”

“No, that’s not the way we mark,” Scott said. “I’ve used it for torture a few times though.”

“This isn’t all that much different from what Chet set up back at the park,” Howard said as he looked around.

“Where do you think my dad got his ideas?” Scott asked.

“They knew each other?” Howard asked, a shocked look on his face. “He never told me about that.”

“Yeah, he was funny about this guy, for some reason,” Scott said. “He told me he had a friend who lived a couple blocks away from Ohio State, but that was all he’d say. You don’t know how many old houses for sale I’d looked at in this neighborhood before this one came on the market.”

“So you knew what you were looking for,” Howard said.

“Yep.”

“He didn’t pick victims from here, though,” Howard said. “From what I’ve read, they were mostly from Cleveland.”

“Yeah, he had this thing about not fouling the nest,” Scott said, laughing. “All kidding aside, it’s probably why he never got caught.”

“Good thing for you to remember, Scotty,” Howard said.

“How many girls have you killed down here?” Bailey asked.

“Only six so far,” Scott said. “I’ve been pretty careful to protect this location, especially since I’ve been working by myself. Doesn’t take much to lose control. One of the young lovelies I had here made me fall down those stairs. She almost got away.”

Howard saw something in the far corner of the room. “Is that a projector?” he asked.

“Yes, as a matter of fact. Nice library down here. It’s probably the most valuable thing I have.”

“Does it still work?” Bailey asked.

“Yes, although it’s getting hard to find those light bulbs now. I have about six left.”

“Looks like 35 mm,” Howard said, walking closer to it. “This thing would be worth money, working or not.”

“Probably,” Scotty said. “The hardware isn’t nearly as interesting as the media.”

“Do we get to see?” Bailey asked, a wicked grin on her face.

“Yeah, Scotty, is that your evidence about Black Dahlia?”

“It’s on the movie that’s loaded in the projector now,” Scott said.

“He didn’t kill her here, obviously,” Howard said.

“Of course not, Howie. It was on a road trip. Guess who went with him?”

“Chet, probably,” he said.

“Your dad was in on the Black Dahlia murder?” Bailey asked, fire in her eyes.

“Yes, and the father of another dear friend,” Scott said. “Prescott Beckler.”

“Never heard of him,” Howard said. “But then most people have never heard of Chet either. Jason wasn’t first generation, then?”

“Few of us are,” Scott said. “You can usually tell the first generation. They’re the ones with the dead families.” He snickered.

“I was first generation, and I didn’t kill my family, Scotty.”

“Perhaps,” Scott said. “How did you meet Chet again?”

“My dad and Chet used to hunt together,” Howard said. “But that doesn’t mean anything. He was no killer. Hell, a few of the people at your RV Park used to hunt with Chet. That’s how they knew about the place.”

“Okay, you have a point,” Scott said. “Shall we take a seat in the screening room?”

“Yes!” Bailey said, running over and sitting on one of the ancient folding chairs in front of a crude screen hanging on the wall. Howard and Scott looked at each other and grinned.

“Ready?” Scott asked.

Howard shook his head yes, looking mesmerized.

“C’mon, guys!” Bailey cried.

“It may terrify you, Bailey,” Scott said, a wild look in his eyes.

“I hope so,” she said.

Howard came over and sat next to Bailey as Scott turned on the projector. After it started, he rushed over to the door and pulled the chain, killing the lights. Then he sat on the other side of Bailey. The sound track from the movie started to snap, crackle, and pop as the picture came into view.

“Where is that?” Howard asked.

“Some crappy bungalow in Leimert Park.” Scott said.

“Isn’t that where the body was found?” Howard asked.

“Yeah, close by, in a vacant lot,” Scott said. “Wish I could find the house.”

“I always figured she was killed closer to the Biltmore, in downtown LA,” Howard said.

“That’s where my dad and his friends picked her up,” Scott said. “Look, there she is.”

They focused on the scratchy film in front of them, flickering in the darkness. The sound was hard to listen to because of the ambient noise on the sound track. The rustling of the clothes, footsteps, noises outside.

“Why aren’t we doing this at the studio?” asked the brown-haired woman in a Boston accent. She looked around nervously as she stood in front of the white screen, squinting in the bright lights.

“They’re overflowed,” said a man, out of view of the camera. “They hired us to scour the area for new starlets. If you interest us, you’ll be given a formal screen test at the studio, so it’s up to you to impress us.”

“I’ve heard that before,” she said. “What do you want me to do?”

“First of all, say your name.”

“Elizabeth Short,” she said, forcing a smile, but still looking around warily.

“How long have you been in the area?”

“Not long.”

“Is that a Boston accent I hear?” asked one of the men off-camera.

“You can still hear it?” she asked. “I was from there originally, but spent a lot of my early years in Florida.”

“When did you become an idiot?” asked one of the men.

She looked at him, the corners of her mouth dropping in anger. “Hey, you sap, what gives?”

“You let three strange men take you to a deserted house on the promise of a screen test. Smart women don’t do that.”

She started walking away, a terrified look on her face. The camera followed her. One of the men got into camera range, hitting her in the head twice with a small club, knocking her out before she could even scream. “Chet, get your lazy ass over here and help me tie her hands and feet.”

“There’s dear old dad,” Scott said proudly.

“Who’s the first guy?” Howard asked.

“Prescott Beckler,” Scott said. “Never met him. He disappeared before I was born.”

“How about the Torso Killer? He ever get into the film?” asked Howard.

“Yeah, later,” Scott said. He got up and pulled the light chain again, then flipped off the projector.

“We don’t get to watch the rest?” Bailey asked.

“Tomorrow. They had her for several days and filmed a lot of it. See that stack of film cans there?” He pointed to a stack of round cans, sitting on the floor in the corner.

“Wow, that’s a lot of footage,” Howard said.

“Yeah, hours and hours,” Scott said. “It’s getting late. We need our beauty sleep.”

“What are all those other film cans?” Bailey asked, pointing to a huge pile about five feet away from the Black Dahlia cans.

“I’ve only watched about five of them so far,” Scott said. “They were all shot in that studio up front, and in here. Grisly stuff. We’ll watch some of those tomorrow, too.”

“Well, I guess I am getting a little tired,” Howard said, standing. He stretched and yawned. “Lot of driving today.”

“I figured,” Scott said. “I’m beat too, and I didn’t drive at all. Let’s go upstairs.”

“Who am I sleeping with tonight?” Bailey asked.

“Whoever you want to,” Scott said. “Or alone.”

“After watching this, it won’t be alone.”

***

“Route 50 should be down this road and to the left,” Hilda said, making the right turn onto the small street. “Side street. Dammit, it’s dark back here. Makes me nervous.”

“I’ve got my eyes peeled,” Gabe said.

“Me too,” Earl said. “Is that the on-ramp coming up?”

“Yes,” Hilda said, eyes darting around in every direction as she drove. She made the left turn onto the highway and sped up, getting to 65 in short order, calming down.

“That was a creepy road,” Gabe said.

“This road isn’t much better,” Hilda said. “Where is everybody?”

“Oh, we’ll see more people,” Earl said. “This is probably the only safe road through Colorado right now.”

“You don’t think Denver is safe, now that the army has finally kicked the enemy out of there?” Hilda asked.

“I still see all kinds of icons in the Denver area,” Gabe said. “I know the largest clump is captured, but I’ll bet there are still bad guys on the loose.”

“Here comes somebody behind us,” Earl said.

“Van?” Hilda asked, her voice wavering as she looked in the rear view mirror.

“Nah, semi-truck,” Earl said. “There’s a sedan coming alongside them in the left lane, too. We aren’t alone.”

Hilda’s phone rang, startling her. She rooted around in her purse, finally finding it by touch, and answered it.

“Hilda?”

“Hi, Charlie. You sound like you’re in a car.”

“Yeah, we decided to head in your direction and meet up with you guys, just in case.”

“I’m glad, actually,” Hilda said. “It’s creepy out here.”

“Any sign of that van, sweetie?”

“Not so far. There are other people on this road, but not enough to make me feel comfortable.”

“Well, don’t you worry. We’ll be there soon. We’re in my SUV, and the army Humvee is with us.”

“The privates are coming? Who’s watching the park?”

“Everybody who’s left there. Dobie and Jackson are with me. There’s still plenty of people at the park.”

“Good. Thanks honey.”

“Don’t mention it. Talk to you soon.”

Hilda put her phone back.

“Who’s coming to meet us?” Earl asked.

“Charlie, Jackson, and Dobie,” Hilda said. “Plus the privates, in the Humvee.”

“Good,” Gabe said. “That’ll make things a little easier. Might even allow us to lay over tonight if we can’t finish the drive in one chunk.”

“We’re going to lose cell service on and off,” Earl said. “We might want to contact them every ten or fifteen minutes, to keep track of where they are. Sometimes we can’t see the westbound lanes from this side.”

“Good idea,” Gabe said. “I’ll do that. I’ve got the numbers.”

“Me too,” Earl said. “In fact, I’m going to call Jackson right now.”

Earl tapped the contact on his phone and put it to his ear.

“Earl! How are you, man?”

“Good, Jackson. Great to hear your voice.”

“What’s up?”

“We’re thinking we ought to make contact every ten or fifteen minutes, as long as we can. We’re going to run into spotty cell coverage, and we can’t always see the westbound lanes from here. We’re liable to pass each other by.”

“Damn good idea, Earl. Let’s do that.”

“Where are you guys now?”

“We’re still in Kansas, but we’ll be getting to the border pretty soon.”

“Maybe we can meet in Salida. That’s about half way between us.”

“Okay, Earl, I’ll keep that in mind if we get disconnected.”

“Sounds great.”

“Later, Jackson.”

“Yeah, later.”

Earl put his phone back in his pocket and noted the time.

“He good with it?” Gabe asked.

“Yeah,” Earl said. “A few more lights coming behind us.”

“I see them,” Hilda said. “None of them look like the van.”

“Good,” Gabe said.

“You think it was a good idea sending seven men after us?” Hilda said. “What if the park gets hit?”

“We’ve still got a lot of people there,” Earl said. “Kurt, Terry, Frank, Jerry, and the Sheriff.”

“Don’t forget George and Malcolm,” Gabe said.

“Heidi, Jane, and Jasmine, too,” Hilda said. “All of them have proved themselves. I guess we’re all right.”

“More semi-trucks,” Earl said. “Lots of commerce on this road.”

“Well, like you said, it’s the only good way to avoid Denver,” Gabe said.

“Oh, no, look,” Hilda said, a tremor in her voice. “The van. Coming quickly.”

“Crap,” Earl said. “Looks like them alright. Gabe, call Jackson, while I get the rifle ready.”

“Think they’d try anything with all this other traffic around?” Hilda asked.

“Are we really sure it’s them?” Gabe asked. “They sold a million of those old Ford vans.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket.

“It’s hanging back now, about the same distance as it was before,” Hilda said. “This isn’t good.”

“Son of a bitch, I got no bars,” Gabe said.

Chapter 3 – Open Road

Charlie was behind the wheel of the SUV. Jackson was in the passenger seat, and Dobie was in the back seat, petting Duchess, who was sitting up in the back, scanning the road in all directions.

“Here comes the border,” Charlie said.

“Already?” Dobie asked.

“I’ve been doing about 90,” Charlie said, chuckling. “Needed to blow the carbon out of this thing anyway.”

“Welcome to Colorado,” Jackson said as they flew by the border marker.

“Uh oh,” Charlie said.

“What?” Dobie asked.

“Something missing over on the right.”

“Crap, there’s no eastbound roadblock,” Jackson said. “Wonder when that came down?”

“Probably when the bulk of the enemy in Denver got captured or killed,” Dobie said.

“I should call home,” Jackson said.

“Yeah, you do that,” Charlie said. Jackson pulled his phone out of his pocket and tapped a contact.

“Frank?”

“Yeah, this Jackson?”

“Yeah. We saw something you guys need to know about. Might want to talk to the general about it.”

“What’s that?”

“The roadblock on the eastbound side of route 40 is gone.”

“Shit, really?”

“Yep.”

“Okay, I’ll go chat with him.”

“Thanks, Frank.” Jackson took his phone away from his ear.

“He sound surprised?” Charlie asked.

“Surprised and worried,” Jackson said. “He’s gonna talk to General Hogan.”

“I’ll try Earl again,” Jackson said. He tapped his contact and held the phone to his ear for a few moments. “Earl, we just passed the border. Be advised that there is no longer a border stop on the eastbound side of route 40. Talk to you soon.”

“That sounded like a message,” Charlie said.

“They’re in a dark zone,” Jackson said. “Went straight to voice mail.”

“How come you didn’t leave the time?” he asked.

“I know why,” Dobie said. “When Earl gets the message, he’ll get the timestamp info.”

“Ah, that’s right,” Charlie said. “Chalk that up to being the old guy.”

“Looks pretty flat and straight ahead,” Jackson said.

“Yeah, I’ll keep it up at 90 as long as I can,” Charlie said, eyes bearing down on the road.

***

Frank put his phone in his pocket, a concerned expression on his face.

“What?” Jerry asked. “Trouble on the road already?”

“Yeah, the roadblock on eastbound 40 is gone,” Frank said. “Let’s go chat with the general.”

“He’s in the lounge, I think,” Jerry said. Jane and Jasmine looked at each other, worried.

“You two want to come?” Jerry asked.

“I think I’d rather keep scanning,” Jane said.

“Me too,” Jasmine said.

“Okay, be back in a few minutes,” Frank said. He and Jerry went into the kitchen and down through the trap door.

General Hogan was sitting on the couch, reading.

“Hey, general,” Frank said. He looked up from his book. “What are you reading?”

“Hemingway,” he said. “What’s up?”

“We just heard from Jackson. The roadblock on the east bound side of route 40 is gone.”

“Already? Shit. Knew it was coming, but there’s still a lot of stragglers.”

“You think it’s too early?” Jerry asked.

“Yeah,” he said. “We might want to have somebody watching the cameras and monitoring the audio dishes, just in case.”

“Maybe we ought to put folks on duty,” Jerry said.

“On the roofs?” Frank asked.

“Yeah,” Jerry said. “Think it’s too late to call a meeting?”

“In this case, no,” Frank said. “We’re stretched a little too thin.”

“Okay, let’s do it, then. In the clubhouse?” General Hogan asked.

“Yeah,” Frank said. “Let’s go round people up. Hopefully they aren’t asleep yet.”

Jerry and Frank went up the stairs to the barn trap door, and into the coach section, knocking on doors and telling people about the meeting. People started arriving in the clubhouse before they got back.

Jane and Jasmine turned as they heard people coming in.

“What’s going on?” Jane asked.

“Jerry and Frank just called a meeting,” Mary said, looking sleepy as she walked in with Kurt.

General Hogan appeared in the door of the kitchen. “Wow, that was fast.”

“Yeah, we’re used to this,” Kurt said, chuckling. “Something wrong on the road?”

“The roadblock is gone on route 40,” General Hogan said. “We figured we’d better plan some strategy, and start watching.”

“No, really?” Mary asked.

“Afraid so,” he replied.

The Sheriff, Terry, Trish, and Jake came in as a group, followed by Malcolm, George, and Heidi. Jerry and Frank came in last.

“Looks like everybody’s here,” Kurt said.

“Smaller group than I’m used to,” the Sheriff said, looking around, his brow furrowed. “Hope we didn’t set ourselves up for disaster by letting so many people take off at once.”

“We’ve still got considerable capability,” General Hogan said.

Frank went to the front of the room. “Okay, you already know what happened. Jackson called and let me know that the eastbound roadblock on route 40 is gone. That means anybody could just roll into Kansas now.”

“We also know that the enemy has been traveling in shielded vans,” Jerry said. “They came in one when they attempted to attack the hospital that Jeb and Rosie are at.”

Trish looked up at Terry, terror in her eyes. He petted her head. “Don’t worry, sweetie,” he said.

“We need to brainstorm this,” Malcolm said. “Otherwise we’ll get into a tizzy. It might not be as bad as we think.”

“That’s true,” George said. “Remember, they can’t hide a large number of fighters from us. At least not a large enough number to take this place.”

“Ideas?” Jerry asked.

“Man that 50 cal up on the roof of the barn,” Kurt said. “Any van or group of vans coming down the road is gonna have a bad day.”

“Yeah, and put snipers with hunting rifles on the lower roofs to clean up the mess,” Terry said.

“I think that’s prudent,” General Hogan said.

“You know, they could shield the back of a semi,” Kurt said. “They could fit 40 to 50 men in a rig that size.”

Jane got a worried look on her face. “Could we handle that many enemy fighters?”

“If we see them far enough out, yes,” George said. “One thing to remember. There’s no reason for a vehicle like that to be on any of the roads we can see from the roof of the barn. It will make the attack decision easy. We see it coming, we take it out. I suggest we have mortars ready too, just in case. It’ll be harder to shoot into the back of a truck that’s shielded with lead.”

“What if we spiked all the incoming roads?” Jake asked. “I know how.”

“Too much flat dirt on either side,” the Sheriff said. “That would’ve worked well at Gabe’s place though.”

“How many different routes are there to the park?” General Hogan asked.

“On that,” Jane said, bringing up Google Earth on her laptop.

“You’re thinking we should follow them out to the source road and put a sentry or two there for early warning?” asked Kurt.

“Yeah,” General Hogan said. “If there’s ten ways to come in here, we can’t do it, though.”

“Forget it, guys,” Jane said. “We could have enemy fighters coming in from too many directions unless some of the roads are still bottled up. They could come in via I-70, route 40, route 50, or route 96. Even way south on route 160 is a possibility. All they have to do is get to that north-south road, route 27, which they all run into.”

“They have to come through Sharon Springs to get here,” Kurt said.

“Yeah, but there’s a lot traffic around there,” the Sheriff said.

“There’s still only one way to get on the roads to us, though,” Kurt said. “It’s the same road we came on, back behind Howard’s truck stop. It’s a pinch point.”

“You know the roads pretty well, don’t you, Kurt?” Malcolm asked.

“Yeah, I used to visit Chet every so often,” he said, brow furrowing. “Why?”

“Perhaps you and I ought to take cruise over there and watch the pinch point,” Malcolm said.

“That would take two of our best snipers off line,” General Hogan said.

“You’ll still have enough, and we could come up from behind if anything happens here,” Malcolm said. “We’ll hear it. Nothing like a little cross-fire.”

“If Kurt goes, I’m going too,” Mary said.

“Can you shoot?” Malcolm asked.

“No,” she said.

“Honey, think about this for a minute,” Kurt said. “We’re liable to have wounded people coming in. What are we gonna do if we lose you?”

“Why does it have to be you?” she asked.

“Because I know the town, and the roads,” Kurt said. “If Charlie was here, he could probably get by, too. Maybe even Hilda. They’re both gone.”

“Alright, alright,” Mary said. “Don’t you dare get killed.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” he said.

“What else?” Jerry said.

“What do we already have set up?” General Hogan asked.

“Well, the M107 is already on the roof of the barn,” George said. “With ammo, ready to go. We need somebody not afraid of heights to be up there with me, and a couple good hunting rifles.”

“I can join you up there,” Terry said. He glanced down at Trish. She nodded slowly back at him, worried but resigned.

“So can I,” Heidi said. “I even know how to fire the beast, remember?” George looked at her, and pulled her close, smiling.

“We set up the lower roofs already,” Kurt said. “Did it when the Capitol Reef attack was happening. All we have to do is send men up there with rifles. We could be ready in less than two minutes.”

“The mortars are set up too,” Jake said. “I helped with that, and got training on them from Jackson.”

“Okay, then I suggest that we have somebody on the roof of the barn starting now,” General Hogan said.

“Everybody agree?” Frank asked.

Nobody objected.

“All right, let’s go,” Jerry said.

***

Hilda was still driving, the road getting darker, switchbacks just starting up. They were off the wider part of the road now.

“You okay?” Gabe asked. “Want me to take over?”

“We can’t stop now,” she said, looking in her rear-view mirror.

“It’s still hanging back,” Earl said. “You think they’re wanting to follow us back?”

“Why would they?” Gabe asked. “They already know where the RV Park is. I think they’ll make a move before that.”

“What’s the next town?” Hilda asked.

“Should be Cimarron,” Gabe said. “We’ll get cell coverage back there, I suspect.”

Earl was looking at his phone. “I got a voice mail somewhere along the line. Coverage must be in and out.” He pushed the play button and put the phone to his ear. His expression changed, a worried look washing over him.

“Uh oh, what?” Gabe asked.

“Charlie’s SUV just passed into Colorado a little while ago,” Earl said. “The roadblock on eastbound 40 is gone.”

“Son of a bitch,” Gabe said. “I hope the guys at home are getting ready.”

“Me too,” Hilda said. “Starting to get a little more curvy now. I can’t see the van most of the time.”

“Don’t go too fast,” Gabe said. “Some of these curves are gonna be tight, and this isn’t a sports car.”

“I know,” Hilda said. “Maybe if it’s safe to stop in Cimarron we can switch.”

“Okay with me,” Gabe said.

“We’re getting closer now,” Earl said. “I’ve got bars. Looking at GPS now.”

“Here’s a straight section,” Gabe said. He turned to look behind them. The van showed up, but it took longer than he expected.

“Why are they staying back so far?” Hilda asked.

“Hope we don’t run into another van in front of us,” Earl said. “Could be a trap they’re trying to run us into. Cimarron is coming up pretty quick. We’ll be there in less than ten minutes. I’m calling Jackson.” He put the phone to his ear.

“Jackson?”

“Oh, good, Earl, you’re back in range. Where you guys at?”

“About ten minutes outside of Cimarron. The van is behind us, but keeping its distance.”

“Uh oh. We’re on route 50 now, almost to La Junta. We’ve been blasting along at about 90 most of the way. Doesn’t look like the road is going to get twisty until after Pueblo.”

“Maybe we should meet there, Jackson.”

“Nah, we’ll get there too far ahead of you guys.”

“Okay. We’re going to stop in Cimarron for a second, so Gabe can get back behind the wheel.”

“Good. Watch out, that might be where the bad guys make their move.”

“Could be, Jackson. Hope they aren’t following us into a trap somewhere along the line.”

“I know, me too. You guys keep your eyes open. We’ll see you soon.” Earl put his phone away.

“They’re cranking,” Earl said. “Going about 90 most of the way. They’re already at La Junta.”

“Hell, that’s not too far from Pueblo,” Gabe said. “There’s the turnoff for Cimarron.”

“I’m taking it,” Hilda said, steering the vehicle down the long ramp. The surface streets were quiet. “Wish there were more people around.”

“We getting gas?” Earl asked.

“Shouldn’t need it yet,” Gabe said. “Good place to trade off though. I don’t see the van behind us.”

“This is the only off-ramp, right?” Hilda asked.

“Yeah,” Earl said. “We ought to lay in wait for them. They’ve got no place to hide on this road.”

“Exactly what I’m thinking,” Hilda said. “Let’s get on the side street over there. It’s dark. They won’t see us before we see them.”

“Good idea,” Gabe said. “Pull down there a ways and then make a U-turn. I want us pointing back at the road.”

“Got it,” Hilda said, making the turn. There was a driveway she could K-turn in about a block down. She did that while Earl kept his eyes peeled at the highway. They pulled up and parked about thirty yards back.

“Let’s switch quick,” Gabe said. “Close the door when you get out. We don’t need the dome light shining the whole time.”

“It will anyway,” Earl said. “All newer cars do that.”

They switched, and waited for the auto-dimmer to shut down the dome light, holding their breaths.

“Finally,” Hilda said in the darkness. “We didn’t miss them, I hope.”

“No, I’ve had an eye on the road the entire time. If there’s no other way down here, we’re good.”

“Let’s just relax for a few minutes,” Gabe said.

The sat silently, watching the road. Gabe adjusted the seat and the mirrors.

“This town must roll up the sidewalks at about eight pm,” Earl said. “Deadsville.”

“I’ll bet it’s nice to visit, though,” Hilda said, looking out the passenger side window. “They kept a lot of old buildings from the wild west days down there.”

“I’d look, but I think I need to watch the road on this side,” Gabe said, chuckling.

They sat silently for another fifteen minutes.

“Well, that long enough?” Gabe asked.

“Yeah,” Earl said. “Need gas?”

“Might as well top off,” he said. “I need a bathroom break, too.”

Gabe fired up the SUV and made a right turn, driving down to the gas station. It was the only lighted building he saw. He pulled in and got out to gas up, eyes scanning the area, as Jackson and Hilda hurried to the store.

“Evening, folks,” said the clerk behind the counter. He was in his late teens, with straight black hair tied in a ponytail behind his head.

“Evening,” Earl said. “Any other ways into town other than this road?”

“Nope, this is it,” he said. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Earl said. “Pretty dead around here.”

“Usually is unless one of the festivals is going. Nice quiet place to live.”

“It’s beautiful here,” Hilda said. “You guys have a restroom?”

“Yeah, back there,” he said, pointing. “Help yourself.”

Hilda went back. Earl looked out the front window. “Those real buildings down there?”

“Yep, although some are from the early 1900s, not the 1800s. Seems they saw the value of that style even then.”

“I’ll bet the movie helped,” Earl said. “And the novel. Edna Ferber, right?”

The clerk laughed. “No, no, you’re confusing this with Cimarron County in Oklahoma,” he said. “That story was about the land rush. This was just a cattle stop.”

“Oh,” Earl said, sheepish grin on his face.

Hilda walked out towards the front of the store.

“My turn, I guess,” Earl said.

“I’ll go back outside,” Hilda said as she passed him.

“Have a nice trip,” the clerk said, smiling.

Earl joined Hilda and Gabe in a few moments.

“Be right back,” Gabe said, as he trotted to the store.

“Think we’re gonna make it?” Hilda asked.

“Yeah, probably,” Earl said.

“I have a bad feeling,” she said, looking down the road.

***

George sat up on the roof of the barn with Heidi, the soft breeze blowing through their hair. They heard rustling at the trap door, and turned to see Terry climb up with two rifles. Then he turned and helped Trish onto the roof. She looked nervous.

“Scared of heights?” Heidi asked.

“A little,” Trish said. “But I settle down pretty quickly. Glad we don’t have to be by the edge.”

“See anything?” Terry asked.

“Not yet,” George said.

“Wish we would’ve had some say-so about that road block,” Trish said.

“We’re small potatoes,” George said. “They had the roadblocks up to keep the enemy out of the breadbasket. They weren’t worried about small groups like us.”

“That’s kinda what I figured,” Terry said.

“So how’s married life treating you two?” Heidi asked, smiling.

“I love it,” Trish said. “I wish things would settle down, so we could start a family.”

“Seriously,” Terry said, smiling.

“You sound pretty anxious,” Heidi said.

“We both are,” Trish said. “You two aren’t married, are you?”

“No,” Heidi said. “We’ve been together for quite a while though.”

“How long?” Trish asked.

“Over seven years,” she said, a faraway look in her eye.

“Can’t get George here to settle down, eh,” Trish said, getting an embarrassed look after she said it. “Sorry, that isn’t my business.”

“It’s not him,” Heidi said. “It’s me. Long story. Maybe someday. We do love each other.”

“Look!” George said, pointing.

“Crap, that’s a semi-truck,” Terry said. “Lay down and get ready to fire.”

“Okay,” Trish said, laying down with the rifle in front of her.

“I’m texting Jerry,” Terry said.

“Good,” George said. He laid down behind the M107 and took off the front and rear lens caps, then put is eye up to it, his finger on the trigger. Heidi and Terry both got in position with their hunting rifles.

Chapter 4 – Curves and Guardrails

“Don’t fire yet,” George said, watching the semi-truck slowly coming up the small road, eye above the scope of the M107.

“Why not?” Heidi asked, eye at her scope.

“I want them close enough so you guys can hit them,” George said. “Another hundred yards ought to do it.”

“Okay,” Heidi said.

“Jerry just texted me back,” Terry said. “He and Jake are at the mortar. Everybody else is in position too.”

“Tell them to set the mortars for about 350 yards and wait for us to start shooting,” George said.

Terry looked at his phone, texting with one hand while he kept his other hand on the rifle. “Done.”

“Just another second,” George said. Everybody got ready, and then he pulled the trigger, the M107 spewing fire out the barrel as the first round raced through. George saw the driver’s head explode in the cab. He fired again and got the passenger, and then opened up on the back of the truck, hitting it with about five rounds in rapid succession. Everybody’s phones buzzed as the short range app picked up the signal.

“Got some of the lead knocked loose,” Terry said, laughing. He pulled his phone out. “Crap, I see thirty hits.”

George kept shooting, concentrating on the places where he hit before.

“So we have 28 to deal with,” Heidi said. “Watch the back of the truck.”

“Wish we could see it,” Trish said. “Oh, look! Somebody running away from the back, trying to make that stand of trees.”

“Got him,” Terry said, firing, sending the running man to the ground.

“There’s another one,” Trish said, as she fired, hitting the man square in the back.

“Nice shooting, honey,” Terry said. Then a round whizzed by their heads.

“Watch yourselves,” George shouted. He laid down several more rounds with the .50 call. “Where’s that mortar?”

Just when he said that, there was a pop, then an explosion, but it was short of the target.

“Tell them about seventy more yards, a little to the left,” George shouted.

“Done,” Terry said. There was another pop, and an explosion just past the truck. Several men ran in front of the truck, and they all got hit by Terry, Heidi, and Trish, as George continued to pour fire into the back end of the semi with the big .50 cal.

“Tell them to come in twenty yards,” George shouted as he fired. Terry took a break from his rifle and sent the text. Then there was another pop, and a big explosion in the parking lot in front of the park.

“Shit, they have a mortar set up behind that truck!” Heidi cried.

“Hit them with the mortar again,” George shouted.

***

Kurt and Malcolm were in town, looking at the truck stop. “It’s open,” Kurt said. “Howard’s back?”

“Maybe,” Malcolm said. “Let’s go by the front and check. We can see the road from the parking spaces there.”

“Okay,” Kurt said. They pulled into a parking space at the rear side of the building.

“You go check it out. I’ll stay here and watch the road,” Malcolm said.

“Yeah,” Kurt said. He left the jeep and rushed around the front of the building, going in the front door. There was a woman at the counter, about 45 years old, in a tight tank top and jeans, tattoos creeping up her neck on both sides.

“Where’s Howard?” Kurt asked, walking up.

“He’s on vacation,” she said. “Who wants to know?”

“I’m Kurt. Old friend of his.”

“Oh, you with that party out at the old RV Park?”

“Yeah,” Kurt said. “When do you expect him back?”

“Not sure,” she said. “You look familiar.”

“So do you,” Kurt said. “I used to come here to go hunting with Chet, years ago.”

“Oh, that’s probably it,” she said, smiling. “I used to hang around with Scotty when I was young and stupid. Howard too. I’m Sherry.”

“Oh, yeah,” Kurt said. “I remember now. Surprised I didn’t see you here before.”

“Oh, I don’t actually work here,” she said. “I’m just helping Howard out in a pinch. He planned to be back earlier. Got caught east of big muddy after the nuke attack.”

“Oh,” Kurt said. They were startled by the muffled sound of gunfire. Kurt got a scared look on his face. “Son of a bitch.”

“What’s that?” Sherry asked, eyes wide.

“Gunfire. See you later,” he said as he ran back to the jeep. Malcolm already had it running. Kurt jumped into the passenger seat and turned around to grab a rifle. “Haul ass.”

“Yeah,” Malcolm said, driving off the lot, heading for the road out of town.

There were a bunch more loud gunshots in rapid succession. “That’s George,” Kurt said. “He’s got the .50 cal opened up.”

There was a loud explosion, and they could see the sky light up toward the park as they raced down the thin country road.

“Mortar,” Malcolm shouted, trying to speed up. Another explosion lit up the sky.

“Look,” Kurt said. “Semi-truck up ahead, looks like about half a mile.”

“Glad it’s so flat here.”

There was a lot more gunfire, a mixture of the .50 cal and hunting rifles.

“You got any binoculars?” Kurt asked.

“Yeah, glove box,” Malcolm said. “Hard to use at night though.”

Kurt pulled them out as the jeep bounced and lurched, going too fast on the road. He tried to hold them up to his eyes.

“Crap, they have a mortar pointing at the park. Our folks can’t see it. It’s behind the truck.”

Then there was a flash, and the parking lot of the RV Park burst into flames.

“We close enough yet?” Malcolm said.

“Another couple hundred yards, and we can fire on them. There’s a stand of trees there. I’ll make for that.”

The sound of the .50 call was wailing now, George firing as fast as he could pull the trigger, the hunting rifle shots mixed in. There was another mortar blast, and the truck was airborne, the cab in flames.

