Days of Danger Read online

  “And… that’s bad?” Harlan asked.

  “It is if you want your constitutional rights trampled.” He dropped his cigarette into the glass and it let out a short hiss in what remained of his drink. “Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if our tax dollars paid for this attack on America.”

  “You are kidding, right?” Harlan said, unable to believe that someone could be that deluded.

  Shelby leaned in and clasped his hands together. He had this dead serious expression on his face. “No. No I’m not. America has been paying Iran millions for years and supplying them with weapons. Now I know some patriots might get all up in arms at the thought that America is in cahoots with Russia or even North Korea but it wouldn’t be a first.” He leaned back and his eyes roamed the room. “That’s why us Americans need to stick together. Work together to build something better. And that all begins here, Harlan, in the great state of Texas.”

  “If you are so anti-government, why didn’t you create your own compound?”

  He laughed. “Shit. If I have to answer that you are dumber than I think you are. Think about it, Harlan. Go on. I can see that pea brain of yours is ticking over trying to connect the dots.” He gave it a few seconds before he continued. “Okay, I can’t bear the suspense. Money. It requires a shitload of money to build something like this and well, why bother approaching investors and meddling in the legality of it all when I have someone like you doing it all for me?”

  Harlan stared back at him blankly.

  “That’s right, I’ve been watching your enterprise since the very first day local papers got wind of it. I have to say it was smart but like most of these ventures you’re so busy catering to people’s whims and needs that you overlook the small details. That’s why we broke through that wall of yours tonight. Don’t act surprised. If it weren’t us, it would have eventually been someone else. At least you’re still alive.”

  “I guess I should thank you,” Harlan said.

  “If you like,” he replied before pulling at a couple of the drawers in front of him. He opened two then pulled out a box from a third one. “Um, what do we have here?”

  He cracked it open to reveal expensive cigars.

  “The Regius Double Corona.” He pulled one out and bit off the end and spat it on the floor while eyeing Harlan. “How much?”

  Harlan didn’t reply.

  “Seriously, Harlan. Is this how it’s going to be every time we talk?”

  There was a pause.

  “$52,785.20.”

  “Holy shit. You fat cats love to spend. I gather that’s for the box and not per cigar?”

  “That covers a flight to Regius headquarters to create my own blend and receive a thousand.”

  “Well then I can’t wait to try this.”

  Shelby pulled another one out and tossed it at him. “Here, like I said. What’s yours is yours, but I get to control what goes where.” He winked then lit the end and twisted it in his thick fingers while eyeing him. The end glowed a hot orange, and the air filled with thick, pungent smoke. “Oh that shit is so sweet and smooth. I’ve got to say, Harlan. I like how you spend money. Now back to business.” He waved his hand around. “What kind of communications technology have you got here?”

  “Ham radio.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Walkie-talkies.”

  “Yeah, those worked well.” He laughed and took another hit on the cigar. “Now let me think. We have a lot of rooms to fill in this place, and we are going to need a lot more people.”

  Harlan’s brow furrowed. “Why?”

  “Dear God, man, have you not been paying attention for the last ten minutes? I recommend you open your ears as I’m not in the habit of repeating myself. We are here to ensure your survival as well as ours. In order to make that work, we need to put the word out, let others know about this place. Call it a friendly gesture.”

  He frowned and Shelby rolled his eyes.

  “What is it, Harlan? What don’t you understand?” he said in his most condescending voice.

  “But doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”

  “What purpose?”

  “Of taking what we have, if you give it away to others.”

  Shelby leaned forward. “I didn’t say we were going to give it away.” He looked up at his brother who was standing by the door. “Did you hear me say anything about giving it away, John?”

  “I don’t believe I did, brother.”

  Shelby flashed his pearly whites. “Like I said, Harlan, you need to open your eyes and read between the lines.”

  “Then why?”

  “Yours is not to question why but to…” he clicked his fingers and acted as if he couldn’t find the words. “What is it again, John?”

  Harlan could tell he was toying with him. Trying to make him out to be a fool.

  “Do or die,” John replied.

  He jabbed his finger and bit his bottom lip. “That’s it. Your place is not to question why, yours is to do or die!”

  Chapter 3

  Damon tightened his grip on the Glock as he used the tip of his boot to ease open the door to one of the two rooms. Jesse stood across from him. Over the past six months they’d got used to clearing rooms, but it was never easy. He swallowed hard, his pulse racing as he shone the flashlight into the darkened room. Even though it was daylight out, thick drapes made it virtually impossible to see inside without light. He held it in his right hand over the top of his Glock, which was in his left. The light swept across an ordinary-looking room. A bed, a side table, a rocking chair and a sofa filled the cramped space. He jerked his head to the closet and then to the bed without shining the light on them. Jesse nodded and darted into the room raking his gun, he waited as Damon dropped and cast the light beneath the bed. Nothing. A second later he cocked his head and paused to see if he could get a bead on any further movement. Nothing. It was silent, not even the sound of breathing. Jesse slid over to the closet, approaching it from the left side and indicating a countdown before he’d slide it open.

