Strengthen What Remains (Book 2): A Time To Endure

by Kyle Pratt

  I hate them—all of them. I’m glad I killed a few today.

  * * *

  As a bugler sounded reveille, Caden rolled to a sitting position in his bunk and wondered when he went to bed. He had no duties until the briefing with the general and so, after a minute, plopped back on his pillow.

  When he next opened his eyes, the morning sun poured through the window. He checked his watch. It was still early. Dressed in socks and underwear, he moved his desk chair near the window, sat, and let the sun’s warmth sink deeply into him.

  For nearly a half hour he remained there, writing a citation for bravery for Private Conner, and a letter to Maria.

  As he washed and dressed, he recalled the anger of the night before. There was still a great sadness in him for the friends and loved ones who had died, but a good night’s sleep and a warm sun had driven the foul mood from him. Instead of hate he was filled with resolve. His mother would say, ‘hate the sin, but love the sinner.’ He couldn’t bring himself to love the terrorists but, in the light of day, he knew it was evil that he hated—and he would work to ensure that brooding malevolence didn’t hurt anyone else he cared for.

  It was still early, so Caden decided to take in the sun and view from the roof. Walking along the parapet, he noticed a line of people coming through a makeshift gate in a sandbag wall. Some of the civilians carried suitcases. One man pushed a wheelbarrow with kids and clothes in it. Others had nothing but the clothes they wore.

  Caden turned to a nearby soldier. “What’s going on over there?”

  “They’re refugees coming in from the city.”

  “I didn’t realize that many people still remained in the area.”

  “You weren’t here yesterday, were you, sir?”

  Caden shook his head. “I had business off base.”

  “Well sir, a unit from here and another from the JBLM fought some of the remaining terrorists. You could hear the shooting from where we’re standing.”

  “You could?”

  “Yes, sir. And I guess a lot of people decided that was the time to leave because several hundred came in during the battle.”

  “I wish I could have been here to see that.” Caden said with a facetious grin.

  “There aren’t as many refugees as yesterday, but since dawn they have been trickling in. I guess it’s still too dangerous to move around at night, but that may change soon.”

  Caden cocked an eyebrow. “What have you heard?”

  “They’re working to restore power and the state patrol and local police are back in the area.”

  Caden recalled a verse he had been taught in Sunday school, “God commanded the light to shine out of darkness.” Darkness had spread across the land, but the light was pushing back.

  As he leaned against the parapet and watched the people coming, he recalled again the words of the chaplain. “We’re like Nehemiah on the wall. Behind us is justice, order and democracy, and in front of you, what we keep out is the enemy—ignorance, tyranny and chaos.”

  He chuckled. It’s not even Sunday and I’m getting all spiritual and philosophical. Despite his attempt to dismiss it, the snippets kept coming. Where there is no vision, the people perish. Who will stand in the gap? In their own way, both his church pastor and the chaplain had spoken of strengthening what remained of the spirit and ideals that made the country strong.

  He shook his head. Why am I thinking about all of this today? He felt like a pendulum that had swung from the darkness of last night into the light of the morning sun. Right now his disposition was fine, but he didn’t want to swing back.

  Then he knew, with a certainty he didn’t understand, that he wouldn’t swing into darkness. He was where he needed to be, doing what needed to be done. As a younger man he had left home and not looked back, but with the first attack, like a moth to light, he had been drawn toward Hansen. Perhaps all of us are right where God needs us. Images of Peter, alive and dead, flashed through his mind. Was Peter where God needed him? Were the soldiers that died yesterday where they needed to be?

  He didn’t know. Perhaps it was unknowable.

  A glance at his watch revealed he had been pondering his role in the universe, watching the flow of refugees and the coming and going of soldiers for nearly an hour. Almost late for the briefing. He jogged back into the building and to his meeting.

  When Caden completed his brief, the general frowned. “Why were you on the recon mission? Why didn’t you stay with the main unit and send someone else to command the recon?”

