Options Are Good (7 page)

“Dad probably knows more… But Boots is a real braggart. He’s told me a lot that Colin might not have told Dad.”

Bandy was relieved to see Angus come out of his blue funk. “What do you know, Junior?”

All three men were more than a little surprised at the amount of knowledge Junior had been given by, and Bandy suspected, extracted from, Boots. Junior began to reel off a list of equipment and supplies, and weapons and ammunition that was verging on staggering.

Angus was shaking his head. “He never told me he had half of that! What else did this hooligan tell you?”

Affirming Bandy’s earlier thought, Junior said, “I sort of needled him a little, to get him to describe some of the things they have planned. He mostly talked about what he was going to do to some of the girls and women at school… It was disgusting. But also about how they are going to take out the Sheriff and her people…

“The Mayor and council… Take over the gun stores right off the bat. Then the fuel depot and Wal-Mart and all the grocery stores. And the banks and coin shops. They want to control all the food and fuel, and want cash and gold and silver.”

Bandy asked, “Does this Colin have any idea that Boots is telling you these things? And do you think he might just be shining you on, to make himself seem important?”

“I thought about that last part. But I don’t think he has the imagination to come up with the things he’s told me on his own. I’m sure everything is what he’s heard the others talk about.

“And I don’t think Colin even suspects. Boots gets a little spooked when his name comes up. He is afraid of him. Even said his brother is afraid of him.”

“Well, I would suggest you keep a pretty low profile around Boots now,” Bandy said, looking over at Angus. “Take any information he offers, but don’t try digging up any more.”

“I think I can…”

“No, Junior. Hawkins here is right,” Angus said. “I don’t even like the idea of you associating with that boy at all. But it would be a dead giveaway if you just cut him off completely. You are, and can be, an asset on this, but I don’t want you risking anything. Not this early in the game. It might be bad enough in the future.”

“He’s right,” Bandy said. “Now is the time to watch and see. No overt moves or actions until I find out more about this Colin.”

“He makes a lot of Youtube videos,” Junior offered then. “About how to attack the establishment, he puts it, and defend against oppression. He’s a real bigot and very prejudiced.”

“Okay. I’ll check that out. Now what can you tell me about any training they do, any property or locations they have or use, and just how skilled they are?”

“Well,” Junior said, looking thoughtful again. “They use the county range for most of the basic shooting practice. But one of Colin’s uncles has a small farm way out near the county line. He’s old and I guess senile or has Alzheimer’s from what Boots has said. Doesn’t really know what Colin and the others do out there.”

“That being?” Bandy asked when Junior paused.

Junior lowered his voice slightly. “That’s where they do the ‘kill training’ Boots bragged about once. He shut up real quick, but I had the impression that is where ambushes and automatic weapons practice were done.”

Bob looked outraged. “Those… Those hooligans… have automatic weapons?” His worried eyes went to Bandy.

“They are an additional threat, Sir. But depending on ammunition stocks, the actual types and numbers of weapons, and skills training, probably not as much as you might think. We can get into that later. But for now it is enough to know they have them and are training with them. Which means they do have at least some stocks of ammunition.”

“Not a lot, Mr. Hawkins,” Junior said.

Before he could continue, Bandy said, “Just make it Bandy, Junior.”

“Yes, sir… Okay Bandy. But they are always complaining about getting enough ammunition. They always want more than they have.”

Angus cleared his throat. When everyone Bob, Bandy, and Junior looked over at him, he had an almost distraught look on his face. “I really screwed up there,” he said. “I bought several cases of ammunition for them at a gun show some time ago. I’m sorry.”

“Dad, it is okay,” Junior was quick to say. “I think they burned through all of that in just days. Because a week after that when I asked Boots about going shooting again, he said they couldn’t waste the ammunition.”

Angus looked relieved. But did add quietly, “But they were still able to get some practice they wouldn’t have otherwise.”

“Water under the bridge, Mr. Longhammer,” Bandy said, bringing grateful looks from both Bob and Angus.

He looked over at Junior. “About how many are in the militia, Junior? Do you know? And do you know of any other supporters, other than the actual militia members?”

Junior shook his head. “I’m not real sure. I think there are only about twenty. Maybe twenty-five members. There are a couple that Boots said the Sheriff picked up. Illegally, according to him. And at least three travel for their work and aren’t always around.

“As for other supporters… I just don’t know. Colin looks kinda smug sometimes when something like that comes up. Boots, too. He implies that the militia has some powerful people involved. But he really does brag a great deal.” Junior looked over at his father. “Dad? What do you think? I’ve only been around Colin a little.”

Angus sighed. “Yes. Too much. And me even worse. He has implied that I… we… are only one of several people he has lined up on his side. I don’t know whether I believe him or not. He’s put a lot of pressure on me to get the shelter built. To his specifications. And wants me to get quite a few things, in quantity for him and his militia.

“And wants me to pull my political and financial support from Sheriff Broadhearst. Julie-Anne… she’s been a friend for a long time. She is good people and a good Sheriff... I feel like I’ve let her down. I haven’t done anything overt, but I haven’t supported her like I would have in the past.”

