“What else can we do?” Matthew asked. “If he makes another move, it could end up with Max falling off the roof because the ladder suddenly collapsed on him. I’ll bet you right now that if something like that does happen, it will because one of the rungs was mysteriously loose or weakened.”
Jade held up a hand. “Don’t jinx him like that, Matt. Geez.”
“I’m just saying these random accidents aren’t adding up to be so random. If we suspect that Samuel might be up to something, it’s worth giving him a little scare so he thinks twice about messing with us.” Matthew clasped his hands back together on the table. “That’s all I’m saying.”
“That’s all you’re saying, sure.” Jade snorted a laugh. “You want to go and threaten Samuel. I didn’t know you had it in you, Matthew.”
“Neither did I,” Wyatt said and shot Matthew a grin.
“I can do more than build a social media campaign from the ground up, you know,” Matthew said as he took their teasing in stride. “But that means that I only trust the three of us to go to his garage and see what’s what. I don’t want to take the kids. Max isn’t trained to use a gun well. Kathleen and Allison should be here for my mother. We need to have a solid trio that can be intimidating enough, but not show so much force that it makes Samuel think we’re starting a war.”
“And you’re sure this isn’t…” Jade trailed off and glanced at Wyatt as if looking for help.
“Isn’t what?” Matthew asked in a dangerous tone of voice.
Jade sighed and looked up to the ceiling as she said, “You not dealing with the death of your father?”
It hurt, but Matthew saw her point. He did sound as if he wanted to burn something to the ground. Yet he felt strangely calm about the whole thing. Samuel was a problem and problems had to be dealt with. David might be gone, but his wisdom lived on, and right now it was clamoring in Matthew’s mind. “If you think it is, I will sit this one out,” Matthew said. “I promise you, this isn’t about me avoiding my grief. My dad would be with us one hundred percent. He stood by us when Patton was taken, and I know for a fact he would support us on this.”
“Matthew’s not making this stuff up,” Wyatt said to Jade. “I saw the accidents, too. We need to cut off the head of the snake before this gets any bigger and more people get hurt.”
“Well, all right then, you’ve convinced me. I’m on board,” Jade said, putting her hair back up into a tight ponytail. “Do you know where Samuel’s garage is?”
“I do,” Wyatt said. “He has an auto yard full of junkers. The garage where he works on customers’ cars is on the same property. I can take us there. We can sneak around the back so he won’t see us coming, but most of the yard is gated off with a chain link fence, so we’ll have to figure out a way to go around through the front. I don’t know what kind of state the place is in, though,” Wyatt finished with a shrug. “Could be that he’s not even at the auto yard and is instead at his house, but I don’t think Samuel would give up his place of business so easily.”
“Okay, then,” Jade said, eyeing the weapons on the table. “Let’s load up.”
“Are you sure you want to go?” Matthew asked Jade. “Last time you went into Galena, you got shot.”
“Yeah, and I have a wicked scar to prove it,” Jade said with a smile as she buckled a holster around her waist and slid a pistol into place. “Stop your yakking, Matt. You sold me on the plan, so let’s go and enact it. I don’t need to think too hard about stuff like this. Maybe I’ll get a bullet to the other shoulder and have a matching set.”
“Now who’s trying to jinx us?” Matthew said, double-checking one of the shotguns. “I’m ready when you two are.”
They loaded up with weaponry before heading out of the hotel and walking down the mountain. It was a cooler morning than usual, and the usual bright sunny dawn had become a gray, cloudy one. Matthew wondered if that spelled rain and whether they should put out empty buckets to collect the rainwater. Hopefully, either Allison or Patton would notice the changing weather and think to do something. He knew his mother would be bedridden with grief. It was as though the weather was reflecting the melancholy that blanketed the hotel after David’s passing.
Conversation was minimal as they walked down the mountain, and Matthew knew each of them were lost in their own thoughts. Maybe contemplating mortality, or imagining when the world would right itself again, or what their lives would be like if it never did. Matthew was thinking about David. David would have insisted on coming along, bad heart or not. Nothing could keep his father down.
