by Robert Boren
“Tires, mainly. I saw one of them with a shot-up brake line, but I can fix that. The one with the busted tank on it is pretty messed up, but we don’t have a way to drive that tank off of there anyway.”
“Wonder how much those tires cost?” Junior asked. “They’re huge.”
“Probably only available through the military,” Curt said. “Maybe we could get some help on that.”
“Maybe,” Kyle said.
“Will those tanks allow us to stay here longer?” Kate asked. “It’d sure be nice to hang out for a while.”
“They’re a double-edged sword,” Kyle said. “They offer some good solid protection, but they might also draw the enemy. If they can take us out, they can have the tanks.”
“Wonder what they think about us?” Junior asked.
“Well, we’ve killed quite a few of their people, so we aren’t high on their friendly list,” Kelly said.
“That’s not what I meant,” Junior said. “I know they’re mad at us. I wonder if they underestimate us or overestimate us.”
“Oh,” Kelly said. “That’s a good question.”
“They didn’t know we were here,” Curt said. “Pretty obvious to me. They were only here to take the tanks.”
“Crap, what about their cell phones?” Junior said.
“I burned them,” Curt said. “As soon as you guys left with the tanks. That doesn’t mean they don’t know the location, of course.”
“I wish this park was further out in the boonies,” Kyle said.
“This world has gotten too small to hide in the wilderness,” Curt said.
Moe and Clancy trotted over to them.
“What’s up?” Kyle asked. “You guys look worried.”
Moe tried to catch his breath. “I’m too old and fat for all this running around.”
“I was up on the roof with the binoculars,” Clancy said. “Been watching the road. Saw a couple of trucks stopping by the flatbeds. They’re collecting bodies now.”
“Crap,” Kyle said. “Can they see the tanks over here?”
“Not very well,” Curt said. “The one on the top of the bluff was visible from there, but I told Tyler and Logan to pull it down.”
“Should we go kill them?” Kelly asked.
“No, let’s see if they come looking for us,” Curt said.
“You sure you got all their phones?” Kyle asked.
“Yeah, I used my hijacked app to find them. If there were any left, they weren’t putting out a signal.”
“So they either knew about the location from communication with these guys before we wasted them,” Junior said, “or they’ve got another way to track them.”
“That’s an unsettling thought,” Kate said.
“What do you want to do?” Moe asked.
“Watch what they do and where they go, but don’t do anything to give our position away,” Curt said.
“Make sure Tyler and Logan know about this in case we have to blast them,” Kyle said, “but tell them not to tip them off that we’re here. Keep the tanks down unless we know they’re coming for us.”
“Yeah, that’s good advice,” Curt said.
“Okay, I’ll run over and tell them,” Clancy said. He took off, binoculars hanging from his neck.
“What in tarnation are you doing?” Moe asked, looking at Kyle’s truck.
“Mounting one of the guns from the busted tank,” Curt said.
Moe snickered. “Really, now?”
Brenda walked towards them, hair wet, towel draped over her arms. “Something going on? I saw Moe and Clancy run over here.” She saw Moe standing with the others as she got closer. “Oh, you’re still here.”
“Somebody’s picking up bodies from where those flatbeds are,” Moe said. “Clancy saw them.”
“Dammit,” she said. “We gonna do anything?”
“Watch and be ready,” Kelly said. “They probably don’t know we’re here.”
“I hope they don’t,” she said. “I’m gonna go hang up my towels.”
“Okay, sweetie,” Kelly said.
Junior snickered. “I’m still not used to that.”
“Me neither,” Curt said. “We can’t do anything else on the truck right now. Don’t want to run the grinder. It’ll make too much noise.”
“I figured,” Kyle said. “That’s okay, I’m ready for a break anyway. Anybody want coffee?”
“I’ll take some,” Kate said. “C’mon, let’s go fire up the machine.”
“I’ve still got some in the back of my toy hauler,” Curt said. “See you guys later.”
