Vigilante: The Pale Horse: Post Apocalyptic Justice

by Cliff Deane

  “Son I need you to focus on what I am going to tell you. Your Mom is in the hospital, and she is okay. She only has some bruises. She is fine. I just wanted to make sure you all know she wasn’t hurt in the robbery.”

  “What robbery? I’ve had the TV on FOX news and haven’t seen the local news.”

  “Your Mom and partner broke up a robbery and were shot at by the robbers. Her body armor stopped the bullets. I need you to be calm when I ask you to get your brother and sister on the phone, and your Grandma is coming to stay with you tonight until we get home after lunch tomorrow.”

  “Wow, mom got shot. I’ll bring Missy and Jake to see Mom.”

  “No. Let them sleep. She is sleeping, and it’s not really a big deal. She has some pain, but we are just keeping her here overnight as a precaution per our rules.”

  “Dad, Missy, and I are awake and watching FOX News. Jake is asleep in his room. I’ll tell Missy and let Jake sleep.”

  “Your Grandma should be there in an hour or so to take care of you until we get home.”

  Jane arrived at her daughter’s home on the east side of Louisville, parked the car, and walked toward the front door, rang the doorbell, and Will came to the door and gave her a hug.

  “Grandma, I’m glad to see you. Missy is taking this hard. She is worried about Mom. Thanks for comin’.”

  “Take me to her and place my bag in the guest room. Where’s Jake?”

  “He’s up in his room asleep.”

  Missy was glad to see her Grandma and was soon calmed down and talking rationally. Will went back to the family room and saw a breaking news report had just started.

  “FOX News has just learned that German and US main battle tanks are engaged in a desperate fight to stop the Russian tanks from rolling across Poland. British and French warplanes have joined the German and US aircraft in another major fight for air superiority over Polish skies.”

  “Frank we have video from a Polish student. Roll the footage. This was shot a few miles east of Warsaw.”

  The short video played for a few seconds and then went blank.

  “Viewers the video was poor quality; however, you saw a German tank explode and Apache helicopters firing missiles at Russian tanks in the distance. Early reports confirm that Russia has fifty armored divisions attacking all along the western border of the Common Market countries. President Barren ordered the US forces to retreat and stand down, but the US Command has not complied with the order and has bombed several Russian military bases. I have unconfirmed word that hundreds of cruise missiles have been fired at Russia and that the US Air Defense has shot most of the Russian missiles out of the air.”

  “Brett, my Pentagon source just told me that our military has joined Japan, Korea, India, and Israel in major attacks against the Chinese and Russian forces. This is the start of World War III. The President is not in control of our military.”

  “Frank, I don’t know who is in charge, but anyone could do a better job than President Warren.”

  “Joan, have any nuclear bombs been deployed yet?”

  “No, but I expect this at any minute. Viewers while we don’t have any word from Homeland Defense, I expect them or the President to address the nation at any moment.”

  “Viewers, be prepared to run to your basements or bomb shelters. ICBMs could be launched any minute.”

  The phone rang, and it was Papaw Bob on the phone.

  “Papaw, the shit has hit the fan. Mom is in the hospital, and Grandma is staying with us.”

  “Where is your Dad? What happened?”

  “He’s at the hospital with Mom. She was shot, but her vest stopped the bullets. She will be okay. I don’t know what to do. I think we should be with you on the farm, but I don’t want to leave without Mom and Dad.”

  “Son, do you have a car at the house?”

  “Yes, my Explorer, and Grandma’s Buick.”

  “Let me speak to Jane.”

  “I’ll get her.”

  “Grandma! Papaw wants you on the phone.”

  “Bob, how are you doing?”

  “Jane, I’m okay, and I’m sorry to hear about Jo’s situation, but she is a tough woman and will be fine. Jane, do you know what is happening in Europe?”

  “Yes, and it is scaring the crap out of me. What do you think we need to do?”

  “I tried to talk my hardheaded son into bringing the kids down here, and he laughed at me. Jane, nuclear-tipped missiles will be exchanged by both sides in the next few days. You need to load up the kids and bring them down here now. Will knows what to pack, but the key is to bring food, guns, and ammo. I have a river nearby, so water is not a worry. Will knows the way. I’ll call Bill, and you call Jo. We must convince them to check her out of the hospital and get their asses down here ASAP.”

  Is it really that bad? It’s 2:30 in the morning. Oh my, the kids are still up.”

  “Yes, it is that bad.”

  “I’ll have Will start loading up his Explorer while I call Jo. We will call you when we hit the Tennessee border.”

  “Jane, Will knows the family Bugout plan. Ask him to go over it with you on the way. Make sure you have plenty of food, weapons, and water in the truck for the trip. I’ll try to catch Bill again. Good luck.”

  “Mom, I’m okay. Don’t worry.”

  “Darling, listen. Bill told me you are okay. The USA is at war with Russia and China. I’m taking the kids down to Tennessee to stay at Bob’s home until this is over or the world ends. Tell your stupid husband to check you out of the hospital and go to Tennessee right now. Jo this is the big one your father always warned us about.”

  “Mom, are you sure?”

  “Yes, turn the news on while you get dressed. The USA is in a land war with Russia in Europe. We have bombed Russian military and have shot down over a hundred of their planes and destroyed about 200 of their tanks. We’re leaving in an hour. Goodbye. We’ll see you at Bob’s house. I love you.”

  “Bye Mom I love you too.”

  “Nurse, get my husband in here now,” Jo demanded as the pain medicine kicked in. Her words were now being slurred, and she was drowsy as Bill entered her room.

