Prepper Jack

by Diane Capri

  Hector had not returned, which worried Vigo. But he couldn’t wait any longer. He’d see Hector in Arkansas.

  It was time to waken Maria and hit the road, leaving Louis and Manny to ignite the propane they’d placed.

  Starting on the northwest end of the horseshoe shaped compound, working their way around and back here to the southwest end.

  By the time they returned, Vigo would be long gone. Louis and Manny would meet him in Arkansas.

  Gavin couldn’t seem to keep quiet. He said, “Who are you exactly?”

  Lawton replied. “You say that like you don’t already know me, Gavin.”

  “What?” Gavin said, plainly astonished. “I don’t know you. Why would I?”

  Pounding came from the basement door. It sounded like someone kicking the door with hard-toed work boots. Lawton ignored the noise, holding the shotgun steady and pointed at Vigo.

  Vigo cocked his head. “Have you put Freddie in the basement? Bruce, go let him out.”

  “Don’t move, Bruce. Leave Freddie where he is,” a man’s voice said from behind them.

  Vigo turned his head to see a guy wearing a knit cap and face mask standing in the shadows.

  Bruce whirled his body around and drew his gun and fired. He missed when the shot went wide. Bruce was a lot of things, but a marksman wasn’t one of them.

  Before he had a chance to shoot again, the man stepped forward. With his momentum and weight fully behind the punch, he hit Bruce’s jaw with his right fist. Bruce went down.

  The man kicked Bruce’s gun aside and gave him a hard kick to the kidneys. Bruce doubled over, grabbing his stomach and yelping in pain.

  “Stay down there,” the man said. “Next time, I won’t go so easy on you.”

  Vigo should have taken the chance to rush Lawton. But he’d been surprised and missed his opportunity.

  Freddie continued kicking the basement door.

  A woman’s voice behind Vigo’s right approached Bruce on the floor and demanded, “Hands behind your back!”

  Which was the exact moment the first propane setup exploded in the big barn across the open space in the middle of the compound. Precisely as Vigo had planned.

  Gavin seemed totally bewildered by the chaos around him and the explosion. “What the hell?”

  No one else in the room so much as flinched. They’d all expected the blast.

  The petite woman hurriedly approached Bruce and slipped plastic ties around his wrists. She didn’t bind his ankles. Probably because he’d need to run from the fires.

  Although she wore a black cap covering her face, too, Vigo realized the woman must have been the one who got Big Sela killed at the Last Chance Saloon. Which meant she was FBI.

  Lawton held his shotgun steady and pointed at Vigo, center mass.

  The first explosion across the compound was followed by a second. And a third.

  Vigo couldn’t see outside, but the inferno had to be spreading fast. The fire must have caught and burned in the buildings across the open space, gaining strength as it gulped the night air and consumed the fuel in the barns.

  If Glen Haven was equipped with fire suppression equipment, it was already overwhelmed.

  Vigo needed to deal with the mole and then go while he still could.

  The fire department was miles away, but they would get the alarms soon enough. All the way to the main road, the two-track would be clogged with passengers for the balloon ride and first responders for the fire, rescue, and evacuees.

  A fourth explosion and then a fifth sounded. Both were closer. The propane was making its way around the U-shaped compound buildings at ever increasing speed.

  He wanted to get Freddie and Maria first and then go.

  But until Lawton’s shotgun was out of the way, he stood rooted to the spot.

  When she finished with Bruce, the woman approached Gavin and bound his hands next. He barely squeaked in protest. He was so overwhelmed by these events that Vigo silently crossed Gavin off his list. Which made him expendable.

  And now there were only three suspects.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  Friday, April 15

  6:40 a.m.

  Glen Haven, New Mexico

  Another explosion blasted from the other side of the compound. Definitely closer. The fires would reach them soon.

  Kim finished with Bruce Ray and then snugged a set of plastic ties around Gavin’s wrists. She looked at Lawton. “You got this?”

