Stealing Second (The Amendments Book One 1)

by Nicholas Antinozzi

  “I don’t get it,” said Jack. “I thought we were fighting the army.”

  Leroy shook his head. “We’re fighting the United Nations army, mostly. Hasn’t anyone told you? This is World War Three.”

  “Holy shit,” muttered Ace.

  “No,” said Lisa.

  “I’m sorry,” said Leroy, “but it’s true. That’s what Colonel Hawkins says the army is calling it. I thought everyone knew that by now.”

  “We didn’t,” said Ace, “but thanks for clearing that up for us.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  “So, what are we supposed to do? Do you want us to follow you? Should we wait here?”

  Leroy looked around the room, shuddered, and then nodded his head. “That’s what I’ve been told to tell you. I’ll be back to get you people sometime this evening, so don’t shoot me when I show up. The Colonel says we have to stay spread out, that way we won’t draw attention to ourselves,” he pointed up at the ceiling. “They’ve got drones up there that can see everything.”

  “We know about the drones,” said Ace.

  Leroy turned and started to walk into the kitchen. “Colonel Hawkins says to try and sleep if you can. He thinks it’s going to be a long night.”

  “Thanks,” said Ace. “We’ll try and catch some.”

  Leroy stopped inside the dining room and turned to face us. “Why did you people come here, anyhow?”

  “I told you,” said Ace, angrily. “We’ve got people in that camp.”

  “No,” said Leroy, spreading his arms wide. “I meant, why did you choose this house? You know it’s supposed to be haunted, right?”

  “Is that right?” asked Ace. “Well, we don’t believe in ghosts, but thanks for the tip.”

  Leroy stared at Ace and raised his finger, but he must have thought better of it. He then smiled and shook his head and walked out of the house.

  “Nice kid,” said Jack. “Think we should believe him? I don’t know. If you ask me, he looked like he was a few clowns short of a circus.”

  “Will you quit judging people?” asked Ace. “Why would he lie to us?” He then turned to Cathy. “I’m so sorry about what happened to Violet and Neil. I take full responsibility for what happened. This is all my fault and I pray to God that someday you can forgive me.”

  “I don’t blame you. I’m her mother. I’m as much to blame as anyone. I just wish Neil would have listened to that Leroy. You heard him. He said that he tried to stop them.”

  “Don’t go taking this out on poor Neil. He was only following orders,” I said.

  “I’m sorry,” said Cathy, “you’re right. I should know that better than anyone. I’ve got to tell myself that we’ll get those kids out of there; that we’ll get all of our people out of there. Do any of you believe what he said about World War Three?”

  “We’ll get them out of there,” said Ace. “I’m sure of it. I’m not so sure I believe what he said about this being the Third World War. At least, I’m hoping that his Colonel Hawkins was wrong about that. Don’t you think that’s a pretty big stretch?”

  “We don’t know what’s going on out there,” I said. “From what Leroy said, his Colonel friend has a pretty good handle on the situation.”

  “I can’t believe we were followed here,” said Jack.

  “Me either,” said Lisa. “Why would he do that?”

  “I suppose they wanted to be sure we weren’t fighting for the other side,” said Ace. “That’s probably the only good thing about sending Violet and Neil off to be captured. They can’t doubt our intentions, not now.”

  “What if this really is a haunted house? You don’t believe in ghosts?”

  “No Lisa, I don’t. This place is creepy, I’ll give him that. That was a stupid thing of him to say, it’s going to be hard enough to try and get some sleep. And as much as I hate to say it, we really should try and get some rest. We might not have another chance for days. No one can say how this thing is going to shake out.”

  “Oh God,” said Cathy. “I couldn’t sleep if my life depended on it.”

  Ace looked at her and shook his head. “Cathy, it does depend upon it. You should know that better than any of us.”

  “Well,” said Jack, taking out his flask and draining it, “I like our chances a lot better now. Think of it, a thousand people attacking two hundred. I’ll take those odds.”

  “A thousand civilians attacking two hundred soldiers,” corrected Cathy. “I wish I had your confidence, but I don’t. We don’t even know what types of weapons we’re going up against.”

