by P. A. Glaspy
Ray whispered, “Not a real friendly place, huh?”
“Nope, but can’t say I blame them. The world has kind of gone to hell. Now there’s guys like us running around everywhere.” He grinned as he said it and Ray laughed.
“I guess you’re right. Hey, at least we got to clean up before we came in, and don’t look like homeless serial killers or something.”
“Yeah, and don’t smell like ass anymore. Well, not as bad anyway.”
Ray lifted the front of his shirt to his nose and sniffed. “Definitely less gamey.”
They followed the directions Alan had provided taking them right to the door of the sheriff’s office. Once there, they hesitated about going inside. “Man, are we sure that asshole isn’t setting us up to get busted so he can go back and steal our stuff?” Ray was worried, and it showed in his voice.
Les answered him. “I don’t see how he could. He didn’t know us or what we have until yesterday. He never left once we met them so there’s no way he could have told anybody about us.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. It’s still creeping me out though, walking into the cop shop on purpose.”
Les reached for the door and found it unlocked. “Hmm. Al said the door was locked the last time he was here. Course, according to him, that’s been a while. Let’s go find this Tim dude.”
They walked in to the dark interior of the office. They were met by a man holding a tactical shotgun. While it wasn’t pointed at them, it was in a position that could quickly be brought up for business if needed. The man addressed them immediately.
“Help you boys with something?”
Les put a smile on his face. “Yes sir, we’re looking for someone. Name’s Tim. Tim Miller. Is he around?”
The man eyed them warily. “I don’t remember seeing you fellas around here before. What business do you have with Deputy Miller?”
“A friend of his said we should look him up. So, is he here?”
“What friend?”
Les was getting annoyed at all the questions. “Um, no offense, buddy, but we really need to be talking to Tim about this, not you. If he’s not here, we’ll go and come back later.”
“You are talking to Tim Miller. What friend?”
Les stopped and took a good look at the man named Tim. He was short of stature and not muscular at all. However, he was clean and didn’t look like he’d been missing any meals. Les stuck his hand out. “Well hey there, Tim. Name’s Les. This here is my buddy, Ray. Alan sent us here looking for you. Said to tell you he wanted to talk to you.”
Tim’s eyes got big. He ignored the proffered hand. “Come outside.” They followed him out the door and to the side of the building. “Al sent you? Where is he? He’d better not come to town. The sheriff is looking for him. He’s in big trouble.”
“Yeah, he figured as much. That’s why he sent us. He’s just outside of town. Said we should bring you back with us.”
Tim was shaking his head. “No. No way! I’m not getting anywhere near Al or the rest of them. I’m done with those guys. I’ve got a sweet gig right here. As long as I protect and serve, I get a roof and food. That’s more than a lot of folks have out there. I thought about doing some shady shit early on to get as much as I could, but I’m okay with the way things are now. You just go tell Al whatever he wanted from me he ain’t gettin’.”
Les replied, “He’s gonna be pissed, ya know. What do you want me to tell him?”
Tim shrugged. “I don’t really care. Things are different for me now. I’m the senior deputy. I’ve got a gal I’m seein’. I can’t get involved in any of Al’s bullshit. Tell him that I wasn’t here. My girlfriend lives on a farm outside of town with a bunch of other folks, I could have been there. If you had shown up about ten minutes later I wouldn’t have been here, I would have been out there with her. Or you can tell him I said no. It doesn’t matter to me. Now you guys better get out of here. The sheriff don’t take kindly to strangers in town.”
Les didn’t want to go back to Alan with nothing, so he decided to try to get the information they were after. “Wait, you say your girlfriend lives on a farm outside of town with others? How many others?”
Tim hesitated. “I don’t know, like two dozen. Why? What’s it to you?”
“And is the farm kind of hid from the road?”
Now Tim was looking suspicious. “How do you know that? What the hell are you and Al up to?”
