Strengthen What Remains (Book 2): A Time to Endure (14 page)

“That
old thing? It’s falling down.”

Trevor
grabbed a 2 by 4. “We’re going to fix it up.”

“Half
the panes are…oh.” He smiled looking at the polycarbonate sheets. “We’re going
to be out here for a while.”

“Yeah.”
His dad handed him a tool belt. “Let’s get started.”

As
they set the first new piece in place, Caden asked, “How did you get the
materials?”

“We
had a lot of wood up in the loft. The plastic stuff, well, that was expensive.”

“How
much?”

“The
only thing he was willing to trade for was booze or coffee.”

“We
don’t have much in the way of liquor.”

“Now
we don’t have much in the way of coffee.”

“You
traded away the coffee?”

Trevor
nodded.

Caden
looked over the dilapidated building and wished he had a cup warming his
fingers right then. He imagined drinking it and feeling it warm him from
inside. He could almost smell the aroma. “This greenhouse better be worth it.”

An
hour later the two men had replaced a dozen 2x4s and nearly as many panes.
This is fixing up nice. We’ll be starting
tomatoes, squash and cucumbers in it soon.

As
he rested while his father cut another board, Caden counted the needed panels.
“I think we could build two with what you have back in the barn.”

“I
could.”

Caden
was confused. “Why trade away the coffee for more than we need?”

His
father grinned widely. “Any leftover is going to the church. They’re building a
community garden in the field behind the sanctuary.”

“I’ve
talked about finding and building greenhouses. I’m glad it is getting done.”

His
dad seemed less enthused. “It’s a good idea, but learning the gardening or
farming skills necessary to feed a family can take years.”

Caden
looked around. “I remember this place filled with plants.”

“Your
mom and I grew up on farms and even so, there were years the crops failed.”

Caden
didn’t want to imagine a crop failure this year. He picked up his pace. This
building was going to give the Westmore clan the early start they needed for
their garden.

Several
hours later, Nikki barked repeatedly as a pickup rumbled down Hops Road.

Caden
recognized the red Ford of his XO and, figuring he was coming to see Lisa,
continued to nail a support beam into place.

A
couple minutes later Brooks came around the barn, in uniform, carrying a black
briefcase. Caden groaned.
This is no
social call.

Brooks
greeted Trevor and then saluted Caden. “We need to talk—privately.”

Caden
invited the XO into the tack room of the barn. A rusty woodstove stood in the
corner. A dented blue enamel coffee pot sat on top. Caden picked it up hoping
some coffee remained, but found only the dark residue of past brews.
 

When
he was a teen the room held saddles, bridles, tack and grooming equipment. Now
it was his father’s man cave. Peg board lined the walls with tools neatly hung.
A work bench ran along one side with drawers and toolboxes underneath. “What’s
up?” Caden asked.

Brooks
set the briefcase on the bench and turned the dial on the combination. “A
courier delivered an operations order and op plan this morning. I reviewed both
and it was clear you needed to see it immediately.” He handed him a folder,
stamped SECRET in bold red letters.

Caden
flipped open the file. “Give me the brief.”

“It
orders us to provide support for Operation Lexington against gangs and
terrorists in the Renton, Burien, SeaTac, Kent, and Des Moines areas.”

Caden
laid the map out on the bench. The red blast area and yellow contaminated zone
were clearly marked on it.

Brooks
tapped his finger on a small rectangular area. “We’ll be here, just outside of
Renton, in Hillcrest.

The
area was marked “Golf 181.”

“We’re
directed to set up a Combat Support Hospital and logistic center at an
abandoned office building.” He pointed to another spot on the map. “The op plan
says the goals are to restore law and order and to secure access to and
operation of SeaTac airport on the southern edge of the yellow zone…”

Still
staring at the message Caden said, “All of this is way out of our area of
operations.”

“…and control of regional port facilities.”

“Uh
huh,” Caden said still focused on the message.

With
concern in his voice Brooks said, “The port is still under the control of the
People’s Liberation Army.”

Caden
pursed his lips “Our part in this is minor.” He remembered General Harwich
saying the Chinese were using the flow of refugees, gangs and other criminals
to expand their sphere of influence. “I see several Guard units, State Patrol
and local law enforcement, but I don’t see regular army units in or near our op
area.”

