She looked like she was about to break down.
“So, first things first. I’m not going to point because everyone’s watching around here. If you look down the road toward the right, two houses past mine, you’ll see a yellow house with blue doors. That’s the Carters’ house, and they vanished a few weeks ago, maybe earlier. Nobody really knows where they went, but I haven’t seen any signs of anyone living there, and I keep a pretty tight eye on the houses in the immediate vicinity. You should go around to the back of the garage and bust a window to open the door. Pray that the door from the garage into the house isn’t locked. If it is, you might have to force your way in. Make sure to patch up the window with something. Cardboard, wood, anything,” Alex said.
“Thank you so much. I really can’t tell you how much this means to us,” the woman said.
Ed leaned toward the car and peered into the back seat, his eye caught by something. Alex saw this and felt his body start to tense.
“Hey, looks like they have a golden retriever puppy stuffed back there between the boxes,” Ed said, easing back from the car with a smile.
“Yeah, her name is Karma. She’s really friendly. You guys can go ahead and open the back door and…”
“Not a good idea out here. Anyway, the Carters’ house has seen a lot of traffic this morning. Some people have gone around back to take a look. If you see any windows broken, or any doors busted, someone might be there already. Drive on back, and I’ll point you in the direction of another house,” he said.
“Also, keep to yourselves, and don’t get involved with anyone on the block. Definitely don’t mention the fact that you have medical supplies and food, or that you’re a doctor. Your neighbors to both sides have been hit with the flu, and some of the neighbors are not very stable at this point. The last thing you want anyone to know is that you have anti-virals or medication,” he said, and the couple nodded.
“I can’t stress the importance of staying out of sight. Don’t answer the door for any of the people you see driving or walking around, and get your car in the garage immediately,” Alex continued.
“Sounds good. Thank you again. By the way, I’m Ben Glassman, and this is my wife Hannah,” the driver said.
“Alex and Ed,” Alex said.
“I’m Ed,” he said dryly.
“And this will probably be the last time we talk until this whole thing blows over. Nothing personal, but we pretty much keep to ourselves. You’re on your own when you get into the Carters’ house,” Alex said.
Hannah looked hurt by his statement, but Alex truly didn’t care. He allowed himself to like them only enough to justify using them as a block for any future interlopers in the neighborhood. He’d much rather have the Glassman’s on the block than Red Sox.
“Thank you again, guys. Really, if there’s anything I can do for you. If anyone gets hurt or sick. Really, you, uh…you know where to find us,” Ben said.
“Thank you,” Hannah said, and she rolled up her window as the car moved forward and stopped one house past the Carters’.
Chapter 31
Kate sat down at the kitchen table as Alex surveyed the remains of yesterday’s Thanksgiving Day feast. Barley mixed with dried cranberries and sliced almonds; green bean and fried onion casserole; sweet and sour lima beans; chickpea soup with dried dill; homemade wheat bread and mashed potatoes with gravy. The only thing missing was the main course and the abundant portions usually associated with Thanksgiving.
The phone rang and Alex glanced over his shoulder at the receiver on the kitchen island. Calls to the house were pretty rare at this point.
“You should answer that,” Kate said.
Alex got up from the table and walked over to the phone. “Hello, Ed,” he said, answering the call. “What’s up?” He walked toward the library.
“I don’t know. I’ve had my eye on this one car for the past hour or so. Just circling the neighborhood, over and over again. Really slow like the rest of them…”
“They all do that,” Alex said, stepping inside the room.
“Yeah, but this one stopped in front of the McCarthys’ house like thirty minutes ago and hasn’t moved. Nobody got out. It’s just sitting there under the street light. I think they’re planning to spend the night there,” Ed said.
“That’s ridiculous. They’re probably going to canvas the neighborhood on foot in a few minutes, or something.”
“Is everything all right?” Kate called from the kitchen.
Alex covered the receiver on the phone. “Yeah. Everything’s okay, honey. Just talking about a car that’s still cruising the neighborhood.”