Soon enough, the Galena welcome sign came into view. Matthew fell back to let Wyatt take the lead. Wyatt guided them toward the opposite end of the town, where most of the land had been eaten up by lumber yards and asphalt lots chock full of machinery for agriculture. Wyatt directed them in what seemed to be a back route, looping them through these wide industrial spaces. There weren’t any trees or cover out here. Everything had been cleared for basic commercial needs, like cement creation or even gravel mining. Matthew felt turned around as Wyatt guided them along back roads he never knew existed, and he felt completely uncertain of where he was – especially when he spotted the sign for Samuel’s auto yard. The cursive logo might have once been a cerulean blue, but now the color had faded to a gray-denim shade as if it had seen better days. A bird’s nest was nestled in the curve of one of the letters.
Wyatt motioned them to one side of the chain-link fence surrounding the property. Matthew peered through the holes and saw a weed-covered field full of cars in various states of decay. Some were old classics and rust marked their hoods. Others were throwbacks from the late nineties, and probably the most valuable pieces because they probably still worked. Others were completely worthless now that the EMP had ruined all their electronic components.
“Look there,” Wyatt said and pointed around the fence at two men who seemed to be guarding the front of the auto yard and the garage itself.
“Is this place really worth guarding?” Jade snorted.
“Do you smell that?” Matthew asked. He sniffed the air, but because it was such a foreign scent, he knew what it was right away. Marijuana.
“Do you think we can take those guys on?” Jade asked, eyeing the two men who slumped against the fence as if they didn’t have a care in the world. “They look pretty big.”
“Yeah, I do,” Wyatt said. “They’re most likely stoned and won’t take much effort to clear out of the way. Matt and I can do it. You’ll back us up in case something happens.”
“All right,” Jade said quietly.
Matthew set his jaw and nodded to Wyatt. “Take lead,” he told the Marine, and Wyatt made a hand gesture indicating they should move forward while staying low to the ground. Wyatt directed them around the fence and closer to the two men, who were talking in low voices and cackling over something they saw on the ground.
Matthew and Wyatt moved in tandem. Matthew took out the man closest to them while Wyatt tackled the other one. Matthew raised the butt of his gun and smashed it against the back of the guard’s head. The sickening crack seemed to rumble up the gun and into his arms, but the guard went rigid and then slumped to the ground. His eyes rolled up in the back of his head. Matthew saw a trickle of blood. He immediately put two fingers under the man’s neck to search for a pulse. It was still there and thudded strongly. He’d only knocked the man out and hadn’t injured him too badly.
Wyatt did the same, slumping the other guard down to the ground and easing him next to his friend. The skunk smell of the drugs was overpowering. Matthew’s nose wrinkled. He knew when they woke, they’d have killer headaches.
Now that the guards were no longer a threat, Matthew realized that the gate was still locked. He shared a look with Jade and Wyatt. “Do you think there are more people inside like...” He gestured at the so-called guards.
“There’s only one way to get Samuel’s attention without hurting anyone else,” Jade said. “I feel a teensy bit
bad about taking out numbskulls like these idiots. Let’s make a racket. Put on a show of strength. Then everyone Samuel is working with will get the message.”
Matthew nodded in agreement, then raised a fist and banged it on the chain link fence. The fence made a loud metallic rattle that seemed to echo throughout the auto yard. “Samuel!” he called out. “Samuel West! Come out of there right now! I have something to say to you!”
Jade unholstered her pistol and held it loosely at her side, but Matthew knew it was a ploy. She was ready to aim and shoot the moment things started to turn. He was suddenly grateful to have her on his side.
“Make him sweat,” Wyatt encouraged under his breath.
Matthew bashed the chain link fence again and made the metallic clang increase in volume. He called out, “Samuel West, you coward! We know you’ve been sabotaging the River Rock Hotel! You’re a real piece of work putting our people in danger like that, but I’m here to let you know that whatever grudge you have against me and my family ends today. Do you hear me? All this crap ends here and now.”
