“So what's your story here?” James asked, getting more and more comfortable. “How many of you are there?”
Collin wasn't quick to divulge too much to a complete stranger, even if he was a cop. “Same as you. Just a bunch of random survivors from all over, trying to get by…”
“How's everything going?” Nick interrupted, walking over to Collin. He introduced himself to James and said, “I'm the one you were talking to on the radio. It's good to finally meet you.”
“You too…”
“Hey, James can you give Collin and I a second? Just need to figure out where we are going to fit all of your vehicles.”
The Hispanic deputy nodded politely and replied, “Sure thing.”
When James was out of earshot, Nick grabbed Collin and acted as though he was describing parking logistics. Keeping a cheerful look on his face, he said, “Collin, I don't have a lot of time. Keep acting like we are talking about parking spaces. James isn't who he says he is. Betty is almost one hundred percent sure that man is Jimmy Sanchez...”
Collin continued nodding his head and used his cane to point to different areas. He kept up the facade as instructed, but he wasn't sure who Jimmy Sanchezwas.
“Jimmy Sanchez is the leader of a Mexican gang with ties to the cartels. Before the outbreak, he was in jail in Los Angeles awaiting trial for rape, murder, witness intimidation and a dozen other charges. I’m guessing that’s how he got the vehicles and uniforms. I don't want to start a firefight, but I told Betty to go get the others armed and ready just in case. But that is about twenty guns at our backs, versus double that for them. How do you want to handle this?”
“I knew something was off,” Collin said, turning back to James. With the most real fake-smile he could muster, Collin held a finger signaling just one minute longer. James stood next to the man with the reflective sunglasses and waved back. “They don't know how many of us are here, let's use that to our advantage. Follow my lead.”
Afterwards, Collin and Nick began their walk back. “Nick, when it goes down, I need you to draw on his buddy and use him as a shield. You got your pistol, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Nick replied keeping a neutral face.
Collin got on the radio and as calmly and quietly as he could, he transmitted to his cousin, who had remained unseen in the scout's perch. “Steve. They are hostiles. Don't shoot just yet, wait for my signal.”
When they were back in earshot, Collin changed the tone of his voice and faked a radio call so James could hear. “That's right, Pedro. We need to make room for a bus, two cars and about a couple dozen bikes. Wake up Billy and his biker buddies and tell them we need the help.”
“Sorry about that, James. Like I said, the last group we took in was this pack of bikers,” he said, lying. James was none the wiser. “They are a tough bunch but work hard and do their part.”
“Not a problem, boss. So where can we park and set up our stuff?”
“Actually, I think we have a bit of a problem,” Collin said, scratching his beard as if it was a hard decision. “It looks like you have a couple dozen people with you, and to be honest, we can't really support that big of a group on such short notice.”
“You sure about that?” James asked, an odd smile forming.
As straight faced as possible, Collin answered, “Unfortunately, yes. I'd offer to take in a few of you guys, but I'm sure you law enforcement types like to stick together.”
“Ya, us cops don't like to split up...”
James leaned back to whisper something into Sunglasses' ear, who, in turn, relayed an unknown message to the group behind him. Whatever it was caused movement and not the good kind.
Collin observed some of the bikers inconspicuously unholstering their firearms, but he pretended as though he didn't. “I’m going to see if we can rearrange our set up, then maybe you guys can come back tomorrow?”
James sighed, but kept the same grin.
“That is unfortunate. I was hoping you would be a little more...understanding,” he said, running a hand through his greasy hair, in an attempt to misdirect Collin and Nick. At the same time, he reached for a pistol hidden in the small of his back.
Collin wasn't fooled. He knew something was coming, so he opted for a preemptive attack. Moving faster than his opponent, Collin used the hooked end of his cane and swept Jimmy's leg, forcing him to fall onto his back. Jimmy fired a wild shot into the air, but when his back slammed into the ground, he lost a handle on his gun.