  Damon prepared for the unexpected.

  Three, two, one. Jesse mouthed the numbers then leaned and slid the door open.

  His heart sped up as he scanned the floor.

  Nothing — just a woman’s shoes, shirts and above that a bookshelf.

  They backed up and approached the next room repeating the process over again. This time as they got close to the closet Damon could have sworn he heard breathing.

  “Come out! I know you’re in there,” he bellowed.

  No response.

  Damon clenched his jaw and with a nod he indicated for Jesse to slide the closet door open. This time, however, he made sure he was off to one side, slightly guarded by the main door.

  As the door slid open, a muzzle flashed and gunfire echoed. A round punctured the wall above Damon’s head. He was just about to return fire when his flashlight fell upon the face of a young woman. He dropped back behind the door and yelled.

  “Whoa! We’re not gonna hurt you.”

  He snuck a peek around the door. “Look, I’m putting my gun in my waistband. It’s okay.”

  He held out the gun, knowing that Jesse was on the ready if anything went wrong.

  As he edged out, he kept the light on her. She squinted, and he noted she had wild eyes and dark wavy hair that came down to her shoulders. They reflected back like a cat caught in a spotlight. She had her handgun out, sweeping back and forth between them.

  “Just put it down,” Damon said.

  “Get out!” she yelled.

  “We’re…”

  “I said get out!” She screamed this time.

  “Okay. Okay,” Damon replied motioning to Jesse, and they slowly backed out of the room. Outside in the hallway they made their way down the narrow corridor, the woman following close behind. He glanced over his shoulder and recognized her from the photo on the mantel. Good-looking woman. Early twenties. Athletic in appearance. As daylight fell upon her, he got a better lo
ok. She was surprisingly clean for someone who had been in an apocalypse for the past six months. She wore dark jeans and a black fitted jacket and had a knife attached to her thigh, and another handgun on her hip. This girl wasn’t messing around.

  Once they were in the living room, he turned and she yelled again. “Turn away!”

  “Where are your parents?” Damon asked looking back again.

  She glared. “What?”

  “I saw the photo on the mantel,” he said motioning with his head. He could tell she wasn’t a threat otherwise she would have killed them by now. She’d had plenty of opportunities. Maybe that’s why he ignored her third attempt at telling him what to do.

  “None of your damn business. Now move it.” She motioned with the gun towards the shattered window.

  “You know being out here all by yourself can’t be good.”

  “I can take care of myself,” she replied.

  “I can see.” He looked at Jesse who was a little pale in the face. He hadn’t been the same since his brush with death. It was like whatever backbone he had in him had shriveled up and died. Jesse was the first to climb out of the window onto the fire escape. The girl stuck the gun in Damon’s face and screamed for him to hurry up. Under any other conditions Damon might have been inclined to swat the gun out of his face, but she didn’t have anything they needed and he sure as hell wasn’t going to lose his head over a few boxes of muffins. Jesse started making his way down, his boots clanging against the metal steps. Damon paused and looked back at her.

  “You know, not everyone is bad.”

  She didn’t respond, and he didn’t have any intentions of engaging any further. He followed Jesse down and they were about to enter the second apartment when she yelled. “No! Keep going down.”

  “We are, we just need to grab a few things,” Jesse said.

  “You don’t need shit. Now move it!”

  Damon chuckled. She was a feisty one but not very smart. Had they been a gang, she would have been raped and dead by now. They’d already seem them roaming the town attacking anyone who had anything of value.

  “You know, it’s only a matter of time before they show up here.”

  He didn’t need to explain who “they” were. If she’d been living there for a while she must have seen them.

  “I’ll be ready,” the woman replied.

  “We’re from Lake Placid,” Damon said.

  “Well then how about you head back there?”

  “You can come if you want.”

  “And why would I do that?”

  “Protection?”

  “I can handle myself.”

  “I’m just saying, it’s easier to ride this out with friends.”

  Jesse scowled. “What are you doing?” he muttered.

  “Testing the waters.”

  “But we don’t have enough for ourselves,” he said in a hushed tone.

  “Would you both shut up and get on your way before I change my mind,” she said.

  They made their way down the ladder and dropped to the ground. Damon looked up at the woman who didn’t take her eyes off them until they disappeared around a corner. Jesse continued heading in the direction of the line of stores Elliot and Gary had gone to check out while Damon stood there for a second.

  “C’mon, we need to get back to the others before some of those assholes spot us.”

  He shifted his weight from one foot to the next. “She’s by herself, Jesse.”

  “And? I’m sure there are a lot of people by themselves.”

  “Nah, something doesn’t feel right.”

  “Oh, I agree,” Jesse said before bellowing, “That’s because we are standing out in the open like sitting ducks! Now let’s go!”

  Damon waved him off. “You head on. I’m going back.”

  “What?” he blurted out, an expression of confusion on his face. “Are you out of your mind? We’re lucky to be alive right now.”

