by Warren Ray
Stiver glared at Winters. “I had my orders.”
“Yes, everyone has their orders, not the best of excuses, but hey, if that’s what lets you sleep at night. By the way, how do you sleep at night?”
Stiver ignored him and began to focus on Reese. “And who is this beautiful little thing?”
Reese didn’t answer.
“What’s you name, girl,” he asked, as he moved up close to her.
She hesitated a moment, then spit in his face.
Stiver wiped off the spittle, wound up and slapped her across the face. “You bitch.”
She recovered from the blow and glared at him with a smirk on her face.
Durbin walked up to them. “Junior. Got a bunch rounded up.”
“Good, we need to get out of here before Cox shows up.”
Just as he said that the sound of trucks rumbling toward them drew their attention to the street. A couple of SUV’s turned into the parking lot while the rest parked in the street.
“Damn it,” said Stiver.
Cox and seven of his men got out of their vehicles and approached Stiver. “What the hell were you thinking? I ran into a couple of your men up the street, and they told me what happened.”
“And you are?” asked Stiver, knowing who he was.
“I’m Captain Cox. I’m assuming you’re Stiver.”
“That would be me.”
“This was my operation. I invited you solely as a courtesy because of your troubles in Minnesota. You were here as backup. Why did you attack?”
“Well, we saw a couple of their vehicles leave the area in a hurry. Figured they knew we were coming, so I attacked. And, it’s a good thing I did, cause they were all leaving. So, you must have a leak in your organization.”
This put Cox on the defensive. “I have no such leak.”
“Well, they knew we were coming,” said Stiver in a condescending tone.
“They probably had lookouts and saw your dumb asses.”
“Nice try, buddy.”
“Who the hell do you think you are, Junior? Do you know who I am?”
Stiver raised an eyebrow and he glared at Cox. No one but Stiver’s friends called him by his nickname. “I don’t give a rat’s ass who you are. All I know is that we busted up these rebels and I’ve got the prisoners to prove it.”
Cox’s face grimaced. “You think you’re going to take the credit for this?”
“We are the ones who took him.”
Winters listened, amused by the pissing contest, and wondered who was going to win out. He saw the anger grow in Cox’s face and thought the man was about to explode.
Cox turned his attention to Winters. His eyes got wider as he walked toward him. He pulled a picture from his jacket, held it up to Winters’ face, and smiled.
Winters looked deep into the man’s eyes and saw a determination in them. He could tell the man wanted him badly and he knew, at that moment, he would be going with Cox. He saw him reach down for his sidearm and pull it out as he turned around.
“This man will be going with us,” yelled Cox pointing his gun at Stiver.
All seven of Cox’s men raised their weapons and pointed them at Stiver's men, who responded in kind. More of Cox’s men then raced across the parking lot with their weapons ready. This action alerted Stiver’s men who rushed in to help him. Jake and Elwood came to life barking at Cox. They began pulling hard against their leashes, which caused their handler considerable trouble keeping them under control.
“He’s my prisoner,” Stiver screamed.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you take him,” returned Cox.
“The hell you say. You just want to take the credit for what we did.”
“No, actually, now that I know we have Winters as a prisoner, you can take all the damned credit for all I care.”
This puzzled Stiver. “I don’t believe you.”
“Listen to me Stiver, we can either have an old fashioned Mexican standoff or you can let me take this man to Mordulfah.”
That name had an immediate effect on Stiver. “Mordulfah?” He signaled his dogs to quit barking.
“You heard me. Mordulfah wants this man.”
Stiver lowered his weapon. “Why didn’t you just say so to begin with?”
“I didn’t think it would be necessary.”
Winters was surprised the mere mention of Mordulfah’s name would cause such a change. Stiver’s men glanced at each other with looks of resignation. He was obviously someone who instilled fear in these cops.
Stiver ordered his men to lower their weapons. “What about the two girls and the other prisoners we have.”
Cox looked at them. “He’ll be wanting the girls as well, especially the little one.”
Stiver jerked his head back by that comment and grimaced. He’d heard about Mordulfah’s fetish for young girls. It was something that didn’t sit well with him.
“You can have the other prisoners. That should be enough to put you back in the good graces of your superiors.”
Stiver glared at him for a moment and then ordered his men back. A couple of them slid over to their car where Winters was standing, got in and pulled out of the parking lot.
Stiver and the rest of his men backed up cautiously.
Cox turned to Winters and snickered at having won the battle. He walked up to the only three prisoners he was interested in, and then moved closer to Sadie and smiled at her. “You, my dear, are an added bonus.”
Chapter 43
Bassett and Scar kept in the shadow of the trees near where the prisoner negotiations had taken place. They watched Cox’s men escort Winters and the two girls to their vehicle. Once the car left, the two of them got up and sprinted back to the statue of Moses, where Hadley waited with Amber and a wounded Meeks.
