Defiance: A House Divided (The Defending Home Series Book 2) (17 page)

“Aren’t we going to move in to free them?” Dale sounded desperate.

She glared at him. “And risk the operation we’re planning? If we moved in to save every person the cartel did harm to, we’d run out of people and fast.”

“Those were our neighbors,” Brooke said, grimacing.

Dale got Caleb’s attention. “Why don’t you show Brooke around?”

“Sure thing,” Caleb said, taking Brooke by the elbow and easing her away.

When both of them were gone, Vickie asked him about Zach.

Dale filled her in on the events from the night before.

A look of gloom clouded her otherwise attractive features. “Do you expect your brother-in-law to be any more reasonable than Calvin?”

Shaking his head, Dale said: “Unfortunately, he’s one of the most impulsive, pig-headed people I know.”

Vickie scrunched her lips. “I’ve never understood how some men can be so blind to the bigger picture. They’d rather hand the entire county to Edwardo and his goons than work with a woman.”

“Like the old saying goes,” Dale said, “some people will cut off their nose to spite their face.” He looked at her more closely, noticing a small mole on her right cheek. “Do you really think that’s what it is, blindness?”

“Some days that’s how it feels, especially with men like Calvin and Sheriff Randy. They may have been on opposing sides, but they were largely cut from the same cloth.”

“That brings up something I was meaning to run by you,” Dale said.

She eyed him curiously.

“I wanna set up a meeting, just me and Randy.”

Vickie’s eyebrows both rose at once. “I don’t see why you’d wanna do that.”

“Isn’t it obvious? The cartel came in and stole the town right from under his nose. He was once the number two man. Now with Hugh Reid pushing up desert shrubs, he’s fallen way down on the pecking order.”

She still wasn’t buying it. “I understand all that, but I’m just not seeing the payoff.”

“Randy’s got an ego the size of Arizona,” Dale told her. “Don’t you think he’s already started weighing his options going forward? If we offered him the right deal, he and all his deputies might desert and join us. With the cartel acting more and more like ISIS every day, he can’t help but be looking for a way out.”

“And once the dust settles, guess who’ll come out smelling like roses and looking like a hero?”

Dale had considered that too. “If we stick together, we can contain Randy and his ambitions, maybe even find a way to be done with him altogether. Besides, with the army nowhere in sight, what alternative do we have?”

“You’re starting to sound like Edwardo,” Vickie said, giving him a look.

Dale didn’t like that, even if it was only a joke.

“Listen,” she said, “I’ll talk with Keith and see if he can work something without blowing his cover.”

“No,” Dale cut in. “He’s got enough on his plate. I’ll take care of it myself. But mainly because there’s something else I need Keith to do.” Dale glanced over Vickie’s shoulder to find Brooke field-stripping an AR with her eyes closed. A young girl, showing off in front of a boy she liked. What a difference from the girls of his generation. “Any chance that stockpile of weapons you got contains a silenced pistol?”

“It might,” Vickie answered, laying out the words slowly. One of her eyes was half shut, as though she were anticipating what was coming next.

He told her about Shane’s unique position on the inside. That the cartel was keeping him around for the day they could use him against Dale. And that he’d offered to assassinate Edwardo. “Keith will need to smuggle it in to him as soon as possible.”

The idea intrigued her. “You know, it might just work. But if I do this, then you’ve got to do something for me.”

Dale nodded. Now it was his turn to be worried. “I’m listening.”

“If Zach’s as much of a hothead as you claim he is, he’s going to get a lot of innocent people killed.”

“Believe me,” Dale told her, “it’s something of a specialty of his.”

“If he can’t control himself, he’ll only drive the townspeople right into the arms of the cartel. You need to convince him to come on board and join us.”

“He’s a glory hog,” Dale countered. “It won’t be easy.”

“Anything worth doing never is,” she replied. “I know you can do it.”

She walked away then, leaving Dale to wonder if he shared her faith in him.

Zach

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Z
ach was awoken by a firm knock on his door.

“Zero eight hundred hours, sir,” the voice on the other side said. “Time to get up.”

