Cody stayed quiet and Jack listened. When Lee paused, he said, “I agree with everything you are saying, Lee. Hell, it hadn't been four hours from crisis yesterday, when Cody and I met up with those two charming fellows. And I can't figure any sure reason for all of this, I am pretty much on the same page as you.”
Beth came back into the kitchen, she wore jeans, a button up shirt and her tennis shoes. Her gray tipped hair was under control, petite gold hoops swung from her ears. Jack looked up and smiled, his eyebrows raised and he said to Lee, “We may be going to Hell in a hand-basket, but Beth is going to look good for the trip.” Cody turned around and giggled.
Beth shook the thermos, “One more cup, any takers?” Jack says he's done.
Lee said, “Sure”.
Lee got back to the conversation, “Last night, I woke up to the sound of voices in the back yard. A couple of guys were trying to push the four wheeler away and talking too loud about getting it started. They were just drunk and my AR made them near break their necks, trying to run. Like I've said, people are going to become more and more unstable. Things are not going to get better for a very long time,” he looks sadly at Cody, “Maybe never. So, Jack, Beth? I was wondering if Cody and I could just camp out in your garage, for now. I mean, there is safety in numbers and we will help out all we can. We brought what we have. I don't keep a lot of food on hand, I had some and I even have some MRE's. I've got three or four guns and some ammo.”
Jack looked at Beth and his eyes dropped down to his folded hands. Lee spoke before Jack had a chance to reply, “Jack, I understand you have your own family to worry about. I understand if the answer is no. No matter what, I am not letting you take off on your blasted lawn mower by yourself, to get that daughter of yours. It's just not safe out there, I can have your back.”
Beth walked up behind Cody and placed her hands on his shoulders. Jack fully recognized the meaning of that look on her face, “I told you Lee, you and Cody are welcome here. I still mean it.”
Cody said, “Wow, cool,” and pushed his hair behind his ear.
“Cody, you go and get our gear off of the ATV and bring it inside. I will let Beth tell you where she wants us to roost. Jack and I have some plans to discuss.”
Jack watched the kid go. He wondered how much longer they could move around in the open, without extreme caution. Maybe, it was do-able today and in this neighborhood, but not for long. He went to get a paper and pencil, started telling Lee about the mower and trailer. He made a drawing to show approximately how far it was to Lynn's and the route they could take.
Lee looked down at the pencil drawing. “It'll take a half a day or more, there and back, I can follow you on the ATV. I have about three quarters of a tank of fuel. I also, have a siphoning pump. I siphoned what I could haul, out of my old truck, five gallons and brought that.”
“Let's make sure Cody got you unloaded.” said Jack. “There's lots of things that I want to do around here, security and otherwise. Lynn has got to be the priority. Cody can help Beth get some things done, though. I am glad that he will be here. I am feeling real pressed to get going. Every day, maybe every hour puts Lynn and her girls in more danger.” Lee went to check on Cody and Jack went out to the back storage building to pull out the mower and trailer.
Cody and Lee's gear was piled in the front hall. Jack could see the wheels turning already in Beth's head about where she would put them up. That was good, it would keep her mind off of everything else. Jack had the trailer hooked to the mower. Beth had thrown a couple of thick blankets down on the red metal floor of the trailer, she gives Jack some notes she wrote to Lynn. While the guys were loading up the vehicles, she cooked some breakfast. She made them four sandwiches, from the left over bacon, egg and some cheese. They put the sandwiches, some granola bars, two big bottles of water in a small ice chest. Lee put the ice chest and the gas can on the ATV's rack. Beth insists on some basic first aid supplies, “Look what happened yesterday, heaven forbid, you might need it.” Both men had two guns and extra ammo.
It was already nearly 11:00. Cody stood beside Beth, Lee and Jack both punched him on the arm, “See ya, kid”. Jack kissed Beth and said, “Don't worry, we will be back with Lynn and the girls before dark.” The small parade pulled out of the drive and headed towards the main highway. Beth shaded her eyes and watched for just a minute, “C'mon Cody, we have work to do.” They went back inside, double locked the door.
