Brody opens the front door to the orange house. Matt says goodbye to Mike and Whitney and walks towards Brody.
“I’ll be in touch,” says Matt.
“Thanks again,” says Mike as he stays focused on his computer monitor.
Brody and Matt exit the orange house and get into Matt’s car with the Haven Warriors.
“I think that went well,” says Matt as he sits in the driver seat of the car and then drives away from the orange house and heads back to Citrus Oaks.
“Yeah, I’m sure Ryan and everyone will want to know what happened here,” replies Brody with an annoyed tone as he sits in the passenger seat of Matt’s car as Matt drives down the street.
CHAPTER 13
GO FASTER JON
“I don’t think you should go,” says Lauren to me as I stand with Lauren in our master bedroom.
“Four people are going today,” I reply as I enter my master bathroom.
“Are you one of them?” asks Lauren.
“I don’t know. It hasn’t been set,” I answer Lauren.
I know and feel that Lauren doesn’t want me to go, but I feel torn on what to do. Going to the church today is a risky trip. I feel responsible to get Kat, but I’m also not sure who is the best to go to the church today.
“Well, I know that it’s not smart for the leader of this community to go on such a risky mission,” says Lauren.
I look at Lauren who is standing in our master bathroom doorway and I reply, “You are right.”
Lauren doesn’t know what to say.
I say, “I’m going to tell the guys that I can’t go today and that I’ll help with Matt’s drone.”
“Will the guys understand?” asks Lauren.
“They’ll have to,” I answer Lauren as I exit our master bathroom and exit my house. I see the guys over at Shaun’s garage and feel some anxiety coming over me.
“Where’s your gear?” asks Shaun to me.
“I’m not going today. I think it’s best if I sit this one out,” I answer Shaun.
“But who is gonna be our fourth?” asks Shaun.
I look at Shaun, Phil, and Jon, and Jon says, “I think we can get Jordan.”
“Who?” asks Shaun.
“Jordan, he’s staying with Deb and he said that he would be available to help us,” answers Jon.
“If you trust him, then go for it,” says Phil.
Jon gets in one of the red cars and drives to Deb’s house.
“What did you make of what Brody and Matt said last night about the orange house and that guy Mike?” asks Phil.
“Matt seems pretty excited about what Mike can do. If he can hack into places and use the cameras around here, that should help us,” I answer.
“Something seemed off about Brody though,” says Shaun.
“Yeah, I felt that also. I’ll have to talk with him,” I reply to Shaun.
“It’s a good thing you are staying back. We can’t lose our leader around here,” says Phil to me.
“I feel bad not going but it’s smarter for me to stay back and not go on every trip,” I reply.
Shaun flips his oversized red hood over his head and jokes, “But we’re going to blend in so well with these hoods.”
“Fat red riding hood over here,” jokes Phil.
“But be careful in there, just gain as much intel as you can and get out,” I say to Phil and Shaun.
“I plan to stay stealth. Sneak and peek,” replies Phil.
“I’m bringing my gear and weapons though,” says Shaun.
“Of course, we aren’t idiots,” says Phil.
I look down at Shaun’s shoes and see that he painted them red and so did Phil. “Just try to blend in and don’t cause a scene,” I say to Shaun.
“I even shaved for this trip, as all the guys we captured had clean shaven faces,” says Shaun.
“Good thinking,” I say to Shaun.
“When are you going to shave Ryan?” asks Phil.
“I don’t know. I like my beard,” I answer Phil.
“You could clean it up a little though,” says Shaun.
I grab part of my beard under my chin and Shaun jokes, “I think things are growing out of it.”
Jon arrives at Shaun’s house and parks in the street in front of Shaun’s house.
Jon and Jordan exit from the red car and Jon says, “He’s in.”
Jon introduces Jordan to Shaun, Phil, and me.
“Did Jon tell you what the plan is today?” I ask Jordan.
“Yeah, we are to sneak in, look around, and sneak out,” answers Jordan.
