by Paul Kirk
“No, Nully.”
“Okay. Keep an eye out behind us while I check on them houses.”
“’Kay.”
Renaldo studied the gray house in particular, since it had the best view of the alley and beyond and had the advantage of significant weeds stuffed into an overgrown yard. The top dormer windows were open to the street, easily giving height and an unobstructed view further down the alley. His best recall told him those windows were closed the last time he and Gabriella had made their way to the Kroger’s hideout, though that was well over a month ago. But, the gray house would be a house his father would pick for an ambush. It was certainly similar to others they’d used on occasions in the past.
“Nully?”
“Shhh, I’m thinkin’”
“’Kay, Nully.”
Renaldo calculated options. Definitely, the big army behind him was searching for someone. Someone named Connor MacMillen from what he was able to decipher from the radio guy talking. And, the lead man, Phoenix, wanted the man, too. He wanted him badly.
“Fuckin’, puta.” Renaldo spat into the dirt while they stayed hidden behind a Buick. He took his time assessing the area as he was taught. He knew patience was often the difference between death and surviving to live another day. Gabriella had still not fully mastered the art of patience.
“Nully?”
“Shhh!”Renaldo considered that maybe there was more than one man hiding in the gray house. He wondered if maybe these men were preparing an ambush surprise for the Phoenix army. It made some sense. Or, maybe it was simply his luck to have got him and his little sister caught between two opposing forces seeking vengeance.
“We can run that way east and hide…” said Renaldo aloud.
“Now?”
“Shhh!” Renaldo had seen the fury of Phoenix after shooting his foot. Deep down, he knew the crazy man would devote his entire army in retribution. And, there were a lot of men, certainly not 3000 like he’d boasted, but at least many hundreds. And, he knew he and Gabby would be hunted from this point on, or until they were—dead. He shivered at the thought of what that man had likely planned for his sister, and—probably him. He regarded Gabriella, so little, and crouching so close. A fierce determination rose. He weighed his options, wondering if the men being hunted, this Connor MacMillen, were any better than Phoenix. He recalled his father’s words about going it alone and safe with Gabby until he was ‘proof positive’ that joining up with a new crew was secure, advancing his well-being.
“We’re gonna have to at least explore that option this time—Papa.”
“Nully, what?”
Renaldo turned to his sister, who was watching him closely. “Gabby, now listen. This is very, very important.”
“’Kay.”
“You know Johnny Dunlop, right?”
“Uh, huh…I don’t like his dog…he wants to bite me.”
“Right. I know. But, you know how to get to where he lives from here?”
Gabriella glanced around. Renaldo patiently waited for her to regain her bearings. She nodded. “Yeah, he lives over there. A blue store. Not too far.”
“That’s right, the Best Buy.”
“Why, Nully? We going there?”
“Um, no. Not yet.”
“’Kay.”
“But, you see, I’m gonna go over to that gray house. I’m gonna see if the men hiding there can help us.”
“Now? But Papa…”
“I know, Gabby.”
“Not safe…”
“I know, Gabby, but, those bad men behind us? They won’t stop hunting us. Like ever.”
“But—”
“And, I think they’re after these guys.”
“But—”
“I know. I know. They could be bad men, too. Like Daddy says. Except, I think I want to take a chance this time and see, okay?”
“’Kay. But—”
“And I want you to run to stay with Johnny Dunlop if I go and say ‘Run Gabby!’ okay?”
“Nully?”
“What?”
“I don’t wanna leave you!” Visibly upset, Gabriella’s whole body shook; she repeatedly curled the top of the bag into a tight bunch with her hands, refusing to meet his eyes.
“Listen! Okay?" Renaldo touched her shoulder, tilting her head to better see her eyes.
“I’m taking a risk here, Gabby, I think a small one, but I hope we’re gonna be okay. You see?”
“Umm…”
“Listen. I wanna have a backup plan for you to run to Johnny if I’m wrong. Okay?”
“I don’t wanna. I really, really don’t wanna!”
