The Reckoning - 02 (29 page)

             
I walked away smiling, listening to the sound of Patterson losing his lunch. The other officers had their faces pressed to the windows of their cells, wondering what had happened to their worthless leader. I left them to ponder that question and headed out of the pod.

             
By the time I’d reached the first floor, I could see that things were well in motion. The Main Sliders were open and a steady stream of people were moving in and out, taking boxes and supplies out to the waiting trucks. Both Release doors were open as well. Heavy items were being loaded into the Hemmitts. Lighter items were being loaded into the Humvees.

Spec-4 was overseeing the loading of boxes of MRE’s into the Humvee I’d come to call my own. You could tell it apart from the others
by the bent front bumper and grill. She turned towards me and smiled as I walked up to her.

“Almost done loading,” she said, jerking her thumb at the procession of boxes.

“Good,” I replied. “How soon do you think we’ll be ready to move out?”

“The Lieutenant has
organized most of the civilians into the jail bus and the Fed Ex truck. The Hemmitts have all the heavy stuff.”

“Outstanding,” I said, smiling. “Once we’re loaded we’ll organize security into the different vehicles. We’ll use the Humvees as lead and chase vehicles with the heavies in the middle.”

“Just like convoy duty back in the ‘ghan,” she said, nodding.

I glanced behind
her and saw Sanders, Webber and Gunny approaching. Sanders had his arm out of the sling and was wearing his body armor. I knew that meant he was putting himself back into the fight. I was glad to have him back, but I really hoped that he didn’t injure himself, again.

“Hey, Wylie!” called
Gunny as they approached. “Got a second?”

“Sure, Guns,” I replied. “What’s up?”

“Sheriff Daniels has all the drivers and security people in the Briefing Room,” he said. “He wants to go over the game plan for the convoy.”

“Alright,” I answered, “let’s go.”

We all headed in to the Briefing Room and found the place already full. Everyone with the exception of the truck drivers was wearing body armor and carrying weapons. I could see SPD Officer Baker standing next to the other SPD officers. He just met my gaze and gave me a quick nod. I returned it and smiled.

“Listen up, people,” said Daniels. “Let’s get this started. The sooner we get throu
gh this, the sooner we can get on the road.”

Everyone settled down and got quiet. Daniels waited a moment before continuing.

“Alright, here’s what we’re going to do. I’ll be taking the lead Humvee with Officer Shane riding shotgun. Behind me will be Gunny Graves in Humvee number two with Cal Sanders riding shotgun. The bus will be next with Corporal Halsey driving. The Lieutenant and the SPD Officers will provide security along with Wylie’s oldest son, Elliott. The Hemmitts will follow behind them with their drivers. The Fed Ex truck will be next with the guy Wylie nick-named Milkman driving it. He’s got Deputies Benson and Chandler riding shotgun for him.”

I noticed he hadn’t called my name yet. I was kind of wondering what he had in mind.

“Humvee number three will be Corporal Winston and Corporal Newberry driving. Grant and Wilder will be in the last Humvee, bringing up the rear. Once everyone is in their vehicles, you can release the people we’re leaving in the cells in Alpha Pod. When they’re released, you can open the gate and the convoy will exit. Then you and Wilder can catch up to the convoy.”

I bit my lip to keep from saying anything. That meant that
we’d be on our own getting to the Humvee and until we were back with the group. We already had our route planned and I knew it was already cleared of vehicle obstructions. That just left the living dead and anyone who might try to stop us. I wasn’t about to count the
Freemen
out of the equation, just yet.

Spec-4 and
I waited at the back of the room in my old spot in briefing, until the room was empty. When the Sheriff and the LT headed for the door, I flagged them down. They stopped and waited for me to come to them. I felt like a rookie officer, all over again. I’m not sure why, but it kind of pissed me off.

“
Sheriff
,” I said. “Got a second?”

“No problem,” said Daniels.

I headed over towards them not sure how to say what was on my mind, but determined to say something. Most people have this filter in their brain that most of us call tact or even good sense. Sometimes, my filter doesn’t work so well. Sometimes, things come out before I’ve had a chance to find a more delicate way of saying it. This would prove to be one of those times.

“
What the fuck,
SIR
?” I said, perhaps a bit more harshly than I intended.

“I know what you’re going to say,” he said, calmly. “You’re not used to pulling tail-end Charlie on a mission. But the fact is I need you back there.”

I managed to engage the filter and prevented another verbal fusillade. I figured tact might serve me better at this particular moment. At least I’d hear them out before hurtling obscenities.

“We discussed this before deciding,” said the LT. “We came to the conclusion that the last group out of the building would be in the most danger. From the deputies we’re leaving behind, from the zombies and from being left alone to deal with it all. We couldn’t think of anyone more qualified to accomplish such a difficult task than you and Specialist Wilder.
”

“Thanks, I think,” said Spec-4.

“The fact is you guys have pulled off the impossible on more than one occasion,” said Daniels. “If anyone can release those guys, fight their way out of the jail and still catch up to the convoy, it’s you two.”

“Why don’t you just wait until we get outside?” I asked.

“We need to get the convoy out and moving before you let those idiots out of those cells,” said Daniels. “If they make it to Master Control before we get out, they’ll be able to shut the gate and block our escape.”

I had to admit h
e had a good point. It would be better to let them get a head start, just in case we ended up fighting with Patterson and his people. I’m sure we could come up with a better way, given time. Unfortunately, time was a luxury we didn’t have. The bombing could start at any moment. I didn’t have to like the Sheriff’s plan, I just had to do it.

“Alright,” I said. “Let’s get this over with.”

