“I’m about to speak to him now,” she said. “Stay safe out there, Captain.”
“You too, Madame Secretary.”
Charlize set the phone down on the desk and smiled at Albert. “Are you glad to be home?”
“Not sure I’d call this place home, but I’m glad to be back.”
She gestured at the chair in front of her desk, and he took a seat.
“How are you?”
“I’m okay.”
“Big Al, you can talk to me. Tell me how you’re really doing.”
He shrugged his linebacker shoulders. “Things were pretty bad on the road, especially in Charlotte, but I’m optimistic about the partnership with the Chinese. Captain Cao seems to be an honorable man. He told me the real enemy to worry about is North Korea.”
“After the attack in New York, I’m going to have to agree with the Captain.” She sighed and took a seat.
“Is that how many we have lost?” Albert asked, pointing at something behind her.
“Lost?”
Albert got out of his chair and walked over to a chart hanging on the wall, which showed the estimated death toll across the United States.
“Yes,” she said.
“How is that possible?” He turned away from the wall to look her in the eye. “Seventy-five million people dead?”
“That was a few days ago,” Charlize said. “That number will continue to rise, especially in the Midwest. It’s projected to be closer to one hundred million.”
Albert grimaced. “I’ve seen how ugly it is out there, but it’s still hard to imagine that many people gone.”
“I know, and that’s why I’m relieved to hear things are going relatively smoothly with the Chinese so far. With their help, we will have the power back on for most of the country in a year. The aid we’re getting from our NATO allies, combined with theirs, will save over a hundred million lives.”
“That’s if the North Koreans don’t have another trick up their sleeve. What if they have a backpack nuke or—”
“I’ve already put a plan in motion to protect the country from further attacks. Every functional law enforcement agency is being warned to be on the lookout for terrorists. And we’re going after domestic terrorists too, like we did in Charlotte. Fenix is next. Mark my words, we’re going to find his weasel ass soon.”
Albert nodded. “I’m glad you’re in charge, ma’am, and I’m glad to be back with you.”
“Thanks, Big Al, it means a lot to hear you say that.” She stood and gestured toward the door. “Let’s go see the boys and get something to eat for lunch, shall we?”
“Sounds good to me, I’m starving.”
An hour later, they were in the cafeteria with Ty and Dave. The kids both peppered Albert with questions.
“What’s it like beyond the walls?” Dave asked around a mouthful of green beans.
“The walls?” Albert asked.
Charlize smiled at Dave. “I think he means Constellation.”
“No, this is Helm’s Deep.” Dave stopped chewing and stared back at her with a very serious look.
“Just play along,” Ty whispered.
Dave’s gaze flitted to Ty, and they both laughed. The sight warmed her heart.
“Big Al, I have a question,” Ty said.
“What’s up?”
“Are the Chinese good people?” Ty asked, tilting his head.
Albert responded quickly. “Yes, I think they are.”
“Will they help us find Fenix?” Ty replied.
Charlize and Albert exchanged a look.
“The Chinese are helping us turn the power back on and get our country up and running again,” Charlize said. “And yes, they are helping us track down men like Fenix.”
Dave shoveled another forkful of vegetables in his mouth, chewing and listening intently to the conversation. “Are the Chinese like the Elves?” he asked.
“They are our allies, if that’s what you mean,” Charlize said.
After swallowing his food, Dave asked another question. “Then who are the Dwarves?”
“You just don’t give up, do you, kid?” Albert said with a chuckle. He wiped his mouth politely with a napkin. “I’m going to go check on my sister, ma’am.”
Charlize nodded. “I hope she’s doing okay today.”
“She’s much better, thank you.”
Footfalls tapped on the cafeteria floor, and Charlize twisted in her chair to see Colonel Raymond walking through the mostly empty room. She sighed. Of course she couldn’t have a single meal without an interruption.
“Secretary Montgomery, I’m sorry to bother you, but there’s something I think you’re going to want to hear,” Raymond said.
“Excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll stay here with them,” Albert said.
The kids continued talking to the officer as she followed Raymond out of the cafeteria. She heard Dave ask if Albert had brought him back the DVDs he’d promised. She stepped into the hallway before Albert gave an answer.
They stopped at a small room manned by two military officers listening to radio equipment. One of the officers handed Charlize a headset. She put it over her ears and waited for the message.
“This is Police Chief Marcus Colton of Estes Park, Colorado.”
Charlize raised a brow.
“We have been attacked by soldiers from the Sons of Liberty and need assistance. When you get this, please contact me immediately.”
The message ended, and she plucked the headphones from her head. “When did this come in?”
“We just discovered it a few minutes ago, but sounds like it came in last night,” Thor said.
“Christ,” she replied. “Do we have confirmation?”
“Working on that,” Raymond said from another station.
Charlize glanced at the Colonel. “Tell our pilots to get ready. If this is real, I want to be on the first flight to Estes Park.”
_____
Colton wiped the tears from his face as he looked out over Bond Park. Snipers were setting up shop on the rooftops of buildings around town square, and civilians were building defensive positions on balconies and porches overlooking the mountains.
