“Can you give us a few minutes?” Colton asked Sandra.
“No,” she said, surprising them both.
Colton and Raven both stared at her.
“Whatever you have to say to him, you can say in front of me, Chief. I’ll just make him tell me later.”
Nathan chuckled from the hallway.
“Raven, we need your help,” Colton said.
“Of course you do,” he said.
“There’s been another murder.”
Raven stopped grinning, and Sandra held her hand to her mouth.
“A college student named Mollie Harms was found in Fall River this morning, right in the middle of town. She was hacked up pretty good—missing a hand, and her legs were burned down to the bone.”
Raven let out a sigh and threw off his bed sheets. “Then I guess you really do need my help. It’s a shame; I was starting to like these digs.”
“No, this is not happening,” Sandra said. “Raven, you need to stay put and rest.”
“And take in fluids. Yeah, I know,” Raven said. He grabbed his Seattle Mariners hat from the table and put it on. “Don’t worry, Sis. I’m good.”
“I’ll keep an eye out on your brother, ma’am,” Colton said.
Raven joined Colton and Nathan at the door.
“Tell them,” Sandra said.
All three men stopped and turned.
“The drawing, Raven,” Sandra said. “Tell them about it.”
Colton pivoted slightly to stare at Raven, but Raven kept his gaze on Sandra.
“Either of you ever heard the Cherokee legend of the Water Cannibals?” Raven said. “’Cause I got reason to believe our chase is trying to bring the story to life.”
-18-
A brilliant sunrise stretched across the horizon over the Atlantic Ocean. Charlize sat in a wheelchair outside the command center of the USS John C. Stennis. Albert stood by her side. She shielded her eyes with a hand to look at the other vessels of the strike group cutting through the sea behind the flagship.
The salty breeze rustled her newly trimmed hair. That slight friction was enough to make the back of her neck flare with pain. She had suffered one of the worst burns among the survivors from the PEOC, and a healthy dose of radiation poisoning on top of that.
Senator Sarcone had also made it out, but countless others weren’t so lucky. Secretary of Defense Smith, Secretary of State Loyola, and Clint were among the ranks of those that had perished.
“Beautiful,” Albert said as they stared out over the water. Rays of light sparkled on its surface in a mesmerizing dance.
“It is,” Charlize said.
Charlize looked up at her bodyguard and longtime friend. He offered a reassuring smile. A gentleman, no matter what they faced. They both knew that his family was almost certainly dead. His wife and kids had been on their way out of D.C., but it wasn’t likely that they had made it out of the blast zone in time. She considered saying something reassuring, but the words wouldn’t come. What could she possibly say right now to make him feel better?
Instead, she reached up and touched his arm with her left hand. The other lay curled in her lap, still swaddled in bandages. She hadn’t been brave enough to look at it yet.
Nearby, a Black Hawk was preparing to take off. Six Marines ran toward the chopper, keeping low as a crew chief waved them into the troop hold. As soon as they were aboard, the bird rose into the air and curved away from the ship. The Navy had been running missions all morning and returning with troop holds full of civilians. Many of those shell-shocked survivors were in bad shape. It was amazing how quickly civilization collapsed without the infrastructure to support it.
The hatch to the command center opened and Captain Victor Dietz stepped onto the platform.
“Senator,” he said with a nod. “How are you feeling?”
“The radiation treatment seems to be working, but I still feel like a hotdog that spent too much time on the grill.”
The hint of a grin formed on his lips. He strolled up to the railing to watch the Black Hawk.
“Where are they headed?” Charlize asked.
“Evac op,” Dietz said. “We’re still tracking down several members of the cabinet. Plus about a thousand other high-ranking individuals. President Diego has provided us with a list.”
The captain’s words reminded her of Senator Ellen, chasing desperately after the convoy of black SUVs. Ellen hadn’t been important enough to make the list, and Charlize wondered if the woman had survived despite being left behind. Maybe she’d been taken to someplace safer than the PEOC—but Charlize doubted it.