Shaun says to Jordan, “Let’s go get you changed.”
Shaun and Jordan enter Shaun’s house and Shaun gives Jordan the oversized red shirt and pants.
“What do you know about this guy?” asks Phil to Jon.
“Deb said he’s very capable and he is a runner,” answers Jon.
“Did he work at The Grove?” I ask Jon.
“I don’t know, but Deb said that Jordan can help us,” answers Jon.
“Does he only have knives?,” asks Phil to Jon.
“He’s got a handgun, but he has a bunch of knives,” answers Jon.
“Is he white or what?” asks Phil.
“I’m white and Mexican,” answers Jordan.
“You are from Mexico?” I ask Jordan.
“Yeah, my family and I were some of the last people to make it into Texas before the border wall was complete,” answers Jordan.
“I meant no disrespect,” says Phil to Jordan.
“Don’t worry, I’ve been dealing with disrespect from Americans since I came to the US,” replies Jordan.
I look at Jordan and say, “Phil, Shaun, and Jon are good guys. We just don’t know you is all.”
“Well, I’m a good guy also, and I’ll make sure we all stay good guys,” replies Jordan.
Shaun exits from his house and Chewie runs over to me. I pet Chewie and say to Shaun, “I’ll keep an eye on him.”
“Good, and I’ll keep an eye on these three,” replies Shaun to me. Shaun walks down his driveway and shouts, “Let’s head out ladies!”
“I’ll be checking in with Matt while you are gone,” I say to Phil.
“We’ll be back,” says Phil.
Phil, Shaun, Jordan, and Jon enter the red car that’s parked in front of Shaun’s house and Shaun drives towards the exit of Citrus Oaks.
I see Matt exit from his garage with his drone and I say, “The guys just left.”
“Yeah, I heard Shaun yell,” replies Matt and Matt’s drone flies straight into the air.
“You seemed pretty excited last night about that guy Mike,” I say to Matt.
Matt, while controlling his drone with the drone remote, replies, “If Mike can do half the things that he said he can, then he should get us access to a lot of things around here.”
“Like what though?” I ask Matt.
“I saw inside Level 2 at World of Trade and the church that Shaun and the guys are going to today,” answers Matt.
“Was Brody helpful yesterday?” I ask Matt.
“Yeah, he helped out with the panels and cables,” answers Matt.
I see Brody exit from Sam, Andre, and Kiersten’s house. “Let me know if you see anything or any problems,” I say to Matt as I walk down the street towards Brody.
“Where are you going?” shouts Matt.
“Going to talk with Brody, I’ll be right back!” I shout to Matt.
“Yo Brody! Wait up!” I shout as I walk down the street.
Brody stops walking and looks at me.
“You got a second?” I ask Brody.
“Yeah, I’m on my way home though,” answers Brody with an annoyed tone. The tone of Brody and short response isn’t like Brody. I’m concerned what is bothering Brody and ask him, “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just on my way home,” answers Brody.
“What do you think of that guy Mike and Whitney?” I ask Brody.
“They seem okay, but Matt sure likes them,” answers Brody.
“Well he thinks that Mike’s skills could really help us around here,” I say to Brody.
Brody doesn’t respond and I can sense that something is bothering Brody.
“What’s wrong dude? Something seems off with you,” I say to Brody with an aggressive tone.
“Nothing, I’m just going home,” answers Brody.
Clearly Brody isn’t telling me the truth. I think about what I should do. Keep pressing him or let it go?
“Well, I’m here for ya man. If you ever want to talk. You aren’t alone,” I say to Brody.
“They just arrived at the church!” shouts Matt.
I look towards Matt and Brody sees that my attention isn’t on him anymore.
Brody starts to walk away from me. I see that Brody is done with the conversation, but I want to make sure that he feels supported and valued. “I mean that Brody! I’m here for you!” I shout to Brody.
“Okay sir!” shouts Brody as Brody keeps walking away from me and towards his house.
