by Mark Tufo
“So, yeah, that, umm, does bring me to something else I need to take care of here,” Ekers said cryptically.
“That would be?” Harry responded after almost two full minutes of dead air over the radio.
“As you already know, the nation is under martial law,” Ekers began again. “However, it is pretty clear by what we’ve seen and heard that everybody is really on their own. Therefore, I am issuing an emergency departmental directive that reinstates you, Harold Lancaster, as a full- time sworn police officer for the City and County of San Francisco, effective immediately. Do you copy that, Harry?”
22
Harry stared at the radio mic as if it were a radioactive alien artifact that had just fallen from the sky and into his hands. He was, however, finally able to torpidly say through that radioactive artifact, “Copy …”
Ekers then said with evident relish, “There’s one more thing, but before I lay that on you I am ordering both Officers Washington and Lewis, I know you guys can hear me, to take all action necessary in preventing Lancaster from shooting the radio with what I have to say next. That includes handcuffing him if necessary, gentlemen. Now then, Harry, in addition to being reinstated to full-time status, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and ordered to oversee all field operations such as they are right now.”
Harry lost it with that announcement. “ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND GREG? I’M TOO OLD FOR THIS SHIT AND YOU KNOW IT! THIS ISN’T THE DAMN ARMY! YOU CAN’T JUST DRAFT ME FOR CHRISSAKE!” he bellowed into the mic. What followed was a ‘hot and heavy, spit flying, all in your face ass chewing’ directed at Chief Greg Ekers, albeit delivered over the radio. It would have made Harry’s old FTO, Shane O’Connor, immensely proud.
“Harry, let go of the mic,” Derrick said, reaching over Harry’s shoulder and trying to pry his friend’s hands from the small piece of plastic that was in imminent danger of imploding from the death grip that had been placed upon it.
“You better get that away from him before he breaks it or blows out the circuits,” Frank urged, but made no attempt to assist Derrick.
“I’m working on it here, Rook. Harry, damn it, LET GO OF THE MIC!” Derrick yelled.
Harry kept his harangue flowing until Derrick decided to take drastic action. Leaning forward and bringing his face close to Harry’s, he licked him; licked him from jaw to hairline.
Instantaneously snapping out of his one-sided scream fest, Harry turned to Derrick with a shocked expression. “What the hell, Derry! Did you just lick me! DID YOU JUST LICK MY DAMN FACE?” At that Harry let the mic drop to the floor, opened the passenger side door and jumped out, vigorously rubbing the side of his face with the sleeve of his jump. Derrick moved into the passenger seat and hurriedly closed the door, engaging the lock.
Harry was now directing his full ire on Derrick, attempting to establish a logical reason for this last course of action. “Listen you big ox, open that damn door ‘cause I am going to kick your ass all over this garage! You LICKED ME!” Harry was shouting but it was muffled because of the armor and bullet-resistant glass.
“Wasn’t he going to kiss you not too long ago?” Frank asked, looking past Derrick to Harry who was still articulating his immense displeasure.
“Yeah, he said it again when he saw all the stuff we loaded in the Bearcat, too. Even said he’d use tongue. But older folks who miss their afternoon naps can get a bit cranky,” Derrick answered.
“Well, guess we don’t have to wait for your ‘bar or better’ now,” Frank said, continuing to watch Harry’s antics.
“Nope, we’re good now,” Derrick replied.
Harry walked over to the Bearcat and yelled again, “Get out of the damn truck!” With that he pounded on the up-armored door twice, very hard, using the side of a closed fist. His next action was to immediately step back, look at his hand like it was yet another alien artifact, then cradle it as if said artifact was a very delicate item.
“Bet that hurt,” Frank commented.
“Sure looked like it did,” Derrick said.
“Think he’ll try to shoot you through the door?” Frank asked.
“I don’t think so, but what’s the rating on this glass again?” Derrick replied with amusement.
“Harry, are you there?” Chief Ekers’ voice came over the radio.