“Sorry. That was Kate,” he said, returning to the call.
“How’s she holding up with all of the visitors?” Ed asked.
“Fine. Just a little jumpy having people crawl around the neighborhood. We’ve had a few groups walk up onto our deck in back and try to peer inside. Not sure how they missed my signs. How’s Sam doing?”
“Same thing. Nervous about these people. I’m nervous about them, too. Sarah Quinn called about an hour ago to talk to Sam. She heard from Jack Bartlett that a family moved into the Cohens’ house,” he said, recalling exactly who they had guided to the Cohens’.
“The balls on these people. How are the Quinns doing?” Alex asked.
“Not bad, given the circumstances. Sarah’s not looking forward to losing power. Says if the storm doesn’t kill it this weekend, the grid probably won’t hold up for another week anyway. Have you heard that too? I saw it on a couple of sites, but I haven’t heard word one on the news.”
“Which news channel? They’re all mostly broadcasting national coverage and federal updates, and I think the feds are trying to keep the national coal reserve numbers under wraps. I’ve seen estimates that fall in the week to two weeks range. Once the coal reserves at any of the power plants are depleted, say adios to the grid. We’ll be lucky to get past this weekend. Did Sarah say anything about the Bartletts?”
“Yeah, I guess they’re doing okay. Their little girl Grace got hit the worst, but she’s doing better. The rest of them didn’t get hit nearly as bad. Jack didn’t get it at all, which is weird.”
“Who knows? He might still come down with it. One of Ryan’s friends…his family got the same thing. Mild cases. Lucky if you ask me, but all well within the realm of statistical probability I suppose.”
“Yeah, they’re pretty sure about the case fatality rate at this point. Right around twenty percent, with a clinical attack rate of forty percent or so. Odds are definitely in your favor if you get this thing,” Ed said.
“I’m still not rushing out to get it,” Alex replied.
“Neither am I.”
Alex heard what sounded like a solitary firecracker explode.
“Did you hear that?” he asked Ed, rushing out of the library into the kitchen.
“What was that?” Kate asked sharply from the dining room.
He walked swiftly, trying to conceal his panic. Alex knew the noise was not from a firecracker.
“Honey, why don’t you take the kids down into the basement for a few minutes? Follow your mom, guys. Ed? Did you hear that?” he repeated and moved around the house shutting off lights.
“Hold on. Look at that. He just shot the light out,” Ed whispered.
Alex heard Ed tell his own family to get into the basement as Kate and the kids disappeared down the stairs, Kate last. She left the door open, and he walked to the head of the stairs.
“Just in case someone is shooting. I think everything is fine,” he said to her.
Kate nodded and turned the corner with the kids.
“Ed, did you say someone shot out the street light?”
“Yeah. I ran to one of the windows and saw someone getting back into the car that’s parked under the streetlight. The light is out now. I thought the guy had a gun, but I can’t be sure,” he said.
“Are you sure the light was on before?”
“Positive.
Actually, I was wondering why he would park directly under that street light.”
“How many people are in the car? Were you using binoculars?” Alex asked.
“Yeah, I have a small bird watching pair. I couldn’t see how many people were in the car.”
“But when he opened the door and the lights went on, could you see other people?”
“The lights didn’t go on. It’s pitch black over in that corner.”
“Are you sure the lights didn’t go on? What kind of car is it?” Alex asked, heading upstairs with his own binoculars.
“I’m sure the lights didn’t go on. It looks like a gray or maybe blue Volvo station wagon, one of the new ones. I couldn’t see the guy very well in the dark, but it looked like he was carrying something. Why would he park under a light and then shoot it out?” Ed wondered aloud.
Alex continued up the stairs to the master bedroom. “Hold on,” he said, walking across the bedroom to one of the northeast windows facing the Thompsons’ house. He chose the one closest to the street and raised the shade an inch, obtaining an unobstructed view of the car. Even in the dark, he could tell that the car was parked on the wrong side of the road, facing his own house.
