Taking It Back (2 page)

Charlie and I looked at each other. Someone was waiting for us. We moved silently forward until we could see the cleared area. An intersection was a little ways up and someone had moved a car to block the intersection. We could see four people standing near the car and a fifth standing a little ways off with a radio. All of them were armed with what looked like AR-15’s.

Charlie looked at me and mouthed, “What the hell?”

I shook my head and motioned him to head back. We ghosted our way back down the hill towards our waiting vehicles. I thought about what we had seen and waved Tommy over. I explained what had happened and Tommy summed it up quickly.

“Looks like an ambush to me,” Tommy said. “Who’d you piss off lately?”

I shrugged. “Beats me. But the best way to beat a trap is to spring it before it’s supposed to.”

Charlie spoke up. “How?”

“I have an idea. You and Tommy head back to the tree line and get yourselves into firing positions. Charlie, you remember the one with the radio?” Charlie nodded. “I want him alive. I have questions about this.” Charlie looked grim and nodded again. I waved to John Reef and he came running from his vehicle with his gun. I sent him up with the other two, having seen him shoot and knowing he was steady.

I ran to the third car in line and had everyone get out with their stuff. It was a small car, but it would serve. The people piled their gear into other cars and watched in fascination as I went into the woods and dragged the zombie corpses out one by one. I positioned them into the car to look like living people, using sticks to prop them up. I put the car in gear and rode it to the hilltop, stopping just out of sight of the waiting men.

Charlie saw what I had done and nearly blew his cover. Tommy just shook his head and I was sure John was wondering what kind of lunatic I was. I signaled the men to get ready, then I jammed a forked stick in the steering wheel to keep it steady, put the car in gear, and hopped off. I got over to John’s position quickly and watched the results of my handiwork.

As soon as the car coasted over the hill, I heard “Get ready!” The voice sounded familiar, but I pushed it back as the car picked up speed and headed towards the parked car. The ambushers must have thought they were going to lose their prey, and opened fire. The car windows shattered, and the zombie decoys jerked with the impact of high velocity rounds. The leader of the group ran out from his hiding place and waved his arms. “Stop! They’re not all here! Stop! We have to wait for the Honda!”

That shook me. This was personal. I took aim with my M1A and fired at the leader. It was an easy shot, about one hundred yards. My round slammed into his shoulder, spinning him around, causing him to lose the radio. At the sound of my shot, the four ambushers spun towards the tree line, making themselves easy targets for our rifles. Tommy, Charlie, and John fired as one and three attackers went down immediately. I fired at the fourth and was rewarded with him falling to the ground, clutching his throat.

I burst from cover and ran towards the leader. I needed to get to him before he could radio whoever he was talking to. Charlie ran with me while Tommy and John ran back to the vehicles. The leader had stood up and was searching for his radio when we ran up to him.

“Don’t move!” I yelled aiming at the man’s back. Blood was on his shoulder and was staining his combat vest. “Get your hands up!” Shaking hands were raised and I could see sweat starting at the man’s neck. Charlie checked on the rest of the crew and called out from the side. “All dead.” The man’s shoulders sagged at the news.

“Keep your hands up and turn around.” I said. The man slowly turned and faced me, his little eyes staring hatred at me once again. I knew those eyes and I knew that hatred.

“Well, well. Dane Blake. I wondered when I would see you again.” I moved in close and shoved the rifle barrel into his neck. I removed his sidearm and knife then backed up. “Put your arms down.” He winced in pain as he complied. I lowered the rifle but kept him covered. “How did you know we would be coming?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

Dane looked at me sullenly, his fat face quivering with pain and rage. I repeated the question. Dane refused to answer, spitting on the ground between us. I waited a minute then punched him in the nose. Dane gasped in surprise and dropped back on his knees, clutching his bleeding face.

“How did you know?” I asked again, keeping my voice calm. Charlie was searching around and suddenly bent to the ground. He came up with the radio and brought it over. His eyes got wide at the sight of Blake, and brought up his gun.

