“They were killed yesterday in an ambush. We lost our dog and my cousin.”
“I’m really sorry,” Raven said, instinctively reaching down to pat Creek. “We’ve lost a lot of friends since the bombs, too.”
The woman pointed at the road. “What happened to those men?”
“They were part of an Aryan Nation gang called the Sons of Liberty.” Raven watched both the man and woman for a reaction, but the name didn’t seem to resonate with either of them. He glanced over at Lindsey. “How long until Nelson’s finished?”
“He’s not sure.”
Raven looked at the Jeep, then at Lindsey. “Take these people back to town, Detective, and tell Colton about the broadcast they heard. He needs to know we should expect company.”
“Thank you, by God, thank you both!” the man said. The woman beamed and hugged her husband.
“Chief’s not going to be happy,” Lindsey said.
Raven put on his helmet and jumped back on his bike. Creek ran over, but Raven held up a hand and ignored the Akita’s whining.
“I’ll be an hour or so behind you, Lindsey,” Raven said. “Take care of Creek for me. I’ve got some unfinished business.”
“What? Where the hell are you going?” Lindsey called after him.
Raven put the bike in gear. He didn’t have the patience to deal with Lindsey right now and she wouldn’t understand where he was going anyway. He had another mission to complete—a promise he’d made Lieutenant Jeff Dupree and his men, who had perished in the ambush by the SOL soldiers. The Marines were all going to get a proper burial even if it took Raven back into harm’s way.
THREE WEEKS HAD passed since the North Korean attack, and winter was drawing close. Snowflakes fluttered down from the heavy clouds overhead. Police Chief Marcus Colton pulled on the reins of his stallion, Obsidian, directing him to the right as they rode up a windy road to the top of Prospect Mountain.
Colton caught a flake on his glove and watched it melt. It was mid-October, late for the first real snow, but he wasn’t complaining. The warm fall weather helped keep the morale up among the residents of the quaint tourist town.
Since the North Korean attack, they had lost over one hundred people. Most had died from illness but a few from violence, including two of Colton’s police officers. He still couldn’t quite believe his best friend, Captain Jake Englewood, was gone. The days after the North Korean attack had been one disaster after another, and the supplies from Secretary Montgomery were already running out.
“Looks like we might get a few inches,” said Raven. He was riding a beautiful ivory-colored mare named Willow with a mane the color of sand. Her hooves crunched over the snowy trail. Creek trotted between the two horses, looking up at his handler, then at Colton, and then back again to Raven.
“Good boy,” Raven said. He patted the mare’s neck and said, “And you’re a good girl, Willow Lady.”
Colton looked up the winding trail. At the top of the mountain, newly-minted Estes Park police officer Dale Jackson stood watching over the town from the Crow’s Nest. Raven was relieving him today, and Colton was along partly to make sure the two men didn’t get in another fight. But that wasn’t the only reason the police chief was making this journey.
“Keep your cool up here, Raven. I don’t need any more problems today,” Colton said.
“You don’t trust me?” Raven frowned and glanced over his shoulder. “Dale’s a classless asshole, but I got bigger fish to fry these days.”
Colton grinned and looked up at the Crow’s Nest. The metal fence surrounding the aerial tramway was just overhead. Dale stood behind the barrier with a Bushmaster AR-15. They had someone posted here at all times to watch for refugees and raiders trying to sneak into the town. One flare shot from the Crow’s Nest meant trouble, and two flares meant to prepare for a skirmish, or worse—war.
The scent of death filled Colton’s nostrils as they approached the rocky outcroppings where Mike Tankala, also known as Brown Feather, had been left to rot.
“Easy, girl,” Raven said. He dismounted from his saddle and held up a hand to Colton. “I’ll be right back, Chief. Need to grab something.”
Raven navigated the rocks and trees underneath the tramway. The red carts still dangled high above, and Colton recalled all too clearly the battle to save Raven’s sister and niece from the deranged kidnapper. That fight had cost Jake his life.