“Bingo,” Malcolm said as he pulled up behind the trees.

“That’s not enough, the trailer of that semi is still blocking the mortar,” Kurt yelled as he jumped out with his rifle. Malcolm followed him, and they both got a bead on the men manning the mortar, as they got ready to fire again. Both men started shooting, hitting the enemy fighters, knocking them down.

“Nice shooting,” Malcolm said.

“You too,” Kurt shouted. “Look, more coming out the back of the truck. Get ‘em!”

They opened up again, hitting the three men who were running towards the mortar. Then there was a pop from a mortar again, and the semi-trailer was hit. It lifted off the round and rolled over in flames, burning men struggling to get out and run. There was nowhere for them to hide now, as Kurt and Malcolm shot at them from their side, and George and the others rained lead on them from the RV Park.

“That got them,” Kurt shouted.

“Just got a text,” Malcolm said. He pulled his phone out as Kurt got ready to walk over to the truck. “Don’t go over there. They’re going to hit the area with Willie Pete, to kill off any stragglers.”

“Oh,” Kurt said, getting back down. “Good idea.”

There was a bright flash that engulfed the entire area, blowing the fuel tank on the cab of the rig, thick black smoke rising into the night air. Malcolm and Kurt got hit with a blast of hot air rushing around them.

“Wow,” Malcolm said. “Scratch one batch of cretins.”

“Good thing we left,” Kurt said. “Without us back here, they would have done real damage with their mortar.”

“No shit,” Malcolm said. “This is liable to keep happening. We’re gonna to have to talk strategy when we get back.”

“We might have to leave this area,” Kurt said.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “Hate to do that, but we might not have a choice.”

“It’ll mess up your study of the dungeon.”

“That’s low priority, my friend,” Malcolm said. “Didn’t expect to find something more important, but here we are.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Kurt said, smiling at him. “We’d probably be dead now if you and George didn’t show up.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Malcolm said. “You guys are pretty capable on your own, you know.”

“Should we go back to the park?”

“Maybe we should go back to the pinch point and watch,” Malcolm said. “I’ll send a text and ask what they want us to do.”

“Okay,” Kurt said, getting to his feet as Malcolm looked at his phone.

“Yeah, they want us to watch for a little while, if you don’t mind,” Malcolm said.

“Fine by me.” They got into the jeep and headed back to town.

“Hey, by the way, who was running the store? It wasn’t Howard, was it?” Malcolm asked.

“No, it was a woman named Sherry,” he said. “I remembered her after we talked for a minute. She used to hang around with Scotty and Howard.”

“Really?” Malcolm asked. “I think I might know who that is. It’s possible she might be on our home video. We’ve only seen the really old stuff so far.”

“You need a VCR, I’ll bet.”

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “Know anybody who’s got one?”

“Yeah, me,” Kurt said. “Don’t know if it still works. We’ll check it out.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Malcolm said. “Where should I stop?”

“About a block behind the truck stop,” Kurt said.

They got to the spot in minutes. Malcolm backed off the road, facing out, and the two men settled in to watch.

***

Howard woke when he felt Bailey’s naked body rolling away from him. He threw back the sheets, sweating. The sun was coming up, a dull light coming in through the dirty window of his bedroom. There was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” Howard said.

“Hey, Howie, can I go find some breakfast?” Kerry asked, standing in the open door. Then he noticed Bailey’s form under the sheet, her hair spilled over the pillow. “Is she yours?”

“No, Kerry, she’s ours,” Howard said, smiling. “I’ll go downstairs with you and we’ll get breakfast going, okay? Give me a minute.”

“Okay, Howie,” Kerry said. He headed downstairs as Howard stood up and put his clothes on.

Bailey woke up and stretched. “What time is it?”

“Early,” he said. “Kerry wants breakfast, so I thought I’d go downstairs and help him.”

“You guys are real sweet to him,” Bailey said, throwing back the covers. She grinned at him when she saw his eyes traveling up and down her body. “You were beside yourself last night.”

“Didn’t expect you to be in here,” Howard said as he continued to get dressed.

“I wore Scotty out, so I snuck in here,” she giggled. “Hope you didn’t mind.”

“Did it seem like I minded?”

“No, as a matter of fact,” she said, grinning. “I’ll go downstairs with you, but I have to go into Scotty’s room and get my clothes.”

“Okay, see you down there,” Howard said. He went downstairs to the kitchen. “See anything you want, Kerry?”

“How about pancakes?” he asked. “We have a new box of mix, and some milk.”

“There are eggs, too, that I brought in from the motor home,” Howard said. “Find a mixing pan.”

Kerry went to work, looking through cupboards, as Howard filled the coffee pot and plugged it in. “You like coffee yet, Kerry?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “Mommy said it was for grownups.”

“You might like it,” Howard said. “I’ll pour you a cup. If you don’t like it, you can pour it out.”

“Okay, Howie,” he said, smiling.

Scott and Bailey walked in together.

“Good morning,” Scott said.

“You’re up, eh?” Howard said, smiling. “Didn’t hear you.”

“I’ve been up for a while,” he said. “I got a phone call from home very early this morning.”

“Sherry?” Howard asked.

“Yeah,” he said.

“Everything alright at my truck stop?”

“Oh, yeah, things are fine there,” Scott said. “Somebody from the RV Park showed up.”

“Who?”

“His name was Kurt,” Scott said.

“Oh,” Howard said. “He was one of Chet’s buddies. You’ve met him before, I’m sure.”

“I didn’t pay too much attention to dad’s friends, unless they had nice looking wives or daughters,” Scott said, laughing. Bailey looked over at him and shook her head.

“He has a black wife,” Howard said.

“Oh, shit, Mary?” he asked.

“Yeah, I think that’s her name. Still a pretty good looking gal.”

“She was hot when she was younger,” Scott said. “Kurt was kind of a jerk, though. He always eyeballed me.”

“He probably sensed what you wanted to do to his wife,” Howard said, chuckling.

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Hey, Howie, I found them,” Kerry said, holding up a metal mixing dish and grinning. “There’s a hand mixer too.”

“Good, put them on the counter, Kerry,” Howard said. He looked back over at Scott. “What else?”

“When Kurt was there talking with her, gunfire started up in the distance. He got real concerned and ran out of the store. The gunfire increased, and then she heard big explosions. She ran out in the back, and saw the sky lighting up in the direction of the RV Park.”

“Enemy fighters,” Howard said. “They might have taken out the park.”

“I doubt it,” Scott said. “She saw Kurt and some black guy come back to town in their jeep, and park by the road.”

“They were watching for more enemy coming in,” Howard said. “You sure we want to be hitting these folks, Scotty? Maybe we should be fighting with them.”

“Why would we want to do that?” Scott asked.

“Well, this is our country too, you know,” Howard said.

Scott laughed hard. “The enemy creates chaos, and that’s exactly what we want. It makes the game easier and more fun. You know that, right? I’d rather help the enemy than stop them. They’ll never win, but they’ll keep up the Wild West atmosphere for quite a while.”

Howard just looked at him and shook his head. Bailey giggled.

“C’mon, Howie, let’s make the pancakes,” Kerry said.

***

“Still no cell service?” Gabe asked.

“Nope,” Hilda said.

“Yeah, I got nothing,” Earl said. “What’s the next town?”

“Monarch,” Gabe said. “Shouldn’t be too much further, but we probably won’t have coverage till we get close, because of these damn mountains.”

“Continental Divide,” Earl said. “Glad we aren’t doing this in a motor home.”

“Yeah, seriously,” Gabe said. “Wonder what happened to that van?”

“I don’t know,” Earl said. “I’ve been watching. Can’t see them back there with all of these curves. I haven’t seen them peek around, even after the longer straight sections.”

“I liked it better when we could see them,” Hilda said. “We’re liable to run into something blocking the road, going around one of these bends.”

“I know,” Gabe said. “Starting to get light, at least.”

“Hey, I got bars!” Earl said. “Checking GPS now.”

“Yeah, me too,” Hilda said. “Look, there’s the town down there.”

“Yes, that’s Monarch alright,” Earl said. “I’m calling Jackson.” He tapped the number.

“Jackson?”

“Earl, thank God,” he said, sounding worried.

“Uh oh, what happened?”

“The RV Park got attacked. Shielded semi-truck. About thirty guys.”

“Oh, no. Did we win?”

“Yeah, barely,” Jackson said. “Where are you guys?”

“Just heading into Monarch.”

“Hell, you’re only about thirty miles from us. We’re just going through Poncha Springs.”

“Good, Jackson, that’s a relief.”

“You guys seen that van?”

“No, not since we got off in Cimarron,” Earl said.

“Well, we should see you guys within the hour,” Jackson said. “Take care, and keep your eyes peeled.”

“You too.” Earl put his phone back in his pocket.

“We got attacked at the park?” Hilda asked.

“Yeah, lead-shielded semi-truck,” Earl said. “Thirty guys.”

“But they didn’t overrun the park?” Gabe asked.

“No, we won,” Earl said. “Wish I had details. The good news is that we’re only about thirty miles away from Charlie’s SUV and the Humvee.”

“Thank God,” Hilda said. “Glad you’re driving now. These switchbacks are pretty tough.”

“Yeah, but the road is nice and wide,” Gabe said, “and it’s almost light now.”

“How are you holding up?” Earl asked. “Getting sleepy?”

Gabe laughed. “Are you kidding? I’m so full of adrenalin that I’ll be going for days.”

“Slow down, this one is tight,” Hilda said.

“Yeah, sorry,” Gabe said, slowing the Suburban. “Got excited to meet with our friends, I guess.”

“Every time we go around one of these curves, I expect to see that van in the middle of the road,” Hilda said. “Or worse.”

“Yeah, me too,” Earl said. “Wish you had a sunroof in this sucker, so I could shoot in any direction.”

“Maybe you should have gotten into the front,” Hilda said.

“The bad guys have wanted to follow us, so far anyway,” Earl said. “I can shoot right out the back window from here.”

“Damn, this is a big sweeping turn,” Gabe said, trying to slow down, hitting the gravel on the side of the road for a second.

“Look out!” Hilda yelled, looking ahead. The van was in a turnout on the left side of the road. They started rolling into the lanes, trying to make Gabe stop. He gripped the wheel harder and sped up. Earl got his rifle out the back driver’s side window, firing a shot, hitting the passenger side door. The van kept coming, and Gabe sped up more, just barely squeezing between the front of the van and the guard rail, touching briefly on the passenger side. Earl fired again, hitting the person in the passenger seat, blood flying around the front of the van.

“Got the son of a bitch,” Earl shouted, as Gabe tried to keep the big SUV under control. He hit the next turn a little too fast, and was against the guard rail again, sparks flying, but he kept control as they careened forward.

“Here they come,” Gabe said, checking his mirror. He rolled down the back window from his side console. “There you go, Earl. The window’s down.”

“Thanks,” Earl said, taking aim, trying to hold steady as the car raced around the curve.

“There’s another van in front of us,” Hilda yelled. “It’s slowing down.”

“I can’t get a bead on this guy,” Earl said. “Every time I do, they get hidden by turn.”

“Time to play chicken,” Gabe shouted. “No guts, no glory.” He raced towards the van, which was attempting to block the lanes like the first one did. Hilda’s eyes got wide as they closed in.

Earl’s gun went off twice. “Take that, cretins!”

“Holy crap!” shouted Gabe as he headed for the small crack between the van and the guard rail. “This is gonna be tight!”

Chapter 5 – Over the Cliff

Gabe’s SUV hit the front corner of the van and the guard rail, slowing him down but not stopping him. The van spun around and slammed into the ditch on the left side of the road. Earl pointed his rifle out the driver’s side back window again, firing until he ran out of bullets, as Gabe kept driving, a little too fast for the turns.

“You get that other van?” Hilda shouted.

“The one behind us?” Earl asked as he reloaded the rifle. “Yeah, I hit the driver.”

All of them got buzzed by the short range app.

“Uh oh, one of the guys from the back of that first van got into the driver’s seat, I’ll bet,” Gabe said.

“The other one is moving again too,” Earl said. “Keep your speed up.”

“I’m calling Charlie,” Hilda said, getting out her phone as the SUV drove wildly around the next curve.

“Charlie!”

“Hilda, what’s going on?”

“We’re under attack! On the road. Two shielded vans.”

“Oh shit, my phone just buzzed, Hilda. Just a sec.”

Hilda looked over at Gabe. “Charlie’s phone just buzzed. Wonder if they’re close enough for it to be these guys?”

Earl fired a few more rounds, hitting the driver in the first van. It rolled to a stop against the guard rail, the other van coming around it at high speed.

“Look!” Gabe shouted. The Humvee came flying round the corner, guns blazing at the second van. Then Charlie’s SUV came into view, following it, guns sticking out the side. They joined the Humvee, firing into the van, which had rolled to a stop. Gabe pulled into a turnout, and he and Earl piled out with their rifles. They ran over in time to see the first van explode.

“Wow, what caused that?” Earl asked.

“RPG, look,” he shouted back, pointing to Private Brown, holding the weapon, putting in another round.

“That other van isn’t moving,” Earl said. Then there was another explosion as the RPG hit it, causing the van to burst into flames.

Charlie ran up to Gabe’s SUV and gave Hilda a hug. She was crying, but with a smile on her face.

“Oh, sweetie, I’m so glad you’re okay,” Charlie said.

“Me too,” she said, sobbing, holding him tight.

“What’s that Humvee doing?” Charlie asked.

“Pushing that burning van over the cliff,” Gabe said as he walked up.

There was a loud creak as the van started to go over the side. The back door flew open and four men tried to climb out, but Earl, Dobie, and Jackson shot all of them dead as the van rolled down the steep hill.

The Humvee was getting behind the second one now, pushing it along, men screaming inside as the flames seeped out the side door. Nobody got out of that one, and it rolled down the cliff.

“Nice work!” Jackson shouted to Private Brown. He nodded and jumped back into the Humvee. Jackson got behind the wheel of Charlie’s SUV, and both vehicles joined Gabe’s Suburban in the big turnout.

“Anybody have hits on their short range apps?” Jackson asked as they all got out.

“Only the cretins over the cliff,” Private Brown said, nodding in the direction of the smoke behind them. “Hope we don’t start a forest fire.”

“So what now?” Charlie asked.

“High-tail it home,” Gabe said.

“Aren’t you a little tired to be driving?”

“We can split it up,” Gabe said. “But I’m fine right now.”

“Okay, then I suggest that we follow and guard the rear with our Humvee,” Private Brown said, Private Jennings nodding in agreement.

“I’ll take the lead,” Charlie said. “What to ride with me, honey?”

“Yeah,” she said.

“I’ll ride with Gabe and Earl,” Jackson said. “I’m well rested. If Gabe needs somebody to spell him, I can take the wheel.”

“I’ll stay in the front car with Duchess if that’s okay,” Dobie said.

“Good, we could use the firepower up there,” Charlie said.

“We’ve got more fire power in my Suburban, so if we run into anybody in front, you folks try to move out of the way,” Gabe said.

“Alright, let’s haul ass,” Charlie said.

***

Malcolm and Kurt kept watching the pinch point until noon.

“Think that’s long enough?” Malcolm asked.

“Yeah,” Kurt said. “I’ll send a text to the guys that we’re coming in.”

“Tell them we’re checking the truck stop first,” Malcolm said. “I want to meet Sherry.”

Kurt sent a text and watched his phone.

“They said fine,” Kurt said. “But be careful.”

“Always,” Malcolm said with a grin. He fired up the jeep, and they drove back onto the truck stop parking lot.

Sherry looked up as the two men walked in. “What the hell was that last night?”

“Enemy fighters,” Kurt said. “They tried to attack the park back there.”

“Now why would they want to do that?” she asked, looking both of them over.

“Probably because of all the enemy fighters we’ve killed over the last couple of months,” Kurt said.

“You look real familiar,” Sherry said, looking intensely at Malcolm. “You with these guys?”

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “And who might you be?”

“I’m Sherry,” she said, looking at him warily.

“I’m Malcolm. Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand to shake, but she backed up, fear in her eyes.

“What are you doing here?” she asked softly. “I know who you are.”

“I know who you are too,” Malcolm said, with a sly grin.

Sherry’s hand reached behind the counter for something, and Malcolm pulled out his handgun and pointed it at her. “Freeze.”

She pulled her hand back, looking terrified. Kurt looked on, shocked, but pulled his pistol out and pointed it at her too.

“You really back with Scotty and Howard?” Malcolm asked.

“Scotty died,” she said, looking down.

“Like hell he did,” Malcolm said. “He’s been busy. I’ve been watching.”

“Why do you even care?” she asked.

“Oh, just a hobby of mine,” Malcolm said. “What have you been up to lately?”

“Nothing. I’m not with those creeps anymore. I’m only doing this for the money.”

Malcolm laughed. “Maybe. I haven’t seen any of your handiwork since you got married. How did hubby die, again?”

“I didn’t do it,” she said. “Natural causes.”

“So why are you even back here?” Malcolm asked. “This isn’t exactly a garden spot.”

“My mom died and left her place to me,” she said. “I’m not going back with those guys. That’s over.”

“Then you won’t mind helping me find them,” Malcolm said.

Sherry was quiet for a moment, and then a sly smile came over her face. “You don’t have anything on me. I don’t want to get involved at all. If those guys win, they’ll kill me.”

“Why do you think we don’t have anything on you?” Malcolm asked, still smiling. “There was quite a library of home movies down in that dungeon. We’ve only looked at the old film reels so far. Howard had a starring role. There’s a big box of VHS tapes we haven’t gotten to yet. Maybe we’ll recognize you in some of them.”

“So come back to me when you find something,” Sherry said.

“Think we ought to take her and throw her in one of those cells?” Kurt asked. “We could use the bloody one that Saladin died in.”

Sherry got a terrified look on her face.

“We don’t need to do that, do we, Sherry?” Malcolm asked.

“I don’t know exactly where they are,” she whispered, looking down. “I wasn’t lying when I said I’m not with them anymore.”

“Okay, then start from the beginning,” Malcolm said. “Why are you running Howard’s truck stop?”

“They called and made me a good deal,” she said. “I get to keep all the proceeds until Howard gets back. Then I’m done with them.”

“Why did they need you to do that?” Malcolm asked.

“They were east of the Mississippi when those nukes went off. Howard got delayed. He had deliveries coming.”

“So what happens when they get back?”

“They say I just go back to what I was doing before,” she said. “I don’t trust them. My bags are all packed at my place. No BS, you can go check if you want. If Howard comes back here by himself, I’ll stick around and watch. If Scotty shows up with him, I’m gone.”

“You won’t get away from them,” Malcolm said. “They’ll hunt you down if they want you.”

“She’s going to run if we don’t take her back with us,” Kurt said.

“No she won’t,” Malcolm said. “I chased down and killed three people in her clan already. I’ll find her quicker than Scotty and Howard will, and she knows it. She didn’t have my attention before. Now she does.”

“Three people in her clan?” Kurt asked.

“He’s talking about Red Dagger, Jason Beckler, and Earl Wilson,” Sherry said. “The world is better off without those creeps. Especially Beckler.” There was intense hatred in her eyes.

“What makes him so bad compared to the others?” Kurt asked.

“Jason started abusing me when I was about fourteen,” she said, starting to cry.

“You were a participant,” Malcolm said.

“Yeah,” she said. “It was that or die.”

“I’ll make you a deal,” Malcolm said. “You stay on here. Say nothing to Howard or Scotty about me. Tell me every time they call, and let me know when Howard gets back.”

“What’s in it for me?” she asked.

“You get to go back to the life you had before Scotty called you,” Malcolm said. “Unless you help them, of course.”

“Anything else?” she asked.

“Yeah, try to find out where they are.”

“If I ask them that, they’ll know,” she said.

“I understand. Just keep your ears open and ask the right questions. Pay attention to details. We have a deal?”

She leaned on the counter, thinking for a moment.

“I guess I don’t have much of a choice, do I?” she asked. “Yeah, all right.”

“Good,” Malcolm said. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”

“One last thing,” she said. “The VHS tapes.”

“Don’t worry about them,” Malcolm said. “Let’s go, Kurt.”

The two walked out the doors, putting their pistols away before ducking out.

“You really think she’ll stick around?” Kurt asked.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said.

“Why would she?”

“She knows that I could chase her down, and it’s pretty obvious she’s on those VHS tapes,” Malcolm said. “I used to do interviews with folks like her for a living when I was still in the department. She’s scared. Really scared. We might actually be the best hope she has, and I think she knows it.”

They got into the jeep and headed to the RV park.

***

Rosie sat in the semi-dark room, watching the monitors as Jeb slept. The doctor came in.

“Still looking good?” he asked.

“Yes, he look good,” she said. “Sleep for long time, should wake soon.”

“I’m glad we could get everything,” he said. “He might always limp, though.”

“If can walk, limp okay,” she said. “Thank you. Good job.”

“He’ll need a fair amount of rehab, you know. Is there anybody in your group who could help him?”

“Yes, me, also another nurse, and a doctor,” Rosie said. “How long he stay here?”

“At least two weeks. Depends on how he recovers. He’s no spring chicken, you know.”

“Yes, I know,” Rosie said.

“There are things I can do for you, too,” the doctor said. “To fix your knees.”

“No money,” Rosie said.

“I don’t care,” he said. “You’ve been drawing a salary here, as far as I’m concerned. We haven’t needed to watch Jeb. IC care is expensive, and you’ve been doing a lot of it.”

“Well, maybe after Jeb back to normal,” she said, smiling. “Any more bad guy here?”

“No, it’s been quiet since that last incident,” the doctor said. “The army sent more troops here. They’re in town watching. This hospital is the only one in miles. They’ve decided it’s worth protecting. We have a lot of their people here now.”

“That good,” Rosie said.

***

General Hogan, George, and the Sheriff approached the smoking semi-truck out in the field, eyes darting out in every direction.

“Wish we wouldn’t have had to torch the whole thing,” General Hogan said.

“I’m glad we did,” the Sheriff said. “We don’t need one of these guys shooting us before they succumb.”

“Malcolm and Kurt are on their way back,” George said, looking at his phone. He chuckled.

“What?” the Sheriff said.

“I’ll tell you later. Let’s concentrate on this for now.”

“Not much left of the fighters,” General Hogan said. “Look at that mortar. It’s not one of ours.”

“Really?” George asked, inspecting it. “Chinese.”

“Figures,” General Hogan said. “They still want revenge for us blowing up their man-made islands.”

“That was several years ago,” the Sheriff said.

“Yeah, I know, but that doesn’t matter,” General Hogan said. “Most people don’t know how close we got to a hot war over that.”

“Look at all that lead,” the Sheriff said, looking in what was left of the trailer, and the surrounding ground.

“We ought to gather it up,” George said. “I saw all the reloading stuff in the workshop, just down the steps from the trap door in the barn. We could make a lot of bullets.”

“I’d only use it for the pistols and the AKs,” the Sheriff said. “Pure lead would foul the hell out of the hunting rifles.”

“True,” George said.

The Sheriff pulled a screwdriver out of his pocket and took the license plate off the trailer. He did the same with the cab.

“Wonder if any paper made it through the inferno?” George asked, as he climbed into what was left of the cab. The glove box was melted shut. He pulled out his knife and pried it open. “Yes! There’s a bunch of stuff in here.” He pulled a plastic bag out of his pocket and put the contents in there.

“Shit, look at these,” General Hogan said.

“What’s that?” the Sheriff asked.

“Nerve gas mortar rounds,” General Hogan said, his brow furrowed. “We’re lucky they didn’t get blown up. Looks like they were next to the other mortar rounds over there.”

“Wonder why they didn’t use those?” the Sheriff said.

“I know why they didn’t use them,” George said. “I was up on that barn, remember? We had a good wind, and it was blowing from behind the park, in this direction. If they would have used this stuff, it would have gotten them, not us.”

“Shit, that’s right,” the Sheriff said. “Let’s take this back with us. The wind almost always blows in this direction. Might be a good last ditch weapon.”

“Yeah, but look those rounds over carefully,” the General said. “If they’re damaged at all, we don’t want them.”

“Okay,” the Sheriff said. He saw a metal box about thirty feet away from the mortar, and went over to get it. He shook the dirt out and put the nerve gas shells and the other mortar rounds into it. “Gonna need help carrying this back.”

“Here comes Malcolm in the jeep,” George said. “I’ll flag him down, and we can load them into the back.” George waved his arms, and Malcolm turned the jeep towards them, going into the rough field, slipping into four-wheel drive.

“Quite a mess, huh?” Malcolm said, getting out. Kurt got out and followed him over.

“Glad you guys showed up when you did last night,” George said.

“Seriously,” General Hogan said.

“Can we load this box into the back of your jeep?” the Sheriff asked.

“Sure. What’s in it?” he asked.

“Mortar rounds, including some with nerve gas.”

“Holy shit,” Kurt said. “We keeping that?”

“Yeah, just in case,” General Hogan said.

“The wind blows in a good direction for us to use this as a last ditch defensive weapon,” George said. “Let’s load it up.”

George grabbed one end of the box, and the Sheriff got the other end. They walked it over to the jeep, with Malcolm behind them. He opened the back and they lifted it in.

“Anybody heard from Charlie or Gabe?” Kurt asked.

“Yeah,” the Sheriff said. “They got attacked on route 50, a little ways from Monarch. Two vans, lead lined.”

“What happened?” Kurt asked.

“They won,” the Sheriff said. “I’ll fill everybody in on the details when we get back to the clubhouse.”

“Yeah, we got a lot to talk about,” George said. “When do we expect the away team to get home?”

“Hopefully inside of four hours,” the Sheriff said. “Assuming they don’t run into any more trouble on the road.”

“Let’s go back,” General Hogan said. “I think we’re done here.”

“George, why don’t you ride with me,” Malcolm said. “You too, Kurt.”

George nodded, and they all got in. The rest of the men walked back.

“So, you met Sherry, huh,” George said. “Read your text. You left her there?”

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “We’ve got her working for us now.”

“She one of the clan?”

“Many years ago, yes,” Malcolm said. “She doesn’t want back in.”

“Then what’s she doing at the truck stop?”

“Howard got delayed, stuck east of the Mississippi.”

“Oh, the nukes,” George said. “Figures. That means they’re probably where you thought they were.”

“Yeah, I’m betting they’re in Ohio again. We’ll have to watch for mayhem in that area.”

The jeep pulled up next to the clubhouse. The three men piled out. “Where are we putting this nerve gas?” Malcolm asked.

“I think we ought to put it in that front office,” Kurt said. “That way if any of them leak, we’ll be more likely to have it blow away from us.”

“Not a bad idea,” Malcolm said. “We aren’t really going to use this stuff, are we?”

“Maybe,” George said. “Would have helped us last night. You know we’d probably be toast if you guys wouldn’t have been out there. A mortar round on top of that barn would have taken us out.”

The men got the box out of the jeep and carried it to the front office building. They loaded it in there, under the front desk, and then left, shutting the door.

“Who has the keys?” George asked.

“Charlie, I think,” Kurt said. They joined the others, who were just walking in from the field.

“Nerve gas is in there,” Kurt said.

“Yeah, we saw you guys carry it over,” the general said. “Good place to store it. Let’s get a meeting started.”

The other men nodded, and they walked towards the clubhouse.

Chapter 6 – Survival Plans

Frank and Jerry rounded everybody up for a meeting. Jake turned on the big screen TV and had the camera displays running, giving them a better chance to catch any more enemy fighters on the way. Everybody carried arms with them, even Mary.

Frank stood at the front of the room. “Okay, everybody, let’s get started.”

The general walked up and joined him, putting his phone back in his pocket. “I heard from my son. They’re making good time now. No sign of anybody following them since they took out those two vans.”

“Where are they?” Jerry asked.

“Just west of Pueblo.”

“Good, Pueblo is only a few hours away,” Frank said. “Anybody heard from Rosie?”

Jasmine stood. “She called me about an hour ago. Surgery was successful, but Jeb will be in the hospital for at least two weeks.”

“Things okay out there?” Kurt asked. “They got attacked, didn’t they?”

“Yes, but it’s been quiet since then, and the army put a bunch more people there.”

“Why?” the Sheriff asked.

“Mom said they want to protect the hospital,” Jasmine said. “It’s the only one in the area still up and running.”

“All good news,” Frank said. “We need to decide what to do about this place.”

“Is it likely we’ll continue to be attacked?” Mary asked.

General Hogan got up. “We don’t know for sure. It’s possible they’ll continue to poke at us, but they’re under increasing pressure from the army. The enemy isn’t moving forward anywhere in the world now. They’re in retreat and being rounded up. Survival is becoming more important than revenge.”

“How about Mexico?” Jerry asked.

“Same thing as here,” General Hogan said. “We’re rounding up the enemy at this point. They’re done.”

“Those two high ranking people still south of Texas?” Jake asked.

“I’ll check,” Jane said, turning to her laptop. “Yes, they’re still there.”

“I wouldn’t worry about them,” General Hogan said. “The army knows about them. Let’s let them handle it.”

“They haven’t moved for a while,” Jane said. “The icons were in this position last time I looked, a few days ago. They might be dead.”

“Hope so,” Frank said. “So, the issue at hand. Do we stay here, or do we go elsewhere?”

There was a murmur though the room.

“I’ll throw out an opinion,” the general said. “Unlike the recent past, we are almost certainly in a time where the enemy will be waning.”

“So you’re saying it will become less and less likely we’ll be attacked here,” Jake asked.

“Yes,” the general said. “That doesn’t mean we’re completely safe. It’s just a different circumstance than you’ve seen.”

“How many groups like us still exist?” Jerry asked.

“Quite a few, but none of the others have as large a target on their backs as this group does,” General Hogan said. “The game has changed, though, and we need to take that into consideration. Before, they wanted to get ahold of Frank, to stop their command and control system from being compromised. Now the cat is out of the bag. As I said earlier, it’s only about revenge at this point. They know they’ve lost.”

“These guys will create as much terror and mayhem as they can, though,” Jerry said.

“True,” General Hogan said. “Our society is in a different place. We’ll see terror attacks on a level we haven’t before. It will be tough, but they will diminish over time.”

“Yeah, suicide attacks aren’t a good long term solution,” Jake said, laughing. “Eventually you run out of bad guys unless there’s a way to replenish.”

“Yep,” General Hogan said.

“How about the serial killer problem?” Trish asked.

Malcolm stood. “We have more info.”

“Go on,” Frank said, leaning on the stage.

“Howard is gone. Kurt and I got our proof this morning.”

“Where is he?” Trish asked.

“On the wrong side of the Mississippi,” Malcolm said. “It’s hard to cross now because of those nuclear attacks.”

“How do you know?” Jake asked.

“Howard enlisted an old friend to run his truck stop while he’s away. Her name is Sherry. She used to be a participant in this serial killer clan. We made a deal with her this morning.”

“A deal?” Trish asked.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said.

“What’s the deal?” Frank asked.

“We told her to continue on at the truck stop as if nothing has happened, but she is to tell us each time they call.”

“Will she?” the Sheriff asked.

“Yeah, I’m sure she will,” Malcolm said. “She didn’t want to get involved with these guys again. She’s been dormant for years herself. The last person she did in was probably her husband, although that is a little hard to prove.”

“How long ago?” Trish asked. “The husband, I mean.”

“Over ten years,” Malcolm said. “She’s still guilty of a lot of bad stuff, and that works in our favor.”

“Why?” the Sheriff asked.

“Because she knows we’ve got proof of her involvement. We have those VHS tapes down in the dungeon,” Malcolm said. “When I mentioned them, she got real nervous.”

“What are you hoping to get out of this deal, other than early warning?” Terry asked.

“I’m hoping she gets a good clue on their location,” Malcolm said. “If she does, then George, Heidi, and I will go nab them before they can come back here.”

“How long are we going to withhold the dungeon from the authorities?” the Sheriff asked.

“If it were up to me, I’d keep it to ourselves until after Howard and Scotty are killed or captured,” George said.

“I agree with George on that,” Malcolm said. “Of course they’ll eventually want to investigate down there, but there’s no need to rush it.”

“What if somebody is sitting in jail for the murders?” Mary asked. “That’s why we all agreed to notify the authorities when it was safe for us to do so.”

“There were never any convictions for the crimes,” Malcolm said. “I’ve checked that out thoroughly. Nobody is rotting in jail due to these murders.”

“Aren’t the families going to want the property of the victims?” Trish asked.

“That bothers me,” Heidi said. “Remember the jewelry and other stuff?”

“Let’s see, how can I say this without sounding mercenary?” Malcolm asked. “You guys have title to this place, right?”

“I’d say it’s somewhat questionable now that we know Scotty is still alive,” Kurt said.