I shook my head at Charlie and turned my attention back to Dane. I needed answers. I handed Charlie my rifle and drew my knife. The sight of the blackened tanto blade caused Blake’s eyes to go huge. I walked over to the decoy car and dragged out the dead zombie. I pulled it over to Dane and threw it in front of him. I showed him the knife, then I plunged it again in the hole in its head. When I pulled it out, it was covered in zombie goo. I brought the knife closer to Blake and he recoiled as if it was a snake. It was poisoned, to be sure, with the most frightening substance on the planet.

“I’ll get right to the point. You tell me who you are working with and how you knew about us, and I won’t cut you with this knife. Lie to me, or try to do anything stupid, and you know what will happen to you. Understand?” A drop of muck slid off the blade and fell to the grass between us. Blake followed the drop to the ground and tried to scoot away. Charlie’s rifle poked the back of Dane’s neck and he stopped.

Just then, the radio squawked. “Dane? Are you there? Is it done? Report?”

Charlie and I looked at each other. We both recognized the voice. Pamela Richards.

“That bitch,” was all Charlie had to say. I had other things to say but not right now. I held up the radio to Dane. “Tell her it’s done.”

Dane shook his head but screamed as I stabbed forward with the knife, stopping just short of his face. “
Tell her
!” I yelled in his face. Dane complied, trying to sound as normal as possible.

Pamela’s voice came through again. “Did you get them all? That bitch and the kid too?” She must have meant Sarah and Jake. Rage surged through me and Dane recoiled from the look on my face.

“
Answer
!” I hissed at him, moving the knife closer. Dane spoke again. “We got them all. What do you want us to do with the bodies?”

Pamela’s voice sounded scornful. “Don’t bother. Let them rot. I’ll call you later. Out.”

I looked at Dane. “Where’s your vehicle?” He motioned to the road and I could see two trucks parked out of sight in the trees.

The other cars pulled up and I could see questions in Sarah’s eyes. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Dane and I went over to explain the situation to her. She gasped and looked back at Jake, her fury starting to build.

“Sarah, look at me,” I said, trying to get her to refocus as Tommy and John pushed the two cars out of the way. Lisa, Jason’s wife, climbed out and gathered the weapons of the attackers, passing them out equally among the cars.

Sarah’s eyes calmed down enough for me to talk to her. “I will take care of this right now. Hand me the radio.” Sarah took a deep breath then handed me the small two-way. I kissed her cheek and patted her arm. “It will be okay.” I stepped away from the vehicles and made the call. I spoke with Duncan for a minute, then I let Charlie and Tommy talk to him as well. I could hear the pain in his voice as he took in the information, and then it turned to anger. I cautioned him not to do anything until I got there.

I went over to where Charlie and Dane were. “Get up, we’re going.” I said to Dane. I pushed him ahead of me and motioned Charlie over. “Head into town and get things set up. I’ll meet you in a bit.”

Charlie nodded. “Watch your ass.”

I shook my head. “Crazy shit, hey?” I moved Dane to the vehicle and made him get in the driver’s seat.

“I’m riding behind you, and my gun is in your back. Do what you’re told and you might live.” I was not kind as I threw him into the vehicle, a Nissan Xterra with a flatbed. Say what you want about Dane, he did pick nice vehicles. I slid behind him and showed him my SIG. “Let’s go.”

We passed the convoy and headed back to the complex. I could almost see Dane’s brain trying to figure a way out of this. I didn’t say a word, I just let the thought of my child being murdered fuel the cold fire of rage that had started when I heard the news.

I spoke when we approached the complex. “There’s Pamela. Honk your horn.” Dane complied and I could see Pamela’s head whip around. Her eyes got huge when she saw who was driving. She couldn’t see me yet, because I had crouched down. Dane pulled into the lot and parked under the building, next to the second pillar at my direction. Pamela came running over and spoke heatedly to Dane.

“What the hell are you doing?” she hissed at Dane. “You weren’t supposed to come back here yet! That wasn’t part of the plan!”