  “I agree with Jack,” said Ace. “I’ve got a really good feeling about this.”

  “Cathy,” I said, “we’ve got to try and think positively about this. I agree with these guys. If this Colonel Hawkins is half as sharp as Leroy says he is, he’ll have a good plan. I’ll fight to my last dying breath to save our people. My guess is that ninety-nine percent of these people feel exactly the same way. I think that tips the scales in our direction.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it, anymore,” she said. “Please, can we change the subject? What did you guys find upstairs?”

  “Yeah?” asked Lisa, “what’s up there?”

  “Just a bunch of old junk,” said Ace. “Go on see for yourself.”

  “I’ll do that. It beats sitting down here and worrying about tonight. Who wants to go up there with me?”

  “I’ll go up there,” said Lisa, excitedly. “I ain’t afraid of no ghost.”

  That broke the tension in the room and we all laughed. Jack stepped forward and told Cathy that he wanted to see what was up there. She then tuned to me expectantly. “I’ll be up in a few minutes,” I said. “I want to talk to Ace about tonight. I promise it won’t take long.”

  “Just be careful,” said Ace. “There are some bats up there.”

  “That’s right,” I said. “Be careful.”

  Cathy nodded her head and the three of them began climbing the stairs. After we heard them cross the hall, Ace turned to me. “Let’s go into the kitchen,” he said. I followed him there and he suddenly turned on me. “Those women are on something,” he said, angrily. “Couldn’t you see it in their eyes? Do you know what they took?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I have no idea, but I know that whatever they took is helping Cathy deal with this bullshit. Lighten up, Ace.”

  Ace stomped over and stood in front of me. He stared into my eyes and shook his head. “We could be fighting for our lives at any minute. Tell me that you’re not worried about fighting alongside a drunken Vietnam Vet, and two women strung out on drugs. Go ahead, Gary, lie to me.”

  “Cathy was having a tough time.”

  “Goddamn it, Cathy should have dealt with it!”

  “That wasn’t my call to make, Ace, and you damn well know it wasn’t.”

  “And you just stood idly by as Jack got drunk and Lisa and Cathy got stoned. That’s impressive. Remember that when one of those three shoots you in the back.”

  I was at least five inches taller than Ace, but it seemed like I was looking up at him. I had no doubt he could kick my ass and I felt terrible that I had let him down. He was right: this was not the time for booze or mind altering drugs. I had no idea what Lisa and Cathy had taken, they could be stoned out of their minds. I stared up at the ceiling and shook my head. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I wasn’t thinking.”

  Ace dropped his gaze and shuffled to the far side of the kitchen. “Aw shit,” he said. “There was nothing you could’ve done to stop them. I’m sorry. I’m just a redneck ex-cop and I’ve got to learn to get over myself. I’m scared, buddy. I’m sorry for taking it out on you.”

  I nodded my head and smiled. “Don’t worry about it. I understand and we’re both scared. Let’s just put it behind us.”

  “Put what behind us?”

  “That’s what I’m talking about.”

  Ace grinned and he stared up at the ceiling. We could now hear the creaking stairs that le
d to the attic. “They’re going to regret this,” he chuckled. “You know that, right?”

  “I figure the over under at about two minutes.”

  “I’ll take the under for ten bucks.”

  “You’re on,” I said. I listened, but the house was eerily silent. I was just about to dig a couple of energy bars out of my pack when I heard the sound of stampeding feet.

  “Pay up,” said Ace.

  “I knew I should’ve only wagered a minute.”

  “I still would’ve taken the under,” chuckled Ace. “I wonder what the hell happened. They’re really bookin’.”

  “I guess we’ll know soon enough. You want an energy bar?”

  “Thanks, that sounds good. I’ll take my ten bucks, too.”

  “Asshole,” I muttered. I reached my pack just as the feet reached the second flight of stairs. I grabbed two energy bars from the plastic baggie and resealed it, just as Cathy and Lisa came skidding into the kitchen. Jack was still on the stairs, but the sound of his choppy footsteps made my skin crawl.

