“Did Chelsea go back home?” I ask Brody.
“I think so, she drove to her house after we let her through, but I’m sorry for letting her out. I didn’t know what she did,” answers Brody.
“It’s okay. Just keep an eye out for us. Especially for her brother. I’m not sure how this trip is going to go,” I reply to Brody.
“You are shoot to kill if they fire at us or threaten us,” says Phil to Brody and the armed guards that are with Brody on the platforms at the exit of Citrus Oaks.
“Yes sir, but what if Kiersten comes after you guys?” asks Brody.
“Go for a leg,” jokes Phil.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, but we are on her side and we’ll make that known,” I answer Brody.
“Open the gate!” I shout.
The armed guards open the gate to Citrus Oaks.
“What’s the play here?” asks Phil as Phil and I exit Citrus Oaks.
“I was hoping you knew what to do here,” I answer Phil.
“I’ll lead things off, but I say we get answers at whatever the cost here,” says Phil.
Phil and I cross the street and enter the small group of homes where Jerri-Lynn’s and Chelsea’s houses are.
“Should we check on Kiersten and Sam?” asks Lauren.
I look at Phil for an answer and Phil answers, “Yeah. Lauren, Lisa, Matt, and Shaun go to Kiersten’s house and Ryan, Jon, and I will go to Chelsea’s house.”
Lauren, Lisa, Matt, and Shaun go to Kiersten’s house as it comes up on our left as we make our way further down the neighborhood street. I look at Lauren and Lauren says, “It will be okay.”
I nod my head at Lauren and walk with Phil and Jon towards Chelsea’s house.
“I’m not even sure which house is Chelsea’s,” I say as I walk in the middle of the street with Jon and Phil.
“Didn’t they say something about a cranberry color painted front door?” asks Phil.
I look to my right and see a house with a cranberry painted front door, and I hear someone loudly coughing inside the house.
I look at the boarded up front windows and the cranberry front door and say, “That’s gotta be Chelsea’s dad coughing.”
Phil walks towards the cranberry painted front door. Jon and I follow Phil and Phil knocks on the front door.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
The person coughing inside the house shouts, “Who is it?”
“It’s Phil sir, we only want to talk. Please let us inside!” shouts Phil.
There is no reply from anyone inside the house after Phil shouted.
I look at Phil and Jon and wait on what to do.
“Please open the door sir! We need to get answers!” shouts Phil.
The sounds of various door locks from inside the house are heard turning and unlocking.
The cranberry door opens and an old white man who has a nasal canula in his nose looks at Phil, Jon, and myself and says, “No one is here, but I’ll gladly talk with you fellas.”
“Are you Charles sir? Chelsea’s father?” I ask.
“Yeah, and who are you?” asks Charles.
“I’m Ryan, this is Phil and Jon. We live across the street,” I answer Charles.
“I’ve heard about you fellas. Well come in before the dead start coming around here,” says Charles with a friendly nonthreatening tone.
Charles walks away from the cranberry front door and Phil, Jon, and I cautiously enter the house.
Phil enters the house with his handgun drawn. Jon closes the cranberry front door, and I watch Charles enter the living room.
“Anyone else in the house?” I ask.
Charles sits down in a living room chair and tries to catch his breath.
Phil and Jon check the house and I enter the living room to talk with Charles.
“Where is your son and daughter at?” I ask Charles.
“I don’t know. They’ve been gone for a little while now,” answers Charles.
Phil and Jon enter the living room and Phil says, “The house is clear. We are the only ones here.”
“I told you that I was the only one here,” says Charles.
“Well, we had to be sure sir as your daughter had some of our medical supplies and we just wanted to know why,” I reply to Charles.
“I don’t know why she would have your stuff, but we have so much stuff in here now,” says Charles.
“How are things going with you guys?” asks Shaun over the radio.
Phil picks up his radio and answers, “Good, it’s just us and the old man in the house. No sign of Chelsea or Chase. Keep your eyes open for them.”
