by Robert Boren
“Katie?” Robbie asked as he logged onto the laptop.
“Yeah,” Steve said. “Funny how this mess has improved our love lives.”
“I would have gotten you eventually,” Colleen said. “I was on the verge of going after you.”
“Sorry I was so clueless,” he said with a sheepish grin.
“Is Gil still down there?” Robbie asked.
“Yeah, and he’s mad as a hornet,” Steve said.
“Why?”
“Remember that job he quit a few weeks ago? They called him. Said he’d better report for work, or they’d report him to the governing authorities.”
“What?” Robbie asked. “Seriously?”
“Yeah,” Steve said.
“I’m waiting to get a call like that,” Colleen said, worried look on her face.
“Did you hate your last job?” Robbie asked.
“Not really,” she said. “School just got real busy and I needed the time.”
“Then why are you worried? School is still closed, right?”
“The semester ended,” Colleen said. “I was going to find another job when all of this madness started up.”
“So why not just go back to the old job, if you didn’t hate it?” Robbie asked.
“The creep that was holding her captive knows about that job,” Steve said. “I told her to call the police and tell them about that, just in case.”
“Probably a good idea,” Robbie said. “I’m going to start writing now.”
“We’re going back downstairs,” Steve said. He and Colleen took their cups of coffee and left the kitchen.
Robbie read the last couple chapters he finished, doing a quick edit, but his mind was wandering. He went to his browser and searched on work requirement under martial law, his eyes getting wide as a whole page of links showed up. He clicked on the first one, which led to a message board with over a thousand responses.
“Holy crap,” Robbie said, scanning the messages. “Everybody’s getting called back.” He couldn’t tear himself away from the boards, time ticking away.
Morgan walked out, wearing one of his mom’s robes with a towel wrapped around her hair. “You writing?”
He looked at her and chuckled. “Got sidetracked, after talking to Steve and Colleen.”
“Uh oh, what’s up?”
“Gil got called back into the job he quit a few weeks ago,” Robbie said. “They told him if he didn’t report to work today, they’d tell the governing authority.”
“Oh crap,” Morgan said. “You’re kidding.”
“It’s going on in all the areas where Sable declared martial law, and people are pissed. Some are vowing to resist.”
Morgan pulled up a chair next to him. “This is scary.”
“Colleen is worried,” Robbie said. “That creep that was holding her hostage knows where her last job was.”
“She quit?”
“Yeah, to make more time for school last semester,” Robbie said.
“What’s Gil going to do?”
“Don’t know,” Robbie said. “He hasn’t been up here yet.”
“Coffee?” Morgan asked.
“Sure, I’ll take a cup. Sumatra, if we have any more of that.”
“I’ll check,” she said, getting up.
“I’d better get to work,” Robbie said. “Wasted enough time. I could mess around on the message boards all day.”
“Found a Sumatra,” she said, putting the pod into the coffee machine and setting a cup under the spout. She hit the button and walked over, touching Robbie’s hair. “Don’t get too riled up.”
“I won’t,” he said. “I’m gonna be worried about you when you’re gone. There aren’t creeps working at the card club, I hope.”
“No,” she said, “and the boss is very protective of us. Especially the women. I’ll be fine, as long as I get there and back okay.”
Gil trudged up the stairs as Morgan made her cup of coffee.
“I heard what happened,” Robbie said.
“Bastards,” Gil said. “I hated that job. Wonder what’ll happen if I refuse to go back there?”
“I’d wait and see,” Robbie said. “The work requirement is only starting today. People who resist are liable to end up in jail. There’s also supposed to be a review board where people can attempt to change their situation. It’s part of the governing authority.”
Gil sighed. “Dammit. This really sucks, man.”
“What kind of job is it?” Morgan asked.
“Small factory,” Gil said. “They make stuff for cement walls and fences. Metal inserts you can screw bolts into, mainly.”
“Why’d you leave?” Morgan asked.
“Because they won’t promote Mexicans,” Gil said. “Pisses me off. I worked hard for a long time and got nowhere, while lessor employees went up the ladder fast.”
“That’s not good,” Morgan said.
“Just be careful,” Robbie said. “Stick it out until you can work with the review board to get a different job.”
“I’ll try,” he said. “Really makes me mad, though.”
“I know,” Robbie said. “Don’t blame you.”
“Justin never came home last night,” Gil said. “Think the little weasel scored?”
Morgan giggled. “Hey, I’m in here.”
Gil laughed. “Sorry.”
Robbie grinned. “If he did, it was because Katie pushed it.”
“Think he’ll be bringing her back here?” Morgan asked.
“Good question,” Gil said. “We might be able to go back to our homes, if the martial law really settles things down.”
Morgan shot a glance to Robbie. “We can’t. Ours burned down, remember?”
“Yeah,” Robbie said. “That’s okay, we can live here as long as we want.”
“I’m gonna go watch a little news,” Gil said.
Robbie nodded. Morgan got next to him and whispered. “You think he’s gonna go along?”
Robbie leaned back in his chair, then looked at her. “Yeah, he will, but he won’t be happy about it.”
