“Johnson here, Sir.”
“Go ahead.”
“Shut off occurred at Leroy Field, Uinta County, Wyoming at 13:42 hours.”
“Doctor Packard said it should switch over to Clay Basin?”
“It didn't switch.”
“Thanks, Johnson. Who knows, you might get a commendation.”
“No, please, Mr. Guerrero, Sir. It would be too, uh…”
“I’m kidding, Mr. Johnson. See if there is any way to override the flow without going local.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll try.”
Mannie closed the connection and hurried into the building. He found Ray and DiSilvio talking with the watchman. ”The engineers knocked off after a setback, but, when I heard about the shutdown, I called them back. They should be here any minute. Feel free to wander the grounds.”
He seemed relieved when they turned their attention to Mannie.
“Well?” DiSilvio rounded on him. “Was that a personal call?”
Mannie was instantly pissed off. “Sir?” he answered vainly keeping the pique from his voice.
Mr. Ray stepped in, “Was it information we need?”
Mannie took a breath and responded to Mr. Ray directly. “Shutdown at Leroy Field, Wyoming. No switchover.”
“Leroy Field?” DiSilvio asked. “You’re sure. And it’s shut down, not just run out?”
“As near as we can tell,” Mannie said, still speaking directly to Mr. Ray, “it didn’t slow down, it just stopped. I'm guessing someone up there shut us down. Beat us to the punch.”
Mr. Ray’s mouth twitched almost into a smile. “Just like we’re planning to do to California.”
Mannie nodded. “And how do you think they’re going to feel about that?”
“Well,” DiSilvio rubbed his hands together. “We’ve learned something the hard way. We’ll gradually lower the power transmission, they’ll just think something’s gone wrong.”
“Doesn’t mean they won’t come check it out,” Mannie countered.
“Nope. But it might mean they come not realizing that there is anyone behind the shutdown.”
Mr. Ray had a dark frown on his face. At least he felt some pain about what the ‘troops’ might get used for.
Still. DiSilvio’s plan was probably a good one. Provided there weren’t troops from California or Dugway or something there already. He should check with his contacts at Dugway and Ft. Williams. Did they still have power?
“Shall I contact Colonel Foote?” Mannie asked. It wouldn’t do any good to make plans hinging on a power plant they didn’t control.
“Yes. We'll inspect the perimeter while you do that,” Mr. Ray said with a hint of a smile.
Mannie smiled back at him. Mr. Ray was all right. They wandered off as he headed back to the Jeep. He pulled the radio out of the charging stand and thumbed the recall button. “Colonel Foote?” He sat in the seat leaving the door open. It was chilly, but not as bad as a week ago. At least they didn't have to worry about keeping people from freezing to death.
The radio buzzed and he held it to his face. “Mannie?”
“Yeah. Status?”
“We've got control. Couple of vagrants were the only occupants. None of the men managed to get more than bruises from tripping on their own damn feet.”
“Good training exercise then?”
“Should be back in Provo tomorrow. Planning on leaving a crew with Benson to continue training and defend the facility here.”
“I'll pass that on. Has Packard figured out how to switch the system over?”
“He's growling and muttering in the other room, so I'd guess he hasn't yet.”
“Provo would like you to lower the feed gradually when you shut things down. So it seems like the system is failing.”
“Smart thinking. I'll pass that along. Any luck with the power?”
“Not yet. Check in tomorrow?”
“Right. Foote out.”
Mannie sat there wondering what Zach was thinking about his first action.
A car pulled up behind him. A man jogged up the hill. The lights of another vehicle flashed back and forth up the hill. A loud explosion echoed off the walls of the canyon.
Was it a gunshot or an electrical explosion? Mannie jumped from the car, pulling his Sig from its holster, and spun as several more explosions and ricochets followed. Gunfire. From at least two different weapons and directions. He ran up the hill heading in between the two locations of fire.
More shots. Then quiet. As he crested the bank, he ducked behind a tree, evaluating the area for threats. Over by the river, he saw a man down, dark blood stained his shirt. It was Mr. Ray.
DiSilvio, crouching beside the body, looked up and spotted Mannie, then his eyes shifted to the ridge above. He pointed.
