Bug Out! Part 10: RV Race to Battle (21 page)

“That’s the federal holding facility,” General Hogan said, smiling. “We have him in custody. What’s his name?”

Frank turned on the name feature. “Jeffery Atkins,” he said. “Never heard of him.”

“I have,” General Hogan said. “Was Army Intelligence. Never liked that guy. Always had a chip on his shoulder.”

“So what now?” Jerry asked.

“I think we should check for level fours, as long as I have this up.” He made the adjustment and zoomed back out again.

“Wow, only five,” Jerry said. “And three of them are in Capitol Reef, on that body pile. Can’t believe we only have two left.”

“One of them is in DC,” General Hogan said. “Looks like the same facility as Atkins. Ashely Davidson. Don’t recognize the name.”

“Wonder if that’s a man or a woman?” Frank asked.

“Good question,” he said. “What about the other one?”

Frank checked it and zoomed in. “Denver, in that building there.”

“That’s the morgue,” General Hogan said. “Been there.”

“Hey, something we aren’t thinking about,” Jerry said. “Why don’t you look at Mexico?”

General Hogan and Frank looked at each other.

“Shit, you’re right,” General Hogan said.

“Setting back to level one, and focusing on Mexico and the northern half of South America,” Frank said.

“Ah, so we can pick up Venezuela,” General Hogan said. “Good.”

“No level one hits,” Frank said. “Changing to level two.”

“None of those either,” Jerry said.

“Going to level three,” Frank said.

“Whoa,” General Hogan said. “Five.”

“Three in Mexico City,” Jerry said. “Probably captured. Two along the border with Texas.”

“I’ll zero in on the Mexico City location,” Frank said. “Looks like they’re all within about twenty yards of each other. Names are Ricardo Salazar, Hector Rodriguez, and Juan Carlo Lopez.”

“All in one building, a block south of the Capitol,” General Hogan said. “Just a sec.”

General Hogan took his phone out of his pocket and walked away.

“While he’s on the phone, why don’t you check the guys by the border?”

“Yeah,” Frank said, zooming in on them. “Both in a small village, a little south of Big Bend National Park.”

“Here comes the General,” Jerry said.

“That building in Mexico City is a holding area for prisoners,” General Hogan said, smiling. “Army Intelligence is going to have a chat with them about the virus.”

“Know anything about this village, south of Big Bend National Park?”

General Hogan focused on the screen, his eyes squinting, and his brow furrowed. “That’s not an area we’ve operated in. Those two are loose. I’ll make another call.”

“How about the ones in DC?” Jerry asked.

“I called that into the FBI. They’re on it. Keep your fingers crossed.”

Mary bent over Saladin’s body,
the drop light held by Kurt.

“He can’t get much deader than this,” Mary said, standing up. “What will you do with him?”

“We’ll wrap him up tight and put him in the walk-in freezer, for now,” Charlie said.

She chuckled. “That might gross a few people out.”

“I know,” Charlie said. “It won’t be for long.”

Jackson came in with a box of hefty bags and a couple rolls of gorilla tape. He got to work with Charlie and Kurt, while the Sheriff held up the light.

“Yeah, make him nice and tight,” he said.

“What’s next?” Mary asked.

“After we get the crispy critter stuffed into the freezer, we just keep our eyes open, and wait for our friends to get back,” Charlie said. “I heard from Hilda about an hour ago.”

“How’s she doing?” the Sheriff asked.

“She and Gabe took a drive out to her RV Park. I think it shook her up a little, but she’ll be okay.”

“That was risky,” the Sheriff said.

“The enemy isn’t there anymore,” Charlie said. “She’s back at the hospital now. No problems around there so far.”

“I’ll give Earl a call,” Jackson said. “After we finish this. Think he’s wrapped up good enough?”

“Yeah,” Kurt said. “Let’s put him right next to the hams.” Mary looked at him and rolled her eyes.

The men carefully picked up the body and carried it to the kitchen trap door. It was a struggle getting him up the stairs without ripping the plastic, but they did it, and set him on the floor in the back of the freezer. Mary brought in some more plastic sheeting and laid it over him.

“Want him to be cozy?” Kurt asked.

“No, I don’t want him to be so visible,” she said. “Might not gross the others out so much.”

***

Rosie was sitting in the ICU next to Jeb’s bedside when the doctor came in. Jeb was asleep.

