Through the Storm(40)
“I want to check with Mary and Katy and put us between our homes and whoever fired the weapon.”
Drake nodded and kept a wary eye to his right as they hurried up the street.
The snarl of a truck engine filled the air.
Drake peered in the direction of the sound. Seconds later, Pastor Wayne’s home became visible and a Humvee pulled into his driveway.
Dan, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves, stepped from the vehicle. A deputy sheriff exited from the driver’s side.
Pastor Wayne hurried to Dan. “Glad you’re back safe. Do you know who fired the gun? Who screamed?”
The deputy helped a trembling woman from the Humvee. Her frizzy red hair stood in stark contrast to her ghostly pale skin. Purple, blue, and red bruises blemished her arms and face.
“This is Deputy Campbell,” Dan gestured toward the officer. “He fired the gun.”
Mary hurried from the house and rushed straight to the red-haired woman. “You look like you need to sit down. Come inside with me.” She led her toward the house. “Do you want some water? Maybe tea, if I can get the fire started.”
When Drake and the men were alone, Dan said, “I was coming back with Deputy Campbell when we rounded the curve just down the hill.” He gestured to the deputy. “Well, I’ll let you tell it.”
“We encountered a group of four men and a woman, Emily, about to cross the road. When Emily screamed and tried to break free, I stopped and got out. One of them fired at me. She managed to escape from the guy holding her and ran toward me. I fired back at the shooter. The four men then ran into the woods.”
“Had they kidnapped her?” Pastor Wayne asked.
The deputy nodded. “South of town yesterday. I don’t know much more than that. She’s pretty shaken up.”
Four kidnappers that close. Drake thought of Ashley as fear and worry rose within him. He wanted to run home and ensure she was safe.
“We’re trying to maintain law and order, but it’s difficult with no communication.” The deputy sighed. “We have enough gas but only a few working vehicles. We had to release twenty-two nonviolent prisoners yesterday.”
“You released prisoners?” Drake’s heart pounded.
Deputy Campbell nodded. “The jail is running short of food, so the sheriff ordered them released.”
Images of his confrontations with Skinny and Fatty mingled in Drake’s mind with movies about serial killers and stories of people murdered in their homes.
The deputy shrugged. “I understand you’ve called a community meeting for Fremont residents. When is it?”
Dan pulled an old-fashioned pocket watch from his jeans. “In about an hour.”
“I’ll be there,” Drake said. “But I’ve got to get home first.” Before anyone could reply, he grabbed the bags for Ashley and sprinted away.
*
Lane County, Oregon, Thursday, September 8th
Neal rode with Lieutenant Pool along tree-lined suburban streets where children played. Ginger sat on his lap with her head out the window, sniffing the air. It all seemed so peaceful, so normal. But, in these last few days, such playful innocence had become unusual. “Did Major Franklin live in the area before the solar storm?”
“No. Housing within the compound is in short supply.” Pool turned down a side street. “But whenever a home becomes available we move someone in.”
“How do homes become available?”
“Well, some people never returned home after the storms; others left for one reason or another; and some have died because of the storms.”
“Died? Because of the storm?” Then Neal recalled the dead farmer where he found Ginger. He scratched the dog behind the ears.
“Some people are dying because they can’t get medicine or an operation. We expect that will only grow worse over the coming months. Also, think of the complications that will arise from illnesses such as HIV, diabetes, and even asthma.”
Neal shook his head. “A lot more people are going to die.”
The lieutenant braked to a stop in front of an older, two-story brown home with a wide porch. Children played kickball in the street nearby.
A woman with streaks of gray in her hair and wearing new jeans opened the door and walked onto the porch.
Lieutenant Pool hopped from the jeep. “Hello, Carol.”
“Hi.” She smiled, nodded, and then locked eyes on Neal.
“Mrs. Franklin?” Neal climbed from the jeep with Ginger beside him. “I met your husband two days ago. He gave me this for you.” He held up the envelope.
Carol’s smile grew as she hurried toward him. They met in the front yard and Neal handed her the letter.
“Thank you.” Carol tore it open. “Thank you,” she repeated as she read.
Two teenage boys stepped onto the porch. They appeared to be about the same age as Neal’s sons.
Guilt welled up in Neal. He had gone to the conference mostly to get away from home and had left his sons alone when they needed him the most. At least Conner was there for Drake.
Carol turned to the boys. “Your father is okay. He sends his love.” She smiled at Neal. “I’m very grateful you delivered his letter. Can you stay for a while? I don’t have much food, but do you need water? I have water and there’s a comfortable couch in the living room.”