Compass Call: Survival & Awakening (The Gatekeeper Book 3) (49 page)

John nodded and said, “Randy. It’s good to see you again. I was wondering where you were.”

“Yeah, well, Joel had his goons tie me up. I was in Joel’s garage when Pete found me,” said Randy, just loud enough for others to hear.

“You lying piece of . . .” John hit Joel hard on the jaw and he collapsed to the ground unconscious. That earned John a few “Oh’s” and “Ah’s” from the crowd, but they also took a few steps back, which he greatly appreciated. The arrival of Randy added a new dimension to Tony’s claim of innocence, and he tried to slink away. John grabbed him by the collar and dragged him back to the van.

“Randy,” yelled John, “would you mind telling everyone here what happened to me the other day?”

“No. Not at all,” he replied confidently. “I don’t know what Tony and John said, but Joel didn’t want me here to speak. That’s why he tied me up in his garage. I don’t know how Pete found me, but I’m glad he did. What we did was wrong,” said Randy, as he pointed his rifle at Tony. “He agreed to meet with John, and when John came to see him, he pulled a gun on him. Tony had us tie John to a chair, and then told Steve to take him to the bikers. That’s the short version of it, but it was Tony’s idea to mix with the biker gang. It was his idea to use them against us,” said Randy.

Tony moved forward to slap Randy with an open hand, but Paul jumped up and grabbed his belt. Tony fell backward and collapsed
on his rather ample butt. When Tony tried to rise again, Paul rested the barrel of his shotgun on his shoulder and said, “Don’t move again.”

John looked at the stranger and said, “What’s your name?”

“Hugh.”

“So tell me, Hugh . . . what’s your story in all this?” asked John.

Hugh turned to look at Pete, and Pete said, “Go ahead! Tell the man your story.”

Hugh looked at Joel’s unconscious body, and then at the other men who sat under Jeff’s guard, and said, “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“You can start with the truth,” said John.

“Right. Well, the truth is, Joel wanted me to keep my crosshairs on you during the meeting. He said to wait for his signal, and then shoot,” answered Hugh.

“And I was your target?” asked John. The man nodded and John said, “A nod’s not going to cut it here, Hugh. Say your answer so everyone can hear you!” snapped John.

“Yes! I was supposed to shoot you when Joel gave me the signal,” replied Hugh. Strangely, John thought Hugh didn’t seem the least bit concerned about the mission, or his unanticipated capture. It really bothered John that this man, a stranger, was willing to shoot him at the signal of another man. The whole thing really pissed him off, but he managed to control his emotions.

John stared at the man for a moment and asked, “And what was the signal?” The man threw both hands up into the air, as if surrendering. It was a clever way to turn the tables, and John wondered if he read Kipling. “I can see you’re not disappointed with the failure of your mission, but would you mind telling everyone why you were willing to shoot me?”

“I didn’t want to shoot you, but you left me with no choice. You kidnapped Tony, and he’s our new president,” said Hugh.

“New president?” asked John, confused.

“Yeah. Don’t you remember what Tony said the other day? He’s the new president of the US.”

“You’re an idiot,” said Paul.

Hugh turned and looked at Paul and said, “I was going to shoot you too, but for free, just ba’cause you was driving the van.”

Paul drew his sword and approached the man. John realized that Paul must have been practicing the move, for it was much quicker and smoother than ever before. He moved to intercept Paul and said, “I’d be more than happy to let you dismember this fool, but I think we need to hand him over to the neighborhood. Let them decide what to do with him. But I do think he deserves to have his hands secured. Will you handle that for me?”

Paul resheathed his sword and produced two zip-ties from his pocket. “It would be my pleasure,” he replied. An open confession of pre-meditated murder was more than enough to warrant Hugh’s restraint, so John stepped aside to let Paul do his work. And Paul wasn’t too gentle in carrying out the order, for he pushed Hugh to the ground and sat on his back as he secured his hands. After securing Hugh, Paul did the same for Tony’s and Joel’s hands.

