Darkness United

by KC Luck

  Taylor’s heart sank at the news. She was just talking to him about the theft of his chickens earlier in the week. No, not Jack, she thought, feeling a deep stab of guilt. She told him she would take care of whoever was making the raids on his property. Unfortunately, dealing with the new tent city, the idea of a flu epidemic, and the appearance of Grace, Taylor put off going after the thief. And now a man is dead. Taylor would never forgive herself.

  CHAPTER 20

  am led the way as she and Laura left Mary March’s Shouse behind them. Feeling a little sad to see it go, Sam sighed. She knew the time they spent inside was special.

  Almost like a bit of a honeymoon, Sam thought with a small smile. The two never had a chance to make love and linger with each other without worrying about someone hearing or knowing. Being alone in the bungalow allowed them to act freely, and Sam knew the experience only made her love Laura more. With her heart full, she looked back at the woman only to find a wistful look on her face. “You okay?”

  Sam asked sensing Laura was going to miss their time together at the house too.

  With a sad smile, Laura nodded. “Just thinking about all the what-ifs in the world,” she replied. Then, she nudged Honey forward until she was beside Sam on the narrow dirt road. “But I do know one thing,” she continued. “I would never change anything that happened because it all led me here to you.” Sam felt warmth bloom in her chest. What the woman said was true and she felt the same. As hard as the catastrophe was on the world, Sam knew it was the only reason she had Laura in her life. Here we are riding along on a cool, autumn morning together with nothing but adventure ahead, she thought. Life was good. If she did not believe it would jinx everything, Sam would say so out loud.

  Instead, she reached out and took Laura's hand to give it a squeeze.

  “I love you,” Sam said.

  Laura smiled. “I love you too,” she said before letting go and dropping back. Sam pressed Lester forward into a

  cantor, and they rode in companionable silence for the next few miles. As they approached the main highway again, Sam slowed to study the road signs. Fifty miles to Portland if they went straight down highway 26. Laura rode up to examine the marker too and Sam looked at her.

  “It would be the fastest way to go deliver this letter,”

  Sam said, and Laura frowned.

  “True, but what if people are waiting along the main road for unsuspecting travelers just like us?” she asked.

  Sam had to agree with her logic. The last thing she wanted was trouble.

  “Then we will find trails and old roads instead. Some that parallel the highway maybe,” Sam answered and when Laura nodded, she led them off the main highway and into the trees to find a different path.

  ANNA DID NOT KNOW WHAT to expect as she walked with Lexi, Jackie, and Greg Orion. They were going to investigate the state of things in the tent community. Everything Lexi described from her last visit earlier in the week made Anna think she might be worrying unnecessarily. According to her wife, the living conditions were clean, orderly, and no one appeared sick. Anna hoped nothing had changed in the few days.

  As they came over the slight rise which would lead them down toward the waterfront, she held her breath and prayed things were not as crowded as she envisioned when thinking of homeless camps in larger cities. Immediately, her hopes were dashed. What might have been an orderly settlement before the wicked storm had hit them, was then in disarray.

  She paused her steps as she looked to see one blue tarp seeming to be connected to the next. A few traditional tents survived here and there, plus some people made lean-tos

  with pieces of plywood, but the overall appearance was not unlike something Anna might recognize from refugee camps.

  “Wow,” Lexi murmured. “This is all different.”

  Anna started walking again, with every intention of going straight down the widest aisle to begin checking on people.

  Lexi held her arm. “Anna, wait,” she said. “What are you planning to do?” She put her hand over Lexi's and gave her a smile.

  “You know I need to go down there. People could be sick,” she said, and a conflicted look crossed Lexi's face. The grip on Anna's arm tightened a little, but she knew to be patient. Lexi needed to process the information for herself. It was how her wife worked.

  Finally, Lexi nodded. “Okay. But if people do have the flu, how will you keep from catching it, too?” Lexi asked in a quiet voice.

  Anna reached into the crossbody satchel she wore and took out four surgical masks. She handed one to Lexi and then turned to Jackie and Greg.

