Russell stood just outside of the living room watching the two of them. It wasn’t his place to interject his thoughts on the matter. His main and only concern was getting back to Sarah. If they tapped him for his thoughts, he’d fill them in. Other than that, it was their business to handle.
Cathy stood from her chair. Her palms rested on her hips as she shot Russell a quick glance. “Let’s go ahead and get ready to leave since we’re stopping by the sheriff’s office. Hopefully, they won’t be too tied up with this blackout.”
“Sounds good,” Thomas said relieved. “I think getting the process going will help out a bunch. Let me grab a few things, and we’ll be on our way.”
Butch flanked Thomas as he walked around the couch and past Russell. He gave a simple nod as he disappeared down the dark hallway that led to his bedroom at the other end of the cabin.
“I can’t believe that dirt bag is bothering Thomas as well,” Cathy mumbled.
“Why does he want Thomas’s place as well?” Russell inquired.
“Control. Power. His family never owned any portion of Thomas’s land, but it seems like he’s making a play for it, regardless. There have been talks of possible commercial development, but not sure what that would entail. All I know is that we’re not leaving. Even with what happened to my place, I’ll rebuild. It’s still my land, and that piece of crap isn’t going to get it. Ever.”
“This Marcus Wright seems like a real peach. I’m surprised the authorities have allowed him to continue harassing everyone.”
Cathy rubbed Max’s head. A scowl formed on her face for a split second before she shook the disgruntled expression away. “I think the sheriff is in his back pocket. With this being such a small town with limited income potential versus’ the bigger cities, some jump at the chance to get that money. He has the funds to pay off whoever he needs to and do what he wants. That, and he employs a lot of the towns people since he owns a majority of the businesses. Most of the people who live around here aren’t wealthy and depend on those jobs. They turn a blind eye, and keep their noses out of his business to avoid his wrath. I don’t do that since I’m not under his thumb, and that makes me a prime target. It’s all about control at the end of the day.”
Russell nodded, remembering her saying as much about the sheriff. A crooked cop was the last thing they needed. He hoped she was overexaggerating and that wasn’t the case.
Thomas walked up the hallway with Butch at his side. A rifle was draped over one shoulder and a dark green pack over the other. The limp he had the night before had all but vanished. “Are we ready to go?”
Cathy noticed the gear he was hauling. She gave him a puzzled stare. “What’s with the rifle and bug out bag?”
He dropped the rucksack to the floor which hit with a heavy thud.
“It’s for Russell. Figured he could use it while you’re on the road. Who knows what things are like out there? I’ve got another one stowed away I can use if I need to.” Thomas glanced at the rifle. “This is just in case we run into trouble. Better to be safe than sorry, right?”
“Hopefully, we won’t need them,” Cathy said. “But, if they try anything again, I won’t hesitate to drop them where they stand.”
Thomas nodded in agreement.
Russell was a bit out of his depth with what was happening. He was just a city boy who had somehow been thrust into the middle of an escalating ordeal that wasn’t getting any better. Still, he had their backs and would do what was needed to get home.
Cathy grabbed her gear and rifle from behind the chair she was standing next to. She lugged the pack onto her shoulder and moved toward the front door.
Max followed as Russell stepped out of their way.
“You should be good to go.” Thomas nudged the rucksack with his boot. “It’s got most of your basic essentials. Flashlight, batteries, rope, first aid kit, etc.”
Russell retrieved the bag from the floor. It was heavy, but not too bad. He slung the gear over his shoulder, then nodded. “I appreciate it.”
“It’s not a problem. Happy to help out.” Thomas looked past him to the entrance of the cabin. “What is it?”
Russell stepped to the side and noticed Cathy standing in the doorway. She was frozen in place. Her head moved from side to side as if she had spotted something.
Max growled beside her, his rigid stance confirming that danger was lurking beyond the walls of the cabin.
“Max, back.” Cathy retreated into the cabin along with Max. She pulled the door to, leaving it cracked just enough to look outside. She dropped the bag to the floor, then slipped the rifle free of her arm. “I spotted movement in the trees and it wasn’t an animal. We’ve got company.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
SARAH
Rick’s thick-soled boots hammered the concrete at a good clip. Sarah stayed a few paces behind for fear of being left in the lurch.
They had attracted unwanted attention a block back from an SUV that rolled through the lightless intersection. It slowed to a crawl as they hoofed it down the sidewalk. A voice shouted at their backs from the vehicle.
“What do they want?” Sarah asked through panted breath.
“Don’t know. Don’t care. Keep moving and don’t stop. We’re almost there.” Rick’s voice was strained from breathing heavily as he kept his focus dead ahead.
Sarah peered over her shoulder, searching for the trolling stark white SUV. She couldn’t lay eyes on it which worried her.
Rick’s head moved on a swivel, checking each building and car they passed. The Glock remained nestled within the waistband of his jeans, as did hers, for now.
He slowed his pace and dipped behind the corner of a building.
Sarah fell in line behind Rick and hit the ground. She deflated against the brick wall. Her shoulders sagged with exhaustion. The lack of proper sleep, fluids, and a decent meal was taking its toll and her body was fighting to keep up.