“He hasn’t paid taxes for a long time,” the Sheriff said. “The local government was within their rights to dispose of the property.”

“Scotty won’t survive unless he drops this place and disappears into the woodwork,” Jake said.

Heidi looked over at him. “Honestly, even if he attempts to disappear into the woodwork, he won’t survive.”

“We won’t hunt him down that way, honey,” George said.

“Yes you will, but I’m okay with it,” she said. “I’m just trying to be honest.”

Malcolm chuckled. “Anyway, if I were you guys, I’d play this one carefully. You have a good property down there, which will draw crowds. That could make this RV Park very profitable, even being away from Interstate.”

Jake laughed. “So what you’re saying is we ought to turn the dungeon into a museum? Charge admission?”

“Exactly,” Malcolm said, grinning. “Why not?”

“Kinda sick, but I like it,” Kurt said. Mary looked at him and shook her head.

“What about those victims?” she asked. “What about their stuff?”

“You should give up anything a relative can prove belonged to their loved ones,” Malcolm said. “And make sure there’s plenty of publicity about it. You can’t buy that kind of advertising.”

Jane shot Frank a look, and he stood.

“Okay, we can discuss it later,” he said. “We need to discuss how we can protect ourselves. I agree with the general that attacks will diminish as the country stabilizes, but we can’t relax yet. We’re still in the thick of things.”

“Frank’s right,” the Sheriff said. “A group of enemy fighters could still sneak in here and kill us all. The nerve gas they had scares me. We need to watch the back end of the park.”

“Nerve gas?” Terry asked.

“Yeah, there were nerve gas mortar rounds out there,” the General said.

“Where are they now?” Jake asked.

“We put them in the front building,” the Sheriff said.

“How come they didn’t use those last night?” Trish asked.

“Remember the wind, honey? Up on the roof of that barn?” Terry asked. “It was blowing in from behind the park. Unless they could have lit them up behind the park, it would have hit them instead of us.”

“Couldn’t they have shot them past us?” Trish asked. “To the back of the park? Let the wind carry it to us?”

“No,” General Hogan said. “Not with those Chinese mortars they were using. If they were right up close to the front of the park, no problem, but they were too far out. And by the way, those shells are Chinese too, like the mortars. Somebody in the Chinese government gave them to the enemy. I’ve already notified the Pentagon.”

“Well, if we get attacked again from the front of the park, we can use it against them,” George said. “Assuming the wind is helping us out.”

“It almost always blows this way,” Jake said. “Great for me. I open the windows on the far side of my trailer and it blows out the heat right away.”

“Okay, let’s focus, people,” Frank said. “We need suggestions. How do we keep watch for more attacks?”

“What about putting an army detail nearby?” Mary asked.

“They’re still spread too thin,” General Hogan said.

“Until we come up with a better solution, we should post sentries,” Jerry said.

“Who else uses the roads leading here?” Jake asked. “I’ve never seen anybody on them until last night. Maybe we can set up mines.”

“Not a bad idea, I suppose,” General Hogan said. “We’d have to be prepared to accept the consequences if an innocent gets blown up though.”

“It’s too big of a risk,” Jerry said. “But how about a non-lethal booby trap?”

“What do you mean?” Jake asked.

“A set of alarms,” Jerry said

“Now you’re talking,” Frank said. “I’m about ready to release the last update on the apps, which will put the long range detail app into general use. Afterwards, I’ll have plenty of free time. Perhaps you, Jake, and I can come up with an early warning system which doesn’t rely on human eyeballs.”

“I’ll start thinking about it now,” Jake said. “A few ideas come to mind right off the top of my head.”

“Until we get it in place, let’s set up a sentry schedule,” the Sheriff said.

“That’s essential,” General Hogan said. “I’ll help with the setup, and my boys and I will take part, of course.”

“Great. So we have a plan. Let’s work it, folks,” Frank said.

Malcolm got George’s attention. He walked over with Heidi.

“Time to focus on Nighthawk?” Heidi asked.

“I think we have things to work on,” Malcolm said. “There’s been action. Our old friend Agent Keith has been busy on an investigation.”

“That jerk weed is still in the FBI?” George asked.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “Remember the biker massacre?”

“You’re still thinking Howard and Scott had something to do with it?” George asked.

“Geez,” Heidi said. “I read about that. It was a bloody mess.”

“Yeah, it was a bloody mess,” Malcolm said. “If we were unaware, we would be ripe for an attack like that here.”

“I have a little more faith in our group,” George said. “But go on.”

“I got a message from Ted last night while I was on the stakeout with Kurt. They’ve been watching Agent Keith ever since our earlier problems with him.”

“Wait, is he the guy who caused problems for us during the Sailor Boy thing?” Heidi asked.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said.

“He’s still working for the FBI? Seriously?” she asked.

“Federal employees,” George said, shaking his head. “Hard to get rid of them.”

“He was the first FBI agent on the scene of the biker massacre,” Malcolm said. “He got a firsthand look at everything, but he hasn’t been forthcoming about it. Not one bit. The incident proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Scott is still alive. Keith hasn’t reported it.”

“Why?” George asked.

“We aren’t sure,” Malcolm said. “Ted thinks he might want to goad us into an attack, so he has another chance to take us down.”

“Ted going to rectify the situation?” George asked.

“Not publically, but the FBI brass is well aware of what’s happening. It does complicate matters for us though.”

“How can he tell Scotty was involved in this thing?” Heidi asked. “The news reports didn’t say anything about him.”

“The farmhouse belonged to Scotty’s cousin,” Malcolm said. “The bikers were her friends, from up north. Her boyfriend was a member. And by the way, this wasn’t a real biker gang.”

“Weekend warriors?” George asked.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said.

“What do you mean?” Heidi asked.

“There’s two kinds of biker gangs out there,” George said. “The ones who are into organized crime, and the ones who are just recreational. You don’t want to tangle with the organized crime types. They’re always armed. The recreational types may get into a barroom brawl every once in a while, but they usually have day jobs. They aren’t criminals, and they’re rarely armed.”

“So these bikers weren’t even armed?”

“Yeah, Heidi,” Malcolm said. “They weren’t even armed. Scotty and Howard tried to set up a scene where one biker killed a deputy out by the road, but the local sheriff figured it out before Agent Keith even got there.”

“Interesting,” George said. “You think he planned this whole thing out?”

“Yes and no,” Malcolm said. “Here’s the most interesting part. Jason Beckler’s family is from the area, and we know that Red Dagger used to hang around there too. Guess what they found in the basement of the farmhouse?”

“What?” Heidi asked.

“I’m betting another dungeon,” George said.

“Yep,” Malcolm said. “Luckily the local sheriff found it before Agent Keith locked things down.”

“Why didn’t that hit the news reports?” Heidi asked.

“The FBI sat on it,” Malcolm said.

“So what do we do now?” Heidi asked.

“Research,” Malcolm said.

“What kind of research?” she asked.

“We know Scotty is into history. He’s continued using markings from the old days even though it’s dangerous for him. He preserved the dungeon here even though it’s risky for him. He knows it’s dangerous for him to come back here, but he’s willing to return to protect this stuff. I think he was planning on locking down the dungeon at the farmhouse, too. Once the real FBI investigators got into the place, they found documentation just like we have here. Movies and other mementoes.”

“Really?” Heidi asked, eyes wide, fascinated.

“Yeah, they found things related to Red Dagger, Chet, and several Becklers, including Jason as a young man.”

“Holy shit,” George said.

“This tells me his hideout in Ohio probably has historical significance. We need to take a real hard look at serial killer history there.”

“I’m good at that kind of research,” Heidi said.

“Yes, you are,” George said.

“I’ll get right on it,” she said. “Anything about their recent exploits?”

“I need to get back on it, now that things appear to be settling down a little,” Malcolm said. “We know about the college girls they’ve used and left with markings, and the two women they snatched from the Walmart parking lot who they didn’t use.”

“Didn’t use?” Heidi asked.

“Didn’t sexually assault,” Malcolm said.

“Oh. Yuk.”

“There are two college girls who disappeared along their route before the massacre, but haven’t shown up yet,” Malcolm said. “It’s been too long for them. I doubt he still has them, so they’ll turn up soon. There was also another coed who disappeared afterwards. She might still be with them, although authorities think her disappearance isn’t related. She had a reason to take off.”

“What?” Heidi asked.

“She set up the rape of one of her sorority sisters,” Malcolm said.

“Wonderful,” Heidi said, shaking her head.

Malcolm’s phone rang. “It’s Ted,” he said, putting the phone to his ear. He wandered off, talking.

“You okay?” George asked.

“Don’t worry about me,” she said, smiling at him. “I find this fascinating. I just don’t want us to get into trouble.”

Malcolm walked back over, a grim look on his face. “Speak of the devil.”

“Uh oh,” George said.

“They found one of the two coeds from before the massacre,” he said. “Her name was Kayla.”

“Where?” Heidi asked.

“About two miles away from the farmhouse.”

“She a normal victim?” George asked.

“No, she wasn’t,” Malcolm said. “Looks like she died while putting up a fight. The bullet nicked her hand before hitting her in the chest.”

“But the markings were there?” Heidi asked.

“Yep,” Malcolm said. “They think she was dead for a while before she got dumped. And get this. They think Scotty and Howard killed her in a motor home.”

“How can they tell?” Heidi asked.

“She had Luan fibers on her clothes. Looks like they got there when she was dragged out the door,” Malcolm said.

“What’s Luan?” George asked.

“I know,” Heidi said. “My dad always called it garbage. It’s a soft, cheap type of wood used in lower end RVs.”

“Hey, didn’t an eyewitness see a Class C RV near the scene of one of the abductions?” George asked.

“Yeah, as a matter of fact, but it wasn’t a reliable of a witness,” Malcolm said.

George saw Kurt over by the door of the clubhouse and motioned to him.

He walked over. “What’s up?”

“Did Howard have an RV?”

“Yeah, he did. I saw it when we were over there, parked in the back. A nice Class C. Couple years old.”

Chapter 7 – Gravel Pit

Heidi, Jane, and Jasmine were sitting in the clubhouse, working on their laptops. Jane and Jasmine were following enemy movements. Heidi was doing research on serial killer activity in Ohio.

Trish walked in with her laptop. “Mind if I set up in here?”

“Of course not,” Jane said. “Good place to hang out while the boys are busy.”

“You want to work on the enemy, or the serial killers?” Heidi asked.

“I’m interested in the killers,” she said. “I heard you’re working on history.”

“Yeah,” Heidi said. “Lots of stuff to crunch through, and I’m only looking at the unsolved ones. I got some passwords from George, so we can get into FBI files and other places that most people can’t.”

“Cool,” Trish said. “Found anything out so far?”

“Yeah,” Heidi said. “The most interesting character I’ve found is the Cleveland Torso Murderer.”

“What’s so interesting about him?” Trish asked.

“He was prolific, and he lasted a long time. Some experts have suggested that he wasn’t a solo killer. Oh, and he had an alternate name, which isn’t used much today. The Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run.”

“Some think a clan did those murders?”

“Yes, some do,” Heidi said. “Others believe there were separate, unrelated people involved with many of them.”

“When did he start?”

“Conventional wisdom says 1935,” Heidi said. “Most investigators think he killed twelve people between 1935 and 1938 and then disappeared.”

“That’s too old to be related to recent clans, isn’t it?” Trish asked.

“Well, the story is getting more interesting as I’m digging in,” Heidi said. “Other investigators believe he killed thirteen more people, as late as the early 1950s, and as early as the 1920s. There’s even one investigator who believes the Torso Murderer was responsible for the Black Dahlia murder.”

“What? That’s California.”

“I understand,” Heidi said. “The investigator who came up with that was ridiculed for it, but he stuck to his guns over the years.”

“This reminds me of the Nighthawk Road Killer,” Trish said.

“Oh, you’ve done research on that one?”

“Yeah,” Trish said. “Those murders started in the late 40s and ran until a few years ago. Obviously not just one person. Wonder if there’s any relation between those and the Torso Murderer?”

“I doubt it. They’re pretty far apart, and it doesn’t appear that the Torso Murderer went past the 1950s,” Heidi said.

“You’re probably right, but it’s still worth looking at,” Trish said.

“Was Chet ever a suspect in the Nighthawk Road case?” Heidi said.

“He was brought in for questioning,” Trish said. “Nothing came of it.”

“How about Howard?”

“I couldn’t find anything about him,” Trish said. “Or Scott.”

“If Chet was questioned, there may have been surveillance done,” Heidi said. “See if you can find anything on this site.” She underlined one of the URLs on a slip of paper and slid it over to her.

“Okay,” Trish said. She focused on her laptop.

***

Jake was digging around in his bobtail. Terry and Frank were with him.

“What are you looking for?” Terry asked.

“Electronic eye hardware,” Jake said, climbing out with two boxes. “And sensors for auto-opening doors. The electronic eye box has a hole in it, I’m afraid.”

“Bullet hole?” Frank asked.

“Yeah,” Terry said. “We got shot up on the way out to Gabe’s place.”

“That’s right, I remember,” Frank said. “Seems like such a long time ago.”

“Sure does,” Jake said, bringing the boxes out of the truck. “I’m glad the electronic eye is the one that’s shot up. This is obsolete technology now.”

“It says wireless on the box,” Frank said. “Doesn’t look that old to me.”

“Oh, yeah, and it works, too. I had one in my store for a while. The only problem with these is that you need to mount both the light and the sensor, and they can’t be more than about twenty feet apart.”

“So we’d need a fence or tree on either side.” Terry said.

“Yeah,” Jake said as he opened the box. “We lucked out. Nothing damaged. The bullet missed everything except for packing material.”

“How about the other one?” Frank asked.

“This is a replacement for commercial automatic doors,” Jake said, holding up the box. “I’ve got more of them in the truck, but they present a challenge.”

“What’s that?” Frank asked.

“They aren’t wireless. They send a signal to activate the door motor, but only over a wire. We’d have to either run a lot of wire or come up with a wireless solution to make this work.”

“Sounds like something Frank could figure out,” Terry said.

“How many of these do you have?” Frank asked.

“At least ten,” Jake said. “Had lots of people buying them, so I kept them on hand. Some of them might be shot up. I’ll have to take a look.”

“Interesting. I might be able to rig these to send a message out over LTE,” Frank said. “We’d need phones with removable batteries.”

Jake grinned. “I’ve got some obsolete phones that have removable batteries,” Jake said. “I used to sell them to construction companies, because you can drop these suckers over and over and they still work. Heavy duty, with a multiple battery setup. Bought way too many of those. I almost left them at home.”

“What makes them obsolete?” Terry asked.

“They’re big and heavy, and to charge them you always have to pull out the battery and put it on a separate charger. People just want to plug in their phone these days. I’ll grab one so you can look at it.” He climbed back into his bobtail and rummaged around.

“You’ve got an idea, Frank,” Terry said. “I can see it on your face.”

“Yep,” Frank said. “Don’t know if it will work or not though.”

Jake climbed out of the truck with two boxes. “Here’s two that don’t have bullet holes.” He handed one to Frank.

“I remember these,” Frank said. “We used to give them to our system managers at work. They have that push-to-talk feature.”

“Push-to-talk?” Terry asked.

“Yeah, it was a way to cut down on cell minute charges,” Frank said. “They had a walkie-talkie mode. You had to set up call circles ahead of time, but then when you were in range, you could talk back and forth for free, like you were on a walkie-talkie. Worked great for us.”

“How many spots do you think we need to set up?” Terry asked.

“I can think of five,” Frank said. “We have that much hardware?”

“Probably,” Jake said. “I threw more than that in the truck. As long as they aren’t shot up, we’re good.”

“Good,” Frank said. “How about if I take one phone and one of the motion sensors and see if I can connect them.”

“Sure,” he said. “You going into that workshop under the barn? Saw soldering irons and that kind of stuff in there.”

“Yeah,” Frank said.

“Okay, see you in a little while,” Jake said. “Want to help me rummage, Terry?”

“Sure,” he said. They climbed into the bobtail.

***

“Finally, Sharon Springs,” Hilda said, looking at the sign on the highway. “I can’t wait to get out of this damn car.”

“You and me both,” Charlie said.

“Duchess has had more than enough, too,” Dobie said.

“She need to stop?” Charlie asked.

“How much longer we going to be on the road.”

“Fifteen minutes, give or take,” Charlie said.

“Fine, no problem,” Dobie said.

They got off the highway and cruised into town.

“Look, Howard’s truck stop is open,” Hilda said. “Should we stop and see if he’s around?”

“No, let’s get home,” Charlie said. “I’m antsy as hell.”

“Afraid somebody else will attack?” Dobie asked.

“Yeah.”

“Me too,” Dobie said.

They got on the deserted roads leading back to the park, eyes peeled, scanning the area.

“Oh my word!” Hilda said. “There’s the semi that attacked the park.”

“Looks like we messed up their whole day,” Dobie said, chuckling. “We hit them with Willie Pete?”

“That’d be my guess,” Charlie said. “Surprised they got so close.”

“They probably had to let them get that close,” Dobie said. “To be in range of the small arms.”

They rolled into the park. Everybody came out to meet the three vehicles as they pulled in front of the clubhouse.

“I’ll brief you on the meeting we had earlier,” General Hogan said, surrounded by his kids.

Everybody followed him into the clubhouse. George, Malcolm, Kurt, and Mary came in to listen. The rest of the group went back to the work they were doing.

After the briefing, Charlie and Hilda walked up to Malcolm and George.

“Howard’s place is open again,” Charlie said.

“Oh, yeah, we didn’t brief that part,” Malcolm said. “It’s being run by a friend of theirs named Sherry. We enlisted her help.”

“Oh, really,” Hilda said. “Why?”

“Early warning, mainly,” Malcolm said. “I’m holding the contents of the VHS tapes over her head.”

“Wait, she was a participant?” Charlie asked.

“Yes, many years ago,” Malcolm said. “We need to find a working VCR so we can watch the tapes.”

“Well, I’ll sit that one out,” Hilda said. “I want some coffee. I’ll go crank up the big pot.”

She walked to the kitchen.

“So she confirmed that Howard and Scotty are together, I take it,” Charlie said.

“Yep,” Malcolm said. “They’d probably be back here already if it wasn’t for the nuke attack. They got stuck on the other side of big muddy.”

“What are we gonna do about that?”

“We’re trying to find out where their house is. We’re sure it’s in Ohio, but we don’t know where. Heidi and Trish are working the historic angle now, but that’s a long shot. If we’re lucky Howard or Scotty will drop a clue in conversation with Sherry.”

“You trust her?” Charlie asked.

“Maybe,” George said. “Malcolm has more faith in that situation than I do.”

“Why?” Charlie asked.

“I’ve spent a lot of time interviewing suspects and witnesses,” Malcolm said. “I’m a pretty good judge of what they’re thinking behind the mask. She probably looks at us as her best hope for survival at this point.”

“You aren’t going to turn her in?” Charlie asked. “If there’s evidence on those tapes, that is?”

“Haven’t thought that far ahead,” Malcolm said.

“We’re supposed to be telling the authorities about that dungeon when things settle down,” Charlie said. “We agreed to that. How are we gonna hide her involvement?”

“I don’t know yet,” Malcolm said. “We might be able to work an immunity deal for her. We changed the plans for when we’ll notify the authorities about that dungeon, too.”

“Really? Mary okay with that?”

“Yeah, Charlie, we convinced her. She was worried about anybody that might have been convicted of one of the crimes. I’ve already researched that. Nobody was convicted for any of the Nighthawk Road killings, so we aren’t keeping anybody stewing in jail if we don’t bring this to light right away.”

“Okay,” Charlie said. “Good.”

“I should get back to work,” Malcolm said. “Ran into a good trail in my research.”

Charlie smiled. “Thanks, guys. Talk to you later.”

Malcolm and George watched him go to the kitchen to join Hilda.

“Think he’s okay with this?” George asked.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said.

“What thread are you following?”

“I’m looking at all houses in Cleveland which were in one families hands starting in the 30s or before, and sold to somebody un-related in the last five years. There aren’t that many, believe it or not.”

“So you still believe the historic angle will get us there?” George asked.

“It’s a long shot, but you never know. If we find a likely prospect, think you and Frank can get a satellite view?”

“Sure,” George said, “But what good is that going to do? You can’t see into the house.”

“True, but I might see a Class C motor home parked on the property or nearby.”

***

The film in the projector finished, the end flapping as the take-up reel continued to turn.

“I’m hungry,” Scott said.

Howard laughed. “You can eat after that? Sick, man.”

“You okay, Bailey?” Scott asked.

She turned to him and smiled. “Any more of the Black Dahlia?”

“Well, she’s already carved and cleaned,” Howard said, a distasteful look on his face. “How much more could there be?”

“There’s one more reel in that pile,” Scott said. “I’m hoping it shows how they placed the body, but the camera wasn’t exactly portable.”

“Maybe they had a smaller one,” Bailey said, her eyes on fire. “Let’s watch it.”

“Okay,” Scott said. He got up and switched film reels.

“I’ll watch the beginning, but after that I’m done for a while,” Howard said.

“No problem, Howie,” Scott said, as he flipped on the projector.

“That’s not the dump site. It’s indoors,” Bailey said. “I don’t recognize that room.”

“Definitely not here,” Howard said.

A woman in her mid-thirties appeared on the screen, looking around, scared.

“Relax, this’ll be over in a few minutes,” said a man off-camera. “Please state your name.”

“Gertrude Landon,” she said, her eyes darting around. “Who’s that guy?”

“Don’t worry, that’s just my partner Chet,” the voice said. “He’s going to take part in your screen test.”

The large man got behind her, and a flash bulb went off. “Superb. Hold for another.”

The man put his arms around the woman’s torso. She looked back at him. “Watch your hands, buster.” There was fear in her eyes.

“Relax,” the man’s voice said. “Chet, we need to see her without the blouse.”

“What! No,” Gertrude said, struggling. Chet tore her shirt and ripped it off of her, leaving her in her bra. She screamed. Chet tossed it aside, and worked on her skirt, tearing it while he struggled to keep her under control. She screamed again. Chet put his hand over his mouth, and she bit him hard.

“Dammit,” he cried, pulling on his hand, trying to get it out of her teeth. She let go and screamed again. Then there was pounding on the door.

“Quiet down,” an old woman’s voice shouted.

“Help!” Gertrude cried.

“I’m calling the cops!” the woman shouted.

The other man ran through the frame, over to the door. He opened it and slipped out. There was a heated conversation. Gertrude continued to struggle and yell.

The man ran back into the room. “Shut her up,” he whispered. “I told the old bat we were doing a screen test for a horror film in here.”

Gertrude tried to get a punch in, but Chet caught her hand. “We won’t be able to finish here,” he said.

“I know,” the man said.

Chet put both hands around the woman’s neck and choked her, holding as she struggled. It took several minutes, but she finally went limp under his hands.

“Hold her for a little longer, Chet,” the man off camera said. “We need to be sure.”

He held her for close to a minute, then dropped her, crumpling to the ground. “We gonna cut her up?”

“No, let’s get our stuff loaded and clear out of here, before the old lady changes her mind.”

“You want to kill her on the way out?”

“No, let’s just split. Pull the car around.”

Chet stepped over the body and left out a door on the other side of the room. The picture went black.

“Wow,” Howard said. “Who the hell was that?”

“We can search for her name. Remember it?” Scott asked.

“I just found it on my phone,” Bailey said. “Another unsolved one. The woman was snatched not far from where the Black Dahlia was taken. Her body was dumped in a gravel pit up in a place called Rolling Hills Estates.”

“I know where that is,” Scott said. “It’s by the coast, on a hill called Palos Verdes.”

“Interesting,” Howard said. “Before or after the Black Dahlia?”

“Before,” Bailey said. “Mid-1946. You think Chet and the Torso Murderer were there long enough? They’re about six months apart.”

“Lots of jobs there after the war,” Scott said. “I know my dad looked around there for a while.”

“Can we go upstairs now?” Howard said. “I’m getting hungry, and we should check on Kerry too.”

“All right, Howie,” Scott said. “I guess five hours is long enough.”

“Can we watch some of the other movies later?” Bailey asked.

“How about tomorrow,” Scott said. “I’m itching to find a new playmate.”

Bailey’s eyes lit up. “For real?”

“Yeah,” Scott said. “Let’s go make plans.”

The three of them went back upstairs. Kerry was sitting in the kitchen, watching the door. He looked terrified.

“What’s the matter, Kerry?” Howard asked.

“Scary noises down there,” he said.

“It was just movies, Kerry,” Scott said. “Nothing to worry about.”

“Horror movies?” he asked, eyes wide.

“Definitely,” Scott said, with a twinkle in his eye.

“I’m calling Sherry,” Howard said. “I’ll be out in the living room.” He sat on the couch and took his phone out of his pocket.

“Hello?”

“Sherry?”

“Yeah, this Howard?”

“Yep. How’s things going at my place?”

“Nothing to worry about,” she said.

There was silence on the line.

“Something’s wrong,” Howard said. “What?”

“Oh, it’s all right. There was an enemy attack on the RV Park last night.”

“I know,” Howard said. “Scotty told me he talked with you. Who was it that showed up again?”

“Some guy named Kurt, and another guy.”

“What was the other guy’s name?”

“I don’t know,” Sherry said. “He didn’t say. Some black guy.”

“I don’t remember a black guy with the group.”

“Oh well,” she said. “When are you creeps coming back here?”

“Won’t be too much longer. You okay for a little while longer?”

“What’s a while?” she asked.

“Couple weeks,” Howard said.

“Okay,” she said. “I gotta go. Customers.”

“I’ll talk to you later, Sherry. Thanks.”

“Save it. See you. Sooner the better.”

Howard came back into the kitchen. Scott and Bailey were making sandwiches.

“You get her?” Scott asked.

“Yeah. We got problems.”

“Why do you say that?”

“She’s hiding something. I asked her the name of the black guy that was with Kurt. She said he didn’t say,” Howard said. “I know these RV types. The first thing they do is tell you their name. She doesn’t want to tell us who he is. The tone of her voice wasn’t right, either.”

“We going back there?” Bailey asked, bringing a plate piled high with sandwiches on it. Kerry followed her to the table.

“I think we ought to make this our new home and forget about that place,” Howard said. “We go back there, we’ll get ourselves killed.”

“You worry too much, Howie,” Scott said. “I agree that we should lie low for a little while. How long can Sherry run your place?”

“I told her I’d be gone a couple more weeks,” Howard said.

“Then we don’t have to decide what to do just yet,” Scott said. “Let’s plan for tonight. We’ve got an empty cell in the dungeon just waiting for a new resident.”

Chapter 8 – Motion Sensors

Frank bent over the workbench, a thin line of smoke rising as he soldered wires onto the cell phone’s circuit board. He pulled back the soldering iron and blew on it. Jake, Terry, and Jerry were watching.

“There, that ought to do it,” he said. He applied power to the motion sensor, and then waved his hand in front of it, watching the cell phone’s output. “Bingo.”

“It’s transmitting?” Jake asked.

“Yeah,” he replied. “We’ve got an issue though. We need good batteries for the motion sensors. Batteries we can swap out.”

“I’ve got a few in my bobtail, but not enough,” Jake said.

“How many do you have?”

“Five or six,” Jake said.

“We need twice that,” Frank said.

“Wait a minute,” Jerry said. “Maybe we ought to get some small solar panels. We could use them to charge up those batteries during the day. They ought to have enough juice in them for the nighttime.”

“We’d have to be careful placing them,” Frank said. “They’d be a tip-off for sure.”

“We could run wire, put them out in the fields a ways from the roads,” Jake said. “I’ve got wire and some small panels.”

“We’d still have to swap out the cell phone batteries, though,” Jerry said. “You won’t get enough juice out of a small panel to keep them both charged.”

“No big deal,” Jake said. “We need to check these things daily anyway. We’ll have to keep the solar panels clean, for one thing. Especially if they’ll be on the dirt.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you what,” Frank said. “I’m going to go get the programming done to receive these signals. You guys can get the motion sensors tied to the phones and the solar panels, and then get them placed. Deal?”

“On it,” Jake said, laughing. “I love doing this stuff.”

“Me too,” Jerry said.

“I’ll need to take off for a while,” Terry said. “I’m up for watch on the roof of the barn.”

“Okay, I’ll catch you guys later,” Frank said. He headed back to the clubhouse to get on the PC.

***

“Wow, look at this,” Trish said, looking at the screen of her laptop.

Heidi rolled her chair over. “That’s a transcript of the interview that Chet did with the cops, isn’t it?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Trish said, eyes wide, reading through it.

“What year?”

“Late 1947,” she said, eyes still glued to the screen. “Shit, they weren’t asking him about the Nighthawk Road killings. Not at all. They were asking about time he spent in California.”

“Really?” Heidi asked. “What crime were they asking about?”

“You aren’t going to believe this,” Trish said. “He was being questioned about the Black Dahlia murder, and some other murder that happened about six months before that. Somebody named Gertrude Landon.”

“Hmmm, haven’t heard that name before,” Heidi said. “Why were they questioning him about this?”

“It looks like part of it was due to the person he traveled to California with,” Trish said. “Holy shit, they thought the other guy might have been the Torso Murderer.”

“No way,” Heidi said. “I’m calling George and Malcolm over here.” She picked up her phone and called, making comments in hushed tones.

They continued reading while they waited. Malcolm hurried in, George right behind him.

“Let’s see,” Malcolm said. Trish got out of her chair, and Malcolm took it. George looked over his shoulder. “Holy cow!”

“What?” George asked, straining to read the screen.

“Our friend Chet was hanging around with a Torso Murderer suspect, being questioned about the Black Dahlia murder, and the Gravel Pit murder about six months earlier.”

“Gravel Pit murder?”

“You don’t know your LA South Bay history very well, do you?” Malcolm asked, turning to look at him. “Just another unsolved murder, but some investigators thought the person who did the Black Dahlia murder also did that one. The body turned up in what’s now Rolling Hills Estates.”

“You’re joking,” George said.

“Nope,” Malcolm said. “I never subscribed to the theory that it was the same killer. I also never bought the Torso Murderer connection to the Black Dahlia murder. Maybe I ought to re-think that.”

George backed up a little, thinking. “This is interesting, but how does it relate to our current dilemma?”

“What do you mean?” Heidi asked.

“How does it help us find out where Scott and Howard are hiding?”

“It plays right into what I was working on,” Malcolm said. “I’m looking for a historical site in Ohio. We know Chet was from this world, and any trips he took or associations he had with other suspects are likely to be connected to murders. We need to search property records in Cleveland for this other suspect’s name. Rupert Smith.”

“We’ll work on that,” Heidi said, looking at Trish.

“Okay,” Malcolm said. “I’m still looking at sales records on older houses. I’m just about done with Cleveland, but found nothing, so this new set of clues might really save our bacon.”

“Hey,” Jane said, looking over. “See the news?”

“No, what?” George asked.

“Body found outside of St Louis,” she said. “It’s the other missing coed. Amanda Smith.”

“Oh, shit,” Malcolm said, heading for the door.

“Where are you going?” George asked.

“Back to my laptop. I’m on that workbench in the barn.”

“Okay, be there in a minute,” George said.

***

Terry climbed up on the roof of the barn. Jackson was up there.

“Hey, Jackson, I’m here to relieve you,” Terry said.

“Oh, cool,” he said. “Mind if I hang around for a little while?”

“Sure, no problem,” Terry said, sitting down next to him. “Looks like Jake and Jerry are already getting those motion sensors set up.”

“Oh, that’s what they’re doing,” Jackson said. “I was wondering.”

“Cool idea, actually,” Terry said. “They’re rigging some of those auto-door motion sensors up to old cellphones. We’ll get a signal if anybody goes by.”

“Sounds like something Frank and Jerry would cook up,” Jackson said, chuckling.

“Exactly,” Terry said. “I was down there when they came up with the idea.”

“What’s Trish up to?”

“She’s helping Heidi track down those serial killers.”

“Oh, she’s into that?” Jackson asked.

“Yeah, big time. I thought that dungeon would be the end of this place for her. It shook her up at first, but now she’s fascinated by it all.”

The sound of a diesel engine started under them.

“What’s that?” Jackson asked. “The tow truck?”

“Sounds too loud for that,” Terry said. “Look, it’s Gabe on his backhoe.”

“Oh, forgot about that thing,” Jackson said. “Looks like he’s heading for the gate. What’s he gonna do? Dig a new moat?”

Both of them cracked up as they watched. He continued past the front of the park, and out into the field.

“I know what he’s doing,” Terry said. “He’s going to drag the hulk of that semi-truck out of there.”

“Good idea,” Jackson said. “We don’t need cover out there for the bad guys to hide behind.”