The mower, trailer and ATV had barely made it a few feet, when Mike from two houses down ran down his drive. “Jack, Jack, wait Jack!” Jack cursed to himself and shifted the mower into neutral and pulled up the brake.
“Hi, Mike, what's up?” he said.
“Where you going, Jack? Would you help me push the truck back in the drive?” said Mike.
Jack didn't see much use in it but he climbed off the mower, Lee followed and the three of them pushed the truck back up into Mike's driveway. Mike ran his hand over his spiky hair. “You know, Cindy and little bit haven't made it home, yet.” Mike's wife taught at an elementary school about 2 miles away and their eight year old son attended school there. “Of course, Cindy would never leave as long as there are kids there. The buses couldn't run and how the heck would anybody come and get their kids?” He looked really worried and frustrated. “Anyway, my street bike won't start but I think I can get that old dirt bike going. I am going over there.”
Jack already walked backwards, “That sounds good, Mike. You take care, we gotta go. I've got to try and get across town and get my daughter and grand babes.”
“Right, you be careful, too. Later”.
Jack and Lee rumbled away again, the highway in site. The few people that were out seemed to be concerned with whatever they were doing and the out of place vehicles moved up on the sidewalk beside the highway, moved on. The highway here was really clogged with silenced machines. Sometimes several car lengths would be clear, mostly there were long strings of cars and trucks. Jack didn't see many people amongst the vehicles, here in the daylight. He saw quite a few broken windows and some doors that hung open, last night was probably open season for the no goods. Just as Lee had noted, there was no sign of police or National Guard, no law around at all. About a mile along, they passed the big fancy supermarket. There were cars in the parking lot, a few people stood in front of entrance doors that looked like they were chained shut. Of course, the nearby gas pumps were still and a cola machine laid on it's side. The majority of the convenience stores and fast food places were locked up. At the Chicken Express, the door was propped open and someone handed out bags of fried chicken.
It seems like we are making pretty good time. We've been gone about an hour from the house, probably traveled nearly five miles, thought Jack. They still traveled along the sidewalk, they reached what was generally a really busy street. It was going to take a lot of maneuvering to get the mower and trailer and the ATV between what had been bumper to bumper traffic. Jack pulled up, Lee took some water out and they both take a drink. Jack said, “This is going to be a little tricky.” Lee stayed with the rides and Jack walked up the sidewalk, searched for a pathway. Finally about two blocks up, there was a break in the choo-choo of cars. Jack went back, climbed on. They moved up the walk, crossed at the break and went back down the other side of the street to where they needed to be.
Jack stopped again and said, “Sorry, got to take a leak”. Lee nodded, “Go ahead and then I'll go, it's all that damn water”. Jack walked down the steps at the side of the street. There was actually a tunnel that snaked under, for walkers and bicyclist to avoid the traffic. The sweet aroma of weed hit him just at the time he saw three kids, two guys and a girl stood at the opening of the tunnel. Smoke drifted around their heads and he was much more startled than they were.
“Hey, old dude. We are the trolls of the tunnel. You got to pay a toll to go through here” All three laughed and coughed. Jack's hand was on the sidearm but he figured these three potheads were a little too mellow to be danger
ous. Still, can't be stupid.
“Well, I am not going through. I was just looking for a place to piss. Since you have a “lady” with you, I will find another place.” They all three thought that was also hilarious.
Jack just moved back and up the steps. “That head is occupied,” he said to Lee, “We will have to move a ways and find a tree.”
Another fifteen minutes and Jack was really in a hurt to relieve himself. He spotted a few bushes that lined the strip of grass next to the sidewalk. He pulled up again, not even saying anything to Lee and edged his way behind the bushes. Whew! That's way better. He returns to Lee and the rides. “Sorry man, I was in a bit of a rush. You go ahead.” Lee just shrugged his shoulders and made for the bushes. After a drink and a granola bar they were moving again. Jack was glad that they were not seeing many people along this stretch and were moving along at a fairly good pace.