Picking up the mic, Derrick said, “Chief, it’s Washington. Umm, Harry seems to be having some transitional issues with his recent promotion at the moment.”
“Yeah, I’ll just bet he is, Derrick,” the chief replied with a chuckle. “Please inform Lieutenant Lancaster to grab his balls, suck it up, and get back on the damn radio.”
“Yes sir. Stand by one,” Derrick replied.
By this time Harry had ceased his rant and was staring fixedly at Derrick. Unlocking the door and opening it just enough to be heard, Derrick said, “You okay now Harry? The chief wants to talk to you.” It was taking everything he had to keep from falling out of the door with laughter.
“I. Am. Fine,” Harry replied, emphasizing each word.
Swinging the door open fully as Harry approached, and before Harry could say anything, Derrick said into the mic, “Chief, Lieutenant Lancaster is right here, just a moment.” With that, he pushed the mic toward Harry.
Grabbing the mic, Harry said, “Don’t think you’re getting off that easily, Officer Washington. Payback’s a nasty bitch and I just happen to know she has been having very bad days here recently.” Derrick groaned, realizing he was waist deep in fecal matter, but still could not wipe the grin from his face.
“Go ahead Greg, I’m listening,” Harry said sarcastically into the mic, still glaring at Derrick.
“Harry, I know you would rather walk over hot coals than accept what I’ve just laid on you, but we need you to step up. Out of our original twenty-two hundred officers and command staff, I might be lucky to have two to three hundred left, and we can’t even confirm that count.” Harry was stunned at that information. He knew it had to be bad for the department after what he had seen on the televised broadcasts, but he had not realized just how bad until that moment.
Ekers continued. “Most of the ones we can confirm alive are barricaded in one of the stations, at City Hall, DEM, or anywhere else they could secure themselves. There are probably others, but right now you are the only unit that even remotely has the chance of being mobile. I need you to do what you can out there. Once you get set up somewhere we’ll work out a plan to find the rest of our people and see what we can do for the City.”
“What about the fires?” Harry asked, realizing that further resistance served no purpose other than to vent his own angst. Personal feelings were just not high in the greater scheme of things, and he felt a bit of embarrassment at his initial reaction.
“It appears they are burning themselves out,” Ekers replied. “The fire chief is here and she thinks because of the new building codes and the lack of heavy winds to aid the spread, we just might have a City to reclaim. Although I have no idea what we will have left to reclaim other than buildings. Anyway, it’s a good thing because we have also been unable to contact any SFFD personnel. Other than a few personnel here with us, every fire station has gone silent.”
Harry had lowered his head and was leaning against the door with one foot on the side running board. “Okay Chief, copy that. At least some sort of good news I guess. I’ll do what I can, for now, but I am not guaranteeing anything past some sort of resolution to this mess or until someone else can take over out here.”
Although Harry would not simply abandon the City or his friends, he had already decided that he was going to head east once he had the chance. His family was in Indiana and he was determined to reunite with them. His fifteen-year-old nephew, Eric, had been able to get an email out several days after the outbreak, letting Harry know that they were being relocated to a safe zone. Eric had not given many details other than they were scared but safe and that he wanted Harry to come home. Eric had closed that ema
il with, “Mom is being cool but dad is a bit freaked out. I’m really scared but I’m remembering all the things we have talked about. Please stay safe and find us soon. I love you!”
Harry and Eric were very close. Along with the many other things they had shared together over the years, they had spent many hours talking about what to do in the event of an emergency. That included everything from dealing with bullies to people coming into school with guns. Harry tried to impart as much of his experience as a fifteen-year-old could absorb. Eric always asked relevant questions considering each answer before repeating it back to his uncle, demonstrating his understanding.
With everything that was happening, Harry had been forced to remain focused on staying alive. As the days had passed, his growing concern for his family was making it extremely difficult to maintain that focus and remain in San Francisco. He had no idea how he would make the nearly twenty-three-hundred-mile trek across country, but he was determined to do just that. If humanity was to fall, then he would be with the people that mattered most in his life when it did. With this new ‘promotion’, and the overwhelming responsibility that was sure to come with it, he had the growing fear he would not reach them in time.