“Yeah, that lead lining makes the trailer hard to shoot through, that’s for sure.”

“Maybe I ought to go help him,” Jackson said.

“Suit yourself,” Terry said. “I’m sure he’d appreciate it. Maybe we ought to drag it in here and use it for a fortification.”

“I’ll suggest that,” Jackson said, putting his rifle sling over his shoulder. “Later, man.”

“Have fun,” Terry said. He scanned the horizon in all directions.

***

“Let’s go, Howie,” Scott said. “It’s dark enough now.”

“Wish we had a smaller vehicle,” Howard said. “That damn class C is a bear to drive around here, and it’ll get noticed.”

“Wouldn’t it be harder to use a car?” Bailey asked.

“Yeah, a car would be tough, but a van would work,” Howard said.

“We’re just gonna have to make do,” Scott said. “It’ll be okay, at least for another time or two.”

“It’s hard to see it in the backyard, at least,” Bailey said.

“Yeah, a couple of times should be okay, unless enough eyewitnesses catch it,” Howard said. “Then we’re liable to have police helicopters looking for it.”

“If we end up having to stay here for a while, we should get a van,” Scott said.

“That garage big enough for one?” Howard asked.

“Yeah,” Scott said. “We’d have to clean it out though. It’s a friggin mess, and there’s an old station wagon in there, too.”

“Really?” Bailey asked. “It doesn’t have any artifacts from the Torso murders, does it?”

“Good question,” Scott said. “It might. We’ll have to take some time out there, after we’ve seen the rest of the movies in the dungeon.”

“We going to take movies of our own?” Bailey asked, eyes wide with excitement.

“Sure, we might as well add to the legacy,” Scott said.

“Yeah, well just remember the danger of doing that,” Howard said. “Your dad had all kinds of that stuff. Film and VHS. I helped him take it to a storage unit, to get it away from the park. We’d be toast if anybody saw it.”

Scott laughed. “It’s not in the storage unit anymore.”

Howard got a worried look on his face. “You brought it here?”

“No, dummy, it’s at the Kansas RV Park, down in the dungeon with the rest of the artifacts.”

“Son of a bitch,” Howard said. “I can’t go back there now.”

“Why not?” Scott asked.

“What do you mean, why not? I’m in some of those old 35 mm films.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that,” Scott said. “You were a lot younger. You didn’t look the same. I didn’t see you in any of the VHS tapes.”

“I got smarter as I got older, so I’m not on any of the VHS tapes,” Howard said. “Kurt will recognize me on those old films. I’ve known him since that time, dumbass.”

“You’re assuming they watched them,” Scott said.

“Yeah, you’re damn right I am,” Howard said. “This is really bad. I can’t go back to my truck stop now. Not ever. Didn’t you think about that?”

“I didn’t know you had friends that old,” Scott said, deep in thought. “We’re going to have to kill all the interlopers and remove the artifacts.”

“Yeah, right,” Howard said. “How the hell are we gonna do that?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “But I’ll think of something. Better call Sherry. Oh, and by the way, she’s on the VHS tapes. Nasty stuff. Use that.”

“She’s gonna split,” Howard said. “I would if I were her. Even if we don’t get back there, the folks in that park will eventually show the dungeon to the police. They’re going to see her. You too.”

“I’m still dead, remember,” Scott said, smiling.

“Okay, I get that,” Howard said. “I’m still worried about Sherry. She’ll split.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Scott said. “She knows we’ll find her, and she doesn’t want to lose her grandma’s property. It’s probably all she has.”

“We should watch for her property to be listed,” Howard said. “She’ll take off with the money if she can sell out. Hell, I ought to put my truck stop up for sale. Now. I’ve had offers in the past.”

Scott was deep in thought again. Bailey was watching and listening, but getting anxious.

“Hey, guys, we have plenty of time to figure that out,” she said. “Let’s go on the hunt.”

“She’s right, Howie,” Scott said. “I think better when I’ve been satisfied. Let’s go.”

“Alright,” Howard said, standing up. “You’ll have to watch for me when I back out of there. That alley is a little tight.”

***

General Hogan came into the clubhouse. “You guys know where George and Malcolm are?”

“They’re out in the barn, on that work bench that we used to sit at,” Heidi said. “Why?”

“Something just happened. Hey, Frank, why don’t you come along too?”

“Sure, just let me save this,” Frank said.

“What are you working on?” he asked.

“Phone apps for our early warning system,” he said.

“Oh. Figures. I’ll let you get back to it pretty soon.”

Frank got up, and the two men walked over to the barn.

“Hey, guys,” the general said. George and Malcolm looked over from their laptops.

“Hey, General Hogan, what’s up?” George asked, smiling. He turned around in his chair.

“Nobody’s been watching the apps lately, I take it?” the General asked.

“Not me,” Malcolm said. “Been busy all morning.”

“Same here,” George said.

“Yeah, I’ve been programming for most of the morning,” Frank chuckled. “Makes you forget time and space.”

“There were a large number of icons in New Mexico and southern Arizona,” General Hogan said. “They’ve been slowly disappearing over the last week. All of the remaining ones disappeared a couple of hours ago.”

“How many we talking?” Frank asked.

“Over a thousand. They were spread all over the place before. We caught some of them moving in the direction of southern New Mexico, in dribs and drabs. And then poof…all of them are gone all of a sudden. And that’s not all.”

“What else?”

“There’s been a large theft of lead,” he said. “From three different sources. Half a million pounds.”

“Son of a bitch,” Frank said. “They’ve probably got a whole bunch of lead-lined semi-trucks made up already.”

“That’s what we’re thinking. You said something about a timed automatic history of icon hits, Frank. Still keeping that up?”

“Yep,” Frank said. “Want me to access it?”

“Could you?”

“Sure, but we should do that on the PC in the clubhouse. It’ll work better on that than it will on the laptop.”

All four men walked back into the Clubhouse, and Frank logged back onto the PC.

“What’s going on?” Jane asked.

“We’ve got some disappearing icons all of a sudden,” Frank said. “I’m going to use the history files to see what’s up.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” Jasmine said, worried look on her face.

“Okay, how far back do you want me to start?”

“How about two weeks?” General Hogan asked.

“Sure, I can do that,” Frank said. “What you’ll see is this map of the US, a snapshot for every hour. If there’s movement, we’ll see it happening as each snapshot is displayed. Maybe I should send this to the TV screen over there.”

“Good idea,” George said.

Frank switched wires in the back of the PC and then used the remote to turn on the TV. They all stared at the screen.

“It’s show time,” Malcolm said, chuckling. Nobody else laughed.

The screen came up with a map of the USA, showing an hour for each second.

“Too fast?” Frank asked.

“No,” General Hogan said, starting at the screen as the icons floated around. “We can slow down if we need to later.”

They watched, hushed, as icons moved. They could see the roundup of the fighters around Denver, and in other parts of Colorado. Same thing with northern Arizona.

“Look at New Mexico,” the General said. Down in the southeast corner. It’s like a vacuum is sucking them up from that point.”

They got closer to the screen, watching as a hole in the fabric of the icons grew, with icons further and further out disappearing.

“Ten to one, they’re being picked up in shielded trucks, further and further out,” George said. They continued to watch as the ring of emptiness grew to encompass all of New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern Colorado. Then it got to the end.

“Wow,” Frank said. “That was interesting.”

“Can you go back again?” General Hogan asked. “Slow it down? Maybe even start it a week or two earlier?”

“Sure,” Frank said. The screen went to the input block, Frank putting in new parameters. He hit the Save button with his mouse cursor, and the map showed up again.

“Look at that concentration right there, in New Mexico. Can you zoom in?”

“Yeah, but I’ll have to start it over,” Frank said. He went back to the input page and changed the coordinates to show New Mexico only. Then he re-started the display.

“Look, there’s a clump, and it just disappears all of a sudden,” Malcolm said. “Where is that?”

“I’m on it,” Jane said, turning back to her laptop.

“There it goes again,” General Hogan said. “A few miles out, then a hundred, then several hundred. They’re getting into shielded vehicles. No doubt about it.”

“So we know where they are,” George said. “Why don’t we get an air strike going?”

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “Seems like a no-brainer to me. That doesn’t look close to any cities.”

“They aren’t going to bomb there,” Jane said, looking at her laptop screen.

“Why not?” General Hogan asked.

“Because that’s Carlsbad Caverns National Park,” Jane said.

“They’ve gone underground,” Malcolm said.

“I need to call some people,” General Hogan said. “If you’ll excuse me.”

The group watched him leave the room, and then looked at each other.

“They’re trapped, even if they think that formation is too sacred to battle in,” George said. “We just need to send commando raids in there, and watch for people trying to escape.”

“You’d think so,” Malcolm said. “Wonder what they’re doing in there? They have to know they can’t win the war. Think they’re setting a trap to take out as many Americans as possible on their way to oblivion?”

“You mean go out in a blaze of glory?” Malcolm asked. “Could be. These folks are nuts.”

“Can you tell what kind of enemy they were?” George asked.

“Yeah, I checked,” Frank said. “Mostly Islamists. There’s very few militia folks now. I’m thinking most of them got rid of their chips and disappeared back into the woodwork.”

Malcolm’s phone rang, making everybody jump. He pulled it out of his pocket and put it to his ear.

“Hello?”

“It’s Sherry.”

“You get contacted?”

“Yes. Apparently Howard didn’t know that the films and VHS tapes were at the RV Park. He thought they were locked up in a storage unit.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Scotty told him that he’d moved that stuff back to the park before he left for Jersey.”

“I’ll bet Howard was just thrilled about that,” Malcolm said, chuckling. “I wondered why he was okay with this group taking over the park.”

“What now?” Sherry asked. “He’s not coming back. He’s going to try to sell this truck stop and walk away.”

“What did he ask you to do, Sherry?”

“Stay until he figures out his next move.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Sell my place if I can, and disappear.”

“Scott will find you.”

“Possible. I don’t have much choice, Malcolm. Gotta go.”

“I might be the best hope you have, Sherry.”

“Maybe. Gotta go. I’ll call you later.”

Malcolm put his phone back in his pocket and looked over at George. “We got a problem.”

“Uh oh,” George said. “What?”

“Let’s talk about that later. This is more pressing at the moment.”

Chapter 9 – Pepper Shots

Jane was still sitting at her laptop in the clubhouse when her phone rang. She put it to her ear.

“Hello?”

“Mom?”

“Robbie, how are you?”

“I’m good, mom. You and dad okay?”

“Yes, it’s getting easier, believe it or not. Where are you?”

“We’re being moved out of the Denver area. That town is safe again.”

“So we’ve heard. How bad did it get?”

“Really bad, until those apps got released. Then it was a turkey shoot. They surrendered left and right.”

“Where are you guys going now?”

“Rumor has it we’re going to Lubbock, Texas, but that just came up. Not sure it’s true. We’re hoping we don’t end up in Mexico.”

“You probably won’t.”

“Why, you know something I don’t?”

“Maybe, Robbie. Keep your mouth shut about it, okay?”

“Okay. What?”

“We are seeing enemy icons settling in southeastern New Mexico, then disappearing.”

“Southeastern New Mexico? There’s nothing there.”

“Yes there is, son. Carlsbad Caverns.”

Robbie was silent for a moment.

“We’ll have to go clean it out. Crap.”

“Probably. Want to talk to your father?”

“Sure.”

Jane motioned to Frank. “Robbie’s on the line.”

Frank smiled and rushed over, picking up the phone.

“Hi Robbie.”

“Hi dad, how are you?”

“Good. What’s happening with you?”

“We’re done in Denver. I’ve heard we’re being moved to Lubbock, Texas.”

“Did mom tell you what we’re seeing?”

“In southeastern New Mexico? Yeah.”

“How come you’re calling?”

“I was hoping that Lubbock was near you guys are, so I could see you.”

“We’re a ways north of there. There’s no place like home.”

Robbie was quiet for a moment.

“Okay, I get it. Probably be hard to get together, then.”

“Depends on which way they send you. Wish they let you guys have cellphones.”

“That’s not happening. Talked to Sarah lately?”

“No, but it’s been a madhouse here. I’ll try to call her today.”

“Good. I gotta go. Love you dad.”

“Love you too, son. I’ll give this back to your mother.”

Frank handed the phone back to Jane.

“I take it you have to get off, Robbie.”

“Yeah. Love you, mom.”

“Love you too, honey. Take care of yourself.”

“You too.”

Jane put her phone on the desk and looked up at Frank, concern in her eyes.

“Don’t worry. He’s not Special Forces. They’ll go in first,” Frank said. “He’ll probably just be part of the mop up.”

“They could have anything there,” Jane said. “They could be outside of that cavern and lure the army in.”

Frank was silent for a moment, thinking. “You’re right, and we need to poke at that possibility. They stole a lot of lead. We’re thinking it’s for vehicles. It might be for buildings instead.”

“They have nerve gas,” Jane said, tears welling up in her eyes.

“We’ll bring this up to General Hogan and the rest of the folks. Don’t worry about it yet.”

“Not possible,” she said, moving over to hold him.

“Something wrong?” Jasmine asked, walking back to her laptop with a cup of coffee.

“Just heard from Robbie,” Jane said.

“That’s good news, I hope.”

“He’s okay, but it sounds like they’re sending him near southeastern New Mexico.”

“Oh,” Jasmine said, getting a worried expression on her face.

***

“Pull over, Howard,” Scott said. “There’s enough room there.”

“Remember that I need to drive out of here,” Howard said, pulling over into the space. It was tight, but he had some clearance.

“What now?” Bailey asked, excited.

“Now we wait,” Scott said. “Watch for young lovelies to come by. When we see one we like, we open the coach door and yank her in. Easy peasy.”

“Yeah, that’s what you always say,” Howard said, looking out into the street from the driver’s seat. “Lot of people around here. Lot of foot traffic, especially across the street.”

“You always get so nervous,” Scott said. “Relax. We’ve done this before. We’re good at it.”

“There’s one,” Bailey whispered, looking down the sidewalk.

“Wow, she’s hot,” Scott said, watching her. It was a large girl in a tight low-cut top and tight pants. She had long dark hair and a voluptuous figure.

“She’s not carrying anything,” Howard said. “Shouldn’t we wait for one with their hands full? She looks pretty athletic, too.”

“I like her look,” Scott said. “She’s it. C’mon, Bailey. You get out the door and ask her a question. I’ll come up from behind and grab her. You’ll probably have to help.”

Bailey’s eyes were wide and dilated, and she had a wicked grin on her face. She got to the door, Scott following her.

“Now,” Scott said.

Bailey opened the door and stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Hey, you know where the concert is?”

The girl slowed, looking warily at the motor home. “What concert?”

“The student recital. Isn’t it around here?” Bailey asked as the girl got closer.

“This is just dorms,” the girl said, looking more suspicious. “You from around here?”

“No, I’m here to visit my sis,” Bailey said. The girl was right next to her now. Scott leaped out of the door and grabbed her arm. She screamed, and her hand went up. Pepper spray shot into Scott’s eyes, and he yelled. Then the girl sprayed Bailey in the eyes and continued to scream as she ran.

“Shit, get in,” Howard shouted. “We gotta get outta here!”

Bailey and Scott were rubbing their eyes, cussing, trying to find the door. Howard leapt down and grabbed Scott by the arm, yanking him inside. Scott grabbed Bailey’s arm, and she followed him in, cussing and spitting. When they were through the door, Howard slammed the door and locked it, then rushed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

“Dammit,” Scott said, feeling his way to the sink to wash the pepper spray out of his eyes. Howard backed up as students ran over, all of them with their camera phones pointed at the motor home.

“No!” Howard said. He put the coach into drive and punched it, students diving out of the way as they hauled ass down the street.

Bailey felt her way to the sink and joined Scott, trying to wash the pepper spray out of her eyes as the van rocked, making quick turns and speeding up too fast.

“Thank God,” Howard shouted as he hit the freeway on-ramp. He got into the fast moving traffic and settled down.

“Well, that didn’t go so well,” Scott said, wiping his eyes.

“I told you, idiot,” Howard said. “Girls with a handful of books are doable. Strong girls carrying nothing aren’t.”

“Settle down,” Scott said. “We’ll get another chance.”

“Are you nuts?” Howard asked. “We’ll be lucky to get home before the cops find us with one of their choppers.”

“Relax,” Scott said.

“Relax my ass. You see how many students were out there with their phone cameras? We’re already on YouTube. The cops know our license plate number, and what this coach looks like. We’re screwed.”

Bailey came up, tears still flowing from her eyes. “Sorry.” She looked terrified.

“This wasn’t your fault, Bailey,” Howard said. “Don’t worry.”

“We’re going to get caught, aren’t we?” she said.

“No we’re not,” Scott said. “Been in worse jams than this. We’ll be fine, but we need to think it through.”

“No, we’re done, at least with this vehicle,” Howard said. “I’m not going to be able to sell my truck stop now, either. They’ll be right there.”

“Report this thing stolen,” Bailey said.

“Now that’s a good idea,” Scott said.

Howard thought about it for a moment. “Yeah, that is a good idea. You guys can’t be around when I do that, though. You can bet there’s video of both of you. I’ll have to do it alone.”

“Okay, Howie,” Scott said. “Just get us home safe, and we’ll plan this out.”

Bailey looked terrified, leaning on the engine cover in front, looking down.

“Hey, this wasn’t your fault,” Howard said. “And you thought of a way to save our bacon. Don’t worry. You did good. We let you down.”

***

Terry’s watch was over. The Sheriff relieved him up on the roof of the barn.

“How you doing, Terry?” he asked as he climbed up.

“You aren’t afraid of heights, Uncle?” Terry asked, smiling.

“No, not yet,” he said. “I actually like it up here.”

“Me too,” Terry said. “Looks like the motion sensors are all set up.”

“Yeah, those guys got them placed. Charlie helped. That guy knows how to lead a job like that.”

“I remember when we set up the cameras at Hilda’s place? He was a big help.” Terry looked out over the horizon. “That seems like so long ago.”

“Yeah it does,” the Sheriff said. “Had any thoughts about what to do after this is over?”

“Have babies,” Terry said, grinning.

“Well, that’s a given,” the Sheriff said. “I mean for a living.”

“Oh,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind running this place if I could make a deal with the group.”

“You mean set up the dungeon as a museum?” the Sheriff asked, chuckling. “Most of that stuff will get confiscated as soon as we show it to the authorities. If it’s not the locals, it’ll be the FBI. It’ll be like pulling teeth to get it back, too.”

“True, that might be a problem,” Terry said.

“If you want to run an RV Park, there might be another possibility. Remember that Charlie and Hilda have an extra park. They might hire you to run one, and those parks are both going concerns. Lots of traffic. It could be a good gig for you two.”

“You think they’d trust me with that?” he asked.

“Hell, yes,” the Sheriff said. “You’ve impressed people here. You know that, right?”

“Maybe,” he said, sheepish look on his face. “Trish said I ought to go into business with Jake. Help him with the electronics store.”

“That’s another possibility,” the Sheriff said. “You interested in that?”

“I’d rather run an RV Park,” Terry said.

The Sheriff chuckled. “Yeah, so would I.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know, Terry. I’ve got a pension vested. Was getting ready to retire when the shit hit the fan. I need to be busy though. I’ll need something to do.”

“You think we’ll get hit here again?” Terry asked.

“Hard to tell,” he said. “Maybe, but I think the enemy is about done.”

“What about those serial killers?”

“Malcolm and George will kill them when they figure out where we are. Probably get away with it again, too.”

“You change your opinion about them?”

“Somewhat,” the Sheriff said. “They play fast and loose with the law, but I can’t help liking them. Especially Malcolm, and he’s the one I was most worried about. We’re actually becoming friends. Who’d have thought?”

Terry laughed. “Trish and Heidi have gotten close.”

“Seen that,” the Sheriff said. “She’s good people. I’m surprised she’s stayed with those two for so long.”

“Remember how she was in the battle?” Terry asked. “She’s valuable.”

“Yeah, but so are Jane and Jasmine. Strong women aren’t rare, you know. You married one.”

“You got that right,” Terry said, looking off into the distance. “She’s my whole world. I worship the ground she walks on.”

“I can tell,” the Sheriff said. “Too bad her mother died so young. She must have been something.”

“Yeah,” Terry said.

Terry’s phone rang. He answered it and got a smile on his face. “Okay, Frank, thanks.” He put it back in his pocket.

“What?” the Sheriff asked.

“Give me your phone. Frank got the app for the motion sensors done.”

The Sheriff laughed. “That guy amazes me.” He fished his phone out of his pocket and handed it to Terry.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said as he headed for the ladder.

The Sheriff looked out on the horizon, thinking. Is life going to be as good when this is over?

***

Malcolm laughed out loud, watching his laptop at the workbench in the barn. George was standing outside chatting with Heidi when he heard it.

“What’s so funny?” he asked, walking over with Heidi.

“Howard and Scotty just had a royal FUBAR moment,” he said.

“What happened?” Heidi asked. She and George were next to Malcolm now, looking at his laptop screen.

“They tried to snatch a young lady on a street near the University in Columbus, Ohio,” Malcolm said. “The victim pepper sprayed Scotty and some chick who was with him. It caused such a ruckus that students came out of the woodwork and shot video. It’s all over YouTube. Watch.” He started the video again. George and Heidi watched, mesmerized.

“Wow,” Heidi said, smiling. “They’re screwed. See how clear Howard’s face showed up through the windshield?”

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “I’ll start my house search in Columbus. Thought it was too far away, but I’ll bet that’s where it is. We’ll find them.”

“You sound pretty confident about that,” George said.

“Of course. We have the police interviews with Chet and the suspect for the Torso Murders. I’ll start with the suspect’s name. Rupert Smith.”

“We also better put a trace on this class C,” George said.

“Why?” Heidi asked.

“I know why,” Malcolm said. “They’ll report it stolen.”

“Yup,” George said.

“What do we do when we find them?” Heidi asked.

“We go get them,” Malcolm said.

“You mean set up an ambush in the middle of Columbus?” she asked.

“No,” George said. “Frankly, when we find out where they are, we ought to get with Ted and sic the FBI on them.”

“They’ll screw it up,” Malcolm said.

“Maybe we should go and act as backup to the FBI,” Heidi said. “Just in case they do screw things up.”

George looked at her, shocked. “Really, honey?”

“Yes, but I’m going with you guys,” she said. “You okay with that?”

George studied her face. “You’re having a change of heart?”

“Yeah,” she said.

“Why?”

“All this study I’ve been doing. I’m looking at things differently now. I’m feeling comfortable doing something. Besides, we’ll give the FBI first crack.”

“Excuse me, guys,” Malcolm said. “I’m going to start searching.”

George nodded and walked Heidi away from him. Her arm went around his back as they walked, and she pulled him close.

“I’ve been thinking, George,” Heidi said.

“So I gather.”

“Maybe instead of resisting you and Malcolm, I should work with you,” she said. “I’m getting pretty good at the research. I could help.”

George stopped and turned to face her, his arms going around her back.

“You look like you’re going to cry,” she said.

“You’re back,” he said. “You’re letting your guard down.”

“I guess maybe I am,” she said. “I’m sorry it took so long.”

“You were right about a lot of that,” he said, caressing her hair. “You’ve changed my attitude. A lot.”

“I know,” she said. “We’re growing together instead of apart. I can feel it.”

“Then maybe you’ll accept my proposal next time,” he said, a soft smile on his face.

“Time will tell,” she said, a worried expression sneaking onto her face. “I can’t do that until I tell you everything.”

“I don’t care what happened,” George said. “Don’t you understand that?”

“I care,” she said. “I can’t have secrets from you if we’re going to be together for life. There’s things that happened in Vegas and at Sailor Boy’s compound I have to tell you.”

“Go ahead,” he said. “Don’t worry. I know what world you were in.”

“I’m not ready yet, but I’ll work myself towards it. Okay?”

“Okay,” George said. He hugged her.

“We’ll have to manage Malcolm a little better when the world gets back to normal, you know,” Heidi said. “He’ll get locked up if we aren’t careful.”

George sighed. “Yeah, it’s been three times since I’ve been with him. I’m not even counting the Red Dagger thing.”

“There’s gonna be four, I suspect,” Heidi said. “The world is still nuts though.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“I’m suggesting that we help him take out the trash,” Heidi said, an embarrassed grin on her face. “Even if we’re not playing by the rules.”

“Bingo!” Malcolm said from in front of his laptop. George and Heidi looked at each other and smiled.

“What’d you find?” Heidi asked.

“Rupert Smith’s house sold in the right timeframe, after being in the family since 1922,” Malcolm said. “We’ve got them. I know exactly where they are.”

“Yes!” George said as he walked up arm in arm with Heidi.

“Call Ted,” Heidi said. “Notify the FBI.”

Malcolm looked at her, then George. He saw resolve.

“You sure we can trust them?” he said.

“No,” Heidi said. “We’re going there too, remember? Just in case we need to step in.”

Malcolm got a smile on his face, and then his phone rang. He looked at it and cracked up. “Ted.” He answered it.

“We were just talking about you, Ted.”

“See that YouTube video?”

“Yep.”

“All we have to do now is wait for something to happen with the motor home.”

“We don’t have to wait for that.”

There was a pause on the line.

“Okay, Malcolm, what did you find out?”

“The address of their house.”

“How?”

“The house belonged to a suspect in the Torso Murders. I know Scotty bought the place.”

“How do you know that?”

“Long story, Ted. I’ll fill you in, but first I want you to bring the bureau in on this.”

“You sure, Malcolm? It’s Agent Keith’s case. That idiot will screw it up.”

“Yeah, but we’ll be there too, just in case. These folks aren’t getting away. They’ll be in the joint or dead. Soon. We’ll make sure of that.”

“Okay, I’ll go along with that. Mind if I join you?”

“That’d be great. Call me back after you’ve talked to the FBI, and I’ll tell you where to find us.”

“Okay, Malcolm. Talk to you later.”

Malcolm set his phone next to his laptop.

“He’s coming out here, isn’t he?” George asked, smiling.

“Yep,” Malcolm said. “Wait until he gets a look at the dungeon.”

“You already told him about that, didn’t you?” Heidi asked.

“Yeah, but there’s nothing like seeing it firsthand.”

Chapter 10 – Tree Canopy

Gabe pulled the broken semi-trailer towards the front gate of the RV Park. It creaked along. The wheels turned, but the chassis was tweaked. Jackson followed behind on foot. He guided Gabe as he pulled it across the opening.

“So, you’re thinking this is our new gate?” Jackson asked as Gabe strolled over from the backhoe.

“Well, it ain’t much, but it’ll stop bullets. Also stop cars from rushing in,” Gabe said.

“Won’t it stop us from getting out?”

“There’s that opening in the back, remember?”

“Oh, yeah,” Jackson said. “We ought to at least put a gate back there.”

Gabe looked the trailer over. “We should move the lead from the inside wall to the outside wall.”

“Doesn’t matter. We’ll be behind it, not inside. If the first batch of lead doesn’t stop the bullets, the back one will.”

“Roger that. I’ll move it over for a few minutes and tow the cab in.”

“Why?”

“Don’t need it out there to hide behind, and we could use it for parts,” he said. “The engine is pretty much intact. It’s a Cummins. Some of the pushers are Cummins.”

“Gotta pull the bodies out,” Jackson said. “They probably didn’t get burned up in the Willie Pete.”

“Oh, yeah,” Gabe said. “Forgot about that.”

“I’ll give you a hand.” They both rode the backhoe out into the field again.

***

Charlie walked into the Clubhouse and sat next to Hilda on the bench facing the TV. She had the news on.

“All done, honey?” she asked.

“Yeah, we got all five routes covered with the motion sensors,” Charlie said. “Not completely air-tight, but it’ll be hard for them not to trip at least one.”

“We’ll go nuts when a deer walks around out there,” Hilda said, smiling.

“Yeah, I know. What’s on the news?”

“Denver’s safe now. So is I-70. The problems are in southern Arizona and New Mexico now.”

“Good,” Charlie said. “Wonder if there’s anything left of my park?”

“Good question,” Hilda said. “Mine was pretty horrible.”

“Hey, look. Is that Howard?”

Hilda turned to the screen and saw the video, showing a class C rig trying to maneuver out onto a city street. Howard was clearly visible behind the windshield.

“My word, that’s him alright,” Hilda said. “Good. Now they’ve got bigger fish to fry than us.”

They listened silently as the newscaster talked.

“Students in Columbus, Ohio stopped a kidnapping tonight on a street near the University. This white motor home was involved. A man and a young women tried to grab a coed who was walking on the sidewalk. She foiled the attempt with pepper spray. Her screaming brought students over with their smart phones. We have video from sixteen different cameras so far. Police are searching for the motor home now, throughout the Columbus area. It was seen getting onto I-71, but police have not found it yet.”

“I don’t think we need to worry about those creeps anymore,” Charlie said.

“Here is video of the two people who tried to kidnap the girl,” the announcer said.

“Can’t see their faces very well,” Hilda said.

Charlie laughed. “Pepper spray isn’t very enjoyable. Look at them. They can’t even see the door.”

“Is that Howard pulling them in?”

“Yeah,” Charlie said. “There’s the girl’s face. Pretty gal. What’s she doing with these old creeps?”

“Good question. Wonder if George and Malcolm have seen this yet?”

“I saw Malcolm out in the barn on his laptop,” Charlie said. “He’s probably watching the video now.”

***

Howard cruised slowly down the dark alley, stopping near the gate.

“Get out and guide me in,” he said gruffly. Scott nodded and left the vehicle.

“Nobody followed us,” Bailey said, coming in from the bedroom. “My eyes were peeled through the back window the whole time.”

“Can’t believe how lucky we are,” Howard said as he waited for Scott to open the gate. “I wish Scotty would listen. That was a bad choice.”

“I know,” Bailey said. “Why don’t you pull all the way up towards the house? I’ll bet those two big trees will cover this thing enough.”

“Good idea,” Howard said. “I’ll have to go straight in.” He pulled forward. Scott gave him a quizzical look, expecting him to back in. Howard kept coming when Scott put his hands up to stop. He rushed over to the driver’s side window. Howard rolled it down.

“What are you doing, trying to run me over?”

“No,” Howard said. “Look up. We can fit under those trees by the porch.”

“Oh, I see. Good idea,” he said. “It’ll be hard to back this thing out later.”

“Don’t care,” Howard said. “I’d rather not be jockeying this thing back and forth in plain sight right now anyway.” He pulled in tight to the back porch, shut the engine off, and got out, looking up at the green canopy above him.

“This is perfect,” Bailey said.

“Well, it’ll hold until we can dump the rig somewhere and report it stolen,” Scott said.

“We need to see the video before we decide what to do,” Howard said. “If there’s a good shot of me through the windshield, you can forget that idea.”

“You worry too much,” Scott said.

“Excuse me?” Howard said. “You don’t get how royally screwed we are. Use your head.”

“Watch it, Howie.”

“Watch it my ass,” Howard said. “Thanks to you, I’ve lost my business and my motor home. Probably my freedom or my life too. Stuff it.”

Bailey watched, looking more and more nervous. “Let’s not fight. Let’s think.”

The two men calmed down.

“Close the gate, Scotty, and check the alley. If somebody saw us come in, we’re in trouble.”

“Okay, okay,” Scott said, walking away.

“He’s pissed,” Bailey said.

“You ought to be the one that’s pissed,” Howard said. “There’s probably video of your face on the internet now. You’re in this with both feet.”

“I don’t care,” Bailey said.

“You don’t care now,” Howard said. “At least this will keep Scotty from putting you down.”

“You think he’d kill me?” she asked, looking nervous again.

“I won’t let him,” Howard said.

Scott walked back up. “Sorry, Howie.”

“Okay, don’t worry about it. Let’s go check the video.”

They went into the kitchen. Scott’s laptop was still on the table. He turned it as Howard and Bailey sat.

“Wow, look at all those videos,” Bailey said as she watched Scott scroll through the YouTube screen. He clicked on the first one, and the video started.

“Son of a bitch,” Howard said. “There’s my kisser, clear as day.”

“This is a problem,” Scotty said.

The three watched silently as Scott played each of them.

“I don’t believe it,” Howard said. “The only one of us that didn’t get a good face shot was you, Scotty.”

“Maybe that means I’m still dead,” he said. “Good idea on pulling that motor home under the trees. It’s not visible from above or from the alley. It buys us some time.”

“That was Bailey’s idea,” Howard said.

“We could still drive it somewhere and dump it, couldn’t we?” Bailey asked. “After the heat dies down?”

“Yeah, but what’s the point?” Howard asked. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“It matters to me,” Scott said

They sat silently for a minute. Kerry came down from his room.

