“Yeah. It’s me. Are you ok?”
“Christ. What the hell are you doing out here?” David asked. “I could’ve shot you.” He lowered the pistol and dropped his arm to the pavement.
Sarah tucked the Glock back in her waistband and kneeled down next to him. “It’s a long story. You haven’t been shot, have you?”
David lifted his head from the ground and cut his eyes to his chest. “I don’t think so.”
Sarah ran her hands over his dark blue uniform, checking for any injuries. Her fingers swiped through some blood, but she couldn’t find the source. “There’s some blood here, but I can’t find where it’s coming from.”
David ran his hand over the dampness, then stared at the dark, red color on his palm. “I don’t think it’s mine.”
They looked at the surly man who was motionless on the ground next to him. His eyes were closed, and he showed no signs of life.
“I’m just glad you’re all right.” Sarah stood up and offered her hand.
David took her palm and grunted as she pulled on his arm.
She helped him off the ground. It was easier said than done. He wasn’t small by any means. Not fat, but more so stout and muscular.
“What are you doing out in this mess? I didn’t expect to see you charging up an alley,” David asked. He slumped over in a heap of spent energy while taking deep, hard breaths. His fingers ran through his damp hair as he exhaled through pursed lips. “It’s not safe.”
Sarah thought of Rick and that dreadful building. “I’m doing all right. It’s been crazy and scary. I’ve come across so many horrible people, but was fortunate enough to have a few to help me out. I had a PI, Rick Stone, save my life. If it weren’t for him, I’m not sure I’d be here right now.
David patted the dirt from his trousers, then said, “I’m glad you’re ok.”
Sarah glanced at the body. “What happened here?”
“This piece of work knifed some old lady a block over while trying to steal her belongings. I chased him over here.”
A thin string of blood raced from the side of his temple to his chin. He looked haggard and tired, but at least, he was still alive.
David turned toward the man, then bent down. He pressed two fingers to the man’s neck, then sighed.
“Son of a bitch.” It was a grumble he tried to hide under his breath but failed to do so.
Sarah retrieved his dark navy duty cap from the ground, then offered it to him as he stood from the thug’s side.
“Thanks,” David said, with a defeated tone as he brushed his hand over the top of the cap.
“Is he–dead?” Sarah asked, staring at the man.
Her heart raced.
Sadness swelled inside of her.
Despite having seen multiple dead bodies since escaping the subway she had been trapped in, it never got any easier for Sarah to handle.
“Yeah. He’s pretty dead.” David placed his hands on his hips and looked at the body. “I’ll have to radio dispatch to see how they want to handle this. The department is stretched razor thin.”
He was stressed, that much was evident from the stern look on his face and flat tone of his voice. He shook his head and rubbed his hand through his damp hair before placing the duty cap on his head.
Sarah looked away from the bloody body, trying to focus. “Do you have any idea why the power crashed? Is this some sort of attack? I was on the subway heading to meet up with Mandy when the power just went out. I was stuck down there for hours before me and the other passengers decided to force our way out of the subway cars. When we made it to the surface, it was pure chaos.”
David grimaced from the wound on his temple as he pulled the duty cap down on his head. He mumbled some choice words under his breath.
“Nothing official yet, but I’ve heard chatter that it was caused by a solar storm or something along those lines. Since communications have been offline, it’s been difficult to reach anyone for more concrete answers or directions. The only thing we have that is somewhat functional is our two-way radios which are spotty right now.” David turned toward his cruiser while thumbing the side of the receiver of his two-way radio that was fixed to his shoulder. Static loomed from the speaker.
He sighed, then rubbed his dirty hand over his face. “Communications aren’t the only thing messed up. Whatever caused the blackout also spawned fires across the city on top of all the riots and other crap that we’re dealing with. Emergency services are stretched razor thin trying to handle everything.” He walked up the alleyway in a huff toward his cruiser.
Sarah flanked him. “Do they know when the power will be back on line?”
David shrugged. “No clue. Right now, we’re trying to keep this city from ripping itself apart and burning down. So far, it feels like we’re failing on both fronts.” He skirted the open driver’s side door and reached inside the cab. He retrieved the receiver of the radio and thumbed the button.
Sarah skimmed over the street, searching for any threats. She folded her arms across her chest as David shouted into the receiver of his radio.
“Dispatch, come in, over.” he said, yelling into the receiver. “Say your last.”
“What’s wrong?” Sarah asked.
David held up his hand, silencing her.
A garbled voice crackled from the speaker as he pulled the receiver closer to his ear, trying to discern the transmission. He shot Sarah a quick glance, then shook his head in frustration. “But, sir, I’ve got a dead body here. I can’t-”
David tilted his head, leaned against the cruiser, and listened.
People yelling grabbed Sarah’s attention. It was coming from up the street at the intersection that wasn’t too far away from where they were.
Sarah couldn’t lay eyes on what was going on, but it sounded heated. Raised voices lingered in the air that morphed to shouting. She moved to the passenger side of the cruiser, then stood on the tips of her toes while looking over the roof.
A small crowd of people, maybe five to ten from what she could make out, were gathered out in front of a local convenience store. She narrowed her eyes to see what was happening.
