The office was trashed. It looked like a tornado when through. They looked around and didn’t see anyone, then saw the stairs. “Who’s first?” Jack said. “Hell, I’ll go.” And JR was on his way up. Ralph followed, and Jack brought up the rear.
They climbed the stairs at a crawl, not wanting to make a sound. JR reached the top and peeked around. He waved them forward. They crept up the stairs. Nothing. It was empty here too. This was a small living area and had a tiny kitchen. It too had been ransacked.
Ralph saw a cupboard above the refrigerator and on a hunch, popped it open. “I knew it! People store stuff there and then forget about it.”
Staring at them were two cans of coffee. Cans. Not the plastic containers of today. These were old. Jack said, “Grab your loot, Ralph.”
He reached up and brought them down. “They’re full and hopefully sealed.”
He pulled back one of the plastic lids and saw it was indeed sealed. The other can also had an unbroken seal.
“Damnit Ralph, you’re a genius,” Jack said. “Is it looting if we take something everyone forgot about? I mean, it’s coffee. It’s life. I haven’t had coffee in weeks.”
“I think you’re good,” JR said.
They left the office and closed the door behind them. They couldn’t lock it, but they did what they could. A few minutes later, they were back at camp. The coffee remained a secret between the three.
Jack called everyone together to go over the plan for tomorrow. “Okay, one more time so we’re all on the same page. We will set out and turn right, towards the park. Packwood and the rest of Morton will start from the football field. They’re camping out behind it. We’ll both move along the edge of town and should make contact rather fast.”
“When the time comes, Jason will grab Jay and get him on a horse. The two of them will bolt for the Wildlife office, where Larry will be waiting. If we make contact first, we’ll help Packwood. Same if they’re first. We help each other, and we all go home. Everyone eat and sleep well.”
∆ ∆ ∆
The group packed up their belongings and got ready. Diane pulled her bow from the soft case and tied the case to her pack again. She had been practicing all summer and was competent, almost gifted. It would be awkward to ride and carry, but she wanted to try. The bow did attract some interesting looks.
They mounted up and made their way to town. They turned toward the park and began scanning for the scavengers. When they made the turn on 7th, Robin got nervous and anxious. Up ahead is where she spotted her husband a week ago. As they got closer, Robin started twisting her wedding ring, a sure sign she was anxious. The moment she’d been dreaming of for the past few months had arrived.
They made it to the public utility building but still didn’t see anyone. Now Robin was biting at her lip and sweating. Where are they? She wondered. They reached Westlake and didn’t see anyone coming from out of town, then turned left. They could see the Packwood group coming their way.
They met in the middle. JR waved to a Packwood member and said “Hello Dave, this is Jack. He’s leading the Ashford side.” They greeted each other, and Jack said, “So what do you think? They should have been here by now.”
David said, “That’s my impression. Maybe they slept in or lost track of time.” He paused and looked around, “We can circle around and give it another try.”
“Sounds good.” Jack understood what was left unsaid. The scavengers could have given up on Morton, with nothing left to take. Neither man was ready to tell Robin, however.
JR interrupted, saying his group would go down 3rd and Packwood could take 4th.
Diane rode next to Robin to try and calm her fears. She said, “Robin, I want you to try something. Look at your horse’s head and tell me what you see. Look close, don’t leave out any details.”
“Sure. Big ears, long neck, mane. What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to get you thinking about something else so you’ll relax. We can’t have a nervous Nelly,” she said with a smile and a wink.
“You left out a lot of details, by the way. Your horse has black and white hair, a long mane, tufts of hair coming from within the ears. Her neck is strong and I can see the muscles moving under the skin.”
“Okay, I get it. I’m just not in the mood. I just need to think to myself.”
“Okay, let me know if you need anything,” Robin said.
When they made it back to the north end of town, they took a ten-minute break to rest the horses. They didn’t need the rest at the time, but there could be galloping later. They mounted up and began their second trip around the town.
Once again, Jack’s group turned down 7th and headed towards highway 12.
Contact.
A group of people congregated a few blocks down. JR said it was a church and said, “Would they really loot a church?”
They pressed on at a slow pace. Robin’s heart was thumping like it would burst from her chest. As they got closer, she saw her son. “Diane, it’s Jay. He’s there!”
∆ ∆ ∆
Ranger John had gathered all his fellow rangers in the office for a “mandatory meeting.” As rangers arrived, he handed them a letter and told them to read it to themselves. Nothing in the letter is to be spoken out loud. They couldn’t take the chance of someone overhearing and spreading the news.
Rangers,
Today is a sad day for everyone involved. It was agreed upon at our last meeting that it is time to go home to our families - indefinitely. There will be no more food drops coming to the park. When people find out or figure it out, our lives will be at risk.
The winter is going to be hard for everyone and we need to take care of our families before strangers.