“Hi, Rosie,” the doctor said. “He been asleep for a while?”

“Yes, he sleep for over hour,” Rosie said. “Vitals looking good.”

“I’m glad you’re here, with your nursing experience. We’re going to do the surgery first thing in the morning, as long as he’s still stable.”

“What chances?” she asked.

“I’d put them up at about 70% now, judging by how he’s been for the last twenty four hours,” the doctor said. “He’s a fighter.”

“Yes,” Rosie said.

“You comfortable enough to get some shut eye there? That chair reclines, you know.”

“Yes, I doze on and off. I stay here if I can. Keep watch.”

“I don’t see any reason why not,” he said. “When he wakes up, buzz the nurse and they’ll come get me. I want to talk with him.”

“Okay, I do,” Rosie said.

She sat quietly after the doctor left, and the nurse came in.

“You’re friends are out in the hallway,” she said. “I’ll let Hilda come in for a minute.”

“Thank you,” Rosie said.

The nurse gestured to Hilda, and she came in.

“Hi, Rosie,” Hilda said. “How are things going?”

“Jeb sleeps,” Rosie said. “Doctor says surgery tomorrow, better chances than before.”

“That’s great!” Hilda said.

“You leave now?”

“Yes, Earl is ready to go. I just wanted to see if you needed anything before we left.”

“I good,” Rosie said. “Staff very good here, very nice.”

“Yes, they are,” Hilda said. “The army is here to guard you guys too, just in case.”

“I know, it good,” Rosie said. “Roads safe enough to go back?”

“Yes, from what we’ve been told, but we’ll be careful,” Hilda said.

“Jasmine wants to come, but I told her not yet, just in case. Too much stress for pregnancy.”

“Good point,” Hilda said. “If you need any of us, we’ll be here. You know that, right?”

“Yes, I know,” Rosie said. “We’ll be back with you in no time.”

“Alright, honey, you take care.”

“You too, Hilda,” Rosie said, smiling. “Thanks.”

Hilda joined Gabe and Earl in the hallway, and they headed for the elevator.

“You sure we’re doing the right thing?” Earl asked.

“Yeah,” Hilda said. “If all goes well, we’ll be back to pick them up in a couple of weeks.”

The three rode the elevator down, and ran into a line of people in front of the door. A couple of Major Harrison’s men were guiding people along.

“What’s going on?” Gabe asked one of the men.

“Mandatory small pox vaccinations,” he said. “It’ll only take a minute.”

Gabe, Hilda, and Earl looked at each other.

“Those bastards,” Earl said. “Hope we have enough vaccine.”

“I’m calling Charlie,” Hilda said, pulling out her phone as they waited.

“Hey, Charlie.”

“Hi, Hilda, you guys on the road yet?”

“Just about. They’ve got us queued up in a line at the hospital at the moment. Small pox vaccinations.”

“Really, already?”

“You knew about this, Charlie?”

“Yeah, Saladin told us it was his fail safe. Not to worry, though. We have plenty of vaccine, and we aren’t even sure if the threat is real.”

“Okay, just wanted to let you know.”

“Glad they’re up on it so fast. Be careful, honey. I’m so anxious to see you. Love you.”

“Love you too, Charlie.”

Hilda put her phone back in her purse.

“They knew?” Gabe asked.

“Yeah, Saladin said something.”

“That jerk weed is still alive?” Earl asked.

“No, he passed earlier today,” Hilda said. “Surprised Charlie didn’t mention the small pox thing.”

“He didn’t want to worry you,” Gabe said. “I don’t blame him.”

The line moved quickly, and soon they were walking down the steps towards the SUV. They got in, and Gabe drove off the lot.

“I’ll check the apps,” Earl said, pulling his phone out. He worked his finger on it as Hilda and Gabe sat silently.

“Nobody around with a chip in them,” Earl said. “I’m surprised.”

“Well, let’s hope it stays that way,” Gabe said, as he got onto the interstate. “Not much traffic up here, is there?”

“Nope,” Earl said. “Wonder how many people know about this small pox thing?”

“Not many yet,” Hilda said. “I just checked the news sites on my phone. Nothing about it.”

“I suspect the hospital got themselves going because of the Major and his men,” Gabe said.

“Still bothers me that there’s nothing on the news about it,” Hilda said.

***

The Class C was back on the highway, heading for Columbus, Ohio.

