by Warren Ray
“Nate, when you get into the pit, find a good place to set up a defense. When those cops follow you in, we’ll come in from behind them.”
“What about the others?” Meeks asked.
Winters thought about Amber and the two girls who were driving. They had been through a lot already and he wanted them as far away as possible from the action. He would have Amber lead them back to South Bend while they handled the cops.
“Get them all up here with us.”
Winters stepped on the gas and sped up. He looked in the rearview mirror at the five cars coming up fast behind him.
“I need you girls, to be ready to get out of the car.”
Reese turned to Winters. “I’m not leaving. You give me a gun and I’ll shoot the bastards.”
“This is not up for debate,” said Winters trying not to shout at her.
“I don’t care what you say, I’m not leaving. I think I’ve shown you what I can do, so I’m staying,” she said defiantly.
Winters could not believe what he was hearing. He glanced at her. She had the same expression when she killed the cops back at the retirement home. Revenge coursed through her blood and she wanted to release it.
“Have it your way,” responded Winters, knowing he had another new recruit.
Winters turned his head to the three wide-eyed girls in the back. “It’s going to be alright,” he said trying to sound convincing.
Once Winters reached the sandpit, he stopped the car in the middle of the road and got out. The other cars came up behind him.
Meeks and Elliott raced up to him. “Whatcha thinking, Captain?” asked Elliott.
Winters scanned the buildings adjacent to the entrance and the one across the street. The latter had a thick set of trees blocking the view from the east. That position offered a better vantage point should one of the cops happen to see through his plan and blow past them.
“I want the girls to keep going, we’ll move my car behind this house here,” Winters said pointing across the street. He then hurried the girls to the other cars and instructed Amber to head to South Bend. He slapped the top of her car and watched as she sped away.
Meeks turned to Winters and motioned at Reese.
“She wants to stay.”
He shrugged his shoulders.
They all jumped into the car, with Elliott taking the driver role. He guided the car around the one-story yellow house and out of sight. Meeks, sitting in the back with Reese, took out his Sig 9mm and chambered a round. After some quick instructions, he handed her the hot gun and two extra magazines.
Winters got on the radio and called out to Scar.
“How’s it looking, Scar?”
He didn’t respond.
“He’s a little busy, Captain,” responded Burns who was ahead of Scar.
“What’s happening, Burns?”
“One of them is trying to run him off the road.”
“Nate, how far away are you guys?”
“Not far, another minute I think.”
“We’re set up right across the street.”
Winters checked the shotgun he had laying in his lap. It was a pump action 12-gauge Mossberg 500 and was loaded with double aught buck.
Another agonizing minute later, the radio came back to life. “We’re coming in now. We’re here,” shouted Nate
Winters spoke into the radio. “We hear you. Let me know where you go, Nate.”
“I’m turning into the pit now.”
Elliott put the car in drive and kept his foot on the brake.
“Not too far behind you, Nate,” said Scar. “It’s getting saucy back here guys. I’ve got five cars behind me.”
“I’m taking the first right inside the pit,” said Nate.
Winters held the radio to his mouth. “Let me know when you’re in, Scar.”
Moments later, “I’m in,” yelled Scar.
Winters noticed his leg shaking a little bit in anticipation. He had been in many shootouts over the past couple of months and the experience had given him more confidence, but his anxiety mounted as he considered what they were about to do. They were going up against five carloads of cops who would have no problem killing their precious cargo. The only thing they had going for them was the element of surprise. He wasn’t sure this was enough.
Elliott took his foot off the brake and stepped on the gas. He pulled around the yellow house and saw the cops up ahead in the sandpit. He floored the accelerator. Coming out of the tall grassy lawn, he passed a row of trees that kept them hidden. He hadn’t noticed the last SUV lagging behind the others. As he pulled out to cross the highway, it slammed into the side of their vehicle. The violent crash shook all the passengers to the core.
Winters pushed himself off Elliott and grabbed the door handle, but the SUV blocked his exit.
“Get out Elliott.”
Elliott opened the door, stepped out carrying his weapon and started firing into the SUV windshield.
Winters crawled out the driver’s side. He kept low and reached the back door to pull Reese out followed by Meeks. The three of them ducked behind the car to take cover, as two cops emerged from their passenger side firing at them. Winters peered over the trunk of the car, raised his shotgun, and pulled the trigger. The weapon exploded with a booming roar splattering the paint off the driver’s door. His second shot tore a hole through the side window taking out the driver who slumped in his seat.
Meeks advanced steadily to the driver’s side of the SUV firing his M4 into the vehicle. Both cops in the front were dead. He squatted down to see another lying dead on the ground, and one more still on his feet. Meeks snuck around the back of the SUV and finished him off.
Winters grabbed Reese’s arm and asked if she was all right. She shook her head in the affirmative. Just then, the radio came to life.
“Where are you guys?” yelled Scar.
Winters reached into the car and grabbed the radio. “We’re coming.”
Elliott looked at Winters. “This car ain’t going anywhere.”
“Meeks, what about the SUV?”
