Dark Toll

by Warren Ray

  “What was your major? A bachelor’s in Hate America Studies?”

  “Middle Eastern Studies.”

  “With a minor in stupidity.”

  “I’m faithful to my religion and willing to die for it. It is all that matters.”

  “Spare me the martyrdom for someone who gives a damn.”

  Winters motioned everyone to leave the room.

  They met out in the hallway and Taylor walked out last, shutting the door.

  “I don’t think this idiot knows much more than this,” said Taylor.

  “What do you think, Corporal?” asked Winters.

  “I doubt he has much to offer. We’ll keep them separated and see where the others are from and then work the intel between them.”

  “This guy is as soft as the other ones,” said Taylor in disgust. “I mean they were seriously asking for lawyers. It won’t take much to get what we can from them.”

  Winters nodded his head in agreement. “Get what you can. I’ve got to get with Mayor Simpson and make plans.”

  Winters jumped in an SUV and pulled out of the parking lot. He didn’t hold out hope they would get any valuable intel from this bunch, especially if they were all from the same group. He had bigger problems to deal with than to sit there and have a nice chat with some brainwashed college grads.

  Chapter 5

  Detroit Michigan

  Sweat continued to drip down Vatter’s forehead as he drove to his cousin’s home. The thought of losing his head was unnerving and again he began to question whether he should even go to Grosse Pointe. If he didn’t go, then all his family would have to be taken out of town, which wouldn’t be an easy task. Besides, they had no place to go. The more he thought about his plan involving his cousin, the more it made sense.

  He pulled into the driveway and saw a car under the carport. A sense of relief washed over him, but then he needed to psych himself up for the next step. Gripping the steering wheel, he started to take in heavy breaths. “You can do this, Mike, you can do this.”

  Carol answered the door. She was Mike Vatter’s first cousin on his father’s side. Despite being the same age, they didn’t see each other very much growing up, because Carol’s parents divorced and her mother wanted little to do with that side of the family. Funerals, weddings, and an occasional church function were where they would bump into each other. That changed when they attended the same high school and shared a couple of classes together. She was much smarter and helped him with some of his studies.

  “What do you want? Why are you here?” asked Carol, who was dressed in workout clothes and held a bottle of water. She wiped her face with the towel that hung around her neck.

  “Well, hello to you, too, cousin. Is that any way to greet me?”

  She eyed him suspiciously. “I’ve not seen you in what, three months? And now, out of the blue, you show up. So, yes, you want something.”

  Vatter smiled. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

  “After you tell me what you want.”

  “Yes, I need a small favor.”

  “Hmm hmm.”

  “Hey, after all I’ve done for you?”

  “Ah, so there were strings attached.”

  “Hey, it takes a lot of money to keep the family supplied with everything it needs. The least you can do is hear me out.”

  She opened the screen door and let him in noticing the sweat on his forehead as he walked past her.

  Vatter walked into the oversized kitchen and leaned on the granite-topped island. The cabinets were cherry and the stainless steel refrigerator stood on dark yellow ceramic tile. Carol didn’t own the house but moved in any way. The owners were more than likely living in a warmer climate or were dead. Regardless, they weren’t coming back anytime soon. Many houses in the area were empty and up for grabs. The nicer ones were the most coveted. This one was tucked away on a secluded cul-de-sac with only two others on it and both were still in the construction phase.

  “I do like your choice in homes. Did you get all the food supplies I sent here?” asked Vatter, wanting her to feel obligated.

  “Yes, I got them.”

  “Good, good.”

  “Are you going to tell me what you want?”

  “I do need a small favor.”

  “How small?”

  Just then, Carol’s identical twin daughters walked in. Both were still in their pajamas and appeared to have just gotten up. The fourteen-year-old twins seemed surprised to see Vatter.

  “Hey girls, how’s it going?”

  “Good,” they both responded simultaneously.

  “Okay, let me guess,” said Vatter pointing his finger. “You’re Vanessa and you’re Violet.”

  They both giggled and nodded.

  “You girls get those video games I sent?”

  “Yes,” said Vanessa. “Mom, we’re hungry.”

  “Grab some cereal and go play a video game. Mike and I need to talk.”

  Carol helped them get situated and waited for the girls to leave the room. “Now get on with it.”

  Vatter looked at his watch. There wasn’t much time left before he needed to be on the road. “I’m in a bind and I need some help.”

  Carol didn’t respond.

  “I need some cover, someone to accompany me on an errand.”

  Carol looked puzzled. “Where do you need to go?”

  “Grosse Pointe.”

  “Grosse Pointe? To the Ford Mansion?”

  Vatter nodded.

  “You have to go see that Prince, don’t cha?”

  “I do indeed.”

  “I can’t just drop everything and go with you.”

  “It’s not you that I want to go with me.”

  “Who then?”

  Vatter looked across the kitchen into the living room where the girls were playing video games.