Caden
rubbed his chin. “This message is vague about the Port of Tacoma portion of the
op, but look at the units devoted to it.” He moved his finger in an arc around
the port. A dozen regular army units were deployed in that area.

“I
saw that.” Brooks brow furrowed.

“Pushing
back against the Chinese zone of control was bound to happen when the new
congress refused to ratify the friendship treaty.”

 
Brooks’ brow puckered deeper. “The PLA isn’t
going to just pack up and go home.”

“There’s
no mention of taking the port from the Chinese Army. The operation may be
against the gangs, and a show of force to prevent PLA expansion in this area.”
Caden leaned over the bench. “The only large operating airfield at the moment
is Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Command would want to control the airports, but
they don’t mention the nearby King County Airport.”

“It’s
just inside the red zone and….” Brooks tapped the spot on the map and slowly
shook his head.

“What?
Did something happen there?”

Thousands
of people went to that airfield just after the blast. Since it was nearby and
used by the aircraft factory and private pilots, it was as busy as SeaTac.”

“That
seems reasonable, go to the airfield until the fires burn out.”

Brooks
sighed. “The fires surrounded the field and burned for days.”

“No
one got out?”

He
shook his head. “Heat, thirst, radiation. I never heard of anyone getting out
alive.”

“The
bodies are still there?”

Brooks
nodded. “It’s in the red zone

The
two men stared at the map. Caden finally broke the awkward silence. “This might
be a plan to out maneuver the Chinese by seizing control of SeaTac before they
do and confine the PLA to the port.”

Brooks
smiled weakly. “I’m sure a second airport would help with relief supplies,
but….”

Caden
shook his head. “There are two elements to this operation, and neither is about
relief supplies. Even the name, Operation Lexington, hints at something larger.
Of course command wants to restore order and they want to resume operations at
SeaTac, but as soon as that is done, I think Monroe plans to push the Chinese
out of the state.”

Brooks
rested his palm on the papers. “Why don’t they say that in the message?”

“Maybe
some units have been told, or will be, but we’re just a rear support unit.
There’s no need to tell us much.”

“They
want us in place by 0500 Monday.”

“I
guess I’ll be heading north in less than forty-eight hours.”
  

“I
should command this deployment. You should stay here in overall command of the
armory and our area.”

Caden
placed his finger on the map. “For a normal support operation I would agree,
but this could go badly and I’ve done urban combat maneuvers…”

“How
do I get experience if I don’t…?”

 
“…and our area includes the neighborhood where
my brother lived. I want to check it out. If we were being sent to the area
where your family lived, I’d find a way to include you.”

Brooks
shook his head. “The only family I had were my parents and they were in the
Seattle red zone.”

“I
can get to my brother’s house. I’d like to think he’s been there, left a
message, and maybe been sent somewhere else.” He shrugged. “It’s a small hope,
but I need to follow up on it.”

Brooks
nodded. “I understand.”

“I’ll
tell the sheriff that we are pulling most of our men up north for a few days.
He won’t be pleased.”

“Maria
really won’t be pleased,” Brooks said with a grimace.

Caden
cringed. “I’m glad this is classified. The less she knows the better.”

Brooks
cast him a doubtful look.

“The
Army is clearing out gangs and we are the backup. That’s the brief, and that
little should amount to an unclassified overview of our part of the op. Anyway,
that’s going to be my position with Maria—and the sheriff. Back me up on it,
okay?”

“It
is what the message says.”

It is, but….
Caden shuddered
inwardly at the thought of engaging units of the PLA, the world’s largest army.
“I should probably go tell Maria and
the sheriff what I can.”

“Before
you go there’s one more thing.”

“About
the op plan?”

“No.
That kid you’ve been trying to help….”

Caden
tensed. “Zach? What about him?”

“He
told the First Sergeant that his mom is in the hospital and he needs a few days
off.”

“What
happened to her?”

“The
kid didn’t say. I called the hospital, but they won’t say anything either.”

“That
young man has more than his share of bad luck.” Caden sighed deeply and looked
out the window. “Give him whatever time he needs.”

Brooks
nodded. “I did.” He returned the papers to the briefcase.

Stepping
to the door of the tack room, Caden called for his father to take a break. “I
have news to share with the family.”

The
three men walked toward the house in silence, but Brooks picked up his pace
when Lisa stepped out on the porch.

Still
deep in thought, Caden hardly glanced at his sister as he walked inside. He was
just finishing his explanation when Brooks came in. Lisa was right behind him
with a somber look on her face.
 