I popped out of the backseat and leveled my SIG at Pamela’s head. “What plan?” I asked. “Was it the one where you have men kill me and my son, not to mention my friends?
That
plan?” I spat the question at her through gritted teeth.

Pamela’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head when I stepped out of the car. But she recovered her composure well enough. “You can’t prove anything, and even if it is true, are you an executioner? Who would follow you after that? All you have is the word of this man. Where are your witnesses that he and I had any contact?”

I kept the gun on her but lowered it slightly. “Charlie heard you talking to Dane here, same as I did. You’re finished here.”

Pamela laughed. “You think Duncan is going to get rid of me? You’re a bigger fool than I thought. That idiot will do anything for me.”

Duncan stepped out from behind the pillar that had hidden him. “Yesterday, I would have. Today? Not so much.” Duncan stepped closer as he spoke. “I should have known how you felt when you kept talking about John and how he needed to be gone. This would explain those frequent trips to the adult center. You were communicating with Blake. You’re right, I was an idiot, but not any longer.”

Pamela laughed in his face. “What are you going to do? You haven’t the guts to kill me, and I wasn’t with the ones pulling the triggers on the convoy.”

Duncan’s eyes went cold and I knew what was going to happen. I stepped aside as he swiftly drew his Glock and shot Dane in the head, dropping him on the pavement. “The stooge is dead. Now all that remains is the mastermind.” Duncan said, turning towards Pamela.

Pamela backed up, looking at Dane’s body with a mixture of horror and disbelief. Her eyes drifted to Duncan who looked at her with sorrow and anger. As he raised his weapon, I spoke up.

“Wait.” I said. They both looked at me, Duncan with surprise and Pamela with relief. “This shouldn’t be an execution.” I looked at Pamela and holstered my SIG. I waved Duncan down and stepped away from the Xterra.

I continued speaking. “You tried to have me and my son killed. Your life is forfeit around here. You have two choices. Grab your gear and get away right now, or face me one on one.” I placed my hand on my SIG for her to realize what I meant.

Pamela spat at me. “Duncan will kill me if I win. No deal.”

“Duncan will let you go. My orders.” I said calmly.

Pamela seemed to be weighing the options. Her hand hovered near her gun, and I was waiting intently for her to make a play. Time stretched and I became aware of subtle noises around me, the slight breeze playing in the grass.

Finally Pamela’s head sagged and she slumped, realizing she had lost. Duncan moved swiftly and took her weapons away from her. She actually seemed smaller, but I had no pity whatsoever. “You have five minutes to get whatever is dear to you and get away. You will have no gun, no vehicle, and you will head north. If I ever see you again I will kill you on sight. No explanation, no warning, just death.”

Pamela shook as if my words were physical things hitting her and I could see anger building again in her eyes. I stepped closer and just said, “Move.”

Pamela ran to the building and grabbed what she could and was out again in four minutes. Duncan searched her to make sure she hadn’t stolen anything important, then pointed North. Pamela flipped us both off and ran down the street. I considered sending a shot down her way to speed her along, but figured it would be a waste of a bullet. I looked back at Duncan who was watching her run.

“She’ll try to kill you again, if she gets the chance. You know that.” Duncan said.

“Yeah, well, I’ll just add it to the list of things I need to keep an eye out for.” I went back to the vehicle and dragged Dane’s body out. As I bent over a shot whipped over me, ricocheting off the car and impacting into the roof of the parking lot. I dropped to one knee and drew my SIG, pivoting towards the threat, a second bullet whipping past my ear and putting a hole in the seat. I fired three times and watched Pamela’s body jerk with the impact. She screamed her rage at me and Duncan and crumpled to the ground, a dark stain spreading out over her chest. I kept my gun on her as I went closer and found she was still alive. She was drooling blood, and by the look of things, she wasn’t going to make it.

“Fuck you and die, Talon,” was all she said, dropping her head back and coughing blood.

I kicked her gun away, a small snub-nosed revolver. I looked her over then moved so she could see me. I bent down and quietly said, “You first.” I stood up and walked away, Pamela breathing her rattling last breath.