by Lundy, W. J.
“Two, look for high ground, stay quiet and drop them from afar, might work for a while, but we still have to move eventually. Or we wait until dark, see if we can sneak past them in the darkness, and make our way into the clinic,” Sean said in a soft voice.
Brad looked down. “This is your expertise Sean … I’ll go with whatever you decide.”
Sean took the rifle and collapsed the bi-pod. “Let’s check out the rest of this place, no reason to rush getting ourselves killed.”
He slung the rifle across his back and lifted his MP5 to the low ready position. Brad fell in behind him and they moved to a set of doors that led into the kitchen. The doors swung in; the kitchen area was dark and surprisingly clean. Brad had expected to see rotting food, or worse. But the place was spotless. “They musta been closed?” Brad whispered.
“Yeah, looks that way,” Sean grunted.
They continued through the kitchen and into a stocked pantry where they saw shelves of dry goods and canned meats and vegetables. Not only that but more than two cases of coffee. Brad used his light to examine the shelves of stocked goods. “Look at this place, it’s a fucking gold mine,” Brad whispered.
“Too bad we won’t have room for it,” Sean said.
He shined his light deeper into the room. There was a small manager’s office with a glass window looking into the kitchen, and a heavy wooden door at the end of the wall. The two men walked towards the door. Sean leaned down and tried the handle. It turned easily in his hand, but there was a heavy bolt lock that prevented the door from opening. Brad took out his tomahawk and prepared to strike the door, when Sean held up his hand.
“Go check the office for keys,” Sean said.
Brad turned and headed back to the office. He could see into it through the glass window. The room was small, maybe six foot by six foot. A desk sat directly under the window, a row of filing cabinets on the back wall. Brad entered the room and ran his hand across the desk top, knocking over stacks of paperwork and invoices. On the wall to the right of the desk sat an antique timecard machine.
Brad saw a stack of timecards sitting in a rack, each with a name and photo stapled to the top. Brad grabbed the stack of time cards and sat heavily in the chair positioned behind the desk. He slowly flipped through the cards looking at the photos of the diner’s employees. What happened to you? Brad said to himself somberly as he stared at the pictures.
“Any luck with those keys?” he heard Sean call out.
Brad woke himself from his mood and tossed the stack of timecards onto the mess covering the desk. He heard a metallic cling as the stack landed. Brad reached over and moved away the paperwork to see a large ring of keys. He scooped them up in his hand and walked back towards the heavy door. He handed the keys off to Sean who grinned.
“We must have a key to everything in this town,” he chuckled as he started working his way through the ring. Key after key failed to fit the lock, or refused to turn. “It’s always the last one,” Sean said just as one of the keys clicked home, then easily turned in the lock. They heard the metallic clunk as the bolt returned to the open position. Sean reached down and tried the door again. He pulled and the door opened in his direction.
They stepped back and saw a set of stairs leading up. “Game face,” Sean whispered as he put his shoulder to the door and shined the light up the stairway. Brad acknowledged him and got into position just behind Sean. Together they slowly moved into the staircase. Sean’s light lit the top of the stairs and ended on another heavy door. Together they walked the stairs to the top.
Sean slowly got in position on the doorknob side; Brad lined up on the opposite wall. Sean slowly moved his left hand down to the knob while keeping his weapon’s barrel elevated. He turned the knob and pressed the door in and it quietly swung into the space. Quickly they were both hit with the smell of death. The old, pungent stench they had both grown accustomed to. Sean let the door continue to open. At the end of its range the door let out an audible squeak before it clicked against the far wall.
Brad stepped into the opening and took a knee with Sean just over his shoulder. Their lights illuminated a small hallway that led into a small apartment. They sat still for several minutes, waiting for a howling and growling beast to come tearing at them. None of that happened. Sean reached down and tapped Brad on the shoulder. Side by side they moved into the apartment, visually clearing every corner.
The home was decorated in a homey style: plaid armchairs and wooden end tables. Brad could see that a small dining room and kitchen connected to the living space. On a far wall were two doors that were hanging open. From their position they could see that one was a small bathroom. Shining the light at the second doorway, they could just make out the corner of a bed.
Together they moved in the direction of the two doors. They opened the bathroom door fully and did a quick scan of the room before moving onto the bedroom. Here the smell got stronger. Brad again pulled the shemagh over his face before they stepped into the bedroom. The source of the smell was obvious. Lying side by side on the bed was an elderly couple. They were locked together in each other’s arms. At the bottom of the bed was a golden Lab, curled up, its eyes closed in death.
Sean moved to a nightstand and found several empty bottles of medication. “Looks like a mix of sleeping pills and pain killers,” he said, putting the bottles back on the table.
They walked out of the room and closed the door behind them. “At least they left on their own terms,” Brad said as he walked across the room and sat in one of the plaid chairs. Sean followed him and fell onto a sofa covered in hand-knitted blankets.
“What are we doing, Sean?”
Sean leaned back on the sofa. A tall window sat behind him and he carefully pulled back the curtain. He had an expansive view of the street below. From the window he could see the market and the clinic. He let the curtain go and turned back to face Brad.