John looked down at Tony and asked, “Do you have anything else to say for yourself?”

Tony looked up at Randy and said, “You traitor!” and spat to the ground.

“I’m a traitor?” replied Randy. “You’re the traitor! You’re the one who invited the biker gang here. You’re the one who wanted to take John’s life and his home. You’re the one who wanted to make this neighborhood your little kingdom. And Joel,” screamed Randy, “He used to be a good guy, but you turned him into . . . into some kind of friggen Nazi. Now he’s just like you. I can’t believe I ever worked for you!” screamed Randy.

“You’re pathetic,” replied Tony.

Randy moved to kick Tony, but John held him back. “Randy, save your energy. He’s not worth it. Can you go get Jeff for me, I need to talk to him.”

“I’m right here,” said Jeff, as he moved forward to stand next to John.

“Good. I’m gonna say one last thing to the group, and then I’ll leave these men in your custody. Can you handle it?” asked John.

“Glad too,” replied Jeff.

John stepped aside and said, “Now you have heard both sides of the story. You have all the evidence you need to make an educated decision on how to handle these men. I will not interfere with your decision. Just know that if you want to survive you will need to work together. You don’t need a dictator. You don’t need someone telling you how to survive, but you will need to cooperate.” John silently scanned the faces around him, and he saw something different. He thought it was hope. “Remember what I said about the food. We should go today, so if you’re willing to help get with Jeff after the meeting and we’ll make plans. If you really want to survive then you have to be willing to work . . . everyone has to be willing to work. We’ve already wasted too much time dealing with personal agenda and politics.”

Tony huffed loudly in reply to John’s last comment, and John turned to face him. Before he could reply, Paul said, “Shut up!” and kicked him in the leg.

John turned his attention to face the crowd and said, “I’ll leave you to decide the fate of these men. I’m done here, so good day to you all, and God bless you.” In a lower voice he said to Jeff, “The keys are in the van. It’s yours as far as I’m concerned. I’ll wait to hear from you after the meeting, but don’t take too long. We should get out to the tracks and back before night fall.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” said Jeff. “Thanks for everything you did here, John.”

John rested a hand on the man’s shoulder and turned to walk away. His two companions fell into place next to him, and they passed through the crowd as it opened before them. John was surprised that a few people even patted them on their backs as they passed, but he was done talking, and looked straight ahead without pause. He was
anxious to return home, but more anxious to hear Pete’s side of the story as they walked.

John looked back and saw that the crowd had pushed in around the back of the van. He could just barely hear Jeff’s voice from a distance, but he didn’t care what was being said or done. His part was done. The neighborhood was now on a new path of survival, and it was up to them how they decided to walk that path. He would go to the train with Jeff, but that was it. After the train, they would be ready to leave. John was just glad their departure wasn’t going to be a running gun battle with crazy Tony zealots.

When they reached the corner Paul said, “Crap!”

“What?” asked John, as he looked around to see what bothered Paul.

“I left the head in the van.”

Pete laughed and said, “Then it was meant to be.”

“Do you want me to go back and get it?” he asked.

“No. Pete’s right. It was meant to be. Who knows what the head will represent to them. Perhaps it will dispel any rumor that the biker gang remains a threat,” replied John. “So, Pete, I’m dying to hear what happened on your end of the meeting.”

“And I’m dying to tell you about it, and I’ll try to do it before we get home,” said Pete. “It went a little like this. I made it to the house at two-sixty-eight and gained access to the roof. You were just starting your speech when I looked over and saw a man with a rifle on Joel’s roof.”

“Hugh,” said John.

“Right. I thought about shooting him, you know, to save me the trouble of walking over there, but I didn’t want my shot throwing off the plan. Besides, it didn’t look like he was ready to shoot,” said Pete.

“He was scoped in on me,” said John.

“That’s what he admitted,” replied Pete.

“And you were fine with that?” asked John, with a grin.

