by Connor Mccoy
“But where’s the head of the snake?” Conrad whispered.
He wanted Kurt. Not only did Kurt lead this effort, making him a valuable prize in Conrad’s eyes, but bagging him might cause the rest of the men to lose heart and flee. Judging from Darber’s description of the man, Kurt should be easy to spot. From this distance it was hard to pick out just one man on the outside. However, now that they were splitting up and filing inside in pairs, it was far easier to tell them apart.
But so far Kurt had not made a move for the homestead. Conrad had not spotted anyone fitting Kurt’s description charging toward the house.
“You want to split up?” Camilla asked.
“No. They still could pick us off. We’ll move in toward the back porch, let Liam handle the housecleaning,” Conrad replied.
Camilla chuckled. “Housecleaning, huh?”
Conrad took up his rifle and started walking back toward the house. “Guaranteed to flush even the most annoying pests out of your home.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“CARLA, you might as well sit back and wait. There’s no getting past that lock,” Darber said.
Carla had been working on the keypad on the inside of this room for the past few hours. “If I ever believed that, I’d never have gotten a decent meal when I was a kid,” she muttered.
“I know you must be upset about this,” Darber said. “You want to be out there with them, but I’m sure Conrad and Liam did what they thought was right.”
Carla spun around. “No, Doctor, I’m not upset. I’m pissed. There’s a difference. Right now, I probably could tear this whole door off with my bare hands, but I don’t want to hurt my baby trying.”
She scratched her right cheek. Unlike the door on the basement side, the inside of the shelter door did not possess a biometric scan, possibly because it would be unnecessary if you already were inside.
“Okay, I’ve tried every number I can think of, even Liam’s birthday and his favorite number.”
“It’s time-locked,” Darber said. “It’ll pop open by tonight regardless of what we do. Conrad didn’t want to risk us being trapped in here.”
“I am not waiting until tonight to see if the man I love and his family are alive or dead.” Carla slammed her fist against the back of the door. “Dammit!” She lowered her head. “I get it. You want to save me and the baby. But Liam, you almost died last time. If I didn’t help you then…” She let her head fall against the door.
After a short while, she turned to Darber. “There’s got to be another unlocking code. Conrad gave it to you, didn’t he?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Darber said quickly, almost as if he had scripted it.
“You’re a terrible liar. Don’t worry. I’m not going to pump you for it. You wouldn’t tell me anyway.”
Carla then looked around the room. The place was equipped with storage shelves holding containers with unlocked lids, which made sense, as there was no point in locking up containers in a survival room. The idea was the supplies would be easily accessible to the shelter occupants while they waited out the hostilities beyond the door.
Okay, Mister Conrad, you either left the unlocking code, or a bunch of unlocking codes, written down in here. You knew you’d have to stuff someone in here without filling them in on everything. Either that, or the door’s got a manual override, and there’s a paper telling me how to unlock it. Carla licked her lips. Yeah, I got you figured out. You wouldn’t risk someone being trapped in here. You had to put in a way out, something easy.
She left the door behind. Instead, she opened up the first container. The blue box before her was filled with a bevy of packed food. Carla turned up the lid. The codes likely would be taped underneath a box lid.
Unless he already went through this room and took the numbers out. He could be more paranoid than I thought, Carla thought to herself.
“What are you doing?” Darber asked.
“Oh, just looking around. Maybe find something to eat. I am eating for two, you know,” Carla said, with a forced smile.
“Oh!” Darber laughed. “I’m sorry, I should have offered you something for the wait.” The doctor rose from his chair. “Sarah packed us some lunches.” He bent over and picked up an ice chest that sat beside him. “Some sandwiches, fruits, and some tea.”
As Darber sorted through the chest, Carla opened up the next container. Still more sealed food and water. She hurried to the next box. Here, she discovered a piece of paper taped to the inside of the lid, just as she had suspected. The paper displayed a diagram of the door and the nearby wall. An arrow with accompanying text pointed to a panel on the right wall near the door.
