by Hunt, Jack
“WHO!?” Colby bellowed, losing his temper.
“Ryland Strickland!” She spat it out and then all the pieces fell into place and began to make sense. Ryland’s death. The backlash from it and their father being executed.
Dylan stepped off the porch. “Trent was telling the truth, wasn’t he? It was you. You shot Ryland.”
She turned and puffed out her chest. “Yes. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.” She looked back at Colby. “He forced my hand.”
“Oh please. He forced your hand. You would have never wanted that baby alive.”
“You have me wrong, Colby. I loved Skye. I would have accepted the news not because I care about the Stricklands but because I care about you. You’re my son. I would have been a grandmother, and a proud one at that.”
Nina emerged and Colby looked at her. So many had suffered from generations of feuding. At what point did it stop? So many lives had been torn away, all for what? “I didn’t know anyone had seen me that night. I swear. I loved your father. I wish he was here.” She dipped her chin then looked at Colby. She knew better than to try and reach out and touch him. He was processing. Grappling with the grief again. He caught sight of Alicia. Her forlorn face. Another reminder of what he’d lost.
“I’m sorry, son.”
She retreated into the house only to exit a few minutes later, carrying a bag, looking every bit composed and full of purpose. “Gary, Niles, help your brothers lock down the perimeter and ensure those claymore mines are working and ready to go. Expect trouble. Terry, Wayne, alert the rest of our family. Laura, Annalise, bring down the shutters on all the windows. No one goes out until I return.”
“Where are you going?” Colby said, falling in stride with her as she made her way over to the stables.
“To speak with the sheriff and deal with this matter before more blood is shed.”
“You’re going down there by yourself?”
She saddled up a horse, then finally answered “He needs to know what the militia have done to Jessie. He needs to know about Paco. Maybe I can help the situation.”
“Help? You’re liable to make it worse. No, Mother, stay here. I’ll go speak to him. I shot those men. He’ll understand if it comes from me. We have an understanding.”
“Right.” She laughed. “Because Rikers have always had an understanding with Stricklands.”
“No, but law enforcement does.”
She stopped what she was doing, her eyes narrowing.
“You didn’t know, did you?” he said. She kept staring, waiting for him to drop the bomb. “That’s right. I used to be a cop in L.A. I arrested people like us. You. The Stricklands. How about that?”
She breathed in deeply as if trying to center herself or prevent herself from losing her mind. “Well, I guess I’m not the only one keeping secrets then, am I?” she said.
“No.”
She continued to get the horse ready to leave.
“Listen, you go down there after what I just did, after what they’ve just done, and it won’t just be Paco that needs help.”
“They wouldn’t dare try anything.”
“You don’t get it, do you? They already have. Please. Just stay here and I’ll go.”
“And get yourself locked up with Alby, shot or strung up? No. I’m responsible for this family. For what happened to your father, to Skye, to Jessie.”
“Oh so now you change your tune. You want to take all the blame, is that right? You want to be the martyr?”
She climbed up onto the horse. “Son, you might not understand everything I have done but it has always been for this family.”
Colby took hold of the reins. “Then if you’re going. So am I.”
“Me too.” Dylan appeared with Zeke beside him. “We all go.”
“No.”
“Try to stop us,” they said, heading for the ATVs. His mother pursed her lips and looked down at Colby.
“You are as stubborn as your father.”
“You mean, as stubborn as you.”
“That as well.” She extended a hand and he climbed up onto the back of the horse.
The horse trotted out and Colby called out to Alicia, “Stay here. Look after Kane. I’ll be back shortly.”
Their entry into Eureka didn’t require much effort. Despite the new rules in place, attempting to block off the city limits had proven to be a difficult task. Although there were a few close calls with the militia, they managed to arrive at the County Sheriff’s Office without being stopped.
Cathy was the first to see them. By the look on her face, she must have known the visit meant trouble. All of them were carrying rifles. TJ and Eric, two of his other brothers, were in sniper positions on top of buildings close to the department. They’d been given specific instructions. In the event all hell broke loose, they were to open fire on anyone who tried to stop them.
Deputy Johnson was the first to approach. He had three officers with him, each of them had a Glock in hand, expecting trouble. “You know I have to place you under arrest, Colby.”
“Save the drama for later, Johnson,” Martha said, charging past him. “Where’s the sheriff?”
“He’s busy.”
“Well, then we’ll wait,” she said, walking over to the seating area.
“You can’t bring those in here,” Johnson said, motioning to their firearms.
“You plan on taking them?”
“It’s the rules.”
Martha laughed. “The rules. Please. Get Dan out here now and we’ll discuss these new rules as I’m pretty sure those who made them have already broken a few of their own.”
Johnson looked like he’d just graduated police college. He wasn’t sure what to do. He could try to take their weapons by force and start a war inside the police department or go and get the militia. He did neither. He told the officers to keep an eye on the Rikers while he informed Dan of their arrival.
Martha crossed her legs and began filing her nails with an emery board while she waited. She glanced at the officers, uninterested, unafraid. With all her years of living outside the law, she had grown used to caring little for what came out of the mouths of law enforcement. It existed for the rest of society. A buffer. A false sense of security that failed communities more than it helped.