“We only have Andre here and he doesn’t know where Sam and Kiersten are right now,” replies Shaun over the radio.
“Keep a lookout for anyone coming down the street or into Citrus Oaks,” says Phil into his radio.
I look around Charles’ living room and I see a lot of medical supplies, food, water, and other supplies. “You got a lot of good stuff around here,” I say to Charles.
“Yeah, we are stocked pretty well,” replies Charles and then Charles starts to cough.
The medical professional in me wants to help Charles but the leader in me knows that I need to figure out what is going on here and that I have to separate the two sides.
I pick up a box of gauze and see that Citrus Oaks is written on the bottom of the box. “I know you didn’t hop over our walls and steal our medical supplies. But either your son or daughter did. Which one did it?” I say to Charles.
“My money is on Chase,” says Phil as he looks at the family portrait that is hanging on the wall.
“Why? I think it was Chelsea,” says Jon.
“Wanna bet?” asks Phil.
I shake my head at Jon and Phil potentially betting on such a dumb thing and then I look at Charles.
“How long they give you?” I ask Charles.
“Six months,” answers Charles.
“How long ago was that?” I ask Charles.
“Two years ago,” answers Charles with a smile on his face.
I sit down in a chair next to Charles’ recliner chair and say to Charles, “We just want answers about our supplies.”
“I don’t know anything. My kids are basically on their own now,” replies Charles.
“A car just turned down the street,” says Shaun over the radio.
I look at Charles and I see that Charles seems concerned after hearing that a car turned onto his street.
Phil asks into his radio, “Who is it?”
I look at Charles and Charles looks at me and says, “You can’t get your answers from a dead body.”
I look at Charles and think about what he just said to me.
“It’s a blue car, but I can’t make out who is driving it,” answers Shaun over the radio.
“Let the car come here,” I say to Phil.
“You sure Ry?” asks Phil.
I look at Charles and say, “We are here for answers. Let the car come here.”
“I have my sights on the driver, Should I take them out?” asks Shaun over the radio.
Phil looks at me and I shake my head side to side.
“No, let the car go, but keep an eye on them,” answers Phil into his radio.
I see Charles let out a sigh after hearing Phil tell Shaun to stand down and let the car go.
“The person just got out of the car and they are coming towards your front door,” says Shaun over the radio.
Charles’ front door opens, and the person comes walking into the house.
Phil gets behind Charles and puts his handgun to the side of Charles’ head.
I stand up from my living room chair and look at the person that just entered Charles’ house and it’s Chelsea. Chelsea sees Jon, me, and Phil as Phil has his handgun pointed at Charles’ right temple.
“Let him go!” shouts Chelsea as she points her handgun at Phil.
“We aren’t here to hurt anyone. We only want answers,” I say to Chel
sea as I have my arms and hands extended towards Chelsea in a non-threatening manner.
Chelsea is only worried about the safety of her father and keeps her handgun pointed at Phil.
Jon points his handgun at Chelsea and says, “Don’t do anything crazy Chelsea. We only want to talk.”
“Are you hurt dad?” asks Chelsea with tears in her eyes.
“I’m fine honey, please put the gun away,” answers Charles.
“Not until Phil lowers his,” replies Chelsea.
“Where is your brother?” I ask Chelsea.
“Somewhere safe,” answers Chelsea.
“How are things going in there?” asks Shaun over the radio.
I don’t want to hurt Chelsea or Charles, but I also don’t want myself, Phil, or Jon injured. I see that Chelsea is upset and I try to calm things down. “Lower your gun Phil,” I say while looking at Chelsea.
“No way, not until she does,” says Phil.
“Please Phil,” I reply to Phil as I keep looking at Chelsea.
“I’m going to lower my gun,” says Phil to Chelsea.
Phil slowly removes his handgun away from Charles’ right temple.
“I didn’t take your supplies Ryan,” says Chelsea.
“I believe you, but why are they here?” I reply to Chelsea.