“We could end up being with real good people, Gabby. Maybe. Besides, we got caught up in a bad mess back there. To get out of it, we hafta to take some risks.”
“Would Papa say so?”
“Papa ain’t here no more, Gabby. It’s only you and me.”
“Would Papa—”
“Stop it, Gabby! I’m thinkin’ what Papa taught me!”
“’Kay.”
“Stay here and hide. Keep the Colt in your hands if you have to run, okay?”
“’Kay.”
“Shoot at anyone that's comin' after you, but take good aim, okay? And, put that big piece of meat in your pocket right now. Leave the bag right where it sits. If I say run, got it?”
“Yeah.”
“Now—I might be a few minutes. Hide until I tell you to come out or run.”
“Oh…”
“Game face, Gabby!”
‘’Kay.”
CHAPTER 9.4-Into the Fold
“Top, You copy? The boy's made us. Over.”
Mickey was listening to the strategy session when the radio alerted him. “Copy. Say again? Over.”
“The black-haired boy’s coming right at us. We’ve been made. Orders? Over.”
Mickey filled in the team at the KFC, Connor quickly asking for the radio. Mickey handed it over with some concern.
“Stretch, this is Colonel Mac, why’s this boy approaching your position? Over.”
“Not sure. Over.”
“He have a weapon in his hand? Over.”
Stretch ignored the fact that he was now speaking to the man they’d sought for nearly a year. It was surreal, but he ignored the legend behind the man, answering simply.
“Yes, sir. Over.”
“How’s he approaching? Over.”
“Not very cautious. Handgun in his hands. Over.”
“How’s he holding the gun? Over.”
“Sir? I’m not sure what you mean. Over.”
“Is he nervous ready to shoot, or is the gun more in front of him like ‘just in case’? Over.”
“Um, more just in case, I would say. Over.”
“Alert him to your presence immediately. Weapon neutral. Over.”
“Say again, sir? Over.”
“Now, sergeant! Alert him to your presence. Over.”
Stretch nodded to the two men nearby, radioing the men in the house. “Hold fire. Repeat. Hold all fire. I am engaging the Tango. Over.” Stretch stood to his full height, six feet and six inches, much taller than the grass in which he had hidden. The boy noticed right away, also recognizing that the automatic rifle in Stretch’s hands was pointed away and non-threatening. The boy lowered the Taurus further, and stopped twenty yards away. Stretch lifted his radio slowly to his lips. “We’ve met, sir. He’s standing twenty yards from me with a loaded handgun. Over.”
“How do you know it’s loaded? Over.”
Stretch smiled at the question. He’d made the assumption. “Good point. Over.”
“Ask him specifically how he knew you were there. Over.”
“Yes, sir. Hold for one.”
“Holding for one. Over.” Connor ignored the entire team gathered around him. He held the radio in a tight grip. For some reason, he sensed this child had some value at the moment, but was not sure why. Maybe simply because he was heading from the same direction they'd been coming from
and had seen Phoenix's advancing army. Granted, Connor knew he was pushing the envelope of engagement rules in wasting his time on a child, but his gut was telling him the decision was the right one.
Mickey was listening and had some serious concern for his men in the field. Captain Daubney was about to question the loose way the situation was going down, but noticed that John McLeod, BB and Marty simply smiled. Perhaps, they knew Connor was picking up on something that would come to light. All heads turned to the radio when Stretch responded.
“Approaching him, sir. Hold.” Bewildered and wondering what he had got himself into, Stretch held up his hand for the boy to stop, even though it was clear the boy would not move forward without some reason. Stretch raised his voice. “Hey boy, how’d you know we were here?”
“Say what?”
“How’d you know we were here?”
“Right. Your team was sloppy on entry. Left a trail. One of your men swiped the car window there to see inside. Fresh clean swipe on a dirty car tells me someone’s near.”
“Anything else?”
“The grass was trampled. In several places heading to the gate. Cigarettes and meat cooking tells me someone’s around here somewhere. And them windows up there were closed last time I came through.”