We leave under cover of darkness on Friday night. If you’re scheduled to go home before that, do so. I will hand you extra supplies to take with you. We will leave nothing for looters here.
We will meet regularly, alternating between Ashford and Elbe. The first meeting will take place on the second Monday after we leave, at the rest stop in Elbe. Be there at noon.
Meet here at midnight, Friday.
John Thomas
After the last person read the note, John burned it.
The Back Door
The distinguished, handpicked cyber assault team arrived a little early and got set up with lightning-quick efficiency. Lt. Zhurov was impressed, even though it was his hand that picked the team.
This unit has infiltrated the electrical grids of several countries and installed back doors to get in whenever needed. His men proved their worth against the United States and that should have been enough for a promotion. When this succeeds, I should get two ranks, the lieutenant thought. Unlikely, but a man can dream.
Now they were just waiting for the signal to begin. Each computer is masked behind layers of proxies. Two of the men on the team are responsible for keeping their location hidden. If they fail, Algeria will get the blame. Everything they purchased or rented in the country was paid in cash. The only thing locals will be able to say to investigators is the renters spoke Russian. Lots of countries speak Russian.
Zhurov’s burner phone rang. “Da, koneshna.” Of course we’re ready, he thought. He ended the call and said, “Men, you may begin.” The group had been together for several years and worked like an orchestra of prodigies. Fingers whizzed across keyboards.
Zhurov phoned General Fedin and informed him the project had commenced. Fedin said he’d be there in a few minutes. His room was in a hotel two blocks away. Depending on the route he took, he could arrive in two minutes or fifteen. Like all good operators, he never made a beeline for his destination. Always keep your enemies guessing.
A few minutes after the attack began, Sgt. Lavrov announced, “We’re in.” But a minute later he said, “Door closed!”
This isn’t good, Zhurov thought. “What happened? What do you mean ‘closed’”?
“Sorry sir, it’s only a temporary setback. They know what we’re do
ing and found the back door. We left others, we’ll get back in.”
“Hurry! The general is on his way here!”
“Yes, sir.”
It took a few minutes, but they were able to get back in. The British team was doing a good job of closing their openings, however.
The general walked in and without so much as a “hi” said, “Report.” Zhurov stood at once and used the soft, yet threatening tone Fedin had used at the warehouse. His tone was directed at his men, however.
“General, my team infiltrated the target, but they were kicked out. They have assured me it was expected and are currently back in and working on shutting the system down. I’m sure they understand the gravity of the situation and that failure is not an option.” The last part was stressed for the team’s benefit. Fedin was impressed at Zhurov’s quick learning.
The general nodded and took a seat at his desk. Fedin turned on his computer and began reading his messages. Even though he was confident of his system’s security, every message was coded. He saw one from “Saber” and knew it to be Sabbir. Sabbir needs work on his code names, Fedin thought. He removed the codebook from his briefcase and learned Sabbir’s people deployed their packages without complication. Now the pressure was on his men to finish the job.
“Sir, we’ve been kicked out again.”
Zhurov decided to act before the general. It would be easier on his men than the alternative.
“I will not stand for this incompetence! Do your jobs. Nobody rests until the job is finished!”
Fedin hadn’t seen this side of his lieutenant before. My protégé is learning, he thought. Fedin let Zhurov handle the situation and got back to his messages. After an hour had gone by, the president wanted to know why the UK still had power.
The general stood and looked around. His team was busy, fingers still typing faster than Fedin could think. None of the men looked worried. Fedin asked in a nonchalant tone, “Why haven’t we left yet?”
Zhurov said, “Sergeant, report.”
“Sir, we’ve been kicked out a few times, but we have many openings. Our adversaries are good, but we’re better. We will succeed. It will take more time than we thought, however.”
“Have they found us?”
“No, sir. We’re bouncing around the globe.”
“I like your confidence, sergeant. You’ll need it in prison if you’re wrong. We all will.”
With that, the sergeant sat down and got back to work. He was right, the UK side was very good. Every door the team opened, the British closed before any harm could be done. It seemed like an exercise in futility. This battle would be won by the team with better endurance. The sergeant was sure they could outlast the British.
Fedin composed his message to the president. He couldn’t lie, but he could sugar coat the truth somewhat. He informed the president of the situation and told him they expected a fight. He said he wasn’t worried, and that success was a given. The UK would be in the dark in short order.
∆ ∆ ∆
Johnathan McNally was typing furiously on his keyboard, wondering who was trying so desperately to infiltrate his system. He worked hard to keep his network safe from hackers and thought it was bulletproof.
After the last attack, he went through his entire system and found a virus. He didn’t want to be responsible for an attack like the one that crippled the US. He was sure he removed all traces, but now he understood he was mistaken. Whoever his opponent was, they were good.