  “She had no intention of killing otherwise I would have been dead by now.”

  “Perhaps she’s a bad shot,” Jesse replied.

  He shook his head and turned.

  “Damon.” Jesse grabbed him by the arm.

  “Just tell Elliot where I am. I’ll join you in ten.”

  “It’s not happening. Where you go, I go.”

  “Suit yourself. Just keep it down.”

  They ambled down the alley that went around the side of the building. When they reached the end, Damon cut the corner to see if she was still at the top of the fire escape.

  “Listen, stay here,” he said while removing his boots. “Watch my six.”

  Jesse frowned. “What are you doing?”

  “Watch and learn.”

  He hurried out running at a crouch towards the fire escape but instead of going up it, he used the drainpipe at the corner of the building and began climbing. He wanted to make as little noise as possible. It didn’t take long to reach the third floor. He inched his way over to the fire escape and clambered across doing his best to stay silent. Staying in a crouched position he made his way to the window and peered in. He couldn’t see her but he could hear gentle sobbing.

  Damon looked down at Jesse who palmed his face and gestured for him to get down but that wasn’t happening — not until he knew. He really wasn’t sure why he was risking his neck for someone he didn’t know. It wasn’t the first time they’d encountered people by themselves. Survivors were out there, and they’d left many behind. But something about this didn’t feel right, or maybe it was the opposite. He glanced down at the broken glass and shook his head. Shit. The last thing he needed was a shard embedded or for her to hear. There was a table off to the right of the window with a bunch of computer gear on it. There was no telling how stable it was but he decided to give it a try. He slipped in and reached over with one leg to the table and then did the same with the next. He was certain she would hear him. When he finally managed to lower himself to the floor, the sobbing had stopped. His heart thumped in his chest and he paused waiting for movement, then he heard her crying again. He moved stealthily down the corridor, withdrawing his Glock for protection. There was no telling if her aim would improve this time.

  He continued down the corridor and eased the door open on the room they’d found her in. Peering in, he squinted trying to make out where she was. That’s when he heard a gun cocking behind his head.

  “I told you. I can take care of myself.”

  Damon’s eyes closed. “Shit.”

  His hands immediately went up.

  “Drop it.”

  He released the gun, and it clattered.

  “Where’s your dopey ass friend?”

  “Outside.”

  “Better question, where’s your boots?”

  “Outside.”

  “Huh! Maybe he’s the smart one,” she replied.

  The next thing he felt was a sharp blow to the back of the head.

  When Damon came to, he could hear the sound of chatter. He groaned and instinctively reached for his skull. It was throbbing hard, and he had one hell of a headache. Light flickered, and he saw the woman sitting in a chair in the living room with Jesse perched on the couch across from her. Both were drinking from china teacups like they were at some fancy tea party.

  “Ah, there is he is. I expect you’re thirsty,” she said in a casual manner.

  Damon rubbed the back of his head. “What the hell…”

  “She nailed your ass,” Jesse explained with a smirk on his face before taking a sip of his drink.

  “Did you really have to hit me?”

  “I thought it would knock some sense into you. Now your buddy here — he had the right idea. Smart guy.”

  Jesse looked all pleased with himself.

  “Fearful you mean,” Damon shot back.

  “Fearful, maybe, smart — definitely.”

  She returned with a cup of hot coffee. He straightened up as he’d been lying down on the sofa. “Ella’s the name. And you are?”


  Damon coughed. “In pain.”

  She let out a laugh as he took the cup.

  “Is this how you treat all your guests?” he asked.

  “Only those that don’t listen.”

  “How long you been living here?”

  “About two months. It’s my parents’ apartment. They also own the one on the second floor but that was rented out. I was living in Lake George when the lights went out. Made my way back and…” She trailed off looking over at the framed photo on the mantel before dropping her head.

  “Did you find them?” Damon asked.

  “Yeah. I did. Buried them out back.”

  He nodded slowly. “How did they die?”

  “Like most people. Defending what they had.”

  “But this place wasn’t looted,” he said.

  “No it wasn’t. My parents owned two stores in town. The café and a convenience store just off Depot Street. The place was ransacked, they were both shot in the head. The only consolation I have is they didn’t suffer.”

  “I’m sorry,” Damon said looking down into his drink before taking a swig. There was a minute or two of silence before she continued.

  “So your friend here said you came back because…”

  “Look, it’s not easy out there. You know that.” He gestured to Jesse. “We didn’t know each other six months ago.”

  “I know, he told me.”

  Damon continued, “I just figured that maybe you…”

  “You figured I couldn’t exist without a little help?”

  He shrugged. “Everyone needs a hand.”

  “Is that what you’ve told others you’ve met?”

  “Yeah. I mean, no.”

  Her lip curled up. “It’s okay, you don’t need to explain.”

  Jesse leaned back in his chair. “By the way. Just out of curiosity. Did you plan to miss when you shot at him?” Jesse asked.

  “Maybe. Maybe not.”

  Damon went to get up, and he groaned.