  “We put these on,” she advised. “And be wary of touching anything. If you do, we can use antibacterial soap when we are back at the hospital.”

  “We?” Greg Orion asked his handsome face a bit pale.

  Anna fought back a surge of dislike for the man knowing he was a mayor in name only. Jackie, with Taylor's input, made all of the decisions for Astoria. Anna insisted he come along because the townspeople seemed to like him as if he were some sort of mascot, and she hoped he would have a calming influence. At that moment, she was not so sure.

  “Yes,” she answered. “We go together as a show of confidence.” As if to endorse Anna's point, Jackie took her mask and put it on.

  “Just do it, Greg,” she snapped. “We need to get a handle on this.”

  Greg still balked. “What we need to do is wait for Taylor.

  Where in the hell is my chief of police?” he asked his voice rising an octave.

  Jackie shook her head. Even though Anna could not see the lower half of the woman's face, her eyes clearly conveyed her irritation. “She is out investigating Jack’s murder,” she explained. “We've been over this. You need to step up and lead for a few hours.”

  Greg shook his head. “Then we wait,” he said. “I'm not going in there.”

  Anna heard enough. Waiting would only make the situation worse. The flu would spread exponentially, and if they could head if off, possibly they could avoid fatalities.

  “Do whatever you want,” she said to the others and with that, turned and walked down the street. As she did, the young man she saw in her examination room a few days before came rushing out to meet her. Roger, she thought, bringing the facts of his visit to mind. He was with an elderly woman, his grandmother. The first person Anna saw with symptoms.

  Before she could say a word, he was beside her and pulling her forward. “I thought it was you,” he said relief mixed with panic on his face. “I need your help. Please. I think Gramma stopped breathing.”

  WITH HER ARMS BURNING from fatigue, Lexi watched as the old woman was wheeled away down the wide hall of the high school. Edith, Lexi reminded herself. And Roger. The young man was still beside the confused woman, holding her hand as they went to the gymnasium. No, they won’t take her there. She’s too contagious. She would ask Anna about it when she saw her later. The idea Edith was carrying the flu virus made a curl of anxiety start in Lexi’s stomach.

  Even though she still wore the surgical mask, her hands had been bare and touched the woman as they lifted her to the blanket. The makeshift stretcher worked as Lexi, Greg, and two other men had each taken a corner. When they lifted Edith, she was alarmingly light. Her illness had already taken a toll.

  Lexi was no medical expert, but she knew the woman was very sick. When they arrived at Edith’s side, Anna dropped to her knees, and hands flying, she assessing the situation. Her patient was alive but having trouble breathing and gurgled with every labored breath.

  “Edith, can you hear me?” Anna asked, but the woman did not respond. Anna tried to shake her, which roused Edith enough to open her eyes. At this, Edith smiled and put her hand on Anna’s arm.

  “Linda,” she whispered. “Is it time for school already?”

  Everyone glanced at the grandson. He puffed out a worried breath.

  “She's talking about my aunt. Her sister,” he whispered.

  “And she passed away fr
om cancer two years ago.” It was all Anna needed to hear and she called for a blanket to carry Edith. A quilt was produced and after help was rounded up to make the trip to the hospital, they whisked her away.

  Lexi waited in the foyer of the school and tried to keep her worry under control. What she witnessed in the tent city was disturbing. People, who all seemed happy enough on Sunday, were clumped together in ragtag shelters. The heavy rain the last twenty-four hours had decimated their situation. Mud was starting to replace the grass and some people’s belongings looked soaked. Firepits were black and cold. Even if they could rally now that the sky was clearing seeing one of their own carried out delirious and wheezing would be tough, especially since Lexi had heard more people coughing. If what Anna said the night before proved accurate, the flu would spread quickly.

  Lexi heard footsteps coming down the hall and saw Anna.

  Opening her arms, she gathered the woman up for a brief hug before Anna stepped back. Her eyes were all business.

  “We started an IV to get her hydrated,” Anna explained.