“Hot damn!” Carla ripped the paper off. “I knew it!”
Darber froze in place. “Carla, what are you doing?”
But Carla already was racing to the right wall. “There…is…” She talked through her heavy breaths. “…a…manual…override…lever.” She flipped open a panel, revealing a red lever embedded in the wall. “…right…here!” She grabbed it and pushed upward.
A loud clicking sound cut through the door. The keypad next to it suddenly went dead. Carla turned around, her face curled in a smile of triumph. “Throw this lever, and it cuts off the power to the lock and puts the door back on manual. One little turn of the handle, and I’m gone.”
“Carla, please, don’t do this,” Darber said.
“Sorry, doctor, but they need me.” Carla reached for the handle. “You stay here and enjoy the sandwiches.”
A shadow then covered the wall near Carla’s hand. She recognized the shape the darkness made. She turned around.
Darber clutched a handgun, pointing it in Carla’s direction. “I’m sorry. But I’m afraid you’re going to have to remain a guest for a while longer.”
LIAM NEVER COULD FEEL easy about holding this little spherical metal device in his hand, even though his father assured him it wouldn’t explode unless he pulled the pin. It wasn’t even a real explosive, but Liam had a hard time putting the words “non-lethal” and “grenade” together. Still, Liam kept a tight hold on the small stun grenade in his hand. It would be perfect, not only to gain the advantage over their enemies, but to disorient them without causing serious damage to the house.
Carla. Damn. He wondered if they should have taken her out of here and had her keep her distance from the battle entirely, but Liam knew she’d never go for that. She wanted to help defend their home. Liam understood all of it. Hell, he owed his life to her. But his dad simply couldn’t know if the battle would progress out here. Carla’s life could be ended by one stray bullet. On the other hand, down in the sanctuary room, Carla was hidden behind a bulletproof door.
Once this was over, Liam might find himself hiding from Carla behind that same door.
“She’ll forgive you,” Tom said softly.
Liam turned to the man next to him. “How do you know what I’m thinking?”
“I recognize that look,” Tom replied. “You want some advice after this is over? Come talk to me.”
“Sssssh!” Sarah held a finger to her lips. “They’ll hear you,” she mouthed without making a sound.
True, they now were very close to the house, so close they could hear the voices of the surviving men inside. “I don’t know where they are!” one of them shouted. “I searched this damn place and haven’t found anybody.”
“They’re hiding, you dumbshit!” answered a second man.
“Will you all knock it the hell off and help me with Tyrone!” cried a third.
“He’s dead, you moron, and you will be, too, if you don’t help us out,” answered the second man. “They took out Bryce and Luiz, too. They’re obviously shooting at us from outside, so get in position and start shooting back.”
Liam approached the window. Sarah and Tom raised their rifles. Liam didn’t have to say, “Cover me.” The couple knew their parts.
One of the men suddenly smashed through the glass
window with his rifle. Sarah and Tom quickly opened fire. The man fell back. It was impossible to tell if he was hit, but Liam didn’t care. He had his opening.
Liam pulled the pin, then threw the grenade through the gap in the window that the gunman so helpfully had made for him.
“Duck!” Tom shouted.
The three dropped to the dirt. All three knew the room on the other side of the window would be engulfed in a piercing light, accompanied by a loud bang that would be hell on the eyes and ears of the men inside.
BY NOW, Conrad and Camilla had closed in on the back of the home. However, a loud pop that whizzed by their heads stopped them dead in their tracks.
“Take cover!” Conrad called out as he leveled his rifle. The two dropped down as Conrad quickly looked for their assailant. The grass in this area was tall enough to obscure them if they crouched down, giving Conrad some time to track down their shooter.
For an instant, a swiftly moving shape crossed his field of vision. The man was running right out into the fields behind Conrad’s house, on a route that would take him close to Conrad and Camilla. He wasn’t even bothering with the house. He had figured out there were shooters out here and had decided to flush them out. And judging from the man’s disfigured face, there was no question who now was hunting them.