A man with two rifles stood with another man in front of him.
DiSilvio raised his pistol and fired. The guards fired their rifles.
One of the men ran as the other dropped behind the ridge. Mannie stared, his weapon remained cold and unfired. Odds of a hitting something with a handgun at this distance were slim, and he'd recognized one of the men. Duke Madison.
Mr. Ray is dead.
Lizzie stared at the text from her father and tears blurred her eyes. Mr. Ray was her last hope for Provo. Rachael's voice rambled on. But Lizzie didn’t hear her words, until a single phrase pierced her bubble of shock and snapped her back to reality.
“Mr. Ray is dead,” Rachael repeated to herself. Then she sprang into action. “With DiSilvio in charge, you and I are both going to be broodmares.” She grabbed Lizzie's shirt. “How many can we save now? You, Saj, Me. Maybe. If we go now.”
If we don’t… Lizzie knew the answer. It struck her as weird for a moment that she was hesitating and Rachael was being impulsive. “But what about Dad? Nev and Jess?”
“Your dad and the boys will be fine. Nev and Jess? They're gonna think we're crazy and try and stop us. All of them are.”
She was right. “Let’s go.” Lizzie stood and wiped her tears. “Once we’re out. One of us can double back.”
“No. We can send messages. Shut up and go.” Rachael shoved her none too gently toward the bedroom. “Get Saj.”
Lizzie stumbled forward. She began stuffing Saj’s things into a bag. Pacifier. Snuzzie Bear. Children’s meds.
Saj sat up in bed crying, a stuffy-nosed ordeal. She poured out a dose of the cold meds, checking the package to make sure they were the sleepy kind and not the stay awake wired kind. She teased his mouth with the spoon, like he was getting a treat, and then poured the sludgy pink liquid into his mouth. His eyes momentarily looked like fire. A ‘you’re going to pay for this when I get older’ look. She pulled him into her arms and carried him into the living room. “Saj, you gotta be good. Gotta be quiet.”
Rachael came out of the kitchen, dragging a pack. She smiled a tight smile at Lizzie and nuzzled Saj’s chin. “I need to go home and get my gear and then we can go.”
“Okay. I'll give you fifteen minutes. Then I'll meet you outside the library.” Lizzie handed Snuzzie Bear to Saj and lay him down on the couch. “Rest, Sajiboy.” She guided Rachael to the door. “What're we going to drive?”
“No cars yet. If we're walking it’s easier to make excuses and slip past checkpoints. We'll find a car outside the wall.”
“I'm going to go through the house here and the stuff I packed. Try to let my paranoia do some good.” She hugged Rachael. “See you in about 25 minutes.”
“Just don’t over pack,” Rachael said, her jaw tight.
Lizzie shut the door behind her and leaned her head into it. She wanted to tell the others. But if she did, they would keep her here, keep her safe. She took a deep breath and got to work, setting the timer to tell her when fifteen minutes had passed.
Saj toddled up to her in the bedroom almost immediately. “Saj. You should be sleeping.”
He sniffed and scrunched his forehead. “Not sleep. Rachael go.”
“And w
e're gonna go, too.” Lizzie kissed his forehead and smoothed out the scrunch. “Can you get your snow coat on?”
Saj stared at her, his face still serious. He put his hands on his hips, looking like Rachael. He glared at her not moving.
“Now,” she said, more sharply than she'd intended.
He looked for a moment like he would cry, then his face set with a stubborn expression that was probably a mirror of Lizzie, and he sat his butt heavily on the floor, looking like something a bulldozer couldn’t budge.
Obviously, she just needed to wait for the sleepy meds to take effect. How long would that take? She turned back to her packing.
Zach stood uncomfortable in the meeting room of the Delta Solar plant listening to Colonel Foote making plans with Benson. His promotion to 2nd Lieutenant had lasted all of two days. Technically from the morning of day one to the evening of day two. He hadn’t even got to wear his first bars and Foote had already given him a second. Now Zach was Benson's rank and he could tell that was a cause for resentment. Beside him, also ill at ease, was new 2nd Lieutenant Will Sampson.
“As acting Captain, Lieutenant Benson, you will be in charge of two platoons here.” Foote stared down at the map of the area. “I want the first platoon to return with me.”
