by Gregg Stutts
Max remembered how happy he was the day Sarah was born. How everything had gone as it was supposed to and how Michelle had done such a great job during labor. This day was nothing like that one. Everything was going wrong. And he was terrified to hear the next words to come from Dr. Hadley’s mouth.
“She’s stable and we’ve stopped the bleeding,” Dr. Hadley said. “But as I said, she lost a lot of blood. We gave her four pints.”
“Oh my,” Rose said.
“Can I see her?” Max said.
“You can see her, but she’s sleeping right now. She needs to rest.”
“But she’s going to be okay?” Willy asked.
“She’s going to be okay.” Dr. Hadley got up to leave.
“Thank you, doctor,” Max said. “I…” But the words wouldn’t come.
Dr. Hadley shook Max’s hand and closed the door behind him.
Willy put his arms around him and prayed, “Lord, we are more grateful than we know how to express. You saved our dear girl by your grace and we are so thankful.”
“Yes, Lord,” Rose said. “Thank you.”
Max could only nod in agreement. And then a nurse opened the door and said, “Let me take you to your wife, Mr. Henry.”
Chapter 15
Monday, August 4
(Two months later)
Max sat on the deck and drank a cup of coffee, extra strong, and thought back to two months earlier when they were rushing to the hospital, almost running into the back of the 18-wheeler, delivering the baby on the side of the road and almost losing Michelle. After it was all over, the cop told him he’d been responding to a call from the truck driver.
As it turned out, the very truck that blocked their path and led to Carrie being delivered in Max’s truck was also the reason Michelle was still alive. Without the cop’s help, he never would have gotten Michelle and the baby to the hospital in time. Dr. Hadley explained that another few minutes would have resulted in a very different outcome. He couldn’t help wondering how many times an apparent obstacle resulted in a blessing if only he’d see things from God’s perspective.
He yawned and looked at his phone. 7:15 a.m. It was already getting warm. Seventy-eight degrees this early meant it would be a scorcher. He set his mug down and walked down the three steps to the backyard. The grass was beginning to turn brown in spots. He thought about turning the sprinkler on, but decided to wait on the forty-percent chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
Carrie’s two-month check-up was at 9:00. She and Michelle were doing great, but her OB/GYN had cautioned her to take it slow for the summer or the recovery would be much harder and longer. Mostly, she’d followed the doctor’s orders. On the days she hadn’t, she was quick to feel it the next day.
It was a blessing Carrie Rose had been born at a time when he didn’t have to be at work every day, especially with Michelle needing so much help. But it also meant he was wiped out and feeling very unprepared for the upcoming football season. The start of fall practice was just a week away and there was a lot to do.
He sat down again, turned to a clean page in his legal pad and was about to write out the meeting agenda for the coach’s meeting when his phone buzzed. “Hi Willy.”
“Good morning, Max. I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No, I’ve been up for a couple hours. I think I’m learning to operate on five hours a night.”
“Well, I’ve tried not to bother you too much this summer, but we need to talk.”
Willy sounded serious. “Talk about what?”
“The Freedom Protection Act. The vote to overturn it is in two weeks. I saw a poll on the news last night. 52% are against it. 42% are for it. And 6% are undecided.”
“It’s closer than I thought it would be,” Max said. “What I really don’t understand are the 6% of people who are undecided. How can you not know where you stand on something like this?”
“I don’t get it either, but with the margin of error and the undecided votes, this could go either way.”
“I’m a little surprised I haven’t seen more in the media. I would have expected this to be a big story.”
“I know,” Willy said. “I’ve thought the same thing. I just think less people are paying attention during the summer and plus it’s not a congressional or presidential election year.”
“So what did you want to talk about?”
“Well, the city council has the three Freedom Commissioners selected. So if this thing doesn’t get overturned, they’ll be up and running right away. They’ll have the power to monitor what’s said or written in Lakeside and they’re already setting up collection sites for citizens to turn in their firearms.”
“I’ll be honest, Willy, I’m still having trouble understanding how this law can go into effect. Surely there will be court challenges.”
“I would have thought so, too, but like you said, where’s the media attention? Even the local newspaper and television news station within the city limits would be subject to this law. So, you would think the media would be up in arms, unless…”
“Unless they have nothing to worry about. Unless their views already line up with the so-called Freedom Commissioners,” Max said.
“That’s it exactly,” Willy said. “So I might need your help to put up some more yard signs.”
“I’ll do what I can, Willy, but it’s about to get crazy once practice starts next week.”