  Because I wanted to check my brother’s house. Caden tried to think of something witty or inspired, but finally said, “It seemed right at the time.”

  “General, do you think we got all the terrorists?” Fletcher asked.

  “No, but between you and the army Stryker brigade, we believe you got most of them.”

  Thankful that Fletcher had changed the topic, Caden took a long sip of coffee.

  The general studied a paper on his desk. “The army found three wounded jihadists after the battle. The rest were dead. The few that may have escaped are combat ineffective. The State Patrol and other guard units hit the other gangs hard yesterday and will again today.

  “South of here, we’re restoring power block-by-block and clearing hot spots. Once we’ve removed the lawless elements from this area, we can begin those tasks here, and move people back. All of Tacoma should have power and water by summer. Who knows, in a few years it may be the state’s largest city. Because of the radiation, this base will be the northern limit of habitation, for now.”

  “What about the Chinese in the port of Tacoma?” Caden took another sip.

  The general smiled. “They’ve been very quiet. We still have army units around them and we’ve been flying drones over the port. Now that the gangs and terrorists the PLA used are destroyed, we’re hoping they decide to leave the northwest. That would free up the army units for the fight against Durant.”

  “What is next for us?” Caden asked.

  “I know you’ve taken the brunt of this action. I plan to keep you out of the fighting, but I want you available for a couple of days, just in case. I think we can rotate you back to Hansen on Monday.”

  Caden leaned back in the chair and savored the smell rising from his cup. We left on Monday and we’ll head home on this coming Monday. Eight days. “Thank you, sir.”

  Later, when he was alone, Caden was tempted to share the news with Maria, but he knew such information was classified. Still, he could tell her that he was okay and find out how things were in Hansen. Retrieving his phone from the nightstand he pressed the numbers. No service? He frowned remembering that the building he was in had power because they hooked up generators. He looked out the window at the dark city. Cell towers for miles around don’t have power.

  He wanted to talk to Maria, to know the news from Hansen. He had been so close to them all, so involved in the struggles of life and his hometown. He sighed and consoled himself with the knowledge that he would be home on Monday. That will be soon enough.

  * * *

  “Where is my daughter?”

  Zach, in handcuffs, stared across the table at Mr. Hollister. “Like I’ve been telling everyone, MS-13 has her.”

  “Because of you!” He spat the word like venom.

  Like some soul-killing poison, guilt flowed through Zach. His gaze dropped to the floor. “I…I tried….” His head shot up and he locked eyes with the older man. “No! I avoided Bo and his gangster friends. It was only after the gang shot Bo and took DeLynn that I followed and talked with them. That is what gave me time to do something to save her, but we only have until Sunday—and no will listen to me.”

  Hollister stood and walked to the door. Then he stopped and looked back at Zach. “I dislike you, but I love my daughter. On the possibility that you might have useful information about DeLynn, I will listen. For once, try to impress me.”

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Maria stacked firewood in the shed wh
ile Trevor split the logs just outside. When Nikki barked, she poked her head out to see why. Trevor pointed to a red sedan driving along Hops Road. It was just a curiosity, until it turned up the long driveway.

  Trevor jogged toward the front of the house.

  Maria went in the backdoor, grabbed a shotgun and stood just inside with it out of view.

  A man with silver and black hair stepped from the car. Maria would have said he was in his mid-forties, but his shoulders slumped, his eyes looked tired, and his clothes hung loosely. Maybe that’s the way we all will look soon.

  “Can I help you?” Trevor asked, as the man approached.

  Although still a pup, Nikki did her best to growl at the intruder.

  “My name is Kent Hollister. Perhaps you know my daughter, DeLynn?”

  Trevor shook his head.

  Maria thought Caden had mentioned the name.

  Well, I represent Zach Brennon. He was arrested yesterday for the murder of Robert Hendricks and….”

  “What?” Maria stepped onto the porch.

  Trevor invited Kent into the house.

  Nikki followed everyone in and lay down next to a jabbering Adam.