Meeks opened the driver’s door and yanked the dead cop out. He got in, started it up, and threw it in reverse. The SUV creaked as he backed it up but was drivable.
Elliott pulled the other dead cop out and they all got in. Meeks floored the gas pedal, peeled into the sandpit, and took the first right. Their enemy stood behind their vehicles firing at the Shadow Patriots, who were using their vehicles as cover, but was parked in front of a large hill and had no place to go. Winters told Meeks to stop. He got on the radio. “Guys, we’re coming in right now. We’re in their SUV.” He grabbed Meeks shoulder. “Pull up as close as you can behind them.”
As Meeks moved in, Winters remembered that there were five cop cars, minus the one they were in, he only saw three of them. He began to panic. “Where was the other one?”
Meeks pulled in forty yards from the cops and parked broadside to their enemy. Everyone got out the driver’s side, took positions and opened fire.
The cops turned around and reacted immediately. One jumped into a squad car and angled it around to block the hail of bullets they were receiving.
Winters quickly realized the mistake the cops made. When they moved their car, they left their flank exposed. He got on the radio. “Scar, Scar. Backup one of the vehicles and flank them.”
“Roger that, Captain.”
Winters grabbed Elliott’s arm. “Let’s you and me get on top of that dune.”
Elliott nodded.
“Meeks, you and Reese stay here, we’re going up there,” he said pointing to the dune.
Meeks acknowledged the command.
Winters put his hand on Reese’s shoulder. “You okay?”
She looked at him wide eyed. He noticed her measured breathing and the determination she had when venting her anger. She held the gun with both hands and took careful aim as she pulled the trigger. The gun jerked back in her hands, but she held on and fired again.
“Where’d you get hit?”
“In the friggin leg. Damn bastards,” he responded as blood poured out both sides of his left leg. Winters started swearing to himself but remained calm as he took off his jacket. Buttons flew from his shirt as he tore it off leaving him in a white tee shirt. He tightly wrapped the makeshift tourniquet tightly around Elliott’s leg.
“Can you move?”
Elliott nodded. Winters helped him up and they crawled to the top of the sand dune. Winters looked over the top and down at the cops below. He raised his Model 1911 Colt and took aim. He was about to fire when he noticed the cops, who were originally unaccounted for, on the top of the hill looking down on Burns and the others. The cops stood up with their weapons pointed toward the bottom of the hill.
A cold shiver shot up his spine as he realized his friends were exposed and had nowhere to go. They had only seconds to react. Winters grabbed his radio. “Burns, Murphy, behind you. They’re up top…they’re up top!”
Just then, the four cops opened fire with automatic rifles. Winters heard the echo of girls screaming mixed in with the booming gunfire, as it rained down on them. Winters aimed his Colt and fired, but they were too far away for it to be effective. Elliott turned over onto his stomach, raised his Winchester 30-30 and quickly fired off a couple of rounds. One of the cops fell and rolled down the hill. The other three ducked down and took cover.
Winters then took aim at the cops below and emptied his magazine on them. He threw in another magazine and pulled the trigger, while Elliott kept firing at the cops up on the hill, dropping another one.
All the cops below lay wounded on the sandy ground. Winters looked over to Elliott who kept searching the hilltop for the remaining two cops. Winters grabbed onto the radio. “Burns we still got a couple behind you. How’s it going over there?”
“Murphy’s hit. Got a bunch of girls dead here, even more, wounded.”
Winters dropped the radio. He took a couple of deep breaths to slow his rapid breathing. He knew at that moment, after all they had done to rescue the girls, he had failed them.
He yelled down at Meeks to come up and help Elliott. He started taking long strides down the hill. He strode carefully to the cops lying on the ground. Holding his Colt, he walked up to them and found one still alive. He was young and looked up at Winters as if to plead for his life. For a moment, Winters thought about what to do. He had been in this position before and had made the decision long ago not to kill prisoners. However, knowing the wounded cop was responsible for the deaths of an untold number of girls, conflicted with Winters’ morals. The cop made a move. It was all Winters needed. He tightened his grip on the big .45 and fired three shots into the hapless cop.
He was staring down at the dead man when he heard the roar of an engine. He turned his head just in time to see the fifth police car tearing out of the sand pit.
Winters sprinted over to where Burns, Murphy and Nate were. When he came around the transport, the scene sent shock waves through his body.
During the past couple of months, he had been involved in many battles and watched friends and innocent people die in front of him. Over time, he had gotten used to seeing the dead and bloodied bodies, but nothing had prepared him for the carnage that lay before him. Dead girls lay everywhere, some with their faces planted in the sand. Others were stacked on top of one and another in an obvious attempt to act as a shield. Blood was splattered everywhere. The moaning and crying overloaded his senses. Winters stared at them, not sure what to do first. Burns and Nate were already tending to some of the wounded when Scar approached.
“Captain, let’s find some first aid kits.
Winters kept staring, unable to move.
“Captain,” hollered Scar.
Scar’s shout snapped him back to his senses.