“Hey, guys, check this out!” Gil said.
“What?” Robbie replied, getting up.
“Big attack in Poway,” he said. “Look!”
Robbie and Morgan came out and sat next to each other on the couch, watching the fire-fight on live video.
“My God, look how many Islamists there are,” Morgan said.
“Why would they attack in Poway?” Gil asked.
“I’ll bet they’re trying to cut San Diego off from the rest of the state,” Robbie said. “They want to bottle up the military that’s there.”
The commentator came on.
“We just got this cellphone video from a resident of Poway, California. A large force of Islamist fighters attacked this morning, killing many people on the outskirts of town and taking hostages. Poway has a small police force, and there’s no National Guard in the area.”
“Oh my God, those poor people,” Morgan said.
Gil chuckled. “There’s a lot of rednecks in Poway. They’d better watch out.”
“Really? How do you know that?” Robbie asked.
“My uncle lived there until he passed. If the Islamists haven’t taken care of them in a hurry, they might not have as easy a time as they think.”
“Interesting,” Robbie said.
“Look, chopper video,” Gil said, pointing to the screen.
“There are people fighting back,” Morgan said. “Look, on the rooftops, shooting down at the Islamist soldiers.”
“Yes!” Gil said. “Told you.”
“They better be careful with that news chopper,” Robbie said. “It’s liable to get shot down.”
The commentator was back on.
“We are getting reports that armed citizens are rushing into the streets and engaging the enemy fighters, alongside the police department. This will be a bloody battle. It’s estimated that there are as many as fifteen thousand Islamist fighters in th
e area.”
“Where the hell are they getting that many men?” Gil asked. “This looks as bad as what’s been going on in Texas.”
“Seriously,” Robbie said.
Suddenly the screen went dark, and then came back up with a much lower-resolution picture. There were about twenty people on their hands and knees in a row. An Islamist’s face came into view.
“Did they just hijack the TV feed?” Morgan asked, eyes wide.
“He’s gonna talk,” Gil said.
“The infidels of California will surrender and submit, or suffer the fate you are about to witness.”
The man nodded to the right, and the camera moved over, showing several men in Islamist garb with swords. They approached the citizens.
“I can’t watch this,” Morgan said, running into the bedroom. Gil picked up the remote and turned off the TV.
“I can’t watch that either,” Gil said. “Bastards. We’re gonna get those assholes.”
Robbie nodded, shocked look on his face. He followed Morgan into the bedroom. She was lying face down on the bed sobbing. He got next to her, petting her back.
“They can’t pull that here in the South Bay,” Robbie said.
She turned to him. “Are you sure?”
“We have National Guard all over the place. They’d have a huge fight on their hands before they could try anything like that. Trust me.”
“I hate this. I wish we could leave. I wish there was some place to go.”
“Me too, honey,” Robbie said, laying against her. “Me too.”
Robbie’s phone dinged with a text message. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked. It was Justin. The message read You seeing this, bro?
“Justin,” Robbie said. He hit his contact and put the phone to his ear. It rang twice, and Justin picked up.
“Can you believe this crap?” Justin asked. “We didn’t get the TV turned off fast enough. I’m trying to forget what I saw. It was really bad.”
“We got it turned off in time,” Robbie said. “Where are you?”
“With Katie in Hermosa,” he said. “I might not be coming back there. I might stay here with her.”
“Whatever you want to do, man,” Robbie said. “I take it things went well.”
“Yeah, Steve wasn’t lying to me. She’s been interested in me for a while. Boy am I dumb sometimes.”
“Aren’t we all,” Robbie said. “You’re going back to work, right?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Kind of glad, actually. I want to feel more normal.”
“How about Katie?”
“She doesn’t have a job right now,” he said. “She was too busy with grad school.”
“Same thing with Colleen,” Robbie said. “You hear what happened to Gil?”
There was silence on the line for a moment. “Oh no, what happened?”
“Relax, he’s okay. He’s being forced back into the job he quit a few weeks ago.”
“Really? They can do that?”
“Apparently so,” Robbie said. “He’s not happy about it.”
“Yeah, he said the owner was racist,” Justin said. “What’s he gonna do?”
“I talked him into complying until he can appeal it. There’s going to be a review board.”
“Interesting,” Justin said. “Katie’s back. I gotta go.”
“All right. Enjoy Katie, and watch your back.”
“You be careful too,” he said.
Robbie ended the call and set his phone down.
“Everything okay?” Morgan asked.
“Yeah, he’s fine,” Robbie said. “Sounds like things went well between him and Katie.”
“He’s staying there, isn’t he?”
“Yep. We might have this place to ourselves before too long.”
“I could live with that,” Morgan said. “Sorry I threw a fit.”
“Are you kidding me? We turned off the TV before it started. Unfortunately, Justin wasn’t quick enough.”
“He saw some of it, huh?”
“Yeah,” Robbie said. “Hope Katie didn’t see it.”
“So what now?”
“I’m gonna go back to my writing, and try to stay off the message boards,” he said.
“Okay. You mind if I set up my laptop on the other end of the table? I won’t bother you.”
“Sure, no problem,” he said.
