I
had slipped back
into the army fatigues and was preparing myself mentally to head into the camp when Ally came in. She stood at the door of the A-frame hut.
“Is it right? Are you going in?”
I nodded. She came over and turned me around. “That’s suicide.”
“He hasn’t seen me, Ally.”
“And his men?”
“It was too dark. We couldn’t even see their faces.”
“There must be some other way.”
I took a seat and slipped on the boots. “If we just attack it could endanger those inside the camp. Even if we could breach the checkpoint or fence they’ve built, all they would need to do is turn the weapons on those inside and it would be over. No, we need to know the layout, where they are keeping people, how they are rotating shifts and where their weaknesses are.”
“And you intend to stay in there for how long to figure that out?”
“For as long as it takes.”
I pushed my foot down into the tall leather boot.
“And if it goes wrong?”
“Don’t think about it.”
“Don’t think?”
“Ally, why does it matter? I’m trying to get your father back. Isn’t that more important than who goes?”
“Let one of them go in. Not all of them have been seen. Why does it need to be you?”
I frowned. “Again, why does it matter?”
“Maybe because I don’t want you to die. Is that enough reason?”
My lip curled up at the corner. I let out a lungful of air and studied her face. All of us looked as though we could use a hot shower. We were weathered by the elements and had become accustomed to the feel of a second skin of dirt on us. I approached her. Her eyes drifted off to the side then back to mine. My hand traced down the side of her cheek before I gripped the back of her neck and pressed my lips into hers. It didn’t last long as Hank came in.
“Oh sorry.” His eyebrows shot up and he’d already turned to leave.
We broke away from one another. “No, it’s okay.”
“We have the truck ready. Are you sure about this?”
“If you have a better idea, I’m all ears.”
“Just remember, once you’re inside, you are on your own.”
I scoffed. “Like usual.”
Hank went back out and Ally took a hold of my hand. “You don’t need to do this.”
I didn’t know what else to say to reassure her. It was what it was.
We headed out and those who heard about what was planned gathered around. Though they had taken most of the contents of the truck, they left some of the weapons and ammo inside the truck along with clothes and food. Even though they could have used it all, I had said it would look more convincing if I turned up with supplies. The plan was straightforward. I would enter with the truck and the story was I had managed to escape when the other trucks were hit. It was a slim shot. There was no doubt about it but it was worth a try.
I headed to the back of the truck and hopped in to see what they had loaded up. It wasn’t much but I was certain I could come up with something convincing.
“I don’t like this,” Luke said. “At least one of them must have seen you the other day when I escaped and they came after us.”
“Bullets were flying all over the place, no one was sticking their head out to get a look at anyone. Can you remember anyone’s faces?”
“I’m just saying, I don’t think it’s going to work.”
“That never stopped you from going in.”
“Ah but there’s a difference. I knew what I was doing, Frost.”
“Yeah, look how that worked out,” I said glancing down at his wounded leg. Hank came over and handed me a Glock. I tucked it in the holster. He gripped my forearm. “Best of luck, kid.”
“You are going to let him do this? Man, I thought we were nuts,” Luke said hobbling away.
“Where’s Billy?”
Ally shouted for him but he never replied.
“Time’s ticking. You better get moving. Now you remember the route?”
“I got it.”
They had drawn a small map. I was basically going to head down a number of dirt trails, which would bring me out on the main stretch of road that would lead into Hayden. I had a feeling this was not the first time they had attempted something like this. As much as I wanted to trust Hank and the others because they had saved our asses, they were still strangers to us. And after Hank told me that he believed the Commander had put a man inside his camp, I was starting to wonder if the plan for me to go in was less about getting in and more about drawing out whoever was feeding information to the Commander. Either way, I was about to find out.
I hopped up onto the torn-up leather seat and closed the door. Inside it smelled like stale coffee, and an ashtray of butts.
“Good luck.”
“I’m going to need it.”
Ally stood beside Kiera. I turned over the ignition and the engine roared to life. I eased it out and began heading in the direction I was given. For the first part of the journey it was as bumpy as hell. I bounced up and down in the seat trying to not lose control.
I came down one trail and passed several cabins. I made it about another mile before I saw four horses tied up outside one of the huts. As I got closer, Christopher and the three men that had offered to collect Hank’s dead brother stepped out and flagged me down. Applying some pressure to the brake pedal I brought the speed down and came to a halt. Christopher jumped up on the side.
“Where are you heading?”
I didn’t answer his question; instead I posed one of my own. “Isn’t Reynolds’s body that way?” I pointed.
“Yeah, we thought we saw a group of the Commander’s men so we had to take this route. So where are you taking this truck?”
“Hank will explain when you get back.”
He was snapping gum in his mouth and looking up and down the trail.
“You the only one sent out?”
“Yeah.”
“To go where?”
I began to feel uneasy; there was something off about this. “Like I said—”
“Hank will explain. Right. You don’t mind if I take a look in the back, do you?”
“Go ahead.”
As he hopped down I placed my hand on the Glock and kept my eyes on the other three who had created a semicircle around the front of the truck. They seemed quite eager to keep me from leaving. I heard Christopher tap the truck as he made his way back up the side.