Willy said he understood then Max hung up and set his phone down. He watched as two deer nibbled at the wild blackberries at the back of his property. They didn’t know, but in a month, they wouldn’t have to worry any more about anyone shooting at them. At least not if they stayed inside the Lakeside city limits.
He watched them for the next twenty minutes and as hard as he tried, he couldn’t come up with an answer to the question that was puzzling him: What would cause people to willingly surrender their constitutional rights?
Chapter 16
After dinner, Willy and Rose stopped by to see Michelle and the baby. While Rose and Michelle talked, Willy and Max stepped outside. “Dan Jenkins called me,” Willy said.
“One of the guys who voted against this stupid law?” Max said. “And the only one still alive.”
“He wants to meet. Said it was important. 11:30.”
“Why does he want to meet with you?”
“Not me,” Willy said. “We.”
Max could feel himself being drawn further into the middle of something he wasn’t sure he wanted to be involved in. Actually, he knew he didn’t want to be involved. His plate was full with his family and football. It was just hard to tell Willy “no.”
“Alright, how about Feltner Brothers?” His mouth was watering just thinking about a double-cheeseburger and fries.
“Feltner Brothers?” Willy said.
“Okay then, someplace else. But I just want you to know I’ve hardly been there all summer.”
“Max, why are you talking about Feltner Brothers?”
“Didn’t you just tell me we were meeting with Dan at 11:30?” Max said. “I naturally assumed we’d be having lunch.”
“Not for lunch, Max. We’re meeting him tonight. 11:30 tonight.”
“Tonight? Why would we do that?” Max pulled his phone out and checked the time. “I’m going to be asleep by 11:30. This is a full week for me.”
“Sorry, Max, but it’s gotta be 11:30 tonight. Dan said he doesn’t want to be seen meeting in public. He was very adamant about that.”
“Are you kidding me? You are, aren’t you?” But there was no hint of a smile on Willy’s face.
Willy was quiet for a moment as he looked out on the backyard. “Whatever is going on…Dan is terrified.”
Chapter 17
The woman quietly reached for her purse, removed her phone and checked the time. It was 10:58 p.m., later than she’d realized. The man lying next to her was asleep. She caressed his face and brushed the hair from his eyes, then kissed his lips. He stirred, but didn’t wake
up. She carefully got out of bed and stretched.
The dim light from the hallway was enough to find her clothes. She didn’t dare turn the light on and wake him. It would only make it harder. She found her panties and dress and put them on. Her heels were near the door where she’d kicked them off when they entered the room. She slipped them on and immediately stood four inches taller. She didn’t bother checking her appearance in the bathroom mirror. It didn’t matter. She was going right home and didn’t plan on seeing anyone or more importantly, anyone seeing her.
She stood over him for a moment and watched the slow rhythm of his chest rising and falling with each breath. It was better that he was still sleeping, although a part of her wished they could have at least said goodbye. She’d been grateful for their relationship or whatever it was they’d had. It was, after all, never easy moving from place to place every few years and always having to start over.
He’d been a pleasant diversion during her time in Lakeside. She did think it was unfortunate his wife had discovered the affair and kicked him out of the house though. Mostly because she’d grown weary of hearing him talk about how much he missed his kids.
She looked around the room to be certain she hadn’t forgotten anything. Satisfied she hadn’t, she kissed him once more on the lips, then reached into her purse and removed the gun. She liked how it felt in her hand. After a slight hesitation, she gently pressed the barrel against his forehead.
The cold, hard steel made him stir. Slowly, he opened his eyes and smiled at her standing over him, but the smile lasted only for a moment. Then his eyes grew wide. He looked confused. Then afraid. He started to speak, but it was too late for him to stop it. She pulled the trigger. And ended their relationship.
Her ears were ringing as she used his t-shirt to wipe off the gun. As many times as she’d fired one, she’d never gotten used to how loud it was. She placed the gun in his right hand then left the room and used her hip to shut the door behind her. She climbed the stairs to the deck then stepped onto the dock. As she walked to her car, she reached into her purse again and removed one of two phones.
“9-1-1,” the operator said.
“I heard a gunshot at the Lakeside Marina,” she said, disguising her voice.
“Okay, ma’am, what’s your name?”
She smiled, said nothing and then tossed the phone into the water.
Chapter 18
Rose volunteered to stay with Michelle while Max and Willy met with Dan.
“I’m hoping we won’t be long.” Max kissed Michelle, then Carrie.
“Please be careful,” Michelle said. “I really don’t like you meeting so late at night. I don’t know why this can’t wait until tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry, Shelle. I think this guy is just being paranoid. If we’ll be later than two o’clock, I’ll text you, but don’t wait up. Try to get some sleep.”