Everyone headed out for their respective vehicles while Spec-4 and I headed upstairs towards Master Control. We walked in silence through the empty building. The door to Master Control was propped open and we stepped inside. It seemed odd to me to find it empty. In all my years as a CO, I’d never seen Master Control empty, except when Wright staged her coup. It was a sad moment. To me, it was confirmation of the end. We were abandoning the jail.

“Daniels to 700,” said the Sheriff’s voice on the radio.

I hit the button for the mic on the base unit and keyed up.

“Go ahead,” I replied.

“Convoy is ready to depart,” he said. “What’s your status?”

“Almost ready,” I said. “Stand by.”

“What’s up?” asked Spec-4.

“How about you go out and open the vehicle gate for them,” I said. “Shut it once the Humvees are clear. Then we can open it again when we’re ready to leave.”

“Good call,” she said. “That should keep intake clear of zombies while we get ready to roll.”

She headed out of Master Control and down the stairs. Once I’d buzzed her out into Intake, I grabbed the radio mic.
I hesitated for just a moment; knowing that this was probably the last broadcast I would ever make from a place that had been a big part of my life for years. I closed my eyes and shook my head, bidding a silent farewell to all of those we’d lost.

“700 to all units,” I said, softly. “Standby to depart.”

I watched on the monitor as Spec-4 got into the vehicle/gate and waved a “thumbs-up” in the direction of the camera.

“All units standing ready,” said the Sheriff.

“Godspeed,” I said, and opened the gate.

Spec-4 opened the intake gate and the Humvees quickly departed, leaving our Humvee alone in the parking lot. Spec-4 didn’t hesitate and shut the gate behind the last vehicle to exit without allowing any zombies inside. She was out of the car like a shot and running towards the intake door. I buzzed her in and hit the intercom.

“Block those doors open and stand by,” I said. “Wait for me there. I’ll only be a couple minutes at the most.”             

“Got it,” she replied, taking a position where she could watch the gate and the door at the same time.

I snagged a set of emergency keys out of the locker in Master Control and headed for Alpha Pod. There were two duffle bags setting by the door to Alpha that Ian Shane had left there for me. They contained enough body armor, pistols, shotguns and A/Rs so that each Deputy we were leaving behind would have one. There were also a few hundred rounds of ammo for each. We’d left six cases of MRE’s on the Booking Counter for them.

When I reached the door to Alpha, I paused
then keyed open the door. When I walked in, I saw that the Deputies were all staring at me through the windows of their cells. I took the stairs to the upper floor and headed into a section where they couldn’t see me. I hid the set of keys in a cell under the toilet. Then I walked all the way around to the other side of the upper tier and climbed down the other stairs, so they wouldn’t have any idea where I’d left the keys.

They began to scream and bang on the cell doors as I exited the pod, locking the doors behind me.
After I had the doors secure, I ran back down the hallway to Master Control. Once inside, I switched the computer screen over to Alpha Control’s system and activated the intercoms in the cells that were occupied.

“Listen up,” I said, harshly. “I told you I wouldn’t leave you locked in your cells, and I meant it. Even though there’s no doubt that you’d have left us to die in there. So here’s the deal. I’ve hidden a set of master keys in one of the cells on the upper tier. Once I open your doors, you can find them on your own. With those keys, you can open any lock in the jail. I’ve left armor, guns and food for you. You’ll find them once you exit Alpha Pod.”

I let that soak in for a moment before proceeding.

“That should give you enough ammo and food to last for a little while. You’ll have to find more on your own. From this point on, we’re enemies. Cross my path again and I promise I’ll shoot every last one of you in the
fucking head.”

Then, I deactivated the intercom and cycled the doors open. I watched for just a moment on the camera to make certain they all got out of the ce
lls, then I ran for the door. Taking the stairs two at a time and rounding the corner at the bottom, I headed for the Intake doors. Spec-4 was waiting for me. The look on her face told me something was wrong.

“What’s up?” I asked as I ran towards her.

“I hear aircraft,” she replied. “Sounds like jets.”

“Oh shit,” I muttered and ran out the door.

Once in the Intake area, I could hear the jets overhead. I couldn’t see them but I knew that if they were there, it was not good news for us or the convoy. I ran towards the cruiser that was attached to the gate. Yanking open the door, I reached in and grabbed the portable radar gun. Then I turned and ran for the Humvee.

“What are you doing?” she asked, following me.

“Buying the convoy some time,” I replied, pulling a coil of rope out of the back of my Humvee.

“What do you need me to do?” she said, looking apprehensive.

“Get the gate open and get inside the Humvee,” I said. “Button down inside and wait for me. I’ll be down to you as fast as I can.”

“What if zombies get inside the intake area?”

“Most of them should have followed the convoy,” I replied. “If they didn’t, then this might get a little interesting.”

Spec-4 ran for the vehicle/gate and dove inside. I opened the driver’s side door to the Humvee, and then readied my M-4. The gate slid open and I was relieved to see that there weren’t any zombies in the immediate area. I still covered the area as she ran back to the Humvee and climbed inside.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” she said, shutting the door and locking it.

“Me too,” I whispered, running for the open Intake door.

Once inside, I shut the door behind me and ran for the stairs. I just hoped that the Deputies upstairs wouldn’t find those keys any time soon. The last thing I wanted was a firefight in the Hallway. I rounded the corner at the top of the stairs and headed into the corridor to Alpha Pod. The duffle bags were still outside the door, right where I left them.

I could hear muffled voices, arguing over which key they needed to open the door. They’d found the keys faster than I’d anticipated. I slid to a stop at the door to the roof access stairs and keyed it open. No sooner than I pulled the door shut I heard the door to Alpha Pod open and the voice of Patterson.

“Son of a bitch,” he said. “I guess he really did leave us guns and body armor.”