“Screw it.” Colton swung his leg over the horse to dismount. His boots crunched into the compact snow. It was coming down in sheets now, the powder sluicing like rain off his warm waterproof coat. He followed Raven through the maze of rocks, cautious not to slip. The corpse of the demon that had terrorized Estes Park was still where it had plummeted from the top of the tramway.
“Maybe we should have buried him after all,” Raven said. He perched on a rock next to Brown Feather and reached for the hatchet still wedged in the man’s skull.
Colton pulled his scarf up over his nose. The stench was awful. Raven was right—they should have buried or burned the body. Raven wiggled the hatchet from Brown Feather’s skull. It snapped free, opening the gaping hole wide enough that Colton could see the maggots feeding on what was left of the dead man’s brain.
“The ground’s too hard now. I’d burn the bastard if it weren’t snowing,” Colton said.
Raven wiped the hatchet in the snowy grass. He sheathed the blade over his back and started back to the horses. They walked through the rock field in silence, nothing but the sounds of birds calling out in the distance and the snort of the horses in the chilly wind.
They moved quickly up the final stretch of the trail, winding around to the back of the Crow’s Nest. Dale waited for them on the concrete landing, his back resting against the ledge.
“How’s it going up here today?” Colton asked.
“Pretty quiet, Chief,” Dale replied. He took off his cowboy hat and looked at Raven, but didn’t say a word. Raven kept his mouth shut too—probably for the first time in his life, Colton thought.
“Let’s hope it stays that way,” Colton said. “I was worried that radio broadcast would have refugees lined up outside Estes Park, but maybe the news didn’t spread very far.”
“Or maybe there just aren’t that many people listening,” Dale said with a shrug.
Raven gave a mirthless grin. “You guys should be more paranoid, like me.”
Colton waited for Raven to speak his mind, but the tracker, back to his usual tricks, was waiting for someone to ask him about his theory. The man loved to have an audience.
“You got a problem, Sam?” Dale asked. He was a big man, with a beer belly and fat covering old muscle on his arms and chest. Stubble shadowed a jaw that was slowly losing the fight against gravity.
Raven stepped up to the railing. “The raiders out there know we’re here. Once they finish hitting the cities to the east, they will come for us. First, they will test our defenses. Probably several times, to see which route into the town is the easiest. We need to add more lookouts and send out scouts to watch all the roads.”
Colton followed Raven’s gaze out over the Rocky Mountains. The jagged peaks stretched across the horizon like the maw of a shark. It was a natural barrier, but they needed more security.
“I’ve thought about it,” Colton said after a pause. “But I’ve already got as many men as we can afford stationed at each roadblock—”
“They won’t stand a chance if Redford’s posse comes back. Or Fenix. He escaped with a small army. He would steamroll his way right into Estes Park, killing everyone that stood in his way. The only way we survive is if we get advance warning.”
Colton reached into his coat and pulled out a toothpick, wedging it in his mouth. It was the closest thing to a cigarette he could find now that those were all gone. At least his wife was happy he’d finally quit.
Raven was right again. Estes Park was at risk, and this time nobody was going to fly in to help them. Nathan w
as gone, and his sister had bigger problems than their little mountain town to worry about. A few roadblocks weren’t going to stop the coming storm. He looked out toward Rocky Mountain National Park. Twenty-five years prior, the dam at Lawn Lake had broken and washed away part of the valley. The natural disaster had given him an idea last night when he’d lain in bed awake.
“I haven’t run this by Mayor Andrews yet, so keep this between us,” Colton said. “I’m not as worried about Trail Ridge Road now that the snow is falling, and I think we can defend the town to the south. I’m more worried about highways 34 and 36.”
Raven immediately shook his head. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking about blowing the dam at Lake Estes.”
“We may not have a choice.”
“Before we do anything drastic, I think we should send out scouts,” Raven said. “Those raiders are coming, Chief, and you know it.”
“I got your back,” Dale said. He jammed his hat back on his head and pulled the brim down. “Even though you left me on the road that night of the attack...”