I run over to Matt and Matt says, “They just got through security and they’re parking now.”
“I’m nervous watching this,” I say.
“I’m always nervous for you guys when I watch from the drone camera,” replies Matt.
I look at the display on Matt’s drone remote and I see Phil, Shaun, Jon, and Jordan exit from the red car. Two people stay near the red car and two people enter the church.
“Who is who?” I ask as I look at the video display on Matt’s drone remote control.
“I have no idea, but I’ll try to get a closer view,” answers Matt.
Matt zooms in with his drone camera and he sees Jon and Jordan standing outside of the church by their red car and says to me, “Phil and Shaun went inside, and Jon and Jordan are still outside near their car.”
“We are inside the church, and it’s freaking creepy in here,” says Phil quietly into his radio earpiece.
“What do you see?” I ask into my radio.
“People are praying near candles and there is a person giving a speech inside the auditorium,” answers Phil into his radio earpiece.
“Where is he going?” asks Matt as he sees Jordan sprint away from Jon.
I look at Matt’s drone screen and see Jordan sprinting down a back street behind the church and then he’s out of sight from Matt’s drone camera.
“He saw something and then just sprinted down the street,” says Jon into his radio earpiece.
I get worried for Jon, Shaun, and Phil and wonder what Jordan is up to.
“What should I do?” asks Jon into his radio earpiece.
“Do you need us to come back out?” asks Shaun into his radio earpiece.
A man’s voice is heard talking to Shaun and Phil, but it’s muffled over the radio.
“Stay at the car Jon,” I say into my radio.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Several gunshots go off and are heard over the radio.
“Who is shooting?” I ask Matt.
Matt adjusts his drone camera and he sees a group of zombies at the gates of the church property.
“It’s just some zombies at the gates,” says Matt.
Matt’s drone camera is positioned perfectly onto the church perimeter fence, gates, and entrance.
“What’s going on outside? A bunch of people just ran outside,” says Phil into his radio earpiece.
“There is a group of zombies near the fence and entrance gates,” answers Matt into his radio earpiece.
Jon sees Jordan running towards him.
“Where did you go?” asks Jon to Jordan.
“I saw something, and I made a move,” answers Jordan and then Jordan runs into the church.
“This guy Jordan is a piece of work, but I think he got some keys or something,” says Jon into his radio earpiece.
I hear Jordan talking with Shaun and Phil inside the church as someone left their radio earpiece on.
I look at Matt and ask, “Can you hear Shaun and Phil talking with Jordan?”
“Yeah, but that means they can’t hear us if they have their radio button stuck on,” answers Matt.
“Where did you get those?” asks Shaun to Jordan.
“I took them off a guard here,” answers Jordan.
DAKKA!
Automatic gunfire is heard outside of the church.
Matt sees more and more zombies coming towards the church and more and more people coming out from inside the church to kill the zombies that keep banging and smacking the silver perimeter fence and gates.
BANG!
There is a lone gunshot inside the church away from the church auditorium as Shaun, Phil, and Jordan are walking down the interior hallway of the church.
I hear the gunshot over the radio, try to call Shaun and Phil over the radio but one of their radio earpiece’s are still stuck on and I can’t get through to them.
“I think the gunshot came from here,” says Shaun.
“Who is Pastor Cower?” asks Phil as he sees the name Pastor Cower on the nameplate on the center of a closed door that Jordan is standing in front of.
“I don’t know, but let’s see if any of these keys work for his office,” answers Jordan.
Phil turns the doorknob to Pastor Cower’s office door, and it opens.
“Or we can just walk right in,” says Jordan.
Phil, Shaun, and Jordan enter Pastor Cower’s office.
“We’re only here to get intel and get out,” says Shaun.
Jordan sees a door at the back of Pastor Cower’s office and tries to open the door, but it’s locked.
“I think we should go,” says Shaun.
A loud commotion is heard down the hall from Pastor Cower’s office.