Before Jimmy knew what hit him, Collin was on top of the gang leader in a full mount position. Jimmy tried to wiggle free, but Collin delivered a powerful punch to his jaw, consequently knocking his head back to the ground. Quickly, Collin drew a knife from his belt and pressed the cold metal against Jimmy's throat.
Without hesitation, Nick drew his pistol on Sunglasses. The deputy was caught off guard, and didn't even have a chance to reach for his holstered sidearm.
“Put your hands up! Don't even think about going for that gun!” Nick ordered. He instructed Sunglasses to turn around and back up slowly to him so he could be disarmed.
By this time, the bikers drew their weapons. Furthermore, they were so sure of themselves, so sure of their two defenseless targets, that they crept out from behind their cover and started walking toward their leader. But their confidence was soon washed away when they saw exposed gun barrels appear from around the Ranger station and from behind trees. The thugs stopped in their tracks and shifted nervously.
The entire campground was at a standstill. No one had fired, but every trigger was being teased. They all waited for directions from their respective leaders.
Collin didn’t know why, but Jimmy just laughed and laughed and laughed.
“You have no fuckin’ clue who you're messing with, puta,” Jimmy said calmly, letting his true Mexican accent come forth. He licked the blood running from his lip, and then continued in the same creepy, relaxed tone. “Why don’t you enlighten him, Tyler.”
The man who Nick held at gunpoint said, “That’s Jimmy Sanchez, the Grim Reaper himself...”
Collin listened as Tyler spat off Jimmy’s credentials including how many people he's murdered and the countless number of horrific sins he’s racked up. He tried to describe how ruthless Jimmy and Los Tres Demonios were, but after fifteen-seconds, Collin had heard enough.
With one hand wrapped around Jimmy's windpipe and the other pressing a blade just above it, Collin cut him off.
“Unless you want your boss to be the most notorious corpse, I’d shut the fuck up!”
Tyler held his tongue.
With his knife, Collin applied slightly more pressure to Jimmy’s neck. The skin split, but the cut was far from life threatening. If Collin desired, he could end Jimmy's life in a second.
“Your reputation doesn't mean shit anymore. And if you don't do what I am about to tell you, your legacy is gonna end, got it?”
Jimmy grimaced, but didn't test Collin's resolve. He may have been clinically insane, but not suicidal- at least not recently.
“Everyone listen up. I'm only going to say this once,” Collin shouted, keeping his eyes on Jimmy as he talked. “Here's how this is going to go down. It's simple. You have two options, stay and die, or leave with your lives and never come anywhere near here again.”
One of the thugs wearing a leather vest shuffled forward and said, “Fuck you, let's take em boss!” He lifted his handgun and racked the slide back.
Attempting to bluff his way out of a slaughter, Collin continued. “Trust me, this ends with a whole lot of blood. You are outmanned and outgunned. Look around. Our people are spread out waiting for my signal. Then there's the ones you can't see. Show em Steve!”
Just as the words left Collin’s mouth, a lone shot rang throughout the compound. The round struck Leather Vest’s handgun with scary precision, knocking the weapon from his grasp. Leather Vest grabbed his hand in pain and searched for the shooter. The others nervously looked around, too, but wer
e unable to locate Steve.
“Like I said, the choice is yours!”
“You want us to leave?” Jimmy asked playfully. “But we just got here.”
“That or the killing starts with you.”
“Fine,” Jimmy spat. He spoke again to his second in command. “Give the order, Ty. Tell them to put their guns down.”
“You're the boss, jefe,” Tyler replied. His face might have been hidden behind the glasses, but nothing about it was intimidated. He turned around and whistled to the rest of the men. “Lower your guns, ahora!”
The men complied, although some with more reluctance than others.
“Now tell your men to start driving away. When they are out of sight, I'll let you and your buddy go, you have my word.”
“Your word...I like that,” Jimmy said, continuing to size up Collin. He liked him. He thought he was bold and tough. He even had some respect for the guy. Oh, he would kill him, surely, but he respected Collin. “Tell 'em, Ty.”