Raven laughed. “Brother, you deserved it.”
Colton chomped on his toothpick. “A lot has changed since that night. We’re all in this together now. Right?”
“I ain’t got nothin’ against you, Sam,” Dale said. “And I’m sorry if I pissed off your sister that night. I wasn’t thinkin’ right.”
Colton almost breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment Raven stood there, glaring at Dale. Then he reached out with a hand and said, “Water under the bridge, my man.”
Dale took Raven’s hand and shook it. “Yes, sir, it is.”
“Great, now that’s all cleared up, why don’t you go back to town, Dale? Get some rest.”
“I’ll grab a few hours, then head to the roadblock Don’s assigned me to.”
Colton offered a smile at the veteran as he mounted his horse. Dale seemed to be enjoying his new duties with the Estes Park Police Department.
“I still don’t understand why we’re not seeing more refugees,” Raven said.
Turning back to the railing, Colton scanned the valley again. So far they had only seen a couple dozen refugees since the attack a month ago. Something—or someone—was stopping them from getting to the isolated mountain town.
He knew it wasn’t radiation. Most of the south was safe. It had been dangerous days after the attack, but since there wasn’t any fallout—only something called “fission products,” he still didn’t fully understand—the threat had dissipated quickly. The only other explanation was that someone was killing refugees before they got to Estes Park.
The idea should have made Colton angry, but instead he just felt tired. The signs of violence were etched into the concrete platform, where bullets had chipped the ground and walls three weeks earlier. Jake had lost his life a few feet from where Colton stood now.
He realized that this was the exact spot where he and Raven had shaken hands after the showdown with Brown Feather. So much had happened since then, but one thing was certain—Colton was proud to have Raven on his team.
Raven hefted his crossbow up and glassed the valley to the west while Colton studied the town, which looked like a miniature Christmas village below. He pulled his scarf up around his throat to keep the wind off his neck. The air carried the scent of cedar and burning firewood. Fingers of smoke rose from hundreds of chimneys.
“I can put together a team of scouts,” Raven said. “I’d suggest sending some up Trail Ridge Road. We can’t write off that side of the town just because of the snow. If Redford decides to come back, I bet that’s the way he would come, probably in some old trucks with plows.”
Creek trotted over to them, showing his muzzle for the first time since they’d gotten up on the mountain. He clamped down on a dead chipmunk in his mouth.
“Resourceful little guy,” Colton said.
Raven chuckled. “He knows the only way he’ll get a snack is if he hunts it himself. Some folks down there could learn a thing or two from him.”
“No shit.” Colton thought of the town administrator, Tom Feagen. The arrogant bastard didn’t seem to understand rations, or that food had a shelf life. That was another thing on Colton’s to-do list, but having a come-to-Jesus meeting with Mayor Andrews and Administrator Feagen was something he wasn’t looking forward to.
“Speaking of Redford, have you given up—”
Raven cut Colton off. “Nope. I’m going after him when the time is right. Then I’m going to find Fenix.”
“We’ve been through this, Raven. You need to let the military take care of Fenix.”
Raven glared at Colton, his nostrils flaring with rage. “That Nazi prick is still out there, Chief. He murdered Nathan, ambushed American soldiers, and killed refugees in cold blood.”
“I know.”
“So you also know we have to stop him.”
“I know we have to protect Estes Park,” Colton said. “If Fenix shows up here, I will kill him myself, but I’m not going to hunt him down. That’s Secretary Montgomery’s job, not mine—and not yours.”
Raven lifted both brows. “Have we even heard from her?”
“Not for a week.”
Snorting, Raven turned to look back out over the town. “You didn’t see what Fenix is capable of.”
“I’m sorry,” Colton said.
Raven gripped the cold railing and clenched his jaw, closing his eyes clearly to bury the memory of what he’d seen at the Sons of Liberty compound. Raven hadn’t spoken much about it, so Colton didn’t know the details of what had happened that night. He figured the time would come when Raven would tell him.
