Solar Plexus

by Victor Zugg

  Sam popped up and continued searching. He searched the first two offices and found nothing. When he entered the third office he immediately saw a large box hanging on the side wall. He opened the box and set his eyes on hundreds of keys, all on rings. Some rings had two and three keys. Every key ring included a tag neatly printed with a car’s description. It took several minutes to find the one for the Galaxie.

  Sam snatched the key ring, returned to the main display room, and slid behind the wheel of the Galaxie. He inserted the key in the ignition and twisted. The engine turned over for several seconds before it finally coughed to life and settled into a purr. Sam noticed that the gas gauge needle was almost on empty.

  He switched the engine off and stepped out just as Elliot and Tiff emerged from the upstairs.

  “Nothing up there of importance,” Tiff said, as she and Elliot walked over to the Galaxie.

  “Uh-huh,” Sam said, as he rolled his eyes. “Let’s see if we can get this door open. And we need gas.”

  “There’s an extra can on the Hummer along with a siphon hose,” Elliot said.

  Sam checked the roll-up door. “No key lock, just this,” he said, as he pulled up on a handle. The door clicked loose.

  At that moment the other door swung open and Chet stuck his head in. He had his rifle in his hand. “Possible shithead alert. We have six or seven guys approaching. Some have guns.”

  Sam, Elliot, and Tiff joined Chet outside. Elliot pulled the Glock from his holster under his shirt. Sam and Tiff retrieved their rifles from the Hummer, spread out, and took cover behind stalled cars in the street. Elliot took cover next to Tiff.

  Sam saw Chet take off running through the parking lot that ended at a parallel street. He stopped, scanned in all directions, and then disappeared around the corner. Sam had never known of Chet to run from the action in his life, so Sam knew he must have something in mind. Sam turned his attention back to the approaching gang members.

  ***

  In the open, six men and one woman stopped about ten yards away from where Sam, Tiff, and Elliot were crouched behind stalled cars. The man in the lead, flamed out with a blue bandana wrapped around his waist, pointed. “Better check your six, man.”

  Sam and Tiff both looked over their shoulder and saw four additional men walking up from behind. They were still a half block back.

  “We have more guests coming,” Tiff said to Elliot.

  Elliot glanced back and then pointed his Glock over the hood of his car, taking aim on the bandana man’s head. “You’ll be the first one down, man.”

  “Nobody has to die, we just want the Hummer,” the bandana man said.

  The woman in the group stepped forward and raised a pistol, pointing it at Elliot. “If Turtle goes down, you’ll be next.”

  Turtle placed his hand over the woman’s gun and slowly pushed it down. “Easy Rose. These people look like the reasonable type. I’m sure they can be persuaded.”

  Elliot maintained his position. “Turn and walk away. Do it now!”

  Turtle’s group began spreading out.

  Keeping her rifle shouldered, Tiff turned to face the group approaching from the rear. She moved to a different stalled car for better cover.

  Suddenly, gunfire erupted from behind Turtle’s group. Two men went down immediately as Chet came into view. Sam fired multiple shots at Turtle but hit Rose instead when Turtle leaped to the side. Rose fell to the ground bleeding from her neck. Elliot opened up with his Glock and hit one additional man. That left Turtle and two men crouched behind the same stalled car.

  Sam could see Chet closing behind Turtle, taking cover as much as possible. Turtle and his two remaining men began firing. Bullets pinged into the metal of the cars surrounding Sam and Elliot. Sam glanced back to make sure Tiff was okay.

  The men approaching Tiff from behind quickened their pace without taking advantage of the available cover. Tiff began firing in two and three round bursts. One of the men fell to the ground, grabbing his stomach. The other three jumped for cover.

  Sam and Elliot fired a few more rounds at Turtle but then stopped firing for fear of hitting Chet who was still moving up on Turtle’s rear. One of Turtle’s men kept popping his head up to look over the hood of the car they were behind. Sam took careful aim with his magnified sight and tried to time the pop-ups. Sam pulled the trigger before he actually saw the man’s head. A cloud of red from the man’s head splattered the car behind him. Chet took the opportunity to rush forward before Turtle knew what was happening. Sam fired a few shots high to keep his attention forward while Chet got closer.