Jack had started to believe, that they had a chance to actually make it to Lynn's with no incidents and he recognized they were within a few blocks of her house. As they passed the first of two apartment complexes that were close to their destination, he began to feel a little uneasy, however. He had always felt that these big complexes with such a variety of renters, bred a lot of trouble. Especially, some of them in this area. More people stood around these units than they had seen on this whole trip, lot's of loud talk and booze being passed around. Nobody had messed with them so far but they were getting plenty of interested looks. They continued to move and had cleared the second complex, Jack got a real bad feeling. Another two blocks and Lynn's neat little house was within view. Jack eased over and Lee swung in behind. Lee walks up to talk to him, “Are we getting close, Jack?”.
“That's her house, right over there on the corner”, said Jack. “I've just got a spooky feeling. Lynn is a real trusting soul, she rarely draws the blinds and opens her door too quickly. I have lectured her, if anything ever goes bad, you lock up tight, close all those blinds and wait for me. I will come and get you. Darn her independent streak, she pays little attention to me. Look over there, Lee, those blinds are closed tight. Maybe she actually got scared enough to think of my warnings, but I've just got a gut feeling.”
“So, what do you want to do?” said Lee.
“Let's leave the rides here and walk up, with no announcement, and do a little checking before I go to the door.”
Jack retrieved his second weapon from under the blankets in the trailer. Lee took the strap of the AR and slung it over his shoulder, his 45 is at his waist. The two, with Jack leading, moved a little past the house, across the street. They watched the house cautiously, crossed the street and slowly moved in closer. The small house had a back and front door that were in view of each other. They moved with their backs against the house, drew up near the window that flanked the back door. Jack could hear Lynn's raised voice, the voice she used when she was very angry. “You need to leave right now...hey, don't break that!” He heard the sound of something crashing to the floor. “Damn it” shouts Lynn. Then there was a slapping sound and a gravely voice said, “You shut your mouth, Bitch.” The twins wailed in fear, somewhere in the room. The gruff voice spoke again, “Take those f---ing hyenas in the bedroom and stay there and hold the door. The sound of the girl's crying became more muffled as the bedroom door was slammed. Jack heard some banging and things hitting the floor, probably in the kitchen. The small kitchen opened off the living area and the front doors were there, a french two-door style. He tried to peer in the side of drawn blinds, he was able to see Lynn standing in front of the french doors. Between this door that they were close to and Lynn at the front doors, a very large man stood.
Jack whispered to Lee, “I think there are three of them. One looting the kitchen, one down a short hall at the bedroom door and a big-ass jerk, standing between this door and Lynn. Lynn let out a high pitched moan of pain. Jack turned to Lee, “Gotta move now...I am going to shoot the door knob and kick it open. I am going straight for the big guy. You move to your right and there is an opening to the kitchen, go for the looter there. We will have to deal with the other one as it goes down.”
Jack didn't wait for an answer, he pulled out his .45 and blasted the door knob, he nearly simultaneously kicked at the door. It took a second kick and it burst inward. Lee moved behind him towards the kitchen, the AR-15 already raised to his shoulder. The large man, both tall and heavy, had a hand full of Lynn's hair. He spun her around in front of him, one arm across her waist, a knife at her neck. He towered over her about a foot, her feet were barely touching the floor. He tossed his long greasy hair back and growled out, “You som-bitch!... back off.. I'll cut her throat”. Jack didn't have a line of view but just a few feet away he heard the loud percussion of the AR and a body hit the floor hard. The man jerked his head towards the sound. Lynn was still, tears streamed down her face. Jack took one step forward, raised the .45 and fired the slug into the guy's head, right above his ear. The brute's head banged back against the glass in the french doors, broke a pane and he went down like a lead anchor. Lynn moved away and the knife nicked her shoulder as he collapsed down. She looked at Jack, “Daddy” she breathed out. Jack looked over to see Lee standing at the opening to the hall. The third guy was shaking his head back and forth and muttering, “No, no-ooo, I wasn't goin to hurt no-one.” He bolted into the bedroom and locked the door. For an instant, the sound of the twin's screaming blared out and then muted again as the door was closed. Lee was hitting the door with his shoulder as hard as he could. There was a click, the door opened and he nearly fell on the floor, the twins had unlocked. He looked up to see the third man going out the window, running. He went to the window and got off a shot, the man howled and grabbed his arm but kept running.