Les smiled. “Oh nothing, just a story Al told us about having a run in with some folks on a farm. We’re gonna go now. I’ll tell Al you couldn’t make it cuz you had deputy business to tend to but that you said to tell him hey. Nice to meet ya, Tim. Let’s go, Ray.”
Les and Ray hurried off with Tim staring after them. Les was almost giddy. Ray was confused. “Why the hell are you so happy, Les? He didn’t come with us. Al’s gonna be pissed.”
Les leered at him. “You’re such an idiot. That dumb ass deputy just told us what Al wanted to know. We don’t need him now. We got the information.”
“Yeah, we got that there’s two dozen people out there. That means we’re outnumbered at least two to one. Why is that good news?”
Les stopped for a moment, looked at Ray, then continued on toward their waiting crew. “We’ll worry about that later. Two dozen people! Imagine how much food they have there. And hot water! We need this place. Al was right. This one is a gold mine!”
Ray mumbled to himself. “Lotsa folks die in mines. Just sayin’.”
****
Alan watched as the two men walked back without Tim. That pussy didn’t come. He was seething by the time they got to where the vehicles were parked. “Where the hell is he? Did you tell him I wanted to talk to him?”
Les held his hands up, trying to calm Alan down. “Hold on, Al. We saw him. He had sheriff business he was having to tend to. But it’s okay, cuz he gave us the info we needed.”
Alan looked at him with disbelief. “Now, how the hell would he know what we wanted from him? Did you ask him about the place?”
Les was almost giddy. “No, man, he told us by accident. He’s messin’ with a gal who lives out there! He told us they got about two dozen people.”
Alan’s eyes lit up. “Did he say how many was grown-ups, and how many kids? Did he say what the layout of the place is?”
Les shook his head. “No, I told you it was an accident. We didn’t get no details. But we know how many, at least.”
“And you know some of them are women and kids, so that makes the numbers even better. Yeah, this is looking good, real good.” Alan’s mood was improving as the scenario played out in his head. “We need to get a little closer to town, see if we can pick up a couple more guys. Then I think we’ll be ready.”
Steve looked at him suspiciously. “Ready for what?”
Alan grinned back. “Ready to take that damn farm.”
****
Silas had complained to anyone who would listen about the ill treatment he received at the Warren place. Hanging out at Manchin’s during a rain storm, he spent the afternoon bending Doug’s ear. Most of the people he had complained to all but ignored him. Doug was a different story though. He had been shut out by everyone in town over the food hoarding after Gary released him and Kevin from jail. He was very interested in what was out there. He wanted to build up a new cache.
“They act like they’ve got some top-secret military facility out there or something,” Silas said. “It’s a farm, for God’s sake! They’ve got pigs and cows and chickens. What’s the big secret?”
“So, they wouldn’t even let you through the gate?”
“No, but they sure took my truck in to get the fuel off of it. I’m telling you they’ve got something big out there.”
“Big how?”
“I don’t know. But it sure would be interesting to find out,” Silas replied. Doug nodded in agreement.
Just then, a couple of strangers walked into the store. The men were not dirty, but not clean. Their clo
thes were tattered and they looked like they hadn’t shaved since the power went off. They looked around, eyes wide. “Wow. Y’all got a nice setup here.” The men leered at Staci at the counter. “Real nice.”
Jesse stepped in front of his wife. “How can we help you?”
“Oh, we was just passin’ through, maybe lookin’ for a new place to settle down. This seems like a right fine little town y’all got here.” He looked at the whiteboard on the wall behind the counter. “Wow, you got a nice offering of fresh meat. Y’all must be some good hunters.”
Jesse eyed the men suspiciously. “Yes, we have some very good shooters living here. Did you want to trade for some meat or canned goods there?” He motioned to the wall behind Silas and Doug. “If not, you should probably move along. The sheriff isn’t too fond of strangers being in town.”
The man smiled at him. “Well, my name’s Les and this here is my buddy Ray. Now, you tell us your names and we won’t be strangers no more.”
Jesse ignored the request. “Do you want to trade or not? If so, tell me what you want and what you have to trade for it. If not, you fellas need to move along.”
