California

by Jamie Lee Grey

  That was something she could do. The governor had shared some ideas, but Alana had her own, as well. Her favorite was a vast right-wing conspiracy.

  Then there were gun-toting NRA kooks, Christian fundamentalists, political outliers, veterans (that might be the best!), militia organizations… yeah, this would be fun. Pretty much, she could pick any group she hated, and place the blame on them, as long as she could conjure up enough evidence pointing in their direction. And that was so easy to do!

  Manufactured social media posts, fake texts, spoofed phone calls… easy peasy! The government had people with those skills. She knew a few herself.

  She’d get away with it, too – or actually, the president would. Basilia had sworn every person in the PEOC to absolutely secrecy about Gov. Abdullah’s revelation regarding the identity of the terrorist ringleader.

  On pain of death. Which really wasn’t necessary, since her cabinet and their aides were so devoted to her. Everyone was absolutely on the same page here. Democrats were just like that. Unified!

  Suddenly, she wasn’t tired anymore. It was 3 a.m., but she was feeling her caffeine, and ready to launch into this project.

  And she didn’t have much time to do it, either.

  Basilia wanted options before breakfast.

  So much for sleep. This was gonna be an all-nighter.

  She glanced at her chief of staff and her national security advisor. Many of the other staff had left the PEOC after NEST had confirmed their arrival at the Mexican border crossings, which the Mexican army then reopened.

  With war averted and nothing more they could do about the fires and the plane crashes, most of the cabinet members and their aides had slipped out to get a few hours of sleep. Even Basilia had headed for bed, after she conferred with her speech writer.

  Alana had work to do, though.

  “You guys ready for this?” She rose from her chair.

  “Count me in!” Jason stood and stretched.

  “I’ll meet you in a minute,” Mae said. “In the small conference room?”

  “Yes. Bring your brightest ideas!”

  Chapter 31

  Shifting into neutral, Katie coasted down the hill, pretty much keeping up with the speed of traffic. Without power steering, she struggled with the wheel.

  She scanned ahead, looking into the darkness beyond the ragged edges of the fire. Oh, how wonderfully dark it was! She’d never thought she’d be so happy to see a lightless landscape.

  As she drove past the last flames, she raised her right hand toward Heaven. Thank you, Jesus!

  Moments later, the oven that was her pickup cab began to cool slightly. She rolled down her window, and it wasn’t too smoky. Almost fresh mountain air! The wind was pushing the smoke and heat away. So she rolled down all the windows in the truck and glanced at her passenger.

  It looked like Jennifer was still passed out. She was slumped over her knees, motionless. Hopefully, she’d be okay.

  Grabbing the walkie talkie, she keyed the mic.

  “Zach?”

  Static, then, “We made it, babe!”

  “I’m out of gas.”

  “I know,” he said. “We’ll keep going as long as we can.”

  “No, I’m already out. I ran out in the fire.”

  “Yikes! Okay, coast as far as you can, then signal, and I’ll pull over with you.”

  “I’m gonna have to do that real soon. And I don’t have power steering!”

  Less than a minute later, she signaled a turn onto the highway’s right shoulder. She muscled the wheel and guided the truck as far off the road as she dared, then turned off the lights and the ignition.

  Jennifer moved and mumbled. Katie reached over and gently shook her shoulder.

  “Hey. You alright?”

  Her passenger moaned and slowly sat upright, then leaned back in the seat, her eyes only half open.

  “Oh… my head!”

  Zach appeared at Katie’s window.

  “Would you get us some water from the fridge?” Katie asked. “Jennifer was passed out, and just woke up.”

  “Sure.” He hurried back to the RV.

  “Jennifer, are you okay?” Katie stared at her in the blessed darkness.

  “We’re alive?” She mumbled.

  “Yes, we drove through, and we’re fine. But you passed out. Do you feel okay?”

  Zach returned with two cold bottles of water and handed them through Katie’s open window.

  “Thanks.” Katie extended one to Jennifer. “Here, drink some water. It’ll help you feel better.”