Kyle and Kate went into their trailer.
“Well, guess I’ll go back inside too,” Kelly said. “Join me if you want, Junior.”
“I’m gonna go see what Rachel is up to. Saw her get back to my rig a few minutes ago.”
Clancy rushed back over, out of breath.
“Well?” Moe asked.
“They took the bodies and left the way they came.”
“East?” Curt asked.
“Yeah,” Clancy said.
“They ever look in this direction?” Moe asked.
“Nope, not that I saw,” Clancy said.
“That means I can get back to work,” Curt said. He picked up his electric grinder and started working on the mounting spot for the gun.
Chapter 11 – The Gulf
Juan Carlos, Brendan, and Richardson walked into the bar on a pier off South Padre Island.
“This is cool, dude,” Juan Carlos said. “Glad we didn’t pull river duty.”
“This is gonna be more dangerous,” Richardson said. “You know that, right?”
“Yeah, but look at our crib, and it’s walking distance from this joint,” Juan Carlos said. They walked up the bar and took stools next to each other.
“Yeah, got to admit this place is cool,” Brendan said. “Nothing like this along the Rio Grande.”
“They saying what caused that dam to break yet?” Juan Carlos asked.
“No,” Richardson asked.
“No, they haven’t told you, or no, you ain’t telling us?” Brendan asked. He looked at Juan Carlos and they both cracked up.
“They haven’t told me anything,” Richardson said. “I’m done worrying about it. No dams around here.”
The bartender was a pretty Hispanic woman, not much older than Juan Carlos and Brendan.
“What’s cookin, baby?” Juan Carlos said.
She flashed a smile. “Oh, brother. You guys part of the coast guard?”
“DPS,” Richardson said.
“Oh, really,” she said, lighting up as she looked at him.
“Looks like she likes older guys,” Brendan said. Juan Carlos laughed as the bartender rolled her eyes. “What can I get for you guys?”
“Got IPA on draft?” Richardson asked. “Something local?”
“Of course,” she said.
“I’ll take that, then,” Richardson said. “Give these punks whatever they want. It’s on me.”
“Punks?” Juan Carlos said. “That’s harsh, dude.”
“He’s showing off his age to the lady,” Brendan said. “Nobody says punks anymore.”
“What’s your name, baby?” Juan Carlos asked.
“Lita,” she said.
“Well, Lita, I’ll take what the old man is having.”
Brendan laughed. “He’s gonna want an Ensure after that beer.”
“Give it a rest,” Richardson said, sheepish grin on his face.
“I don’t think he’s too old,” Lita said, reaching across the bar and giving Richardson a smack on the lips.
“Wow!” Juan Carlos said. “I’m older than I look, you know.”
“Oh, you’re not seventeen?” She giggled at him. Richardson laughed.
“Okay, all kidding on the side, I’ll take the IPA too,” Brendan said. “And thanks, Lieutenant.”
“Lieutenant, eh?” Lita asked. “Very impressive.” She turned and walked away, making sure her hips swa
yed a little more than usual.
“Damn, she’s hot,” Juan Carlos said. “And she likes you, boss.”
“She’s just doing her job,” Richardson said. “She is nice to look at, though. That’s for damn sure.”
“When’s the boat gonna get here?” Brendan asked.
“Tomorrow afternoon,” he said. “If you want to tie one on, this might be your last chance for a while.”
“Hope some more chicks show up,” Juan Carlos said.
“Might be kinda dead, with everything going on,” Brendan said.
“Maybe, maybe not,” Richardson said. “This area is pretty isolated.”
“Well, that’s the thing,” Brendan said. “Lots of hot tourists when it’s normal.”
Juan Carlos elbowed him, then nodded towards the door.
Brendan looked over and saw two young women walk in, both in short, summery dresses.
“Be still my heart, dude,” Juan Carlos said.
“Hey, look,” Brendan said. “They know Lita.”
They watched as the two women rushed over to Lita, hugging her and giggling.
