Next World Series (Vol. 4): Families First [Hard Roads]

by Ewing, Lance K.

  “I’m just wondering how you and I fit in,” said Jake.

  “We can be involved as much or as little as we want, and it won’t change what he does. I’m guessing we will be here for another day, at least, though.”

  Ten minutes later Mike called for a meeting with a few of us.

  I was getting tired after a long day and wondered if I would be up all night.

  Mike ran down the specifics Mitch had given him regarding the brothers and those working for them.

  “I’m going to do some recon tonight,” he added. “And before anyone asks, no, I’m not asking for volunteers to help. It’s better that I go alone. By tomorrow morning, though, I should know a lot more about their numbers and what’s really going on.”

  We set up two-person night shifts, with every adult participating for hour-and-a-half-long shifts, with the exception of Mike, who was gone nearly three hours, from 9:30 p.m. until just after midnight.

  I was mid-shift when he returned, seemingly unharmed.

  “How did it go?” I asked, having heard no gunshots.

  “I think I have a solid plan,” Mike replied. “Talk to you in the morning,” he added, disappearing towards his tent.

  The night was quiet, at least inside the circle. We let Mitch and his girlfriend set up their tent just outside the ring.

  At 7 a.m. we had a meeting with the same group as the night before, plus Mitch and his girlfriend.

  Vlad started. “As most of you know, I had a call with my friend, the Colonel, last night, specifically regarding the matter before us. I won’t go into the entire conversation, but the bottom line is that he will not intervene at this moment.”

  “Why?” asked a few.

  “Doesn’t he care about what’s going on?” asked another.

  “He is a military man,” continued Vlad, “and let’s just say he fights for things that would fall under his jurisdiction. He doesn’t have the time or resources to intervene in other matters. Think of many countries before the day and how they would view other regions outside of their own. They may help one, or even many, countries but they can’t help everyone.

  “These people over on the lake want a better life, but they don’t want to go to the FEMA Camps, as Mitch here relayed to him. If they all did, or even most of them did, the Colonel would help them, but as he told me bluntly, we’re the only group he has any plans of helping who are wishing to remain outside the Camp walls. He has asked me not to take his time in the future with anything outside of that.”

  “So, we’re on our own?” asked another.

  “We always were,” I interjected. “We always were.”

  “Thanks for the update, Vlad,” said Mike. “As most of you here know, or could at least guess, I did a recon mission last night, only for information. What I know is this. The three brothers have been located, and their headquarter tents are right here,” he said, pointing to the crude but detailed map in his notebook.

  “The women Mitch had talked about are over here. All together and in one large tent.”

  “I thought there were four brothers?” asked Nancy.

  “There are, and the last one is over there,” he pointed towards the lake’s edge to a single two-man tent that I hadn’t seen yesterday. It seemed to shake but it was 30 yards from our camp, so I couldn’t be sure.

  “Is that the married one?” asked Lonnie, not surprised Mike had brought back a trophy of sorts.

  “Yep, that’s the one, and he should be quieted down enough now for a little talk. Be right back,” he announced and headed down to the lake’s edge.

  We all watched as he opened the tent and brought the terrified but seemingly unharmed man, with his hands bound and mouth gagged, up to our camp.

  “He knows where we are now,” said someone in our group behind me.

  “They’ve known about us since the minute we pulled in,” replied Mike. “Isn’t that right?”

  His captive nodded his head up and down.

  “This here is the youngest of the Gradlen brothers. He ran auto dealerships in Pueblo—until recently, that is. When his father died a couple of years back, he was named CEO of the company, and as you can imagine, his brothers weren’t happy about it. Fast forward to just a few weeks ago, and they all came out to the lake. His brothers started collecting guns and anything of value from families hoping to ride this thing out here as well. They recruited men, starting with a few of their former employees and adding more each day, for security. Is that right so far?” Mike asked the man after his gag was removed.

  “Yes, that’s right so far.”

  “All right. About a week in,” he continued “they started getting worried about the lake being overfished and implemented a no-fishing policy. Only those who traded something of high value could fish. This is how they started getting women. First, it was only one or two, then it was five, and now it’s 20 or more. They sell them each week to the highest bidder, and their men are either on their own fishing or died in the pit. Either way, they make money or get other valuable items from the sales and pit-fighting wagers. I propose we persuade the other brothers to move on down the road and let this one here run the group,” said Mike.

  “Let’s take a few minutes to discuss,” interjected Lonnie.

  A few of us asked Mike some final questions outside the hearing range of the youngest car dealership brother.