Jordan tries a key to open the door, and it doesn’t open. Shaun looks at Phil for guidance and Phil asks Jordan, “How we looking on the door?”
“One key left,” answers Jordan and then Jordan pushes the key into the locked door handle, tries to unlock the door with the key but the door won’t open.
“Now what, I’m out of keys,” says Jordan as he looks at Phil.
Phil looks around the office and Phil starts opening drawers on Pastor Cower’s desk. Phil finds an old handgun in a drawer, grabs it, and keeps looking for a key to the door.
Shaun looks around the office, but doesn’t find anything useful.
Phil opens the last drawer on Pastor Cower’s office desk and smiles, “Bingo.” Phil sees a lone key and tosses it to Jordan.
Jordan puts the key into the lock and turns the key. The door unlocks and Jordan says, “We’re in.”
Jordan slowly opens the door and Shaun and Phil look down the stairwell and Shaun says, “That’s freaking sketchy.”
Jordan starts to walk down the creepy stairwell.
“You sure we should do this?” asks Shaun.
“Come on big man, don’t be a wuss,” replies Jordan.
Jordan walks down several steps and Phil follows Jordan.
Shaun removes his handgun and shakes his head and says to himself, “This can’t be a good idea.”
As Jordan walks down the stairwell, he hears two people talking. “I told you to leave her alone,” says a man to another man.
“She kept giving me dirty looks,” replies the other man.
Jordan, Shaun, and Phil see four dimly lit holding cells from the bottom of the stairwell and see the two men talking outside one of the four holding cells.
“That’s gotta be Kat,” says Jordan as he sees a woman lying on the floor inside one of the four cells.
Jordan puts his red hood up over his head and walks straight for the two men that are standing outside of the cell that has the woman lying on her side in it.
The two men, who are dressed in regular clothes and who are each holding a rifle, look at Jordan who has his oversized red hood over his head. One of the men asks Jordan, “What’s going on
out there? It sounds like a warzone.”
“They need you both upstairs, right now,” answers Jordan.
“Really? We were told by Jason to stay here,” replies one of the men to Jordan.
“Well, Pastor Cower told me to come get you both,” replies Jordan.
The men look at each other, and they aren’t sure what to do.
Jordan sees a lot of blood on the floor around the woman that is lying on her side in the fetal position in the center of the holding cell.
“What happened here?” asks Jordan as he looks at the woman’s body.
“She was eyeing me up and she lunged at me,” answers one of the men.
The other man looks at the man that answered Jordan and he gives him a look of disapproval.
Phil shouts from the dimly lit stairwell, “We need you guys up here! What’s taking so long?”
“Coming sir,” replies one of the men and then that man runs towards the stairwell.
The other man, that shot the woman, stays with Jordan, leans towards Jordan and says, “The bitch deserved to die.”
Jordan gets pissed, grabs the man’s face and smashes it into the steel bars of the holding cell.
The other man stops running and sees Jordan smashing the man’s face into the holding cell steel bars and aims his rifle at Jordan.
Phil comes behind the man, that just aimed his rifle at Jordan, and cuts his throat. A long spray of blood pours out from the man’s neck as Phil cut open his carotid artery.
Several women in different holding cells scream in terror at the sight of the blood splatter.
“Jordan?” asks a woman from the holding cell that’s behind Jordan as Jordan’s face is uncovered after beating the man against the cell bars.
Jordan releases the man’s head that he was smashing against the cell bars and he turns towards the woman.
The bloody head of the man that Jordan smashed into the holding cell hits the concrete floor.
Jordan sees the woman’s face and can’t believe who he’s looking at. It’s Kat.
“Ryan and Matt are you there?” asks Phil into his earpiece and he releases the transmission button.
“We are here,” I answer Phil over the radio.
“We got her,” says Phil into his radio earpiece.
Shaun runs over to the guard that Jordan smashed into the steel bars and stabs him in his head as the man reaches for Jordan.
Fight 4 Us (Book 11): Access Page 14