“What’s the matter, Scotty?” he asked.

“We had problems when we were in the motor home,” Scott said. “Don’t worry about it.”

“It was on TV,” he said. “How come everybody was filming you?”

“Because of some dumb bitch,” he said. Kerry looked at him, worried. “You aren’t stabbed again, are you?”

“No, Kerry, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Bailey got up. “C’mon, Kerry, let’s go find some cartoons.”

“Okay,” he said, smiling. They went in the living room and turned on the TV.

“We screwed her over good,” Howard said softly to Scott. “Clear face shot of her.”

“I know,” Scott said. “Think we can afford to keep her around?”

“I don’t think we can afford to lose her, so don’t get any ideas,” Howard said.

“Why?”

“I like her, Scotty. So does Kerry. Don’t you hurt her. I mean it.”

“Okay, forget I said anything,” Scott said.

“The only person who came through this smelling like a rose was you.”

“Maybe,” Scott said. “There wasn’t good video of me, but that coed got a look at my face. She’ll be able to identify me.”

“So what now?” Howard asked.

“We need to get her name,” Scott said.

“You’re thinking about snuffing her?” Howard asked.

“Of course, but I’ll go do it myself,” Scott said. “It’s not going to be pleasant for her, either.”

“Somebody else might have gotten a look at your face, you know.”

“Possibly,” Scott said. “But I know she did. She ain’t gonna live through it.”

***

Malcolm watched as Gabe pulled the semi cab behind the barn with his back hoe, Jackson trotting along behind. After a few minutes, they drove the backhoe into the barn.

“Clearing the front area of structure, eh,” Malcolm asked.

“Yeah,” Gabe said. “The trailer is pulled across the entrance.”

“Not a bad idea, as long as we can move it easily,” George said.

“There’s a back way out,” Jackson said. “Behind the barn and down a ways. It’s big enough to drive motor homes through.”

“Really,” Malcolm said. “What are you gonna do with the cab?”

“Oh, just let it sit for now,” Gabe said. “The engine compartment is intact. Might be worth having for parts.”

“What kind?” Malcolm asked.

“Cummins.”

“Well, that’s what my rig has in it,” Malcolm said. “Probably worthwhile keeping it.”

“You took the bodies out, I hope,” George said.

“Yeah. What are you guys up to?”

“Seen the news in the last couple of hours?” Malcolm asked.

“Nope, been busy. Why?”

“Howard and Scott screwed up in Columbus, Ohio,” Malcolm said. “We know where they are now.”

“What happened?” Jackson asked.

“They tried to kidnap a coed. She had pepper spray. That ruined their whole day.”

“Ouch,” Gabe said, laughing.

“The real ouch is the video that the students shot when they heard the girl screaming. There’s over twenty YouTube videos out there now.”

“So what now?” Jackson asked. “You find the address, and go get them?”

“We already have the address,” Malcolm said. “We’ve notified the FBI, and I have an old friend on his way out here. We’ll be going to Ohio in the next day or two.”

“Really?” Jackson said. “Gonna need any help?”

“You don’t want to get involved in this one,” George said. “Trust me.”

“Good advice,” Gabe said. “C’mon, Jackson, let’s go get a drink.”

“Okay,” he said. They went down the trap door stairs towards the lounge.

Malcolm’s phone dinged. “Text message from Ted,” he said.

“What’s up?” George asked.

“He’s flying into Amarillo later today,” Malcolm said, reading the message. “He’ll rent a car there. I sent him coordinates for this place earlier.”

“Good,” George said. “We’d better flag down Charlie and let him know somebody’s coming, so our folks don’t blast him.”

Malcolm chuckled. “Yeah, good idea.”

“Want to talk to him now? I saw him go into the clubhouse. I could use a cup of coffee.”

“Yeah, let’s go,” Malcolm said. They walked to the clubhouse and found Charlie sitting with Hilda in front of the TV.

“I assume you guys saw this,” Charlie asked.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “Spectacular.”

“I’ll say,” Hilda said. “I’m glad these creeps are in trouble.”

“Seriously,” George said. Heidi saw him when she came out of the kitchen.

“What’s up, honey?” she asked.

“Any coffee left in there?”

“Yeah, want a cup?” she asked.

“Sure, but I’ll come over,” he said. He left the table.

“You want to talk about something, I take it,” Charlie said.

“Yeah, we’ve got a guy coming in from Amarillo tonight.”

“Really? Related to this?”

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “He’s LAPD, on assignment with the Serial Killer Task Force.”

“That’s still active?” Charlie asked.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said, “but not like before the war.”

“What’s your friend’s name?” Hilda asked.

“Ted Crowley,” Malcolm said. “We’ve worked together on most of my hunts. We go back to my days on the force.”

“I’ve read about him,” Hilda said. “Anxious to meet him.”

“I suspect you guys will be going to Columbus,” Charlie said.

“Yeah, in a couple of days,” Malcolm said. “Can you get the word out to everybody about Ted? He’s going to rent a car and drive in.”

“I’ve got a suggestion, since it’ll be dark when he arrives,” Charlie said.

“Go on,” Malcolm said.

“Have him call us from the truck stop, and we’ll go get him,” Charlie said.

Malcolm thought about it for a minute. “You know, that’s a damn good idea, and maybe we can introduce him to Sherry while we’re there.”

“She still around?” Charlie asked. “If she’s seen this, she’s liable to high tail it.”

“Good point,” Malcolm said. “I’d better call her right now. Thanks.”

George and Heidi walked up with coffee. Heidi handed a cup to Malcolm.

“Oh, great, thanks, sweet pea,” Malcolm said, taking it from her.

“Figured you were ready,” she said. “George tells me that Ted is getting in tonight.”

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “I was just about to call Sherry. We’ll meet Ted at the truck stop and escort him in.”

“Good idea,” George said. “Sherry might be gone already though.”

“That’s what Charlie said. I’ll call her now.” He took his phone out and hit her contact, then put it to his ear.

“Sherry?”

“What do you want, Malcolm?”

“You see the news?”

“Yeah,” she said. “I closed the truck stop. People in town were rushing in there, asking questions. That’s a clear picture of Howard through the windshield. He’s screwed.”

“We know. There’s an associate of mine coming in tonight who I’d like you to meet.”

“Why?”

“Maybe he’ll think of some questions that I didn’t.”

“You aren’t setting me up, are you, Malcolm?”

“No, not at all. Our deal stands.”

“What about the VHS?”

“What about it?” Malcolm asked.

“You gonna lose control of that evidence if other people show up?”

“We don’t have to worry about Ted. He already knows everything. You’re cooperating. Don’t worry.”

“Do I get the tapes?”

“What years were you on them?” Malcolm asked.

“Late 1986 through 1992,” she said. “Why?”

“The tapes are marked with the year.”

“You haven’t even seen them yet? Shit.”

“No, but I knew you’d be on them.”

She sighed. “Okay, I get it. What do you want me to do?”

“How quick can you get to the truck stop from home?”

“In this two-bit town? About two minutes.”

“Good, then I’ll call you when he gets here. Bring the keys.”

“Alright, Malcolm. Don’t screw me over.”

“I won’t.”

Malcolm put his phone back in his pocket.

“You really going to let her walk?” Charlie asked.

“Haven’t decided yet,” Malcolm said. “Kurt around?”

“He was in here earlier, but he and Mary went back to their rig. Why?”

“He said he had a VCR,” Malcolm said.

“I’ll call him,” Charlie said.

***

Kurt walked from his coach towards the clubhouse, a VCR in his arms. Mary was beside him. Trish and Terry joined them on the way.

“You gonna take that to the dungeon?” Trish asked, wide eyed.

“Probably the lounge,” Kurt said. “Malcolm needs to review those VHS tapes.”

“Wonder if I can join them?” Trish asked

“You sure you want to, honey?” Terry asked. “That stuff sticks with you.”

“It’s okay,” Trish said. “If it bothers me too much, I’ll leave.”

They entered the clubhouse.

“Here you go, Malcolm,” Kurt said, putting the unit on the table. “It worked last time I tried it, but that was a few years ago.”

“Thanks, Kurt,” Malcolm said. “Where should we set this up? I don’t think we want to show them in here.”

“The TV in the lounge,” Kurt said. “Jake put that other flat screen in there during the siege, remember?”

“Oh yeah,” Malcolm said. “Anybody interested, come on down.”

“I’ll pass,” Charlie said. Hilda nodded in agreement.

“Doesn’t sound very entertaining,” Mary said, a grim expression on her face.

“I want to see them,” Heidi said.

“Me too,” Trish said.

“You sure?” George asked.

“Yeah,” Heidi said.

“Alright, let’s go,” Malcolm said. He picked up the VCR, and they took the kitchen stairs.

“Hey, what’s up?” asked Gabe, as Malcolm and the others entered. He was sitting at the bar with Jackson, Earl, The Sheriff, and Jake.

“We need to review those VHS tapes,” Malcolm said.

“Why?”

“I made a deal with Sherry, remember?” he replied.

“You’re going to hide the ones with her on them?” the Sheriff asked. “Sure that’s a good idea?”

“For now, yeah,” Malcolm said. “You guys saw what happened in Columbus today, right?”

“I told them,” Gabe said. “You planning something?”

“Our associate from the LAPD is joining us tonight,” Malcolm said. “Ted Crowley.”

“You’re trying to hide these from him?” the Sheriff asked.

“No, he already knows about them,” Malcolm said. “I’m just upholding the deal we made with Sherry.”

“We notified the FBI about the house in Columbus through Ted,” Heidi said.

“Shit, they’re liable to padlock this place and kick us out,” Earl said.

“No, we aren’t telling them where we are,” George said. “I’ve got coverage. Already had the discussion.”

“Thought you were former CIA, not former FBI,” the Sheriff said.

“I am, but those guys all know each other, and I talked to the CIA liaison. Don’t worry. We’re good.”

Malcolm set the VCR on top of the old console TV and connected it to the flat screen. He turned both of them on, switching the TV to Aux Video with the remote. The blue VCR screen came up. “Well, it powers up, anyway. I’ll go get the box of tapes. Somebody want to give me a hand?”

George and Earl stepped up to help, pulling the heavy door back and over.

“Phew, wish we could do something about that stench,” Earl said, squinting.

Malcolm went down quickly, coming back up with the box of tapes. “Let’s close this damn thing.”

The men closed the trap door as Malcolm carried the box to the VCR.

“Who wants to watch?” Malcolm asked, putting the first tape into the VCR.

“I’m out of here,” Earl said. “It’s my turn to man the roof of the barn, anyway. Dobie’s up there now. He’ll probably want to watch. He’s into this shit.”

“I’m leaving too,” Jake said. “You coming, honey?”

Trish looked at him. “No, dad, I’ll stick around. I’ll leave if it bothers me.”

“I’m going with your dad,” Terry said.

“Okay, honey, catch you later,” Trish said.

The Sheriff and Jackson stayed at the bar.

“You going, Sheriff?” Jackson asked.

“Nah, I’ll hang out. Probably won’t watch the screen much though.”

The video appeared on the screen. A scared young girl was looking through the bars of the cell. She was whimpering. There was a nasty snicker off camera.

“No!” Heidi said. “I’d know that laugh anywhere.”

“Who is it?” George asked.

“Earl Wilson,” she said, her eyes tearing up.

“You sure you want to be here, sweetie?” he asked.

She nodded yes.

Chapter 11 – Bureau Mole

“That the last of them, Frank?” Jane asked.

“Yeah, everybody has the new apps except the folks watching the VHS down in the lounge.”

“Who’s that?”

“George, Malcolm, the Sheriff, Jackson, Trish, Heidi, and Dobie.”

“I wouldn’t mind going down to watch that,” Jane said.

“Ewwww,” Jasmine said, looking over at her. “Seriously?”

“Yeah, I’m interested,” she said.

“I must admit I am a little too,” Jerry said. “I’ll go down there with you.”

Jane looked at Frank. He sighed.

“Go ahead, but if it’s too much, don’t hang around,” Frank said.

“Okay,” Jane said. “C’mon, Jerry.”

They headed for the trap door in the kitchen, just as the general was walking into the clubhouse.

“Hi, Frank,” he said. “Seen any more activity?”

“I just got finished loading the motion sensor app on the phones,” Frank said. “I was going to take a look in a few minutes.”

“I’ve been looking,” Jasmine said. “Nothing new.”

“Where are Jane and Jerry going?”

“They want to watch those VHS tapes that Malcolm’s running in the lounge.”

“Oh. You see the video of those guys in Columbus?” the General asked.

“Yeah,” Frank said. “They’re toast.”

“Probably. When does this other guy show up?”

“Ted Crowley. Four or five hours,” Frank said. “I suspect we’ll be losing Malcolm, Heidi, and George tomorrow or the next day.”

“Probably, but I hope they come back.”

“Anything new on Carlsbad Caverns?”

“Yeah, we’ve got drones and a satellite focused in.”

“They won’t see the drones, I hope,” Frank said.

“They’ll have a hard time seeing these drones,” the general said with a smile.

“My son’s unit is on its way down from Denver to Lubbock,” Frank said.

“He called you?”

“Yeah,” Frank said. “We wanted to talk to you about that. What if Carlsbad Caverns is a trap?”

“A trap?” the General asked.

“Yeah,” Frank said. “What if all that lead isn’t for vehicles? What if they’re making a hiding place for themselves?”

“Oh,” the General said, staring into space, his mind working. “You’re afraid that they’ll try to lure our men into the caverns and then let them have it.”

“Yeah,” Frank said. “They have that nerve gas.”

“That’s a valid concern. I need to have a chat with the Joint Chiefs.”

“Maybe the drones or the satellite will pick up something,” Jasmine said.

“Maybe,” the General said. “Wish we would have had them in place earlier.”

“When did that lead disappear?” she asked.

“It started about two weeks ago. The last heist was four days ago.”

“They aren’t done, then,” Frank said. “Keep the eyes on them.”

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go make that call,” the general said.

***

Jeb’s eyes opened. He looked around, afraid to move his head. The heart monitor was running, beeping softly.

“Oh, you wake,” Rosie said, smiling at him. “How feel?”

“Everything hurts,” Jeb said softly. “They get it all?”

“Yes, they do good. You on road to recovery.”

“Our friends okay?”

“Yes. You don’t remember? You in and out for days. We talk already.”

“Really? No, I don’t remember much. Hope my brain ain’t going sour.”

“You be okay. Take time. You no spring chicken.”

“True,” he said, smiling. “Any more attacks?”

“Yes, we talk about. One here, also one at park. Cretins lose.”

“Good.”

“They lose everywhere. Apps out. Everybody have now. They hide and run. Many surrender.”

“Denver?”

“Enemy defeated there. Mexico too. Clean up in southwest going now.”

“How long am I gonna be laid up?” Jeb asked.

“At least two more week,” Rosie said. “You take easy. Don’t worry.”

***

Jane and Jerry walked quietly into the lounge. Everybody in the room was focused on the big screen TV, except for Jackson and the Sheriff, who were at the bar sipping whiskey from small glasses.

“You want to see this?” Trish whispered to Jane. “It’s pretty strong stuff.”

“For a few minutes at least,” Jane said. “What’s been on there so far?”

“No killings so far,” she whispered. “Mental torture and sex. That Sherry woman is pretty bad. I don’t believe she’s no longer dangerous. She was enjoying this too much.”

Jane sat and watched the grainy video.

“You alright, honey?” George asked, looking at Heidi.

“No, but I still need to watch it,” she whispered. “If we wouldn’t have gotten the drop on Carol, I would’ve gone through this with Jill.”

“I know, but why do you need to watch it?”

“So I can stay with you,” she said, not looking at him.

George’s eyes welled up with tears, and he put his hand on her shoulder, pulling her close.

“Oh, geez,” Jane said. “He’s gonna kill her.”

The screams from the soundtrack got louder. Jane and Jerry both looked away as it was happening.

“That does it for me,” the Sheriff said. “I’m outta here.” He picked up his drink and headed for the steps, climbing up into the barn. Jackson poured more whiskey into his glass and followed him.

“You okay, Sheriff?” he asked.

“No. I’ve been on the scene after shit like that’s happened. That’s bad enough. Listening is as bad as watching it.”

“You look really upset.”

“I’m pissed, Jackson. That woman is going to skate. She ought to be executed for that garbage.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Jackson said as they walked around to the clubhouse.

Frank and Jasmine looked up as they walked in.

“Good, I’ve got new phone apps for you guys,” Frank said. “Bring them over.”

They both walked to Frank, pulling their phones out of their pockets.

“You look upset, Sheriff,” Jasmine said.

“Yeah,” he said. “Why’d Jerry go down there to watch that garbage?”

“I don’t know,” Jasmine said. “He’s been obsessed with this stuff since he’s been doing all the research. I hope he gets out of there before too long.”

“Me too,” the Sheriff said.

“That woman on there?” Frank asked.

“Yeah,” Jackson said, shuddering.

“We can’t let this woman off the hook,” the Sheriff said.

“You think Malcolm’s really going to?” Jackson asked. “He said he was still thinking about it.”

“Good question. His priority is catching Scott and Howard,” Frank said.

“He’s not going to let her go,” Jasmine said. “He’ll get her.”

“Why do you say that?” the Sheriff said.

“I’ve been studying this guy,” Jasmine said. “He never lets people like her go.”

“I hope you’re right,” Jackson said.

The Sheriff sighed. “Murder begets murder. This is my problem with these guys. That VHS should be going to the FBI.”

“Maybe you should hand it over, Sheriff,” Frank said. “After they’ve taken off for Ohio.”

“If I do that, we’ll lose this place,” he said. “You alright with that?”

“Yeah, as long as we time it right,” Frank said. “The war isn’t over yet.”

“That’s the tricky part,” Jackson said. “If we don’t do something fast, she’ll disappear after George and Malcolm take off with that friend of theirs.”

“We could always snatch her and throw her into one of those cells,” Jasmine said. The others looked at her in disbelief.

“No way,” the Sheriff said.

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s such a good idea either,” Frank said.

“Okay, just a suggestion,” Jasmine said.

***

Howard sat in the living room with Bailey and Kerry, watching cartoons. He was antsy, on the verge of panic.

“Maybe you ought to have a drink, Howie,” Bailey said as she studied his face. “You don’t look so hot.”

“No, that would make things worse,” Howard said.

Kerry looked at him, concerned. “What’s the matter, Howie?”

“Oh, nothing, Kerry. I’m okay.”

Scott came into the living room and motioned to Howard. He got up joined him in the kitchen.

“You talked to Sherry lately?” he asked.

“No, why?”

“Your truck stop is in the news. Look.” He walked back to his laptop, Howard following.

“News crews in front,” Scott said, pointing to the screen.

“This is a feed from the local TV station,” Howard said. “Shit.” He took his phone out of his pocket and punched Sherry’s contact.

“Sherry?”

“What do you want, Howard?”

“I’m watching video from in front of the truck stop.”

“What did you expect?”

“You still there?”

“Hell no. After that video of your face hit the internet, people were showing up asking all kinds of questions. I padlocked the place and split.”

“Dammit.”

“What’d you expect me to do, Howard? If they look into my past, guess what they’ll find.”

Howard sighed. “Oh, I’m not mad at you. You’re right. What are you going to do?”

“Split.”

“When?”

“I’ll be gone in about ten minutes, Howard.”

“Where you gonna go?”

“Like I’m going to tell you that.”

Scott motioned to Howard.

“What, Scotty?”

“Remind the bitch that I’ll find her if she runs. If I can’t find her, I’ll find her family.”

Howard shook his head, disgusted. He put the phone back to his ear.

“I suppose you heard that.”

Sherry laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“You guys have a lot bigger problem than I do, Howie.”

“Why?”

“I know who that black guy was.”

“Who?”

“Malcolm Davis.”

Howard turned white as a sheet.

“You still there, Howie?”

“Yeah. Are you sure?”

“Yes. Scott can say all he wants, but he’ll be dead long before he can get to me or my family. I’m leaving. Have a nice life.”

She hung up.

“What did the bitch say?” Scott asked.

“That black guy she told us about,” Howard said.

“Yeah?”

“It’s Malcolm Davis,” Howard said.

Scotty got a horrified look on his face, but it melted into a nasty grin.

“Are you nuts?” Howard asked. “He’ll kill you, idiot. He’s probably got the spook with him, too.”

“That jerk has killed family members and dear friends,” Scott said. “He’s just a man. We know he’s coming. We’ll be ready for him.”

“He doesn’t know where we are. We need to lie low.”

“He’ll find us,” Scott said.

“How?” Howard asked.

“This house. As soon as he finds out the connection between my dad and the Torso Murderer, he’ll be right here.”

“How’s he going to find out? He doesn’t have these movies. You don’t have copies of this stuff back at the RV Park, do you?”

“No, but he’ll use his connections to find transcripts of the interviews the cops did with my dad and Rupert.”

“Rupert?”

“Yeah, Rupert Smith. He owned this house. He was the Torso Killer. A second year detective could figure it out, and Malcolm is one smart son of a bitch.”

“Why do you look happy about this?”

“Because we can set a trap for him,” Scott said. “He won’t live through it.”

“You think you’ll do that and get away?”

“Oh, I’ll do it,” Scott said. “If I live through it or not will be the luck of the draw.”

“Well, I’m leaving,” Howard said. “And I’m taking Kerry and Bailey with me.”

“No you aren’t,” Scott said, his voice flat. “You tell me where you’re gonna go. You need to help me with this. I can’t do it alone, and if I fail, he’ll find you in no time flat. You know it.”

Howard dropped onto a kitchen chair, resting his head in his hands.

“Pull on your big boy pants, Howie. Help me find the girl. She’s getting it. We need to hurry before the party begins.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Howard said. “Drop it.”

“Sorry, man. I’m not wired that way. She goes down.”

Howard sighed.

Bailey appeared and studied both of them. “Uh oh, what happened?”

***

Agent Keith paced in his office. The receptionist buzzed his phone.

“Yeah,” he said.

“Sheriff Branson and Deputy Lawrence are here.”

“Good, send them in,” he said.

The door opened, and the Sheriff and Deputy walked in.

“Hello, again,” Agent Keith said. “Nice to see you. Please have a seat.”

The two men sat on chairs in front of the desk, and Agent Keith sat behind his desk.

“Hold my calls, Jackie,” he said through his speaker phone. Then he leaned back in his chair.

“What’s on your mind, Agent Keith?” Sheriff Branson asked. “I already gave you all the evidence we had on the farmhouse biker massacre.”

“Thought you might be interested in following up,” the agent replied. “We just got a tip. Ever hear of the Nighthawk Road Killer?”

“Who hasn’t,” Deputy Lawrence said. Sheriff Branson eyeballed him, giving him the shut up stare.

“Yes, of course we’ve heard of the Nighthawk Road Killer. You know about the girl they found down the road a ways, right?”

“Kayla Duncan,” Agent Keith said. “Another reason I called you.”

“So you’re thinking the massacre and the murder of Kayla Duncan are related?” Sheriff Branson asked.

“Yes,” Agent Keith said.

“I don’t see it,” Sheriff Branson said. “Don’t even think the Kayla Duncan murder was really the Nighthawk Road Killer. I think it’s a copycat. Why would a set of markings that stopped over ten years ago start up just like that? Somebody got access to the case files.”

“There was one other problem with that one, too,” Deputy Lawrence said. “No sexual assault, remember?”

Agent Keith looked them both over. “You heard about Amanda Smith, right?”

“Yeah, I heard about her,” Sheriff Branson said.

“Same markings, and she was sexually assaulted, by more than one person. She disappeared with Kayla. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, we know that,” Sheriff Branson said. “I know it was the same killer for both girls, I just think it’s somebody who wants us to think they’re the Nighthawk Road Killer.”

“I think I can convince you otherwise,” Agent Keith said.

“Now why would you want to do that, Agent Keith?”

“I need somebody to help me follow up on a tip,” he said. “You two have experience with these guys.”

“You have the whole FBI to help you,” Sheriff Branson said. “Why would you want a Sheriff from a small town in Ohio to help you?”

“I’d rather not bring in my fellow agents,” he said. “You’ll just have to trust me on that.”

“Why?” Sheriff Branson asked.

“Because of where the tip came from,” he said. “I can’t tell you the details.”

“I need to know where the tip came from, or we’re walking right out that door,” Sheriff Branson said, standing up. “No more BS. I don’t work for you.”

“Relax,” Agent Keith said. “Sit down.”

“No, you tell me where the tip came from.”

“Ted Crowley,” he said.

“Crowley, huh?” Sheriff Branson said. He sat back down. “Serial Killer Task Force?”

“Yeah, what’s left of it,” Agent Keith said. “The war has put a damper on that team, I’m afraid.”

“Not surprised,” Sheriff Branson said. “I’m still not getting why you need us. This is a bureau job.”

Agent Keith sighed. “Remember Margo Valdez?”

“Yeah,” Sheriff Branson said. “What about her?”

“There was a plant in the bureau who was passing info to her. We think the same person is passing info to Nighthawk.”

“Sounds like a job for FBI internal affairs,” Sheriff Branson said, eyeing him with distrust.

“You’re right, only we don’t know who it is,” Agent Keith said.

The sheriff sat silently for a moment. Deputy Lawrence looked at him, his expression indicating that he had something to say. Branson leveled his eyes at him again. Shut up.

“Okay, what do you want us to do?” Sheriff Branson asked.

“I want you to take a trip with me to Columbus, Ohio,” he said.

“When?”

“In a couple of days,” he said. “Got some things to take care of first.”

“I’ll have to check with the town council,” Sheriff Branson said. “I can let you know later today.”

“Great,” Agent Keith said. “Give me a call. I don’t care how late.”

The Sheriff and the Deputy got up and headed for the door. “You’ll be hearing from us, then. Nice to see you again, Agent.”

“Thanks for coming in, gentlemen,” Agent Keith said, showing them out, closing the door behind them.

They walked down the long hallway and took the elevator to the parking structure. The Sheriff got behind the wheel and looked over at the Deputy. “Thanks for keeping your mouth shut,” he said.

“He doesn’t know that you and Ted Crowley are friends, does he?”

“I hope not,” Sheriff Branson said. “This guy’s full of crap.”

“So what now?”

“We get back to the office and call Ted,” Sheriff Branson said.

“Want me to drive so you can call him from the car?”

“You know, that’s not a bad idea,” Branson said. “Let’s get out of this structure and drive down a couple blocks, then we’ll switch.”

Deputy Lawrence nodded as he drove round and round, heading for the parking structure exit.

The Sheriff parked at a mini mart, and Deputy Lawrence took the wheel. Branson took out his phone as they took off.

“Ted?”

“Who’s this?”

“Dick Branson.”

“Holy shit, how the hell are you?” Ted asked.

“Good, Ted. How’s the family?”

“Very good, Thanks. Yours?”

“Okay. Don’t see them much these days,” Branson said. “You sound like you’re in a car.”

“Yeah,” Ted said. “I’m driving into Kansas.”

“On purpose? What the hell are you up to in Kansas?” Branson asked.

“Meeting an old friend,” he said. “Remember Malcolm Davis?”

There was a pause on the line. Sheriff Branson rubbed his forehead.

“Son of a bitch.”

“What’s the matter, Dick?”

“I just had a meeting with Agent Keith of the FBI. Now I have an idea why.”

“Dammit,” Ted said. “I thought that son of a bitch would have settled down by now. He’s still trying to get Malcolm.”

“He’s dirty,” Sheriff Branson said. “You know that, right? I need to tell you about what happened at that biker massacre.”

“Why’d he get involved with that?”

“Because of what we found in the basement of the farmhouse,” Sheriff Branson said. “I called in the FBI. Too bad it had to be this asshole.”

“What was in the basement?” Ted asked.

“Torture chamber,” Sheriff Branson said. “He’s saying the same folks did the bikers, Amanda Smith, and Kayla Duncan. Says it’s the Nighthawk Road Killer.”

“He might be right about that,” Ted said. “We need to talk in detail.”

“Yeah, I agree,” Sheriff Branson said.

“What’d he want to see you for?”

“He wants us to help him round up the killers in Columbus. Says he can’t use bureau people because of a mole.”

Ted laughed out loud. “Seriously? What’d you tell him?”

“I told him I needed to chat with the town council before I could agree. I’m supposed to call him back tonight.”

“Here’s my suggestion,” Ted said. “Go with him. We’ll beat him at his own game.”

“What are you doing?” Branson asked.

“Malcolm Davis, George Franklin, and I are going to Columbus. They’re in Kansas right now. I’ll be there in a couple of hours.”

Branson smiled. “This might be fun.”

“Damn straight,” Ted said. “I’ll tell you what. After I get settled with Malcolm and George, let’s do a conference call.”

“Look forward to it,” Branson said. “I’ll call Agent Keith and reluctantly agree to help him.”

“Talk to you soon,” Ted said.

Chapter 12 – Double Double Cross

General Hogan came back into the clubhouse. He walked over to Frank and Jasmine.

“The others still watching that VHS?” he asked.

Frank sighed. “Yeah. What’s up?”

“You guys were right about the lead. They’re building shelters. Call up this satellite.” He slipped Frank a piece of paper. Frank typed on his keyboard and logged into the satellite.

“See, look at those modular houses there,” he said.

“They look like double wides,” Frank said. Jasmine looked over Frank’s shoulder.

“There’s enough of those for a thousand men?”

“That’s only part of them. Move to the south about two miles.”

Frank navigated south and gasped. “There’s an industrial park that close?”

“Yeah,” General Hogan said. “It’s abandoned.”

“They know they can’t win, so why go through this?” Jasmine asked. “Why not just make for Mexico and slip out through a harbor or something?”

“They aren’t interested in getting away,” General Hogan said. “These are true believers. The ones who refused to surrender. They’re planning on taking as many Yankees down as they can on their way to the great beyond.”

“Oh, yeah, the 72 virgins,” Jasmine said, laughing. “So what do we do?”

“You really believe they think this will work?” Frank asked. “They have to know we’ll see this. They understand the capabilities of our satellite systems, and they know we’ve taken them out in their shielded vehicles.”

“I need to think on this for a while,” General Hogan said. “You have a good point Frank. Talk to you later.”

***

The VHS tapes were still running. It had been hours. They were on the third girl. Jane had enough. Jerry was nearing the end of his rope too. Malcolm finally quit watching and fired up his laptop. George and Heidi still watched, but both of them looked uncomfortable, almost shell shocked.

“You guys had enough?” Malcolm asked, turning from his laptop screen.

“Yeah,” George said. “What now?”

“We go get Sherry. I have her address and the make, model, and license plate of her car.”

“You’re going to go get her?” Trish asked.

Malcolm smiled. “You didn’t think I was going to let her go after all that, did you?”

“Good,” George said. “I thought it was just me.”

“We need to take off now if we’re going to nab her,” Heidi said.

“Yeah, let’s go,” Malcolm said. He switched off the tape, and they left the lounge, heading up to the barn.

“We killing her or bringing her back to a cell?” Heidi asked.

“That’ll be up to her,” Malcolm said. “I want to see if we can enlist a little help.”

“You don’t think the three of us can take her?” George asked.

“I want somebody along as back-up just in case,” Malcolm said. “We assume she’s alone. She might have pieces of a clan left. Nobody gets into that with the zeal she did and just stops.”

“Who do you want to take?” Heidi asked.

“The Sheriff and Charlie, if they’re willing.”

“You want the law enforcement experience,” she said.

“Damn straight.”

They walked over to the Sheriff’s rig. He was sitting in front of it with Jackson, sipping whiskey and talking.

“Done with the home movies?” Jackson asked.

“We saw what we needed to see,” Malcolm said. “Sheriff, you drink much of that whiskey?”

“Nah, not too much,” he said. “Why?”

“We’re going to go get Sherry,” Malcolm said.

“You’re going to what?” the Sheriff asked, sitting up straighter.

“C’mon, Sheriff, you didn’t think I was going to let her get away with that, did you?” Malcolm said, a sly grin on his face.

The Sheriff smiled. “I was starting to lose respect for you. It’s been restored. You know where she is?”

“I’ve got her address and the make, model, and license plate of her car,” Malcolm said. “I was figuring that George, Heidi, and I cruise up there and see if she’s left yet. Maybe you and Charlie could come along for backup.”

“I’m good, but I’m not sure Charlie will go along. What are we gonna do with her?”

“If we can take her alive, I say we dump her in a cell until it’s a good time to turn her and the evidence over to the cops,” Malcolm said. “She might have people with her though. We need to be careful.”

“What makes you think that?” Jackson asked.

“She wasn’t coerced into that garbage on the tapes. She was into it. Probably killed her husband too, by the way. There are others more recent. She’s been active during the past six months, from the look of things.”