Things weren’t turning out the way Zach had planned. He didn't want to be stuck out here in the frozen desert while Nev was back in Provo. He hadn't imagined when he signed up that he'd be anywhere but Provo.
“But that's my platoon, sir,” Benson said.
“It’s Riley’s now for the time being.” Foote pointed to a spot southwest. “In addition to holding the plant, I want you to send a squad south and find a place to make the highway less passable.
“Sir?” Benson asked.
Foote's voice lowered to a hiss. “Benson, you are my second in command because of your military seniority. I have yet to be impressed. Do your job well and I might be.”
“Yes, sir.” Benson straightened up.
Zach was really glad to be in the first platoon and under Foote’s command instead of Benson’s. Foote was a hard commander, but never petty—he gave respect when it was earned.
Foote continued. “I better be able to—” A static pop interrupted them and Foote punched his radio. “Crows TOC. Foote here.” His face blanched. “Major? You're certain? You're there?”
Zach’s phone buzzed and he pulled it out. There was nothing on the screen. Dammit. It was his other phone, Lizzie’s line from Glen. He slid his main phone back in and pulled the offending phone out. Ray is dead. LZ was all it said. What the hell? He hit the question mark, send, thumbed the ringer off completely, shoved it back in his pocket, and looked up. Foote stared at him with steel eyes as he continued his radio conversation. He knew, too. Then it was Lizzie being stupid.
The cords in Foote’s neck were taut and the muscles of his jaw worked as though he were grinding granite between his teeth. Finally he put down the radio. “Mr. Ray has been assassinated. Everything is under control. I need calm leadership from you men. No doubt, some of the troops have already heard the news via cell phones.” His eyebrow raised at Zach.
The men shifted. Benson stood with his mouth open, like he was catching flies.
“We know nothing other than that fact. DiSilvio's sent the bodyguards out to chase down the killer, but he's escaped into the woods near the Olmsted Station Plant.”
Oh, god. Zach knew he should have been there. He'd seen the potential, the lax security. But no one thought such a thing could happen. Foote was still talking. Zach jerked aware when he realized the power was out in Provo again. Was Nev okay? Lizzie?
“Riley. Listen up. I need you here and now.”
“Yes, sir.” Zach snapped to attention, pushing his worries and fears aside for later. He didn’t want to give Foote any reason to second guess promoting him. He received a curt nod from Foote as he refocused his attention on his commander.
“They expect to have limited power up by morning. Your family and friends are going to be scared. I need you to set an example for the men. Come on. I'm going to address them.”
Zach followed them out dumbly. He couldn’t help but feel like he personally had failed. Mr. Ray was gone. And he had been out rescuing a solar plant from vagrants.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
LIZZIE APPROACHED THE LIBRARY GOING up the street in between the busier Freedom Avenue and University Way. The streetlights were dark and the street empty. When she could see the library down the alley, she tugged Saj's pack off and set it with hers in between two dumpsters. Saj looked like a little marshmallow man wrapped up in his puffy winter coat, happy to be outside. Frost blew from his mouth and his rosy cheeks glowed.
She hurried them past the Brigham Young statue in front of the library, as if he was going to sound the alarm, heading toward the back of the building.
The power outage was the perfect ally for their escape. Everyone would be too busy worrying about the lights and Mr. Ray to worry about a couple kids. And the darkness would conceal them.
She leaned against the far corner, where she could see Rachael coming. Saj bent down and rubbed his mittens in the snow. Life was so blissfully uncomplicated for him. He dropped his mittens, shoving his hands into the snow.
“Saj. Put your mittens back on.”
“No,” he said, not even looking at her.
Lizzie grabbed the mittens. Lizzie spied Rachael on the other side of the street. “Saj. Let's get Rachael.” She scooped him up and attempted to pull his mittens back on. His little fingers balled into fists. “Fine. No mittens.” She wrapped her arms tight and jogged to meet Rachael. She waved Rachael back. But Rachael continued toward them her arms wide.
When she got near Lizzie hissed, “Your pack. Who wears a pack to the library at night? Let's get off the main streets.” She gestured for Rachael to head in the direction she’d left her and Saj’s packs.