David tossed the receiver back into his cruiser, mumbling under his breath. “Damn it to hell.”
Sarah wasn’t used to seeing him in such an agitated state. He was more of a mild-mannered individual who remained calm even under the most stressful situations. She had hoped some of that would rub off on Russell at some point over the years, but it never did.
“That bad?”
David scratched at the scruff on the side of his square chin. He glanced down the alley to the dead body with an unsure glint in his eye. “The department is calling all officers back to the station. Well, those of us they can reach. A number have skipped out to be with their families with all of the rioting happening. Some had to ditch their cruisers since they weren’t able to refuel at any gas stations. No telling what kind of condition the vehicles are in now.”
Sarah pointed at the small mob who had now taken to throwing any items of substantial weight at the storefront windows.
David turned away from his cruiser and craned his neck, watching the looters rush the store.
“Great.” He shook his head, then turned back toward Sarah. “That kind of crap is happening all over. The longer this outage goes on, the more the civil unrest among the masses will grow, and it’ll be harder to get things back under control.”
“So, what are you going to do?” Sarah posed.
David pounded his hand on the roof, then said, “Get in the car. I’m taking you back to the station with me.”
CHAPTER TEN
RUSSELL
Russell ran hard, trying to keep up with the dogs. They were hot on the deputy’s scent, and were leaving Russell behind. He caught flashes of their fur dashing between bushes and large thickets before they vanished like ghosts.
“Butch! Max! Where are you?” Russell pushed through the low-lying branches while navigating the de
nse forest floor. Keeping the dogs in sight was challenging at best.
The dogs barked in response, but it was difficult to tell where it came from. It was low, and fading fast.
Russell tromped over the carpet of leaves and grass as he searched for the canines. Twigs, concealed under the blanket of green vegetation, snapped under his bulk. Subtle barks loomed from up ahead, but Russell couldn’t pinpoint their position. He didn’t want to stop, but he didn’t know where to go.
The farther he went, the more everything looked the same. An endless maze of rolling hills, rocks, and trees melded together in a dense landscape of beauty and death.
What I wouldn’t give for the concrete jungle and some damn street signs, he thought.
It was jarring and confusing at best for someone who didn’t know the area from a hole in their head. He jumped back into the deep end, and had to learn to swim on the fly without a lifeguard watching his back. Survive or die. Those were his choices now.
A burning sensation bit at the muscles in his legs. The uneven terrain of the forest floor worked on his sore ankle, from the plane crash he survived but a day or so ago, and caused him to run with a slight limp. Each hard breath he took stung his lungs with a vengeful bite.
Russell slowed to a jog, then to a slight stroll. He had to catch his breath, and give his body a moment to rest while he figured out where the hell he was going.
He panted, then doubled over with the heels of both palms jammed into the soft parts just above his knees. His head dangled toward the ground. Sweat dripped from his brow and splashed the tips of his boots.
It was déjà vu all over again. Russell was unprepared for a trek he hadn’t planned on taking. There was no time to pick through the Prowler for any additional magazines or provisions. He had to move fast before losing sight of the dogs, which now, really didn’t seem to matter, since they were nowhere in sight.
The officer’s sidearm, and what wits he had, were his only defense in the wilderness. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.
Russell was out of his depth, but he’d manage the best he could. He had to. There was no other choice. Cathy’s well-being rested on his shoulders, and he felt every bit of the weight crushing down on him.
That asshole is going to get it when I catch up to him, Russell thought.
Deputy Johnson forced him into a corner, and now he had to fight like hell to get out. The actions of the corrupt cop kept him from getting back to Boston. Back to Sarah, and hopefully, a new beginning.
Russell contemplated cutting his losses and letting Cathy fend for herself. He figured he could make his way back to the Prowler, then up to the road. From there, it would be easy to back track to Luray, then on to Boston.
But Russell wasn’t cut from that cloth. Leaving Cathy at Mr. Wrights mercy wasn’t something he wanted to do. He already had a laundry list of regrets a mile long. Cathy deserved much better than to be left to the whims of the local psycho. He was her only lifeline, and he wasn’t about to let her down.
Damn it.
Stress was building and adding to the already explosive mix that swam in the pit of Russell’s stomach. Frustration crawled over him like spiders.
He hadn’t paid it much mind in some time, or perhaps it had become second nature to him now where he didn’t notice it, but his hands wouldn’t stop trembling.
Russell straightened his back and breathed in. He closed his eyes and focused his scattered thoughts. He couldn’t lose it. Not right now. That would be a death sentence for sure. His body was telling him that it needed a drink to even him out. Calm his frayed nerves. For now, his body would have to deal with not getting the poison, and hopefully, not punish him too harshly for it.
A gust of wind blew through the canopy of trees, then downward across the forest floor. The loose leaves whipped about as the cool blast of air brushed against his sweaty face.
Russell ran the back of his hand over his brow. With a flick of his wrist, he craned his neck and searched for the best possible path to follow. He couldn’t find any indicators that pointed to the dogs or Deputy Johnson passing through the area he was in which made his stomach twist in knots.
Great.