Chelsea lowers her handgun, closes her eyes in frustration and looks at her dad for help.
“Don’t look at me, I don’t know where you got them from,” says Charles.
“I….,” says Chelsea and then the cranberry front door suddenly swings open and Chelsea is tackled to the tile floor.
I run over to Chelsea and see that Shaun tackled Chelsea and he’s on top of her.
I grab Chelsea’s handgun from the floor and say, “We had it under control Shaun.”
Shaun, while on top of Chelsea, replies, “Oh, you didn’t respond.”
WHAPP!
Chelsea knees Shaun in his nuts.
Shaun feels instant pain and I want to laugh, but I help Shaun up from the tile floor.
Chelsea stands up, fixes her shirt, and says, “Like I was saying, I didn’t steal your supplies.”
“Stop beating around the bush and tell us who did,” says Phil.
“I mean it doesn’t matter, let’s just take our stuff back and be done with this,” says Jon.
“You don’t want to lose the bet,” says Phil.
“Did your brother take our stuff then?” I ask Chelsea.
Chelsea looks down at the tile floor, looks at Charles, and then answers, “Yes.”
Phil smiles and says, “Pay up Jon.”
“I don’t have them on me, I’ll give them to you when I get back home,” says Jon.
“Where is your brother now?” asks Shaun to Chelsea.
“I’m not telling you that,” answers Chelsea.
“Where is Sam and Kiersten?” I ask.
“I don’t know, I haven’t seen them since I left Citrus Oaks,” answers Chelsea.
“What should we do now?” asks Jon.
I look at Phil for an answer.
Phil looks around the living room and answers, “Let’s take all our stuff back and whatever else we want.”
“You can’t just take our stuff!” shouts Chelsea.
“What? You serious!” I shout at Chelsea.
“Let them take whatever they want,” says Charles.
“But that’s not right dad,” says Chelsea.
Shaun, Jon, and Phil start boxing up things and make a pile near the cranberry front door.
“I’d worry about what Kiersten and Sam are going to do next Chelsea. Your brother basically killed Jerri-Lynn,” I say.
Chelsea feels bad that Jerri-Lynn died, and she thinks about what I just said and what may happen next.
Phil and I help Jon and Shaun box up the medical supplies, food, and water from inside Charles’ house.
I see the group of boxes near Charles’ front door and I grab two boxes of items.
“What are you doing with those?” asks Phil.
I place the two boxes in front of Charles and Chelsea and say, “We didn’t come here to rob you and you need somethings to live on, but this isn’t over. We are going to find your brother and get our answers.”
“He’s not just going to come talk with you guys,” replies Chelsea.
“I’m sure he won’t, but let’s not make this any harder than it needs to be,” I reply to Chelsea.
I exit Charles’ home with Jon, Shaun, and Phil and we are each holding boxes full of medical supplies, food, water, and other supplies.
“We really going after Chase?” asks Jon.
“I don’t know, we’ll see what happens, but I’m sure he’s around here somewhere,” I answer Jon as we walk down the neighborhood street towards Citrus Oaks.
CHAPTER 8
A SHITLOAD
“Where are you going?” I ask Kat and Deb as Kat is about to enter her car, that’s parked in her driveway of her new house in Citrus Oaks, as I’m leaving Jon’s house the next afternoon.
“We are heading back to our house to get the last of our belongings and my cat Lucky!” shouts Kat.
“Okay be safe!” I shout to Kat and Deb.
“Always!” shouts Kat and then Kat and Deb enter Kat’s car and they drive towards the exit of Citrus Oaks.
Jaws Junior comes out of his house with Indy.
“Man this cul-de-sac is pretty busy today,” I say to myself.
“Hey Ryan,” says Jaws Junior as he walks over to me with Indy.
“Hey, how are ya? How’s the house?” I ask Jaws Junior.
“It’s pretty good. The garage needs some work, but this house will work out great for us,” answers Jaws Junior.
“Good, I’m glad,” I reply.