“You’re thinking she might have a clan left?” the Sheriff asked.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said.

“What if there are several?” Jackson said. “We bringing all of them back here?”

“If there’s several, they won’t live through this,” Malcolm said, grinning.

“Alright if I go along?” Jackson asked.

“Fine by me, but you hang back with a rifle. You’ve had too much whiskey to be in the thick of it,” the Sheriff said. “Let’s go talk to Charlie. He’s in his rig.”

They walked through the dusk to Charlie’s rig. He and Hilda were inside, sitting at the dinette. The Sheriff knocked on the door.

“Charlie, could we chat for a moment?”

“Be right out,” Charlie said, getting up. He came out and joined them. “What’s going on?”

“Our friends here want to go nab Sherry. They’re asking for a little experienced police backup. You interested?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I’ll get dressed and get my guns.”

“What’s that?” Hilda asked, coming to the door.

“We’re going to go pick up Sherry,” Charlie told her.

Hilda got a worried look on her face when she saw the others outside. “This sounds dangerous.”

“It’ll be okay,” Charlie said, putting on his holster and slipping his pistol in. “The Sheriff and I are going as backup.”

“Okay,” she said reluctantly. “You bringing her back here?”

“If we can,” Malcolm said. “It’ll be up to her.”

“Why are you doing this?” Hilda asked. “I thought you had a deal with her.”

“We did,” Malcolm said. “We just watched several hours of her torturing and killing young girls with relish. I thought she was coerced into this. Didn’t look like it to me.”

“Hey, what about Ted?” George said. “When does he get here?”

“Oh, shoot, that’s right,” Malcolm said. “I’ll call him.”

Malcolm hit Ted’s contact on his phone and put it to his ear.

“Ted?”

“Hey, Malcolm. What’s up?”

“How close are you?”

“Maybe an hour,” he said. “Why?”

“That woman I told you about. The one that was watching Howard’s truck stop.”

“Yeah, Sherry Holcomb,” Ted said.

“You found out her last name?”

“Yeah,” he said. “She’s bad news. I don’t think we can let her get away.”

“Yeah, that’s what we’re thinking after watching about three hours of VHS,” Malcolm said.

“You’re going to get her now?”

“Yep.”

“Give me the address,” Ted said. “I’ll swing by there before I hit the RV Park, unless I hear from you first,” he said. “You still have the Jeep?”

“Yeah, Jeep Unlimited, and we’ll have another Jeep with us. Two door.”

“Address?”

Malcolm read it off to him, along with the car info. “Got it?”

“Yeah, Malcolm. See you soon.”

Malcolm put his phone away. “You mind bringing your Jeep, George?”

“Sure, no problem. Ted’s going to meet us there, isn’t he?”

“Yeah, but he’s about an hour out,” Malcolm said. “Let’s go.”

***

Howard and Scott sat in the kitchen. Scott was on his laptop. Bailey came in.

“Kerry’s in bed,” she said. “What’s going on?”

“We’ll fill you in later,” Scott said. “We have an immediate task to do.”

“Really? What’s that?”

“We need to go grab that girl who pepper sprayed us.”

“Good,” she said.

“Scotty, you sure this is a good idea? Maybe we should spend our time getting ready for Malcolm and the Spook.”

“Who’s that?” Bailey asked.

“Oh, they’re serial killer hunters, or so they fancy themselves,” Scott said.

“Be honest,” Howard said, eyes narrowing. “These guys killed Red Dagger, Jason Beckler, Earl Wilson, and others. Don’t make it sound like we’re not in danger. That won’t help us.”

“Wait, you mean Malcolm Davis?” Bailey asked.

“Yeah,” Howard said. “They were trying to use Sherry against us.”

“She told you that?” Bailey asked.

“Yes, she did,” Scott said. “And I believe her.”

“So why go get the girl?” Bailey asked.

“For fun and revenge,” Scott said. “You in?”

“Of course,” Bailey said. “I want that bitch.”

“Well, I found her,” Scott said. “All these kids and their phone apps. Ever heard of Find My Friends?”

“Yeah, it’s that app that comes on the iPhone.”

“That’s it,” Scott said. “Easy to hack. I just got into her account. She’s in this dorm room right now.” Scott showed his screen to Bailey.

“Whoa,” Bailey said. “So now what? We can’t get her in the dorm. People will see us.”

“We need to get into the area and watch,” Scott said. “You’ve got an iPhone, right?”

“Yeah,” she said.

“Good, then I’ll get you set up to monitor her. Hand it over.”

“It’s in my purse,” she said, trotting off to the living room.

“Really, Scotty? I can’t talk you out of this crap?” Howard asked quietly.

“No, you can’t, Howie. Now get with the program.”

“We’ll get pinched as soon as we get my class C out on the roads.”

“What makes you think we’re taking that?” Scott asked, grinning. “We’ll take the car that came with this place.”

“What car?”

“An 85 Chevy station wagon. It’s in the garage. I’ve had the battery on the charger. It’s clean. The old lady quit driving it in about 1995. Didn’t take much to get it running again.”

“We’ll have to kill her on the scene, then,” Howard said. “People will see her in the windows.”

“Let’s decide when we get there,” Scott said.

“Here’s my phone,” Bailey said, handing it over. Scott took it and got her set up to monitor the girl.

“What’s her name?” Howard asked.

“Michelle Hamilton, from Atlanta,” Scott said. “You guys ready?”

“What about Kerry?” Howard asked.

“Does he read?” Bailey asked.

“Good question,” Scott said. “Haven’t gotten around to asking.”

“I’ll leave him a short note,” Bailey said. “Just in case.”

“Okay,” Scott said. He got up, looking at Howard. “Coming?”

“Yeah, I guess,” he said, standing as Bailey wrote the note.

They went out the back door and walked to the garage. Scott unlocked the padlock and lifted the door.

“It’s dark back here,” Bailey said.

“That’s a good thing,” Howard said. He pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and shined the flashlight into the garage, at the silver station wagon. The garage was cluttered, with barely enough room to get to the car door. The hood was up. Scott disconnected the battery charger, set the wires next to the charging unit, and unplugged it.

“Keep your fingers crossed,” Scott said as he shut the hood.

“I thought you said it runs,” Howard said.

“It’s been a couple of months,” Scott said as he got behind the wheel. He turned the ignition. The car did a dry grind for over a minute. Scott stopped and waited for a few seconds, then tried again. The car turned over slower, but then caught, starting, spewing black smoke. Bailey and Howard backed up to get away from it. The car sunk to an idle, then backed out slowly.

“Get in,” Scott said. “Put your guns on the floor in front of you.”

“Wait a minute,” Howard said. “The gate. Give me the key.”

“Oh, yeah,” Scott said, passing the keys to Bailey, who was in the front passenger seat. Howard took them and unlocked the gate, sliding it over far enough for the car to get through. When it was in the alley, Howard closed and locked the gate, and got into the back seat.

“How far is it?” Bailey asked.

“She was less than a block from where we saw her before,” Scott said. They headed down the street. “See, this old bird runs good.”

“Looks good too,” Howard said. “That might not be so great. How many mint 1985 station wagons are out there? We won’t exactly blend in.”

“It’ll be okay, Howie. At least it’s dusty.”

“She’s on the move,” Bailey said, looking at her phone.

“Where?” Scott asked.

Bailey laughed. “There’s a park right there. I think she’s jogging.”

“No, seriously?” Scott said. “This will be easy.”

“Yeah, well she probably has her pepper spray,” Howard said.

“I’ll run up behind her and get her into a nelson,” Bailey said. “I’m fast. Ran track in High School. That was only a couple years ago.”

“I’ll be right behind you,” Scott said. “Howard, you get in the driver’s seat when we get there, and you can drive getaway.”

“You’re not really going to take her back with us?” Howard asked. “Why don’t you just do her in the park? Shoot her and we’ll split.”

“I want to play with her,” Scott said.

“Me too,” Bailey said, looking back at Howard with a nasty grin.

Howard shook his head.

“Turn there, Scotty. To the right.”

“Okay, Bailey,” he said, making the turn. The park stretched out before them.

“I can’t believe this chick is jogging at night, just a day after an attempted kidnapping,” Howard said. “Doesn’t smell right.”

“You worry too much, Howie,” Scott said. “There, is that her?”

“Looks like it,” Bailey said. “Cute girl.”

Scott parked along the curb, and got out with Bailey, putting his pistol in his back waistband. Bailey trotted over to the path and started running. She saw the girl about fifty yards ahead of her. She sped up, and could hear Scott huffing and puffing behind her.

Howard watched from the driver’s seat of the car, but he could only see them until they made a turn into the wooded section of the park.

Bailey poured on the speed now, catching up to the girl. She didn’t hear Bailey coming because of her ear buds. Bailey leaped, her arm going around the girls neck, crashing her to the ground. The pepper spray flew out of the girls hands. She tried to reach it as Bailey held her down. Scott got there in seconds, picking up the pepper spray and shooting it into the girls face. She cried out in pain, and Bailey punched her several times in the head, knocking her out.

“Freeze!” said a voice behind them. “FBI!”

Scott pulled his pistol and shot the girl.

“Dammit,” the agent said, tackling Scott. “That wasn’t nice.” He got Scott’s gun away from him and tossed it on the grass. Bailey ran, but the Agent shot her square in the back, and she fell.

“No!” Scott yelled. The FBI agent elbowed him in the nose, sending pain radiating all over his face.

“Get up,” the Agent said.

Howard heard the shots and was starting the engine when he saw a gun pointing at him through the driver’s side window. He sighed and shut it off, tossing his pistol into the back seat. A huge man with long black hair smiled in at him.

The agent with Scott put handcuffs on him and stood, picking up Scott’s gun from the grass off to the left.

“What are you doing?” Scott asked, his nose bleeding.

“Shut up,” the agent said gruffly. He carried Scott’s gun over to Bailey, wiped it off, and put it into her dead hand.

“What the hell kind of FBI agent are you?” Scott asked, looking at him wide-eyed.

“I said shut up,” the agent said, kicking him in the side, knocking the wind out of him. He pulled Scott to his feet and started towards the station wagon.

“I’ve got this one, Agent Keith,” said the man standing by the car. “His pistol is in the back seat.”

“Nice work, Sy,” Agent Keith said. “You’re going to ride over to their place with me, and then I’ll let you go.”

Sy eyed him with distrust. “How do I know you’ll destroy my file?”

“You’ll just have to trust me,” Agent Keith said. “Hold onto this guy.”

Sy steadied Scott, his gun pointing into his side. “Don’t move, buster.”

Agent Keith grabbed the hand gun out of the back seat and put it in his belt. “Any other guns in here?”

“No,” Howard said.

“Good. Sy, take that guy around the back and slide him in, then get in the back seat and keep your gun on him.”

Sy nodded and yanked Scott roughly towards the back.

“What are you guys gonna do with us?” Howard asked, trembling. “Your friend Sy is no FBI agent.”

“No, he’s just helping me out. I’m getting in the passenger seat. You’ll be driving us back to your hideout.”

“What about Bailey?”

“She’s dead.”

Sy got into the back seat and turned sideways, his gun pointing at Scott.

“Okay, drive,” the Agent said. “And no funny business, or I’ll plug you.”

Howard started the car and pulled away from the curb.

“Hey, Howard, this jerk weed stuck my gun in Bailey’s hand,” Scott said.

“Shut up,” said the agent.

“Now why would you want to do that, Agent?” Howard asked.

“It’ll look like Bailey shot the girl,” Scott said. “But your lead is in Bailey. How are you gonna get around that?”

“I’m not.”

“Who the hell are you, anyway?” Howard asked.

“Agent Keith,” he said.

“Shit, I know who this guy is,” Scott said. “You got humiliated by Malcolm Davis. Twice. Now I’m getting this.”

“You aren’t going use us to trap Davis, are you?” Howard asked, hands sweating around the steering wheel.

“I have no plans to kill Malcolm Davis,” Agent Keith said.

Howard laughed. “Yeah, whatever. Here’s our alley. The gate has a padlock.”

“Who has the keys?” Agent Keith asked.

“I do,” Howard said, reaching into his pocket. He pulled them out, and Agent Keith took them.

“Here, Sy, you can do the honors,” Agent Keith said, handing the keys back to him.

“I can go after that, right?”

“After I get them in the house.”

“There’s the gate,” Howard said. He pulled to a stop and Sy jumped out. He got the gate open in seconds, and waited for the wagon to drive in, then pulled it shut and locked it.

“Anybody else in the house?” Agent Keith asked.

“Just Scotty’s little brother. He’s retarded.”

“Oh, the other twin?” Agent Keith asked.

“How’d you know about that?” Scotty asked.

“I was the first agent on scene at that biker massacre you guys did,” Agent Keith said. “His body was dumped in the barn like trash.”

“Fuck you,” Scott said.

“Whatever. Sy, you take Scott, and I’ll handle this guy. If the kid gets in our way, plug him.”

They started towards the back door.

Chapter 13 – Urban Warfare

Malcolm’s Jeep Unlimited slowed as it cruised down the street.

“That’s it, at the end of the block,” he said. It was a two-story building, with a storefront on the ground floor and a residence on the second.

“Don’t go up any further,” Jackson said. “There’s somebody up on the roof. See him? He’s got a rifle.”

“You’ve got good eyes, Jackson,” Malcolm said as he pulled to the curb. “Wonder if I can get close enough to take him out with the cross bow?

“That’d be good,” the Sheriff said. “Wonder how many people are inside?”

“No lights on the ground floor,” Malcolm said. “Is that’s still a store?”

“Can’t tell,” the Sheriff said.

The three men got out of the car. The street was quiet, it’s early 20th century Main Street buildings all dark. George parked his jeep behind Malcolm’s and got out with Heidi and Charlie.

“What’s the plan?” George whispered.

“I’ll try to get close enough with the cross bow,” Malcolm said. “You guys cover me, but stay against the buildings so numb nuts up there doesn’t see us.”

“Wonder if there’s an alley behind that side of the street?” Charlie asked.

“There has to be,” the Sheriff said. “Otherwise how’d they get deliveries?”

“Wanna go back there?” Charlie asked.

“Yeah,” he replied. They walked back on the road a ways and then trotted across the street with their hunting rifles, going behind the row of buildings.

Malcolm snuck down the street silently, cross bow in hand, rifle slung on his shoulder. The man on the roof wasn’t visible, giving Malcolm a chance to get in a good position across the small side street from the building. He got down on one knee, cocked the cross bow, and slipped an arrow on.

George crouched down behind him, on one knee, rifle aimed at the roof as Malcolm took aim. Jackson and Heidi stayed behind, watching the street.

The man appeared again, and Malcolm let his arrow go. He hit the man in the chest.

“No! Josh!” yelled another man on the roof. He fired a rifle in Malcolm’s direction.

“Look out!” Malcolm shouted. Then another rifle shot rang out, from across the street, hitting he man on the roof. It was Charlie.

“Man in the second story window,” Jackson said. George fired into the second story, and screams came out of the building. Somebody broke out another window and fired a handgun several times. Then there were two shots from across the street. More screams inside.

“Crap, how many people are in there?” Malcolm asked, leaning his cross bow against the building. He got his rifle off his shoulder and they walked forward.

“Who’s out there?” shouted a woman. “Scotty?”

Malcolm laughed. “Hi, Sherry. You really think Scotty got here from Ohio this fast?”

“Malcolm, you son of a bitch. You killed my son.”

“Sorry,” Malcolm shouted. Then there was the crack of a rifle shot, breaking the window downstairs.

“Dammit,” Sherry shouted. “Stop. What do you guys want?”

“You, sugar plum.”

“We had a deal,” she shouted, punctuating it with several handgun shots.

“Yeah, we did,” Malcolm shouted back.

“So what are you doing?” she shouted.

“We watched those tapes,” Malcolm shouted. “You weren’t coerced. You dug it. My partner found out you’re still active. I’m not letting you go.”

“Fuck you!” she said, firing off a few more pistol rounds. The Sheriff and Charlie fired several more rounds into the windows.

“Somebody coming behind us,” Jackson whispered, turning around. A shot rang out, the bullet whizzing by his head. “Crap!” Jackson got down on one knee and fired a couple of shots.

“Get them?” George asked.

“No, can’t see them,” Jackson said. “They got us pinned down, but I don’t think they can hit us if we hug the building.”

“Look,” Heidi said. A man tried to run across the street, but Jackson fired, hitting him square in the back, sending him crashing to the ground. Two more shots whizzed by his head.

“Damn, how many folks does she have with her?” Jackson shouted. That brought a cackle from the building.

“You don’t think I’m just going to roll over, do you?” Sherry shouted.

Lights were starting to come on up and down the street.

“Crap, the civilians are waking up,” Malcolm said. “She’ll try to run.”

“I know, I’m texting Charlie right now,” George whispered. “Letting him know that we’re pinned down.

“I’m texting Ted,” Malcolm whispered.

“He close?” Heidi asked.

“Waiting for a reply,” Malcolm said.

“Another one,” Jackson said, firing, hitting a man in the head as he ran onto the street. More rifle shots buzzed by them.

“Ted’s only a few minutes out,” Malcolm whispered. “He’s coming down the street from the other side of the building. He’s also calling the local sheriff.”

“Good, then we’re covered,” George said, a wicked smile on his face. “I’m going through this building. Back up a little bit.” He pulled his handgun and blasted the lock on the storefront, then kicked in the door. “You guys stay here and watch the street. She’s going to try to split out the back. I’ll make sure she doesn’t.”

“I’m coming with you,” Heidi said. She followed him inside the dark store, and they rushed to the back door.

“There’s liable to be bad guys outside this door,” George said. “They got behind us through the alley. Stay back.”

George unlocked the door and pushed it open. Two shots rang out, hitting the door from the right. He pushed it open more and held it there with his foot.

“Get your phone focused through the crack in the door, and tell me where the guy is,” George whispered. Heidi got the camera app working and stuck it up there, snapping several pictures. She handed it to him.

“They can’t shoot through this door, can they?” she asked.

“Nah, this is a metal door,” George said. “Okay, there’s a dumpster right beyond the door. Kick that doorstop over here.”

Heidi saw it and tossed it to him. He shoved it under the door with his foot, and then turned around in a crouch, his rifle ready.

“Be careful,” Heidi whispered.

A car started, in the direction of the hideout.

“Crap, they’re getting ready to take off!” George whispered, typing a text message. He sent it to Malcolm and Charlie.

“Look,” Heidi said, as two men ran past in the alley. She shot one of them. George shot at the second one, but missed.

“Malcolm, two men just ran back down the alley towards Sherry’s place,” George shouted. “Heidi got one. I’m after the other. You might not be pinned down anymore.”

“Roger that,” Malcolm shouted.

George ran out into the alley, looking behind him. He got a little ways down, and a rifle shot flew past him. He dived on the round and returned fire. The engine of the car sped up, and then a police siren sounded, from behind the hideout.

George got up in time to see the SUV pulling out of the driveway behind the hideout. Shots rang out, hitting the windshield, and the SUV backed up, attempting to get onto Main Street. A police car pulled sideways across the side street to block them in, and two officers jumped out and fired at the SUV as it tried to get going. Charlie and the Sheriff poured fire at the vehicle from across the street, but it was still moving.

“Crap, they’re gonna get away,” George shouted, running towards Main Street.

Malcolm and Jackson were firing at the fleeing SUV from behind, but then they heard several shotgun blasts from the other direction, and the SUV slowed and ran into the curb.

“Ted,” Malcolm shouted. There was silence now. Everybody headed onto Main Street. George turned to see Heidi trotting over to him.

“Stand fast!” shouted one of the officers, holding his gun on them.

“They’re with us,” Ted shouted. The cop lowered his gun.

“Why don’t you two go check the building?” Ted asked the officers as everybody gathered around him.

“What the hell were you shooting at those guys?” Malcolm asked, grinning, shaking Ted’s hand.

“Shotgun,” Ted said. “Sherry’s splattered all over the inside of the SUV, along with a couple other folks.”

“All dead?” asked the Sheriff.

“Yeah,” Ted said, glancing over at him.

“Ted, these are our friends,” Malcolm said. “The Sheriff, Charlie, and Jackson.”

“Heard great things about you guys,” Ted said, smiling.

The officers rushed out of the hideout. The lead officer eyed the group suspiciously. “One body on the ground floor, two on the second, and two on the roof,” he said. “One of the guys on the roof has an arrow in him. Care to explain that?”

“Yeah, I’ll brief you on the whole operation,” Ted said. “The Serial Killer Task Force has been working on this case for a while. We just found out where they were tonight.”

“So that must be why you didn’t call our department,” the officer said, his eyes darting around the group. He sighed. “Alright, I’m glad you guys found them. We’ve had several kids go missing over the last year and a half. We knew there was somebody here, but they were good – we couldn’t catch them. Our investigations always hit a dead end.”

“We figured you were here because of Howard,” the other officer said. “Still can’t believe that one. I used to play with his kids.”

“Hell, everybody around here knew Sherry,” the first officer said. “She had a wild streak when she was younger, but she got along fine here after her mom passed. She brought her four boys with her. I saw three of them lying dead in the building.”

“Wonder who the others are?” the Sheriff asked.

“I didn’t recognize them,” the first officer said.

“You guys need any help mopping this up?” Ted asked.

“Nah, I’ll call in the meat wagon, and close up the hideout,” the first officer said. “Want to help investigate the building tomorrow?”

“We’re leaving in the morning,” Ted said. “Pressing work in Columbus, Ohio.”

“Howard,” the first officer said. “I figured.”

“You know who that group is, right?” Ted asked.

The officer looked blankly at him.

“Howard and Scott are what’s left of the Nighthawk Road clan.”

“Scott? Wait a minute, Scott died in Jersey,” the second officer said.

“No he didn’t,” Malcolm said. “That was convenient for him. Until recently.”

“And who might you be?” the first officer asked, eyeing him.

“Malcolm Davis.”

The first officer’s mouth dropped open. The second got a big grin on his face. “Can I have your autograph?”

Malcolm laughed. “Sure, why not.”

“Malcolm has fans,” Heidi said, laughing and rolling her eyes.

“You guys aren’t going after anybody else in this town, are you?” the first officer asked. He didn’t look amused.

“No,” Ted said. “Luckily we know where Howard and Scott are. If we didn’t, they’d be back here eventually.”

***

Back at the RV Park, Frank was at the PC in the clubhouse with Jane, Jasmine, and Jerry. General Hogan walked in.

“Frank, could you take a look at something for me?” he asked.

“Sure, General,” Frank said. “What?”

“Check your email. There’s a link.”

Frank found it and clicked. A picture came up. There were a group of men in the picture, sitting around an ornate placard that had the WTO logo on it. His mouth dropped open. “Daan Mertins.”

“Yeah,” General Hogan said. “He’s not a delegate. He’s staff. That’s why he’s in the back of the picture.”

“Do we know where this picture was taken?” Frank asked.

“Somewhere in Europe. They’re on their way to the US of A,” General Hogan said. “Big hush-hush WTO meeting.”

“Where?” asked Jane.

“That’s the problem,” the General said. “We don’t know.”

“You don’t think that Mertins is going to set up a massacre of these folks, do you?” Frank asked.

“Hell, for all we know, some of these folks were behind the invasion,” General Hogan said. “Most of them are globalists who take a dim view of individual liberty. Except for their own, of course.”

“Don’t they usually coordinate with the authorities when they hold a big meeting?” Jane asked.

“Not always,” General Hogan said. “I thought the same thing, so I looked into it. They’re very secretive. They’ve done this many times before.”

“Are you going to warn them?” Frank asked.

“Not yet,” General Hogan said. “As I said, I’m not sure of their motives. They might be on the same side as Daan Mertins.”

“What are we going to do?” Frank asked.

“I want to chat with George about this when he gets back.”

“Why?” Jane asked.

“He has experience with some of these folks,” General Hogan said.

***

Agent Keith walked behind Howard, a pistol pointed at his back. Sy walked behind Scott, who still had handcuffs on, his wrists behind his back.

“The door’s locked,” Howard said. “Scotty probably has the key.”

“Just ring the doorbell,” Scott said, snickering.

“Sy, get his keys out of his pocket, will ya?”

“Yeah, okay,” Sy said, checking. He found the keys in his right front pocket and tossed them to Agent Keith.

“Here,” Agent Keith said. “You unlock it. One false move and I’ll splatter your head all over the door.”

“Relax,” Howard said as he unlocked the door. He pushed it open and all four men walked through.

“Where’s the kid?” Agent Keith asked.

“Probably upstairs in his bedroom,” Howard said. “He’s gonna be real upset when he finds out that Bailey was killed.”

“Who cares,” he said. “This place have a basement?”

“Yeah, first door past the end of the hall,” Scott said. “To the right.”

Howard opened the door, and they started down. Howard pulled the chain to turn on the light. The studio filled with dull light.

“This all? What’s behind that door?” Agent Keith asked, pointing to the back wall.

Howard didn’t answer. He walked to the door and pulled it open, seal breaking around the edges. He pulled the light chain, and Agent Keith followed him in.

“Perfect,” Agent Keith said. “Sy, pull that door closed. Nice cells. Go on in, gentlemen.” He held the cell door open and shoved both men inside as Sy looked on.

“Can I go now?” Sy asked.

“In a minute. Keep the gun on them while I lock this up.”

He fumbled with the keys, trying one after another until he found the right one. He locked the cell and slipped the keys in his pocket.

“Okay, now can I go?” Sy asked. There was sweat beading on his forehead.

“Yeah, just give me the gun and you can leave,” Agent Keith said. Sy handed it over nervously, his hand shaking.

“Okay, see you,” Sy said.

“Thanks, buddy,” Agent Keith said. Then he leveled the pistol and shot him three times in the chest. Sy crumpled to the ground, eyes staring into nothingness.

“Son of a bitch,” Howard yelled.

Scott laughed. “Damn, Agent Keith, you’re as bad as we are.”

“Scotty?” asked Kerry from the kitchen, his voice muffled. “Are you there?”

“Run, Kerry!” shouted Scott as loud as he could. “Go out the front door and run down the street. Hide.”

They heard scampering of feet as Kerry ran to the door. Agent Keith started after him, getting into the kitchen just as Kerry got through the front door. He ran out into the yard after him.

“Howard, pull that brick out right there,” Scott said, pointing. Howard pulled it. It slid out, revealing a box. “Hurry, dammit, we only have a second.”

Howard pulled the key out of the box and opened the cell. The gun that Agent Keith used on Sy was laying on the floor. He picked it up, and got back into the cell, pulling it closed and locking it again. He threw the key back in the box and slid the brick back into place, just as Agent Keith headed back down the stairs.

“Where’s Kerry?” Scott asked.

“Little bastard got away, but I’ll get him soon enough,” he said, huffing and puffing. Then he noticed that the gun wasn’t on the floor. He turned back to them and saw Howard pointing it at him. Howard pulled the trigger, hitting Agent Keith in the gut. He slumped to the ground, firing a shot at Howard as he fell, hitting him in the side. Howard flew back, gripping himself, and fired several more shots into Agent Keith.

“Howie, you okay?” Scott cried.

“No,” Howard said, gasping. “I’m hit bad.”

“Get the key back out and unlock the door before you pass out,” Scott said. “We’ll get you to the hospital.”

“We?” Howard asked as he stumbled to the brick and pulled it out.

“Yeah, Kerry’s around. As soon as I get these cuffs off I’ll go get him.”

Howard had the key back in his hand, and crawled to the door, reaching around, getting the door unlocked. He pushed it open. Scott rushed out and backed up against Agent Keith’s body, using his hands to feel for keys. He found a keyring in his right front pocket and worked them out.

“Find them?” Howard asked, his breath laboring.

“Yeah,” Scott said.

He came into the cell and backed up to Howard, key ring in his hands. Howard struggled to get up high enough to reach. Scott lowered himself to a sitting position. That was enough. Howard got the cuffs unlocked.

“Thanks, Howie,” Scott said.

“Go get Kerry,” Howard wheezed. “I’m done. Take him and get the hell out of here.”

“No way,” Scott said. “I’ll be right back.” He bounded up the stairs and bolted out the front door, calling Kerry’s name.

“Scotty!” shouted Kerry. He climbed out of the bushes about three doors down and ran over. “Is that bad man gone?”

“Yes, Kerry, he’s gone,” Scott said. “C’mon, let’s go back inside and turn off all the lights. The cops will be coming soon. We don’t want them in the house.”

They ran back into the house, shutting the door, turning off lights as they went. Scott checked the back door and locked it, then went into the basement with Kerry, pulling the door shut and locking it.

“Is Howie dead?” Kerry asked, tears in his eyes.

Scott checked him, tears in his eyes. “Yes, sorry, Kerry. Howie is dead.”

“Where’s Bailey?” Kerry asked.

“She’s dead too, Kerry,” he said. “I’m so sorry.”

Kerry sobbed, tears running down his cheeks, rushing to hug Scott. “Who did it?”

“That FBI Agent right there,” Scott said, pointing to him. “The FBI is not your friend.”

“Either are the cops,” Kerry said, eyes narrowing. “They killed Blake.”

Chapter 14 – Big Freezer

The two Jeeps and a rented Ford pulled up to the clubhouse, and everybody got out.

“C’mon, I’ll show you the dungeon,” Malcolm said to Ted. “You ain’t gonna believe it.”

The two of them went into the lounge with George and Heidi.

The Sheriff, Charlie, and Jackson went into the clubhouse. Jerry, Frank, Jasmine, and Jane were at the computer table. Mary walked out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee, Kurt following her. They joined Hilda at a table near the kitchen door. Hilda got up when Charlie walked in and rushed over to him.

“Thank God you’re back,” Hilda said, hugging him. “You guys stop her?”

“Yeah, we got her and her clan,” Charlie said. “She had quite a few people with her. Turned into a shootout.”

“I was afraid of that,” Hilda said.

“I don’t think the local cops thought much of that,” the Sheriff said.

“Yeah, I’ll say,” Jackson said. “He eyeballed us pretty good. Especially Malcolm.”

“I would have,” the Sheriff said. “They were nicer than I would’ve been, frankly. We’re lucky no civilians got hit in the crossfire.”

“Did that friend of Malcolm’s show up?” Frank asked.

“Ted Crowley,” Charlie said. “Yeah, he’s here. Malcolm couldn’t wait to show the dungeon to him.”

“What have you guys been doing?” the Sheriff asked. “I figured you’d all be in bed by now. Getting late.”

“The General showed me a picture of the WTO delegation,” Frank said. “Daan Mertins was in the picture.”

“No,” Charlie said.

“It gets better,” Jerry said. “They’re coming here. We’re trying for figure out where.”

“Think the WTO folks know who Daan Mertins is?” Charlie asked.

“That’s the 100,000 dollar question,” Frank said. “The General thinks some of the WTO folks might have helped with this mayhem.”

“Why would they do that?” Charlie asked.

“Globalists,” Jerry said. “They don’t like individuals having sway over them. They want happy, obedient, unarmed customers . Our Bill of Rights kinda screws that up.”

“Boo friggin hoo,” Jackson said. “I hate those jerks. We gonna do something?”

“Not enough info yet,” Frank said. “I doubt if Daan Mertins ever had a chip in him.”

“Yeah, probably too smart for that,” Charlie said. “General Hogan have any plans?”

“He said he wanted to talk to George about it,” Frank said. “Apparently he had experience with some of these folks.”

“Well, the general had better hurry,” Jackson said. “They’re heading for Columbus, Ohio in the morning.”

“Scotty and Howard?” Jane asked.

“Yeah, now that they know where the hideout is,” the Sheriff said.

“Think they’re going to want any company?” Jerry asked.

“They told me I don’t want to get involved,” Jackson said.

“Yeah, and they’re right,” the Sheriff said. “I don’t think we should engage in this one. The thing tonight was borderline.”

“Hey, guys!” Jane said.

“What, honey?” Frank asked.

“Shooting in Columbus tonight. That girl with the pepper spray got shot while jogging in the park. The girl who was with Howard and Scott got shot too. Eyewitnesses said that four men left the scene.”

“Whoa, really,” Jackson said. “Wonder if Malcolm knows yet?”

“It just happened,” Jane said. “Less than an hour ago. It’s only been on the news for a few minutes.”

***

Ted was aghast as Malcolm showed him the details of the dungeon. When he turned on the VHS tape, George and Heidi left.

“What are the plans for this place?” Ted asked. “The authorities don’t know about it yet, do they?”

“Other than you, no,” Malcolm said. “The park belongs to the group, via a deal they made with the local government to take over the tax liability.”

“This is evidence, obviously, but that doesn’t mean they won’t get this stuff back eventually.”