  Sarah brought their guest a cup of tea and then headed back toward the kitchen door, but stopped as he continued to explain the predicament.

  “According to Zach, for my daughter DeLynn to have any chance of getting out alive, he must meet with MS-13 no later than Sunday morning and deliver a substantial number of weapons.

  “The sheriff sent a couple of deputies to check out the ranger station. There were some beer cans and other trash that appeared recent, but little else.”

  “The sergeant at the armory….” Kent shook his head. “The guy looks young enough to be my kid. Anyway, he said there is nothing he can do.”

  “The problem is there is no way to verify Zach’s story. While the sheriff doesn’t have anyone who saw him shoot Mr. Hendricks, the circumstantial case against Zach is strong. I think they could get a conviction.”

  “You sound like the prosecution, not his lawyer.” Maria said.

  “I’m just being realistic. When I discussed the facts with him this morning, Zach stated that your family might be of help to him and DeLynn.”

  Trevor rubbed his chin.

  Maria thought, searched for her phone, and then dialed Caden. As it rang, she paced. It went to voice mail. “Caden, Zach has been arrested and DeLynn is missing and in danger. Call me.” Then she called Lisa at the hospital. “Is David awake? Can he talk?”

  “No. Why?” After Maria explained she said, “I’ll ask if he knows how to contact Caden as soon as I can.”

  After she hung up, Maria continued to pace. “We’ve got to do something. We can’t just let DeLynn be killed.”

  “What can we do? We don’t know where Caden and the soldiers are or when they’ll be back,” Trevor said.

  Sarah sat beside her husband. “The governor knows Caden.”

  All heads turned to Sarah at once.

  “It was just an idea,” she said.

  Trevor hugged his wife.

  * * *

  Standing on the top of the professional building, Caden saw that the fire in the distant apartment tower was out. Observing the nearby streets he wondered if it had burned out or been put out. Military and police were on patrol. People walked along the roads. Two fire engines were parked in the lot next to the building. South from the base, life was returning to the city.

  “You’re a hard man to find.”

  At the sound of the general’s voice, Caden turned and saluted. “Just trying to stay out of trouble, sir.” He smiled.

  “Well, trouble may have found you.”

  Caden cocked an eyebrow.

  “I got a call from the governor this morning….”

  “The phones work?”

  “Surprised me, too, when I felt something move in my pocket.” Harwich pointed to a tower in the distance. “That one came on line this morning. Anyway, the governor ordered your men back to Hansen immediately and says to phone home.”

  He thanked the General and began a search of his pockets before he remembered leaving the phone by his cot. He ran to his room, turned the device on, but had no service. He ran to the roof. One bar, two, one. He noticed a message from Maria and, as he listened, his alarm grew. Zach arrested? DeLynn in danger? He fumbled as he phoned. It’s not ringing. He dialed again. On the third attempt he heard Maria’s voice.

  “Caden! We’ve been trying to get in touch with you since yesterday. I’ve got so much to tell you. David was shot at the hospital and….”

  The call dropped.

  Dialing again, he wondered if Brooks was alive. Did Zach shoot him? Is that why he was arrested? What danger is DeLynn in? Zach wouldn’t hurt her. Caden needed to find Fletcher and get the men ready to leave, but if he left the roof he’d lose the cell signal and he wanted to know more about the situation.

  Busy? He sighed in frustration. She’s calling me. He waited a few seconds, tried again, and she answered.

  “If this call fails I’ll call you when we get closer to Hansen. We’re coming home.”

  “Great, we really need—”

  “Wait. Is David okay?”

  “He’s out of intensive care. They think he’ll be fine.”

  “Who shot him?”

  “One of the MS-13 gang when they moved Cruz.”

  Caden shook his head recalling the concerns about the girl that visited Cruz and the upcoming move. Now he wished he had acted upon those concerns. “Did Cruz escape?”

  “Yes.”

  He gritted his teeth. “What was Zach arrested for?”