“Max! Butch!” Russell shouted for the dogs, trying to get a response from them. “Give me something here, boys.”
A single bark rang out ahead of Russell. It was faint, but still loud enough for him to hear the noise. He took a step back and stood on the tips of his toes as he looked for the canines.
Another bark sounded off in the same area. Russell got back on the move. He raced toward the source.
Russell’s fingers repositioned over the grip of the pistol as he skimmed over the area. His head was on a swivel, watching not only for the dogs but the deputy as well.
The cop was out there somewhere waiting for him. Russell knew it. Cutting his losses and leaving him be didn’t seem like what Johnson had in mind. Russell was a loose end that needed to be dealt with, and couldn’t be left to chance. What better place to take care of such a matter than the woods where curious eyes were nowhere in sight?
Russell whistled while on the move, trying to locate the dogs. He caught movement from the corner of his eye beyond a tree he ran past. A sharp bark stopped him cold in his tracks as his boots slid over the loose leaves.
Max rounded the trunk of the tree and galloped toward Russell. His tongue dangled from the side of his maw as he lowered his head to the ground.
Russell dropped to one knee and rubbed Max’s head. The excited German shepherd licked at his face with a flick of his tongue. Russell took the loving gesture in stride, despite the foul smell that lingered from the dog’s gaping snout.
“Where’s Butch?” he asked. “Did you track down Deputy Johnson, yet?”
A smirk slit across Russell’s face. It wasn’t like Max was going to answer him back and carry on a conversation. Still, it felt good to talk things out even if Max didn’t verbally reply.
The fur running along Max’s spine stood on end without warning. His head sprung up and ears stiffened as he looked past Russell.
“What is it? You got the deputy’s scent?” Russell asked as he turned to the side and followed his gaze.
The muscles in Max’s body grew taut as low, muffled growls emitted from his throat. He took two steps forward and paused while scanning over the bushes and trees that surrounded them.
Russell squinted, trying to pinpoint what had Max on edge. He couldn’t hear anything, and figured he must have picked up a scent or spotted something.
Butch barked, his deep voice booming like rolling thunder. It was intermittent at first, then became constant.
Max took off on a dime through the maze of trees before them.
Russell ran after the German shepherd, flanking the swift moving dog who weaved in and out of the plethora of trees without breaking his stride. This time, Russell didn’t fall behind and ran harder to keep up.
Butch continued to bark which Max honed in on without any problems. The booming call from the cane corso drew clearer with each stride they made. Through the trees ahead of them, Russell spotted Butch’s dark fur.
Low-lying branches stabbed at Russell and raked across his chest and face as he shoved the gaunt looking limbs out of his way. Russell and Max tracked Butch, but there was still no sign of the deputy.
Max raced down the embankment to Butch who was pacing about in circles with his head trained toward the sky. He was at the base of a cliff that had vines and roots protruding from the wall of exposed earth. He gave Russell a quick glance as he continued to bark.
A bit winded, Russell stumbled down the slope. Butch trotted up to Russell, brushed against his leg, then turned back toward the cliff.
Russell rubbed the crown of the intimidating dog’s head. He didn’t bat an eye at the gesture. Russell skimmed over the dense, wooded area as his fingers scratched at the rigid body of the beast.
Butch focused on the top of the cliff. He stood on his hind legs while bark
ing.
Max sniffed the area, then the base of the of the wall that was littered with mounds of rocks. His nose was trained to the ground. He’d pause, then lifted his front right paw.
Johnson had to be close, and Russell figured he was somewhere up on that ridge that overlooked the low-lying area they were in.
Russell took two hearty steps back and looked to the edge of the cliff. From his vantage point, it was impossible to gauge if the deputy was up there or not. He spotted no movement, but that didn’t mean anything.
“You sure he’s up there?” Russell asked while eyeing the barking beast. Butch kept his sights fixed at the ridge. Max surveyed the area. He was tracking something as well. “All right, let’s check it out, then.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SARAH
David slammed his foot to the gas, sending the two-ton police cruiser barreling off the sidewalk and into the street. He cut the steering wheel counterclockwise, then pumped the brake.
The tires skidded over the pavement as the front end whipped about. He shifted from reverse to drive with minimal effort. The cruiser lunged forward, forcing Sarah into the seat.
A scowl formed over David’s face as he checked the rearview mirror. He sneered at the mob ransacking the store, then shook his head in disbelief. “Jesus Christ.”
Sarah peered into her side view mirror as the cruiser swerved from side to side. People ran from the stores and dispersed in every direction. She couldn’t see what they had clutched in their arms as they fled the scene. “Nothing like a crisis to bring out the best in folks.”
“Yeah. This has definitely shone a light on the seedier side of humanity,” David replied. “Since I’ve been a cop, I’ve never witnessed such a decline in morality. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen some vile things that would make your head spin, but not on a large scale like this. Most of what we’ve encountered the past day or so has been from the filth and scum that leech off the city, but like I said earlier, the longer the power stays out, the more stuff like that back there will happen. People are dangerous, more so when they are scared and unsure of things.”
Survive The Fall | Book 2 | Madness Rising Page 7