“Getting close now,” Howard said. “I’m tired of being on the road.”

“We’ll hit traffic,” Scott said. “It’ll take us a good half hour to get to my place after we get into city limits.”

“Looks like Kerry is finally calming down,” Howard said. “Bailey knows how to handle him.”

Scott looked back at the dinette from the passenger seat. “She’s reading to him, on her iPad,” he chuckled.

“She reminds me of my late wife,” Howard said. “Miss her so much.”

“She doesn’t remind me of my late wife,” Scott said.

“You have any regrets being married to her, Scotty? Even though she was a civilian?”

“Yeah, I regret I didn’t get to kill her myself,” Scott said.

“No, really?”

“Yeah,” Scott said. “Thinking about the look she would’ve gotten on her face still turns me on.”

“Well, I told you I wanted a piece of her,” he said.

“Yeah, whatever, Howie. How are we gonna get you back over the Mississippi?”

“That’s a good question,” Howard said. “We know St Louis is toast, and so is Memphis. Might be some enemy activity in the area between them. That’ll bring in National Guard, cops, maybe regular army too. Cops might still be looking for our Class C after the massacre.”

“The bombs might have helped us there, Howie. Haven’t heard or seen anything on our handiwork since the nuke attacks happened.”

“You download those apps yet?” Howard asked.

“Yeah, but I haven’t tried them yet. You?”

“No, not yet. Was going to do it at your place,” Howard said. “You know if the war gets over, things will get more difficult for our game.”

“Yeah, but we both knew that was coming. What about your truck stop? No way you’re gonna get back before the fuel delivery.”

“I’ve been thinking about that,” Howard said. “I might have to trust one of my employees after all.”

“How about Sherry?”

“C’mon, Scotty, we don’t even know where her head is at these days. She might be straight enough to turn us in.”

“Doubtful,” Scott said.

“I don’t even have a phone number for her,” Howard said.

“You said she took over her mom’s house after she died, right?”

“Yeah, but who keeps a land line anymore, Scotty?”

“I’ve still got that number. I’ll try it. You never know.”

“You sure we should do this?” Howard asked. “Seems pretty damn risky to me.”

“Where’s your sense of adventure?” he said as he put in the number. “It’s ringing.”

“Hello?”

“Is this Sherry?”

“Who wants to know?”

“Scotty.”

There was silence on the line.

“No way. He’s dead.”

“No, I’m not dead, Sherry. I’m with a dear friend from the old days.”

“Prove it.”

“You remember when you, I, and Jason kidnapped our English teacher?”

“Maxwell. Yeah, so what. That made the news. You can look it up.”

“You recited the end of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar before you jammed the knife in him.”

There was silence on the line. Scott looked at Howard and grinned, then went on.

“According to his virtue let us use him,

With all respect and rites of burial.

Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,

Most like a soldier, order'd honourably.

So call the field to rest; and let's away,

To part the glories of this happy day.”

Scott looked at Howard and grinned again.

“You still there?”

“Okay, you’ve got my attention,” she said. “What do you want?”

“We need a favor, Sherry.”

“I’m not killing anybody. I’m done with that.”

“Oh, it’s nothing like that, Sherry. We need you to run Howard’s truck stop for a few days.”

“Howard? You’re with that old cretin? I wondered where he went. Everybody’s asking about him.”

“We’ve been on a road trip, and thanks to those bombs on big muddy, we can’t get back soon enough. He’s got fuel deliveries coming.”

“What’s in it for me?”

“Well, I’ll keep quiet about your past.”

She laughed on the line. “You say anything, you’ll get as bad as I will. Probably worse.”

“I’m dead, remember?”

There was silence on the line again. Scott glanced at Howard, who still had a worried look on his face.

“Okay, Scotty, I’ll do it. Where are the keys? How about the other info I’ll need to run the place?”

“I’ll hand you over to Howard. He can give you the details.” Scott handed the phone over. Howard reluctantly put it to his ear.

“Sherry?”

“Yeah, Howard. I thought you were done with that jerk.”

“He forced me back into the game.”

“You don’t sound very upset.”

“I feel alive again.”

“Blah blah blah. You got keys somewhere I can get them?”

“Yeah, go to my place. There’s a key under the flower pot by the back door. In the service porch next to the water heater there’s a two drawer file cabinet. The keys are in the top drawer, along with info on how to turn on the systems and get the shop up and running.”