  “Yeah, I’m good,” he replied, keeping his steady gaze on Vigo.

  She turned to Flint. “Get these two outside. I’ll get Freddie.”

  “Let’s go.” Flint grabbed Bruce and yanked him to his feet. Then he took both brothers by the arms and shoved them through the exit. They stumbled and landed hard on the gravel outside.

  Kim hurried to the basement door. Freddie was still kicking the door with his boots. When she slid the deadbolt back and yanked the door open, he fell forward and tumbled onto the floor, banging his head, busting his nose, and splashing blood all over his face.

  She bent and grabbed the edge of the duct tape and pulled it off his mouth so he could breathe, now that he’d ruined his nose.

  Another explosion. Followed by another. These blasts must have exploded inside the main house. She heard breaking glass and a loud whump, as if the explosion had sucked all the oxygen from the atmosphere.

  She hoped O’Hare had evacuated all of the residents. There was no saving those buildings or anyone remaining inside them now.

  Kim reached down and yanked on Freddie’s arm. “Let’s go. Unless you want to die here. The fire is coming this way faster than you can run.”

  Freddie must have heard the explosions, too. He didn’t bother to argue. He stood, swiped his bloody nose across his sleeve, and headed toward the door.

  He paused briefly when he saw Lawton holding Vigo at gunpoint.

  Kim pushed him in the back with her weapon and he kept moving. She followed him as far as the door and shoved him toward Flint, who was still dealing with the Ray brothers.

  Two more explosions blasted through the already noisy night. Sirens approached in the distance. Screaming came from across the two-track where the passengers and their guests had gathered for the balloon ride. The cacophony was already deafening and new explosions were coming every few minutes.

  When the fire reached the larger propane tanks stored in the big barns closer to the barracks, it would also ignite the fertilizers used in the herbal products farming. Every inch of Glen Haven and everything in it would be burned to the ground.

  Two SUVs and one sedan were still parked in front of the barracks.

  She hurried across the parking lot, pushing Freddie forward, until she reached Flint and the Ray brothers.

  The situation had always been dangerous. Now it had become cumbersome.

  She had no means of securing the suspects until the FBI arrived.

  They needed to get out of the path of flying debris and the conflagration that had been the compound.

  She had no means of transport for the prisoners, either. And even if she called a wagon, it would never make it through the crowded two-track now.

  The only way out of here was by air, and they had left the helo twenty miles away.

  More explosions blasted the main living quarters and the two smaller residences. Even though she knew the blasts were coming, she flinched every time.

  Vehicles were parked along the two-track and in the field across the street. The screaming sirens were approaching from several directions now, but none were close enough. By the time the firefighters arrived, the compound would be well on its way to a pile of ashes.

  “Any bright ideas?” Flint yelled over the noise. “I can put them in one of those SUVs and lock the doors. We’ll have to drive them somewhere. When the fire reaches this point, they won’t survive if we leave them here.”

  “Okay. Do that,” Kim shouted back. “I’m going in for Vigo and Lawton. Watch for Louis a
nd Manny. They should be back here any minute. Don’t let them catch you unaware.”

  She turned toward the barracks. She’d taken a few long strides toward the entrance. She saw Lawton and Vigo inside.

  Lawton glanced at her briefly, as if to warn her, before another woman stepped forward.

  “Stop right there. Raise your arms and turn around or I’ll shoot you in the back,” the woman said.

  Kim did as she was told. When she turned to face the woman, she recognized her instantly from the Last Chance Saloon and the video feed at the garage in Albuquerque. Maria Vigo.

  The distraction was enough to give Vigo the chance to attack Lawton. Kim kept her gaze trained on Maria. Behind her, Vigo and Lawton scuffled inside the building.

  A moment later, Lawton’s shotgun fired.

  She heard a shout followed by loud groans from one of the men. But which one?

  Kim blocked Maria’s view of the confrontation as well.

  Conflicting emotions warred on her face. “Vigo!” she called out to her brother. “Vigo, answer me!”

