Braving The Storms (Strengthen What Remains Book 3) Read online

  “Two days,” Pistol Man said.

  “Where were you driving from?”

  “Why do you ask so many questions?” Jake asked as he opened the rear of the car.

  Caden pushed the hatch up, and they laid her gently in the vehicle.

  Another woman approached, followed by the two boys. They stared at Caden as he and the men walked to the car.

  Turning his gaze back to the man with the gun, Caden said, “The keys are in the ignition.”

  “Sorry,” Pistol Man said with a nod.

  Caden and Pistol Man stood staring at each other as Jake sat in the driver’s seat and the others climbed in the back.

  “Please just stand there while I get in the car.” Pistol Man said backing away. “I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just need to get help for my wife.”

  “There’s a hospital in Hansen,” Caden said. “Two exits south. You’ll see the signs.”

  Pistol Man nodded. “Thanks.” He jumped into the passenger seat and the car sped away.

  Caden took in a deep draft of air and let it out slowly. Well, if I had to be robbed, helping a woman get to the hospital is a good reason. He fumbled in his pockets looking for his phone and then recalled dropping it on the passenger seat. He sighed, wished he was wearing more comfortable shoes, and then ambled south along an empty freeway.

  * * *

  Hansen Armory, Tuesday, September 22nd

  Lieutenant Brooks hung up the phone with Maria and leaned back in his chair. Something weird was going on. First Fletcher didn’t report in and now Caden didn’t answer his phone. Deep in thought he stood and walked into the conference room. Staring at the map he located the position of each squad from memory. Second Squad was on the road to Morton, so he should know something about the two units with Fletcher by early tomorrow.

  “Where is Caden,” he asked himself, “and why isn’t he answering his phone?”

  “What’s that sir?” the sergeant in the next room asked.

  “Nothing. Just thinking out loud.”

  He shoved a finger against the map. Third Squad there, near Longview. Fourth Squad was northwest of town near Alder Lake. Only the new Sixth Squad remained. If he sent them out looking for Caden that would leave ten soldiers at the armory. That’s barely enough to stop a band of renegade middle-schoolers, but not enough to handle an emergency. “This is why I get paid the big, nearly worthless, bucks,” he muttered. “Sergeant!”

  A chair scraped against the floor and a head appeared in the door. “Yes, sir?”

  “I need Sixth Squad saddled up and ready for a search mission, ASAP.”

  * * *

  Along the freeway south of Olympia, Tuesday, September 22nd

  As Caden walked south along the freeway shoulder he stared up at the starry sky. On his thirteenth Christmas he had received a telescope. For several years, on clear nights such as this he would walk into the meadow carrying the heavy scope and stare at planets, stars and moons. Tonight only a sliver of the moon shined. Orion, the Big Dipper, and the North Star were easy to spot. Venus was low in the sky, often hidden by trees.

  Continuing toward Hansen, he sighed. The heavens would always have an allure for him, but for the foreseeable future more earthly matters demanded his attention. Moreover, he hadn’t seen the telescope in ages. It probably had fallen victim to a yard sale years ago.

  Still he stared at the black vista above him as he plodded along. In the distance an engine rumbled. It was heading north so he paid it little attention.

  A minute later, headlights appeared. They were coming toward him, heading north. Only a grassy median divided the north and south lanes. Caden considered jogging to the other side and flagging down the oncoming vehicle, but thought it unlikely anyone would stop for a pedestrian walking in the middle of a dark, and lonely highway. Besides, if he continued south at his current rapid pace he would be home in plenty of time for breakfast. He smiled at his own wry humor.

  As the rumble neared he realized it was a Humvee. He thrust his arm out in a futile gesture to stop the vehicle, but it zoomed past.

  Of course. I’m late and not answering my phone. They’re looking for me.

  Listening for traffic, Caden doggedly trekked south.

  Nearly an hour later he crested one of the last hills before the turn off to Hansen. As he continued down the south slope the rumble of an engine disturbed the quiet. He stopped and listened. The vehicle drove south.

  Hoping it was the Humvee on the return loop of its search, he stood directly on the white line of the shoulder, stared into the darkness, and waited.

  Two bright lights crested the hill.

  He reached out his arm.

  A semi-tractor-trailer rushed out of the darkness blaring its horn.

  Caden lept backwards and, after it blew by, made sure all his fingers were still there. He decided not to wave at anymore headlights. He turned and continued his trek south.

  As he climbed the next hill, the sound of a vehicle growled from the north. This time he stayed well onto the shoulder.

  Standing near the crest of one hill, he had a good view as the vehicle topped the slope to the north. It wasn’t a truck, but in the darkness he couldn’t be certain, so he stood and stared at the headlights. As it neared he relaxed.

  The Humvee slowed.

  Zach jumped out as it rolled to a stop. He saluted and with a broad grin said, “We’ve been looking for you, sir. What happened?”

  “I was carjacked. Take me to the hospital.”