“That’s fair enough,” Ekers said, interrupting Harry’s thoughts.
Harry quickly shook off the depression that was threatening to creep into his soul. He had no choice right now. If he was to reunite with his family he had to continue to keep his head in the game. If he did not, he was going to get himself killed or the two men sitting in the truck that now looked to him for direction. Pushing back the thoughts of his family for the time being, he looked up and realized his longtime friend was looking back fixedly.
Derrick could read people well and Harry was no exception. Derrick had met Harry’s family many times, and Eric was quite enamored with this large black man. Although Eric had no desire to become a cop, much to Harry’s immense relief, he was still a kid who was easily impressed with authority figures.
As Derrick was a very easy person to like, it came as no surprise that he and Eric had hit it off so well. Both huge sports fans which quickly gave them common ground. A good-natured debate was often heard between the two in regard to Derrick’s San Francisco Giants and Eric’s New York Yankees. Having no family of his own, Derrick had adopted Eric as a surrogate nephew and would do anything for that kid. Including laying down his life to protect him or the rest of Harry’s family without a moment’s hesitation.
“You’ll see them again, Harry,” Derrick said to him. “Just remember that when you go, I go with you.”
Harry was taken by surprise at this statement, but what caught him off guard the most was the intensity with which Derrick made those two simple statements. All Harry could do was to nod once to Derrick in reply.
“Go where?” Frank asked, looking to Derrick, then Harry.
“Not now, Frank,” Derrick replied. “We’ve got work to get done here and we need to concentrate on that for the time being.”
Frank didn’t offer any further comments but it was clear by the expression on his face he had questions. Harry had to take things down a notch as his emotions were threatening to overcome him. In his usual fashion, he quickly formulated a plan to do just that in the manner he fell back on in situation like this.
“I do have one request, Chief,” he finally said into the radio mic, looking squarely at Derrick with a slight grin playing around the corners of his mouth.
The look on Derrick Washington’s face was as if someone had walked over his grave.
“Now wait just a minute, Harry! I know what you doing and I suggest you don’t go there damn it! I’m serious here, brother!”
Ignoring Derrick, Harry continued, “Chief, I need a sergeant and I would like to recommend Derrick Washington for immediate promotion.” Harry knew that Derrick’s aversion to promotion was as strongly felt as his own. Derrick was using the experience in law enforcement as part of his career goals, and those goals did not include rank.
Looking over to Frank, Harry said with all sincerity, “No offense kid, you understand?”
“Absolutely none taken! I have no problem with any of this. I’m just happy to be with you guys!” Frank replied enthusiastically.
“Harry, you are such a prick, you know that, right!” Derrick said in a flustered tone. Harry just stood by the door smiling with what could only be described as a Cheshire cat grin.
“Oh, and by the way, even though you may feel the need at some point very soon, I would strongly urge that you not to punch the Bear, Derry. It’s rather unyielding I recently discovered,” Harry offered with quiet laughter and to further pick at Derrick’s crestfallen demeanor.
“I have no problem with that at all, Harry. Consider it done as of right now. Congratulations, Sergeant Washington,” Ekers said, responding to Harry’s request.
“Thanks Chief. I’m sure I speak for Sergeant Washington when I say it is an honor to serve the City.” Derrick threw double-digit finger salutes in Harry’s face with that.
“Okay guys, get to it. Although I really can’t offer you more information at the moment, I have the utmost confidence in your abilities. I’ll update Captain Overton on your status and that you will be in contact with him at some point. Here’s the radio frequency the Tern is operating on …” While Ekers relayed the frequency, Frank quickly jotted it down to program into the radio. “Contact me when you can but keep on task, gentlemen, and God speed. One Adam clear.” With that, Chief Greg Ekers signed off.