I can sense that something isn’t right with Jaws Junior and I ask him, “Anything else bothering you?”
“Something is actually,” answers Jaws Junior.
I look at Jaws Junior to elaborate.
“I feel somewhat responsible for the death of your father,” says Jaws Junior.
“Why? Why do you feel like that?” I ask Jaws Junior.
“I worked on his car and it broke down on him. If it was properly fixed then he’d probably still be here,” answers Jaws Junior.
I think about what Jaws Junior said and I see his point. If Bobby G’s SUV wasn’t at a point where he wanted to test drive it then he’d probably be here with us today.
I see that Jaws Junior is upset about it, and I don’t want him to be. It wasn’t his fault that Bobby G went out alone.
“I don’t blame you for what happened to my father. Chris attacked him and he’s to blame. Plus my father never should have went out alone,” I say to Jaws Junior.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you mad at me or Darlene,” replies Jaws Junior.
“I’m not lying to you. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say. Let’s just make sure you get these vehicles running right around here as our head mechanic,” I say to Jaws Junior.
“I definitely will,” says Jaws Junior with a big smile on his face.
“How’s your shoulder?” I ask Jaws Junior.
“It’s much better. Still a little weak, but I have good range of motion now,” answers Jaws Junior.
“Keep rehabbing it, I know we have some exercise bands and weights you can use to get it stronger,” I say to Jaws Junior.
“Come in Ryan. Are you there?” asks a man over the radio.
I excuse myself from Jaws Junior, unclip my radio from my belt, and answer, “This is Ryan.”
Jaws Junior walks down the sidewalk with Indy.
“This is Brad from Channelside,” replies the man over the radio.
“What’s up Brad? Long time no talk,” I say into my radio.
“I can’t talk long, but I wanted to setup another meeting with you,” answers Brad over the radio.
“Where and when?” I ask into my radio.
“I can come to your communit
y tomorrow, as Sal and his goons are going to be leaving for the stadium,” answers Brad over the radio.
“What’s going on at the stadium?” I ask into my radio as I walk down the sidewalk.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow when I get there. I just wanted to make sure you’ll be around,” replies Brad.
“I’ll make sure Phil, or Shaun, or myself are here. What time you coming?” I ask into my radio.
“I’m not sure. Sometime after they leave, but I don’t know the time. I gotta go someone is coming,” answers Brad over the radio.
I walk down the street and approach Phil’s house.
I knock on Phil’s front door.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Phil answers his front door and asks, “What’s up Ry?”
“Did you hear the radio conversation I just had with Brad?” I answer.
“No, my radio is off right now. It’s charging. What’s up?” asks Phil.
“Brad’s coming here tomorrow as Channelside’s leader Sal is going to the stadium tomorrow,” I answer Phil.
“Should we go to the stadium tomorrow also?” asks Phil.
“Shit, I didn’t even think of that. Do you want to go with a small group tomorrow?” I ask Phil.
“I could go with Shaun or Jon tomorrow,” answers Phil.
“What about the Ghosts?” I ask Phil.
“I’ll check with them over the sat phone and get back to you on that. You don’t want to go?” answers Phil.
“Someone has to meet with Brad tomorrow,” I answer Phil.
“I’ll check in with the guys and the Ghosts and then get back with you later today,” says Phil.
I say goodbye to Phil, walk away from his house, and see two people standing in our cemetery. The two people are standing at our newest grave and I think I know who they are.
I approach the cemetery and I see Sam and Kiersten.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I say softly as I step onto our cemetery grass.
Sam glances at me and then looks back at Jerri-Lynn’s grave.
Kiersten says, “We need to put something at her grave.”
“We will. We will,” replies Sam.
“If you need anything, please let us know,” I say to Sam and Kiersten.
“Thank you Ryan,” says Sam.
I start to walk away from Sam and Kiersten and Sam says, “Hold up Ryan.”
Sam walks over to me and I stop walking.
Fight 4 Us (Book 11): Access Page 8