The spell is broken. Trish thinks: I can move. She kneels quickly
and grabs the gun—some kind of revolver. Meanwhile Dickie is losing his battle with Leesa. She moves around the counter, just as Dickie slips in the blood and goes down on his back with the woman on top of him. She grabs her purse. She hears a liquid gurgle.
Heart pounding, she hits the door at a sprint and it bangs open. Momentum carries her off the sidewalk onto the parking lot, and she doesn’t even think twice. The lights of the Halfway Tavern shine like a beacon.
THE SPRINKLERS ARE ON. The air is full of spray, mist and swirling smoke and the floor is covered with puddles and streaming water. I am brave. He tells himself this over and over as he and the boy, Sam, advance into the mall. “We should be wearing masks, you know that Sam? If we get into an area where the smoke is concentrated…”
“Yeah, I know, but we’ll just stay low, right Mister?”
“That’s right. If you feel light-headed or dizzy, get low.” “Can do. God, I can’t believe this is happening…” The boy sounds
lost and maybe sad.
“I don’t know, Sam. I’ve been in and out of the Twilight Zone so
many times now—This is just a little extreme.”
53
They are well into the main corridor now. The entrance to Sears is off to their left, while to the right is the first of the smaller stores, and straight ahead is another exit to the other side of the mall. Smoke prevents Mills from seeing more than thirty feet or so in the direction of the smaller stores.
“What do you mean by Twilight Zone?”
“Wait, do you want to try inside Sears first?”
The boy stops, considering. Mills can’t help but think of him as a
boy, no matter how big he is. The combination of youth and innocence… “We ran in through the Salad Place, you know… whatchacallit?” “Yeah, I know, and then what happened?”
“The fire alarm went off and didn’t stop. People started pouring out
of stores. She was there with me one moment and gone the next.” Mills thinks this over. “Maybe we should see how many people are outside on the other side of the mall, just in case, before we go any further in…”
“Sounds good to me Mister. Say… did you notice?” asks Sam. “What?” Mills asks, slowing down, feeling the fear and tension. His stomach is roiling and he has to bite back on a belch that sends a hot rush of bile up his esophagus.
“The alarm is off. Should it be?”
Mills shakes his head. “No, I don’t think so.”
Mills leads the way, toward the entrance/exit parallel to the one they came through. They pass the entrance to Sears. The doors are wide open and they can see most of the store’s clothing departments and jewelry. Clothing racks are overturned, and the body of a large woman wearing a business suit is sprawled face down near the entrance in a welter of broken shopping bags and water puddles.
“I think she’s dead,” says the boy.
“Who? Your girlfriend?
“No, that lady by Sears’ entrance.”
“I’m not sure I could go back into Sears, son. I left two of my friends in there.”
“Who’re they? Guys from your Station?”
“Yeah.” I couldn’t save them. “Those things—zombies or whatever they are—attacked us. I’m the only one who got away.”
Sam nods. “I’m pretty sure Liz didn’t get away either.”
“You think she’s outside somewhere, or down the hall?” Mills points half-heartedly down the mall concourse, toward its center.
Sam looks resigned. “She’s down the hall.”
“Okay champ. Let’s go find her, then.”
54
HER VOICE IS LEVEL. Maybe she realizes that panicking will do no good? “My boyfriend is—” “Is what Nina?” Dodd asks, and draws his gun. “Let’s try this: He isn’t here when you need him. Isn’t that right?”
“James, I was just watching cable. I wasn’t doing anything filthy. Don’t treat me this way. I just dance. I’m no hooker. You don’t really want to hurt me or do anything bad. I know you’re a good man…”
She’s afraid, he can tell. The gun is freaking her out. “Lie all you want Nina, but I’ve been waiting a long time for this, and hey, maybe we can both help each other out…” He can’t help but laugh.
Guess I’m gonna change careers…
“It’s not too late James. Please don’t do this.” She is still pleading all the way up to the point when he slaps her. She collapses like a rag doll and tries to curl up into a ball.