  “So, you’re going to kick the other brothers out of town?” asked Shane.

  We all nodded, knowing the truth.

  “No, not exactly,” Mike replied. “Tell them how I work, Lance.”

  Again, I was in the hot seat without being asked.

  “Okay, are you sure?” I questioned.

  “Not everything,” he replied, “but the basics I’m okay with,” getting a questioning look from Lonnie.

  “All right, Shane. To answer your question and maybe the next one, Mike doesn’t kick the can down the road. He picks it up, looks at it, smashes it into the dirt, and tosses it in the trash. These bad guys are not getting moved down the road or being asked politely to leave. They are going somewhere forever, and they won’t be back.”

  I looked at Mike hesitantly, hoping I hadn’t overstepped my bounds.

  “That sounds about right,” he replied. I sighed silently.

  “All right now. Who’s willing to play kick the can with Mike?” I asked, holding my hand up. All hands were down, and some stuffed them deep into their pockets.

  “We don’t all have to be on the front lines,” said Joy, raising her hand, “but we all can play a part in seeing this operation succeed. Saving just one mother saves a family, and saving them all ensures the safety of an entire community. It’s families first, after all. Let’s never forget that!”

  She waited while most hands in the group went up and stayed there.

  “Let’s get the brother back for a chat,” said Mike.

  Once back, he was questioned about his leadership skills for the coming days.

  “Well, I used to run all three dealerships, and I think I did a good job. I mean, sales were up every quarter and we had a team of 70 people between the locations. I took really good care of all our employees and knew everyone’s family. I’m not sure I’m the one to lead going forward, though, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Nope, I’m not asking,” said Mike. “What I’m telling you is that this is wrong, and you’re a part of it.”

  “Now wait a minute,” Mitch said. “I didn’t have a choice in it.”

  “That’s debatable,” Mike continued. “But now, either way, you do.

  “Choice one: we take this group from you and your brothers and find a new leader.

  “Choice two: I’ll give you the group, minus your brothers, of course, but I have a few conditions you will need to follow.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You pick a dozen or so adults you trust to be your security. You will immediately release all women held captive and open the lake to their families fo
r food, water and hygiene. No more pit fights for any reason. Anyone who wants to leave can do so for any reason, without permission.”

  “What about my brothers?”

  “They will be banished from the area, never to return,” replied Mike.

  “And if I don’t want the position?”

  “Then you had better tell me right now, because once your brothers are gone, the rest that have been oppressed while you looked the other way are going to put you in the pit. Give them some real leadership and hope, and you just might get out of this mess. We will help you with the transition language. Either way, something will be changing soon, like before the sun rises again. Oh, and I take harming women and children deadly serious, and if you tip anyone off to what’s about to happen, then you and I will meet in the pit. Understand?”

  “Yes,” he conceded quietly, finally realizing who he was dealing with. “I understand completely and accept your offer.”

  “What the heck is that about?” Aiden whispered to me.

  “Just another day, and in case I forgot to tell you, don’t mess with Mike. I mean, don’t even talk to him unless you have...”

  “Hey, Aiden, what did you think?” asked Mike.

  Aiden looked at me, not sure if he should answer.

  I put my hands up in a “Well, he did ask” gesture.

  “Well, okay,” Aiden replied. “From what I know about you, which is not much, I would say you’re giving these people across the lake a second chance if they want it and are willing to work to keep it.”

  Shane nodded his head in agreement, as did I.

  “They seem all right,” said Mike to me, walking off.

  “Is that good?” asked Shane.

  “Yep, with him that’s all you want,” I told him.

  “Lance,” called Lonnie. “Jake, you too, and Vlad, come on over for a minute.”

  The four of us met in front of Lonnie’s truck, where Mike had apparently called a meeting with just us.

  “Okay, guys, this goes down today…well, tonight, actually. Sorry for the delay, but we should be able to move on tomorrow, or the next day at the latest.

  “There’s a pit fight scheduled tonight, same time as last night. The information I just learned from Mitch is that the three guys I need to focus on are all going to be there and each in different places. The trick is getting it done quietly before the rest of them know what’s going on.

  “What else, Lance?”

  “I guess the other hard part is not just transferring leadership from them to one or more of their guards, hoping to make a name for themselves,” I replied. “They will all be armed, no doubt, and I’m not sure it can be done.”

  “I’m not either,” Mike agreed, “but I’m going over tonight and I’ll do my best to keep you all out of it. Just set up extra security here.”

