He knew the newcomers were tense about what they’d experienced since the outbreak began and more than a few sent wary looks at the paramilitary members that had greeted them on their arrival. Convincing them to come here was hard enough, talking them into going over there—
Exiting the house, he looked at the houses surrounding him and shook his head in wonder. This morning the place was a ghost town, now it was overflowing with life. He looked to the right and saw Sabrina walking down the sidewalk, a bag in hand. Directly behind her was Alicia, her eyes darting along the street nervously. “Not liking your new house guest?” he asked curiously and from the frown on the other woman’s face, he knew the question was a waste of breath. “I’m sorry, didn’t have much choice. We need as much room as we can spare.”
“If it’s all the same to you, I’ll take one of those bunker rooms now,” she snarked.
He laughed, “I thought it was too confining for you?” Turning, he began walking back towards the main buildings, a baseball field visible at the end of the street.
“Not as confining as having a family of four pouncing around the house,” she countered, obviously upset. “Why the hell did she have to bring so many? Are we going to be able to feed them?”
“I won’t lie, it’s going to be a lean winter. We have two warehouses full of supplies, but it was never intended to be for so many. It’s too late in the season to start planting crops and even that takes time. We’ve got plenty of land for farming, but it’s not like going to the supermarket, you can’t just pick it up off the shelf,” he responded, rounding the corner, Alicia hovering quietly in the background.
Sabrina’s hastily cut hair flittered about as her hand came up to brush her bangs away. “I hope they plan on helping out on that. This isn’t a full-service establishment and I’m not going back to stocking shelves.”
“Yeah, Wal-Mart is officially closed,” he jeered. Grinning, he slapped her on the shoulder. “Tomorrow I’ll start meeting with the adults in groups and begin assigning chores. They know that staying here comes with a cost and I’ll be honest, some of them might actually be looking forward to it. It’s a chance to start feeling normal again. I know you hated your job, but you can’t tell me you don’t miss it.”
“Miss managers bitching at you for all the wrong reasons? Lousy pay and benefits? Fuck me, do we even have dental?” she asked, her eyes making it unclear if she was joking or serious.
He shook his head, “that is one thing we never really considered when setting this place up. Never even crossed our minds.”
“Well, maybe we got lucky and got a dentist in that group back there,” she remarked, but neither of them believed it. “You hear from Joe?”
He couldn’t speak right away, his mind switching swiftly back to his wife, his heart aching at her absence. He struggled to answer, but the words were harder coming out as his mind warred with his heart. “No, nothing from either of them,” he finally managed.
“They should have been there by now. You’d think they’d pick up the phone and call,” she said in a softer tone.
Was he missing something? He thought that goodbye was a couple of friends parting, not something more serious. He must have just not understood what he had been seeing when he walked up on them. “You and Joseph? Really? I thought you didn’t like white men? That Jeremy was driving you nuts?”
She shrugged, “what can I say? I can’t help myself.”
Grinning, he gave her a playful shove, “or you had a lack of options. Maybe you should go shopping. There were a few teenage boys back there you can look through.”
“Knock it off,” she growled. “I need a man, a real man, not another boy sobbing over the loss of his Xbox Live account.”
“Crap! I totally forgot about my Xbox Live—how the hell am I supposed to team up on Unity now?” he mocked.
The look she shot him would have killed any normal man. “You lookin’ to get your ass beat, pendejo?”
Movement caught his attention and he turned just in time to watch a group of figures emerge from the tunnel doors. “Holy shit.” Walking briskly towards the largest member of the group, he forwent the standard handshake and gave the smoldering firefighter a hug. “Damn good to see you, my man.”
Mark stood there and let the embrace last for a moment, then he shrugged free and looked down at him with reddened eyes. “I need to go check on Deborah.”
“Of course,” he stuttered, backing up a step. “I think Sam’s been distracting her by having her feed the chickens,” he offered, pointing towards the northwest part of the compound. “I am sorry about Roxy.”
His friend looked like he wanted to retort, but physically bit his lip, nodded, then moved off without a word. He watched him go, understanding what the man was going through; he’d suffered plenty of loss recently as well.
“Tell me, Todd, how is it that everyone else’s spouses are all dying, but you’ve still retained all of yours?” a snarky voice interrupted his thoughts.
He rolled his eyes and looked at Naima. “Really? Is that where you’re going to go?” he shot back, pretending to be pissed off. Truth was—he was too happy to see her to let even her wise-cracks get to him. “In case you forgot, Monica is still out there.”
Naima’s smirk slipped, “I know. I feel bad for leaving her, but—.”
“Rosilynn has been looking after Ali. I think she’s still in the common room looking a few people over if you want to go see her,” he relayed, not wanting to keep her any longer than needed. He’d want to see his children as soon as he got back as well.
She nodded, “I will in a second. Sabrina called me when we landed, told me what happened. Thank you for that.”
“Of course,” Sabrina responded with a half-smile. “Was it bad up there?”
He had forgotten that she was there.
“Hey, glad to meet you, you must be Raul,” he said, offering his hand to the round Hispanic standing just behind Naima and looking at his feet.