Stretch filled Connor in on the reasons. Connor laughed and radioed Stretch. “Stretch, I know I just busted into your command chain, but do me a favor? Over.”
“Sir? Yes, sir. Over.” Stretch found it strange to be asked for permission.
“Tell the boy detective that he’s safe. Ask him to come in and talk to the commander, me, on the radio. Show him we’re serious, set your weapon down and make sure the men around you do the same. But, tell him if he does anything stupid, the guys in the window will take out his friend. You understand? Over.”
“Yes, sir. Roger that.”
“Make it clear to the men in the windows to shoot only on your orders. Over.”
“Yes, sir. Over and out.” The men near Stretch overheard the verbal exchange and were aghast. Stretch, himself, was wondering what good would come out of this. But, he looked to his men, nodding. “You heard the man. Set ‘im down and stand up.”
Renaldo stared at the fierce men rising above the weeds in the yard. Reflexively, he flinched, his right hand starting to raise the Taurus, but stopping when he knew the men were unarmed and would not shoot. Lowering the Taurus, he walked a few feet closer. Studying the tall man, he waited, watching him speak again into a radio. Several other men stood near him, glancing at the tall man. Nearly fainting with relief, Renaldo slipped the Taurus into his belt, smiling his best ‘meeting new strangers’ smile. A few seconds later, he was waved in by the tall man. Calculating the potential for capture, Renaldo tried to figure out what had just happened. Pleased, he gained some confidence.
“My commander wants to speak with you.”
“Yeah?”
“To show you we’re serious in not shooting you, we’ve set our weapons down. My commander only wants to talk.
“And that's all?”
“Yeah. Those are my orders.”
“Wow. For real?”
“But, just so you understand, you do anything stupid, my guys in the window will take out your friend hiding behind that Buick. You got it?”
Renaldo lost a good bit of his building confidence, but held hope that he’d made the right decision approaching this team.
“Okay. I understand.”
“Your name?”
“Renaldo Miguel.”
“Got it. You can call me Stretch.”
“I wonder why—”
“C’mon over here, Renaldo Miguel. Talk to my Colonel.”
“Okay.”
CHAPTER 9.5-Delicate Fingers
“What time is it?”
“10:30.”
“Crap! Why’d you let me sleep so long?”
“Not very long, ma'am. You were up when they finished the bird repair. You needed it, ma’am.”
Colonel Starkes rose from the sleeping bag in the back hatch of the Superhawk. Smoothly, she grabbed her fatigues and moved toward the door in only her t-shirt and panties. Bouncing on one foot and then the other, she slipped into the fatigue pants and shirt before dropping to the grass in bare feet. Turning, she snatched her boots resting at the bay door and forced them over her socks. Shoelaces untied, she stretched her languid form, pushing the last remnants of sleep away. She smiled at the major.
“Coffee?”
“The last we had for the trip is in the pot on the table in the warehouse over there.”
“Excellent.”
“I woulda brought you one, but the last pot’s brewing. Seems we’re out for the duration.”
“No more coffee?”
“Lucky to have made it this far, ma'am.”
“Major?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“You find a fresh batch of coffee for tomorrow or I’ll demote you to private. You got that?”
“Ma’am?”
“I want a sufficient supply of coffee before we return to Storm. I don’t care how old. Find it. Those are your orders.”
“Ma’am? Are you serious?”
“Do I look like I’m not serious?”
“No ma’am.”
“Good.”
“But—”
“Major?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“You’re the most resourceful and creatively clever man I know. Indulge me and find a solution. That's why you're my second in command.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“That being said, you have your new orders.”
“Yes, ma’am—um.”
“Now then, to what do I owe the honor of your waking me?”
“A few pressing issues I thought you’d want to know about.”
“Go on.”
“Ren and Stimpy went huntin’ last night. They have something to show you over in the warehouse. You might like it.”