  “You can’t do it alone,” I said, shaking my head. “We can help.”

  “No. I don’t want you there, not anyone. Besides, I’m not liberating their camp. They are.”

  “What does that mean?” asked Lonnie, saying aloud what we all were thinking.

  “The brother, the one about to inherit the camp, has a big group of supporters waiting for him to step up. They say they will back him with blood.”

  “Who told you this?” asked Lonnie.

  “Mitch did, and I see no reason for him to be less than truthful. So, to continue, we give them one chance to do it, with a little help, of course. After that, they are on their own, and we’ve done all we can do. Do we need to vote on this?” Mike asked us.

  “I don’t,” I said.

  “Me neither,” replied both Jake and Vlad.

  “Lonnie?” he asked. “What about you?”

  “I’m not sure it’s the best idea right now, but it’s not right what’s happening over there. I’m okay with you giving it one shot if you want Mike, but if it goes bad, don’t bring them all our direction. We’ve got too much to lose.”

  “If it does go bad, you all move on up the mountain, and I’ll catch up if I can,” replied Mike.

  * * * *

  “Heads up, guys!” called out Steve from up on the lead trailer. “We’ve got company—ten or so at 6 o’clock in two trucks from across the lake, and they’re armed, best I can see.”

  “Spread out guys,” called Lonnie. “Get the kids and anyone without a rifle inside the vehicles now!”

  We scrambled to get the camp locked down and took sniper-type positions, waiting for a fight.

  Mitch and his girl were offered a temporary spot inside the circle and were happy to accept.

  “Just stay down,” said Lonnie. “I’m not sure why they are here.”

  Both trucks stopped 50 yards out, and the call came. “We own this lake and a mile out on all sides—you’re trespassing.”

  “Wait,” said Lonnie over the radio. “Nobody respond.”

  All was quiet for the longest 30 seconds since, well, since only a couple days ago, I thought.

  “You’ve got our brother, and we want him back.”

  Mike had a quick talk with him before telling him he could leave. Mike called out loudly as the man walked back towards his brothers.

  “He is unharmed and just came here to talk. We have been ordered by him to pack up and leave tomorrow. We will honor that and will just have to find another place to call home.”

  “How many are you?” came the reply. “How many men and women?”

  “Interestingly, they didn’t ask about the kids,” I said to Jake.

  “Nope. Right now, they are just trafficking women,” he replied, “but another week or two, and I’ll bet those sick guys will find buyers for the kids as well.”

  “We’re just passing through now,” said Mike, not answering his question.

  There was a brief discussion, including the guy Mike had brought back and three other men, presumably his brothers. With one truck honk, they turned around and headed back around the lake.

  “That was odd,” said Lonnie as they drove away. “I expected face-to-face, at least.”

  “My guy did what I told him,” argued Mike. “Now I know I can trust him, at least for today.”

  * * * *

  Mike spent the rest of the day with his binoculars, spying on the group. He spotted no real security beyond some guys carrying guns around and looking like they were going through the motions.

  Dinner was easy. Canned ravioli in meat sauce, with eight large cans heated in a pot over the fire.

  Lonnie and Vlad made sure only essentials were used, in case we had to move quickly in the middle of the night.

  Security shifts started in earnest at six p.m. Three adults took three-hour-long shifts. I drew the second shift, with Aiden and Nancy, from 9 p.m. till midnight.

  * * * *

  Mike slipped out at dark without using his flashlight or any light source at all.

  The drums banged just as my shift started, and I said a silent prayer for Mike.

  Mike stayed just off the lakeshore. With its smooth beach-like shore, it was easy to navigate in the darkness.

  He wound around makeshift camps, easily identified by small campfires, and he wondered how many of the men he passed had eaten fish tonight while their better halves were being held captive or already sold.

  “Lord,” Mike said quietly, “you’ve got a whole lot of bad guys around here that don’t make me look so bad now. Am I right?” He knew better, but he had to ask.

  The pit, as they called it, was off the main camp by 200 yards.

  Torches lit up the grounds, yet disguised faces like so many high-school bonfire parties he had attended, a few even with his brother and sister, Arthur and Lilly. His mind continued to wander as he thought about his siblings.

  After he beat up Arthur’s bullies, nobody would even look at Lilly while he was around. She was the most beautiful and popular girl in school. She could have been mad that his reputation ruined her love life, but she wasn’t.

  “Michael,” she would s
ay, “just promise me that when I meet the guy I want to marry, you will shake his hand and not scare him away!” He did promise Lilly, who he adored, but would never get that chance.