The five of them stole across the overgrown grass and got in Hadley’s car. Scar grabbed the radio he had gone back for, after the firefight they had with the cops. After killing the cops, the three of them had gone to look for Winters but found only the gun, Meeks had given to Sadie lying in the grass next to the sidewalk. After getting no response when they called out to them, they assumed Winters and the girls ended up prisoners. Scar, Amber, and the wounded Meeks, then headed toward the dormitory they would no longer call home. They figured that’s where the cops would have taken Winters.
On the way, they ran into Bassett and Hadley who were not able to get off the campus either. The two of them had decided to hide and wait for everyone to leave.
“Who’s got them?” asked Meeks, as they reached Hadley’s car.
“Captain Cox. He’s the station commander in Detroit,” answered Bassett.
Meeks winced in pain as he put pressure on his right leg, where a bullet had grazed him. “Where are they going to take them?”
“I heard Cox yell out Mordulfah,” said Scar.
“I keep hearing this Mordulfah’s name and I’m about sick of it,” replied Meeks.
Bassett turned to Hadley. “You said you know where this guy is?”
“Yes, over in Grosse Pointe, on the lake,” answered Hadley.
“You think you can find it?” asked Scar.
“Won’t be hard to find, it’s the Ford mansion.”
“What about this Stiver guy? Where’s he from?”
“He’s from St. Paul,” said Hadley.
“Must be the guy who chased us up into Canada,” said Scar to Meeks.
Meeks nodded.
“Will he take our guys there?” he asked Hadley.
“More than likely. St. Paul is his area headquarters. Kind of like Detroit is for us.”
Bassett turned to Scar. “These are your guys, what do you want to do first?”
Scar thought about that for a moment. “Let’s go get our other guys first, then we’ll go pay this Mordulfah character a visit.” He turned to Meeks. “You going to make it buddy?”
“I’ll manage, though this one’s worse than the one I got a month ago.”
“Your cat-like-reflexes are definitely slowing down.”
“Yeah, no kidding.”
Scar pressed the radio button. “This is Scar, anyone out there?”
He waited a moment before trying again.
Just as he was about to try it again, the radio came to life. “Taylor here.”
Hearing Bill’s voice gave Scar some relief. “Bill, where are you at?”
“I’m up by the interstate.”
“How many men do you got with you?”
“There’s six of us.”
“Keep your eyes peeled for a couple of different convoys. Winters is in one of them and the rest of our guys are in the other.”
“Which one is which?”
“I don’t know yet, see which direction they go, we’re on our way up there.”
“Got it.”
Bassett backed the car up, drove through the quad, and headed toward the Interstate.
A few minutes later, Taylor came back on the radio. “We got ‘em, one’s headed east, and the other west.”
Scar responded. “Follow the one headed west. We’re almost to the interstate. We’ll catch up to you.”
“You got it. So, who’s in the one we’re following?”
“The bulk of our guys. They’ll be headed to St. Paul.”
Scar put the handheld radio down and turned to Bassett. “Any suggestions?”
“No, not really, there’s not enough of us to stop a convoy of a hundred men, and we’re running low on fuel.”
“How much we got left?”
“We’re under a quarter tank.”
Scar sat silent thinking about the situation trying to come up with a game plan. They would have to act quickly before they ran out of gas. The question was how can three cars pull over such a large number of cops and get away without being killed in the process. Scar was at a loss for what to do. A moment later, he grabbed the radio. “Taylor.”
“I’m here.”
“Where are you?”
“Passing Mile Marker 65.”
“Okay, we’re right behind you. How’s your fuel?”
“Full tank. Why how much do you have?”
“We’re under a quarter.”
“Who’s we?”
“I’m with Bassett and Hadley. We’re in their car, and they came from Detroit, so we’re not going to be able to keep following these guys for very long.”
“Well, if you’re running low, then so are they.”
Scar hadn’t considered that and thought perhaps it might present a chance to get their men back. “We’ll follow them till they pull over.”
“Got it.”
Scar hoped it would be soon, and not in the Chicago area. He, like most everyone else, didn’t want to get anywhere near Chicago, because the city had been hit with several dirty bombs. These bombs had destroyed large areas of the city, killing tens of thousands of people. The radiation forced everyone else out of the area, though he had heard of people going back in, ransacking and looting. He knew that those people would, sooner than later, pay for their stupidity and become ill with radiation poisoning.
Chapter 44
Winters sat between Reese and Sadie and tried to comfort them as much as possible. The handcuffs dug into his wrist and made it difficult to get comfortable. They had been traveling for about an hour and during that time, Cox, who sat up front, hadn’t said a word, and Winters wanted some answers.
“So, tell me, Mr. Cox, how much longer?”
Cox turned his head. “It’s Captain Cox for starters, and we’ll get there when we get there.”
“Well, Captain Cox, tell me about this Mordulfah fellow, seems Stiver started to shake at the sound of his name.”
“For good reason, I can assure you.”
“Oh, some kind of a boogie man?”
“He’s more than a boogie man. You’ll see soon enough.”
“Paying good money for me is he?”
Cox didn’t answer.
“Well, I’ll take that as a yes. So, I wonder what I’m worth? I’m assuming I’m worth more alive than dead?”
Again, Cox didn’t answer.
