Through the Storm(22)

Thud.

Something bounced off the back of the man’s head and he dropped to the ground.

Conner rushed to him and grabbed the pistol. Beside the man was a bloodstained rock.

Backing away, Conner stared at Madison.

“Did I kill him?” She stepped forward. When she got close enough to see the man, she gasped. “I didn’t mean to kill him.”

Using two fingers, Conner pressed against the man’s carotid artery. He moved his fingers a couple times but found no pulse. Looking up to Madison, he smiled. “There it is. He’ll have a really bad headache when he wakes up.” He told her what she needed to hear. “We’ve got to go. He may have friends nearby.”

She nodded but continued to stare.

He took her hand. “We really need to leave.”

She nodded again and hurried to the campsite. They packed in haste and pedaled away fast. Conner pointed to an onramp and they continued south, weaving among abandoned cars until they left Wenatchee. Only then, when his legs demanded rest, did he ask Madison to stop.

Conner pointed to three vehicles. “It looks like the van slammed into the car and pushed it into the SUV.”

She cast him a questioning look.

“I know my last hiding spot didn’t work out so well, but the crash site provides good cover.”

“Cover?” Madison followed him toward the wreck. “You sound like some military guy.”

“I wanted to join the marines.” He stopped and sighed. “Anyway, that was my plan before things fell apart. I’ll check the vehicles and make sure they’re empty.”

Rifle ready, Conner walked around the cars, peering in the windows, and then checked the van. On the far side, he found the sliding door ajar. He yanked it open with a bang.

“Are you okay?” Madison called.

“Yeah, everything is good. Come on over.”

The two sat in the entryway of the van eating their energy bar breakfast and drinking water.

“I’m lost.” Madison looked down the highway. “Do you know the way back over the mountains to Olympia?”

“Sure. Well, sort of. I can get to Olympia and from there I’ll need you to guide me to your house.” Conner had more of a vague idea than a route traced in his mind. Go south to I-90, cross the mountains and then head south on I-5. He wished he had taken the maps in the glovebox of his truck with him, but he hadn’t expected to travel across the state.

He walked to the nearest car to check for maps and anything else that might prove useful. The doors were locked. He could break the windows but decided to move on to the next vehicle. It took only a few minutes to find an unlocked car with maps. He returned to Madison and traced out the route they would take. “We’ll be traveling south most of the day to Ellensburg. Then tomorrow we’ll follow the freeway into the mountains.”

Conner stuffed the maps and remaining food into his pack but then stopped. “When I woke this morning you were gone.”

“I had to pee.”

“Oh.” He chuckled. “Well, thanks for taking out that guy. If you hadn’t thrown that rock I might be dead now.” He mimicked her toss. “Where did you learn to throw like that?”

Her face paled.

He regretted the question. “Sorry, but thank you. I mean it.” He continued to pack.

After several moments, Madison stowed her few things. “Softball. I learned to throw as a pitcher for my high school team.”

Conner nodded but said nothing. The two mounted their bikes and continued south toward Ellensburg and the mountains beyond.

*

Rural Lewis County, Washington, Tuesday, September 6th

Gruff growled low with his nose next to the front window.

Fear boiled within Drake. Early morning light poured through the front window. He should have closed the curtains. Again he berated himself for being stupid. He considered closing them now, but that would expose him to whatever, whoever, prowled outside. Gruff sniffed, growled, and barked as he stared out the window.

From his position near the couch, Drake couldn’t see anything out of the norm.

Gruff barked wildly.

A dark figure dashed across the lawn.

Drake held his breath as he tried to figure out what to do. A knock at the door startled him and he fumbled with the rifle, nearly dropping it.

Gruff ran to the door barking and then wagged his tail.

Drake crept to the peephole and looked outside. “Ashley?”

“Let me in!”

He grabbed the key for the deadbolt and dropped it.

“Hurry, please!”

He searched for the key in the dark entryway. Finally, he clutched it and opened the door.

Ashley pushed her way inside, leaned against the wall, and slid down. “Shut the door.” She breathed deeply. “Lock it.”

*

Lebanon, Oregon, Tuesday, September 6th

Neal turned to run.

Three soldiers in camo uniforms, two privates and a major, left the cover of trees with rifles pointed at him.

Neal raised his arms.

Ginger pulled on her leash and barked wildly.

One of the privates aimed his rifle at Ginger.

“No!” Neal dropped the hand holding the leash and pulled the dog close. “We haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Hand over the shotgun and tie the dog to the tree,” the major ordered.