The Day After Never - Blood Honor (Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Thriller) (27 page)

“What?” Ruby cried, rising from her chair.

“It’s not like that, Ruby,” Sierra insisted. “When they first brought Eve to Dallas, they needed someone to take care of her. That was a year and a half ago. They put me in charge of tending to her, keeping her company, teaching her. I called myself Aunt Sierra, and she just picked it up. But by now, I might as well be. I’m the only family she has. And…and I love her like she was my own.” Her eyes glistened with tears. “Isn’t that enough? Who cares whether we’ve got the same blood? She needs someone, and I’m her best hope.”

Lucas nodded. “Tell me about the escape. How did that happen?”

“I told you we escaped from Dallas. That’s not completely true. I’m sorry I lied, but I…I didn’t completely trust you, and I was afraid you might sell us out or something.”

Lucas’s expression darkened. “Sell you out? I saved you – not once, but twice, and Eve as well. Does that strike you as the kind of thing a sellout would do?”

“I’m sorry. Maybe I wasn’t thinking clearly. But after all we’d been through… I mean, I was responsible for Eve. I had to be careful.”

Lucas visibly struggled for composure. “Fine. Where did you escape from?”

“Lubbock. We had been in Dallas, at the hospital there, but about eight months ago they moved us to Lubbock – they have a more advanced lab at the university medical center in town. Anyhow, I befriended one of the scientists, and over time, we got…close. He confided that he wasn’t working with Magnus voluntarily. His child was being used against him – blackmail. But he wasn’t an evil man, and he had contact with a resistance cell in Lubbock that had a link with some people out of the Crew’s territory – another group of doctors working toward the same goal, only not to extort power from what’s left of the world, but to develop a vaccine and give it to everyone. He contacted them and arranged for us to escape.” She exhaled hard. “He’s still there. Might be dead by now, for all I know.”

“So what happened?”

Sierra held Lucas’s stare. “Lucas, I had no idea that stupid bracelet was some kind of tracking device.”

“I believe you. It would be counterproductive to escape, only to lead them straight to her.”

“That’s right. Anyway, one night the scientist slipped me a note. I had ten minutes to make it to a laundry chute with Eve. The hospital is guarded like an army base, Lucas. So I woke her up and we left with just the clothes on our back. The men who died in that gulch, defending us, were from the resistance group.”

“Where were they taking you?”

“Shangri-La.”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed. “You’re exhausting my patience, Sierra.”

“No, that’s what they called it,” she insisted.

“Shangri-La,” Ruby repeated. “Why?”

“Because nobody knows exactly where it is. I don’t.”

“But they did.”

“Correct. But they never told me where we were going. Just to Shangri-La. Then they’d all laugh.”

Lucas’s glare bored into her. “But what is it? What did they tell you about it?”

“That it has power. And water. And that everyone there is God fearing and is working against the evil that the criminal gangs were inflicting on the country. They have a militia there – well armed and trained, apparently. And a doctor who’s trying to figure out how to save humanity. Eve’s the only survivor he’s heard of. So the plan was to bring her to him, along with the data the scientists in Lubbock had collected, so he could make a vaccine, assuming that’s even possible.”

“What did your…
friend
…think?” Ruby asked.

“He thought they were making progress, and that it looked good. Which was one of the reasons for the timing. They needed to get Eve away from Magnus’s group before he could finish the process, or…or we’d be living in a world shaped by one of the most sadistic men who’s ever lived.”

“Where is this data?” Lucas demanded.

“On a USB drive.”

“They have operational computers in Lubbock, I take it?” Ruby said.

“They do. They have power from a big wind farm outside of town they were able to connect up to and get operational again. They have everything electric-powered, at least for Magnus’s operation. The rest of the city lives without. See, that drives home the point to everyone else that the Crew is in charge and decides who suffers and who doesn’t. Same thing in Dallas, Houston, you name it. They’re in total control – you take one wrong step and they squash you like a bug.”

“Where’s the USB drive now?”

“I don’t know.”

Lucas snorted. “That’s where this all leads? To a shoulder shrug and a blank look? Come on, Sierra.”

“No, really. The leader of the militia group who was taking us to Shangri-La had it. Kept in in his tactical vest. His job was to defend it, and us, with his life. Which is what happened.”