Matthew waited for a response, but everything was tumbleweeds. He knew that Samuel had to be listening from somewhere in the garage. He glanced at Wyatt and Wyatt gave him a nod of confidence. Matthew banged on the gate again. “Your guards were easy to take care of. Reminded me of the time my mother bashed your head in with the butt of your own shotgun not too long ago. All I can say is, we’ve put your weapon to good use.”
Silence met his words, but Matthew felt heat in his veins and knew he’d probably hit Samuel where it hurt. Matthew hoped Samuel was seething.
“Here’s the deal,” Matthew continued. “You leave us alone, and we won’t bother you. But if you start bothering us again, we will have words. Do you understand? This will be your final warning.”
At this point, he didn’t expect an answer. So when a familiar bulky shape stepped out from the garage’s gray metal doors, Matthew was surprised. Samuel wore the same old grease-smeared coveralls and he had a different shotgun braced against his shoulder. The snarl on his face told Matthew that Matthew’s taunting had indeed served its purpose. Things most likely were going to go south really quickly. Matthew didn’t move a muscle, though. He stood his ground as Samuel approached the gate.
Samuel stopped and stared at Matthew through the chain link fence. His eyes flickered to Jade and Wyatt as if evaluating them and their weapons. Then, much to Matthew’s surprise, he hefted his shotgun up so that it balanced on his shoulder better, and began to unlock the chains. Samuel eased the auto yard’s front gates open.
The two unconscious guards who’d been leaning against the gates slid to the side and onto the ground. Samuel peered at them and shook his head in disappointment. “Idiots, the both of them,” he drawled. “Well, you might as well come on in. Hospitality nonsense and all that. Can’t have you thinking I’m some monster that can’t mind his Ps and Qs.”
“Last time I checked, you were in need of some manners,” Matthew said in a tense voice.
“Come on in, you fancy posh hotelier. Not sure you’ll sound so brave if you have to say those things to my face.”
Matthew took a step forward and crossed the gate’s threshold.
“Matt,” Jade hissed from behind. “Don’t go in there.”
“It’s a bad idea,” Wyatt said.
Matthew stopped walking.
Samuel grinned meanly at him. “Didn’t think so, but suit yourself,” he said. “I’ll leave the gate open and you can come and go at your leisure, but I thought you might want to take a look at some things before you go. I’ve got something you should all see.”
Matthew glanced back at Wyatt and Jade as Samuel stumbled away from them and out toward the auto yard. Samuel raised his hand and called out, “It’s all good! You can come out now!”
It was as though Samuel had restarted time with his words. Matthew’s jaw dropped as he saw dirty faces of men, women, and children emerge from the cars parked in the auto yard. A child’s shriek cut through the air, and two kids around eight or nine darted from behind a VW Bug and ran across the dirt and gravel without any shoes on.
“Oh my god,” Jade said. Matthew slowly walked farther into the auto yard, finally seeing what the cars had hidden before. Empty crushed soda cans littered the weed-covered gravel. Beer bottles had been piled around another car as though it were the designated dump site. Garbage had been piled on the car’s hood or heaped around its tires. It smelled of trash, sweat, and dirt. Matthew’s eyes widened when another kid about ten years old sped by him and screamed out, “Dad! You’ll never guess what I found!” The boy ran to one of the tired men who looked like he was trying to make one of the cars into a sleeping space. The man peered at whatever his son had presented, but it was as if he didn’t have the energy to muster any enthusiasm.
“This is…” Wyatt trailed off.
“This is awful,” Matthew finished for him, sounding grim. Everything here was run-down. These people looked as if they hadn’t been inside anywhere but the inside of a car for months. They wore threadbare clothes, and Matthew didn’t want to imagine what they would wear when winter returned. Their faces were sallow and too thin. He didn’t see a water bottle or a food security stash anywhere. These people must have fled to Samuel for protection in the aftermath of the EMP, Matthew thought. They must have thought that Samuel had land and resources that they could build and establish a community on, but instead, they were way worse off than the folks up on the mountain. They were living in run-down cars, for goodness’ sake.