Her mind seized on something else Dietz had said. “President Diego? When did he get promoted? Last I checked, he was Acting President of the United States.”
Dietz shook his head sadly. “We’ve confirmed that President Drake, Vice President Pederson, and Speaker Hamilton are all deceased. You missed out on the formalities, but it’s official. Diego is the forty-fifth President of the United States. The injuries he sustained in the PEOC were relatively minor. He’s one hell of a lucky man.”
Charlize looked up into his eyes. The captain’s sunburned forehead was a map of creases. They had only met once before, years ago when she was still a pilot. He hadn’t aged well, and recent events seemed to weigh heavily on him.
You’re not looking so hot these days, either, she reminded herself. After seeing her reflection in the mirror for the first time after the bomb, she’d thrown up. She was still struggling to accept the massive damage that had been done to her body.
“We need you healthy, Senator,” Dietz said. “You’re one of the highest-ranking government officials left.”
Charlize looked back to the deck as a second Black Hawk took to the sky. An Osprey was preparing to take off farther down, and a flight crew was preparing several F-18 Super Hornets. The deck of the super carrier was alive with activity, and all Charlize could do was sit in her chair to watch.
Just give me a fighter jet, she thought, the fingers of her good hand twitching as if they were anxious to wrap around the flight controls.
The hatch opened again, and Janet Marco, the ship’s XO, slipped outside. She was a stiff, alert woman with the physique of a long-distance runner and sharp, never-resting eyes.
“Senator,” Marco said, inclining her head. “Glad to see you out and around.”
“Thank you,” Charlize said without taking her eyes off the fighter jets.
“Captain, we still haven’t been able to reach the Seventh Fleet, but I do have an update for you on the Second Fleet. They’re two hundred and fifty miles north of us. Admiral Doyle has requested we send F-18s for CAPs while civilians are evacuated from the East Coast.”
“They’re worried about more attacks?” Charlize asked.
“Yes, ma’am. Apparently, the North Koreans also hacked some of our satellites. We’re mostly blind north of the Mason-Dixon line.”
Dietz nodded. “Get it done.”
Marco saluted and returned to the bridge. A few minutes later, a dozen pilots were running across the flight deck toward their birds. Charlize gripped the armrest of her wheelchair and leaned forward to watch them.
“Goddammit,” Dietz muttered. “We’re already low on aircraft, but the Second Fleet are sitting ducks out there.”
“Is there any indication the North Koreans are capable of hitting us again?” Charlize asked.
“After seeing some of the drone footage of the northern part of the peninsula, I don’t see how they could mount another attack. North Korea is so pockmarked with radioactive craters that it looks like the surface of the moon.”
“I’m not convinced they didn’t have help,” Albert put in. It was unusual to hear her bodyguard speak up, but he was a smart man and she valued his opinion when he chose to give it.
Charlize nodded. “I’ve considered the same thing, Albert, but who would have helped the North Koreans start World War Three? Iran? Russia? China? No one is that crazy.”
“So far t
here is no evidence of collaboration,” Dietz said.
The last pilot closed the canopy over his cockpit and gave a thumbs up sign. She pushed at the grips on her chair, trying to rise to her feet.
“Senator, you should really stay in the chair,” Dietz said.
Albert put a hand on her shoulder, but instead of insisting she sit down, he helped her to her feet.
Dietz gave them both an exasperated look. “I won’t snitch to your doctors, Senator, but you should really take it easy. As I said, you’re one of the highest-ranking officials left, and I’m sure President Diego will be looking to you for a position in his cabinet.”
One by one the F-18s were moved into position. She shuffled over to the railing and grabbed the cold metal in her burned hands. “Captain, how far inland are those rescue missions?”
Dietz scratched his chin. “I’m not sure. Why do you ask?”
“My son is in Colorado. If President Diego won’t authorize a rescue op, I’m going to steal a Black Hawk and fly out there myself.”