  “Jack got bit!” shouted Cathy.

  Lisa pointed to the side of her neck. “Right here,” she groaned.

  Chapter 16

  “Goddamn it,” grunted Ace. “What the hell did we tell you people? Was it a bat?”

  “No, it was a tiger,” hissed Lisa. “What do you think it was?”

  Ace shook his head and jogged out of the room.

  “How bad is it?” I asked.

  “He’s not a vampire,” said Cathy. “Not yet, anyhow.”

  Lisa stared at Cathy as if she had been slapped and then she began to laugh. Cathy quickly joined in and I reached back inside my pack for the first-aid kit. I then left the two women in the kitchen; hospital-patient stoned, still doubled over with laughter. I found Ace standing over Jack, who was seated on the stairs. He held his hand over his neck and I could see trickles of blood oozing down onto his chest. I handed Ace the first-aid kit, figuring that given his training, he would have an idea of what needed to be done.

  “Thanks,” he said. He opened the kit and removed a small package of gauze and a bottle of rubbing alcohol. A moment later, he held a chunk of dripping gauze out to Jack. “Move your hand,” he ordered. “We’ve got to clean your wound.”

  Jack grimaced and removed his hand. There were two angry-looking puncture marks just below his jaw, under his left ear. The bleeding was already beginning to subside as Ace began swabbing the area. “Ouch,” Jack cried. “Damn, that shit stings.”

  “Yeah?” asked Ace, “not half as much as the rabies shots are going to sting. You get those in your stomach, smart-guy. I tried to warn you, but you wouldn’t listen.”

  “Kiss my ass,” grunted Jack. “I ain’t getting any shots.”

  “Like hell you’re not. Just as soon as the kids get back, you and I are taking a hike over to the hospital. You don’t mess around with this shit. Rabies is goddamned serious, Jack, and you know it.”

  “I don’t have any rabies. Stop saying that!”

  “That’s the booze talking, Jack. Jesus Christ, I told you to keep a cork in that bottle. Now look what you did.”

  “Do you really think he has rabies?” asked Cathy, as if the thought had just occurred to her.

  “There’s a good chance of it,” Ace said. “I knew this house was bad.”

  “Bad house,” said Lisa. “Bad, bad house.”

  I turned to face the women and they were both covering their mouths to stifle their laughter.

  “Ladies, there ain’t nothin’ funny about rabies,” said Ace. “He will die from it, if it’s left untreated. I don’t suppose either of you has any penicillin?”

  “No, I don’t,” said Cathy. “But I’ve got some aspirin, will that help?”

  “All I have are my happy pills,” said Lisa.

  Angrily, Jack stood up and he took the gauze out of Ace’s hand. He pressed it against his neck. “I don’t have rabies and I want everyone to quit talking about it. How in the hell could you guys see anything up there, anyhow? God damn, it was blacker than the inside of a cow up there.”

  “Yeah,” said Cathy. “How did you guys see up there? Did you have a flashlight or something?”

  A pale look crossed over Ace’s face, but he quickly recovered. “That’s right, we had a flashlight. I dropped it up there. Does one of you want to go find it for me?”

  “Hell no,” said Lisa. “You’re crazy.”

  “I suppose I’ll have to get it, myself,” he muttered. “Please, I want everyone to try and catch some sleep. You heard the kid, those orders came from the Colonel. Why don’t you all try and crash out for a few hours?”

  “He’s right,” Cathy said. “We should at least try to sleep. Anything will help.”

  “Gary,” said Ace. “Maybe you and I should keep watch. I don’t like the idea that people know where we are. Someone could give us away.”

  “That sounds like a plan,” I said.

  “I was hoping you’d lie down with me,” whispered Cathy, puckering out her bottom lip.

  “This is no time for monkey business,” said Lisa. “I’ll crash out next to you. We can talk.”

  “Yeah,” said Jack, still holding the gauze to his neck. “Well, I think I’m going to take the couch. I just hope it isn’t full of rats.”

  I looked at the couch and shuddered. If ever a couch was infested with rats, it was the one he intended to sleep on.