“You know how the government is,” Malcolm said. “Possession is nine tenths of the law. Once they get it, it’ll be like pulling teeth to get it back.”

“Do your friends even care?” Ted asked. “What are their plans now that the war is winding down? They could go back home now unless they’re from southern Arizona or New Mexico.”

“Some of these folks are full-time RV’ers,” Malcolm said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of them decide to stay on here. It’s cheap for them, provided they can handle the winters.”

“If they’re retired, they could use it for a home base, I guess,” Ted said. “Didn’t look like that two-bit town would provide much in the way of jobs.”

“True enough,” Malcolm said. “Three of our folks own RV Parks, but they were all damaged during the war, and one of them is still too hot to go back to.”

“Where’s that one?” Ted asked.

“Near the Grand Canyon. Charlie’s place.”

“Oh,” Ted said. “Well, that’s better than southern Arizona at least.”

“Probably,” Malcolm said. “Seen enough?”

“For now, yeah,” Ted said. “I’m tired. Long drive today.”

“You can bed down in my RV,” Malcolm said. “I’ve got plenty of room.”

They went up the steps and closed the dungeon trap door.

“How about a nightcap?” Malcolm asked, nodding to the bar.

“Sure, why not,” he said. They walked over. George and Heidi were already there, George behind the bar, Heidi on a stool in front of it.

“What can I get for you two?” George said.

“Got any Irish Whiskey?” Ted asked.

“Sure,” George said. “Compliments of Scotty, I’d imagine. He left the place well stocked, although we have made a dent.”

“What do you think of the dungeon?” Heidi asked.

“Grim place,” Ted said. “Probably enough for six months of good research down there.”

“I can only stay down there for so long,” Heidi said. “We forced ourselves to watch several hours of video tape earlier today. It was tough.”

“There’s liable to be some stuff at Sherry’s place,” Ted said.

“You didn’t want to take a look tonight, though, did you?” George asked.

“Nah, not when there’s a live one to go after,” Ted said. “You guys really think the Torso Murderer was involved with the guy who owned this place?”

“I’d bet money on it,” Malcolm said. “Timeframe overlaps enough, and there are other connections.”

“Not to give you the willies, but I’d guess that Earl Wilson and Jason Beckler have sat at this bar,” George said.

“You’re probably right about that,” Malcolm said. “Earl Wilson for sure. The tow truck in the barn is registered to him.”

“Really?” Ted asked. “You didn’t mention that.”

“Slipped my mind,” Malcolm said. “There’s so much.”

Ted’s phone rang.

“Excuse me a moment,” he said, getting off the bar and walking away.

“I’m tired,” Heidi said.

“I know, me too,” George said. “We’ll hit the sack pretty soon.”

“How early do you guys want to take off in the morning?” Malcolm asked.

“Nine?” Heidi asked. “It’s already past 11:00 now.”

“Works for me,” Malcolm said. “Uh oh.” He was watching Ted walk over with a grim expression.

“What happened?” George asked.

“The shit hit the fan in Columbus,” he said, sitting back down. He took a sip of his whiskey. “The pepper spray girl and the female companion of Scott and Howard are both dead.”

“No way,” Heidi said.

“How? Where?” Malcolm asked.

“The victim was jogging in the park across the street from her house. The other girl shot her, but then was shot herself by a third party,” Ted said. “Seems extremely fishy to me.”

“No sign of Howard or Scotty?”

“There were a couple eyewitness accounts, but none of them were much good. It was dark.”

“What’d they see?” Malcolm asked.

“Four men leaving the scene. Two were holding guns on the other two. Bad descriptions.”

“Set up,” George said.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said.

“The FBI promised me info before sunup tomorrow morning,” Ted said. “They’re doing autopsies tonight, and they’re trying to get ballistics done too.”

“That’s fast, especially for the bureau,” Malcolm said. “Why the rush?”

“They lost contact with their agent there,” Ted said. “Three guesses who.”

“Agent Keith,” Malcolm said. “Shit.”

“You got it,” Ted said. He took a gulp of his whiskey.

“What now?” Heidi asked.

“I say we still go to the house,” Malcolm said.

“Agreed,” Ted said.

“We’d better get some shut-eye,” George said. “We need to be fresh for this one.”

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “Let’s go.”

Everybody finished their drinks and headed up to the barn.

“Let’s move our cars over to my rig,” Malcolm said. “You can follow me.”

Ted nodded and they walked over there, Heidi and George following. General Hogan appeared out of the darkness.

“George, could I have a quick word?” he asked.

“Sure,” he said. “Where?”

“Let’s go in the clubhouse,” the general said.

“Mind if I go to the coach?” Heidi asked.

“Sure, you can take the Jeep over there. I’ll walk over in a few minutes.”

“Okay, sweetie. Not too long.”

George nodded and followed the general into the clubhouse. Frank and Jane were still there. Everybody else had turned in.

“What’s up, General?” Frank asked.

“Let’s have a quick chat about that picture,” he said.

“What picture?” George asked.

“This one,” Frank said, pointing to his PC monitor.

George walked over and looked closely, eyes getting wide.

“Son of a bitch,” he said. “Daan Mertins is connected with the WTO?”

“Yep,” General Hogan said. “The WTO is coming over here for a big hush-hush meeting. We’re trying to figure out where it’s going to be.”

“Daan’s not the only problem person on that picture,” George said. “Three of them are wanted in the United States, you know.”

“Really?” Frank asked.

“Yeah,” George said, pointing at the screen. “These two guys are wanted for arms trafficking. And that guy is wanted for drug trafficking and white slavery.”

“No shit,” the general said, shaking his head. “How do they keep these jobs? They’re pretty high-level positions.”

“You’d be surprised,” George said. “It’s likely that some of these guys saw this war as being in their interest.”

“That’s what the general was intimating when he first talked to me about it,” Frank said.

“We need to find out where these guys are headed,” George said. “Any ideas?”

“New Mexico,” Frank said.

“Carlsbad Caverns?” George asked. “They that stupid?”

“How many people know about those lead-lined shelters they’ve built there?” Frank asked.

“My immediate staff and you guys,” the general said.

“You’re withholding this? I thought you were talking to the Joint Chiefs about it?” Frank asked.

“I talked to them about Carlsbad Caverns. There are still too many people who can’t be trusted. I decided to keep this close to the vest for now.”

“Why?” Jane asked.

“Those guys knew about the theft of lead going on for the last few weeks, and they chose to withhold that information from me. I found out another way.”

“You sure they know?” George asked.

“Yes,” General Hogan said.

“Son of a bitch,” George said. “I thought this was about over.”

“I told you guys,” General Hogan said. “It’ll take time and effort to root the evil out of our government.”

“What’s our next step?” Jane asked.

“Can we get names for all these folks?” Frank asked.

“I’ve been trying,” General Hogan said. “Some of them are easy, of course. Got to be careful who I ask about the others.”

“I know some of them,” George said.

“There’s another way we can do it,” Jane said.

“How?” General Hogan asked.

“Frank had access to the FBI facial recognition system. You still have that, honey?”

“Yeah,” Frank said, looking at her with a wicked grin. “Thanks for reminding me about that. Some of these folks might not be on it though.”

“What are you going to do with the names?” George asked.

“Hack,” Frank said. “Find their communications. Find out who they’re associated with, and where they’re going.”

George smiled. “Good.”

“You really going to Columbus tomorrow?” General Hogan asked.

“I was,” he said. “This is more important, but let’s wait and see what tomorrow brings. Ted is waiting on some info that may alter our plans, or even erase them.”

“The incident on the jogging path?” Jane asked.

“You got it,” George said. “We’re supposed to get autopsy and ballistics info tomorrow morning.”

“You think Malcolm would be okay with you working this instead of going to Columbus?” the General asked.

“Yeah, especially since Ted’s here,” George said. “Besides, we made an agreement.”

“What agreement?” General Hogan asked.

“The country comes first.”

***

“What are we gonna do, Scotty?” Kerry asked. They were in the basement, waiting for the cops to arrive. So far nothing. It’d been over an hour.

“Maybe nobody heard the gunshots,” Scott said. “They did happen in the basement, but the door wasn’t shut tight.”

“I don’t like it down here with the bodies,” Kerry said. “Can we leave?”

Scott ran the situation through in his mind. Agent Keith was a rogue FBI agent. That was pretty obvious. If he knew enough to trap them, there are probably others out there, and they might not be operating under official sanctions either. Panic filled his mind.

“Kerry, we need to go on a road trip,” Scott said. “Is that okay?”

“Can we take the motor home?” he asked, smiling through his tears.

“No, we’ll have to take the station wagon. The police know about the motor home.”

“What about the bodies?”

“See that big white chest over there?” Scott asked, pointing. “Can you help me put them in there?”

“I guess. What is that?”

“It’s a freezer,” Scott said, walking towards it. “Let’s see if it works.”

Scott plugged it in. A low vibration started. He felt the side. “It’s running.”

Kerry watched him silently as he opened the top door. “Phew, that stinks, Scotty!” he said.

“Yes it does,” Scott said. “Sorry.” He looked inside. Blood stains in the bottom, dried. He felt the walls. They were getting cool.

“Is it working, Scotty?”

“Yes,” he said. “C’mon, help me carry them over here.”

“Okay,” Kerry said, an apprehensive look on his face.

They struggled to get Howard carried over. He fit in the freezer, but Scott could see that Agent Keith and Sy were going to be a problem. The chest was too short for the men to lay prone. Then the thought came to him. Cut the Agent and Sy in half. He eyed the workbench next to the freezer. Perfect, but it was covered with junk. He quickly moved things from the bench to the floor.

“What are you doing, Scotty?”

“Help me, will you?” Scott said. “We need to get this cleared off, and then we can set the other men up here.”

Kerry’s mind was trying to understand the reason as he helped Scott. They had it cleared in a few minutes.

“Okay, let’s put them up here,” Scott said. The two wrestled the bodies up on the work bench.

“What now, Scotty?”

“You go upstairs and have something to eat. Close the door behind you, and don’t turn lights on up there. If it’s too scary, go back to your room. Okay? We’ll leave when I’m done in here.”

“Okay, Scotty,” Kerry said. He looked relieved to be leaving the basement. After the door closed, Scott raced over and locked the dead bolt, then returned to the workbench.

There were saws hanging on the pegboard on the center table. He looked around on the floor. There was a drain in the middle of the room. It looked like the blood would flow down there from the work bench the bodies were on. He saw a broom over against the stairs, and grabbed it, sweeping a clear path for the fluids to run. His heart was beating quicker now. He was anxious to get to work. He dug into it with vigor, trying to avoid getting blood on himself. That didn’t work, but after about 45 minutes, he had both men in several pieces, and was fitting them easily into the big freezer. It was already getting cold inside.

“Scotty, are you almost done?” he heard Kerry say through the door.

“Almost,” he said. He filled a pail with water from the laundry sink and washed as much blood down the drain as he could. It was still going to stink down here when he got back. “There, that ought to do it.”

“Scotty! I’m scared.”

“I’m coming,” he said, removing his bloody pants and shirt and climbing the steps. He unlocked the door and opened it. Kerry’s eyes got wide.

“Where’s your clothes?”

“They’re dirty, so I left them down there. I’ll take a quick shower and get dressed, and then we can leave. Okay?”

“Okay, Scotty.”

“Shit,” Scott said.

“What’s the matter?” Kerry asked.

“I forgot about the movies,” he said, rushing back down. He found an old wooden crate and loaded the film cans. “Kerry, come down here and help me.”

“Okay, Scotty,” he said, rushing down. They each took an end of the heavy crate and carried it up the steps. Then Scott locked up the basement door.

“I’ll be done with my shower in a few minutes, okay?”

“Okay, Scotty,” he said.

Scott showered and dressed quickly. He came down the stairs and checked the doors and windows in the front half of the house. It would be light soon. He had to hurry.

“Kerry, do you know where the motor home keys are?”

“They’re on the kitchen counter,” Kerry said. “Howard put them there.”

“Good,” he said. “Let’s see if Howard has an ice chest in his storage compartment. C’mon.”

They walked out into the darkness and unlocked the big storage compartment in the Class C.

“There it is,” Kerry said. “See, Scotty?”

“Yeah. Help me.”

“There’s still some food in Howard’s freezer,” Kerry said as they got it out.

“Good,” Scott said. He unlocked the coach door and went inside, coming out in a few minutes with a bag full of frozen food. He put it in the ice chest.

“Can I get the pop tarts?” Kerry asked.

“Yes and grab other stuff too. Take it to the back of the station wagon over there.”

“Where did that come from?” Kerry asked, looking at the car, dew dripping off it.

“It was in the garage,” Scott said.

Kerry moved food as Scott rushed into the house with the ice chest, filling it with the contents of his fridge. Kerry came into the house.

“All done, Scotty,” he said, looking proud of himself.

“Good, help me with this ice chest.” The two carried it out to the station wagon.

“Are we ready to go?” Kerry asked.

“One more thing,” Scott said. “The movies.” They went back into the house and got those, loading them as the sun was coming up.

“Get in the car while I go lock the door, Kerry.”

“Okay,” he said. “I’m tired.”

“Lay down in the back seat.”

“Can I get my pillow and blanket?”

“I’ll go get some for both of us.” Scott said.

“Okay.”

Scott bounded through the back door, raced up the stairs, and grabbed two pillows and two blankets. He rushed back out and locked the door, then trotted over to the car.

“Here you go,” Scott said, passing them back to Kerry.

“Thanks, Scotty,” he said.

Scott drove the station wagon into the alley, and then got out and closed the back gate, taking one more look at the place as he locked the padlock. “Dammit.”

He got behind the wheel and drove away.

Chapter 15 – Used Tioga

It was a cloudy morning. Humidity was high, and it smelled like rain. Trish woke up sweaty, tight against Terry. She reached up to his head and petted his cheek. He stirred.

“Good morning, beautiful,” Terry said, turning towards her.

“Muggy,” she said. “My nightgown is stuck to me.”

“Well, you should have left it off,” Terry said, grinning.

“Yeah, you’d like that, mister,” she said. “What’s up today?”

“I don’t know,” Terry said. “Got guard duty on the roof, but not until late this afternoon. I thought maybe I’d get back to working on the park.”

“Doing what?” she asked.

“Getting the other power masts working,” he said. “We’ve got to clean up that mess on the front lawn, too, but that’s going to take more than just me.”

“The general’s helicopter,” Trish said. “Maybe we ought to leave that there, and put a little fence around it.”

“Tourist attraction?”

“Yeah, if there’s any chance we’ll stay here and open the place.”

“Would you like to do that?” Terry asked.

“Maybe,” she said. “The war is winding down.”

“So it would appear,” Terry said. “This place might still be a magnet for bad folks.”

“I know,” she said, stretching, the covers coming off of her. Terry eyed her, his hands moving onto her torso. He moved closer and kissed her.

“You feel nice,” he said.

“Getting frisky? We need to get into town. We’re just about out of protection.”

“Maybe it’s time to stop using it,” Terry said, his breath quickening.

She sighed and rested against him. “You think so?”

“It’s a nice thought,” he sighed. “I suppose I need to think with my head instead of my heart. I don’t know how we’ll make a living when things get back to normal.”

“Well, I did say we were almost out.” She pulled her damp nightgown off, smiling.

***

Malcolm hardly slept at all. He finally got up and snuck by Ted, leaving the coach. He headed for the clubhouse. As he approached he could smell the coffee. Kurt and Mary were sitting at a table chatting.

“Have some coffee, Malcolm,” Mary said.

“Thanks,” he said. “Smells heavenly.”

He went into the kitchen. Gabe, Jake, and Dobie were all there, leaning against the counters, sipping coffee. Malcolm got a cup and leaned against the counter. “Good morning, guys.”

“Heard you got into quite a battle last night,” Dobie said. “Should have let me know.”

“It came up kinda quick,” Malcolm said. “I’m sure having your pistol there would have been good, but we managed.”

“Heard the local authorities weren’t too pleased,” Gabe said, chuckling.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “Although the one who was most upset did admit he was glad we got them. They’ve had missing children.”

“This thing in Columbus is gonna change your plans, I’ll bet,” Jake said.

“Maybe,” Malcolm said. “We’re still going out there.”

Ted walked into the kitchen. “Hey, Malcolm. Should have woken me up.”

“No rush,” Malcolm said. “This is Dobie, Gabe, and Jake. Gentlemen, this is Ted Crowley.”

“Nice to meet you,” Dobie said. The others nodded in agreement.

“Hear from the bureau?” Malcolm asked.

“Yeah,” he said.

“Want to go talk about it?” Malcolm asked.

“I need coffee first,” he said, drawing himself a cup from the big pot.

“We’ll leave you guys alone,” Gabe said.

“You can stick around if you’d like,” Ted said. “I don’t see any reason to keep this secret.”

“Good,” Jake said. “This is interesting.”

“Well?” Malcolm asked as Ted took his first sip.

“Good coffee,” he said. “Thanks.”

“C’mon, man,” Malcolm said.

“Okay, okay,” Ted said, chuckling. “The coed was shot in the face with her own pepper spray, and then somebody elbowed her in the face so hard that it broke her nose. She was shot in the back when she was lying face down in the dirt.”

“What weapon?” Malcolm asked.

“It was a 9mm Browning, found at the scene,” Ted said. “Nice old gun. Registered to a dead person in Michigan. They’re still trying to follow up on possible relationships to Scott or Howard.”

“Anything interesting about her?” Malcolm asked.

“Yeah, she’d had sex about an hour before the incident,” Ted said. “Looks like it was forced. They’re still working the DNA on that.”

“Wonderful,” Malcolm said. “I’ll bet it wasn’t a frat member.”

“Scott and Howard’s girl is even more interesting,” Ted said.

“How so?” Malcolm asked. The other men stood by silently, mesmerized.

“She was shot in the back as she was running away,” Ted said. “Ballistics say the gun belonged to Agent Keith. He tried to stage this mess. The gun that killed the coed was in this girl’s hand. It had been wiped, but not well. Agent Keith left a print on the barrel.”

“Idiot,” Malcolm said, chuckling. “Who was the girl?”

“That’s the most interesting part of all,” Ted said. “Her name was Bailey Simpson. She disappeared several days ago, after being accused of participation in a rape at her sorority.”

“Sounds like a wonderful girl,” Malcolm said. “What was she doing with a couple old serial killers like Scott and Howard?”

“Having lots of sex, according to the coroner,” Ted said. “We’re waiting on DNA from that too.”

“I don’t see any reason not to go to Columbus in all of this,” Malcolm said.

“Me neither,” Ted said. “By the way, still nothing from Agent Keith, and nobody knows who the other man was.”

“Other man?” Malcolm asked.

“They guy who helped Agent Keith take Scott and Howard away,” Ted said.

“He might have bought it,” Malcolm said.

“Maybe,” Ted said. “Either way, I’ll bet he’s at the house right now. If he’s alive, he’s probably helping Agent Keith set a trap for you as we speak.”

“Could be.”

“Why would an FBI agent be setting a trap for you?” Dobie asked.

“This guy’s been after Malcolm since the Red Dagger incident,” Ted said. “We’re pretty sure he was involved in a bureau scandal about six years ago, too.”

“Margo,” Malcolm said.

“Yeah, Margo Valdez,” Ted said.

“I remember her,” Gabe said. “Scary gal.”

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “That’s for sure.”

***

Frank and Jane walked into the clubhouse, looking sleepy. Frank went right to the PC and logged on.

“You want coffee, honey?” Jane asked.

“Yeah, sure,” he said. “I’ll get up in a minute. Just wanted to get the facial recognition program working on the first set of faces.”

“I’ll get it,” she said, walking into the kitchen. Malcolm and Ted were still in there, chatting with the others.

“Good morning, Jane,” Malcolm said. “This is Ted Crowley. Ted, this is Jane.”

“So nice to meet you,” Jane said. “I’ve read a lot about you.”

“Uh oh,” Ted said, smiling.

“Don’t worry, all good,” she said as she got two cups of coffee.

“Frank out there?” Malcolm asked.

“Yeah, he’s getting ready to run the facial recognition program.”

“On who?” Ted asked.

“Oh, you guys probably don’t know about this yet, unless you talked to George or the general late last night.”

“Let’s go out there,” Malcolm said to Ted. “I need to introduce you to our resident genius anyway.”

“Okay,” Ted said. “Nice to meet you guys.”

“Hell, I’m going out there too,” Gabe said. “Sounds like we missed something.”

“Yeah,” Dobie said, following them out, Jake tagging along behind.

“Frank, this is Ted Crowley,” Malcolm said as they walked up. “Ted, that’s Frank.”

“Heard a lot about you,” Ted said, shaking Frank’s hand. “Very impressive set of apps you put out.”

“Thanks,” he said.

“What’s going on?” Malcolm asked.

“You didn’t see the picture the general gave us last night, did you?” Frank asked.

“Nope, not yet,” Malcolm said.

“Well, it was late,” Frank said. He pulled it up. “Take a look.”

Malcolm and Ted got close to the screen and studied it.

“WTO, eh,” Malcolm said. “I don’t get it.”

“See that guy?” Frank said, pointing to the face in the last row.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “Doesn’t look familiar.”

“That’s Daan Mertins.” Frank said.

“Whoa,” Gabe said.

“He’s the mastermind behind the enemy chips,” Malcolm said. “Shit, he’s involved with the WTO?”

“So it would appear,” Frank said. “General Hogan said there’s going to be a meeting somewhere in the USA, so we’re trying to find out where.”

“I’ll bet George won’t be going with us,” Malcolm said.

“That’s what it sounded like last night,” Jane said. “George and the general are cooking something up.”

“What’s the next move?” Dobie asked.

“We don’t know who all of these folks are,” Frank said. “So we’re going to run the FBI’s facial recognition program on them. When we get names, I’ll start hacking.”

“How did you get access to that FBI program?” Ted asked. “I don’t even have access to that directly. I have to put in a request.”

“Don’t ask,” Frank said.

George and Heidi walked into the clubhouse, seeing the crowd gathered around Frank and his PC. Malcolm saw George, and nodded toward the far side of the room. They met over there, as Heidi joined the crowd, watching Frank run the facial recognition program.

“Looks like you heard about the picture,” George said.

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “Ted also gave me the lowdown on the incident in Columbus yesterday. When it rains, it pours. You won’t be going with us, will you?”

“Probably not,” George said. “Daan Mertins is more important than Scott and Howard, I’m afraid.”

“I agree, George. I’ll probably go to Columbus with Ted. You okay with that?”

“Not up to me, my friend,” George said. “What did Ted find out?”

“That incident last night was a total setup by our old buddy Agent Keith,” Malcolm said. “Looks to me like the young woman Scott and Howard had with them was turned. A convert. We’ll know for sure before too long.”

“Agent Keith is trying to set a trap for you,” George said. “Maybe you ought to back off.”

“Agent Keith is dead,” Malcolm said. “I can feel it. He wouldn’t have burned his bridges so fast by hiding out. He would have contacted the bureau by now.”

“Why do you say that?” George asked.

“He tried to stage that mess on the running path,” Malcolm said. “Thought it was going to keep him from being in trouble with the bureau. He wouldn’t have disappeared like this after going to all that trouble.”

“What does Ted think?”

“That Agent Keith is lying in wait for us,” Malcolm said. “I’d agree with him if Agent Keith wasn’t missing. I love Ted. He’s a good guy, but he doesn’t think several steps ahead.”

George chuckled. “And you do, I suppose.”

“Well, not to be conceited, but yeah,” Malcolm said. “I can tell you what we’ll find in Columbus. We’ll find the house abandoned, and Scott and Howard gone. I think there’s a good chance we’ll find Agent Keith there, dead, with whoever was helping him.”

“Hope you’re wrong, but I think you have a good point about Agent Keith’s disappearance. Sure you should be going there with just the two of you?”

“I don’t want to drag any of these good people into this,” Malcolm said.

“Well, let’s wait before we decide what to do, at least for a little while. When does Ted expect that DNA data?”

“He didn’t say,” Malcolm said. “But if it’s a rush job through the bureau, could be as quick as 72 hours.”

“Too long to wait on for the trip,” George said. “Shit.”

“We’ll probably find out on the way,” Malcolm said. “It’ll take a couple days to get there, at least.”

“Assuming you drive,” George said. “You could drive somewhere and hop a flight. Topeka or Omaha or Lincoln.”

“No we can’t,” Malcolm said. “Guns.”

“Oh, crap, you’re right,” George said, chuckling. “Look, here comes the general. Looks like he’s gonna check on Frank’s progress.”

The two of them walked back over to the group.

***

“How much longer?” Kerry asked.

Scott had been driving the station wagon all night. He was exhausted. At least I-70 was a good road. He was trying to make Indianapolis; the storage unit was in a suburb, and he knew of a few flea-bag hotels in the bad part of town with underground parking. Did any eyewitnesses make the station wagon? That was the real question.

“It won’t be much longer, Kerry,” he said. “We have to stop by the storage yard. We’re almost there.”

“Okay,” he said, climbing up into the back seat from the rear.

“You sleep much?” Scott asked.

“A little,” he said. “It’s bumpy, and the film cans scare me.”

“Why would those scare you?” Scott asked. “They can’t hurt you.”

“I know what’s on them. They’re alive,” he said.

The off-ramp was coming up. Scott took it, eyes darting around in the busy intersection. The storage yard was down an industrial park road about two hundred yards. He pulled up in front of the tall gate and fished his wallet out of his back pocket, looking for the code. He found it and input the code into the key pad. Nothing.

“Dammit,” Scott said. He drove over to the parking lot in front of the office. “Stay here, Kerry.”

“Okay, Scotty.”

He opened the glass door and walked in. There was a man in his mid-twenties behind the counter.

“Can I help you?” the man asked, smiling.

“My code didn’t work on the gate,” Scott said.

“Sorry about that,” the man said, eyeing him. “How long since you’ve been here?”

“Three or four years,” Scott said. “But I’m paid up. Should be no problem.”

“Let’s see your card,” the man said. Scott handed it over, and the man input the code numbers on the front of it. “Aw, yes, here you are. You’re right, paid up for the rest of this year. I’ll give you the new code.” He wrote four numbers on a pad of paper, and tore it off, handing it to Scott. “You still have your key?”

“Yeah,” Scott said. “Thanks.”

“Thank you, and sorry for the inconvenience.”

“Do you guys change the codes often?” Scott asked, as he was on his way out the door.

“No, we normally would never do it,” the man said. “This place changed hands a couple years ago, and one of the new people messed up. It was a real pain. We mailed out a notice; you probably missed it.”

“What address do you have on file?” Scott asked, leaning his back against the door.

The man looked at the computer screen again. “Oh, my. Northern New Jersey.”

“That explains it,” Scott said.

“You weren’t there when the bomb went off, obviously.”

“No, but my wife was,” Scott said, forcing himself to look sad.

“I’m so sorry, sir,” the man said.

“I miss her every day,” Scott said as he went out the door, his sad expression turning into an evil grin as he walked back to the station wagon.

“Everything okay?” Kerry asked.

“Yeah, they just changed the gate code since the last time I was here.” Scott drove back to the gate, input the code, and then watched the gate slide open. He drove in and around the back side of the three story building, through the rows of boats and RVs parked in the yard. One caught his eye. A mid-1990s Class C with a for sale sign on it. He drove next to it and parked.

“Is that yours?” Kerry asked, his eyes beaming.

“No, but it’s for sale,” Scott said. “Maybe we can make a deal.” Scott jotted the phone number down on the note app of his phone, and then took a few pictures. It was an old Fleetwood Tioga, 23 feet long. It wasn’t as big or as nice as Howard’s rig, but it would do. The asking price was $11,000, but Scott figured he could get it for less than that, especially if he paid cash. He got back into the station wagon and drove to a parking place near his unit. It was on the second floor.

“It’s in there?” Kerry said, looking around cautiously.

“Yeah, second floor. Don’t worry, it’s safe here. Let’s go.”

They got out of the car and went in through the double doors, taking the stairs to the left.

“There’s our unit,” Scott said. “Number 212.” He fished his keys out of his pocket and opened the padlock, then slid the metal door upwards and hit the light.

“Wow, that’s a lot of stuff,” Kerry said, smiling.

“Yeah,” he said. There were many plastic crates piled high, along with a gun safe and two other safes, two bicycles, two dollies, and some dirty furniture. He went to the smaller safe and opened it. It was full of cash. Hidden from his wife. No need to worry about that anymore. He chuckled to himself.

“Wow, that’s a lot of money,” Kerry said.

“Kerry, you can’t tell anybody about this, okay?”

“Sure, Scotty. You can trust me.”

“Good,” Scott said. He opened the smaller safe. There was a plastic bin in the top with several fake IDs in it, each with his picture, rubber banded to credit cards. He picked one out and slid the cards into his wallet. Kirby Smith was the name. He chuckled to himself. Sounds like a real dork.

“Let’s go get those film cans,” Scott said. Kerry nodded yes as Scott locked the safes back up. They rushed down to the car with a dolly, taking it to the back of the station wagon.

“Help me get the crate on the dolly, and I can take it from there,” Scott said.

“What about the stairs?” Kerry asked.

“There’s an elevator down the hall,” Scott said. They wrestled the crate onto the dolly and Scott closed the back of the wagon. “Let’s go.”

They got back up to the unit in a few minutes. Scott put the film cans in the back corner, next to the gun safe, and then took his phone out of his pocket. He dialed the number from the for sale sign.

“Hello?” a female voice answered.

“Hi, there. I saw the for sale sign on your motor home. I’m interested.”

“Oh, great,” she said. “Are you at the storage lot now?”

“Yeah,” he said. “How soon could you be here?”

“Fifteen minutes okay?” she asked.

“That would be perfect,” Scott said. “You on a cellphone?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Good, then you have my number,” Scott said, smiling over at Kerry. “Just give me a buzz when you get here and I’ll be down.”

“Okay, see you in a few minutes.”

Scott put his phone away and opened the money safe again. He counted out nine thousand dollars in large bills, put them together in his pocket, and then grabbed several more large bills and several twenties, stuffing them into his wallet.

Kerry watched with great interest. “She’s coming over?” he asked.

“Yes, she’ll be here in about fifteen minutes,” Scott said.

“She isn’t a dumb bitch, is she?” Kerry asked, eyes wide.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Scott said. “But just in case…”

He opened the gun safe and pulled a small pistol out, slipping it into his belt behind his back.

“I thought you had a gun in the car, Scotty?”

“I do, but this one’s smaller,” he said. “Keep your mouth shut when she’s here, okay?”

“Okay, Scotty. Do I get the bunk in front again? I like it up there.”

“Why sure,” Scott said, grinning as he shut the safes.

Chapter 16 – Bar Trash

“You sure you don’t want me to drive the rental?” Ted asked, watching Malcolm load up the Jeep Unlimited.

“If we find out that Scott is out on a back road someplace, we’ll be glad we have this,” Malcolm said.

“Maybe we should take both,” Ted said. “Always helps to be able to split up.”

“Well, maybe,” Malcolm said. “Suit yourself.”

“I’ll get her loaded up.”

Dobie walked up to Malcolm as he was closing the back of the Jeep.

“Interested in any company?” he asked.

Malcolm turned to him, smiling. “Love to have you, but I’d advise against it. It’ll be dangerous, and it could highlight you to some bad folks. You might end up with a target on your back.”

“Everybody in this park has a target on their backs,” Dobie said. “Besides, I’m interested, and I’m good in close quarters with my pistols. I’d be more use to you guys than I’d be here.”

Malcolm thought about it for a few minutes. “How many people does that fifth wheel sleep?”

Dobie got a smile on his face. “Six.”

“Hmmm,” Malcolm said. “What about your dogs?”

“Well, if I’m going to take the fifth wheel, I’d take Duchess. Princess, Simon, and Peabody can watch the park.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Ted asked, walking up.

“Dobie here wants to join us,” Malcolm said.

“I thought we weren’t going to get any of these folks involved,” Ted said.

“That was my advice,” Malcolm said. “He would be valuable though.”

“Why?” Ted asked.

“I’m a champion combat pistol shooter,” Dobie said. “And I can follow you guys with my fifth wheel. It’ll give us a place to sleep.”

Ted looked at Malcolm. “He up to it?”

“I’ve seen him in battle,” Malcolm said. “He’s good. Real good.”

“You told him he might end up with a target on his back, right?”

“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “He’s already got one.”

“Not with these folks,” Ted said.

“I beg to differ,” Dobie said. “I spent more time with Howard than anybody else here. He helped me get my fifth wheel hitch put into the truck. I’m well recognized as one of the people who took over this RV Park.”

Ted sighed. “Okay, Malcolm, if you’re good with it, I’m good with it. What about your dogs?”