Recognition dawned in Rachael's face and she hustled in the direction Lizzie pointed her.
Lizzie made a beeline for their packs. “Okay, Saj,” Lizzie pulled the straps over his arms, “we've gotta hurry.”
“Let's play the quiet game, okay?” Rachael asked, helping Lizzie into her straps.
“No,” Saj stated loudly.
Rachael flashed Lizzie a look of alarm.
Lizzie knelt down and looked Saj straight in the eye. “We're going to play Secret Spy, okay, Sajiboy?
“Saj. No boy.”
“How about Sajispy? Will you play??”
He nodded. “Saj play.”
“Good. Saj play,” Lizzie agreed. She stood up and took his hand in hers. “Let's go.”
Saj moved forward all hunched over like he was sneaking. Lizzie held her laughter, happy that he was playing along. Why hadn’t the meds kicked in? She remembered as an ADHD kid that sometimes meds had the opposite side effects. He didn’t seem sniffly anyway.
Twenty minutes later they'd crossed outside the wall, sneaking under a semi-trailer that hadn't been collapsed. Lizzie hurried forward.
“Okay,” Rachael said. “New game. Find a car with keys.”
“Or find one my phone will turn on.”
Rachael stared at her, brows knitted in confusion.
“Glen said he programmed the phones with the ability to get into older hybrids if they haven’t had the security updates.”
“How does it work?”
“Hell if I know,” Lizzie pressed the Jumpin’ Jack app. “I guess we walk and push until we find a car whose lights flash when we hit a button. Or we find one with keys.”
They found a parking lot full of cars, neatly parked. It must be a Collectors’ stash. They’d been driving cars that could drive nearer to the city for easy access later.
“Okay,” Lizzie said, “Pray if you do that sort of thing.” Come you lucky sevens, babe.
Lizzie pressed the button and she heard a sound a slight beep.
“Over there.” Rachael pointed. “I saw a flash.”
“Woo hoo!” Lizzie hollered.
“Wooo!” Saj echoed.
Rachael hustled him over to the car. She pulled the door open. “No car seat.”
“This is an effing escape, Rachael. We’re not driving fast. You won’t put us in the ditch.” Lizzie tossed her bag next to Saj.
“Okay,” Rachael said, “Keep praying.” She pushed the start button. The car started; its lights flashed on, reflecting off the snowflakes and the billboard on the wall of the building. Then an orange charge light flashed on the dashboard.
“Kill the lights,” Lizzie said.
Rachael twisted the knob.
“Okay, try again.”
Rachael pushed the button. Nothing happened.
“Damned thing’s supposed to start on gas.”
Rachael pushed the button. The car rumbled, shook and the engine stopped. Lights raked across the wall.
“I said, no lights,” Lizzie barked.
“The lights are off,” Rachael complained. “Shit.”
Lizzie whipped her head around, catching the flash of headlights in the rearview mirror. “Start it,” she urged. “Let's go.”
Rachael pressed the start button. The engine kicked over again, but didn't start.
“Again. Try again.”
Rachael pressed, nothing happened this time. She opened her door. “We can hide.”
“No. They're close. I'll get them to follow me.” Lizzie shoved the door open and jumped out. She jerked the back door open, unsnapped Saj from the car and hugged him fiercely. He was finally drowsy. “Sissie loves Saj.”
“Let's stick together, Lizzie,” Rachael pleaded.
“Go, Rachael,” Lizzie hissed. “Take Saj.” She lifted the sleepy boy into her friend's arms.
“No. I don’t want to leave you.”
“Rachael, please.” Lizzie held both Rachael and Saj, kissing them. “I love you. Now, go. That way. I'll catch up. Somehow. Meet me at the Out N Back in Orem.”
Rachael hurried away down the cross street, searching for an escape route.
Lizzie kicked off her rubber boots, and tossed her coat. As soon as she was sure Rachael was getting away she swayed down the road back the way they'd come. Humming The Final Countdown, she pulled her shirt off, unsnapped her bra and let it fall. Old tricks are the best tricks. The lights stopped a block away. Lizzie lumbered around the street corner, heading the opposite direction from Rachael and Saj.
Deserted Lands (Book 2): Straight Into Darkness Page 25