  “Go ahead and take my sleeping bag,” I said. “I’ll try and catch a few winks after you’re up and around.”

  “I really don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep,” she said. Cathy then pointed to a spot on the bare wooden floor of the dining room. “We’ll bunk there. What do you think, Lisa?”

  “Looks good to me.”

  They walked into the kitchen to retrieve the sleeping bags as Jack sat gingerly down on the tattered, ancient sofa. “Not bad,” he said. “I’ve slept on worse.”

  Ace and I exchanged a look and he waved me over to the stairs. “Come on,” he whispered. “I want to talk to you.”

  “Watch out for the bats,” said Jack. “Trust me, guys. You don’t want to get bit.”

  Ace rolled his eyes and I followed him up the stairs. I knew what he wanted to find out and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know. We had left the attic well-lit, with plenty of light shining inside from the octagon window. Something was wrong. Wordlessly, I followed Ace down the hall and into the room with all the empty shelves. He walked over to the open door and peered up the stairs. “Shit,” he muttered.

  “Let me guess,” I said. “It’s dark up there?”

  “Blacker than a well-digger’s ass.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense. What do you think happened to the window?”

  “I don’t think I want to know,” he said. “Do you want to go up there?”

  “Are you crazy? Hell no, I don’t. I don’t want to end up like Jack.”

  “What, do you mean a vampire?”

  “Very funny, I don’t want to risk catching rabies. You weren’t really thinking about going up there, were you?”

  Ace shook his head and shut the door. The room actually seemed to get a little brighter when he closed the door. It was as if the blackness from the attic had somehow dimmed the pale light, inside the empty library. Ace must have noticed it, too. He let go of the door handle as if it were on fire. He stepped across the room and put his back to the wall. He then slid down into a sitting position. I walked over and sat down next to him. We sat in silence for a while. “So,” I said, “where are you originally from, Ace?”

  “Me? Oh, I was born and raised in Missouri. It wasn’t so bad.”

  “How long did you live there?”

  “All my life, until I moved here, a few years back.”

  I could tell that he didn’t want to talk, but I pressed on. “What did you do in Missouri? Did you work on the railroad?”

  Ace turned to face me and he shook his head. “No, I was a city cop
.”

  “That must have been interesting work.”

  Ace put his hands on his knees. “You could say that. I was pretty young when I discovered my gift. My folks were pretty freaked out by it. They made me promise to them that I’d keep it a secret. Mom used to ask: what good is a secret weapon once the secret is out? That stuck in my head. My old man wouldn’t even let me talk about it. If he caught me reading his mind, he’s whip me with his belt. As I’m sure you can imagine: I steered clear of him as much as possible.”

  “That must have been horrible.”

  “Sometimes it was. There were also some really good times and those are the ones I remember the most. One thing I can’t stand is someone who uses their past as an excuse for living a miserable life. It drives me nuts. This world owes us nothing. Our lives are whatever the hell we make them out to be. That’s a fact. My folks did the best they could, but they were dealing with their own shit. That’s life.”

  I nodded my head. I liked Ace’s no-nonsense point of view and I had always felt the same way about the past. His voice was as smooth as silk and it carried just a hint of a southern drawl. “Did you have any brothers or sisters?”

  Ace shook his head. “Nope, I was an only child. Mom had complications when she had me and the doctors told her that it was a miracle that either of us survived. She couldn’t have any more kids. That’s bad news when you’re trying to run a family farm. We worked our asses off, but we lost the place after Reagan was elected. Dad drank himself to death and Mom died of a broken heart.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Thanks, but that was a long time ago. I was still at the academy when the old man passed away. We moved to Saint Louis and we lived in this shitty single-wide trailer, but Mom fixed it up and we made the best of it. She died the same day I got my first paycheck. She just tipped over. The ME said it was a massive stroke.”

  “Holy crap, you must have been crushed.”

  “Oh, I was. The SLPD gave me a week to get my shit together and I went back to work. I didn’t want to, but I knew it was what my folks would’ve wanted me to do. I was twenty-two years old and mad as hell. I joined the force because I thought I could make a difference. Boy … was I ever wrong.”