“If I didn’t know you, I would think you were kidding,” Dietz said. “But your reputation precedes you. I’ll put in a good word…however, if you try to steal one of my birds, I’ll have you thrown in the brig.” The ghost of a smile returned, and then Dietz left them to return to the command center.
Charlize tilted her face to the sky, watching the jets streak toward the mainland. Three days earlier, she had thought she would never see the sky again, but now she had a feeling she would be flying across it soon enough.
“I don’t like this, Raven,” Sandra said. “Colton is using you.”
Raven took a drag of a cigarette as he approached town hall with Sandra and Allie in tow. Creek trotted alongside them.
His sister rubbed at her eyes. Raven had never seen her this exhausted. She’d been working herself to the bone at the hospital. How could she expect to help her patients if she wouldn’t take care of herself?
“You’re the one that said I need to make better choices, Sis. I’m trying to be one of the good guys here.”
It was almost three in the afternoon, and for the first time in days the sky was clear. The sun beat down on them as they walked to town hall.
Raven’s Jeep was parked next to Jake’s Chevy pickup and an old VW van with tie-dyed curtains in the rear windows. A technician was working on the engine of a VW Beetle at the front of the new Estes Park police fleet.
“Uncle Raven, why do you have to go?” Allie said.
“I promise I’ll be back soon.”
Allie stroked Creek’s coat and frowned. “Can Creek stay with me? He’s my friend.”
“Sorry, but I need his nose. We won’t be long, kiddo,” Raven said.
Colton, Nathan, Jake, and a half dozen police officers stood in front of the vehicles, looking at a map spread over the hood of Raven’s Jeep. The men were armed to the teeth with semi-automatic rifles and pistols.
“They’re not playing around,” Raven muttered.
“What did Colton say about the drawing?” Sandra asked.
“Not much.”
Sandra halted and grabbed his arm. “You did tell him everything, right?”
“Yeah,” Raven said quietly.
“You’re somethin’ else,” Sandra said, sensing his lie.
Colton called out before Raven could reply. “Sandra, I’m glad you’re here. How’s Officer Nelson?”
“He’s hanging in there,” she said.
“Good, I’ll come see him when we get back.”
“In the meantime, you better keep your promise about watching after Raven, or you’re going to have to deal with me when you do.”
“And me,” Allie said with her hands on her hips.
Nathan limped over and smiled at them. “I promise to personally watch out for Raven,” he said.
Sandra thanked him, but Allie hid behind her back, peering out at the pilot.
“How’s your ankle?” Sandra asked.
“It hasn’t snapped yet.” He stopped a few feet away and bent down to Allie’s height. “I’m Nathan. What’s your name?”
Allie didn’t answer. She pushed her face against Sandra’s back.
“I’m sorry, she’s really tired,” Sandra said. “And a little shy, too.”
“It’s okay. I don’t blame her.”
Raven left his sister to talk, or flirt, or whatever it was she was doing with the major. Creek followed him and Colton to the Jeep.
The chief had a serious, hard look on his battle-scarred face. “Get ready to move out. We have another lead. Detective Plymouth found the signs of a camp at the top of Prospect Mountain, not far from the aerial tramway and that truck.”
“What the hell was she doing up there?” Raven asked. Privately, he was also wondering how the big city cop had managed to find something he had missed.
“She was checking on the folks with homes up on the mountain,” he said. “And she found this.”
Colton handed him a pink mitten.
Raven didn’t need to ask whose it had been. He recognized it immediately; in fact, he still had Melissa’s other mitten in his Jeep somewhere.
Colton gave an ear-splitting whistle, and the officers, along with Raven and Nathan, gathered around the Jeep.
“We got lucky with the fallout, but we still have major problems. One major problem in particular.” Colton paused and scanned his officers before continuing. “Our suspect has killed three times so far. I’ve been able to keep the third homicide quiet for now, but if our citizens catch wind of it, we’re going to have more than riots at Safeway to worry about. Nothing is more important right now than stopping this man.”