Rick toed the edge of the building with his back flush against the wall. He leaned to the side and peered out to the street. “I don’t see them. Looks like they might have moved on.”
Thank God. Sarah’s lungs burned, as did her legs. A cramp fixed in her side as she pressed her palm to her ribs. “If I’d known the end of the world was going to happen, I would’ve worn different shoes and clothes.”
“Yeah, well, hindsight is 20/20, isn’t it?” Rick countered. “Those people in that SUV could’ve been all right, but I wouldn’t take the chance. You just never know what people are going to do. That’s me, though.”
Sarah hated to think like that, but it was a mixed bag for her. Most of what she had witnessed proved his point.
The crumbling of society had hit its stride and it showed no signs of faltering anytime soon.
“So, where are we going?” she posed. “I’m assuming you have some sort of vehicle, right?”
Rick brushed the back of his hand across his moist brow, then flicked his wrist. “Yeah. My car’s in the shop down on the corner. It’s been ready for a bit, but I haven’t had the cash to get it out.”
Sarah glanced down the street to the painted white building on the corner. The large, unlit sign in the parking lot looked rusted and faded. It was hard to read from where she was. “So, you’ve got the money now to get it out?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then how do you plan on us getting it?”
“I know the guy who owns it. He owes me a favor for doing some P.I. work on his ex-wife some years back. I cut him a deal for the job. He said he’d hook me up when I needed it.”
“Did that entail doing the work for free?”
“Probably not, but we’ll hash that out when we get there. Come on.”
Rick and Sarah bolted from the cover of the building to the row of cars that lined the street. They kept low to the ground and out of sight.
He craned his neck, and peered over the sedan they were hunched next to, searching for the white SUV or any surly types who might be lurking
in the area.
Sarah surveyed the sidewalk, making sure they weren’t being stalked.
Rick tapped her shoulder, then nodded. “Looks clear from here.”
He skirted around the bumper of the sedan to the gap between the truck that was parked behind the car. A moment of hesitation was all that was given before Rick stood up.
They darted across the street to the sidewalk and kept moving in the direction of the garage.
The buildings they passed hadn’t suffered any looting or other damage. Doors were shut and windows intact. For now, they had been spared.
The hint of smoke hadn’t waned. The sky remained murky and painted with strokes of dark gray. It looked similar to when a thunderstorm was rolling in, but thunder couldn’t be heard.
Rick paused before passing each alley or nook between the buildings. He scoped them out with a quick glance, then moved on.
Brick gave way to a wall of chain link fencing that ran to the edge of the garage. Coiled barbed wire was fastened to the top of the fence.
Scores of cars littered the yard. Some looked in decent condition while others were spotted in rust and sat on tireless rims.
A large lock with a thick steel chain was looped around the two sections of the gates. Rick grabbed the lock and tugged as he looked over the sea of metal.
It didn’t budge. The chain rattled and struck the stranded steel wire and poles of the gate.
“Must be inside still.” He let go of the lock and turned toward the garage.
They ran down the remaining length of the fence and stopped at the corner of the white concrete structure.
Sarah checked their six. They were still in the clear with no movement detected on the street or from the buildings across from them.
Rick peered from the edge of the garage, then slid down the front of the business. The large windows within the roll up doors had a black film over them. A few spots within the glass were free of the dark tint.
He leaned in close, with his hand above his brow, checking all three stalls as he moved down to the entrance of the building. “There it is.”
“Is there anyone inside?”
Rick shook his head. “Not that I can see. It’s pretty dark inside. I was only able to spot my car by the shred of light that’s hitting the license plate.”
The grumbling of an engine stirred down the street.
Sarah turned and searched for the vehicle. The white SUV sprung to mind as she stepped away from the garage. She trained her ear, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from.
Rick grabbed Sarah by the arm and pulled her toward the main entrance. He peered through the grime-coated glass to the dark office.
He grabbed the silver handle and pulled. It opened with little effort, and they funneled into the building. They took cover behind the wall near the entrance.
“You see who it is?” Sarah inquired.
Rick reached up and locked the door. “Not yet.”
He watched the parking lot, craning his neck as he searched for the vehicle.
Sarah skimmed over the waiting area of the shop. It was empty, which was odd considering that the door was unlocked. She didn’t detect any movement or voices from the ether.
The large counter in front of them ran the width of the space. A single door in the corner led out into the shop. There were a few offices along the wall that were dark with the blinds closed. “Doesn’t seem like your friend is here, much less anyone else.”
Rick stood and backed away from the entrance. “Allen probably went home to his kid. Not sure why he didn’t lock up, though. I can’t imagine him not doing that.”
Sarah skimmed over the papers that carpeted the tile floor. “Unless your friend is always this messy, someone could’ve broken into his shop and trashed the place.”
Rick skimmed over the disheveled mess. His boots kicked up the loose papers as he sighed, then said, “Looks like it. Every time I’ve stopped by, his shop was always immaculate. Well, as clean as one can be for an automotive repair shop. I know he has some guys who are pretty messy, though. At least, that’s what he has told me.”