Winters looked over at Sadie and gave her a reassuring wink. She smiled slightly, not knowing what else to do. Winters decided to go for broke and try to irritate Cox as much as he could.
“So, Captain Cox, have you always been a rapist or is this something new for you?”
Cox turned in his seat. His eyes were as big as saucers.
“Were you just never good with the ladies?”
Cox continued to stare Winters down.
“Or, is that the only way you can get it up?”
Reese let out a small laugh.
Winters could see the blood rushing into Cox’s face. He didn’t think it would be this easy to get his goat. He wondered if he had hit too close to home. Winters was enjoying this and decided to go on.
“So, just how young do you like them?”
Cox pulled out his sidearm and pointed it at Winters’ face. “Shut up or I’ll shoot you right now.”
“I’m just curious how this all works. I’ve never raped a girl before. So, like I said, I’m just curious is all. Is it the power trip that helps you get it up?”
“Shut the hell up.”
“You’re not going to shoot me, you wouldn’t get your prize money.”
Cox pointed the gun at Sadie. “Then I’ll do her.”
Sadie jerked back into her seat. Her eyes grew bluer as they widened.
“Well then, when I meet Mordulfah, I’ll be sure to tell him what a sweet young thing he missed out on,” said Winters with a determined look.
Cox turned to his driver. “Pull over.”
The car came to a stop and Cox got out, opened the back door, and yanked Sadie out to the ground. She got up screaming at him, and he pushed her back to the ground. He then grabbed Winters’ arm, pulled him out, and shoved him to the back of the vehicle. He then leaned back and swung a haymaker, hitting Winters in the face. The force of the punch made Winters fall to the ground. Cox grabbed his arm pulling him to his feet. Winters’ head hurt like hell, but seeing his chance, he head-butted Cox in the nose. The nose splattered, throwing blood in all directions. Cox screamed in agony as he fell back.
“You broke my nose. I’m gonna kill you,” he said pulling his sidearm out.
Millsap came up and got in front of Winters. “Captain, don’t do it. He’s not worth what Mordulfah will do to you when he finds out.”
Cox breathed heavily trying to calm himself down. He ordered his man to take Winters to another vehicle. Sadie cried out, wanting to go with him.
Moments later, Reese and Sadie were brought to the back of the transport Winters was in.
Winters was pleased to see them both back with him and asked how that happened.
“I just started screaming like the little girl that I am,” Sadie said laughing.
“Then we started calling him a molester,” added Reese.
Winters let out a laugh.
Reese shook her head. “Yeah, Chester the Molester. He didn’t take to that too well.”
Winters looked at them. “I’m surprised he didn’t gag you.”
“I think his nose hurts too much to think straight,” said Reese.
Winters leaned back proud of his two girls, especially Reese. He really liked the way she handled herself with Stiver and now Cox. He knew she was a fireball when she had killed the guards back in Saline, and then after participating in a firefight, sticking around, rather than go to Canada. He hoped that she’d be able to handle herself when Cox turned her over to Mordulfah.
The convoy started moving again. Sitting in the back of the transport reminded Winters of his initial trip to the train station with his friends back in Iowa. It was there a strong wind had blown the hat off his head, and he jumped out to chase it down. That action had saved his life and set him on his current path. There would be no jumping out the back of this transport, as there were three cops guar
ding them.
Chapter 45
Gary Indiana
Bassett continued to drive Hadley’s car down Interstate 90, following Taylor and another car. They had eleven people in the three vehicles, one of which was the wounded Meeks. His wound wasn’t too serious, just painful. Pain medication would be helpful, and some rest. That would have to come later.
They followed the convoy of thirty vehicles, which were of various sizes. Three of them were transports, which held their friends, prisoners.
As they approached Gary, Indiana, Taylor got on the radio. “Looks like this is where they’re looking to get more fuel.”
Scar grabbed the radio. “Are they exiting?”
“Yeah, let’s give it a minute and see where they’re going?”
Taylor pulled over and Bassett came up behind him. Everyone got out and watched the National Police convoy heading to the Gary airport.
“They must have a stash of fuel at the airport,” said Taylor.
“I don’t see us taking them on here,” said Scar.
“There’s no real advantage we can take,” agreed Bassett.
Scar thought about what to do, remembering how they had stopped Major Green’s convoy with just seven men. This area was too open with no real place to hide. Plus, there were a lot more vehicles and cops to deal with. He decided they would follow them to St. Paul and make the rescue there. That would give them a chance to gather whatever they could find of their scattered forces. He didn’t like the idea of traveling so far to rescue the men. It meant killing precious time, time that left Winters with Mordulfah.
“Taylor, I want you and your men to follow the convoy to St. Paul. You’re from there, so it should be easy for you to figure out where they’ll be held.”
“What about you?” asked Taylor.
“As soon, as this convoy leaves, we’re going to go down there and get us some fuel, then we’ll go to Paw Paw, see who shows up, and meet up with you in St. Paul.”
Taylor nodded and signaled his men to go.
“Can you find someone in St. Paul to patch Meeks up?”