Les seemed a bit perturbed. “Ya know, you ain’t neighborly at all. Is this how you treat all your customers?”
“Unless you’re trading, you ain’t a customer.”
“With an attitude like that, I don’t believe I want to do business with y’all. We need to find our friends on the Warren farm anyway. C’mon, Ray, let’s go.”
At the mention of the Warren farm, Silas and Doug both sat up straight. Silas addressed the men. “You know Monroe Warren?”
Gotcha, thought Ray. Al was right. All he had to do was mention the name and he’d get someone’s attention. Trying not to let his excitement show, he turned to the man who had spoken. “We’re acquainted, yes. And you are?”
Ever the salesman, Silas stuck his hand out in greeting. “Silas. Silas Jones. Ray, right?”
Les shook his hand. “Les. That there is Ray. So, I guess you know the Warrens, too?”
“Of course. I know everyone in and around town. Their place is about five miles northeast of here. Nice farm.”
“Have you been out there recently? It’s been a few years for me.”
“Why yes, I was out there just a couple of days ago. It’s quite grown up now. If you didn’t know where it was, you’d miss it. But I guess that was the point.”
Les prodded the chatty man for more info. “What do you mean?”
“Well, they’re very secretive about the place now; like they won’t let anybody in, including me.” In his self-important indignation, Silas rambled on. “I’m not really sure what the big deal is, but there was plenty of activity out there, from the little bit I could see from the gate.”
“Oh yeah? Like what, milking cows, slopping the hogs?” Les elbowed Ray and they both laughed.
“I’m sure that was going on back at the barn. No, I’m talking about—”
“Silas, I’m sure these fellas need to be on their way.” Jesse interrupted Silas before he could give the men any more information. “You boys don’t want to be here when the sheriff comes around, which he does pretty much every day around this time.”
Les gave Jesse a dirty look, then smiled at Silas. “Silas and—I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name?” He directed the question to Doug.
“I didn’t throw it, but the name is Doug.”
Les chuckled. “Right. Silas and Doug, would you two like to take a walk around with us? Show us the sights, so to speak?”
Silas beamed. “Of course, it would be our pleasure. C’mon Doug. See ya later, Jesse, Staci.”
Jesse grimaced as Silas told the men their names. Les grinned at them, but there was no humor in the look. “Jesse. May we meet again.” He then turned his gaze to Staci. “I certainly hope we meet you again, pretty lady.”
Jesse pulled the shotgun he’d held at his side up so that Les could see it. “You won’t. Get out. Now.”
Les laughed as he opened the door and the four men walked out together. Staci looked at Jesse, disgust apparent on her face and in her tone. “That was gross. They were gross. Are you going to tell Sheriff Burns about those guys?”
Jesse stared daggers after the men as they walked down the street. “You bet your ass I am. Those guys are nothing but trouble, including Silas and Doug. What an idiot Silas is, telling all that about the Warren place. You don’t tell stuff like that to strangers. And then he leaves with them? God only knows what else he’ll tell them.”
Staci shook her head. “My guess is everything he knows and then some. This is bad, right?”
“Yep. I’m going to find the sheriff.”
****
Silas did indeed tell Les everything he wanted to know about the Warren farm, at least what he knew. He told them he had seen at least six men, although it could have been eight, as well as two women at the farm and another two at the Dotson place. He didn’t know anything about them having running water but he related that the people and their clothing seemed clean so it was highly possible that was true. He didn’t seem to realize Les was pumping him for information. Doug did.
“How come you’re so interested in what they’ve got out there, how many people, that kind of stuff? I thought you knew them.”
Les replied smoothly, “Not so much know as have heard about them and their set up. Seems like the place to be in a world like this.”
Silas laughed. “They wouldn’t let me in and I’ve known Monroe for years. If you don’t actually know them, there’s no way you’re getting in.”
Les just smiled. “We’ll see. It isn’t right for them to have so much when so many people are doing without.”