Richardson chuckled. “Maybe this will be a nice night after all, huh?”
“Hey, they’re coming this way,” Brendan said, looking scared to death.
“What are you scared of?” Juan Carlos asked. “They’re gorgeous.”
“Hi, there,” the first woman said. She was shapely, with short blonde hair, bright eyes, and dark eyebrows. “I’m Madison.”
“I’m Hannah,” said the other woman. She was slim with dark brown hair, long and straight. She had vivid dark brown eyes and a warm smile. “I heard you two took out a lot of the invaders at Falcon Lake.”
“Yes, that’s so cool,” Madison said.
“Hey, wait a minute,” Brendan said. They looked over at Lita. She was laughing so hard she had to hold onto the bar to keep from falling down.
“You knew Lita before, didn’t you dude,” Juan Carlos said to Richardson.
Hannah giggled. “They’ve only been going out for three years.”
Richardson chuckled. “Why don’t we get a table?”
“You can take that round one by the window, honey,” Lita said. “This place is gonna be a ghost town tonight. Everybody split after the bombs went off. I’ll be able to hang out with you most of the time.”
“Your boss won’t mess with you for that?” Juan Carlos asked.
Richardson cracked up.
“Yeah, daddy might mess with me, I suppose,” Lita said.
“Oh, that’s how it is,” Brendan said, laughing. He had a hard time taking his eyes off of Hannah.
“Take a picture, why don’t you?” she said, trying to look serious. Her smile broke through.
“You’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen,” Brendan said.
“You’ve got yourself a romantic,” Madison said.
“I can be romantic too,” Juan Carlos said. Madison laughed and took his arm as they walked to the table.
“Yeah, I’ll bet you can, if we can get past that exterior of yours a little,” she said.
Richardson pulled Lita into his arms after she came out from behind the bar. “I’m so glad we got placed here.”
“You didn’t pull any strings?” she asked, eyes dancing with his. She looked small in his arms.
“No, I didn’t pull any strings,” Richardson said. “We’re liable to be moved around, I’m afraid. Things are crazy right now.”
“We’ll enjoy it while we can,” Lita said. “I had nightmares last night, after you told me about the night the dam broke.
“We were lucky,” he said, “and we had Juan Carlos. He’s the real hero that night. Got us to safety.”
“I’ll have to slip that information to Madison,” Lita said. “Help me with the beers, okay?”
“Of course,” he said. They went back around the bar and drew them, then carried them to the table.
Brendan and Hannah were staring into each other’s eyes while Juan Carlos and Madison kept a happy banter going.
“Good lord, look at those two,” Lita whispered to Richardson. “That’s the way you used to look at me.”
“Used to?” he asked.
“Okay, you still do,” she said. “I wish you had a different job. You’re gone too much, and I miss you so.” She started putting beers in front of everybody. Then she and Richardson sat down next to each other.
“So Madison, did Juan Carlos tell you how he saved everybody on the boat when the dam broke?”
“No,” Madison said, her eyes bright. “What happened?”
“Nothing much,” he said. “I just drove.”
Richardson laughed. “That was the best piloting I’ve ever seen. Brendan and I both owe you our lives.”
“Yeah, man,” Brendan said.
Juan Carlos got an embarrassed smile on his face. “Well thanks for that. Just doing my job.”
“That’s what all heroes say,” Madison said, brushing his hair off his forehead. She moved in and planted a kiss on him. Richardson and Lita shot each other a glance, and kissed too.
“Let’s take a walk on the deck,” Hannah said.
“What’re you gonna do out there?” Lita asked.
“Make out,” Hannah said. Brendan looked like he was going to faint.
“Don’t be gone too long,” Lita said. “It’s been a little dicey out there. Remember last week?”
“We’ll stay next to the building,” Hannah said, standing and taking Brendan’s hands. He followed her in a trance.
“What happened last week?” Richardson asked.