“You’ve been more than generous with your support,” Bob protested.

“I know,” Angus replied. “But nothing like you lately. You were there for the meeting a month ago. I gave her excuses and didn’t show up.”

“You said you had a shipment you had to check on,” Bob said.

“Oh, I did. But anyone in the office could have handled it. Colin was standing in the office when I got the call asking me to come to the meeting.”

“Ah…” was Bob’s only response.

Angus looked over at Bandy, a pleading look on his face. “Can you tell me… anything… anything at all that will keep my family safe and get this menace put away?”

“I am working on a plan, Mr. Longhammer. If we can take a look at your place tomorrow, and I can do some evaluations, refine the plan a bit more, and I can have a real answer by Saturday afternoon.”

Angus sighed. “That will have to do. I’m not sure how I’m going to explain all this to June and… and Desiree.”

Turning quickly in the chair, when he heard Desiree ask, “Explain what, Daddy?”

Angus closed his eyes for a moment and then reopened them. “In a few minutes. Would you see if Magdalene and Ana-Bella can spare June for a few minutes?”

“Of course, Daddy.” Desiree started to turn to leave, but paused long enough to ask, “This is about that group Junior told me about, isn’t it?”

Angus could only nod. He turned back around in his chair and sighed.

“It’ll be alright, my friend,” Bob said softly.

Angus nodded. “I sure hope so,” he replied, just as softly.

It was only a few moments before not only Desiree returned with June, but Magdalene and Ana-Bella as well.

“Well Dear, I take it you are ready to get this problem out in the open.” June went over to the chair where Angus was sitting and put one hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently. “I’m glad.”

Angus looked sheepish, and a little relieved. “I know I should have…”

“None of that, Angus,” June said firmly. “That is all in the past. What we must concern ourselves with is the future.” She let her hand slip away and went to the wide brown leather sofa and sat down, to be joined by Magdalene and Desiree. Ana-Bella leaned against the side of her father’s desk and crossed her arms.

“Fill us in on whole thing, Angus. Where we stand and what we are going to do about it.”

Rather haltingly Angus began to go over the discussion that the four men had engaged in just minutes ago. Junior added a couple of clarifications.

Ana-Bella was watching Bandy out of the corners of her eyes as he watched Angus do the explanation. She could see the small cheek motions and the way his eyes changed ever so slightly as Angus spoke of the different things. She looked over at Angus as he wrapped the explanation up.

“And with Bob and Magdalene and Ana-Bella’s help, plus this young man’s,” Angus nodded at Bandy, “They… We… are sure we can deal with this and get us out of the spot I’ve put us in with the smallest amount of damage as possible.”

June studied Bandy for a moment before she spoke. “And just how are we going to go about this? Not for one second will I entertain any suggestion for me to leave the area. Desiree, perhaps…”

“I’m staying, too!” Mother, Father, and Brother all saw the expression on Desiree’s face and realized that they would have a literal fight on their hands if they tried to convince Desiree to leave.

Junior smiled slightly, but both Angus and June frowned slightly. But already in their minds they accepted the fact that the family would face it all together.

“I’ll leave those decisions up to the families,” Bandy said diplomatically. “For the moment, as I’ve told Mr. Longhammer, Mr. Sheridan, and Junior, I need a bit more information and a day or so to develop and present a plan that I think will make sure that the Militia will not be a threat to any of you, or anyone else, for that matter.

“I know everyone is anxious, but I want to make sure I’ve covered all the bases before I lay things out completely. And I guess I should bring this up, since it didn’t come up earlier… There will be some expenses involved, and even some lifestyle changes to make the plan I’m working on effective.”

Angus waved a hand. “I will put up whatever it takes to see to it that this group stays safe and sound.”

“Oh no you don’t, Angus!” Bob chuckled slightly. “No check grabbing this time. You and I will split the costs. Everything that young Hawkins here has shown and told me makes me believe there are many things I need to do to ensure a safe future, regardless of this Colin and his militia.

“I realize now that some of the uncomfortable feelings I’ve had lately are due to the situation in this country… The whole world, actually. Time for me to stand up and take care of business I should have already seen coming.”

It was Ana-Bella that spoke first. “This affects all of us. We’re in this together and will deal with it together. Our two families have been working together for five generations, all the way back to Georgia.”

“Well said, Ana-Bella,” said June. “I agree totally. We might have started the process, and brought your family into it, but we will do everything we can to make sure everyone in both families gets through this unscathed.”

Ana-Bella noticed the look on Bandy’s face at June’s last statement. He obviously believed that getting through unscathed might not be possible. She felt a shiver go down her back.

“I agree totally,” Magdalene said. She stood up gracefully and headed for the door of the study. “Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes.”

That broke up the meeting, as such, and the other women left to see to the dinner. Bob took Angus and Junior out to see one of the new stud horses he’d just acquired.

Bandy declined to go with them and opened up his laptop and began typing. A few minutes later Ana-Bella stepped into the room and simply stayed silent and watched him work for several seconds.