“Three Edward Six,” Harry acknowledged, then leaned up and across Derrick, placing the mic back in the dash clip. As he did so he caught his image reflected in the window glass of the door. Without a moment’s consideration, he reached up to his jumpsuit’s collar and removed the set of silver chevrons, handing them toward Derrick. “Put them on, Sergeant Washington.”
“Blow me, Lieutenant Lancaster.” Derrick dejectedly attempted to sink his large frame as far into the seat as possible, crossing his arms like a pouting child.
“Now Sergeant Washington, this is quite unbecoming a person of your rank, especially in front of Officer Lewis here,” Harry said, mustering all the self-control he could to maintain a straight face.
“You love this shit, don’t you,” Derrick retorted.
“Well, since you asked, more than you could possibly imagine right about now,” Harry said, no longer being able to hide his grin while still holding out his hand, palm up, with the two silver chevron pins lying in the center.
“Okay, so I put them on, payback’s done, right?” Derrick asked suspiciously.
“Yep, we’d be good; for the most part,” Harry replied, laughing.
“Fine, give me the damn things,” Derrick said in a defeated manner, pinning the chevrons on his collar. “Satisfied?”
During this exchange, Frank had buried his face in the Bearcat’s operations manual, closing both sides of the thick book against his cheeks in an attempt to avert the fits of laughter that threatened to overtake him.
“Oh quite, thank you, Sergeant,” Harry said, mischievously adding a very sloppy salute. Sobering, he looked past Derrick and said to Frank, “Okay kid, time to roll, and paraphrasing somebody way smarter than me, we have promises to keep, and miles to go before we sleep.”
“I really like Frost. He’s one of my favorite poets,” Frank responded absently while finishing his ‘preflight check’.
Harry chuckled while glancing at his wristwatch. He was a bit surprised to realize that less than forty minutes had elapsed since they’d first entered the garage. It felt like several hours had passed.
23
While Derrick moved into the rear compartment of the Bearcat, Harry stepped up and pulled himself into the passenger seat, closing the heavy door with a thud. Frank turned the ignition key and the big truck started instantly, emitting a soft rumble from the powerful diesel engine. Harry was again astonished at how quiet the Bearcat was considering the engine’s size.
The dash of the Bearcat illuminated with an array of various lights in a subdued orange glow obviously designed to assist those in the front compartment with maintaining night vision when necessary. Reaching to a lever which looked somewhat like a gearshift arm, just to the left of the steering column, Frank pushed down slightly which raised the V-ram on the front of the truck.
Harry could see this action transpire on a monitor in the center of the dash, the image obviously being sent from a camera built into the front section of the vehicle. It made sense to him to have a forward-facing camera; otherwise, because of the limited view from inside, it would be impossible to know what position the ram was in at any particular time. The monitor screen was actually split into two views, with the lower image from a camera positioned above the rear double doors of the Bearcat.
Once Frank had the ram up, he moved the gearshift selector lever, located to the right of the steering column, putting it into the drive position and engaging the automatic transmission. With his left foot slightly on the brake, he applied a slight pressure on the accelerator with his right, giving the big truck torque and moving it slowly forward. The garage area was flooded with light so Frank did not bother turning on the headlights.
The ramp leading up from the lower garage into the next level was sizeable, but because of the width of the Bearcat it was still a tight fit. Especially with the curve of the up ramp. Unfortunately, Frank misjudged the clearance between the side of the truck and the wall. He slightly scraped the right rear bumper as he drove up the ramp. It wasn’t a hard hit but enough to be heard inside the vehicle.
“Hey! Watch it there Frank!” Derrick cried out from his position between the front and rear compartments. He was leaning slightly forward, enabling him to see through the windshield. “This thing is brand new! You better not wreck it!”
“Shit, sorry guys!” Frank exclaimed in response.
Harry knew ‘wrecking’ the heavy behemoth would be almost impossible, but replied over his shoulder with a laugh, “Don’t worry Derry, a few scraps and dings will give it some character.”