“The head of the snake is here,” Conrad whispered.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“YOU HAVE LOST YOUR MIND!” Carla pointed a finger at the gun-wielding doctor. “You’re not actually going to shoot me to stop me from leaving!”
“Times are desperate,” Darber said. “I’ve stood by and endured the horrors of Kurt. I never resisted. I never fought for anything. That’s got to change. I told Conrad I’d help deliver your baby, and your baby will be delivered, safe and sound. So, I suggest you sit and enjoy your mother-in-law’s sandwiches.”
Carla shook her head. “Doctor Ron, I can’t. Liam’s out there. Don’t you understand?”
“Conrad, Liam, Camilla, they all have things well in hand. They filled me in on their plans. Kurt’s men won’t make it out of here alive. I have faith in them. I just need to do my part.”
“That includes maybe shooting a pregnant woman?” Carla threw up her hands. “That’s insane! You’re a doctor! You know what a bullet would do to a person, and that includes to somebody who’s carrying a baby! You really want to pump me with a metal bullet that could poison my child?”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry. This isn’t loaded with bullets,” Darber said. “It’s got a tranquilizer. One shot and you’ll get real sleepy. You’ll spend the next few hours taking a nice nap. By then, Conrad and company should be finished mopping up Kurt’s men.”
“That still could hurt my child. You’d never risk shooting me up with chemicals unless my life was in danger,” Carla said.
“If I don’t take that risk, you and your child may not survive at all,” Darber replied.
Carla smiled. After observing his eyes and hand movements , she was now sure about what her doctor was up to. “Doctor Ron,” she said gently, “we both know you can’t stop me from leaving. You wouldn’t shoot me with a bullet or a tranquilizer. That gun’s a total fake.”
Darber tried firming up his expression. “Are you sure you want to take that chance?”
Carla put her hands on her hips. “Pull the trigger.”
Darber quivered. Bingo. She had him nailed.
“If that gun’s really got true ammo, shoot it at the wall and convince me.” Carla pointed to the wall behind her. “Or the floor. Someplace that won’t ricochet. C’mon. Do it.”
Darber cleared his throat. “That…that would be a waste of a good dart.”
Carla shook her head. “C’mon. The jig is up. Put it down.”
The doctor sighed, but he did pull the trigger. But instead of a bullet or a dart, the small pistol jettisoned squirts of water on the floor.
Carla once again smiled in triumph. Darber dropped the gun on the ground. “How did you know?” he asked.
“Like I said, you’re a terrible liar,” she replied. “When I was little, I was around people who lied a lot, and I could tell what they were thinking. At least you were trying to keep me safe. That squirt gun was cute. Who came up with that idea? Liam? Mister Conrad?”
Darber bit his lip. “I did, actually. I suppose that’s fitting. I never stood up to the cretins that had taken over my town and, in the end, the firearm I use is a cheap gag squirt gun. If nothing else, you’re a much braver person than I am.”
Carla then curled her fingers around the handle and pulled it down. From there, she pushed the vault door open.
Darber closed his eyes. “Carla, are you sure about this?”
“A thousand percent.” Carla then backed into the basement. She turned to the arsenal on the wall. “Time to arm up. You stay there.”
Carla pulled a rifle with a scope off the wall. But before she could walk off with it, Darber reached for his own rifle.
“What are you doing?” Carla asked.
Darber looked down at the weapon in his hands. “Conrad always can find another doctor, but he can’t replace you. So, where you go, I will follow. Besides, I think it’s my time to fight as well.”
Carla smiled. “Thanks!” Then she patted the doctor’s shoulder. “Sorry. I can’t hug you with live ammo in my hand.”
Darber laughed. “Well, let’s get going, shall we?”
IT WAS a furious running battle between Kurt and Conrad along the side of the house. The initial spray of bullets from Kurt had caused Camilla to separate from Conrad while he provided her covering fire. Since then, Conrad and Kurt had exchanged fire as both of them got closer and closer to his home.