“Oh no you don’t Nina. We’re going to have some fun.” He grabs a long slender arm and pulls her to her feet. He crushes her against his chest. Her robe has come undone. He has only to look down and lean back to see everything.
“What kind of fun James?” asks a voice from behind him—a male voice. Dodd freezes. He still has the gun in hand, but is of course facing the wrong way. “Just let her go James, or I’ll make you wish you had.”
There is something in the guy’s voice that doesn’t sound convincing. “You got something to back that up?” snarls Dodd, turning around. “I’m giving you a chance. Just come around here and take a seat on the couch.”
“And what happens then?”
Dodd doesn’t hesitate. “I let you and the bimbo live.” He pivots quickly, gun ready and the guy is vanishing through the door. Dodd freezes. What the hell do I do?
If I let the guy get away…? A long minute passes by. The people on TV are arguing, voices full of hate.
55
He crosses swiftly to the door and closes it, locking both locks. Nina is still lying on the floor on her back. He picks up a pillow from the couch. “Here,” he says kneeling over her, and takes a moment to brush a strand of hair from her lips. “Sweet Nina…”
He puts a pillow over her face and presses down hard. The ensuing struggle doesn’t last long…
All the way to her house, she is crying. A late reaction to everything going on, he wonders? Her right hand is on the seat, while she drives with the left. He puts his hand over hers on the seat, then looks out the window. Many houses and apartment buildings are burning. Even when there isn’t a fire in sight, the glow is there throwing flickering shadows. To complete the hellish atmosphere, there seems to be a fine black ash swirling around in the air.
“I appreciate you all staying with me to find my family,” she says, giving his fingers a squeeze.
Tracks rumbles from the back, “None of us are any good alone now, Officer Williams.”
“Call me Brenda, and I’m still grateful no matter what you say. You think I did the wrong thing not going to the Trop?”
“No,” says Bronte. “Talaski and Keller can find out what’s going on, while we take care of business. I’m not too sure about Tanner, but I think we can count of the other two.”
She nods, and he can see the tears have dried up for now. She has a fierce look of concentration now. “We need to stay alert. Look over there at that pawn shop.”
Bronte looks up and sees four or five cars and a group of people in front of Han’s Pawn Shop. The front doors are wide open and people are coming out with stereos and televisions.
“We aren’t stopping,” says Williams. “Looks like a bad day for Han.”
“Han can afford a bad day or two, I think,” says Bronte.
“I go to school with his kids,” says Daric.
56
Bronte makes himself face forward. Maybe the boy is coming out of it.
“His son, Richard, is really skinny.”
Bronte catches himself nodding. “Is that right?” he asks, hoping to keep the boy talking.
“Yeah, and he thinks he’s bad cause he takes Tae Kwon Do. I’m an orange belt with a stripe, and Richard is only a yellow.”
Bronte masks a smile, then, as casually as he can, he turns around, “Do they let you guys spar yet?”
Daric’s eyes light up. “No, not yet. My friend Jeff
broke his thumb the other day, and my Dad told me…”
The boy’s eyes are dead again, that quick. He sinks back against the seat.
Tracks nods without changing expression. “He be okay, Bronte.”
“Nice try,” says Williams, voice low.
Bronte turns back around. Williams is driving down a fairly decent street with new houses on the left side, and relics from the fifties housing boom on the right. She looks up at him briefly. “We’re here.”
Bronte glances at the sports style watch on his wrist: 3:30. Williams turns right into the driveway of a modest, two or three bedroom ranch house. There is a half circle driveway, a two-car garage and a nicely landscaped yard. A large oak overshadows most of the driveway.
“You want to come in?” she asks. He catches no hint of what she wants.
“Maybe we’ll leave Tracks and Daric here while we go check things out. What do you think of that idea?”
“I like it, Bronte. Thanks.”
57
THREE MEN WITH RIFLES stand just beneath the interstate overpass over 16th Street South. Only one is a cop. Several cars block the road. One is a burning wreck from which a man’s body still hangs from a window. A large group of people are milling around the southwestern entrance to the Trop beyond the makeshift barricade.