Colonel Starkes smiled, sensing that maybe they had killed a more few members of that damn wolf/dog pack slinking around in the night.
“We got fresh meat for travel, major?”
“Something like that.” Major O’Malley smiled mischievously, glancing at the four men guarding the ‘copter. “Guys. I think we have enough coffee left for a cup each if you hurry. I’ll assume guard while you take the Colonel in. Take twenty before I expect your return.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Appreciate it, sir.”
“Sir.”
The colonel walked with the men, entering the warehouse. Following the scent of fresh coffee to the table near the corrugated tin wall, she waved the men to the chipped blue coffee percolator. Touching the side, she pulled her hand back at the heat.
“After you, men.”
All hesitated, until Daniels grabbed a paper cup, filling it nearly to the top. Turning, he handed it to the colonel.
“Here you go, ma’am.”
Smiling, she took her first sip of the black coffee, taking the cup in both hands, as she’d always done since her first cup at age thirteen.
“Thank you, lieutenant.”
The men grabbed cups and looked hopefully for sugar, and, if fate was so pleased, some non-dairy creamer.
“Check out the green bag over to the side,” said Nicole.
The men turned at her voice, watching as she exited the glassed manager office near the doors. Barefoot, she wore worn jeans and a white t-shirt and carried CJ on her hip. All four men appreciated her striking beauty and the natural, sexy movement of her long legs and hips as she moved toward them. Unbidden, each stole glances at the bounce beneath her white t-shirt before quickly returning to gathering up some coffee.
“That's sugar, guys—it’s edible. It comes out in chunks. But, you hafta break off pieces from inside the container.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s hard, but dissolves okay.”
“It’s hard
alright…” mumbled Lieutenant Simpson to Lieutenant Daniels.
“Simpson!” said Daniels, whispering.
“Sorry, sir.”
Daniels reached for the bag, finding a well-used Domino sugar container and a batch of non-dairy creamer packets resting in an open Ziploc bag. The plastic top was popped off the sugar container and he studied the hardened contents. Ignoring the napkins, he snatched up one of the plastic spoons, slipping his K-bar from its sheath at his thigh.
“Oh, my!” he said. Using the knife to cut off four pieces, he laid the chunks on the table. The other three men each took a chunk, watching Daniels examine the creamer packets. Flipping them over, the packets appeared no worse for wear, given that they were way past the expiration date. He handed them out.
“Hi Hannah,” said Nicole.
“Hey.” With a simply focused joy and concentration, Colonel Starkes sipped her coffee.
Nicole continued her walk, nearing the table. “The creamer packets are sorta okay; I had a few. Not bad in fact.”
“Today’s gonna be a great day!” said Daniels, ripping open two packets and tossing them in.
“Let’s hope that’s true,” said Colonel Starkes.
All turned toward the loud noise at the back of the warehouse. Ren and Stimpy walked side-by-side across the wide expanse of concrete from the back rooms. Each pushed a pallet jack, loaded with a large, cardboard box. The men, Nicole and Colonel Starkes waited until they came to a stop near the table.
“Ma’am,” said Sergeant Chris “Ren” McBride.
"Hello, ma'am," said Sergeant Frank “Stimpy” Bergman chiming in as well.
“Sergeants.”
“We found this stuff in an old basement last night ‘bout a quarter-mile west of here,” said Stimpy.
“Scoutin’?”
“Yes, ma’am. Found it about three o'clock or so.”
“Got it.”
The boxes did look inviting, everyone gathering to peer inside. There were at least fifty glass jars and at least a hundred small cans neatly stacked in rows in Ren’s box. Moving left to see the other, Stimpy’s held about the same, along with a few cans and battered boxes of—something. Colonel Starkes grinned, reaching in to grab a jar. Sauerkraut. Another jar held a red sauce. A third, smaller jar, held a homemade grape jelly. She carefully inspected the lids and found them intact. The men and Nicole waited, as she inspected the find. When she picked up a small can of Amour Vienna Sausage, her hand froze mid-stream.