  “Murdering Bo. But I don’t think he did it.”

  “I hope not.” But it’s certainly within the realm of possibility.

  “There is more we need to talk about. We need to help DeLynn. Zach says….”

  Again, the call dropped.

  It was frustrating, but except for the DeLynn predicament, Caden felt he had a grasp of the situation and would soon be home and know the full story. He found Fletcher and told him what he knew.

  “Sounds like while we’ve been making Renton and SeaTac safe, home fell apart.”

  Caden nodded. “Let’s head back before things get worse.”

  As the Hansen convoy pulled away from Camp Victory, Caden stared at his phone screen. No bars.

  Later as the trucks rumbled south, his phone rang.

  “Caden, this is David Weston. Hold for the Governor.”

  He sat up in the seat.

  “Caden?” The governor’s voice came through the phone. “Are you on the way to Hansen?”

  “Yes, sir.” The capitol dome stood in the distance. “We’re passing through Olympia right now.”

  “Great. I wanted to make sure there were no problems detaching your people from the operation and getting you home.”

  “It went well. We should be there in an hour. Thank you, Governor.”

  “You should thank Maria. She’s a very persistent woman. Yesterday afternoon she pushed through the Byzantine phone tree we have and reached David. After he explained the situation with MS-13 and the young girl…well, I knew you should be home.”

  “Young girl? DeLynn? What happened? I haven’t heard.”

  “Oh.” For several moments there was only silence. “I’ve been told that a teenage girl was kidnapped and is being held ransom by MS-13. If you need assistance let me know.”

  When Caden hung up with the governor, he turned to the driver. “Hurry.”

  * * *

  The convoy was just outside of Hansen when Caden ordered it to stop yards from the turn for Hops Road and his family’s farm. There was no curb or siding to allow the trucks to pull out of the lane but, since there was no traffic, they just stopped.

  Caden walked back to talk with Fletcher. “I’ve learned more on the way down here.” He held up his phone. “Take the men on to the armory and get them ready for…I don’t know what, but get them
prepared. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

  “They’ll be ready.” Fletcher saluted and returned to his vehicle.

  While the convoy proceeded toward town, Caden, in his SUV, turned down the side road toward home. His father waited on the front porch as he drove up.

  Still in ACUs, and with his helmet on, Caden stepped from the car.

  “Hello son. It’s good to see you home.”

  Nikki danced at his feet.

  “Hi, Dad.” He removed the helmet and tossed it on the passenger seat. His mother burst from the house and embraced him alongside the car.

  After hugs and welcomes they moved toward the porch.

  Caden asked, “Where’s Maria?”

  “At the hospital,” his father said.

  “With Brooks? How is he?”

  His father’s face darkened. “Cruz shot him in the back. Dr. Scott says he’ll recover—but it will take time.”

  Caden took a slow deep breath and resolved to destroy MS-13 and rescue DeLynn.

  His mother wrapped her arm around Caden. “But, Maria is probably with Sue.”

  “Sue? She’s in the hospital? What happened to…did she have the baby?”

  She smiled. “You have a nephew. She named him Peter. You’re Uncle Caden now.”

  He smiled and then recalled the note in his pocket and the body that would soon be at the armory. “I also have news. I got to Peter and Sue’s home and I found Peter.” He let that hang in the air for a moment.

  His mother’s face aged and she clasped her hands as if in prayer.

  His father rubbed his chin. “Peter’s body?”

  “Yes.”

  His father’s face slumped into an older, sadder, version of itself.

  Tears rolled down his mother’s cheeks.

  Caden handed the plastic bag to them.

  With his father’s arm resting on his mother’s shoulder they read the last words of their first born son.

  “It’s some comfort to know.” His father handed the open note back to Caden, but continued to look at the envelope. “I can’t imagine what I would say in such a letter.”

  Several times, before particularly hazardous combat missions, Caden had written a note to his parents. He had seen many soldiers writing similar messages for loved ones. He could imagine what it said, but didn’t want to.