The cop gestures for them to stop. His rifle is slung and he’s holding a clipboard. The two civilians fan out while the cop steps up to Talaski’s window. Keller stops his cruiser about twenty feet behind.
“Name?” says the cop with a frown. He has a square jaw, a handlebar mustache and is wearing his service cap a bit too low. He just stands there tapping a pen on the clipboard. The name plate on his chest says: Harris.
“Talaski.” Harris moves his lips, probably saying, “Talaski” as he glances down the clipboard. “Ah yes, Sergeant Patterson says you are to report to the mayor right away.”
The mayor?
“Don’t sit there slack-jawed Ski. The mayor’s standing right there, near the street in that group of people. See him?” Harris gestures toward the left side of the street near a parking lot—a parking lot that just happens to contain two News vans. Oh yeah, it’s an election year.
Talaski scowls. “Call me slack-jawed again and I’ll hurt you Harris.”
Harris looks startled, then after a moment or two his frown returns. “Okay, tough guy, I’ll remember that. Who’s the guy in Tanner’s cruiser?”
“Tanner’s dead. The guy in his car’s name is Keller, Matt Keller— He’s ex-Military Police.”
“Okay. According to my notes from the log, Dodd and Williams should be with you. Where are they?”
“Dodd ran over some people with his cruiser and disappeared. I have no idea where he is. Williams went home to get her family.”
58
Harris writes something, probably something concerning the fates of his fellow officers. “I’d talk to the Chief about this Keller guy. He’s with the mayor.”
“Sure thing sport,” Talaski replies. Talaski takes his foot off the brake and drives over to the curb by the crowd. Keller pulls in behind him. As Talaski exits the cruiser he notices that many of the people are welldressed with an air of affluence. Two city council members are talking to one of the news teams. Keller gets out, but Talaski waves him off. “Stay with the cars, will you? I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Keller nods and leans his forearms against the top of his still open door.
Talaski edges his way into the crowd. A stout, middle-aged executive type grabs him by the right shoulder. “What’s going on officer? Can’t you tell me? The market opens in three hours and I’ve got a lot of trades today…”
Talaski stops and glares at the guy. “Take your hand off me, or I’ll rip your head off.”
The guy freezes with his mouth still working in apparent indignant outrage. “How dare you talk to me… Me, goddamn it, like that? I’ll have your fucking job you…” The guy gets real close, looking up at least two or three inches, and his words spray spittle.
Talaski can hardly believe his luck. This guy is asking for it. He barely cocks his arm, the distance is so short, then snaps a jab to the guy’s jaw. The guy straightens up like a board, lets go of his shoulder, and falls backward onto an elderly couple. All three collapse. In the ensuing pandemonium, a path opens directly to the mayor and Talaski takes it.
People scramble to get out of his way. A familiar face appears, Jacques Yates, blocking the way with his body. He has a long mournful face, that of a hell and brimstone preacher or maybe an undertaker. His hair is buzz cut and he has a very visible five o’clock shadow. “Easy Nick. Take a deep breath.”
“It’s been a bad day Jock. Just let me get this over with.”
“Was that really necessary? Jesus man, those old people could have been hurt.”
Talaski turns. Four or five people are helping the broker and the old couple to their feet. The couple won’t look at him. Perhaps they are sympathetic? However, there is no doubt of how the broker feels. He is separated from Talaski only by the strength of Yates’ arms. “You can’t treat me like this. Who the hell do you think you are?”
59
Yates turns toward him. “Shut up, or I’ll knock you down dumbass.” The broker’s eyes bug, but he shuts up. He shuffles away, rubbing his jaw.
“Let’s get you to the mayor,” says Yates. “I’ll lead.”
Only a thin screen of people separates him from the mayor and his entourage now. He can make out three more council members, the city superintendent, the local National Guard commander, the police and fire chiefs and the mayor himself. Twenty feet or so beyond them a female reporter and her cameraman have apparently just wrapped up a set piece with the mayor’s group for a backdrop.