  “Bill, we need. Oh shiiiit. Weee nee…. Bob….” She said as she slumped over in a deep sleep. The trauma along with the pain medication finally took their toll, and she was out for the night.

  The phone went to voice mail for the fourth time, and Bob said, “Damn it Bill answer my call. Get Jo and come on down. Nukes will be flying soon. The kids are on their way down.”

  Bill was surprised to see Walt still in the waiting room as he passed by on his way back to Jo’s room. Walt looked up and said, “Bill, how is she doing?”

  “Walt, I know you are concerned, but you can go home now. She is in good hands. I thought that you would be in a bomb shelter somewhere with this new war going on today.”

  “Bill, quite frankly I should be out of Louisville and somewhere much safer, but Jo is my partner, and I can’t leave her. You should be taking your wife and kids to your Dad’s farm before the shit hits the fan.”

  “You’re just as bad as my Dad with this end of the world as we know it crap. The President will do something tonight to appease the Russians, and this will blow over. It always does.”

  “Sticking your head in the sand won’t make this go away. The Russians are losing now that all of Europe and the USA have bombed all of their airbases and our A10s and Apaches have blown their tanks into burning hulks. They won’t give up. They will nuke us, and we will nuke them. Everyone loses in the end. Get your ass out of town before the riots start and the grid goes down.”

  “Walt, you and my Dad are fools. Go home. You can’t see Jo; she’s asleep.

  Dawn walked up to the Nursing Station and saw Bill walking away from a man who was yelling at him. She waited until he was close and asked, “Bill, who is that and why is he mad at you?’

  “It’s my wife’s partner, and he is one of those assholes who always think it’s going to
be doomsday any minute,” he replied while lowering his voice.

  “He’s probably sleeping with Jo. He’s like a puppy dog in the waiting room all worried about my wife. I know something is going on,” Bill moaned.

  Bill didn’t notice that Walt was spying on Dawn and him from behind the door to the waiting room. Bill stroked Dawn’s hand when the other Nurse turned her back, and he pointed down the hall towards the janitor’s closet. She left first then he followed behind her. Walt saw them duck into the closet and knew what was going on behind that door.

  Walt traveled over to Jo’s room, sat in the chair beside her bed, and watched her sleep. He had fallen in love with her the first week they worked together. She was beautiful, had a great sense of humor, and was very smart. She was also very brave and at times tried to prove herself too much. He had told her on several occasions that she was as good and any man on the force, but she always tried to prove that she was as good as a man.

  He held her hand as she slept and lost track of time. A short while later he felt a hand on his as it ripped her hand from his.

  “That’s my wife’s hand, and you need to remember you are her partner, not her boyfriend! Get the hell out of my wife’s room.”

  Dawn and the other nurse heard the commotion and ran to the room in time to hear the last part of the exchange between the two angry men.

  “Bill, Jo is my partner and yes I am worried about her. You should be more concerned about her than this blonde nurse you were playin’ with in the broom closet.”

  “I’ll…”

  “You won’t do a damn thing but zip up your pants and wipe the lipstick off your cheek before Jo wakes up and sees the evidence. You don’t deserve a woman like Jo.”

  Bill wiped at his cheek as he replied, “Get him out of here!”

  Two security guards ran up to the argument, and one said, “Walt, what’s going on?”

  “Nothing but an upset husband. His wife was shot today while he’s banging a nurse here.”

  “Walt, come on with us. We don’t need more of a scene than what has already happened.”

  Walt complied and left with the security guards. He apologized to them as he left but didn’t tell them what Bill was doing with Dawn.

  “Grandma I loaded our Bugout Bags, my pistol, rifle, shotgun, food, and water. Missy packed clothes for all of us and a first aid kit into the Explorer. I left Mom’s guns, Dad’s and her Bugout Bags that Papaw gave them. I left a note on the kitchen counter telling them where we went. Anything else you want me to do?”

  “No. Great job son. Jake, you and Missy, sit in the back, and I will drive while your brother navigates for us.”

  Jane started the Explorer, left the subdivision, and drove to Highway 60 East. She quickly got on Highway 264 heading southwest so she could get on Highway 65 South.

  “Grandma, look to your right. There are several big fires,” Missy said.

  Will replied, “The looting and rioting are now beginning, and the electricity is still on. Imagine how bad it will get when the power goes off.”

  “Will, don’t scare the kids. Let’s think good thoughts and travel south as fast as we can.”

  “Sorry, Grandma. Hey, there’s our ramp up ahead.”

  Jane got off Highway 264 and made the turn down to the loop that placed them on Highway 65 South. She looked back at Louisville and saw several large fires in the review mirror. She silently thanked God that she was out of there and taking the kids to safety. She couldn’t help but worry about her daughter and son in law, but she knew Jo would get his sorry ass on the road and down to Tennessee.

  “Grandma, Will asked, “Do you think we will ever be able to go golfing again? I liked going with you and Grandpa.”

  “Son, you, and I will definitely go golfing again even if we have to mow the whole 18 holes ourselves.

  Kids, I’m stopping at my home to pick up some clothes and personal items. It should be safe but keep your eyes out for any problems.”

  She got off at the Clermont exit and headed East on Highway 245 until she saw the road to her house. She pulled up in front of the house and got out of the Explorer.

  “Kids stay in the car. I’ll be right back.”

  Will looked at his iPhone and saw that it was 5:45 am, and wondered how the night had flown by so fast.

  Walt got into his patrol car and pulled out of the driveway to go home to his apartment. He knew he should gather his stuff and head up to Kentucky. He thought about Jo and pulled off the highway south of the airport. He was deep in thought and fell asleep.

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