Tyler shouted the next set of orders. “Get going! We'll be right behind you!”
One by one, the men started their vehicles and took off.
“Anything else?” Jimmy asked, still wearing the same creepy smile.
Collin rose slowly and backed away just out of arm's reach. Cautiously, he picked up Jimmy's gun and pointed it at him. He motioned for Jimmy to start backing up toward the bus.
“Don't ever come anywhere around here again, understand?”
As he promised, Collin lowered his weapon and so did Nick.
For a long, tense minute, Jimmy and Collin locked eyes in a stare down much like two alpha wolves.
“Vamos, Jimmy. Let's roll,” Tyler insisted, trying to usher his leader away. “The others will be waiting.”
Jimmy's tongue played with the cut on his lip. He enjoyed the irony taste of blood, almost as much as he enjoyed pain. Then, as though nothing happened, he turned to walk inside the prison bus, displaying no outward emotions of rage or anger. There was no sign of defeat in him, no sign of humanity either.
Once inside, a rumble from the engine compartment brought the bus to life, and the prison transport slowly backed up through the main gates; a swirl of dust kicked up in its wake.
With Nick’s help, Collin secured the gate. Just as the lock clamped through the links, everyone in Camp rushed over.
The nervous survivors fired off question after question; so many that Collin and Nick couldn’t begin to answer one without five more cutting them off.
“Was that reallythe Jimmy Sanchez?”
“Betty said they were the Three Demons gang, is that true?”
“Where are they going?”
“What are we going to do?”
“Are they going to come back?”
“Are we safe here?”
Collin did his best to quell the crowd.
“Everybody, calm down, please. Yes, thanks to Betty, we were able to get the jump on them. I’ll explain the rest after dinner. They aren’t going to be a problem. They won’t be coming back, either. We have all survived worse than some thugs.”
***
Collin, Nick, Elias, and Travis stayed behind to discuss the events. Once the bikers were out of view, Steve climbed down from the scout’s perch and joined them.
Nick was the first to speak his mind.
“Talk about dodging bullets.”
“I must give it to you, Collin,” Elias started to say, “You have some balls, taking them head on. Not to mention bluffing your way out of that. How’d you know it would work?”
Collin rubbed the scar on his still-healing leg. During his quarrel with Jimmy, he didn’t feel any pain, but now the strenuous activity was coming back in shooting pain.
“Between you guys and me. I didn’t. There was a moment I thought we were done for, but thanks to Nick’s quick thinking and Steve’s shot, we pulled through.”
“What can I say, I’m just that good,” Steve said, smiling.
“You really think they won’t be coming back?” Elias asked. “I’m not really the competitive type, but something tells me a guy like that doesn’t take defeat well.”
Collin thought about Elias’ statement. He had a stare down with Jimmy, but couldn’t get a read on him. “Honestly, I’m not sure, but I don’t want to take any chances. I say we double the guards here and put some sentries along the fence line. What do you think, Nick?”
“I agree. In case they try anything sneaky, at least we will be ready for it.”
“Here’s to another sleepless night,” Steve toasted, taking a sip of water from his canteen. “Twenty-four hours and counting. Just let me grab some food and caffeine, and then I’ll come back.”
“Travis and I will post up on the main gate tonight, and Steve will be coming back shortly. Who else do you want on patrol, Nick?” Elias asked.
“I think it would behoove us to have the biggest showing, just in case they send scouts. Let’s get Cliff, Vinny, Ryan, Gregg, Larry, Wally, and Jigger out here on rotating shifts. If the bikers are out there, maybe they’ll think twice about an assault.”
“Agreed,” Collin said. “It will be hard, but we just have to get through one night, maybe two. After that, let’s hope it’s smooth sailing, literally.”
Collin and Nick went back to enlist the men, while Elias and Travis stayed back for their shift.
“You want the perch or bus?” Elias asked, but he received no reply. “Hey, Travis, everything alright?”