Johnathan had made the necessary calls and was getting all the help available. He wasn’t sure it was enough, however. His opponent was not giving up. In the past, every attacker had given up by now. Or they got in and were kicked out without doing much damage.
Or so he thought. Every time he kicks the attacker out, he comes right back. When this is over, I need to do an extensive overhaul, he thought. And he’s back again. When will this stop!
Best Laid Plans
Diane let Jack know that Robin had identified Jay. When they reached the church property they could see the whole group. They hoped. There was an armed lookout on the corner and one in front of the sign, along 7th. There was someone else on the corner of 7th and Adams, probably another lookout. A few people were looking in windows and an older woman was trying the door. It looked as if she were attempting to pick the lock.
Jack’s group started to spread out. Jason got as close to Jay as possible. A lookout said, “Carla!” and the old woman at the door turned and drew a handgun as she approached. She was in her 50’s, maybe older. It was hard to tell with her unwashed, disheveled hair and clothes. She looked like someone you’d see on a midnight trip at Walmart.
Jack looked at Carla and said, “Jay’s mother is with us, and we’re taking him home.” Jay’s eyes widened and he said, “Mom?” Robin prodded her horse and moved around to the front. She had kept herself hidden until it was time. She wanted to cry but checked herself. There would be time for that later.
Before Jay could run over to his mother, Carla said, “We ain’t letting anyone leave anywhere. He owes us for keeping him alive.”
“Maybe you misunderstood. I wasn’t asking. Consider the debt paid. You’re out-gunned and out-manned.”
Carla whistled, and four more people came from the other side of the church. Diane didn’t see them. She stopped listening at “We ain’t letting anyone leave.” She heard those words and “I’ll be gentle” burned in her mind. Everything started happening in slow motion. Tunnel vision. She was looking at the armed lookout closest to Jay, standing near the sign in front. He was looking at Jack and Carla.
Center mass. She plucked an arrow from the quiver. She nocked the arrow. Before she knew it, the arrow flew.
Time stood still. Her target looked at his chest and shook his head. He dropped his rifle and grabbed at the shaft protruding from his chest. The color drained from his face and he fell to his knees.
Diane heard Jack yell “Go!” and it brought her out of her trance. She kicked her horse and ran with everyone else. The plan was to be moving targets. She hung her bow on the saddle horn, pulled out her Glock, and raced for the street corner.
At the word “go,” Jason ran for Jay. He jumped down and scooped the boy up in his long, strong arms. Jay was placed on Jeannine and told to hold on tight. The big man leapt onto his horse in a single motion and ran.
Carla looked at Jay and raised her weapon. Jack stopped his horse and fired twice. Carla’s head pitched backward. She fell before getting a shot off. Robin took out two armed men. Diane had reached her target. She took him out in one shot.
Ralph took aim at a rifleman that had stepped out from behind the church. He squeezed the trigger of his Winchester 308 with a gentle touch. The man bucked back and into a tree. His body slid down the trunk, blood rushed from his chest.
Within seconds, any foe with a weapon was dead, dying, or had run away. They collected the weapons and heard the call over the radio, “Contact. Key Bank.”
Jack said, “Diane, Mark, and Ralph come with me and Morton to get the husband. Everyone else, run to the meetup location.”
JR got on the radio and asked for positions. The Packwood group was at the Country Market and told JR to approach from behind the car dealer, to avoid crossfire. Everyone heard the shooting, guns are out, everyone is on edge. Approach with caution.
Jack and crew were a block away from the car dealer when they got the message. At 3rd, they cut across the lawn and headed for the back corner of the building. From there, they could see the rest of the scavengers.
They slowed down and stopped about ten yards from the street. The scavengers were outnumbered 4-1, and the fear in their eyes was evident even from a distance.
“It’s time to get this party started,” Jack said in a low voice. Then he spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. “We have Jay and he’s with his mother now. Your friends are in bad shape because they wouldn’t listen to reason. I hope you’re smarter than them. We’ve come for Mark and his
friend. Turn them over and we all walk away. What’s your friend’s name, Mark?”
Mark was shaken but managed a “Patrick” with a bit of a stutter. Jack knew the answer, of course. His goal was to point Mark out to everyone else. Mission accomplished. In a wise move, Patrick raised his hand and waved.
One of the scavengers took a step forward. He was a short man, bald, and around 35 years old. He didn’t have the charisma to be a leader, Jack thought. The short man said “We can’t let you do that. His son ran, there’s a price to pay for runners and he’s going to pay that price.”
Jesus, Jack thought, why does everyone think they can defy the odds? “Look around you. You’re outmanned, outgunned, and your friends are dead. You can’t win. We’d rather everyone walks away but do not test us.”
Aftermath of Disaster: Books 1, 2, and 3 Bundle + Bonus Book: When Jack Met Diane Page 13