  “She has a fever, but is still shaking from chills.” A moment of sadness crossed Anna’s face. “I am worried, Lexi. Her immune system is compromised by her age and her fatigue.”

  Lexi took Anna’s hand and her wife gripped it. She feels helpless, Lexi realized and wanted to tell her wife everything would be okay. She could not bring herself to do it knowing everything was about to be anything but okay.

  CHAPTER 21

  alking down the street toward city hall, Taylor was not Wlooking forward to the conversation she was about to have with Jackie. It did not take a genius to know the woman would not be happy with what Taylor was about to tell her. Still, there was nothing to be done about the facts.

  A man was dead and the killer was on the loose. She was confident the fugitive was the giant who was a part of the group who attacked Jackie and the others on the road months before. Lexi said she saw him a week ago in the tent city, yet when Taylor asked around, no one knew anything about him. People professed no one by the description was living there. Taylor was convinced the man was stalking Astoria stealing when he could, only growing bolder. And I need to put a stop to it. Right now, she thought, puffing out a frustrated breath. She just needed to make Jackie understand.

  As she walked through the doors of city hall, she already heard Greg Orion. He was in Jackie’s office and through the open door, Taylor made out the gist of his rant. The people in the tent city were going to infect everyone in Astoria and they needed to go. The man was so upset over it, he sounded hysterical. Great, Taylor thought sarcastically. This is the last thing we need right now. Stopping in the doorway to Jackie's office, she knocked on the frame.

  Greg's head whipped around, and a look of frustration crossed his face. “Where in the hell have you been?” he asked. “I need my chief of police to do something about these trespassers.”

  Taylor raised her eyebrows at his tone. “Trespassers?”

  she asked. “Who?”

  Greg waved his hands in the general direction of the waterfront. “All those people who just moved in without my permission, that's who,” he sputtered. “I want them out of here, and I want the city's borders closed.” Taylor glanced at Jackie and saw her roll her eyes. It was apparent she was just letting the man get it all out and not taking him particularly seriously. Taylor felt relieved. They did not need a riot in Astoria.

  She turned back to Greg. “Well, it will have to wait until I get back,” she explained. “I'm headed out tonight to go track down the man who killed Jack Slater.” This statement evoked a much stronger reaction from Jackie.

  “You’re doing what?” she asked sounding none too happy. Taylor grit her teeth, knowing she was about to be at an impasse with Jackie. “Greg, I think Chief Barnes and I need a minute alone.” Greg opened his mouth to reply, but when he looked at Jackie, it was clear he noticed she was not in the mood for an argument.

  “Fine,” he said and walked out leaving the two of them alone. Slowly, Taylor turned to look at Jackie. Her eyes were snapping with fury. Taylor took a deep breath and waited.

  “Are you planning to go alone again?” Jackie asked.

  “Because I thought the last time was it.”

  Taylor frowned. She did not remember agreeing to anything along those lines. She preferred to do things alone, primarily because the men and women on her staff were not experienced enough to risk taking out with her. “Yes, alone,”

  she finally answered. “It’s one man.”

  Jackie shook her head. “Why you?” Jackie asked, but went on before Taylor could answer. “Why are you always the superhero? Send a deputy. For God’s sake, send anyone else. But I need you here to help me.”

  Their eyes held for a moment and Taylor could see Jackie was upset, but also there was a hint of fear. She’s really

  shaken by the flu problem, she thought. Plus, Greg’s being irrational. Still, a man was dead and the killer was not going to go away. She knew he would be back again and again to torment them until she stopped him.

  “I’ll be gone twenty-four hours,” she replied in a calming voice. “You are more than capable, Jackie. Just follow Anna’s advice about the flu and pacify Greg until I am back.” Jackie looked away, her fury at Taylor’s answer evident in how she held her body. After a minute of no comment, Taylor moved closer. Before she could walk around the desk to take Jackie in her arms, the woman stood up. She held out a hand to stop Taylor’s progress.

  “Don’t,” she said, looking at Taylor again. “You’re right.