He studied the car for a few seconds and closed his eyes to create a mental map.
“You still there? This is freaking my wife out,” Ed broke in.
“Yeah, I’m here. I have eyes on the vehicle…”
“Eyes what?”
“Eyes on the vehicle. Don’t you watch any military or police movies? I’m watching the vehicle. My eyes are on the vehicle, Ed.”
“Why can’t you guys just talk like normal people and just say I’m watching the vehicle?”
“Because it doesn’t sound as cool. Anyway, a couple of things disturb me here…”
“Like the gun?”
“If he has a gun. But yes, that’s number one on my list,” Alex said.
“Let’s assume he has a gun,” Ed said.
“I’m with you on that. But here’s what’s really creeping me out about this guy; he turned off the internal lights on purpose. He thought that one out. He knew that if he shot out the light, someone might take a look, and he didn’t want them to see into the car when he hopped back in. I’m not sure I would have thought of that. This guy’s either really smart, or he has some experience not wanting to be identified at night. Both scenarios bother me.”
“The last one worries me the most,” Ed said.
“Yeah, it’s not good news. He also picked a good spot to watch over half of the neighborhood. Notice he’s parked on the wrong side of the road to be facing this way. But parked over there, he can see all the way down our road, and all the way to the Murrays’. Plus, he’s far enough back in the neighborhood to avoid any attention from Harrison Road. I think this guy has some experience with this kind of activity. Shooting the light out leads me to think that this guy doesn’t care. We’re looking at a bad combination of traits my friend,” Alex said.
“No kidding. How long until he figures out that the Murrays’ house is unoccupied? It’s the only one left.”
“Not long. The signs I put up won’t deter him if the lights stay on. I should have put that doctor and his wife in the Murrays’.”
“We got some decent people in here,” Ed said.
Alex considered his comment. They did the best they could with the choices they had. The Carters’ house was filled first, though in retrospect, he would have been better off putting that couple in the Murrays’ house. The Fullers’ house went to a family from Connecticut driving a BMW sport utility vehicle, and the Cohens’ to a family with kids, from somewhere just west of Boston. The parents looked preppy and drove an Audi station wagon. Alex and Ed didn’t ask them many questions, just directed them to the Cohens’ house. At that point, the sun was setting, so they both gave up their valet duties for the night, leaving the Murrays’ house unfilled. Alex didn’t recall seeing the Volvo station wagon during daylight hours.
“Yeah. I just think it might have been a mistake not to fill all of the houses. There were some cars that didn’t look too bad. I’m gonna have to sneak out tonight and turn off the lights inside the Murrays’,” he said thoughtfully.
“Do you really think it’s necessary?” Ed asked.
“I have a bad feeling about that car. I think I might have to hang out in the house for a few hours and progressively turn the lights off like a family retiring for the night,” Alex said.
“And leave your family alone with those nutjobs camped out on the street? I wouldn’t. We might be totally overthinking this. They might be just fine. Maybe it’s just someone like you, smart and covering all the angles? You know, keeping their car in a safe spot.”
“Where do you feel the safest at night? Under lights or in the pitch black?” Alex asked him.
“Uhh. I guess in the light, but I don’t know…”
“Your first instinct is right. We’ve been conditioned since birth to fear the dark. Most people would feel safer in the light, unless they’ve been reconditioned, which takes time and experience using the dark to your advantage. Trust me, if this guy gets into the Murrays’ house, or any house, we’re going to have a serious problem on the block.”
“Do you think we could get them to leave?” Ed asked.
“I don’t know. But I do know that approaching that car in the dark is probably not a very good idea.”
“And leaving your own house is an even worse idea, Alex,” Ed cautioned.
“If I don’t make it look like someone’s in the Murrays’ house, we might as well start baking cookies for their welcome party.”