The newcomer glanced up and a smile began to spread. “Yeah, thanks. I’m kind of dead on my feet, long flight. Where should I hang my hat?”
“Just go to the west side of the lower level, those rooms should be empty,” he replied after a brief pause. The reason they were empty was heart-breaking and he did his best not to dwell on that, to focus on the here and now.
“It looked like it was starting to go to shit when we left,” Naima answered Sabrina, as Raul nodded gratefully and headed towards the main building.
“Wait, go to shit how?” he cut in, getting a dirty look from Sabrina.
Naima glanced at the teenager behind Sabrina, then at him, “a large group of undead was hitting them when we took off. I don’t know anything more than that, really. We kind of got the hell out of there while the getting was good.”
“So, you don’t know if Monica made it out?” he asked, shocked. Was that why she hadn’t called him yet? Did she even make it out of Montana?
“The choppers were ready to go and we were in the very back. They had plenty of time to leave before—,” Naima trailed off, her eyes looking haunted. “You know, I think I’ll go see my daughter after all. I will check in with you later.”
Flustered at the lack of information, but not wanting to be overly pushy, he let her go. Fuming, he glanced north and ground his teeth, then thought of Sabrina’s comment about a dentist and physically forced his jaws to knock it off. “I swear, if something happens to her, I’ll kick her frackin’ ass.”
“She’ll be fine. Your wife is the ass kicker in your marriage, and you know it,” Sabrina teased. “Come on, my bags are getting heavy. I want to go plant my flag, then get something to eat. You look like you could use something too.”
Lowering his head, he took a moment to breathe, to slow his rapid heartbeat, and brought up his phone to glare at its blank screen. He wanted to call her, but an ill-timed phone call could do irreparable damage. He would have to wait.
“All right. I’ll go see what I
can rustle up. Meet you in twenty,” he told her, powering on his phone. Nothing new.
What the hell was going on up there?
Chapter 32
The Ninth Compound
Monica
Ninth Compound
The three transport helos set down in a much larger version of Compound 1 than they had at home. It looked more rugged; the tarmac had a couple of asphalt patches to match its worn exterior. There were two extra hangars and three additional fuel trucks at the end of the runway and she wondered at how much energy they must be using. She had seen a much larger solar farm located to the north and there had been a few wind turbines as well. If she had thought that their compound was over the top—her allusions were completely shattered.
There were two other helicopters a dozen yards to the west and she felt unnerved by the lack of reception they received upon their arrival. Looking at Weir, she could see that it was bothering him as well.
“Shouldn’t someone be back here looking after the helos?” she asked, watching as his eyes narrowed.
“I can’t speak to what they were doing. I know that they lost some personnel back in Arizona, maybe they were a man short. I know as much as you do. Hey Ringo, see if you can raise them on the radio,” he told the pilot, who emphatically nodded and began talking into a handheld mic.
She looked to Jenn, who was still sitting in the chopper with her laptop in her lap, typing furiously. “You able to get into their system yet?” There was a slight shake of the woman’s head and Monica frowned; this did not feel right.
Unlike the other compounds that Sean had built, the main set of buildings was not miles away, but adjacent, with a twenty-foot wall in-between and a gate centered at the end of the runway. The outside gates were locked, but were looking a bit dingy, as if heavily used.
“So, you’re supposed to be the expert. What are our entry points?” Weir asked her, retrieving a tablet from the helo interior and tapping the screen. An aerial shot of the complex flashed into being and he offered it to her, eyes watchful of the others in their group as they spread out to secure the area.
“I’ll be honest, I have no idea,” she replied, looking at the tablet with narrowing eyes, trying to pick out details that she might recognize or understand.
He frowned, “the whole reason you’re here is to supply intel on the structure.”
“I get that,” she returned hotly, “but if you had shown me these shots before we left, I could have told you that this is nothing like I’ve got back at home. I mean, we don’t have a parking lot, or exterior buildings in the shape as these here. And our main building is mostly underground while this one looks to be six or seven stories and who knows what beneath. I’m sorry, but she’s going to be better help than I am,” she finished, gesturing towards Jenn. “If she can get into the network.”
Jenn shot her an annoyed glance, “of course I can. It’s just not a keystroke away. It takes a few minutes.”
“We don’t know the situation here. We may not have a few minutes,” Weir reprimanded, obviously perturbed by the situation.
“Sir! Nothing over the radio,” Ringo called from the front.
Weir’s face showed a hint of concern, but then went slack. “Keep trying to raise them. What the hell is going on?”
“Captain Weir,” a man announced, jogging to their side, “looks like there’s been a breach in the wall recently. Explosive residue consistent with one of ours, Sir.”
“Very well. I want you to take your team through the gate and secure the parking lot. If there are vehicles, clear them and then puncture their tires. I don’t want anyone getting through us and escaping,” he commanded. “And Sergeant, do not enter the buildings until commanded to do so.”
“Yes Sir,” the man saluted, then turned towards the group of men standing idly behind him. After a quick whispered conversation, weapons came up, goggles down, and the squad of men made for the inner gate.
Weir turned to them, glancing from one to the other, then focusing on her. “The two of you are going to stay here with Ringo. Put a com in your ear so you can hear us and once you’re into the network, contact me.”