  The man needs to be stopped. But, damn it, I’m sick of you always being the one.”

  THE DINGHY, HOLDING Meg, Grace and two of Wind Dancer’s crew, rocked in the Columbia River’s heavy current as they approached the marina. Meg’s crew worked hard pulling at the oars, and progress was good, but she felt the tension radiating off of Grace beside her on the bench. The memory of being in the water the day before was obviously putting the major on edge. When a swell rocked the boat and Grace sucked in a breath, Meg reached out to steady her. She was not sure how Grace would react to her gesture, considering she had not wanted Meg to come to shore with her at all. It had even come down to Meg insisting and threatening to not let them take the dinghy. Finally, Grace relented but was clearly unhappy about it.

  During the trip from the Wind Dancer to the shore, the major's features went from displeased to uncomfortable to thinly veiled distress. Hating to see it, Meg took the woman's hand. At first, Grace started to pull away, but then

  paused. She looked over and their eyes met. There was fear in Grace's gaze, but as she let her hand relax into Meg's hold, a glimmer of gratitude appeared. With a small smile, Meg gave Grace's hand a squeeze and mouthed the words,

  “We will be okay.” Grace nodded and went back to watching the approaching shore but did not let go until they arrived.

  As the boat was tied off, Grace leaned toward Meg.

  “Thank you,” she said softly, and Meg felt Grace's warm breath on her cheek. A tingle ran through her and there was so much more Meg wanted to say. Yet, the timing was always wrong. Before Meg could reply, Grace broke the connection, climbing onto the dock. A deputy waited to meet them and Grace was instantly all business.

  “I would like to speak to Chief Taylor Barnes,” she said, and the deputy smiled.

  “Well, that's good,” he said. “Because the chief and Jackie are waiting to talk to you, too.”

  Grace nodded and then turned toward Meg and the rest of them in the dinghy.

  “You can head back,” she advised, and Meg felt a flare of temper. I sure as hell didn’t ride over here to just be sent back, she thought and hopped out the dinghy.

  “I think I'll join you. Being I'm the captain of the Wind Dancer, it's time I talked to whoever's running this marina,”

  she said, setting her jaw and giving Grace a look just daring her to say otherwise. Grace frowned but did not contradict her. The deputy loo
ked a hint confused at the tension and possibly ready to say something else when Grace waved for him to lead the way.

  “It’s fine,” she said. “Let’s go. There’s nothing wrong with getting an extra perspective.” Meg did not bother to hide her smirk as the group headed into Astoria toward city hall.

  GRACE SAT IN JACKIE’S office and tried to absorb all the information. A flu epidemic? she thought, feeling a deep sense of concern. That could become a significant problem fast. At least it sounded like Taylor and Jackie were working on the situation.

  “We need to make a more thorough assessment of who is sick,” Taylor was saying. “Both in the tent city and around town.”

  Grace saw Jackie raise her eyebrows.

  “Do you really think it might have spread that far?” she asked, and Taylor sighed ready to reply.

  Grace interrupted her. “We have to prepare for the worst-case scenario,” she said. “Have there been interactions between both existing and new residents?”

  Jackie raised an eyebrow. Grace guessed it was her use of the term “we” but she was impressed when the woman let the comment go to focus on the real issue. Jackie might look like a glamour queen, but she was clearly savvy and putting the city’s interests first. “There was a large gathering at the Saturday Farmers Market less than a week ago,” Jackie explained. “Both groups intermingled.”

  Grace saw Meg shift in her chair at the news. It was indeed bad, and it did not take an experienced army officer to see the danger. Realizing there was no time to waste to get Meg and her crew out of the area, she turned to the ship’s captain. “Meg, I need you to go back to the Wind Dancer and evacuate,” she said only to see the woman shake her head.

  “Not without you,” she argued. “It sounds like Chief Barnes and Jackie have things as much under control as they can. There is no reason for you to stay.” Grace bristled at Meg’s refusal to listen. Can’t she see I am only concerned about her safety? she wondered. The woman was always so infuriating.