“Those are weapons in the back. I thought we needed them?”
I shouted out the window. “Look, I need to get going. I’m a bit behind schedule.”
“You wouldn’t by any chance be working for the Commander, would you?”
“Me? Are you nuts?”
He glanced over at the other three guys, rubbed the side of his chin. Without saying another word, he pulled out his gun and placed it through the window against my head.
“Get out of the truck.”
“What are you doing? I just told you, I’m not with the Commander.”
He reached around me and took my Glock. “You might want to lay off the trigger.”
I opened the door and hopped down to the ground. One of them pushed me down the embankment then asked what was going on.
“Just tie him up. Hank told me to keep an eye out for anyone trying to leave with weapons.” He slapped the side of the vehicle. “Weapons. Someone trying to leave.”
Just as the men came over to tie me up, Christopher fired three shots at them, taking all of them down in a matter of seconds. I backed up with hands in the air, expecting him to kill me there on the spot. With my eyes squeezed tight, I waited for the round that would end my life.
When I heard it and was still standing, I slowly opened my eyes. Standing over Christopher’s dead body was Billy.
“Billy?”
“Can’t trust anyone nowadays.”
I looked up and down the trail. “Where the hell did you come from?”
“I hitched a ride under the truck.”
“Are you kidding me?”
I ambled up the embankment back onto the road and looked down at Christopher’s body. He had shot him in the back of the head. I stared for a few seconds, then looked at Billy. Placing the tips of my fingers against my temples I tried to grasp what had just happened.
“Do you know what you’ve just done?”
“Yeah, saved your ass. He would have shot you.”
“Did you know?”
He shrugged giving me a confused look. “Know what?”
“That he worked for the Commander.”
His eyes widened. “Really?” he rolled the word around like he was chewing on it. “Well, I guess I just did everyone a favor.”
“What the hell were you doing under the truck?”
“Making sure that shit like this didn’t happen.”
I went over to him. “You need to head back and tell Hank what happened.”
“I’m not going back. I’m going with you.”
I hopped up on the truck and got back in. “Like hell you are. You are going to jeopardize this whole mission.”
“You are going to need my help.”
I glared down at him. “Oh, really, by all means share with me what you had planned?”
“Well, I’m still figuring that part out.”
“Yeah, I think I’ll do fine without you.”
He motioned to the dead. “Like the way you handled this.”
“He had the advantage.”
Billy scoffed and headed back under the truck. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
There was no point in me arguing with him, he would do whatever the hell he wanted anyway.
“Just stay out of sight.”
I started up the engine, took one final look at the dead and eased out.
A
shaft
of intense light burned my eyes as the door opened and sunlight flooded the tight, claustrophobic space. For ages it had felt as though I was inside a sauna. They had drilled holes in the metal to allow just enough of the sun’s rays in to cause heat stroke. My tongue was dry, and I kept falling in and out of consciousness. I rolled on my elbows as a hand reached in and yanked me out. I hit my head on the top as they shoved me to the ground and I got a mouthful of dirt.
I had no idea how long I had been inside that metal prison but I didn’t want to go back in.
“Water,” I stammered.
“Give me a cup,” one of the soldiers asked another.
Instead of them handing me water they tossed a cupful on my face. “There.” My fingers swept my face trying to get some of the droplets into my parched mouth.
“Well good news, soldier boy. My father wants you out. He has a little surprise for you. Pick him up.”
There was no energy in my body. I could still feel my head pulsating from the jab to the back of my skull. My hair was matted from dry blood and every time I turned to see where I was, my vision blurred. I felt sick to my stomach from the heat and had pissed myself while inside.
“Geesh, he stinks like a farm animal.”
“Commander wants him cleaned up.”
They dragged me across the dirt, then across a street. I saw some buildings, then trees.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Time for a bath, soldier boy.”
I could hear the sound of water rushing nearby. As my eyes began to adjust to the environment I realized they must be taking me to the nearby river.
The noise of the water became louder and I saw the ground beneath me change from the forest floor to a bridge with planks of wood. The next thing I felt was being thrown over the edge into the river. I landed hard and disappeared below the surface. When I came up, I gasped as the sudden shock of cold slapped me awake and ignited my senses. One of them waded in and held my head under the water. I gasped each time they brought me up.
“That’s it. Stinky bastard. We’ll soon have you cleaned up.”
Before I could reply he shoved me back under. When he finally pulled me out and laid me on the ground, my clothes were soaked and I was shivering.
“Here, put these on.”
They tossed a pair of army fatigue bottoms and a hoody at me. I spent the next five minutes tearing off my clothes while the two soldiers smoked a cigarette and made jokes about the women they had nailed since getting here. Once I slipped into the dry clothes, I rose to my feet. I was still unsteady from the knock on the back of my head and heat exhaustion but I didn’t want them dragging me again. They coaxed me forward stabbing my back with the barrel of their AR. Every time they did it, I wanted to turn and shove it up their ass and pull the trigger.