  Finally, Chet lunged from behind a panel truck giving him a clear shot on Turtle’s flank. Chet let loose a hail of gunfire which lasted only a couple of seconds. After the firing stopped, Sam saw Chet move in on Turtle’s position, duck down, and then stand back up. He then joined Sam and Elliot who had turned to face the threat from the rear with Tiff. All four fired a short burst at the three remaining men. Rounds peppered the car they were standing behind. When Sam, Chet, Elliot, and Tiff stopped firing, the three men made a hasty retreat and were soon out of sight.

  Tiff stood up and turned to Elliot. Seeing a stream of blood running down his face, she immediately ran to his side. “Are you hit?”

  Elliot holstered his Glock and leaned back against a car. “Just a crease. Another millimeter and it would have been serious.”

  “Let’s get you over to the Hummer,” Tiff said, as she took hold under Elliot’s arm and led him away. Sam and Chet followed. At the Hummer, she grabbed the first aid kit from the back and retrieved some gauze. She held the gauze against the small wound.

  Sam and Chet watched as Tiff rummaged in the kit for some tape.

  “Think he’ll live?” Chet asked.

  “I don’t know,” Sam replied. “Looks serious.”

  Tiff faced Elliot, noses only an inch apart. “They’re being assholes, ignore them.”

  Elliot kept his gaze into Tiff’s eyes. “Consider them officially ignored.”

  Chet turned serious. “We need to skedaddle before the shitheads return with friends.”

  Sam motioned, led Chet back to the car museum, and opened the roll-up door. Ten feet inside sat the Galaxie. “Our new ride,” he said, as he walked over and slipped into the driver’s seat. He started the engine and backed the car through the door and into the parking lot. “She needs gas.”

  Tiff and Elliot walked up. “The siphon hose is in the back of the Hummer,” Elliot said.

  Chet went to the Hummer and returned with the siphon hose and a five-gallon can of gas. Sam emptied the can of gas into the Galaxie and then refilled the can from one of the stalled cars in the street. He then drained the second five gallons into the car.

  Sam returned the can and siphon hose to the Hummer. “I think we’re ready.”

  “I’ll ride with Elliot,” Tiff said, as they both moved off toward the Hummer.

  Sam and Chet hopped in the car, started the engine, and pulled out behind Elliot and Tiff.

  CHAPTER 12

  Elliot had only driven a few blocks when he pulled to the side, jumped out, and ran back to the Galaxie. “The compound is under attack!”

  “By whom?” Sam asked.

  “Gangs. Apparently, the major gangs have come together against a common enemy.”

  Chet leaned over toward Sam’s window. “How can we help?”

  “Lieutenant Harvey says there are two main forces. The largest moved in from the actual airport. The second is keeping up steady fire from the Taffy and Virginia area.”

  “Perhaps we can do some damage there,” Chet said.

  “If they’re smart, they’ll have a rear guard,” Sam said.

  “I suggest we enter the area via Hartsfield and then go on foot from the La Quinta,” Elliot said.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Sam said. “We’ll follow you.”

  Elliot returned to the Hummer and pulled away from the curb. Sam followed as Elliot returned to the Interstate
and then took the Hartsfield off-ramp. As they were approaching the Virginia intersection, Sam saw three men run toward the highway from a wooded area and take cover behind the center support for the Virginia overpass. Three additional men were visible on top of the overpass. They all started laying down fire from semi-automatic rifles when the two vehicles got within a hundred yards. Several rounds pinged against the Hummer and then rounds started peppering the Galaxie. The Hummer suddenly accelerated and Sam lost what little cover he had. Sam and Chet ducked as gunfire raked the windshield, the hood, and Sam’s side of the car. Sam stomped on the gas pedal as he peeked above the dashboard. The car lurched and began gaining on the Hummer but then coughed and slowed as steam poured from under the hood. As they passed under the overpass, three men behind the center support fired point blank. Both tires on Sam’s side of the car exploded causing the car to jerk to the left. Sam wrenched the steering wheel to the right which overcompensated. The car spun around, slid, and finally came to rest halfway up an embankment with the front of the car facing back toward the gangbangers.