“Thanks. I just want to be where I can see you.” She reached for him and kissed him passionately.
“You’re not making this easy,” Robbie said, smiling at her.
“Run along and write well,” she said.
***
“You guys sure you want to leave?” Ji-Ho asked. “You can stay here as long as you want.
Seth smiled at him as Emma got into the 4Runner. “Emma’s parents want her home for a while, and I need to get back home too.”
“Be careful,” Ji-Ho said. “Remember what I say about martial law and UN.”
“We will,” Seth said. “Thanks for everything. Hopefully I’ll see you again soon.”
“Yes, I hope,” he said.
Seth got behind the wheel. “You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” she said, “but what he said made me pretty nervous.”
“I know, me too,” Seth said. He started the engine and backed out of the huge driveway, then headed towards Torrance.
“The streets are almost empty,” Emma said, looking around. “I thought there would be more people around now that things are settled down.”
“I’m not surprised,” Seth said. “We’ll see more people when we get down to Pacific Coast Highway. They’re probably stopping people on the way up the hill if they aren’t residents, and it’s not that dense up here.”
“Oh,” she said.
“We might see a few more people on this road,” Seth said as he turned left on Palos Verdes Drive West. He sped up when they got to the four-lane divided road. “Yeah, see? Other cars.”
“Thank God,” Emma said. “You won’t have to work tonight, will you?”
“No,” Seth said. “My boss said tomorrow night.”
“Good, maybe we can see each other, then.”
“At your place?” Seth asked.
“Pick me up at my parent’s house and take me there, okay? I’d rather not drive there alone at night.”
“You need to stop by there first?” Seth asked.
“No, I’m okay, and we’re already late. You taking Calle Mayor?”
“I was just gonna take Palos Verdes Boulevard to PCH.”
“Calle Mayor is faster,” she said.
“Okay,” Seth said. He turned right and followed it to PCH. “Look. Checkpoint.”
“Oh, great,” Emma said, gripping the sides of the seat.
“Don’t act nervous,” Seth said.
“How can I not, after what Ji-Ho said, and after you guys took pot shots at those boats?”
Seth shot her a worried glance as he pulled up to the officers. There was a blue and white van parked nearby which said UN on the side. Two peacekeepers in uniform walked up, holding assault rifles.
“Driver’s licenses, please,” said the first man with a German accent.
“Both of us?” Emma asked.
“Yes, please,” the man said. The other peacekeeper was looking in the passenger side window.
Seth took Emma’s license from her hand, then got his out and gave them both to the peacekeeper.
“Do you have any weapons?” he asked.
“No,” Seth said, trying not to look nervous.
The second officer looked hard at Emma, then said something in German to the first officer. Both of them snickered.
“Okay, everything is in order,” the first peacekeeper said. “Where are you going?”
“I’m taking her to her parent’s house,” Seth said. “Then I’m going home.”
“See that you do that,” the first man said. “Do you have employment?”
“I do,” Seth said. “I work tomorr
ow.”
“And the lady?”
“She doesn’t have a job right now.”
“Everybody will be given jobs,” the peacekeeper said.
Emma looked nervously at Seth. The peacekeeper on the passenger side muttered something in German again.
“Can we go, please?” Seth asked. “We’re already late. Her parents are worried.”
“Yes, of course,” the first peacekeeper said. “Take care. We’ll probably see you again. Good day.” He handed both driver’s licenses back to Seth and moved away from the car.
Seth drove away, taking a deep breath.
“We have to live with that every day?” Emma asked, face flushed.
“This is really bad. I know what they said in German.”
“You actually learned something in German class?” Emma teased. “I thought you just messed around with Angel in that class.”
“I know enough to get the gist,” Seth said.
“What’d they say?”
“The first comment was something like look at the hot chick. ”
“Oh no,” Emma said. “Dammit. Was Ji-Ho right about them?”
“Don’t be alone with one or two of them, like he said. I mean it.”
“I don’t plan to,” she said. “Trust me. What did they say the second time?”
Seth looked at her. “Something like I’ve got a job for her.”
“Oh,” Emma said. “What if I have to drive myself to work?”
“We’ll figure something out,” Seth said. “Maybe you ought to move back to your parent’s house, and have one of them take you if you get a job. When I can’t, that is.”
“I really don’t want to do that,” she said. “I left for a reason. We’ll see.”
Chapter 6 – The Noose Tightens
Commissioner Frawley couldn’t sleep. He lay on his hard cot, staring at the stained ceiling of the cell in the abandoned prison. There was a clank from down the hall, and whispering voices. Footsteps approached. Frawley got off his cot and shook Katz and Cooley.
“Whaaa…” Cooley murmured.
“We’ve got company,” Frawley whispered.
“Hear them,” Katz whispered back.
Suddenly a flashlight beam hit lit the cell.
“Good evening,” Chief Smith said. “Sorry to wake you. We had to come late.”
A key went into the lock on the bars, and it creaked open. Chief Smith came in with a rail-thin man wearing a hoodie, then set his flashlight on the floor, pointing up to the ceiling, bathing the cell in dim light.