A councilman, a gray-haired guy named List, is yelling at the mayor as he and Yates draw near. “I’m telling you Ritchie, these riots need to stop—At all costs. I’ve worked too hard to let some bunch of ignorant…”
Talaski steps forward in front of List and cuts him off. “You wanted to see me, sir,” he says to the mayor. Chief Hadley is standing right behind the mayor, drinking from a coffee cup. He raises his eyebrows at Talaski’s boldness, but says nothing.
The mayor turns to face him, a short man, but vigorous. His brown hair is slicked back and wet looking, and he wears a gray sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers. A cell phone ear bud cord dangles from his ear down under his collar. “You must be Talaski. Good of you to get here promptly.” He offers his hand for Talaski to shake.
Talaski looks at the hand a moment too long, but takes it just as the mayor is pulling it back. When he looks up, the smaller man is glaring at him. “I’m going to overlook that, officer, and I’m going to get to the point. I need you, Yates and three of our cadets to escort two busloads of VIPs to the pier. When you get there, all you have to do is make sure they stay safe. Think you can manage that?”
“Sure thing,” he replies.
“No questions?”
“Nah, I’m sure Yates has already been briefed.”
“I’m counting on you and Yates. The chief speaks highly of you.”
Bullshit. I work the second shift. He’s never around to get to know me or anyone else. Talaski grins. “We’ll take care of them, sir.”
“Excellent! Now chief, where were we with the power problems…” The mayor turns away. He nods at Yates and the two of them retrace their steps through the crowd.
“Excuse me officer,” says an insistent voice at his elbow. It is another guy in a suit, a tall, thin Asian guy with longish hair. Only this one is holding a microphone and has a cameraman behind him recording everything.
60
“No comment,” says Talaski, not breaking stride. “I’m Al Connors, with Action Eye News, and I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“Fuck off. There’s my answer.”
The man is outraged. “Now wait a minute! Are you trying to lose your job, Officer? We’re live!”
; Talaski’s face is red, and his jaw is clenched. “Say one more thing to me, and I’m going to feed you your buddy’s camera. Take a walk.”
Connors stops, and turns to his camera. “There you have it folks! Fires are raging out of control in several neighborhoods, power is out on Coquina Key island and much of the South side, and our police are over the edge… I witnessed that Officer, I can’t pronounce his name… but I witnessed him punch out a civilian moments ago. I’m sure he’s not a good example of the average St. Pete cop… Back to you, Denise.”
“You believe that guy?” says Talaski to Yates as they near Keller and the cruisers.
“You must be having a shitty night. I got pulled early. I’ve been here at the Trop since nine or so. That trouble at the mall started early and has escalated. The mayor’s sending some of the MP Reservists over there to check things out. We lost touch with anybody there roughly an hour ago.”
“You kidding me? And that bastard thinks this is just rioting or something?”
Yates shrugs. “Isn’t it?”
“Listen my friend. This is big. Out of control big. We need to talk, but I need to go by the station first. If you’re smart you’ll go with me.”
“You aren’t coming with us to the pier? Are you crazy?” Yates emphasizes his agitation with an elaborate waving of his arms.
“I want some heavier duty firepower. Listen to me Jock. These bastards don’t give a shit what happens to you.”
“Still, I must perform my duty. I am responsible for those cadets and the citizens we are escorting.”
Talaski raises a hand as if to ward him off. “Okay, Jock. Keller and I will catch up with you as soon as possible. Hopefully I can get you equipped as well.”
Yates stares at him. “Okay. We will wait an hour for you to return. It will take that long to get these people loaded on the buses.”
Talaski turns to his cruiser and sees Keller already climbing into his.
61
S HE IS RIGHT BENEATH THE SPRINKLER but they won’t let her move. I’m soaked to the bone. This can’t be happening. She tries to keep her eyes on the tiled floor, but it is hopeless. Her thoughts are a confused jumble and her nerves shattered. At least the fire alarm has been turned off, but then why are fires still burning? Where are the police and firemen?
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