  Carol’s eyes grew when she realized what he wanted. She backed up to the counter and slid her hand toward the butcher knife lying on the cutting board. She grabbed it and swung the big knife around at Vatter. The large knife gleaned across his cheek slicing through the skin. Blood splattered and he let out a scream. Carol lunged at him. Vatter raised his left arm to defend himself. The knife slashed across his forearm as he stumbled sideways. He yanked out his 9mm with his right hand and fired two shots as Carol leaped at him again. Both hit their target. The knife dropped from her hand as she looked intently at him for a moment before collapsing in a pool of blood.

  The twins ran into the kitchen and stared at their mother in horror. They turned to Vatter and saw blood pouring out of his arm. He still held the gun on Carol, but then aimed it at the girls shouting at them to get on the floor. They fell to the floor sobbing uncontrollably. Vatter grabbed his handcuffs and cuffed them together. He then got up and wrapped a towel around his forearm to stem the flow of blood. His breaths came in rapid gasps as he gawked at the bloody corpse. He couldn’t believe he just murdered his cousin, a family member he promised his mother he would take care of. His mother held a soft spot for the twin girls and she didn’t want anything to happen to them. A strange sensation swept over him at the reality of his first murder and he began to feel remorseful, but then remembered, he now had a gift for Mordulfah, which would save his head.

  Chapter 6

  Jackson Michigan

  Winters found Mayor Simpson at the hospital visiting the injured. He was sincerely grateful for what the Shadow Patriots had done over the last few days. Getting the fourteen girls back from certain death the night before was a miracle in his book. It helped make up for the hundreds of deaths the town suffered over the past week. The attack on the churches was despicable and vile in the worst possible way. The town was still in mourning, so any win was good for morale, even if it came with the loss of more citizens.

  Winters walked up to Simpson, who looked through the window at Reese while she slept. “Mayor.”

  Simpson turned and extended his hand. “Captain Winters, it’s so good to see you.�
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  Winters grasped his hand.

  Simpson turned back to the window. “I understand this is the young lady who helped get our girls back.”

  “Yes, sir. Her name is Reese.”

  “What happened to her?”

  “She caught a couple of bullets last night, she’ll be alright though.”

  Simpson hesitated before responding. “She seems so young and innocent.”

  “She is, but she’s a tough one.”

  “Just doesn’t seem right.”

  Winters didn’t reply. He knew the elderly mayor was old school and had trouble accepting the world the way it was now. To him, women should not have to fight but should remain behind the lines for support. In many ways, he was right, but it was a different world now and all the strong and strong-willed freely entered the fray. The weak would have to rely more and more on the sheep dogs in order to survive, but they wouldn’t always have them around. It was during those times the weak would perish. It was a strange and unfair reality, but one you had better understand or you’ll end up a casualty if you’re unable to answer the call.

  “Mayor, I do need to talk with you about an exit strategy for the city.”

  “Yes, of course. Why don’t we go to the cafeteria? I could use a cup of coffee.”

  They walked in and found Elliott sitting by himself. They each grabbed their coffee and joined him.

  “How’s Nate?” Winters asked Elliott.

  “Oh, he’s good. Doc patched him up real good. I’m sure he’ll be right back out there with us in a couple of days.”

  “That wouldn’t surprise me,” said Winters taking a sip of coffee. “He doesn’t want to miss out on any payback.”

  “Oh, no he doesn’t.”

  “Mayor Simpson, is everyone downtown now?”

  Simpson’s frail hand shook a little as he put his cup down. “I think so. Nordell sent out volunteers early this morning to gather everyone in. There might be some stragglers here and there.”

  Winters didn’t like the sound of that. He knew they couldn’t force everyone to leave their homes, but if they didn’t, then they’d risk ending up dead like the twenty or so who were still up on Robinson Road last night. They didn’t have an accurate count, but Winters witnessed some of the deaths from the top of the trees he shared with Elliott and Reese. It had been disturbing watching the executions knowing there was nothing you could do to stop the slaughter.

  “There should be enough weapons for everyone now,” said Winters, referring to the dead Jijis’ weapons.

  “Yes, Sergeant Nordell is in charge of distributing them,” he said slowly.

  Winters noticed Simpson’s facial expressions. His eyelids drooped under his thick white eyebrows and his eyes seem to plead for help while trying to hold on to whatever sanity he could still muster. He was tired but didn’t want to give up. He had some familiarity with this type of situation but it had been a long time ago. Simpson was an Army veteran and had fought in the Korean War, which accounted for his not wanting to give up. It was a special factor you couldn’t quite explain, but you knew existed deep down in the soul. It was the one thing that kept Winters going through all the turmoil these past few months. He could see Simpson was on the edge and needed a lift.

  “Mayor Simpson, I just wanted to tell you that you’ve done an amazing job coordinating everything like you have.” Winters raised his hands in the air. “None of this is normal for any of us, so I understand the strain it has put you under.”

  Simpson’s eyes grew a little.

  “Most men would have given up under the pressure, so I appreciate you hanging in there. You’ve got a way with people and I see how they respond to you. So, just keep doing what you’re doing and we’ll get through this.”

  “Well, thank you, Captain, but we couldn’t have done any of this without you and your men.”

  “Mayor, it was a fight that was going to take place somewhere in Michigan. We’re just lucky it happened to be here in Jackson. Everyone has been great.”