“You are not going to like what I have to say,” Sean said.
“Just give it to me fast, I’d rather have you kick me square in the nuts then squeeze and twist on them all afternoon.”
“I’m going to send you down into the clinic by yourself,” Sean said.
“What the fuck? Have you lost it Sean?”
“No … Maybe. I’ve been bouncing ideas around in my head and I think that makes the most sense.”
Brad sat up in the chair and looked Sean in the eye. “Me going down there alone makes the most sense?”
“Give me a chance here. I’ve been trying to think this through. How would I have ran this op a year ago? Two men, hostile terrain, we need to fill a shopping list from a semi-secured location, get in and out without being seen,” Sean said.
“Me, alone! That’s the best you can come up with?”
“Now hold up, you won’t be all alone.”
“Continue.”
“I’ll be up here on the rifle. I don’t see how else to make this work. We wait till the sun goes down. We already know those things can’t see in the dark … that gives us some advantage. We can goggle up; with night vision we should be able to stay a step ahead of them. I’ll be up here on the glass. I have a good eighteen to twenty subsonic shots for the long gun and plenty of loud rounds after that. I’ll stay silenced and guard you the entire way. If any of them picks up on you, or looks funny, I’ll put them to sleep.”
“But in the dark? They move around more in the dark!”
“True, but hopefully most of them are still out hunting the brothers. Brad, this is the best plan I got. If I go down there with you, we won’t have any over watch. I’d leave you up here, but I’m better on the rifle. Don’t worry, if shit goes south, I’ll twist free and go loud. That will draw them to me, and free you up to haul ass. Just keep moving, get as far away as you can.”
“Bro, your plan fucking sucks,” Brad said as he sat back into the chair.
“Yeah, well, sometimes you have to embrace the suck. Let’s get some shut eye, it’ll be dark in a few
hours and I want to be ready to do this.”
13.
When Brad opened his eyes he had nearly forgotten where he was. He looked around the small living room and saw a glow of light coming from under the bathroom door. He called out to Sean in as a low a voice as he could muster.
“I’m in here,” he heard Sean whisper back.
Brad made his way to the bathroom door. He tapped and the light went out as the door opened.
“Come in, I’m trying to hide the light. This bathroom only had a small window and figured it would be easier to cover.”
Brad moved into the room and closed the door behind him. Sean covered the bottom of the door with a rolled towel, then flipped his light back on. He was sitting on the floor and had his gear laid out in front of him. He was replacing batteries in his night vision optics and placing a similar type of scope on his rifle. He looked up to Brad who had taken a seat on the edge of a cast iron bathtub. “How are you doing on batteries?” Sean asked.
“I have a few fresh sets left, but that’s gonna become a problem if we can’t find more,” Brad answered.
“Yeah … problem for another day. Here’s the list,” Sean said as he handed Brooks’ note across to Brad. “You need to pack up like you won’t be coming back here. I rummaged through the old folks’ hall closet. Found that coat, looks like it will fit you, and some boots and old gloves. Boots were my size so I win there, you can have the gloves. “
“Damn, I’m happy with a coat … So how am I supposed to find this shit in there?” Brad asked, looking at the paper.
“Just do what you can, give yourself ten to fifteen minutes inside. If you don’t find what you are looking for … get out.”
“So just leave empty-handed?”
“That sums it up. Do your best, but if the stuff isn’t there, get out,” Sean said again.
He handed Brad a small radio set. “This is my backup. We will have two-way communication but there isn’t much range to this. Try not to speak to me, I don’t want them hearing you. If you swallow hard, I’ll be able to pick it up.”
“Okay, and where are you going to be?”
“I’ll be out there in the living room, which should give me line of sight over your entire approach. This is simple, Brad, move one block, cross the street and enter the clinic. Fill the shopping list and come back the way you came. Last I checked the streets are still empty,” Sean said.
“For the record, I hate you and this plan,” Brad said.
“Good. Get geared up. Let’s be ready to go in the next thirty minutes.”
Sean shut off the light so Brad could open the door and step back into the living room. He closed the door behind him and made his way back to his small assault pack. There was enough moonlight entering the picture window so that once his eyes adjusted he was able to go through his kit. Brad tried on the heavy coat. It was a little loose fitting but made of a heavy material, with plenty of pockets in the front and on the sleeves.
“Yeah, this will do,” he said to himself as he moved his arms and flexed the material. Brad put on his tactical vest and the rest of his equipment over the coat. He lifted his pack, but before putting it on he strolled over into the apartment’s small kitchen. He put his hand on the refrigerator door’s handle but thought twice about opening the door, wondering what spoiled mess might be inside. Instead he opened a cupboard door and smiled.
“Peanut butter,” Brad said just above a whisper. He took the jar down and opened it. A nearly full jar of creamy goodness. Brad dipped in his finger; the contents were thick from the cold, but not so thick that he wasn’t able to gather a heaping mouthful. “Maybe city life isn’t so bad,” he said to himself, smiling.