A black sedan barreled through the parking lot and came to a screeching halt near the entrance. Rick pointed to the counter as he drew his Glock.
Sarah bolted for the gap on the far side of the office. Her feet plowed through the papers on the floor as she skirted the edge of the counter.
The palm of her hand slid over the top as quick breaths escaped her lips. A dark figure laid prone on its side on the floor. Both arms were stretched out toward the wall and bound together.
A panicked scream boomed from Sarah’s mouth, and she clapped her hand over her lips.
“What’s wrong?” Rick inquired as he chambered a round. He glanced over to Sarah who stood frozen in place.
“There’s a body over here,” Sarah muttered.
“A what?” Rick countered. “Did you say a body?”
Sarah nodded as she took a step back.
The car out front killed the engine.
Rick peered through the glass door, then back to Sarah. “Are they alive?”
“I don’t know. He’s either dead or unconscious because he’s not moving.” Sarah nudged the bearded man’s boot with her shoe. He didn’t move or flinch from the contact.
“Shit,” Rick groused under his breath.
“Yeah. I know. Someone for sure messed this guy up. I hope he’s not dead.”
Rick retreated to the far side of the counter where Sarah was. “We’ve got four guys out there standing around. I don’t think they’re friendlies.” He hovered over her shoulder, and stared at the body.
“What makes you think that?” Sarah shot him a concerned glance as he squinted and leaned forward.
“You can just tell with some people. I’ve been around enough low life’s and degenerates to know when trouble is lurking. Those four goons out there aren’t anything we want to be a part of.” Rick shuffled Sarah to the side and got a closer look at the body. “Can’t be sure, but it looks like one of Allen’s employees. Bill or Bobby or something like that. I only met him briefly.”
A shadow from outside played over the wall near the entrance to the shop. Both Sarah and Rick dropped to the floor in a blink. He shushed her in a low tone as they crouched in the darkness.
The door to the entrance of the building rattled. Rick held the Glock firm in his grasp as he stood up. He peered over the counter as Sarah wrestled the Glock from the waistband of her trousers.
“Allen. You in there, bud?” an agitated voice beckoned. Fists pounded the glass door hard enough to rattle Sarah. She flinched with each strike. “We stopped by earlier to catch up. Spoke with one of your employees, who wasn’t too helpful. Your extensions have run out and Kinnerk wants his money in full. It’s past time to pay up on your debt.”
“Sounds like your friend, Allen, is in deep with the wrong people,” Sarah observed. “Which means, now we are for just being here.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
RUSSELL
Russell spotted flashes of movement through the blinds covering the front windows of the cabin. He counted at least three men shuffling for cover. It was hard to tell if they were armed or not. Considering their covert tactics, it was safe to assume so.
“Company?” Thomas parroted. “Mr. Wright’s men?”
Cathy cracked the door open a hair more, then craned her neck. “That’s what I’m thinking. Not sure who else would be skulking in the woods around your property. Maybe they’re coming to finish what they started at my place. Marcus knows we’re friends. That, or he could be coming after you. Who knows?”
Max lowered to the floor in a crouched posture. His ears folded back onto his head. The hairs along his spine stood on end as he growled.
Butch acted much the same way. The dogs were spooked and didn’t care for the trespassers.
“You got another way out of here?” Russell probed. The last thing he was looking to do was get into another altercati
on.
Thomas clutched his rifle tighter. His boney fingers turned a milky white as his long, distant gaze loomed out through the windows.
Russell couldn’t tell what was going on inside his head, or what he was contemplating.
“Uh, yeah.” Thomas turned and looked away from the window, then pointed down the hallway. “There’s a way out through the laundry room that leads to the car port where my Explorer is parked.”
“I say we slip through the laundry room. Load up in the Explorer, and get the hell out of here before the shit hits the fan,” Russell suggested.
Cathy moved the barrel of her rifle through the gap between the door and jamb. It was tilted up toward the sky.
A single round fired off.
The dogs held their ground and kept their defensive stance.
“That’s far enough,” Cathy shouted with a hoarse growl. “If you value your lives, don’t come any closer.”
Russell watched as she kept her rifle in view of the men beyond the walls. Her finger hugged the trigger as she peered around the jamb of the door.
“Here. Take this.” Thomas pressed a pistol against Russell’s chest. “It’s already got a round chambered and the magazine is stocked.”
Russell dipped his chin, then took the dark-gray pistol. The cool steel grip fit in the palm of his hand nicely.
“You know how to use one of those, right?” Thomas inquired.
“Yeah.” He wasn’t looking to fire the pistol unless he had to. Killing someone wasn’t on his list of things to accomplish that day. It was viewed as more of a deterrent than anything else. If it had to be done to protect himself, or the lives of others, so be it, but that wasn’t the goal.
“They’re not backing down,” Cathy advised. “I can still see them out there moving within the trees and bushes. Looks like they might be trying to box us in.” She glanced back to both Russell and Thomas who stood at the ready with their weapons fixed in their hands.
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