Raven loosened his grip, unslung his crossbow, and walked away with Creek on his tail. That was Colton’s cue to leave him alone.
“You need anything?” Colton called out after Raven.
“Don’t worry about me, Chief. I got everything I need for the night.”
“Just watch your back,” Colton said.
“I always do.” Raven stopped and turned around to face Colton. “Maybe I should be watching Estes Park instead of the roads. Half the town still wants my head on a pike for what Redford did.”
“People tend to have short memories when disaster strikes. Sure, you’re a scapegoat, but I hardly think any of them are going to come after you. Just look at Dale. You guys are cool, now.”
“Yeah, but what about Don? I’ve seen the way he looks at me.”
Colton spat out his toothpick. “I’ve got Don under control. Only reason he’s still on the force is because we need the manpower. Nobody’s gonna follow him again if he tries to start anything.”
“Well, what about Sandra and Allie?” Raven said. “I’ve seen the way people look at them, too.”
“I won’t let anything happen to them,” Colton promised. “I should get back. You sure you’re good up here?”
“Yeah.”
“All right. I’ll see you in a few days then,” Colton said.
“Days?” Raven scrunched his black brows together. “You planning a trip?”
“You’re right, Raven. We can’t hold back a major attack. Scouts may give us warning, but what we need are allies.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“There’s a FEMA camp near Loveland. I’m going to take Detective Plymouth with me to see if we can get some help, maybe contact the sheriff and anybody else who’s still out there. If we work together, I believe Estes Park and surrounding communities can stop the raiders before it’s too late.”
Raven set his crossbow against the railing. “I thought you didn’t like politics?”
“I don’t.”
“Well then, maybe you should let Lindsey do the talking.”
Colton cracked a grin. “Maybe. I’m also thinking I should send someone up to Storm Mountain and try and reach some sort of a deal with John Kirkus and his men.”
Raven looked at the ground, trying to hide a scowl.
“I know
you don’t like ’em, but we may need their help,” Colton said.
“Those preppers aren’t going to come out of their bunkers up there to help us. You crazy, Chief? They’re probably all hunkered down and waiting in the brush with sniper rifles. I sure as hell ain’t going up there to ask that cowboy for help. It’s way too dangerous.”
Colton snorted. “Since when are you scared of danger, Sam? Besides, John Kirkus is a good man, and so are most of the folks that live up there. They just want to be left alone to live out their lives.”
“Precisely,” Raven said, eyes wide. “They want to be left alone.”
Colton shrugged slightly. “Maybe you’re right about Kirkus being dangerous, but these are desperate times. I think we can work together against a mutual enemy.”
This time Raven shrugged.
“Watch over Estes Park while I’m gone, okay?”
“You got it, Chief.”
They shook hands firmly, holding each other’s gaze for a moment before Colton returned to his horse. He stroked the black mane of the stallion and then climbed into the saddle. Obsidian snorted and set off down the dirt path into town. It would take him almost an hour to get back to the police station. Colton drew in a breath of crisp air and tried to enjoy the quiet afternoon. There was no doubt in his mind it wouldn’t last for long.
He looked out over Prospect Mountain, wondering what was happening beyond the peaks. The analog radio transmissions painted a dreary picture. Many of the surrounding cities had fallen into anarchy, including Loveland and Fort Collins. FEMA and the National Guard had set up a camp, and Colton had a hunch that refugees had been heading there instead of Estes Park. That still didn’t explain why so few had shown up. Even if most folks ended up in Loveland, they should have seen more than the handful of refugees that had arrived.
Halfway back to town, Obsidian’s ears suddenly perked, and the horse halted on the rocky path. Colton reached for the Colt Single Action Army revolver just as a flare shot up toward the clouds. The red light scudded through the falling snow and burst in the clouds, blooming over the Estes Park lake.
Colton twisted in his saddle toward the aerial tramway, his heart pounding. Letting out a breath of icy air, he waited anxiously. One flare was bad, but two…
Trackers 3: The Storm (A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Thriller) Page 3