Max and Willy shut the door behind them. “It’s really cooled off,” Willy said. “Kind of strange for this time of year.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Max said. “So you never told me where we’re going. All I know is where we’re not going. Tomorrow. For lunch. Like normal people.”
“Dan has a boat at the marina. We’re meeting him there,” Willy said.
“You can’t be serious. On a boat?” Then he said the next thing that popped into his head. “Would you, could you, on a boat?”
“What did you say?” Willy sounded confused.
“Could you, would you, with a goat?” Max replied.
“What are you talking about?”
“Never mind, Willy. But seriously, on a boat? At the marina? What are we spies or something? The only thing missing is fog.”
Willy said something under his breath that Max couldn’t quite make out. He decided to let it go. It was a fifteen-minute drive to the marina and the closer they got, the more he wished he’d brought his extra strength antacids. Willy’s silence wasn’t making him feel any better.
Max thought more than once about telling him he’d changed his mind and wanted to go back home. He had a wife and daughter to look out for. And a football season to prepare for. Running around in the middle of the night with Willy was ridiculous. As they neared the marina, he felt the point of no return slipping away.
“Hey, you missed the turn.” Max pointed to the entrance. “That was it.”
“I know,” Willy said. A moment later, he put his turn signal on and made the next left into the Lakeside Park, which was adjacent to the marina.
He figured Willy had missed the turn, but instead of turning around, he parked his truck and turned the motor off.
“What are we doing here? You said we were meeting Dan at the marina.”
From where they were parked, they had a clear view of the marina parking lot and dock or would have in the daylight. The entire area was illuminated by one dim streetlight. And the dock area, which contained dozens of boats of various sizes, was almost completely dark.
“Dan told me it would be best to park here,” Willy said.
“You conveniently left that part out.” It was dark inside the truck, so Willy couldn’t see the face Max was making, which was probably good.
“Did I?” Willy said as he opened the door and got out.
“Did I?” Max repeated not quite loud enough for Willy to hear.
The two men crossed the parking lot heading toward the marina then made their way through about a hundred feet of trees and bushes before coming out at the end of the marina the furthest from Dan’s boat. At this end of the marina, there were mostly small sailboats, a few flat bottom fishing boats with outboard motors, and about a dozen jet skis.
As they crossed the marina parking lot Willy said, “Hold on, Max, we need a contingency plan.”
“A contingency plan? What are you talking about? Why do we need a contingency plan? We’re going to talk to Dan. Then we’ll walk back to your truck. And drive back home. Preferably, not more than an hour from now.”
“I’m talking about if anything goes wrong. We need a plan.”
“I’m not sure I’m following you, Willy. We’re going to talk to Dan on his boat. What could possibly go wrong?”
“Max, how many times have one of your football game plans worked out just the way you thought it would?”
“Okay, Willy,” Max said. “Fair enough. What’s our contingency plan?”
Willy rubbed his chin and studied the marina, then looked back to his truck. “If we get split up, then…”
“Wait a minute. Split up? How would we get split up? Again, we’re just going to talk to Dan on his boat, then we’ll walk back to the park and drive home. What am I missing?”
“Humor me, Max.”
“Okay, Willy, you’re in charge. What’s the plan if we get split up?”
“We’ll meet back at my house,” Willy said. “Just make sure you’re not followed.”
“Followed? Who would be following me?”
Even in the dim light, he could see Willy staring him down. “Okay, I give up. I’ll make sure I’m not followed, then we’ll meet at your house.”
“Thank you,” Willy said. “You can’t be too careful.”
“Now let’s go see what Dan thinks is so important, so I can get home to my wife and daughter.” After a minute, Max added, “Of course, if we get split up, you realize only you have a vehicle and since you have the keys, you better be careful no one follows you. I can’t imagine how anyone would be following me.”
The two men walked in silence until they reached the stairs leading from the marina parking lot down to the boat dock. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Max said.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s getting foggy.” The breeze coming off the dark lake was bringing with it a light fog. “If I hear a foghorn, Willy, I’m turning around.”
Chapter 19
The only sounds now were their steps on the creaking dock. "I can hardly see where I'm going." Max got his phone and out and turne
d the flashlight on.
"I'm following you, so please don't fall in,” Willy said.
Max looked over his shoulder. “I’m not sure that’s such a great plan. If you’re going to follow me, you might need a contingency.” They came to the end of the dock and saw Dan’s boat, The Integrity. “Nice,” Max whispered. “How much do we pay our councilmen?”
“I think he made his money in sales,” Willy whispered.
“So now what?”