Led back to the manor, I was greeted by the sight of the Commander and several more of his men. They had zip tied me to prevent me from pulling another stunt. As I came around the corner I noticed Kate seated, her arms wrapped around her loose clothing.
“Kate!”
“Murphy.” She went to get up but was shoved back down.
“Reunions. So sweet,” the Commander said coming around. “I think we got off to a bad start. I want to give you another chance. My son here wants to give you a bullet but…” he glanced back at Saxon. “That’s not how we treat those who will help us. Now Kate here, she’s a different kettle of fish.”
He moved over to Kate, took a hold of her face and turned it from side to side. “She really is quite a stunner, isn’t she?”
He motioned for his son to take Shaw back to the group. As she passed by me, I caught the fear and pain in her eyes. I noticed the way her clothes looked as if they had recently been put back on, and the buttons hadn’t been done up.
“What did you do to her?” I demanded to know.
“Nothing. Well, a few things but that’s between Kate and I.” He moved across the room. “I thought we could continue our conversation.”
“I don’t have anything to say to you.”
“That’s fine. I’ll do all the talking,” He gestured with a sweep of his hand. “Please take a seat.”
His men remained in the room. Fingers on the trigger of their weapons. When I didn’t move, I was forced over to the couch and made to sit.
“Just to clarify. If you attempt to escape or do what you did again, I will have you shot. It’s only because I believe that there has been a misunderstanding between us that you are still alive. Am I clear?”
I nodded.
“Good.”
He came over and sat down across from me, took out a carton of Marlboro Lights and offered me one. I shook my head. He smiled when I declined.
“That’s right, your body is a temple. Should have figured. Though I have to ask. Was there anyone in your platoon that smoked?”
“No,” I said.
He tapped one against the carton, placed it between his lips and lit it. After taking a deep inhale he leaned back and blew smoke out the corner of his mouth.
“As you can see we are making progress. It’s slow but definitely faster than what I had imagined. We took a loss recently. Several trucks were ambushed by a group of individuals who don’t take kindly to what we are doing. Now I need a man who can head up a team to take them out. We have a man inside who has provided us with some good intel and indicated where to hit them. With his assistance we can bring an end to what has become a thorn in my side.”
“What am I to do with this?”
“I want you to head up that team.”
I squinted at him and then laughed a little. My laughter then turned into a full belly laugh. I think it was because I was still partially suffering from heat stroke but I couldn’t get over the nerve of this man.
“You want to place a gun in my hand to lead your men to kill others who are trying to stop you?”
“Not exactly. In your previous line of work, you knew how to infiltrate small villages, am I correct?”
I scoffed.
“I’m also aware you were responsible for helping people get out of your town after the white supremacists attacked.”
“That wasn’t just me.”
“No?”
I shook my head. “Actually, you’d never believe it if I told you.”
“Try me.”
“It was the community and a group of youngsters.”
“Military?”
“No,” I smirked thinking of the arguments they had with each other in the wilderness. He frowned and took another strong drag on the cigarette. The end glowed a bright orange before his face disappeared behind smoke.
“Regardless, I want your insights.”
“Why not one of your men?”
“Most are Army Reserves, FEMA employees and a small handful of military. None really have experience in the trenches leading others. They are followers.” He looked at the ones in the room. “No offense, guys.”
They didn’t seem bothered by his remark.
“Why would I help you?”
“Because I have something you want.”
“Which is?”
“Officer Kate Shaw.”
I stared back at him intently trying to decode what he meant. It wasn’t that it was hard to see what he was getting at but I was weighing my options. Trying to figure out if I could kill him before his men reacted.
“If you touch her…”
“If?”
“If you’ve touched her. I will…”
“You will what? The only reason you are alive right now, lieutenant, is because I haven’t given the command for them to shoot you. Don’t push your luck.”
In that instant, one of his men burst into the room. “Sir, you might want to see this.” The Commander rose to his feet and went to the window.
“It’s one of the trucks. The guy said he managed to escape, he barely made it here as they tried again to ambush it.”
“Does it have weapons?”
“Yep, food and other supplies.”
“And you say he managed to escape?”
“It appears there were four trucks, one was taken by the group, another crashed and burned, and obviously we managed to get the supplies out of the other. The driver says he stopped along the way so he didn’t get caught up in the initial ambush.”
“Superb.”
As they were looking out the window, I stood up. The Commander looked back at me and motioned for two of his men to keep a close eye. He didn’t trust me and for good reason. I would kill him the first chance I got.
“Were there any others with him?”
“No, just the one. Army Reserve.”
“Is he injured?”
“No, just a little shaken up.”
“Make sure that he is given a meal, water and then I would like to speak to him.”
“Yes sir.”
The soldier looked at me as he passed by. I glanced out of the nearest window and saw them escorting someone in army fatigues. The guy looked up and I squinted. It was Sam.
“See, lieutenant. We are winning the battle. There will be a few casualties along the way but when we have individuals like the one that made it through, that’s how I know we are going to stand against those who are resisting what I am trying to build here.”
“A few casualties?” I muttered.
I glanced at him and he looked back out the window.