  Sam looked over his shoulder and saw that the La Quinta was in sight but the Hummer was not. Sam and Chet slung their doors open, leaped out with their rifles in hand, ran to the back of the car, and took cover behind the trunk. The gang members at the center support and on top of the overpass concentrated a steady stream of fire on the Galaxie. Sam and Chet returned fire as best they could while keeping themselves low.

  Suddenly, gunfire erupted from the top of the embankment which was behind Sam and Chet. Sam braced for the lead that would surely rip through his body. But none came. He glanced around and saw Elliot and Tiff, both lying prone on top of the embankment, firing at the gang members. Sam and Chet increased their rate of fire, emptying all four magazines for their two rifles. They then pulled their side arms and continued firing.

  Two of the three men on top of the overpass were hit. One fell over the side rail and hit the pavement below. The third man began running east on Virginia, away from the firing. One of the three men below was hit in the back before he could dash behind the center support. His two friends continued firing but Sam could tell their enthusiasm was waning. Soon they stopped firing altogether and run back up Hartsfield.

  Sam and Chet took the opportunity to race up the embankment where they joined Elliot and Tiff at the top.

  “I’m out of ammo,” Chet grunted as he plopped down next to Tiff.

  “Me too,” Sam said.

  Elliot rose to his feet and started walking backward while still pointing his Glock toward the overpass. “There’s ammo in the Hummer,”

  Sam and Chet rose to their feet while Tiff remained prone on the ground.

  “You guys load up,” Tiff said. “I’ll keep watch in case they decide to return.”

  Sam and Chet jumped up and ran back to the Hummer parked below the crest of the embankment. Sam rummaged in the back, flipped open an ammo can, and began filling his 5.56 magazines. Chet did the same. And they both placed extra rounds in their pockets.

  “What about 9mm? Sam asked.

  “Sorry, fresh out of nine,” Elliot responded, as he holstered his Glock and picked up an automatic rifle from the rear of the Hummer.

  Sam looked to the west. “I can see the Huddle from here.”

  Elliot yelled for Tiff as he, Sam, and Chet got in the Hummer. Tiff came running, hopped in, and Elliot jammed the gas pedal. Tiff reloaded her magazines and stuffed extra rounds in her pockets.

  Sam pointed to the top of the Huddle Hotel. “Shit! Gang members are firing on the compound from the top of the building.”

  “They’ll be firing on us any minute,” Chet said.

  Elliot whipped the wheel to the right and headed off toward a Ruby Tuesday’s restaurant which was basically on the La Quinta property. “We’ll ditch the Hummer and head in on foot.”

  As they approached the restaurant, Sam lost sight of the gang members firing from the south side of the Huddle roof because of the angle, but he could still hear the firing. “If we can’t see them, they can’t see us.”

  Elliott slid to a stop against the east wall of Ruby Tuesday’s and everyone piled out.

  “This way,” Elliot said, as he took off around the north side of the restaurant. “Keep your eyes open.”

  As they were running, Sam noticed blood on Chet left arm. “Are you hit?” he asked Chet.

  “Just grazed, I’ll be fine.”

  The bleeding didn’t seem bad, so Sam turned his attention back to his surroundings.

  Elliot left the cover of the Ruby Tuesday’s building and ran to another small restaurant building, a steakhouse, on the other side of Taffy Terrace, the last building between them and the Huddle. Sam, Chet, and Tiff followed one at a time. They each plastered themselves against the east wall of the steakhouse and began inching along the wall in single file. Elliot peeked around the northeast corner, and then continued around the corner, and on along the wall. Sam, Chet, and Tiff followed close behind. At the northwest corner, Elliot stopped. He turned his body so his stomach would be against the wall and then eased one eye around the corner. After a few seconds, he moved slightly back and turned his head to face Sam.

  “Nothing between here and the Huddle’s side entrance. Hopefully, the door is unlocked.”