“That wasn’t part of the deal,” she scowled. “I am here because Sean Flaggerty built this facility, and having worked with the man for almost a decade, I can anticipate any defensive measures he has in place.”
It was obvious the Captain was not used to being contradicted and she could almost hear him bite his tongue. “That changed the instant you didn’t recognize the layout of these compounds. You’d be just as blind as we are and I’m not babysitting your ass just so you can feel useful. You want to do your part? Stay here and help get into the computer network, relay what your hacker friend there finds, and be my eyes from here.”
Exactly what she had claimed she was supposed to do when she had talked to her husband. Problem was; she’d been lying. Her heart rate increased and her fury threatened to take over. She did not come all this way to do something she could have done back in Montana, or in Arizona. She was here to personally put a stop to Sean’s involvement in the collapse of civilization, not play a desk jockey. She opened her mouth to tell him that, then closed it. What was the point? From the look on his face, he would not budge and it’d be nothing but a waste of breath to try and convince him otherwise. Grudgingly, she nodded.
Weir turned and briskly walked in the direction his men had gone, his back saying more than any further words ever could.
“Anything yet?” she asked, feeling like she was in a car asking if they were there yet. From her experience with Ben, she knew it could draw a heated scolding, but she didn’t care. She had to do something.
“Why don’t you call your husband. I’m sure he’s worried about you,” Jenn snarked, not looking up. “I’m busy.”
It was something that she had thought of in flight, but had gotten distracted once they landed. He had to be worried sick. Leaving Jenn alone with her computer, she turned down the volume on her earpiece and slid her phone from her pocket. Hitting the shortcut on her main screen, she put it to her ear and listened as it rang on the other side of the country; the tenuous link to those that she loved.
“Hey,” she said as she heard the other side pick-up.
“Hey, there you are,” Todd’s voice answered, relief evident in his tone. “I take it you made it all right?”
She listened to his voice, half-hearing his words as she closed her eyes and imagined being there next to him. “If that’s what you call it. Jenn and I are safe. We are on the ground at Sean’s compound. John didn’t make it.”
“Shit. How’d that happen?” he blurted, making her wince.
She felt guilty enough already dammit! “We landed to refuel and were attacked by some assholes claiming they owned the damn place. I made a run for cover and he got hit protecting my ass.”
“I’m sorry Babe. I am. But I’m glad you’re okay,” he said after a noticeable pause and she could hear the underlying tone to his voice. Better John than her.
“Anyways, we are here. Joseph’s group got here before us, but there’s no sign of them. You haven’t heard from him, have you?” she pushed. Why hadn’t she thought to ask him before?
“Things have been quiet on this end,” Todd relayed and her hopes died. “But Michelle came up from Safford, brought the rest of the family and a few more with her. We’ve got a full house Babes.”
Her eyes rolled til all she saw was black and she ground her teeth. “I hate it when you call me that. That’s yours and Sam’s thing, keep it there.”
“Sorry,” he managed and even though she loved him, and wished they were together, she also wanted to knock him upside the head. “So, Michelle’s there. They bring Robert with them?”
She could hear cussing on the other end, even though he tried to muffle it. “I forgot to ask. Fuck. I didn’t see him.”
“You really want him roaming the compound after all that he’s done? Seems to me that you had best find out,” she
snarked, unable to help it.
“I will,” he promised, and she could tell that he was already on the move. “Uncle Marvin and Aunt Cathy are here. They used an ambulance to get him up here, then brought him through on a stretcher. He convinced Nanny and Papa to come along. I don’t know how he could do it when my Dad and James couldn’t, but maybe it’s the fact that two of their children just died that got them motivated enough to listen.”
She thought of her children just then and her heart ached. “How are the kids?”
“Nick is up in one of the towers. All the new people are getting settled, so I haven’t gotten around to assigning any duties yet. He and Tammy have been trading off,” he said between breaths. “Caleb is finally getting some sleep. The boy has been sitting at that computer half-the night. Michelle, hell, I don’t know. I haven’t seen her since my cousin’s group got here. Maybe she’s helping people settle in? Skye has been with Sam. Sam’s been looking after a few of the children until we figure out what we’re going to do.”
She let out a heavy sigh, glad to hear that her kids were okay. “Orphans aren’t the only thing that bastard has created. I came along so that I could have a chance to end his ass, and they have me babysitting Jenn at the chopper with a damn earpiece in my ear.”
“Yeah? How’s that going?” he asked, and she could hear a knock on the other side of the line. He must have gone to see his cousin.
She realized that she wasn’t hearing anything, looked at her device, and cursed. She had muted it.
Whispered conversation took place on the other end as she hit the volume button.
“Hon, she says that he stayed in Safford. Plans on heading back to Tucson, see who’s left. Maybe rebuild,” Todd told her, but she didn’t hear it.
“Damn it woman, pick up the com,” she heard Weir curse. “Ringo, you got eyes on Raines?” There was a tapping on the cockpit window and the soldier behind it was pointing emphatically at his radio.
The Rotting Souls Series (Book 4): Charon's Coffers Page 18