“Why not send a bigger group?”

“We were supposed to meet up with one in another couple of days. They wanted to stay under the radar until they were out of Texas.”

“And you have absolutely no idea where they were heading?”

“I wish I did. But no, I don’t. The leader referred to a set of directions or something – he kept a note with the USB drive in an inside pocket of his tactical vest – but even with the directions, we’d have a pretty hard time finding the place without the help of someone who knew more.”

“Why’s that?”

“I got a look at them once when he was cleaning off in the river. They were in some kind of code. Gibberish. I wish I knew how to find Shangri-La, Lucas. I really do. Because that sounds like the only place we’ll ever be safe.” She swallowed hard. “They’re never going to quit, Lucas. Magnus’s entire vision of the future depends on that vaccine and the power it will give him. Imagine him with the fate of the world in his hands. Imagine him with the keys to nukes.”

“They can’t hurt you if they can’t find you.”

“They’ll find us,” Sierra stated flatly. “You don’t know these people. They have no choice.”

“Nothing is inevitable, Sierra.”

Her brow furrowed. “I believe in destiny, Lucas.”

“Believe in whatever you want, but I’ve never been good at quitting.”

Sierra appraised him. “So I see.” She paused for a moment, working something out. “We need to find that USB drive – even if the note’s in some kind of code, we might be able to figure it out. That’s our only hope. Are the bodies still in the gulch?” she asked.

“They’d been stripped. A tactical vest has value. Someone took their clothes.”

“Then we’re screwed,” Sierra said simply.

Lucas studied his boots. “Let me think on that some.”

“What’s your background, Sierra?” Ruby asked, changing the subject.

“I was in high school when the flu hit. My mom was a teacher, my dad in construction.”

“Brothers and sisters?”

“Nobody alive.” She winced as she touched her bandaged shoulder. “So that’s my story. Now you know the whole thing. Not that it’s going to change anything.”

“You leave anything out?” Lucas asked.

“What would be the point?”

“How did they select you to care for Eve, Sierra?” Ruby asked. “In the first place, I mean.”

“I’m good with kids. I caught someone’s eye. Kismet. Fate. Who knows?”

“That’s it?”

“If I sat around trying to figure out why everything’s happened to me, I’d drive myself mad. I got picked. Could have been anyone else. I’m not sure I understand – what’s the difference?”

Ruby shrugged. “Just a question.”

“The important thing is that we need to find the vest and see if we can figure out what the note says. Lucas, what do you think?”

Lucas shook his head. “I think I haven’t slept for days, and I’m not going to discuss going back into harm’s way half-cocked. That’s a good way to get killed.”

“But you have to,” Sierra protested.

Lucas held her stare. “I don’t have to do anything. Let’s be real clear on that. I’ve done what I have because I chose to, but nobody tells me what I do or don’t need to do.”

“I…I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“None taken. We’re all tired.”

Sierra yawned. “Can we continue this tomorrow? I’m falling asleep on my feet, too. I’m really grateful for everything you’ve both done. Especially you, Lucas.” Her blue eyes seemed to look deep inside him. “You’re a good man.”

Lucas and Ruby watched her make her way to the sleeping room, and when she was gone, exchanged a glance.

“You believe her?” Ruby whispered.

“Mostly.”

Ruby sat back and considered Lucas with a knowing expression. “She’s an attractive young woman, isn’t she?”

“Not hard to look at,” Lucas acceded.

“And not the kind of girl who takes no for an answer, Lucas. A woman can sense these things. And the way she looks at you…”

Lucas averted his eyes. “She’s grateful I saved her life. Don’t make it more than it is.”

Ruby smiled. “Be careful what you wish for.”

“Gave up wishing a while ago.”

Her smile faded into a serious expression. “What are you going to do?”

Lucas studied his dusty boots with a weary sigh.

“Beats me.”

Chapter 39

Garret sat hunched in front of a shortwave radio, waiting for Magnus. He was dreading the discussion, which might easily conclude with Magnus ordering his execution. It wouldn’t be the first time the Crew leader had eliminated a subordinate who’d disappointed him. Garret would have to read between the lines, gauge what was said and what wasn’t, to understand whether he was a dead man already or might live. Magnus wouldn’t tell him, of course, and part of the complication of the exchange would be that Magnus was a master at masking his true intentions.