It was late morning the day after the raid on Fort Collins and the attack by the Sons of Liberty soldiers. Smoke still drifted across the sky. Colton stood in front of town hall, one of the buildings targeted in the attack. His boots crunched over the skirt of glass around the front entrance. He couldn’t bear to go back inside, where Margaret and several members of the militia lay dead.
It was his fault. He had pulled most of the defenses away from town and placed them on Highway 34 to back him up on the raid.
Outside, civilians were milling around the square. Some of them were looking for loved ones, and others just wanted news. Some of these people didn’t even know what had happened. Truthfully, Colton was still trying to put together the pieces himself.
What he did know was this: Sheriff Thompson was still alive, and had teamed up with General Fenix. They were each dangerous enough on their own, but put them together, and the two sociopaths would leave behind a trail of devastation.
The violence that had hit Estes Park the previous night was just the beginning.
The broken front door to town hall opened behind him, shards of glass raining to the concrete.
“Chief, I’ve got the most recently updated numbers,” said Lindsey.
He didn’t want her to see him with wet eyes. His people needed to know he was strong, that he could still lead them. “Go ahead,” he said, trying to steel himself.
“Seventy-seven dead, and one hundred and five wounded,” she said, choking up. “Doctor Newton is dead, and Doctor Duffy and the nurses are overwhelmed with patients. We have a few med students helping with the worst of the trauma, but they are overwhelmed.”
“God help us,” Colton whispered. Another tear fell from his eyes. Part of him felt like this was his doing—that he had cause
d this. But the attack last night from General Fenix had clearly been in the works before he’d decided to raid Fort Collins.
He walked back toward the building, stopping to stare at the blood-splattered lobby, and thinking of the horror that had occurred here when the SOL soldiers barged in. Margaret had gone down firing her Glock, giving the other civilians in the station enough time to escape out the back while the militia battled the Nazis.
Lindsey patted him on the back.
“It’s okay,” she said. “Everything is going to be okay.”
“Yeah.” It was the only thing he could say. He walked inside, to where several men were standing and talking in low voices. Dale Jackson, Detective Ryburn, Officer Matthew, and John Kirkus turned to face him.
“We’ve moved the deceased out of the station, and have taken a tally on the weapons that are left,” Ryburn said.
“It’s not good, Chief,” Dale cut in. A ring of sweat surrounded his collar, and blood coated the front of his sweatshirt. “Those Nazis took most of our weapons in the safe room.”
Colton grimaced. “Fenix didn’t just come on a shooting spree last night,” he said. “He came for intel and to take our weapons, opening the door to a major attack from Thompson.”
There was a moment of raw silence in the lobby, leaving only the chatter of civilians outside. Lindsey was the first to speak.
“What do we do, Chief?”
Colton put his hand on the grip of his Colt .45. He was all out of tricks, and exhausted emotionally and physically. There was only one thing they could do.
“We fight,” he said. “I told you to prepare for war when I got back from Fort Collins. I made the mistake of not making sure Thompson was dead. That’s on me. These deaths, are on...” he choked before the final word, and then added, “me.”
“No, they’re not, sir,” Lindsey said firmly.
“She’s right, Chief,” Dale said. “This isn’t your fault.”
“It doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is keeping these people safe and figuring out a way to survive the winter.” Colton pointed to the crowd outside.
There were several nods.
“So here’s what we’re going to do. Lindsey, get out the bullhorn and drive through the streets, telling everyone to go to the high school where we sheltered after the North Korean attacks.”
Colton shifted his gaze to Dale. “Dale, I’d like you and John to handle security on Highway 36. That’s where Thompson will likely try to bring his vehicles.”
“What about 34?” Kirkus asked.
“I’m going to flood it and destroy the road,” Colton said. “That will cut off a major artery and force Thompson to either use Highway 36 or come in from the south, on Highway 7. We will concentrate our forces there, and put snipers along the road. If he wants to add Estes Park to his territory, we’re going to make him pay dearly for it.”
Kirkus inclined his white cowboy hat. “Same goes with Storm Mountain. Thompson’s going to bleed if he wants our land.”
“Do we know how many men he has? How many weapons? How many working vehicles?” Ryburn asked.
The soft-spoken detective looked at Colton with fear in his gaze. Officer Matthew was also clearly rattled, his right hand shaking by his side.
“Dale, can you answer that?” Colton asked.
“He’s got about a dozen vehicles, and soldiers in the hundreds as best I could tell. Not sure on weapons, but my guess is he’s got us outgunned.”
“That’s close to what I saw when I was in captivity, but this new alliance with Fenix could change things. There’s no telling how many soldiers Fenix might add to the cause,” Colton said.
Shouting came from outside as citizens flooded over the lawn and streets. Colton’s family would be joining them soon. He had told Kelly to gather the neighbors and head to the station in Jake’s Chevy pickup.
“You better say something, Chief,” Lindsey said.
“Get me the bullhorn.”
She retreated into the station to grab the loudspeaker while Colton stepped back outside. He scanned the crowd of hundreds that was making its way toward the building. Some of them were crying, while others were shivering from the cold. Most of them were women, children, and the elderly. Those that could fight had already been deployed to the roadblocks.