Rage filled Matthew. He wanted to take out Samuel right away and punch the man into the ground. Even here, Samuel looked as if he was trying to rule his own kingdom. Matthew tried to bury his feelings and thoughts. After all, he didn’t know the circumstances of these people. He didn’t know how close they were to Samuel, or if they were his long-time friends. Maybe Samuel was honestly trying to do his best. Whatever the case, Matthew knew he couldn’t let these poor people starve or suffer from dehydration. For all he knew, they’d been existing on soda, candy, and chips.
He looked at Wyatt first. Wyatt’s mouth was tight with displeasure. Jade appeared horrified. A decision had to be made. As much as Matthew hated Samuel, he didn’t wish any of these people any ill. Samuel was still sauntering away from them with that wobbly gait that made it seem like he was drunk. Matthew raised his voice and said, “If your group needs clean water, they can come up to the hotel. We have a well there that is being restored, but still works. They can get clean water to bathe, and we could boil some of it for drinking. I’d be willing to host all of you, under direct supervision that is, if you need it.”
“Well, that’s a kindness I didn’t expect,” Samuel drawled, resurrecting Matthew’s desire to punch him in the face again. Samuel looked back over his shoulder as if in surprise. “I think I can speak for us all that we agree to your terms.” Samuel’s mouth brightened in a smile, making Matthew’s stomach turn to ice. “Direct supervision? That shouldn’t be a problem at all.”
28
For the next two days, Matthew kept a watchful eye on the mountain road that led up to the hotel. He wasn’t going to leave anything to chance, especially not when Samuel West was in the mix and now had an open invitation to visit the hotel whenever it suited him.
When Matthew was working on the well, he made sure someone was his eyes and ears at all times, whether it meant he disrupted Patton and Allison working on the garden, or asked Kathleen to sit on the front porch mending clothes, or volunteering Jade to clean guns with a view of the road. No matter what, someone was always watching the road. His mother was still bedridden with grief, and he knew that he couldn’t bother her while she recovered. No matter what, though, he wasn’t going to let Ruth come under Samuel’s thumb again. Not like before.
The morning of the following day started like any other. Matthew woke up with the sun and put on his weatherworn clothes that had seen better days. He meandered downstairs to grab a m
eager breakfast, as things were still tight despite the kindness of the fresh food from the gun club, and he was delighted to see that Wyatt had already made it up to the hotel and was waiting for him. Wyatt held out a thick slice of homemade bread, and Matthew took the offering eagerly.
“Brought more venison for you from that deer Patton and the kids took down. We finally salted the rest of it.” Wyatt sipped on tea from one of the hotel-branded mugs. It was funny how the hotel was becoming like a cozy second home for the Marine.
“Thank you,” Matthew said and took a bite of the bread as he walked to the front door to check for any sign of Samuel. Kathleen was supposed to be on patrol, but she must have abandoned her post to make food for everyone. Looking out the window, he almost didn’t believe what he saw. Through the trees beyond the hotel’s property and far in the distance, he could make out shapes coming up the road. He wolfed down the rest of the bread as he counted. It looked like there were four men, with Samuel leading the way.
Matthew bolted back into the dining room. Wyatt looked up from his seat, cradling a cup of tea made of the wild herbs that Kathleen had gathered from around the property. He stopped mid-sip and raised an eyebrow at Matthew.
“They’re here,” Matthew said. “I can’t believe it, Wyatt, but Samuel West actually came here.”
Wyatt jumped to his feet and finished his tea in one gulp. He shoved the teacup on the table, making the old porcelain clatter against the wood. “Are you sure?” he asked, checking his handgun and sliding it into its holster around his waist.
“Positive. I’d recognize him anywhere. Where’s Max at?”
“He went to the gun club,” Wyatt said. “I passed him on my way here this morning. Is Jade around?”
“Yeah, she’s out in the garden with Allison,” Matthew said. “Go fetch her, and I’ll grab the other two pistols. I want to meet Samuel and his men before they get on the property, and there’s no chance that I’ll do it without Jade backing us up.”
EMP Catastrophe | Book 3 | Erupting Chaos Page 18