With little time to spare before the cops came back with reinforcements, the Shadow Patriots quickly tended to the girls and wrapped bandages around bullet wounds. With their military experience, Burns and Scar had the advantage of knowing what to do and willingly took charge of the care. Murphy was out of commission after taking a bullet to the shoulder. Elliott, past the adrenaline rush, was now in a good deal of pain, but he still managed to be of use. For the seriously wounded, they would have to wait until they got back to South Bend.
In total, eighteen of the girls lay dead, three more were dying and ten others had wounds of varying degrees. The dead include the two sisters, Paige and Phoebe. Having met them, Winters felt an extra burden with their deaths.
After loading everyone up and a quick burial, they headed back to South Bend. Winters drove, while Elliott, in a lot of pain, sat beside him. With the exception of a couple of girls in the back crying, they drove in silence. He gripped the steering wheel hard making his knuckles turn white as guilt crept through him. He could not stop thinking about the dead girls and whether he had made the right decision by pulling off into the sand pit.
Darkness enveloped them as they pulled onto the campus. Sadie ran outside excited to greet Winters and ran over to open his door. His ashen face startled her, and she took a couple of steps backward to get out of his way.
Winters walked around to help Elliott. He got under Elliott’s arm with his shoulder and escorted him inside. People poured out of the building and ran over to get everybody inside.
It was organized chaos as those who had medical experience hustled about making sure everyone got adequate attention. Winters stood and watched in earnest. He admired those who knew what they were doing. Sadie walked up to him and grabbed him around the waist. Winters looked down and put his arm around her. He felt comforted as she squeezed him. Neither spoke as they watched the others work.
* * * * *
A black squad car pulled out of South Bend and headed back east to Detroit. The two cops inside had seen enough. Having followed the convoy from the sand pit, they needed to get back to Detroit and report the whereabouts of the Shadow Patriots.
Chapter 27
Detroit Michigan
Landing in Detroit early in the morning, a cop met Corporal Bassett and drove him to the National Police Station. He introduced himself to Captain Cox, the station commander, an arrogant doughy man in his early thirties who didn’t like someone from D.C. poking around in his territory. He wore his hair in a crew cut and had scruffy facial hair that needed shaving. The black tactical uniform had an extraordinary number of ribbons obviously revealing Cox’s braggadocios character. Bassett sized him up immediately and recognized him to be insecure and a distrustful little weasel.
Cox didn’t give him a warm reception and had only short and evasive answers to his questions. Bassett knew the man was trying to conceal info from him. Consequently, he ended the conversation and requested a vehicle so he could be on his way. Cox took his time, and reluctantly threw him a set of keys to a late model Ford Crown Vic.
Bassett laughed to himself after locating the car in the back parking lot of the station. With more than one dent, the car had seen its better days. He got in and was surprised it even started. The fuel gauge indicated a full tank. He wondered if it even worked as he pulled out of the parking lot and headed west toward Eau Claire.
Bassett was a farm boy, having been born and raised in the small town of Yoder, Indiana, just south of Fort Wayne. He liked the Midwest and felt fortunate to have served under Major Green there. It had been a nice break from fighting in Afghanistan, where he had done two tours. He knew that eventually, he would end up fighting out West. For now, he relished his duty in the Midwest. Racing through the barren landscape on an empty road, he felt back at home. He liked the loneliness the open road offered. His two days of crowded
roads back in D.C. had been a shock. He had gotten the sense that the people there, weren’t even aware the country was at war.
After speeding across the state on Interstate 94, he came to Highway 140 and noticed burned down buildings on his right. He decided to pull into the town of Watervliet. He drove along Main Street with his windows down. Thick rancid air assaulted his nostrils. He was amazed to find the whole town burned to the ground. It looked like old WWII pictures of Berlin after being bombed by Allied forces. The streets had an eeriness that was unsettling. He thought about what it took to do such a thing. It had to have taken a lot of men and time to wreak this kind of havoc. He shook his head in disgust wondering who had done this, and why. More importantly, he wondered where all the people were.
He stopped, pulled out a map and noticed that Eau Claire wasn’t too far away. He took a pen out and circled Watervliet. After turning the car around, he continued south on Highway 140. Ten minutes later, he reached the small town of Eau Claire and found the same senseless destruction. He didn’t waste any time there but went on to the next town of Berrien Springs. Upon arrival, he witnessed the same. Pulling the map out, he circled both towns. He had a desire to go home to see if this happened to Yoder. However, since his family had all moved to Florida, and he needed to report to Major Green, he resisted the impulse.
He headed back to Detroit to question Captain Cox, though he didn’t expect to get any straight answers from him. He thought about befriending some of the other cops in order to pry information from them.
A few hours later, he pulled into the parking lot of the National Police Station. He got out of the car and walked inside. He noticed the cops chatted in excited tones as he found his way to Cox’s office.
He knocked on the door. “What’s all the excitement?”
“Got ourselves a bead on the Shadow Patriots,” bragged Cox.
“Really? Where are they at?”
“They’re on the campus in South Bend.”
The news disheartened him. He hadn’t been too far from them. “How’d you find that out?”