  Zach’s eyes widened.

  “I’m fine,” Caden said. “I think that’s where we’ll find my car.” He took the passenger seat, Zach sat in back, as the driver, private Nelson, slipped the vehicle into gear.

  Grasping the microphone, Caden used the Humvee radio to report in. “Thanks for sending out the cavalry,” he said to Brooks on the other end. “I’m going to stop by the hospital and see if my car is there. Have a deputy meet us.”

  “Roger, and I’ll let Maria know you’re fine.”

  Caden nodded at the mic. “Thanks. Tell her I’ll be home soon. Out.” He looked at the two with him in the Humvee. Both were young. Still only seventeen, Zach remained a civilian, but he had learned so much, and been so useful, his age was sometimes forgotten. Less than a year older, Nelson was one of the newest soldiers. “I’m glad you guys found me.”

  They both smiled.

  They pulled into the hospital parking lot minutes later and Caden spotted the SUV near the emergency entrance.

  “I don’t expect trouble from them, but at least one is armed. Be alert. Block the car from leaving,” Caden ordered.

  With the Humvee in position everyone jumped out with weapons ready, but the vehicle was empty. The car was unlocked. Caden’s phone was on the passenger side floor and turned off. The blue folder, with information about the Kern Flu, sat open on the back seat. Several pages had been removed and lay scattered. Nothing else appeared disturbed.

  Caden dropped the phone into his pocket and shut the car door as the deputy pulled into the parking lot.

  “Deputy Wallace, right?” Caden asked as the man stepped from his car.

  “That’s right, sir.”

  Caden briefed him and everyone hurried into the hospital.

  Twenty patients crowded the small emergency room. Doctors and nurses moved through with gurneys and wheelchairs. It took several moments for Caden to spot the beleaguered admissions clerk. “About three hours ago two men brought in a very sick woman.”

  “We don’t get many healthy ones in the emergency room.”

  “One of the men was probably very agitated and—”

  “Oh that guy.” She pointed. “Down that hall. Room 125.”

  They strode away with Caden in the lead. It didn’t take long to find Pistol Man. He sat just outside the designated room with his head resting in his hands.

  “I’ll need those keys back now, and your pistol.” Caden held out his hand. “How is your wife?”

&
nbsp; With his gaze still to the floor, he held up the keys. “She’s dead.”

  Chapter Eight

  Hansen General Hospital, Tuesday, September 22nd

  Dr. Scott came out of the room. “Were you the soldier he mentioned? Did you come in close contact with Mrs. Colson?”

  “Mrs. Colson? Ah … his wife?” Caden gestured toward the despondent man in the chair. “I helped lay her in the back of my SUV.”

  Dr. Scott’s eyes narrowed. “That was her.”

  Caden was certain he knew the answer, but asked anyway. “Why did you want to know if I came in close contact with her?”

  “We need to do the rapid diagnostic test and get a viral swab of your mouth before—”

  Movement in the doorway caught Caden attention. He locked eyes on Jake.

  “You knew this would happen!” Jake shouted. “That’s why you were asking questions—you knew!” From his pocket he pulled a pistol and pointed it at Caden.

  He heard those behind him move. Certain that weapons were now aimed at Jake by those behind him Caden thought it best to deescalate the situation. He spread his hands wide.

  Jake shouted and waved the weapon wildly. “But you didn’t say anything or try to help—did you?”

  As Jake ranted, Caden raised one arm in a stop gesture. “We’re just learning about the Kern flu.”

  Deputy Wallace stepped beside Caden. “Sir, put the gun down.”

  The husband stood. “Jake, when did you get my gun? Give it back. The lady doctor explained all that. There was nothing anyone could do.”

  “I don’t believe that, Hugh. They could have helped. Should have helped, but nobody did anything.” Again he pointed the pistol at Caden. “He knew!” He waved the gun at Dr. Scott. “She’s known about it for days.”

  “What could they have done?” Hugh asked.

  The muscles tightened in Jake’s neck.

  Caden had seen men snap and do crazy things under stress. Jake showed all the signs of nearing such a break. Eyes wide, veins bulging, it would come soon.

  Jake gestured to Caden using the barrel of the gun as a pointer. “Soldier guy had all that information in the car, but did he help us? Did anyone help us?”

  A familiar woman stepped around the corner, followed closely by a nurse and the two children from the rest area. The nurse’s eyes grew wide. Clutching the two boys, she hurried back around the corner.

  “Jake, don’t be silly,” the healthy woman from the rest area said. “Put the gun down.”

  “We lost our little Jessica … our home.” He shook his head as tears flowed. Wiping his face he locked eyes on Caden. “We’ve been running … starving … and … dying. We could all die and no one would care.” He seemed to stare beyond those before him. Pointing the barrel at Caden, his aim steadied. “Jessica was so little.”

  Caden thought of Maria.

  The woman stepped between Caden and Jake. “She was my daughter too. It’s been an awful year and we both hurt inside, but don’t harm someone because of our pain.”