They had showed up last night to cheers from the men and women of the resistance movement. At last he’d found the devoted followers he always wanted. In a way, throughout Zach’s whole life he’d felt like a preacher in search of a flock. For a long time he’d been lost out in the wilderness, but at long last he was finally home.

The look of pride on Colton’s face at seeing the respect and hope in people’s eyes was not lost on him. Every son wanted to believe his father was a superhero and now Colton’s own dream was also coming true. And no one asked whether Zach had a criminal history, whether he’d ever killed a man. In the old world, those things would have held him back. Now they were the things you put at the top of your résumé. Street cred, as the kids liked to call it.

The knock again.

“I’m coming, darn it,” Zach barked.

His first order of business upon arriving last night had been to christen the organization with a name. It needed to be something that would inspire confidence in its followers and fear in its enemies.

A few ideas had occurred to him before the light popped bright before his mind’s eye. Encendido Patriot Militia (EPM). And those fighting for the cause would be called rangers. Hard to justify fighting against a group that stood for the ideals of the founding fathers and sounded as tough as anything the military could produce. Not everyone was crazy about having a name. Some tried to argue that it reduced them to a soundbite in a news headline and might distort what the movement really stood for. Zach assured them they’d learn to love it.

With the windows painted over, it was difficult to tell what time of day it was. But there were benefits. He had his own room at last, which meant privacy and perhaps down the road even some companionship. The EPM was coed and as their new leader, Zach felt entitled—no, obligated—to ride the wave he was on all the way into shore and, if possible, beyond.

Dressed, Zach exited his room and entered the church’s main basement hall, only to discover everyone already assembled in three neat rows.

Nice touch.

At the head was Travis, followed by three of his lieutenants.

“Would you like to say a few words, sir?” Travis asked.

“Yes,” Zach replied. He paced back and forth, making eye contact with each of those assembled. “I’m looking around and I see folks from all walks of life. At one time some of you were waiters and waitresses, factory workers, accountants, lawyers. Some of you may have even been in the military.”

No one said a thing, but Zach could see in their faces that he had their attention. He wasn’t one for speeches, normally hated talking in front of a group, and yet somehow this had been different. He’d spoken from his heart and the words had come tumbling out.

“Although we may have arrived here from different places, each of us shares a common goal—to free our town from tyranny and get back our way of life. Now go do your duty.”

The ranks scattered, each individual heading to varying work stations. The room was divided up into several sections. Intelligence-gathering was at the far end. Along the opposite wall were the briefing and mission planning areas. Next to them was communications. The final area was where classes were held on weapons and tactics.

Travis sidled up next to him.

“Quite a slick operation you’ve got here,” Zach observed. “Something tells me Calvin didn’t have much to do with this side of things.”

“Calvin sure looked the part,” Travis admitted. “But he couldn’t inspire his way out of a paper bag.”

“Things are different now,” Zach assured him. “The EPM is about to start hitting back and hard. I want you to make a list of targets. Symbolic, strategic, write them all down. By the time we’re done, our ranks will be swelling with volunteers while the cartel won’t be able to walk down the street without looking over their shoulder.”

“Can’t wait,” Travis said, grinning.

“I also wanna ask you about Nobel’s group.”

“What about them?”

“Well, for starters, do you think they pose a threat?”

Travis seemed to consider the question. “We haven’t had any trouble with them so far, if that’s what you’re asking. They’re usually busy running their own covert operations. Cloak-and-dagger type stuff. But I have heard she’s sitting on a large cache of weapons...” Travis stopped short.

“Did I hear ‘weapons’ and ‘large cache’ in the same sentence?”

“Her husband ran a gun store,” Travis explained. “When things with the virus got ugly, she apparently packed it all up and hid it somewhere safe. There’s a rumor it’s at the old community college under heavy guard, but that’s about as much as we know. Calvin tried to find out more, but never got anywhere.”

“Does the cartel know anything about this?”

Travis regarded him strangely. “They might, although those guys aren’t lacking weapons, I can tell you that with certainty.”