Lee went to the bed where the girls were huddled up and hic-cuping, “Moma, Moma”. Lee gently spoke to them, “It's okay, everything is okay, your mother is fine.” Jack walked into the room, they squealed “Poppa”, at the same time. It wasn't unusual for them to say the same thing at the same time. Jack hefted Mindy up in his arms and motioned for Lee to get Michelle. The girls put their heads on the men's shoulders, settled down some. Lynn stood in the living room, really too calm and was not speaking. Her lip was cut, a mark was across her cheek and her shirt was soaked with a small circle of blood on the shoulder. Jack put his arm around her trembling shoulders.
“Lynn...Lynn, look at me. I want you to take the girls and go out to the studio. I don't think that cut on your shoulder is bad but wash it off and we will put a little antiseptic on it and cover it. Can you put on this blouse hanging here? Throw that one away. Lock up until I come out and get you. I am going to do some cleaning up here and then we will come. This is Lee, he is a friend. Lynn, do you hear me?”
His battered daughter inhaled a deep breath and looked at him, “Yes, Daddy.” He knew he could count on her. Life had not always been kind to her, health problems since her childhood, losing her husband at a young age, raising two children alone. She had always kept going, with a courage the he greatly admired.
Jack refused to leave the scum in his daughter's house. He doubted that she would ever get to live there again but there's just some things you respect. After a quick scanning that revealed no one around and paying any attention, they drug the two bodies across the street and behind a cluster of self storage buildings that were surrounded by a tall chain link fence with barb wire on the top. They left them in the tall weeds. Let the dogs have them, was Jack's thought. They walked back to the mower and ATV, started them up and moved them to the back of the house.
There would be no time to really clean up the mess inside, the blood. Lynn's modern and unique kitchen was trashed. Jack went into the laundry area and found a couple of sheets, he folded them and spread them across the gory dark splashes. He swept up most of what was broken on the tile floors and closed up the cabinet doors. He opened the refrigerator, it had already lost most of the coolness, he raked everything except a few juice boxes and some pickles int
o a large trash bag. Lee took that out and put it in Lynn's big garbage can. Jack looked at the notes that Beth sent to Lynn. Some things, he didn't have an idea where to find. Some were personal, “girlie” things. He had better go get Lynn.
In the studio, the three of them sat on the floor, silent. “Lynn, I am going to need you and the girls to gather some things. Your mother sent you some notes on things to remember. We need to get moving back towards the house.” He looked around the large room with all the clutter of an artist and Lynn's abstract art work around. The art that he didn't always understand.
“I am sorry, we are limited what we can take, you and the girls will ride in the back of the mower's trailer. Lee can tie some things on his ATV. You might want to at least get some of your art supplies and the girls need to take some books that they like. They can take those little gadgets they are so fond of, I don't how long we can keep them charged up. We can use that big red duffle bag there, we will need to pack most things in trash bags so you girls can sit on them. The day is passing fast, we are going to get loaded and move as quick as we can.”
While Lynn gathered things from Beth's list, the girls each took a trash bag and filled it with their clothes and some of their favorite little things. Lee went out to Lynn's studio to get the art supplies that she had gathered. He looked at all the pieces hanging and sitting around. These are amazing. He went inside and asked Lynn if she would give him some blankets or sheets.
“I was thinking that I could take down all of your art, in the studio and in here. We could put it under your bed. I know that probably won't protect it forever but it won't be right out in view.”
Jack said, “I think that is a good idea, honey. I promise you, if I can get back here at a later time, I will come and get your art”.
Lynn looked grateful, she replied, “I'm just glad that you and Lee came, daddy. I can only worry about the girls right now.”
No Normal Day Page 4