“Well, I didn’t know it at the time,” said Pete with a sigh, “Now are you going to let me finish my story, or what?”

“Yeah, John, let him finish,” teased Paul.

“OK. So I climb down and run to the back of Joel’s house. I get the guy in my sights and tell him to climb down or die. He decides to climb down . . . saving me a bullet. When I had him on the ground I disarmed him, searched him, and began to question him. I saw right away that he wasn’t the sharpest pencil in the box . . . if you know what I mean.” Pete saw John nod so he continued, “He admitted working for Joel, and that’s when I learned about Randy.”

“That he was in Joel’s garage?” asked John.

“I figured you were expecting him at the meeting, so I decided to follow up on that lead.”

“You’re right. I never anticipated Joel acting to stop him, especially without Tony’s influence,” said John.

“That’s why I’m here, to keep you out of trouble,” said Pete with a smile. “Anyway, I push Hugh along and we enter Joel’s house. What a pig sty that place was, and smelled like one too. He was using the toilets without flushing. The downstairs toilet was piled high with crap, up to the lid in fact. It was really nasty.” Pete shook his head, as if to clear his mind of the memory. “Anyway, we made our way to the garage and found Randy hog-tied on the floor. I made Hugh untie him, and when Randy stood up he slapped Hugh on the face with an open hand. He slapped him hard, too. It would have been funny if it wasn’t serious, but it was very feminine,” said Pete.

“I know how he feels,” said John. “It’s not fun to be tied up, especially like that.”

“No, it isn’t,” added Paul.

“Sorry, Paul. I didn’t meant to open any old wounds,” said Pete.

“It’s all right, I’m fine,” replied Paul, sincerely.

John let the silence hang for a moment and said, “You were saying.”

“I was saying,” said Pete, “I talked to Randy and got his side of the story. It was like he said, he went to see Joel, and Joel and his guys grabbed him and tied him up. He didn’t want Randy at the meeting, and now I know why. I realized I needed to get Randy to the meeting, so we left Joel’s house through the front door and walked across the street. When we arrived, Tony was going on about how you were the bad guy and all that. I think that about brings you up to speed,” finished Pete.

“I don’t know what to say, Pete. I can only imagine how different things would have turned out if you hadn’t insisted on your sniper overwatch idea. I just never thought it would turn out the way it did,” said John.

“Me neither. I actually enjoyed the exercise, and I’m glad nobody got shot, especially you,” said Pete.

“Gee, thanks, brother. I’m glad I didn’t get shot either,” replied John, sarcastically.

“I don’t know what you’re complaining about, I was . . .”

A single gunshot rang out, and the three men stopped walking and turned in the direction of the water tower. They waited a moment, silently, for the sound of more shots, but when no more came they continued walking. The gunshot killed their conversation, and they completed the rest of their walk in silence. When they reached the mailbox, John said, “Jeff’s gonna want me to go with him and check out the train. Do either of you want to come along?”

“I’ve had enough excitement for one day,” said Paul. “I think I’ll stay here.”

“Pete?” asked John.

“Sure. I’ll go. You might need a distance shooter in the company again,” he replied.

“Well, let’s eat something before Jeff shows up with his team. I’m starving,” said John.

“Good idea,” said Pete, and the three men approached the front door.

“Halt! Who goes there?” Came a young but commanding voice from the alcove above the front door. John recognized it as Corbin’s voice, and he struggled to suppress a grin.

“You know darn well who it is!” yelled, Pete in reply. “Now get down here and open the door for us, or I’ll have you doing push-ups till your arms fall off!”

“If I didn’t challenge you, you would have made me do push-ups anyway. A guy can’t win in this man’s Army,” complained Corbin.

John and Paul laughed out loud. They enjoyed watching Pete interact with his young troopers, especially Corbin. Pete stifled his own laughter and yelled up to the open alcove window, “You’ve got two seconds to open this door, Trooper Corbin!” Despite the antics, Pete developed a unique rapport with Corbin that hovered somewhere between father and big brother. The two were hilarious together.