“Somebody took a couple pot shots at the other end of the pier,” she said. “They got the guy. He was one of those Venezuelans. A sniper. The cops thought he was trying to terrorize people into leaving the area.”
“Shit,” Richardson said. “I don’t like you being here.”
“After they had all the people here searching for bombs, there hasn’t been any trouble. I think the bad guys took off.”
“I hope so,” Richardson said. He looked over at Juan Carlos and Madison. They were still kissing. “Whoa, you two. You only just met.”
“Yeah, get a room,” Lita said.
“Don’t give them ideas like that.” Richardson snickered.
“I was just kidding,” she said, taking a big drink of her beer.
Juan Carlos and Madison broke their kiss, then looked into each other’s eyes.
“Where do you live when we aren’t doing this?” Madison asked.
“I grew up in San Antonio,” he said.
“You going back there?”
“The way I feel right now, maybe I’ll settle wherever you are.”
“Oh brother.” Madison laughed, then sighed as she looked into his eyes again. “I like you too. We’ll see.”
Suddenly there was gunfire outside.
“Shit, Brendan!” Juan Carlos said, rushing for the door, Richardson on his heels.
“Get down on the floor, girls!” Richardson yelled as they went outside.
“Oh no,” Lita said.
The door flew open and Richardson was back, pushing Brendan and Hannah along. Juan Carlos followed.
“You okay?” Lita asked, rushing over.
“We’re fine,” Brendan said. “They weren’t shooting at us. That was north of here.”
“Sounded pretty close to me,” Richardson said.
“Let’s move away from the windows,” Lita said. “There’s a little banquet room behind the bar. It’s got windows, but they just face another building on the pier.”
“Good idea,” Juan Carlos said, rushing over to put his arms around Madison and escort her over there.
The others followed, grabbing their beers. Lita turned on the lights.
“Maybe it’s not as safe here as we thought,” Richardson said to Lita. “Maybe your pop should close down the bar for a little while.”
“It’d be closed tonight if not for you guys. I told him I’d open up sinc
e I was gonna be here, just in case.”
“We should put the closed sign out now,” Brendan said.
“Yeah,” Richardson said. “The bar is exposed to the windows. It’s probably not as bad if you can turn off the lights in the main room.”
“Okay,” Lita said. “C’mon.” She led Richardson out to the door, and flipped the sign to closed, then turned out the lights.
“I like this better anyway,” Richardson said, taking her into his arms again. They kissed passionately.
“Hey, what’s going on out there?” Juan Carlos said from the banquet room. The others snickered.
“None of your business,” Richardson said.
Chapter 12 – Lunch Date
Kip Hendrix drove his sleek Mercedes into the parking lot of the steak house.
“This place is pricey,” Maria said.
“That’s what expense accounts are for,” Hendrix said, smiling as the valet attendant tore a ticket and handed it half of it to him. He got out and rushed around to open the door for Maria.
“Am I dressed well enough for this place?” she asked.
“You look lovely,” Hendrix said, taking her hand. “It’s fine for lunch. Supper time would require a dress, of course.”
They walked into the dark restaurant.
“President Pro Tempore Hendrix,” the Maître D’ said. “Welcome.”
“Thanks, Carl,” Hendrix said. “My usual booth open?”
“It is,” he said. “Follow me.” Hendrix took Maria’s arm and they walked into the dark cavernous dining room, to a heavily padded oval booth.
“Wow,” Maria said.
“You’ve never been here before?” Hendrix asked. “On a date or anything?”
“I haven’t gone on many dates.” She looked uncomfortable.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” he said.
“Drinks?” Carl asked.
“Oh, I suppose we could take the edge off,” Hendrix said. “What do you think, Maria?”
“I shouldn’t,” she said.
“It’s okay,” Hendrix said. “Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
She thought about it for a moment. “Oh, why not. I’ll take a Bloody Mary.”
“Excellent,” Carl said, “and for you, sir?”
“My usual,” he said. “Martini, up with olives.”
“Those are strong,” Maria said.