  Katie opened her own and gulped half of it. Oh, so good! She’d never been so parched in her life, and the cool liquid felt life-saving.

  “Do you want an aspirin or something? You said your head hurt.”

  Sipping her water, Jennifer shook her head.

  “I’m okay. Thanks.” She leaned and peered at her outside mirror, then cussed. “We drove through that?!”

  Katie looked in her own side mirror. The fire roared along the crest of the hill, shooting flames hundreds of feet into the air. Nobody could drive through that and survive.

  And yet, somehow, they had. And a whole line of traffic with them!

  Katie opened the door and fell into Zach’s arms. He kissed her forehead, then her lips. She melted into his embrace. Then pulled back.

  “I need to see Tim.” Her path illuminated by the fires behind her, she walked to the RV and stepped into the dark interior. Duke nuzzled her hand, and she petted his head as she gazed at her sleeping angel. Still in his car seat, his blond head cocked to his left, little chin resting on his shoulder.

  She smiled, but didn’t dare wake him. He was perfect in this moment. She whispered a kiss into his golden hair, then backed away and hugged Duke’s neck. Thanking the Lord that her family was safe, she returned to the pickup.

  Zach had grabbed the empty gas can from the back.

  “We’ll have to take the RV to a gas station, then bring back some fuel for the truck,” he said.

  Jennifer climbed out of the cab and walked to the rear of the pickup, staring back toward the fire. She shook her head.

  “We came through there?” She looked in amazement at Katie. “I just can’t believe it.”

  Katie smiled. “We have a big God.”

  Jennifer didn’t respond. She just kept staring at the blazing mountain. A few more vehicles trickled down the highway, but not many.

  “So, we need to go for gas,” Katie said. “We’ll all have to ride in the motorhome.”

  “Fine with me. Can I bring my suitcase?”

  “You probably should. Somebody might break into the truck before we get back.”

  Katie let Jennifer have the front passenger seat in the RV, and she took the dinette seat across from Timothy. It seemed like they hadn’t driven five minutes before Zach turned off into a gas station. It looked brand new.

  While Zach fueled the motorhome and filled the gas can, the ladies went inside. Bright posters announced grand opening specials. Katie used the spotless ladies room, then bought ice cream and dark chocolate. Then they all climbed back in the RV and returned to the pickup.

  Once there, Zach poured gas into the tank, but Katie had a hard time starting the engine. Probably because they’d run it totally out of gas. Ugh!

  She jumped out, kicked the front tire, then put her hands on the hood and prayed for help.

  “Just one more thing, Lord. You’ve gotten us this far… please start the truck for us.”

  Back inside, she turned the key and the engine stuttered, then turned over and purred. “Thank you, Jesus!”

  Jennifer just shook her head, but said nothing. Katie grinned.

  With no one left on the highway, they made good time, and soon the lights of civilization blazed ahead of them. They turned into the parking lot of the first nice-looking hotel.

  Katie pulled into a space and turned off the engine.

  “Well, you wanted a nice hotel with a restaurant,
” she said, looking at Jennifer. “How about this one?”

  “Looks great!” She opened her door. “I’ll run in and see if they have a room for me.”

  There were lots of empty parking spaces, and the office light proclaimed vacancies.

  “If they do, would you mind asking if we can park here until morning? We’re dead tired,” Katie said.

  “Sure. Be right back.” Jennifer hustled across the lot to the brightly lit lobby.

  Zach had parked at the rear end of the lot, where it was darkest.

  Katie couldn’t wait to crash into her loft bed and close her eyes. Suddenly, she felt exhausted. Every ounce of energy had been sapped out of her body, leaving only enough to keep her eyes open.

  Minutes later, Jennifer returned to retrieve her suitcase.

  “They said you could park here until noon,” she said. “Thanks for the ride. Really. I think you saved my life.”

  “You’re welcome. But what are you going to do? Tomorrow, I mean. You don’t have a car….”

  “I have a credit card.” Jennifer smiled a very tired smile. “I’ll rent a car and drive to my sister’s place in Las Vegas.”