It didn’t take long for Dan to show his face.
“All right deputies, at ease,” he said. “I’ve got this.” He gave Martha a grim look. “You don’t make it easy, Martha.”
“No. But I make it fun,” she said, bouncing up from her chair and leading the way back to his office. She was aware that there was little that could be done to stop the militia if they intended to overthrow what order was in place, but she wouldn’t stand by and just let it happen. Although she despised the Stricklands, Dan was an anomaly who had demonstrated that he was trying his best. That was why she was convinced she might be able to get through to him.
They filled his cramped office like sardines in a can.
Before Dan could get started she began. “When I presented the evidence for the arrest of Alby, I thought we had an understanding?”
“We did. I mean we do.”
“I’d like to think that I proved that I value law and order, would you agree?”
“Possibly,” he said, his gaze roaming their faces.
“Then may I ask what the punishment is for having a firearm on you in the town of Eureka? I mean, with the new rules and all?”
“You would be given a warning, the firearm would be removed, or if you aren’t staying, you would be removed.”
“And would that involve beating a person to almost the point of death?”
Dan cocked his head. “No. Where are you going with this, Martha?”
“Jessie is laid up in bed. Beaten to a pulp by your militia.”
“They’re not mine and I was not aware of this. I was told he was given a warning.”
She stifled a laugh and lowered her head, then removed a cigarette from her bag and
lit it. “Do you think a warning looks like this?” She took out a snapshot she’d taken with a Polaroid camera. Martha tossed it on the desk in front of him. It was of Jessie before they cleaned him up, his face bloody, barely recognizable.
Dan shook his head with a look of disgust. “I never approved of this.”
“Well, someone did and from what we’ve been able to glean from Nina, the militia did that.” She paused for effect or simply to let him chew it over. “Of course, after they attempted to rape her. Thankfully, my son didn’t allow that and they left her alone for your family to inflict their own punishment on her.”
“Punishment?”
“She was pregnant. Nina was pregnant with Jessie’s child. But I guess Stricklands have a problem with things like that. What with the way Ryland dealt with the news of Skye’s pregnancy.”
“You’re losing me,” he said. “Martha, would you get to the point!”
“They aborted the baby. Nina’s baby. Your family did it by force.”
He sank back in his chair, bringing a hand up to his forehead, clearly distressed. They were dumping a lot on his plate all at once, but it was about to get worse. “And that’s not all. They killed one of the Wiyot Tribe.”
He groaned. “I know about that.”
“Do you?” Colby said. “Let me guess, they left out the part where they executed an unarmed man without reason. But you would know that, right, because you know I killed a few of their men after they attempted to shoot me.”
“Self-defense?” he asked.
“That’s right. Except my friend didn’t get to defend himself. They didn’t give him that opportunity,” Colby added.
Dan got up and brought two fingers up to the bridge of his nose and squeezed hard while resting the other hand on his service weapon.
“Where is Paco?” Colby asked.
“He was booked into the jail. Until we determine his involvement in the scalpings.”
“Have you charged him with anything?” Martha asked.
“Well… we…” he trailed off and Martha knew he had nothing.
Colby piped up. “Just as I thought. Forty-eight hours, Dan. You can’t hold him longer than that without a charge.”
“Listen to me. If we release him, there will be chaos. Locals know he’s here. It’s only because we’re holding him that they haven’t started rioting. They want blood for what has happened.”
“You mean the militia does. Man, wake up and see what is happening here!” Martha said. “They are doing whatever the hell they like and right now you’re caught in the middle of it. So what are you going to do?”
Outside the door, Martha could hear a commotion. Arguing. Raised voices. Boots making their way toward the office. As quick as a flash, Dan went around the desk and opened the door to a wall of armed militia.
Chapter Twenty-One
Captain Evans and Lieutenant Hale were among the group outside. As soon as they came into view, rifles were raised on both sides, and yelling ensued. All the while Dan was caught in the middle, one hand extended in their direction, the other toward the militia. “No. Put your weapons down. Listen to me. Stand down!”
“Keep them up, boys,” Martha said, a handgun in her grip. She was ready to use it and die right then if need be. Several deputies rushed to help but were stopped by more militia that appeared behind them.
“Captain. Tell your men to stand down!” Dan barked.
“I will not.”
“Stand down!” Dan bellowed.
“Not until we have him in custody.”
He wouldn’t take his eyes off Colby.
“Yeah, and what about your men? You shot that man in cold blood!” Colby yelled.
“He resisted arrest.”
“Bullshit.”
“You want to die now?” Evans yelled.
“Do you?” Colby shot back, rifle aimed at his face.
Dan was losing his shit. “Stand down!”
“Never.”
“I told you, you are not in charge.”
“And neither is a Strickland!” Evans shot back. There was silence. “That’s right. I found out about you. Tell me, Dan, do the good people of Eureka know? Do your deputies know?” He waited for an answer, a smile spreading. “Now step aside, sheriff, or else.”