The bikers caravan had long since departed, but the army Second Lieutenant stood, eyes gazing down the dark road. He had yet to add anything to the previous discussion.
“Ya. Everything is fine,” he replied, although he wasn’t entirely convinced it was.There’s no way, right? I mean it couldn’t be him...
Vancouver, British Columbia
November 26, 2009
2230 hours
Bio-Safety Level Three contained four labs that were home to a variety of highly dangerous, natural and weaponized agents. Viruses and bacteria such as SARS, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and the Rift Valley fever virus were stored securely inside sealed containers, waiting to be studied. But, research on these and the agents on the other levels would have to wait until the world recovered; if it ever did. Now, the only research being performed was the search for a vaccine to the Trinity Virus.
Inside one of the airtight laboratories, Dr. Diane Phillips was slaving away. She had not slept in close to thirty-six hours and for the last six of them, she continued working tirelessly, showing no signs of slowing. Using her notes as guide, she oscillated between filling up vials for testing and checking her progress on a microscope’s digital display.
When work was in progress, access into the laboratory was restricted. This precaution kept Alex, Charlie, Laura and Freiderik outside of the glass encased room. They were anxious for an update and thought about tapping on the glass but decided against it. They did not want to disrupt Diane or cause her to have an accident.
The bio-safety suit and gloves Diane wore were top-of-the-line preventative gear, but needles and other sharps could still perforate the material.
“So, Alex, what's your place all about?” Charlie asked, making conversation.
“Camp? It's pretty legit. Secure perimeter, beach access. There's a couple dozen of us. Me and my group have been living there for about six months, others have been there since the outbreak. We have fresh water and have been able to hunt and fish, too.”
Alex paused. He wasn't sure if he wanted to divulge the decision to leave and head south for the winter. Fortunately, he didn't have to.
Diane finished her last set of checks and placed her testing vials into an incubator. Then, she signaled her completion with a thumbs up.
“It appears Dr. Phillips is finished,” Freiderik said, standing up.
After going through a decontamination phase, Diane stepped into the prep room. She took off her suit and lay it on a nearby metal rack. She removed her gloves and toss
ed them in the trash. After, she scrubbed her hands with antibacterial/antiviral soap, then dried her hands and walked through the automatic door leading into the main area. Outside, she met the others and sighed. “To think I have been working without proper materials in sub-par conditions.”
“So what's the good word, Doc?” Alex asked.
Exhaustion finally began to set in. After a large yawn, Diane answered, “The vaccine is synthesizing. It should be ready in a couple hours, until then…” She paused to release another yawn.
“You should get some sleep,” Charlie suggested. “I'm tired just watching you work. I can only imagine how you must feel.”
“Maybe. I still have a lot to do,” she replied, but her body appeared worn out. Heavy bags formed under her eyes and she began to sway back and forth. Her speech was slow and partially slurred, too.
“I need to...I need to prepare for testing…”
Suddenly a faint spell hit and her legs gave out.
Alex and Charlie were the closest to Diane and caught her before she hit the ground.
“You can put all that on pause. You need to sleep. You're no good to anyone like this,” Alex ordered.
At first, Diane protested, but after another large yawn, she conceded. “But only for a few hours, okay?”
“You got it,” Alex said unconcerned.
Diane shot him a stern look. “The cycle will be done in five hours, and I want to get back to it as soon as possible. You better wake me if I’m still sleeping.”
“Trust me, Doc, I've seen you pissed. There's no way I'm getting on your bad side.”
Vancouver, British Columbia
November 27, 2009
0330 hours
As promised, Alex entered the darkened office room and woke Diane from her deep slumber. It took a series of nudges, but the doctor awoke, albeit groggy.
While Diane stretched her cramped body, Alex gave her an update.
“Eddy took a look at the main entrance, but he said there's no way to fix it. He and a few others piled up furniture in front of the doors in the event the glass gives in. Also, Eddy 'strongly suggested' we don't stay here much longer than another day.”
The Longest Road (Book 2): The Change Page 21