  “Sounds good.” Katie smiled, then got out and gave the lady a hug. “Good luck, Jennifer.”

  Katie locked the pickup and trudged across the parking lot to the RV. Inside, Zach had put Timothy to bed, and now spoke quietly on his cell phone.

  Huh. They must have begun working again at some point. Or maybe the circuits weren’t all busy now, because it was the middle of the night!

  As she brushed her hair and got ready for bed, she listened to his conversation. Sounded like it was with his brother, back East. But maybe it was his uncle.

  She stepped over Duke and climbed into the bed over the cab. Oh, wonderful mattress and fluffy pillow! Her eyes closed.

  Zach ended his call and climbed the ladder, easing his warm body down beside her.

  A sweet kiss, and a grateful prayer, and she fell into blissful oblivion.

  ***

  Alana yawned and stood up.

  “Okay, guys, thanks for your input. I’ll present all this to the president at breakfast.” She stretched. “Let’s get an hour or two of shut-eye. We’ve got another big day ahead of us!”

  Jason and Mae didn’t need any extra encouragement. They’d been yawning for the past hour, and now they grabbed their laptops and yellow notepads and beelined for the exit.

  It’d been a productive meeting. They’d settled on what they hoped would be their three best options. Alana would give those to Basilia, and she’d make the final decision on whom to name as the scapegoat for the California attack.

  All the options were good. Not a bad one in the bunch.

  As she left the small conference room, she covered another yawn. Man, was she tired.

  She reviewed the three scapegoats in her mind and smiled. Americans everywhere would be happy to hang whoever ended up being blamed!

  READ ON FOR AN EXCERPT OF BOOK 2!

  Excerpt of Daughter of Babylon

  Book 2: New York

  Incessant pounding rattled her consciousness. Katie Nelson forced her eyes open. Where was she? She blinked and looked around.

  The motorhome. Right. Camping this week.

  The pounding continued.

  Wait! She sat straight up in bed, banging her head on the top of the cabover sleeping area. The fires! They’d fled California. Where were they now?

  “Katie!” A woman’s voice called during a pause in the pounding.

  What? Who? She crawled over Zach and climbed down the ladder. Timothy was beginning to stir from his sleep, and Duke had planted himself in front of the door. Hackles up.

  A low growl emanated from his throat.

  Zach rolled over and mumbled something incoherent.

  The pounding resumed.

  “Hold on! I’m coming!” Katie fumbled with the lock. The motorhome door’s window was etched, so she couldn’t see who was outside, but whoever it was knew her name.

  Knew her.

  “Hush!” She commanded the black Great Dane, pushing him out of her way with her hip. She swung the door open.

  Morning had arrived, with bright sun, gusty wind, and her fellow traveler from last night. Jennifer looked almost as worried as she had the previous evening, approaching the wall of flames. In leather sandals and a yellow summer dress, she stood in the motel’s back parking lot, looking over her shoulder as if expecting someone to come out after her.

  “Are you okay?” Katie asked. Rather than invite her into the RV with her giant dog and sleeping husband and child, she stepped out and closed the door.

  Jennifer twisted her hands together and focused huge eyes on Katie.

  “You’re on TV!” She blurted.

  Katie blinked, then frowned. “What? Me?”

  “Your husband, actually,” Jennifer looked at the RV door as if expecting Zach to make an appearance.

  “Why?”

  “Oh, dear. Oh, dear!” She clasped her hands in front of her chest and looked at the pavement. “I probably shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “What?” This didn’t sound good. The woman had stormed out here, woken them up, and now changed her mind about sharing her news? “What’s going on? Why is he on TV?”

  Jennifer raised watery eyes to meet Katie’s stare. Her chin trembled.

  “They say he’s a person of interest.”

  “What are you talking about? Person of interest in what?”

  Glancing over her shoulder again, Jennifer took a step back. “I shouldn’t have come.”

  Katie grabbed her arm. “Jennifer! Look at me!”