Kurt’s shots were high, so since Conrad kept his head down, not a single one of them struck him. However, they did ricochet off the metal fence near the house, and each pop rattled Conrad to his insides. He hadn’t heard or seen Camilla in the past few minutes, but he was sure she was fine. Camilla had a way of showing up when least expected.
As soon as Conrad rounded the corner to the back porch, he fled toward the posts that held the awning over the porch. The posts weren’t very wide, but his table was close to one of them. Together, the two would afford him decent cover. He might squeeze off a few shots that would rattle Kurt and cause the gunman to back off.
Unfortunately, Kurt was just a little quicker. He drew a small handgun, his rifle having been discarded, with an eye for Conrad’s upper back.
And then a shot nailed Kurt in the upper shoulder. The gunman fell back against the house and then quickly dropped to the ground. This gave Conrad the time he needed to make it to the post with the table. He drew his weapon in Kurt’s direction, but by then Kurt had dove for the ground, ducking behind one of the porch chairs.
Conrad glanced in the direction of his savior. Camilla was hiding in the bushes nearby. Conrad only could make out one of her eyes staring at him from behind the bush. Sure enough, Camilla had surprised Conrad once again.
Conrad and Kurt exchanged another round of gunfire before all went silent again. Conrad peered around the side of the post. No movement. He scooted to the other side of the post. A dark shape behind a nearby chair could be Kurt, but he didn’t dare expose himself to check. Odds are Camilla couldn’t tell either, or she’d have plugged Kurt by now.
Finally, Kurt spoke up, putting at least a verbal end to the stalemate. “You have great cunning, Mister Drake. I assume you are Conrad Drake.”
Conrad peered out very carefully to see if he could follow Kurt’s voice. When he still couldn’t spot Kurt, Conrad drew back. “And I guess you don’t need an introduction. Your looks gave you away.”
“I prefer it that way,” Kurt said. “Fear is a great motivator. It’s served me well.”
“It’s made you a good tyrant, hasn’t it?” Conrad asked.
“We’re all rulers of our respective countries, Mister Drake. This is your nation. I’m simply conquering it for my own flag,” Kur
t replied.
“You and what army? Would that be the army that’s lying all over my front yard?” Conrad asked. “Maybe you should find another line of work.”
“If you have such weapons at your disposal, that makes this ranch all the more valuable for me when I take them for my own,” Kurt said.
“Well, tough breaks, buddy. It’s not yours and never will be,” Conrad retorted. “Why don’t you do the smart thing and get the hell off my property while you’re still breathing?”
“You would show mercy?” Kurt asked, as if he was slightly offended by the prospect.
“Call it expediency,” Conrad said with a growl. By now he didn’t relish the thought of letting this bastard live after he had caused so much damage. Conrad also couldn’t be sure Kurt’s men hadn’t killed anyone from his household yet.
“As gentle as a lamb or as vicious as a wolf. That’s the choice, is it not?” Kurt asked. “When the mob torched my home and murdered my family, I saw the fangs of the wolf reaching for me. I had survived but, as you can see, at great cost. Then I ventured to other towns and saw how the people treated others with gentleness. It’s a sick joke that some are chosen to be victims and others are not.”
Conrad looked out again to try to locating Kurt, but the porch clutter made it almost impossible unless Conrad stood up. “Life’s a bitch, Kurt. I know it. I heard the story about your family. You got my condolences. Nobody deserves that. But you causing pain and suffering for other people is not going to balance the scales.”
“I don’t care about balancing the scales. I don’t believe in justice anymore, only strength and personal power. If you possess those, you can command Fate itself. When that happens, the fire never comes for you. Now it’s yours to wield yourself.”
Conrad gritted his teeth. “You’re a deluded son of a bitch. Millions of men over the ages have believed that bullshit, and it’s never lasted for any of them. Nature’s the great equalizer, Kurt. We’re all going to die sooner or later, and when that happens, you’re not wielding any kind of power.”