Brad looked through the other cupboards, finding cans of vegetables and spices. Some things were worth carrying, but he wouldn’t have the room in his pack after gathering the medical supplies. Brad placed the cans on the counter in hopes that maybe Sean would find room. And then there was still the supply store down stairs. “So much stuff, but no way to get it out,” Brad said, shaking his head as he placed the peanut butter into his assault pack.
He attached the radio ear piece and throat mic and clicked the small on switch before stuffing the receiver box into his pocket. Brad tapped the small throat mic. “Testing, testing,” he said.
“Yeah, I hear ya,” came Sean’s reply.
Brad smiled in response, not expecting Sean to be on his coms yet.
“I think I’m ready to go here, Chief.”
“Okay, I’m almost done on this end.”
Brad looked over his rifle and magazines, making sure the suppressor was secured. Then he put on his head harness for his NVGs, still leaving them powered off and in the up position. He put on the assault pack and moved towards the large window. He could see down into the street and to the clinic. From his elevated position it really didn’t look that far. The building they had entered was in the center of the block. Another quarter block down the street and on the opposite side sat the market with the broken windows.
At the end of the street and two buildings down from the market sat the clinic. Brad searched the street, finding it empty. He looked across to the market but couldn’t see inside the darkened interior. He flipped down his night vision optics, watching the street in front of him illuminate in green. He could see more, but the field of view was narrow. He turned his head from side to side, still finding nothing. Satisfied, he powered down the optics and stepped away from the window.
Sean was just walking out of the bathroom holding his rifle in his arms. He moved across to a window facing the street. He unlatched the locks and, after a brief struggle, he was able to unseat the window and slide it open. Sean moved a small chair and a table in front of the window and readied his rifle. “Brad, take this,” Sean whispered, handing Brad his small integrally suppressed MKII, followed by a handful of fully loaded magazines.
“It’s a small caliber, but a lot quieter than your M4. Hit them in the grape and they’ll go down,” Sean whispered. “I mounted my infra-red laser, don’t be afraid to use it.”
Brad nodded and took the pistol, keeping it in his right hand and putting the spare magazines in the coat pocket. He let the M4 hang loose on his tactical sling. Brad checked the straps on his assault pack and turned towards the door.
“Okay, take your time getting outside, use the nods, no white light,” he heard Sean say over the radio.
“Got it, I’m stepping off now,” Brad said as he flipped down his goggles and opened the apartment door. He could easily see down the stairs and to the heavy door below them. Brad held the MKII tightly in his right hand and placed his gloved left hand on the stairwell’s handrail. Even though his NVGs illuminated the space, he had no depth perception and was not in a mood to take a tumble down a flight of stairs.
Walking slowly he made it to the bottom step and quietly opened the door. He carefully counted time in his head, giving anything he might have surprised time to react. Only hearing his heartbeat and his own breathing, he stepped into the kitchen and scanned the space. Still empty the way they had left it. Taking slow, deliberate steps, Brad made his way back to the diner door. Again he slowly opened the door with his free hand while holding the MKII at the ready.
With the door opened he again counted to thirty in his head, waiting for an attack that never came. Brad stepped onto the floor of the diner and swallowed hard.
“Everything okay?” he heard Sean answer.
“Good, I’m in the diner moving to the front.”
“Okay, buddy, when you hit the street I need you to get close to the curb before I can cover you. You’ll be in my blind spot if you hoover on the wall.”
“Got it.”
Brad moved to the street entrance and took a knee; he cautiously looked out of the store front window and onto the street, searching for threats or movement. After a few tense minutes, he took a deep breath and put his hand on the door.
“I’m going outside, going silent,” B
rad whispered.
“Roger, slow and steady.”
Brad pulled on the door. He felt the cold air hit his face as he slowly stepped outside and guided the door shut behind him. Brad put his back to the wall and searched left and right, finding nothing. He walked to the edge of the street and kneeled next to the bed of a large pickup truck with flat tires.
“Okay, I see you now, just continue to follow the curb,” Sean said.
Brad swallowed hard to acknowledge Sean’s message. He got to his feet and walked along the curbside, watching where he placed his feet to avoid tripping. He continued this slow movement until he was almost directly in front of the market. He stopped and looked across the street, still seeing nothing.
The market was positioned farther off the curb than the other buildings. There were several cars stacked in front of it. The market had one large double door; it looked like the motion-activated type, but was currently ripped from its hinges. The entrance was flanked by what used to be two large plate glass windows which were now shattered, allowing easy access into the building.
“I need you to get in the street, cross to the vehicle on the other side. The angle is too steep where you are at.“
Brad swallowed hard again and quietly stepped between the parked cars. He was moving very slowly, standing nearly upright now. He was trying to move as quietly as possible, counting on the darkness to conceal him. Brad cut into the street and took two steps into the center before he heard Sean again.
“Hold.”
Brad froze and looked in both directions, at first seeing nothing. He slowly dropped to a knee and held his position, trying to control his breathing. Then he saw them. Two of them, walking along the street in his direction. They looked almost normal, walking upright with their eyes straight ahead. Brad estimated their distance at close to a hundred yards and coming from the direction of the clinic.