Garret had ordered everyone from the room in anticipation of the unpleasantness to come. He couldn’t afford to lose perceived authority in front of the Locos. They were already reeling from the effective destruction of their cartel, and the last thing he needed was for one of them to overhear his rendition of the true nature of what had occurred – and to blame him.

He blinked away fatigue and stared through the window at the stars. They’d searched for tracks half the day, but had come up empty. Garret’s return to Pecos had been a somber one, with dread in every step, the men exhausted and their horses spent.

The radio hissed and crackled like a living thing, and then the Houston operator’s voice emanated from the speakers.

“Magnus is here. Stand by. Over.”

Magnus’s baritone voice was unmistakable when it barked at Garret. “It better be good news.”

Garret opted for the direct approach. “I’m afraid not. The woman escaped, aided by a force of unknown strength. All told, the Loco cartel lost a hundred and fifty men.”

“What?” Magnus demanded in disbelief.

“I’ve already taken steps to retrieve her. I’m headed back out after my report.”

“How can this have happened?”

“The Locos had her in a tightly guarded facility that I was assured was impenetrable. It obviously wasn’t.”

“How did they gain access?”

“Through the sewer.”

Magnus went silent for several seconds. “They must have had an accomplice on the inside.”

“I doubt it. Everyone at the facility was killed.”

“This is a complete disaster,” Magnus said, and then his voice dropped to a menacing whisper. “On your watch.”

“I agree. But as I said, there’s a trail to follow. We’ll find her.” Garret paused. “We’ll need reinforcements, though. There are only a handful of Locos left. Which gives us an opportunity to move in, of course. We already have Odessa and Lubbock, and I know you’ve been wanting to expand.”

Going after Pecos hadn’t seemed worth the fight if Magnus’s men were going to try to take over the trading town. The paltry spoils would be almost inconsequential; but now, if it could be used as a final staging area before moving into El Paso, it could be worth it since there would be no resistance.

Magnus’s tone changed to thoughtfulness. “That’s an interesting idea. I’ll think about it.” He paused. “Did the woman’s information prove helpful?”

“She told us that she left the girl in a cave to the west, but couldn’t be more specific. She was wounded in the battle that killed the rest of her group, so she was unconscious when the girl was rescued.”

“Who were these men in her group?”

“She said that they were helping because the leader wanted her.”

“I remember her well. She could have that effect.”

Garret went in for the kill. “Send more men, Magnus. We can turn this around.”

“So far your assurances have proven to be empty.”

“I’m working with idiots and amateurs. Doing the best I can. But a group capable of killing three quarters of them must be met with equal force. We can’t rely on these fools. It’s up to us. I can get the woman and child back, but I need competent men I can rely on.”

Magnus’s voice quieted. “I shouldn’t have to remind you of the stakes, Garret. You’re my most valued lieutenant, but there are limits to my patience.”

“I understand what’s in the balance. I will succeed. This is a temporary setback I’m in the process of fixing.”

The next pause lasted longer. When Magnus spoke, his tone was businesslike. “Very well. I’ll send fifty men. Will that do?”

“It should. You have no idea how disorganized this group is. I had to terminate the leader yesterday.”

“Were there any repercussions?”

“No. They believe rivals carried out the execution.”

“Find the woman and child. I don’t want any more reports like this,” Magnus growled.

“I will.”

The operator came back on the airwaves. “Magnus has left. Over.”

Garret pushed back from the console and brushed away sweat that had beaded on his forehead. The report had gone as well as he could have hoped, but he was still uneasy. There was a fifty-fifty chance that one or more of the men Magnus sent would have instructions to kill him – an icepick to the spine, a bullet to the back of the head, poison in his food, the method didn’t matter – Magnus had scores of skilled assassins who could carry out the execution without fail.

Which left Garret with two choices: either he could go after the woman and hope that he could pick up the trail again, or he could keep riding and pray Magnus never found him. The second option wasn’t practical because Magnus would scorch the earth to locate him, and also because without Magnus’s organization, the truth was that Garret was nothing.