“They may not need them,” Zach said. “But if I was the cartel, I wouldn’t want that much firepower in circulation. If it really is the cache I’m picturing, it could arm enough folks to topple the cartel once and for all.” Zach tapped his finger against his pant leg. “Work on those targets and leave this cache business to me.”

“Will do.” Travis started to walk away and then stopped. “We made the right decision bringing you in. I can see that now.”

Zach’s face lit up. “You don’t know the half of it.”

He found Colton and Dannyboy nearby in an orientation meeting. It was being taught by a cute blonde with a ponytail, a 1911 strapped to her leg.

He gave the two of them a knowing look. Here they were on the cusp of something of monumental importance and both of them were being led around by their libido. Zach waved over Dannyboy, whose face dropped.

“Don’t be like that,” Zach said. “There’ll be plenty of time to flirt later. Right now I have a special mission for you.”

Dannyboy perked up.

“I need you to gather some volunteers to our cause.”

“You mean, in town?”

“Town may be too dangerous. There’s Tombstone and South Bisbee to the east, Whetstone to the north and a few places in between. You explain the danger the cartel poses, and that as soon as they get Encendido locked up tight, their town will be next. Don’t be scared to lay on the fear tactics. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration either. Take the Harley along with some supplies. And don’t forget a weapon or two to defend yourself in case you run into trouble.” Zach was starting to sound like the boy’s father and shut his mouth. “All right, now get.”

Dannyboy hollered with glee as he ran off to get his things together.

A few moments later, Zach watched the young man load the chopper before starting the engine, a deep rumbling growl that always gave Zach shivers. He was envious that he couldn’t be the one riding the empty highways, spreading the word. But Zach had responsibilities now. Folks who depended on him for their freedom, for their very lives.

He nodded as Dannyboy pulled on his helmet and saluted. There was a good chance he’d never see his friend again. But Dannyboy wasn’t just a friend, was he? No, the kid had become something of a son. But strong as that bond might be, it would never eclipse the one Zach shared with Colton, his own flesh and blood. During those dark days when the virus was ravaging his body, Colton had been Zach’s will to live. And it was the memory of his son which had propelled him the many miles it took to reach home. He’d seen the look of pride in the boy’s eyes. Kids couldn’t hide stuff like that. Now that Zach finally had the chance, he wanted to earn it.

Dale

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“H
ow did it go?” Ann asked, after they’d returned from the meeting with Nobel. She was standing by the pumphouse, trying to wash the paint off the side wall.

Duke scampered out, wagging his tail and begging to have his head scratched.

“About as well as can be expected,” Dale told her. Sandy arrived and greeted him with a kiss, a sight which didn’t seem to faze either Ann or Brooke. Although it was glaringly obvious by the way Brooke stared off into the distance and sighed heavily every minute or so that she had something else on her mind, or better yet, someone else.

Sandy and Dale exchanged a knowing glance.

“There’s still a lot to do and hardly enough time to do it in,” he said, just as another pickup pulled into the driveway. Duke began barking immediately. Ann came up with a 9mm pistol. Seeing it, Dale smiled and pushed the barrel down. “Easy, Annie Oakley,” he said. “They’re friends.”

The pickup navigated the concrete pylons and came to a stop by the pumphouse. The three figures inside stepped out and Dale watched his daughter’s face turn pink.

Caleb and the other three members of Vickie’s organization greeted them. They introduced themselves as Jed, Roy and Tyrell. They were at least five years older than Caleb. Jed wore frayed overalls while Roy and Tyrell wore camo shorts and green shirts. But each man carried a long gun, a pistol and a chest rig with additional magazines.

“They’re here to help around the house,” Dale said. “And provide additional security now that Zach and the others have gone.” The wound from their unexpected departure was still raw and Dale couldn’t help feeling as though they’d abandoned him right when he needed them most. At least Vickie had been generous enough to lend them four of her own.

“I feel safer already,” Brooke said, trying hard not to smile.

“You four can sleep downstairs in the living room. Ann will help you get settled.”

The four men removed sleeping bags, pillows and other gear from the bed of the truck and followed Ann inside.