  As the woman glanced back toward her, Katie released her arm.

  “Please! Tell me what’s going on!”

  Jennifer began to cry, burbling sobs. “I might get in trouble!”

  She turned suddenly and started back toward the hotel. Katie raced around her in her bare feet, then planed herself in front of the woman. She grabbed both of her arms this time, and stared into her weepy eyes.

  “Jennifer! We saved your life last night! You have to tell me what is going on.”

  The woman swallowed, looked around Katie toward the hotel, then looked back toward the motorhome. Finally, her eyes turned to Katie’s.

  “The fires,” she whispered. “They say he’s a person of interest in the fires!”

  Katie’s hands fell from Jennifer’s arms as her jaw fell open. What? That was the craziest thing she’d ever heard!

  Suddenly free, Jennifer bolted toward the hotel. Katie watched her go, and knew she should run after her, but she was stunned into immobility.

  Frozen in shock. Her husband? A suspect? Ridiculous!

  But Jennifer, whom they’d rescued out of the path of the fires last night, was so ambivalent about even telling her. What if she was going back to call the cops?

  “WAIT!” Katie sprang into motion, chasing Jennifer across the parking lot. Bits of gravel and debris chewed at her bare feet as she ran.

  The older woman was no match for her, and Katie overtook her before Jennifer was halfway back to the building.

  “Wait!” Katie grabbed her arm again, slowing her movement. “Stop, Jennifer!”

  The woman slowed, then stopped. Her expression had changed from worry to fear. Fear? Of Katie? Who’d saved her life?

  “Jennifer,” she huffed out between quick breaths. “Please. We helped you. We aren’t terrorists. Think!”

  “How do I know?” She turned round eyes on Katie. “You might’ve – I don’t know – but he’s on television!”

  She pointed back to the RV, where Zach was just stepping out, blond hair ruffled by the breeze, still in the shorts and t-shirt he’d worn to bed. Similar to the attire Katie was in at the moment.

  “Jennifer, he’s blogger and a worship pastor at a church! We were doing volunteer work this weekend! Not lighting fires. Come on!”

  The woman still looked skeptical.

  “H
e was the one who stopped to help you, when nobody else would,” Katie persisted. “You think he’s a terrorist?”

  Jennifer kept her eyes on him. “Maybe not.”

  “Think, Jennifer! We have a four year old child. A dog. I’m a journalist. We’re normal people in an old RV, not – not – terrorists!”

  Katie couldn’t believe she was having this conversation. Maybe she wasn’t. Maybe she was having a nightmare, and she’d wake up in a few minutes.

  Yeah. That must be it. A nightmare. Thank God!

  ***

  A knock sounded at the front door, and Evan Nelson set the last dish in the drain rack and dried his hands on a dishtowel.

  “I’ll get it!”

  Hopefully his parents, in the rear of the house, had heard him. He strode through the living room and glanced through the small window. It was the gentleman who owned a summer cabin just down the road from theirs. He pulled open the door. The man smiled, his blue eyes twinkling.

  “Hello, Evan. I’m not sure if you remember me –”

  “Of course I do, Ambassador Wilford.” Evan stepped back, pulling the door fully open. “Won’t you come in?”

  “Thank you, but no, I can’t.” The thin, grey-haired man glanced back toward the road. “My daughter has a flat tire, and I would change it, but she doesn’t seem to carry a jack in her vehicle!”

  Evan remembered the ambassador’s daughter. Growing up and spending summer vacations here in Galloway, one got to know all the children in the community, because there weren’t very many. She was about four years younger than himself, a truly pesky tagalong. A twerp.

  “No problem. I’ve got a jack.” Evan joined the ambassador on the front porch. “Let me grab it from my pickup, and I’ll give you a hand.”

  “That would be very nice. Thank you.”

  Evan retrieved the jack and a lug wrench, and walked down the short driveway to the main road. Elizabeth’s blue Audi was parked at the edge of the gravel road. The driver’s door opened, and she stepped out, wearing denim shorts and a white blouse.