“I’ll have Jake keep an eye on the three I leave here. I’ll take Duchess with me.”

“Our own K-9 unit,” Malcolm said, laughing.

“That dog’s had K-9 training, huh?” Ted asked.

“Yep,” Dobie said. “I’ve got experience using them, too. I trained dogs for the St. Louis PD. It was my last job before I started my own guard dog business.”

“Well, okay then,” Ted said.

“I’ll go get my rig ready. When are we leaving?”

“Half an hour okay?” Malcolm asked.

“Yeah.” Dobie trotted over to his fifth wheel and started working. Gabe noticed and walked up.

“Going somewhere?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m going with Malcolm and Ted to Ohio,” Dobie said.

“What? Whose idea was that?”

“Mine,” Dobie said. “I’m taking Duchess. I’ll get Jake to keep track of the other three.”

“Hmmm,” Gabe said. “Remember what you said to me when you came out to my RV Park?”

Dobie stopped for a moment. “Huh?”

“You said that I was your last relative, and you wanted to make sure I was okay out there,” Gabe said.

“Oh, yeah. I remember,” Dobie said.

“Good, then I’ll be going with you.”

Dobie stopped what he was doing. “It’ll be dangerous.”

Gabe laughed. “Whatever. I’ll give you a hand with this. When are we leaving?”

“Half an hour,” he said.

“Okay, you go talk to Jake. I’ll get your hookups pulled off. It’s best to have two people with a fifth wheel anyway.”

“Guess there’s no talking you out of it, is there?”

“Nope,” Gabe said, smiling.

***

The general walked up to Frank. “How’s the facial recognition program working?”

“Between that and what George knew, we’ve got all the names but three,” Frank said.

“Good. Been on the satellite view lately?”

“No,” Frank said. “Been busy hacking. Why?”

“Something’s going on. Trucks have been going back and forth between the trailers and the industrial park all day long, one after another.”

“Want me to take a look with the long-range app?” Jane asked, sitting at her laptop.

“Yeah,” the General said.

She nodded and loaded that program. It came up and she studied it. Then an icon appeared and disappeared in the space of about two seconds.

“Whoa!” she said. “Icon just showed, then disappeared.”

“Where?”

“Where those double wide trailers are,” she said.

“They can’t pull vehicles all the way in there,” Frank said. “I’ve got an idea. Move over.”

Frank went over to Jane’s laptop and went into the settings of her long range app. He set a recording switch on by clicking on a check box.

“What’s that?”

“History. You’ll need to keep this running, at least in the background. It will record any icon that pops up, even for a split second. We’ll get a timestamp and the data on the chips for each.”

“Good,” the General said.

“Just got a hit,” Jane said. “Little longer this time. They’re loading or unloading something by the double-wide trailers. Oh, there’s another one.”

***

Rosie woke with a start. Jeb was up, walking towards the bathroom, pulling his IV stand with him.

“You walk?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I feel a lot stronger than I did yesterday. I’m gonna beat this.”

“Yes, you beat,” Rosie said. “But don’t push self too hard.”

“I won’t, sweetie.” He went in the bathroom for a minute. Rosie sat up, trying to shake off the sleep. After a moment, she heard the toilet flush, and Jeb headed back to his bed.

“This war is winding down,” Jeb said. “I’ve been watching cable news while you were sleeping.”

“Yes, apps kill them off,” Rosie said. “Kill them good.”

“When’s the last time you heard from the park?”

“Yesterday,” she said. “Everything go fine there. No more attacks.”

“Good,” Jeb said, lying back. He pulled the sheet over himself. “Doc should be coming in today. Hopefully they’ll have a better idea when I can get out of here.”

“No rush,” Rosie said. “We have all time in world.”

“I know, but I’m getting a little stir-crazy.”

“Me too,” Rosie said. “But we not go until ready. You don’t push doctor.”

“Don’t worry, honey.”

***

Kerry and Scott were sitting in the storage unit.

“What are we gonna do with the station wagon if we buy the motor home?” Kerry asked.

“I don’t know yet,” Scott said. His phone rang. He answered it.

“Hello?”

“Hi, I’m at the motor home,” a woman’s voice said.

“Great, we’ll be down in a minute.” Scott slipped the phone in his pocket. “Let’s go. Remember what I said.”

“Okay, Scotty,” he said. They left the unit, Scott pulling down the door and locking it on the way out. They hurried down the stairs and walked out onto the blacktop. There was a woman of about thirty five standing by the motor home. She looked like bar trash to Scott; tight top and short skirt looking about a size too small, teased bleach-blonde hair, chewing gun. She smiled when she saw him coming.

“Hi there,” she said. “I’m Cindy.”

“I’m Scott, and this is Kerry. Thanks for coming.”

“Thank you,” she said. “Hope we can make a deal. I want to be rid of this thing.”

“Does it run?” Scott asked.

“Of course. My idiot ex-husband spent way too much money on this thing. The last big purchase was tires. Those are only about eight months old. Cost a shit-load of money.”

Scott watched as she unlocked the side door and opened it.

“I take it you ended up with this in a divorce?” Scott asked, squeezing by her to enter the door. She reeked of cheap perfume.

“Yeah,” she said, chomping her gum. “I took it to spite him. He loved this thing. Screw him.”

The inside of the coach was nicer than Scott expected. Everything was clean. There was a flat screen TV mounted on the wall, and the seat cushions looked new. So did the microwave.

“Wow, lots of new stuff in here,” Scott said.

“Yeah, like I said, the idiot spent way too much money on this thing. Then he took his floozy out in it.”

Scott studied her. What a piece of work.

“Hey, Scotty, can I check out the bunk?”

“Of course,” he said.

“He a little slow?” Cindy whispered.

“Yeah,” Scott whispered back, getting closer to her. “He’s my brother.”

“You take care of him?” she asked, her eyes softening.

“I’m the only family he’s got left,” Scott said. “We’re buddies. I’m glad he’s with me.”

“What do you know, there are nice men left in this world,” she said, moving a little closer to him, looking into his eyes. He could smell the spearmint from her gum, mixed with a touch of gin.

“Can I fire up the engine?” he asked, breaking her out of her trance.

“Oh, yeah, sure. It’s had an engine rebuild. That’s how Zeke got it so cheap. The engine was blown when he bought it. He rebuilt it himself.” She handed him the keys. “Help yourself. Drive it around the lot.”

“Okay, thanks,” Scott said, taking the keys and climbing into the front seat. The engine turned over quickly. He let it warm up for a few seconds, and then drove off, circling the building a couple of times, trying everything in the cockpit. He parked back in the space and turned the engine off, then came into the back.

“We gonna buy it, Scotty?” Kerry asked.

“We’ll see,” Scott said. He looked at all of the appliances in the kitchen, checked the bathroom, and the bed.

“That bed isn’t bad, even though it’s just a corner bed,” Cindy said.

“Feels okay,” Scott said, checking the curtain that pulled across the opening. “Not a lot of privacy, but it’ll do.”

“I’d show you better if your brother wasn’t here,” Cindy whispered.

Scotty glanced at her, a sly smile on his face. My, aren’t we forward?

“What do you think?” she asked. “It comes with everything in it. Kitchen stuff. Tools out in the storage compartment, and some folding chairs. There’s even some food in the pantry. Oh, and bedding. Nice stuff, but I don’t want it, since the bitch used it.”

“Everything in here comes with it, eh. How about you?” Scott said, shooting her a flirtatious look.

She shot him a sexy glance. “Seriously, you interested in the coach?”

“Give you nine grand,” Scott said.

“I’m asking eleven,” she said.

“I know, but it’s old,” Scott said. “Got cash. Right here, right now.” He pulled the wad of hundred dollar bills out of his pocket and counted them out. Cindy’s eyes got wider, and she smiled.

“Cash, huh?” she said.

“Yeah,” Scott said. “You’ve got the title with you, right?”

“In my purse,” she said, pulling it out. “Registration was paid up a couple months ago.”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to be rid of this?” he asked.

She leaned against the kitchen counter, thinking it through for a few minutes. When she looked up, Scott shot her the flirty glance. She smiled. “Okay, you’ve got yourself a motor home. Let’s do the paperwork.”

They sat at the dinette and took care of the transfer documents. Scott handed over the cash, and Cindy handed over the keys.

“Okay, it’s all yours,” she said, getting up. She walked to the door. Scott followed her. When they got outside, she turned to him and got closer so she could whisper. “You really interested?”

“Sure,” Scott said, eyeing her heaving breasts and her sly smile.

“Good, then come by and see me later,” she said. “My address is on the paperwork. You already have my phone number.”

“Maybe I’ll do that,” Scott said. “Probably won’t be tonight. Got a lot to do. Tomorrow or the next day?”

“Sure, but call me first,” she said.

As she turned to leave, he slapped her butt. She giggled, turning around and smiling at him. Scott went back into the coach as she drove away.

“Scotty, this is so neat!” Kerry said, climbing out of the bunk. “It’s got a better bunk than Howie’s motor home. It’s got windows on both sides that open.”

“Good, glad you like it,” Scott said, smiling. “I’m going to chat with the owner of this place about storing the station wagon here. I’ll be in the office for a few minutes. Why don’t you bring the ice chest and pillows here and make yourself at home for a while?”

“Sure, Scotty,” he said. Scott handed him the keys to the station wagon and walked towards the office.

“Hello, sir,” the man behind the counter said. “Anything the matter?”

“No, far from it,” Scott said. “I just bought a motor home.”

“Oh, that’s why I saw Cindy here,” the man said, grinning. “Zeke’s gonna be pissed.”

“Oh, you know the ex-husband?”

“Yeah, total redneck, but fun to go drinking with, if you don’t mind a brawl every once in a while. That coach was his pride and joy.”

“He doesn’t have access to this place, does he?” Scott asked.

“His card doesn’t work anymore,” the man said. “But he probably still knows the gate code.”

“Wonderful,” Scott said.

“Don’t worry, we all know him. If he shows up, we call the cops. He tried to come in here and steal it about four months ago, after his wife took it in the divorce. He got warned. The cops told him he’d better not be back.”

Scott leaned on the counter. “I’d like to keep that space if I can.”

“You going to leave the coach here?”

“Most of the time I’ll be in that,” Scott said. “I’m between houses right now. I’d like to leave my station wagon there for now.”

“Sure, no problem,” he said. “You even get a discount since you have a unit here.”

“Good, then sign me up.”

“We go by the foot,” he said. “You want to keep it at the twenty three feet, so you can leave the coach here if you want to?”

“Sure, that’s a good idea,” Scott said. “One other thing. Could we stay in the coach here for a few nights?”

“You mean camp?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“Well, normally we don’t allow that, but in your situation, I’ll make an exception, as long as it’s only three nights.”

“Great, thanks so much,” Scott said. “How much for a year?”

“Nine hundred,” he said.

“I’ll pay you for three months, if that’s okay,” Scott said.

“Of course,” the man said. “Three hundred dollars.”

Scott pulled out his wallet and took out the cash, handing it over to him. “Here you go.”

“Okay, we’re square. Enjoy your new coach.”

“Oh, one other thing. You sell propane?”

“Yeah,” he said. “But you won’t need any yet. Zeke filled it up after his last trip, and it’s just sat since then.”

“Thanks! By the way, what’s your name?”

“Drew.”

“Nice to meet you, Drew.”

Scott came back over to the coach. Kerry had the ice chest inside and was stowing the dry goods in the pantry. He went out to the storage compartment and checked it. It was chock full of stuff. Folding chairs, a small barbeque, fishing equipment, tools, and a lots of other junk. He shut that and went to the propane compartment. Yep, it’s full alright. He opened the valve, and then went back into the coach and got the fridge working.

“Kerry, you want to load up the fridge?”

“Sure, Scotty. Didn’t know it was on. There’s no power.”

“I just turned on the gas. It’ll cool down after a while, but put the bags of ice in there too, for now.”

“Okay, Scotty. Do we get to hang out for a while?”

“Yeah,” he said. “The storage yard guy said we can stay here for three nights.”

“That’s great, Scotty. I put your pillow on the bed back there, and mine’s up in the bunk.”

“Good. I think I’ll go catch a little shut eye. Wake me up before it gets dark, okay?”

“Won’t it be hard to sleep tonight?”

“I’ll be busy tonight, Kerry.”

***

The caravan made its way to the gate. Malcolm in his Jeep Unlimited, then Ted in his rental car, and Dobie and Gabe pulling the fifth wheel. Jake joined Terry and Trish on the porch of the clubhouse and watched them leave.

“You get dog duty?” Terry asked.

“Yeah,” he said. “This makes me nervous as hell. I hope Dobie and Gabe take care of themselves.”

“Oh, I think they’ll be fine,” Trish said. “They’re not going up against the enemy or anything like that.”

“I hope the roads are safe,” Jake said. “Long way to Columbus, and they’ll have to cross the Mississippi, too.”

“From what I’ve been hearing, there’s ways to do that now,” Terry said.

Charlie and the Sheriff walked out on the porch.

“Did I just see Dobie’s fifth wheel leave with Malcolm and Ted?” asked the Sheriff.

“Yeah,” Jake said.

“Shit,” Charlie said. The Sheriff had a worried look on his face.

“Didn’t they say they wouldn’t involve any of our people in this escapade?” the Sheriff asked.

“Yeah, but Dobie talked them into it,” Jake said, “and Gabe didn’t want Dobie to take off by himself.”

“I don’t like it,” Charlie said. “Wish they would have brought it up with the group first.”

“I don’t like it either, Charlie, but this is not a dictatorship,” Jake said. “People are free to come and go as they please.”

Charlie was silent for a moment, looking out at the road. The caravan was out of sight already. “I know, Jake. I’m just worried about them, that’s all.”

“You think they’re going to find anything at the house, after the incident at the jogging path?” Trish asked. “Scott and Howard might be in FBI custody, right?”

“I doubt it,” the Sheriff said. “Nobody’s heard from that missing FBI agent yet. Something went wrong. Our guys are liable to walk right into a trap.”

“Wonder what’s up with the general?” Jake said, pointing towards the barn. The general and his son were trotting towards them.

“What’s up, General?” Charlie asked. “Hear something about the WTO delegation?”

“Yeah,” the General said, trying to catch his breath. “They’re doing a southwest tour to survey the former battle areas.”

Chapter 17 – Uncle Jasper

Frank looked up and saw the General trotting towards him.

“Hi, General,” Frank said. “What’s up?”

“News on the WTO,” he said.

“Good,” Frank said.

“The WTO is taking a tour of the southwest, to survey the battlefields. New Mexico isn’t on the itinerary, but they won’t be far.”

“What is on the itinerary?” Frank asked. Jane turned to listen.

“They’re coming in through San Diego and touring some of the former hot spots in Southern California. After that they’re making several stops in Arizona, then Utah, Colorado, West Texas, and back to San Diego.”

“Isn’t Arizona still hot?” Jane asked.

“Yeah, in spots, but its calmed way down over the last few days,” General Hogan said.

“So if they’re going to hit New Mexico, they’ll probably do it on the way back to San Diego from Texas.”

“That’s what we’re thinking,” General Hogan said.

“When are they starting this trip?”

“Next week,” the General said.

“We gonna do something?” Frank asked.

“I don’t know yet,” General Hogan said. “I’m not even sure if Daan Mertins is making the trip.”

“How about the full members?” Frank asked. “Some of them are shady.”

“I assume they’ll be coming, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

“Is the army going to escort them?” Jane asked.

“No, the Army doesn’t know what they’re doing. I found out from other sources.”

“Interesting,” Frank said. “You trust these sources?”

“Yeah,” General Hogan said.

“Anybody in the army know about the New Mexico situation yet?” Jane asked.

“I haven’t told them,” General Hogan said. “I think I’d have heard about it by now if there were officially sanctioned activities going on.”

“This seems crazy to me,” Jane said. “Why would these folks be coming here? Seems way too risky to me.”

“I’ve been banging my head against the wall on that one,” General Hogan said. “I got a hint this morning.”

“What’s that?” Frank asked.

“Chatter about Europe,” General Hogan said. “Bad chatter.”

“You saying there might be an attempt to do in Europe what they couldn’t get done here?” Jane asked.

“Starting to look that way,” General Hogan said. “Could just me being paranoid.”

“If I were the enemy, I would have started with Europe,” Frank said.

“Why?” Jane asked.

“I know why,” General Hogan said. “Most Europeans allowed their governments to disarm them.”

***

Malcolm was tired of sitting in traffic. His phone rang.

“Yeah.”

“Hey, Malcolm,” Ted said. “Didn’t know Kansas City had such a bad rush hour.”

“Neither did I. This reminds me of friggin L.A.”

“Seriously,” Ted said. “Where should we stop for the night?”

“We need to get up to Route 36 in order to cross Big Muddy,” Malcolm said. “Maybe we ought to stop where I-35 runs into that road.”

“Looking on my GPS. That would be a city called Cameron,” Ted said.

“I’ll call Gabe. He’s got free hands, and he knows RV Parks. Maybe he can get a reservation.”

“Okay, talk to you later, Malcolm.”

Malcolm ended that call, then called Gabe.

“Hi, Gabe.”

“Hey, Malcolm. Traffic sucks.”

“Sure does. Just thinking about where we should stop for the night. How about Cameron? It’s right up by Route 36, so we could head straight for the Mississippi in the morning.”

“Yeah, that’s a good point to cross, from what I’ve been reading. I knew a guy who owned a nice park in Cameron. I’ll see if he’s still there.”

“Okay, let me know,” Malcolm said.

“Will do.”

Gabe looked over at Dobie.

“Malcolm?” Dobie asked.

“Yeah, they’re thinking about stopping up by Route 36 for the night.”

“You know anybody with an RV Park there?”

“Yeah, Steve Fowler had a park there. He was about my age, so he’s probably still there. Haven’t talked to him for a few years.”

“You have his number?”

“No, but I got the name of his place. It’s pretty goofy. Hard to forget. I’ll see if I can find it on the web.”

“We’ll still be on the road a couple hours,” Dobie said. “Can’t believe this traffic.”

“Well, there aren’t as many ways across the Mississippi anymore,” Gabe said. “Route 36 might be a nightmare because of that, but I’m not sure how to get around it.”

“Yeah,” Dobie said.

“How’s Duchess doing? Doesn’t she need to stop pretty soon?”

“Yeah, after we get away from Kansas City, we’ll need to stop,” Dobie said. “Be needing gas anyway. Pulling this fifth wheel takes a toll on my mileage.”

“Here it is. Uncle Jasper’s RV Park and Resort. I’ll call.” He tapped the phone number.

“Hello?” a woman’s voice answered.

“This Uncle Jasper’s?” Gabe asked.

“Yeah,” she said.

“Steve still running the place?”

There was a pause on the line. “Did you know Steve?”

“Yeah,” Gabe said. “From the RV Park Owner’s Association. He okay?”

“He passed about a year ago,” the woman said. “I’m his widow.”

“Oh, no,” Gabe said. “So sorry. What happened?”

“Heart attack,” she said. “Unexpected.”

“That’s too bad,” Gabe said. “He was a good guy.”

“Yes, he was.”

“Is the park still open?” Gabe asked.

“Yep,” she said. “You need a space?”

“Yeah, for a fifth wheel, and two other vehicles.”

“Sure, we can accommodate you. When are you coming?”

“A few hours,” Gabe said.

“Okay, I’ll pencil you in. What’s your name?”

“Gabe,” he said.

“Okay, Gabe, see you soon.”

“Thanks.” Gabe put his phone back in his pocket.

“Your friend’s dead?” Dobie asked.

“Yeah, heart attack,” Gabe said. “So sad. He was barely sixty.”

“Sorry to hear that,” Dobie said. “His widow is running the place?”

“Yeah,” Gabe said. “I think I met her once. She was younger. A looker as I remember.”

“Why don’t you call Malcolm and let him know that we need to stop after we clear the city?”

“Okay,” Gabe said. He pulled his phone out and punched Malcolm’s contact.

“Hi, Gabe, got a place?”

“Yeah, Uncle Jasper’s. I knew the owner. He’s passed now, but his widow is running the joint.”

“Okay,” Malcolm said.

“Dobie needs to stop for gas and dog duty after we clear Kansas City.”

“Good, I could use a break myself,” Malcolm said. “I’ll pull off when I see a truck stop.”

“Sounds good, see you soon.”

Gabe put his phone away. “We’re all set. He’ll pull off when he sees a truck stop.”

“Good,” Dobie said.

“You want me to take the wheel for a while after that?”

“Nah, I’m okay,” Dobie said. “I’m enjoying this, actually. I could get used to the RV lifestyle.”

“People seem to like it,” Gabe said.

“You’ve never been an RV’er yourself, have you?”

“Nah,” he said. “Funny, really, since I owned the park for all those years.”

“You never got the itch at all?” Dobie asked.

“Yeah, from time to time, but I ran that park by myself for a lot of years. Ever since dad passed. It was hard for me to get a vacation.”

“Well, when this settles, maybe I can spell you every once in a while, and you could take this thing out.”

Gabe laughed. “I’ll be surprised if there’s anything left of my place, but even if there is, you’d be the person I’d want to travel with.”

Dobie laughed. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe you’ll find yourself a woman again.”

“Maybe,” he said, a faraway look in his eyes. “Haven’t found one like Judy.”

“How many years has it been?”

“Fifteen,” Gabe said. “Still miss her.”

They rode along silently for a little while, and the traffic let up. They were back up to full speed, the countryside whizzing by them.

“Finally,” Dobie said.

“Yeah, that was bad,” Gabe said.

Gets sparse out here real fast when you get out of the city,” Dobie said.

They rode along silently for a while.

“Look, Malcolm’s found a place,” Gabe said. “He’s getting on that off-ramp.”

“I see it,” Dobie said, smiling. “Good.”

They followed Malcolm’s Jeep and Ted’s rental car to the truck stop. Dobie carefully pulled up to the pumps. “I got to remember not to cut it too hard when we leave,” Dobie said.

“Yeah,” Gabe said. They both got out of the car. “Why don’t I fill it up while you take Duchess out?”

“That’d be great, thanks,” he said, pulling out his wallet.

“I’ll pay for this round,” Gabe said. “Go tend to your pooch.”

“Thanks, Gabe.”

Dobie opened the door, and Duchess bounded out, tail wagging, nuzzling Dobie. “C’mon, girl,” he said as he put on the leash.

Malcolm and Ted were both filling their cars with gas, at pumps next to each other.

“Maybe we should grab a quick bite,” Ted said. “They got a diner, and plenty of parking in the back.”

“I’m good with it,” Malcolm said. “I’ll check with Gabe and Dobie. Mine’s about done fueling.”

The pump nozzle shut off, and Malcolm put it back on the holder, then drove to a parking stall by the diner and walked over to Gabe.

“Hey, Gabe, we were thinking about getting a quick bite at the diner. You guys okay with that? There’s rig parking in the back.”

“I’d like to do that,” Gabe said.

“Me too,” Dobie said, walking up with Duchess.

“Okay, we’ll meet you in there,” Malcolm said. He walked back over to Ted, who was finishing his fueling, and then walked back to his Jeep.

Dobie let Duchess back into the trailer and locked it. He met Gabe at the cab and got behind the wheel.

“She enjoy getting out?” Gabe asked.

“Oh, yeah,” Dobie said. “That was a long ride for her.” He pulled away from the pumps, heading for the back, parking in a long spot under a light pole. They walked into the diner and saw Ted and Malcolm sitting in a large booth. They joined them.

“Hey, guys,” Dobie said. “That traffic sucked, didn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Ted said, looking at his phone. “I got a few messages.”

“Any from the FBI?” Malcolm asked.

“Yeah, and two from home. I’ll listen to them after we’ve ordered.”

“Okay,” Malcolm said. The waitress walked over to them. She was in her mid-forties, dark haired with tanned skin. There were tattoos peeking out from under the sleeves of her white blouse.

“What can I get for you gents? Coffee all around?”

“I’ll take coffee, water, and a burger,” Malcolm said.

“Same with me,” Ted said.

“Tamales any good?” Gabe asked.

The waitress laughed. “Well, this is the Midwest. They ain’t bad considering.”

“Okay, I’ll try one,” Gabe said. “With a coke. No coffee.”

“I’ll take coffee and a tuna melt,” Dobie said. “And a water too.”

“Okay, be right back with the java,” she said, smiling.

“Excuse me, guys, while go take these calls,” Ted said, as Malcolm slid out of the booth.

“Might as well trade places,” Malcolm said. “He’s liable to have more calls.”

Ted finished with the phone calls and then disappeared into the rest room for a few minutes. He came back and slid in next to Malcolm as the coffee arrived.

“Well?” Malcolm asked.

Ted had a grim look on his face. “Nothing on Agent Keith yet. He hasn’t surfaced. They put an all-points bulletin out on him. For arrest.”

“Why?” Malcolm said.

“The DNA came through already. His DNA was in the coed.”

“No, the FBI agent raped the victim?” Dobie asked.

“I’m not surprised,” Malcolm said. “Agent Keith is a bad character. Or maybe he was a bad character.”

“If he’s still alive, he’s setting up a trap for us,” Ted said. “I’d bet money on it.”

“We could send Duchess into the house first,” Dobie said.

“Maybe,” Ted said.

“What about Bailey?”

“Yeah, DNA came in on her, too. Same as the earlier victims. Got to be Howard and Scott.”

“Geez, Howard was doing a college girl?” Dobie asked. “That guy was older than me by at least fifteen years.”

“We got more about Bailey,” Ted said. “She was a basket case. Been bounced from one college to another. Parent’s pretty much disowned her. Strange, because she was good in high school. Got straight A grades, never in much trouble. Somewhere along the line she just snapped.”

“Met somebody in college who was a bad influence, I’m guessing,” Gabe said. “It happens.”

“Bonnie Parker was a good student in high school,” Dobie said.

“Yeah, that’s true,” Malcolm said. “Anything more about the coed?”

“She was an innocent,” Ted said, face grim again. “This is so sick. She’s almost kidnapped by serial killers, and then somebody who’s supposed to be safe rapes her and uses her for bait. She gets killed in the process. It’s times like this that I hate my job.”

“This change our plans any?” Gabe asked.

“No,” Malcolm said. “But we aren’t going to find anybody alive at the house.”

“You sound pretty sure about that,” Dobie said.

“Yeah, Malcolm,” Ted said. “You know something I don’t?”

“Think about it,” Malcolm said. “Agent Keith attempts to hide the fact that he’s involved in the incident at the jogging path. Who do you think he was trying to hide that from?”

“FBI, obviously,” Ted said, his mind working. “I get it. You think he wouldn’t be hiding from the bureau after doing the setup. He did a bad job, though, remember.”

“I didn’t say he was smart, I said he was dead,” Malcolm said, chuckling.

“We’d still better be careful when we get to the house,” Dobie said. “Maybe Agent Keith is dead, or maybe he’s being held captive. Scott and Howard might be the ones laying the trap.”

“True,” Malcolm said. “That’s possible, but I still doubt it.”

“Why do you doubt it?” Dobie asked.

“Scott is after his RV Park in Kansas,” Malcolm said. “He’s not after us specifically. I suppose he might want revenge for Sherry.”

“He doesn’t know, unless Sherry called him during the battle,” Ted said.

“Why do you say that?” Dobie said. “Wouldn’t it be all over the news?”

“We made a deal with the local PD and the local news folks, to protect this operation,” Ted said.

“How’d you pull that off?” Gabe asked.

“With great difficulty,” Ted said. “The FBI helped.”

“Would have been worse if Sherry was famous,” Malcolm said. “Right now this just looks like a small town incident. People in town probably think there was a meth lab in the building.”

“There was,” Ted said. “That’s why there were so many people there. Sherry wasn’t focused on the game much anymore. She’d line something up from time to time, but there’s only been a few in the last year and a half. Probably targets of convenience. All of them were customers of the drug business, from what we can tell. Could have owed her money.”

The food arrived, and the men ate silently.

***

“The fridge is cold now, Scotty,” Kerry said. “Didn’t take too long.”

“Not bad for a gas fridge,” Scott said. “Ice still hard?”

“Mostly,” Kerry said, touching the bags.

“Good, put them in the freezer section, okay?”

“Okay, Scotty,” he said. “Does the TV work?”

“No generator,” Scott said. “We’ll go to an RV Park in a few days, and we’ll have electricity there. You can watch movies on my iPad when I’m gone tonight.”

“You going away tonight?” he asked, looking concerned.

“Yeah, for a few hours. You can stay here. Don’t worry. If anything bad happens, you can call me.”

“We gonna cook something?” Kerry asked.

“You remember how to make Kraft Dinner?”

“Yeah, Scotty, I can make that. We have milk and butter in the fridge.”

“Good, why don’t you find a pan and start working on that? The stove should work.”

“Okay, Scotty,” Kerry said. He went to work. Soon the motor home was filled with the smell of cooking.

As Kerry was cooking, Scott took his phone out of his pocket and looked at the history. He found Cindy’s number and called.

“Hello?”

“Cindy?” Scott asked.

“Is this Scott?” she asked.

“Sure is, honey,” Scott said. “Still free tonight?”

“Yes,” she said. He could hear her smacking her gum. “What do you have in mind?”

“Dinner, perhaps?” he asked.

“Love it,” she said. “What time are you coming over?”

“Soon,” Scott said. “Just want to make sure Kerry has his supper.”

“You leaving him in the motor home?”

“Yeah, it’ll be no problem,” Scott said. “We got permission to stay in the storage yard for a few nights.”

Cindy laughed. “Drew. He always was a softie.”

“Yes, he’s a nice guy. See you in a while, Cindy.”

“Looking forward to it,” she said. Scotty put his phone back in his pocket.

“It’s done, Scotty,” Kerry said.

“Great. You turn off the burner?”

“Oh! Not yet,” Kerry said. He turned it off, and got down bowls.

“None for me, Kerry,” Scott said. “I’m going out to dinner with Cindy. Put the leftovers in the fridge when you’re done.”

“Okay,” Kerry said.

Scott climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

“We going somewhere?” Kerry asked.

“No, I’m just charging up the house batteries for a while,” he said. “So you’ll have light after it gets dark.” He walked over to kitchen counter, switching off all the lights but one.

“What are you doing?” Kerry asked.

“See this light?” he said, pointing to a small dome light over the middle of the room.

“Yeah,” he said.

“You leave this one on while I’m gone, but don’t turn on any of the others. There should be enough battery to run this light the whole time.”

“Okay, Scotty,” he said, going back to eating.

Scott let the engine run for about twenty minutes and checked the house battery level. Not all the way charged, but close enough. He went into the bathroom to shave and brush his teeth and hair.

“I’m leaving now,” Scott said to Kerry. “Remember what I said - call me if you need me. I’ll have my cellphone on. You remember how to use the iPad?”

“Yeah, Scotty, I remember.”

“Good, then you can watch a movie or read one of the books I downloaded for you, okay?”

“Okay,” he said.

“When you get tired, just climb into your bunk.”

“Can I take the iPad up there?”

“That’s a good idea,” Scott said. “I’ll put it up there for you.” He tossed it up there.

Kerry nodded and watched as Scott opened the coach door.

“Be good,” he said as he left. He locked the door, and went over to the station wagon, grinning to himself. Time to have some fun.

Continued in Bug Out! Part 12, available now in the Kindle Store!

Copyright

Bug Out! Part 11 copyright © 2015 by Robert G Boren. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any format without permission in writing from the copyright holder.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Thanks to Laura Thomas for editing this book!

About the Author

Robert G Boren is a writer from the South Bay section of Southern California. He writes Short Stories, Novels, and Serialized Fiction. Most of his work is about people from the South Bay.

Other Books by Robert Boren

Never A Loose End - The Franklin and Davis Files Book One

Serial Killers. Maniac Ex-cops. CIA Assassins. White Slavers. Strippers

In "Never A Loose End", they all come together, racing towards their frightening destiny.

This is the story that started it all for George Franklin and Malcolm Davis. Some of you know them from the later episodes of the Bug Out! series, set seven years later. This is the story of how they met, and the battle that forged them into a formidable team.

George and Malcolm are both targets, marked for death, but why?

A clan of Serial Killers is active again, after hiding for years. What has brought them out?

Follow George and Malcolm as they dash through the Southwest in their Motorhomes.

Murder, gun battles, bombings, and general mayhem reign in "Never A Loose End"

Who will survive? Will the hunted be brought down, or will they become the hunters instead?

Find out in "Never A Loose End - The Franklin and Davis Files Book One"

Note: This full length novel carries a hard R rating, unlike the PG-13 Bug Out! series. "Never A Loose End" contains graphic violence and sex. Discretion is advised.