Doug nodded his head. “I’ve said the same thing. People should be sharing with each other so everyone has the same. That’s how neighbors are supposed to act.”
Les nodded. “Yes, it is, and that’s why we have a group of people who are willing to go out there and persuade these people to share in their bounty. Would either of you fellas be interested in joining us in this expedition?”
Silas looked skeptical, but Doug was all head bobs and grins. “Oh yeah, I would definitely be interested. Silas here has a truck that runs, too. We can help you fellas haul stuff out, if there’s stuff to haul, which I’m bettin’ there is. A lot.”
Silas glared at Doug, as if to say, What the hell, dude? but said nothing. “Awesome. Let’s get some plans made to visit these folks,” Les said.
Doug followed Les eagerly. Silas was lagging behind. Ray nudged him. “Something wrong, Silas?”
Silas shook his head. “No, no, nothing wrong. Just wondering what type of persuasion was going to be used here.”
Les turned around, walking backwards as he spoke. “We’ll start with asking. See how that goes. From there, it gets messier.”
Silas stopped in his tracks. “Messier?”
Les stopped as well, with a menacing look. “Yeah. You know, not nice. That’s how this works. We ask, then we take.”
Silas stood resolute. “I’m sorry, I can’t do that. People will get hurt.”
“Yes, they will. That’s what happens in wars,” Les said with a sneer.
“War? When did this become a war?” Silas asked incredulously.
Les turned back around and continued down the street. “When the lights went out.”
****
Jesse started for the door just as Gary was walking in. “Sheriff, I was just coming to find you. I think there’s some guys in town looking for trouble.”
“Who were they? What makes you think they’re trouble?” Gary asked.
“Their names were Les and Ray. Les was the one who did all the talking. They were looking around like they were casing the joint, including my wife. Said they were looking for a new place to settle down in. I told them they either had to trade with us or move on. Then they said something about going to find the Warren place and Silas was running off at the mouth telling them what he knew ab
out the place. They just look like bad news to me.”
Gary sighed. “When the good Lord was handing out smarts, I believe Silas thought he said farts and declined. That man just doesn’t know when to shut up.”
Staci giggled at Gary’s comment, then said, “They were really creepy, Sheriff Burns. They made my skin crawl. I’m with Jesse—they are definitely up to no good.”
“How long ago were they here? Which way did they go?”
Jesse pointed at the door. “They left about ten minutes ago, with Silas and Doug, heading away from town. There’s no telling what all those two told them. Right before those guys came in, Silas was bitching and moaning about Monroe not letting him in the place. Doug was all up in that, agreeing that they treated him bad.”
Gary had a grim look on his face. “I’m going to go see if I can catch them. Thank you for letting me know, Jesse, Staci. Stay safe. Keep that shotgun handy.”
Jesse nodded as he raised the gun slightly. “Always.”
Gary walked out the door and headed in the direction Jesse had indicated. He checked the side streets as he went but found no signs of Silas, Doug, or two men he didn’t recognize. He didn’t see them anywhere. After a couple of blocks, he said aloud, “Well, I guess I missed them. Better let Monroe and his crew know they may have some new trouble coming. And I’m talking to myself.” He laughed, then turned back to get his truck.
****
“Alright, where’s this truck of yours, Silas?” Les questioned as they turned the corner. “We can use it to go hook up with the rest of crew outside of town. Save us the walk.”
“It’s, um, just up the street there at my dealership. I have a nice couch in my office. Sometimes I sleep there just to keep an eye on things, then walk to Manchin’s to save on gas. But, if it’s all the same to you fellas, I believe I’ll bow out of this excursion. I appreciate you wanting to include me, but I don’t think this is something I can do.”
Les stopped, put his hands to the small of his back and arched his back, creating a series of pops and cracks as the vertebrae realigned, then pulled a pistol from the waistband of his pants. Pointing it at Silas, he calmly replied, “Sorry, Silas, but you can’t opt out of this gig. You know too much so either you’re in or you’re out—for good. Like dead. You feel me?”