  Kim used Maria’s momentary lapse against her.

  She rushed forward and knocked Maria to the ground. The gun flew out of her hand and skidded along the gravel, out of reach.

  The element of surprise followed by overwhelming force might have been enough to subdue some women. But not Maria.

  Screaming her brother’s name with greater and greater urgency, Maria fought like a hellcat. She pulled the knit cap from Kim’s head. When she saw Kim’s face, she yelled with rage.

  Blood from a cut on her forehead blinded Kim for a moment. She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. In that moment, Maria escaped and scrambled to retrieve her pistol.

  Kim got enough leverage to land a solid blow to Maria’s stomach. A loud whoosh escaped her lips followed by a cry of violent uncontrolled anger.

  Lying on the floor, Maria leaned to her left and raised the gun to fire.

  At the last second before Maria pulled the trigger, Kim rolled out of range.

  The momentary break was long enough for Kim to retrieve her weapon and fire back.

  Kim’s aim was true.

  Maria took the bullet in her chest.

  She flopped onto the ground, dead eyes staring at the sky.

  Kim glanced up to see Vigo still standing inside, shotgun in hand.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  Friday, April 15

  6:55 a.m.

  Glen Haven, New Mexico

  The raging inferno, regular explosions, and Maria’s attack had given Vigo the distraction he needed.

  He had seized his chance to knock Lawton off the chair. He grabbed the shotgun. Lawton struggled, but Vigo was simply stronger than Lawton and had better leverage.

  He heard Maria fighting with the woman they had called Otto.

  A brief grin crossed his face. Maria was fierce and fearless. He wasn’t worried. He had scars from fighting with Maria left from childhood battles. Otto didn’t stand a chance.

  Vigo grabbed the gun from Lawton’s hands and pulled the trigger. His aim was off, but as he’d said, it’s hard to miss with a shotgun at that range.

  Lawton yelled with pain when the shell hit him in the abdomen. He covered the wound with both hands, but blood gushed around his fingers and rapidly spread, draining his remaining strength.

  Vigo considered shooting him again, just to be sure. But he only had one shell left and Lawton would die anyway. He’d never seen a man survive a gut shot at close range.

  A moment later, Maria’s pistol shot rang out. Vigo whipped around to see both women entangled on the ground and blood everywhere.

  “Maria!” he shouted to be heard above the constantly increasing roar of the fires.

  When Otto rolled off Maria, covered in blood, Vigo saw his sister’s dead eyes.

  “What have you done?” he yelled as he rushed to Maria and shoved Otto aside with a vicious kick.

  Two more propane explosions blasted though the overwhelming noise. They must have been close. Vigo looked around, eyes wild. Soon, the propane tanks exploding close to the barracks would make leaving here impossible.

  There was nothing he could do for Maria now. He bent to hug his dead sister one last time.

  Briefly, his gaze swept the barracks, searching for Otto, but she had somehow disappeared. He saw smoke billowing around the gravel drive.

  The fires were close now and coming closer every minute. Another explosion, even closer, hammered his body as if he’d been shot himself.

  It was time to go. He could waste no more energy here.

  He held the shotgun and ran through the open door to the gravel parking area. The sedan Maria had arrived in was still parked outside. Whatever trace evidence it might contain after it burned was of no consequence now that Maria was dead.

  One of the SUVs was gone. Louis and Manny must have taken it already. But they’d taken the wrong one. The inventory had been packed inside the black one. They’d left the green one here.

  Briefly, he wondered if Louis and Manny had suddenly turned against him. Joined another cartel. Stolen what was rightfully his.

  He shook his head. No time to deal with that now. At least his inventory was already on the road. He’d find them soon enough once he got away from here.

  He glanced toward the southbound two-track. It looked like a parking lot. Vehicles were backed up along it for at least a mile. He couldn’t possibly drive through to the main road with his product in the remaining SUV.