“How many lights did you turn on in the Murrays’ house?” Ed asked.
Alex shifted knees, keeping his binoculars trained on the car. “A few on each floor. Enough to fit in with the rest of the occupied houses.”
“I wouldn’t leave the house. Can you see anything with your night vision?”
“Hey, hon? Can we come up now?” Kate yelled from the basement.
“Hold on, Ed.” He raised his voice so she could hear him from downstairs. “Yeah. I think it’s fine. Let’s keep everyone on the second floor for now. In their rooms away from the front windows, please,” he yelled back.
“Sorry about that,” he returned to Ed. “Night vision. Hold on. Let me grab them.”
He moved the empty black nylon pistol holster out of the way, grabbed a stubby black night vision scope, and took it back to the window, unscrewing the lens cap and activating the 4X scope.
He heard Kate and the kids talking as they came up the stairs.
“You still there?” he asked Ed.
“Yep,” Ed replied.
“All right. I can see the front seat. One man…or woman in the driver’s seat.”
“You can’t tell?”
“This is a cheap Russian knock-off of a field scope. 4X magnification. You get what you get with these. Anyway…I can’t see into the back seat due to the downward angle. Maybe if I move down…”
“Only one in the front?” Ed asked.
“Hold on,” Alex said, squinting through the eyepiece, searching the green image.
“Hold on,” he said again, wishing he had better night vision goggles.
“Do you see anyone else in the front seat?” Ed repeated.
Alex felt the weight of the HK USP tucked into the back of his jeans and suddenly craved heavier artillery.
“No,” he whispered flatly with a strong suspicion that someone else was out there.
The phone handset suddenly glowed orange and illuminated the side of Alex’s face. Pulling the phone away from his ear, the phone’s LCD bathed the front corner of the bedroom in a deep orange glow. Alex slammed the phone down to the floor, face down, put the scope on the window shelf, and lay down to check the caller ID on the phone. Charlie. He heard Ed through the phone and put the phone back to his ear.
“Charlie’s on the other line. I’ll call you right back,” he said.
&n
bsp; “Okay,” Ed said and hung up.
Alex switched over to Charlie.
“Hey, Charlie. You watching, too?” he asked.
“Did you see him shoot it out?” Charlie asked.
“No, but Ed saw him get back into his car immediately after he heard the shot. Thought he saw a rifle in the guy’s hands.”
“I think I spotted someone creeping around the Murrays’ house. Might be the guy missing from the front passenger seat of the car. Car’s jam-packed with people, except the front. One of them is out scoping houses. If I see a gun on him, he’s dead. I should take out the guy in the front seat of the car right now,” Charlie said.
“Don’t go shooting into the car. Never know who you might hit. Bullets bounce around, Charlie.”
“Not when I’m using a 10X night vision scope on my Remington Milspec. The only thing that’ll bounce is his head,” Charlie countered.
“Please don’t shoot into the car.”
“I’m not gonna shoot into the car…unless I have to,” Charlie promised.
“What can you see in the car?”
“I see…in the driver’s seat, one male with what looks like hair coming more than half-way down his neck. He’s either a hippie or that’s a mullet. My guess is mullet. In the back seat, I counted four people. One more adult male, but I can’t see him very well. He’s on the far side from me. In the middle are two kids. I can’t tell the ages, but I’d guess under ten. One boy and one girl. And…one female adult in the rear passenger side seat. This one talks to the driver a lot. There is a lot of back and forth between the two of them. There’s a third row of seats, and I can see one more kid. Looks like a young boy…elementary school age maybe. And…another adult female. Looks like the woman is holding something. Could be a baby…but it looks like something bigger. Like a young toddler-aged kid. I can’t tell very well. The back row seats are blocking my view.”
“Are you pointing your rifle at them?” Alex asked.
“Yeah. Linda’s got the spotting scope looking around for the other one,” he said.
THE ALEX FLETCHER BOXSET: Books 1-5 Page 24