  This seemed to lift Simpson’s spirits, as he sat straighter in his chair with a renewed air of confidence. Winters needed him to keep it together because the Mayor was instrumental in keeping citizens who were unable to fight, organized and out of the way. Having to worry about collateral damage was not something Winters needed on his mind again.

  “The main thing is to make sure everyone remains calm and to be ready to leave town on a moment’s notice.”

  Simpson took a pause before he responded. “I think I’ll have everyone assigned into groups and designate an area to gather. Should make things go faster.”

  “That’s a great idea, Mayor.”

  “When do you think that will be?” asked Simpson.

  Winters looked at Elliott and then back to Simpson. “I don’t know. I don’t want to make any promises I can’t keep.”

  Elliott jumped in. “It could be in an hour or a day. We won’t know until we find out what the enemy is up to.”

  “You might want to have your groups assigned to vehicles as well.”

  “Yes, yes that’s a good idea. I’ll even get all the vehicles lined up and ready to go.”

  Winters liked what he heard and the energy the mayor was showing. The poor man needed some kind of focus and this was just the ticket.

  “I’ll get on it right now,” said Simpson, pushing his chair back and walking out of the cafeteria with renewed vigor in his step.

  Winters looked at Elliott and gave him a slight smile.

  Elliott let out a chuckle. “You’re really good, you know that?”

  “What?” Winters asked in a reserved tone.

  “Oh, don’t play coy with me. I’ve been around you long enough now to know when you’re giving someone a confidence boost. It was a good one too because that old man looks as if he’s on his last leg, but you gave him a hell of a lifeline.”

  “I just need him to keep it together.”

  “I’ve no doubt he’ll do that now.”

  “I just know what he’s thinking is all. I remember going through the same thing after the train station and the shootout where we lost your friend, Rogers.”

  Elliott nodded remembering the battle and his friend. “We’ve all changed quite a bit since then.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  Elliott didn’t respond.

  “Mayor Simpson just needed a morale boost. I didn’t tell him anything that wasn’t true. He just needed some perspective and a goal.”

  Winters thought back to when he first started and how he gave up before even starting. He was afraid, as anyone would have been. Thankfully, guilt overwhelmed his fear; otherwise, he wouldn’t even be here now. Elliott was right; they had all changed over these last few months. He wasn’t afraid to fight or lead his men anymore, but now the weight of leadership fell heavily on his shoulders. Between having to defend a whole town, watch his men get shot up and outwit a cunning enemy, his responsibilities continued to grow to an almost unbearable level, which was why he needed everyone to do their jobs and that included the mayor of Jackson.

  Chapter 7

  Grosse Pointe Michigan

  The twins were in the back of the squad car holding onto each other while they sobbed over the murder of their mother. Vatter looked in the rearview mirror and felt sorry for them, but not enough to let them go. He firmly believed Mordulfah planned to kill him, especially after losing the fourteen girls the other night. He had no doubt the prince gave him one more chance to prove himself worthy of keeping his life. While last night’s debacle wasn’t his fault, he wasn’t going to take any chances. Offering up these girls to Mordulfah would show his loyalty to him. They were just the right age and they were twins, which was an added bonus.

  He entered the compound after having his car searched by guards. He looked in the mirror and noticed the skin around the bandage started to turn blue and swell. He grabbed the bottle of aspirin and threw down a few more. The cut on his arm needed attending too, but
it would have to wait until later. For now, the towels wrapped around the wound would have to do.

  He got out and pulled open the back door. “You girls get out and do as I say.”

  Still, in their pajamas, they begrudgingly exited the car and stood there, barefoot, holding on to each other. Vatter stared at them debating on whether or not to take the handcuffs off. If they tried to escape, he was in no shape to chase after them and it would appear foolish. He decided to stay on the safe side and marched them in handcuffed together.

  Reaching the entrance, the door swung open and out came Wali, Mordulfah’s personal valet.

  “You are late.”

  “I know. I had a small problem to take care of.”

  “You are to go out back. He’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  Vatter escorted the girls out back and immediately became afraid. Nine men were on their knees and behind each of them stood a hooded man holding a large knife. There was a tenth executioner with no one kneeling in front of him. Vatter’s heart began to race. He put his hands on the girls’ shoulders to keep them in check and use them as a shield. There were well over a hundred men scattered around the large lawn waiting patiently, all with the same look of fear in their eyes. Behind them was Lake St. Clair, where white caps danced across the water on this windy day.

  Vatter tried to remain calm, but his wounds were throbbing and sweat ran down the sides of his face. He desperately wanted to leave and get his wounds bandaged properly and take some real painkillers. The twins still sobbed but were not making too much of a scene. Vatter noticed some of the men stared at him and the girls as if to wonder why they hadn’t had the same idea or resources.

  The back door opened up and out walked Mordulfah dressed in traditional Middle Eastern garb with white robes flowing behind him as the wind blew across his body. Vatter watched him survey the area and then whisper in Wali’s ear. Mordulfah then turned his attention to Vatter and walked toward him. He stopped to look at the twins, gave a slight sign of approval, and then moved his eyes up to Vatter. His stare lingered on his wounds for a moment.

  “Captain Vatter, you are injured?”