“Is it true the killer is acting out some Cherokee folk story?” Lindsey asked. “Water Snakes or...”
“Water Cannibals,” Sandra corrected.
“Anything else we should know, Raven?” Colton asked. “You and Sandra are both half Cherokee. If anyone can tell us more, it’s you two.”
Every officer glared at Raven and his sister. This was exactly why he didn’t want to say anything. All of a sudden he felt like a suspect. He resisted the urge to scratch his neck and stiffened instead.
“Our chase is a hunter,” Raven said. “A damn fine hunter. You may think you’re out there tracking him, but make no mistake, whoever this guy is, he’s good. The best I’ve ever tracked. He got the drop on me and Chief Colton back at Ypsilon where we found Melissa. I could feel him out there. Watching.”
“This dude is crazy,” Lindsey said.
Raven nodded. “Psychotic, actually.”
“He’s just one man,” Colton said. “Together we will find him and we will kill him.”
“We’re with you, sir,” Lindsey said.
“To the end,” Jake added.
Colton raised his hat to rub his forehead. “All right, let’s gear up and prepare to move out. You all have your assignments.”
Jake slammed a magazine into his AR-15 with a click. After chambering a round, he pushed the scope to his eye and scanned the tree line on Prospect Mountain. Nathan loaded the M14 that Colton had given him and then reached down to retie his boot, wincing as he struggled with his injured ankle.
Colton turned on one of the walkie-talkies Raven had brought him and said, “Margaret, you copy?”
“I’m here, Chief,” she replied.
“We’re heading out soon. Keep in touch.”
Colton clipped the radio on his belt and checked the ammunition in his various guns. The man looked more like an Old West outlaw than a modern-day lawman, but Raven had to admit it was a good look on the chief. Raven was packing light today, with only a crossbow and his hatchets strapped across his back.
Nathan limped past Raven and started loading bags into the VW van. Sandra drifted over a moment later and leaned against the vehicle.
“You going somewhere after this?” she asked.
“Yup, as soon as this is over, Colton is giving me this beauty and a CBRN suit to go track down my nep
hew in Empire.” He paused and then added, “You take care of yourself, Ms. Spears.”
“I told you not to call me that.” She smiled and took the hand he offered, holding it for just long enough to make Raven’s older brother protective instincts go into overdrive.
“I hope I get to see you again,” she said.
“I’d like that,” Nathan said.
Raven thought his sister might be more worried about Nathan than she was about him, but as soon as she threw her arms around Raven, he knew the truth. Her eyes were filled with unconditional love.
“You be careful, too, Raven,” she ordered.
“I will, Sis.” Raven hugged her back, harder this time, as if she was the only real thing in this increasingly crazy world.
-19-
Teddy slowly opened his eyes.
Sandra almost forgot to pump the next breath, but she quickly regained her composure. She had seen patients do this before, especially those in a chemically-induced coma. He’d already closed his eyes again.
“Teddy, can you hear me?” she asked.
His eyelids fluttered, but this time they didn’t open.
Doctor Newton had pulled Sandra back into the emergency room as soon as she had returned to the hospital. Jen had reported a possible infection in Teddy’s wound. They had upped his dose of antibiotics and were continuing to monitor him closely.
Still exhausted and worried about her brother, Sandra decided to talk to Teddy, even if he couldn’t hear her, just to stay sane.
“You’re going to be out of here in no time, buddy. Your parents are right outside, and I promised them I’d help smuggle in your dog the day you wake up. What’s his name again? Baylor?”
Teddy’s eyelids fluttered once more. His forehead was sweating, and Sandra wiped it clean with a cold rag in between pumps.
She looked at his dressings. The stump just below his elbow was clean, but his temperature bothered her. It was 102.5 and rising. If the antibiotics didn’t start working soon, they might lose him after all.
“I know you’re in there, Teddy. I know you can hear me,” Sandra said. “I need you to keep fighting, honey.”
Trackers (Book 1) Page 21