“Or else what?” Dan sneered at him. “Your services are no longer needed. You will leave Eureka now!”
Evans laughed. “You think that’s how this ends?”
Dan nodded.
“You’re making a big mistake, sheriff. I’m giving you one last chance. Move out of the fucking way.” More deputies appeared, guns out, offering support. If a round was fired now, so much blood would be spilled, they would be mopping it up for days.
Dan turned to Colby. “I think it’s time you all leave, while you can.” Dan called out to his guys at the far end of the hallway to ensure they had a clear passage out. “No one is to touch them.”
“And Paco?” Colby asked.
“He stays. I will handle it. Go now!”
He exchanged an icy look with Evans.
There was hesitation.
Colby took a few steps forward, gun still raised. Dylan followed, his gun covering his six. Martha made Zeke go next. The militia was ordered by Dan to move out of the way. Some listened and pulled back into an open space farther down the corridor, others stepped to one side. An influx of deputies had to get between the rest who refused to move up against the far wall. As the Rikers slowly moved down the hallway, Martha had just passed Lieutenant Hale when he grabbed her from behind and pulled her back into him, bringing a knife up to her throat.
Guns were lifted again, though this time it was toward the cops.
“Go, boys! Get out of here,” Martha yelled as she elbowed Elijah in the gut and drove a heel into his shin. She had made it but a few steps before she was pulled back by her hair. “Get your brothers out of here!” she yelled, fighting back with everything she had until someone struck her and she dropped into the thick of bodies pushing forward down the corridor.
If it hadn’t been for the quick actions of the cops around them, they would have been dead. Several cops shielded them the way Secret Service was trained to do with the president, placing themselves in the line of fire and pushing them toward the staircase while the others held back militia. Fists were thrown.
“What the hell are you doing!” Dan yelled at Elijah. Colby turned just in time to see the captain step forward and strike Dan in the back of the head with the butt of a rifle, knocking him out. It was pure pandemonium. Cops reacted, surging toward the militia, but then a round erupted, killing one of them.
That’s when all hell broke loose.
Two more gunshots. And everyone scattered for cover.
Colby double-timed it up the steps to the main floor, his brothers close behind him.
“We can’t leave her,” Dylan said.
The two cops behind them dropped. Colby shot one of the militia before all three of them were driven back behind a corner as a flurry of rounds peppered the wall. None of them wanted to leave her but going back down would have been suicide. “Colby, let’s go!” Zeke pulled on his arm.
“No. We’re not leaving her,” Dylan said, opening fire and killing another soldier.
“We’ll come back. Dylan. If we don’t leave now. We are dead,” Colby said.
“I don’t care. I’m not…”
Colby grabbed his face. “She wouldn’t want this. We can’t help her right now but we can get others. Come on.”
The echo of gunfire was deafening as cops turned on the militia, and militia fought back. Had it not been for the cops, they wouldn’t have made it out onto the streets. As soon as they did, a round zipped past Colby and struck a soldier off to their right.
He had his brother Asher to thank for that.
As they were coming out, more cops were running in.
Colby tried to tell them of the threat but they didn’t listen.
It was too chaotic
. Too noisy.
Dylan and Zeke raced down the street toward the ATVs while he untethered the horse and mounted it, snapping the reins. “Go girl, go!”
He hadn’t made it across the square when two bullets speared the horse, sending it down and sending him flying off. He landed hard, rolling across the ground. An engine roared. He turned in time to see Zeke barreling toward him on the ATV. He swerved and put out his hand. “Get on!”
More rounds followed.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
From across the street, they could see militia opening fire on them even as cops tried to stop the soldiers. Many of them were cut down doing their duty. Colby climbed on the ATV and held on for dear life as they took off at a high rate of speed.
It was clear from the get-go that Captain Evans had anticipated they might try to make a break for it. As soon as they swerved out of the street they were on, onto L Street, they encountered a roadblock. “Hold on tight,” Zeke said as the ATV bounced up onto the curb, and he navigated it back the way they came and exploded out of the corner back onto Redwood Highway.
Dylan hadn’t even taken the corner yet so he surged ahead past them.
Ahead of them, neither of them saw the soldier until it was too late.
One of the militia had positioned himself on the rooftop of a Shell gas station. As Dylan came tearing over the intersection, a round struck him, sending him off the back of the ATV. As his body rolled, and they continued to head toward him, Colby lifted his rifle and took out the guy who had raised from a crouched position, unaware that they were moments behind.
Zeke swerved to a stop and Colby hopped off.
Dylan was alive and groaning. The round had struck him in the shoulder. There was no time to see what the damage was. He grimaced in pain as Colby helped him onto the back of the ATV and wrapped his arms around Zeke. “Hold on to him.” Zeke helped by clutching Dylan’s good arm. “Get him back to the farm.”
“What about you?”
He nudged toward Dylan’s ATV which was on its side. “Go!”
The engine growled as they peeled away and Colby jogged over to the downed soldier. He took off him a long-distance radio and listened for activity. There were more coming. He’d alerted them. Given them the intersection.