  Across the two-track was the open field launch site for the morning’s balloon ride. Passengers, guests, and Glen Haven residents were milling around, staring at the constantly building fire at Glen Haven. The balloon was inflated and the crew held the gondola tethered to the ground.

  Sirens in the near distance were headed toward him. Some were first responders for the fires, no doubt. But the others were likely law enforcement from various agencies and departments.

  There was no way to get past the gridlock in the green SUV.

  He might escape on foot. But he wouldn’t get far enough fast enough.

  The only option was to rise above the chaos in the balloon. He headed toward the gondola. It would be a ridiculous slow speed getaway, but at least he could go somewhere. He’d put the balloon down in a parking lot where he could steel another vehicle. From there, he’d drive to Arkansas to find Louis and Manny and his inventory.

  He’d find Hector, too. They had something in common now. Both had lost beloved sisters.

  From Arkansas, he could start over.

  Vigo started to jog toward the gondola. As he ran past the barracks building, another explosion went off inside the barn next door on the east side. There were at least three propane tank setups inside. More explosions would follow. And then the two barracks buildings would catch fire and explode.

  Lawton, Maria, and the FBI agent would be cremated. It should take a good long while for their remains to be identified by the FBI and the other agencies. He’d be long gone by then.

  Vigo folded his arm over his mouth and nose and jogged faster through the smoke and across the road, leaving the fires behind.

  When he reached the field, the breezes provided fresh air. He could breathe again.

  He jogged up to the gondola. The passengers were milling around, not sure whether they should get into the basket or stay on the ground. There seemed to be an equal number of gawkers, watching the fires with gaping mouths, and thrill seekers wanting an aerial view of the fires.

  The pilot was Bruce Ray’s wife, Cheryl. Vigo knew her better than some of the others. She had a solid head on her shoulders. She wasn’t likely to panic.

  Gavin Ray’s wife, Daphne, was close by. He grinned. Perfect. His last two suspects were already here. He could eliminate them both at the landing site before he left for Arkansas.

  He saw Cheryl’s kid, Micah, standing inside the basket with her. Too bad about the kid. He shrugged. Kids died every day.

  While the passenge
rs continued to mill around, Vigo approached Daphne. He jabbed a pistol in her ribs. “Get in. We’re going for a ride.”

  The look of pure astonishment on her face mirrored her husband’s earlier. Maybe she wasn’t the mole. And if not, that left Cheryl Ray. Which made a lot more sense anyway.

  He should have guessed it was Cheryl long ago. She was always questioning Bruce about Vigo’s business.

  Bruce had been a member of the cartel, but not a solid performer. Cheryl could only have known enough to reveal low level dealers to the feds.

  Vigo smirked. This was perfect. He’d kill them both. Then he could start again in Arkansas without looking over his shoulder for the feds.

  Daphne dropped the rope and climbed into the basket. Vigo followed. When she released the anchor, the gondola began to rise off the ground. With only the four of them inside, the gondola might travel faster and higher, too.

  “Let’s go, Cheryl,” Vigo said, brandishing the gun.

  “What? We can’t fly out of here now,” she replied. The sirens were closer. They’d turned off the main road and ran through the line of traffic like the prow of a slow ship parting the water.

  “We can fly out of here and we will. Do it,” he said, grabbing Micah by the shoulders. “Micah here wants to fly today, don’t you?”

  Micah seemed unsure, but he nodded.

  “Let’s go,” Vigo said. “Unless you’d like me to shoot all three of you and fly this thing myself. It’s not that hard to do.”

  Cheryl’s eyes widened and she swallowed hard. With a shaky hand, she gave the air another burst of heat from the propane burner.

  The gondola rose quickly above the heads of the spectators and drifted with the currents away from Glen Haven.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  Friday, April 15

  7:05 a.m.

  Glen Haven, New Mexico

  After Vigo left, Kim crawled around the sofa and found Lawton slumped in the chair. He was clammy and in shock, but he opened his eyes and gave her a weak grin.