Maria,
sitting next to him on the couch, asked the first question. “When will you be
back?”

“I
don’t know for sure, but I think it will be days, not weeks.”

Maria
took his hand. “Where are you going?”

“North,
but I’m not supposed to say exactly.”

“The
red zone?” his mother asked.

“No
not there, but….”

“If
you’re going to be close to our house, could you see if Peter has been there,”
Sue whispered. “See if he might still be….” Tears rolled down her cheeks.

He
wasn’t supposed to say where he would be, but he nodded anyway.

Rarely
had he seen his mother cry, but she now dabbed at tears.

Maria
broke the awkward silence. “You said you’re in a backup role. So you won’t be
involved in the fighting? You’ll be safe?”

No. Hundreds of guys
will have guns and be shooting at each other.
He smiled. “We’ll be
fine. We’re just supporting other troops. Nothing will happen.”

*
              
*
          
    
*

The
sheriff threw a file onto his desk.

Caden,
in a brown winter jacket and jeans, stepped into the office. “What’s the
problem?”

Hoover
spun around. “Oh…you. I’ve got to get the deputies to warn me when you come.”

 
Caden chuckled. “Is this a bad time?”

“No…well,
are there any good times now?”

“These
are difficult times, but what do you mean exactly?”

Hoover
plopped into the seat behind his desk. “Remember those people we arrested for
breaking into the school greenhouse?”

Caden
nodded.

“Well,
they were lucky.”

Caden’s
confusion must have shown.

“They’re
alive.” The sheriff sighed. “Just after the attack on Seattle we had a rash of
looting and justifiable homicides. I thought things were returning to normal,
but this,” he said pointing to the file on his desk, “is the fourth shooting death
this week.”

“Are
they drug related?”

“In
normal times a rash of shootings would probably be drug related, but most of
the serious dopers are dead and the supply is drying up fast.” The sheriff
shook his head. “No, these are people getting shot stealing food or fighting
over it.” He stared into the distance. “It’s going to get ugly if more food
doesn’t arrive.”

Caden
thought of Zach and how the boy managed to feed his family by fishing, hunting
and working at the armory. He was proud of the young man. “Food distribution
within the country has been disrupted by the attacks, and now the fighting, and
not enough food aid is coming in. I think the situation will get worse before
it gets better.”

Hoover
nodded. “That’s what I’m thinking.”

“I’m
afraid I have more bad news for you.”

The
sheriff frowned.

He
provided Hoover with the same unclassified brief he had given his family.

“When
will you be back?”

Caden
chuckled. “That was the first question Maria asked.”

 
“But for different reasons.”

“Thanks
for the assurance,” Caden grinned. “I don’t know when I’ll be back. Days, a
couple of weeks….” He shrugged. “And I don’t want to make your job tougher
but…we need to discuss Cruz.”

Hoover’s
eyes widened.

Caden
relayed the conversation he had with the doctor earlier that morning.

The
sheriff sighed. “You’re just a bundle of joyful news this morning.” He stared
out the window for a moment. “Well, we could just….”

“We
can’t shoot him.”

Hoover
laughed. “How did you know I was thinking that?”

“Because
when Scott told me we needed to move Cruz, shooting him was the first thought I
had.”

“He
is at least an accomplice to murder and theft. Under the martial law edict you
could issue….”

Caden
held up his hand. “There are only thirty-eight hours before I have to leave and
I’ve a lot to do. We’ll deal with him when I get back.”
 

The
sheriff sighed. “Okay. The jail is overcrowded, but I’ll find a cell for him.
Can you leave a man or two to help with the move?”

Caden
nodded. “Brooks will stay behind with a few of the newer men. They can help
with the transfer.”

As
he stepped from the building, Caden basked in the warm winter sun. He looked
north, toward Seattle.
The blast killed
so many. It probably killed my brother, Peter.
A line of hills, covered in
low gray clouds, stood between him and those blighted cities and towns.
Soon I’ll be on the other side of those
hills.

As
Caden continued to stare at the distant peaks, clouds obscured the sun leaving
him in shadow. A cold breeze chilled him. Memories of battles, in Fallujah,
Kamdesh, Hansen and more, flashed through his mind.
I thought it was over…behind me.
With a deep sigh, he flipped up
his collar and headed toward the armory and the coming conflict.