Lindsey returned with the bullhorn.
“Any word from Secretary Montgomery?” Colton asked.
She shook her head.
“Ryburn, back inside and try getting another message through,” Colton said.
“You got it, Chief.”
Colton stepped outside with Lindsey to address the civilians. There were hundreds here, maybe even a thousand. He lifted the bullhorn to his lips as he saw his wife and daughter emerge from the crowd.
He waved them over, but then realized they’d see the gore-stained floor inside the building. Kelly wrapped her arms around Risa, who looked at Colton with wide eyes.
“It’s okay, sweetie,” he said although he knew it wasn’t okay. What else could he say? He could no longer shield his daughter from the horrors of this world. Kelly took his hand, showing her support, and he stepped out to address the growing crowd.
“Everyone, I know you’re scared. What happened last night was an act of terror. But today we must come together as one. Neighbors, friends, family, and above all, Americans.” Colton paused as more people joined the crowd on the streets.
“The attack last night won’t be the last. Soon, the men that perpetrated it will come back, and this time they will come for everything we have,” he said.
Almost everyone in the crowd seemed to begin talking all at once, hundreds of voices ringing out.
“Please listen,” Colton said over the murmurings. “We must band together and fight. Our very future depends on it.”
The civilians quieted in the park and streets, hundreds of eyes fixated on him. “Everyone that’s able to fight, please come forward. The rest of you will be taken to shelter at the high school,” Colton said.
“What if we surrender?” someone shouted.
“Yeah, why can’t we just lay down our weapons?” another person yelled. “Surely the Sheriff of Fort Collins won’t slaughter us if we act reasonably.”
“Like last night?” Colton said, his response was firm and quick. “Surrendering is not an option against this enemy. We must fight and defend our town. If they want it, we must make them pay dearly.”
He lowered his bullhorn and looked back at Kelly, his rock. They had been through some tough times, but she had always stood by his side. She smiled, and he raised his bullhorn back to his mouth. Everyone was focused on him, hoping to hear something reassuring or hopeful, but they needed to hear the truth.
“Some of us will die protecting Estes Park in the coming days, and I may be one of them. If I fall, I will die proudly to protect the people and the town I love.”
_____
Twelve hours after taking the first of the antibiotics, Raven was finally starting to feel better. His back still hurt, but his fever had broken and he didn’t look like a ghost anymore. But even better, he had plenty of energy to interrogate the one surviving member of the Sons of Liberty raiding party.
“You up for this?” Colton asked.
Raven answered by grabbing the door handle and walking inside. Colton followed and closed the door behind them. They were inside the utility room in the Estes Park Medical Center where they had Miles, a member of the Sons of Liberty, handcuffed to a metal pipe. They had found him hiding in a ditch a few hours earlier with a broken leg.
“I’m going to make this really easy,” Colton said. “You’re going to tell us where General Fenix is hiding, and I will allow our remaining doctor to set your leg.”
“If you don’t tell us where Fenix is, then things are going to be...interesting.” Raven used his boot to push down on the young man’s left leg, where the bone had split through the skin.
Miles let out a scream as Raven applied pressure
. He eased off a moment later, and bent down next to the soldier. His shaved head glistened with sweat that streamed down his pale forehead and youthful features.
“How old are you?” Raven asked.
Miles whimpered. “I just turned seventeen.”
Raven looked up at Colton, who shook his head. Miles was just a kid. But he was still the enemy.
“I’m sorry, I really am. I only shot at people that were armed. I promise. I could have killed the girl we took on the road, but I didn’t.”
Raven leaned down. “What girl?”
“Sarah, I think.” Miles adjusted his cuffed hands so he could look at Raven. “Please, please don’t kill me.”
They already knew Jennie, Sarah’s caretaker, had been killed on the road, but learning Fenix had taken the girl was a shock. When Dale Jackson found out, he would be furious.
“Tell us where Fenix is,” Colton said.
Raven knew the chief already had his mind made up about the fate of the young man in front of them. It didn’t matter how old Miles was. He was a Nazi, and he had made his choice. Any conflict Raven felt about his age ended when he remembered the three men who had beaten, and were preparing to rape, his sister in front of Allie the night before.
“Tell us,” Raven said. He stood and prepared to push his boot against the wound again.
Miles stared up at Raven. “He’ll kill me if I tell you.”
“We will kill you if you don’t,” Colton replied.
Wincing, Miles straightened his back against the wall.
“He’s got an FOB not far from here. He’s preparing to use it when Thompson attacks Estes Park.”
Miles’s eyes flitted toward Raven. “He will come back, I promise you that. He wants you.”
Raven swallowed hard. Once again, his actions had put his family at risk. He knew then that he couldn’t wait for an attack. He had to go to Fenix before his men could attack.
Colton pulled out a folded-up map and placed it on the floor in front of Miles.
“Show us where,” Colton said.
“Promise you’ll let me live?” Miles asked.
Colton unlocked the handcuffs so Miles could point out the location. He winced in pain and rubbed at his wrists as he studied the map.
Trackers 4: The Damned (A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Series) Page 21