  Sam nodded. Elliot took off running. He covered the two hundred feet of open territory in a few seconds and slammed to a stop against the Huddle’s east wall, next to the side entrance. He peeked in the entrance and then motioned for the others to follow. Sam, Chet, and Tiff hustled across the open area and bunched up next to Elliot.

  “No one in sight down the hall to the lobby,” Elliot said, as he pulled on the door handle. “Locked,” he whispered.

  Elliot eased down the wall to the southeast corner of the building, followed by Sam, Chet, and Tiff. Elliot peeked around the edge and then pulled his head back. “I count six out front. No telling how many are in the lobby. Any thoughts?”

  Chet wiggled closer. “Two of us work our way around the north and west side of the building. If either of those doors is open, we’ll go in. If not, we’ll continue to the southwest corner and have the main entrance in a crossfire.”

  “I like it,” Sam said. “I’ll go with Chet.”

  Elliot and Tiff nodded.

  Sam and Chet hustled down the east side of the building, rounded the northeast corner, and dashed to the center set of double doors. Sam stopped at the edge of the doorway and took a quick look. Sam brought his right hand up with his thumb and index finger together so Chet could see, indicating no people in sight. Sam stepped quickly to the doors and pulled on both handles. Locked. He continued down the north wall followed closely by Chet and stopped at the north-west corner long enough to check around the edge. Sam then continued to the west side entrance where he pulled on the door handle. Locked.

  Sam and Chet moved to the southwest corner. Sam carefully peeked around the edge and saw the six men Elliot had seen.

  Sam pulled back from the corner. “How do you want to play this?”

  Chet inched up to the corner, looked around, and then backed up. “You go high, I’ll go low. Elliot and Tiff will start firing when we do. Watch the collateral damage; we don’t want to hit them and vice versa.”

  Sam nodded and moved up to the corner. Chet did the same but kneeled next to Sam’s legs. They both eased the barrel of their rifles around the corner and took careful aim. Sam and Chet both fired within a second of each other and kept firing. Two of the six fell to the ground immediately. Another grabbed his shoulder and got behind a car parked near the entrance.

  Elliot and Tiff opened up before the other two gang members had a chance to move. They both went down. A final shot took out the wounded man from behind. All six were down.

  Sam and Chet rushed forward and converged with Elliot and Tiff at the main entrance. Sam slung the door open, and all four stepped inside with weapons shouldered. The lobby was empty.

  “Stairs at both e
nds,” Elliot whispered. “I say we go straight to the roof.” He motioned for Sam and Chet to go west down the hallway. Elliot and Tiff headed east.

  Sam opened the stairwell door at the west end, did a quick sweep with his rifle, and then stepped in, followed by Chet.

  “You think they heard the firing down here?” Chet asked in a whisper.

  “No doubt. They’ll be expecting something.”

  With extreme vigilance, Sam and Chet made their way up the seven flights of stairs until they were standing at the door to the roof.

  “They’ll be covering the doors,” Chet whispered.

  Sam nodded and then paused a few seconds thinking. “I say we go prone and reach up to turn the knob.

  “Might work,” Chet said, as he squatted and then went prone facing the door.

  Sam did the same. They both had their rifles pulled back along their sides, fingers on the triggers, ready to thrust the barrels forward as the door opened. Chet reached up with his left arm, turned the knob—

  “Wait!” Sam said. “This is too cumbersome. I’d rather be on my feet.”

  Chet took his hand off the knob and was about to rise up when gunfire erupted and rounds blasted through the door, about mid-level. After a few seconds the firing stopped and suddenly the door jerked open. Two gang members on the roof fired again through the open doorway before they realized Sam and Chet were lying prone. They stopped firing for a split second to adjust their aim. That was all the time Sam and Chet needed. They both twisted slightly, which brought their barrels up, and opened fire. The two gang members were cut down instantly.

  Sam and Chet then jumped to their feet, scrambled through the doorway, and took cover behind a large air conditioning unit. Six more air conditioning units occupied the center of the roof along the entire length of the building, leaving the outer edges open. While Chet kept watch, Sam took the opportunity to switch magazines and top off so he had a full thirty rounds in each mag. Then Sam kept watch while Chet did the same.