  Jake smiled. “I love you.” He moved the gun towards his head.

  “No,” the woman screamed.

  Caden and Wallace lunged. Together they slammed Jake up against the wall.

  “Don’t hurt him,” the woman shouted.

  The deputy grabbed at the gun.

  It fired.

  Dust and bits of ceiling tile rained down.

  Everything stopped.

  Tracing the probable route of the bullet with his eye, Caden decided the three of them were unharmed.

  The deputy wrenched the gun from Jake’s hand.

  “We’re dying anyway. One at a time. Just let me. No one cares.” Tears rolled down Jake’s face as Wallace cuffed and patted him down.

  “I care, Jake,” the woman said. “We’ll get through this.”

  Pulling on Jake’s arm, the deputy stepped away.

  “Oh no. None of you are going anywhere,” Dr. Scott held up her palm. “We’ll need to do tests, but I’m nearly certain Mrs. Colson died of the Kern Flu.”

  Jake shook his head and sobbed.

  “I’m sorry,” Caden said, “but what can be done?”

  “For her?” The doctor stepped to a phone. “Nothing. But you and the two families are the first guests in our recently-expanded, and upgraded, isolation unit.”

  “Isolation?” Caden shook his head. “No. A lot’s going on. I can’t.”

  “I could quote federal law, but I’ll make it simple. You have been exposed. Do you really want to infect the soldiers under your command, your mom, dad, Maria, and the babies at your house?”

  Caden drew in a deep breath. “So, show me this isolation unit you’re so proud of.”

  “Deputy, please bring Jake and the others.” Dr. Scott picked up the phone and tapped three numbers. “Announce a code omega. Clear the halls between emergency and the isolation ward. Tell the duty nurse to use contagious disease protocols, and bring the two boys to the ward, but she must not enter. Just send the two boys in. I’ll phone her if needed.” The doctor grabbed a box and handed out face masks. “Wear these.”

  “What’s the Kern flu?” Zach asked.

  Nelson shrugged.

  “Are we supposed to go with you too?” Zach pointed to Ryan Nelson beside him.

  “No.” Dr. Scott shook her head. “Not unless you were in close physical contact with the family or Caden.”

  “Like in a Humvee?” Zach asked.

  Dr. Scott’s body wilted. “Yes. Come with us. Let’s play it safe.” She handed each of them a mask.

  Ryan frowned at Zach.

  “What do you want us to do with the rifles?” Zach looked at Caden and then the doctor.

  “Bring them with you.” The doctor said with a sigh. “You’ve been breathing all over them. You may have to decontaminate them.”

  “Zach.” Nelson shook his head. “Why do you ask so many questions?”

  He cast a wry smile. “Just curious, I guess.”

  The group paused in front of a deserted nurse’s station. Just beyond were heavy wooden doors. The sign above read, “Isolation Ward.”

  The two boys came running down. One latched on to Hugh, the other to the one woman in the group.

  “Spread out,” Dr. Scott said with a wave of the arm. “In a moment I’ll start bringing you in one or two at a time.” She sat at the nurse’s station and typed on the keyboard.

  Zach looked through the window into the dark ward, but saw nothing but his own reflection. Tufts of his auburn hair stood in every direction. He tried to pat them down as he pressed his face to a window. “The place looks deserted.”

  “It is,” Dr. Scott said, still typing.

  Private Nelson looked around. “What, no pretty nurses?”

  Dr. Scott scowled. “I don’t want to expose them to Kern flu or high levels of teenage testosterone. You’re stuck with me.”

  Caden leaned against the wall and thought of all the places he would rather be. The list grew long as the doctor brought the others in. Jake, his wife, and the deputy went in together, but most entered one at a time.

  Finally, only Caden remained. He thought Dr. Scott forgot him until the wooden door swung open and she motioned for him to enter. Together they passed through two sets of doors and into a large open space with a nurse’s station at the center. Along the wall were rooms numbered one to eight.

  “So, this is where I’ll be spending the night.” Caden looked about.

  “At least tonight and probably most of tomorrow, but not much more … if we’re lucky.”

  It really hasn’t been a lucky kind of a day for me. “This place looks new.”

  “We remodeled and expanded the old isolation ward.” The doctor pointed to the ceiling. “The ventilation system for this ward is separate from the rest of the hospital.”

  Caden frowned. “There aren’t any windows.”

  “Windows leak. We’re trying to restrict the flow of air. That’s why I had the maintenance st
aff construct those heavy doors you came through. I wanted sliding ones where only one would open at a time, but there were limits on what we could do.” She sighed. “I hope the wing lives up to its name.”

  Glancing to her left the doctor said, “I have the deputy in room eight. I’ll put you in room one. That way you’re both close to the door and can help with security if things get crazy.”

  “Things like Jake?”

  “Perhaps. He’s handcuffed to the bed in room three. I’ve read of instances of delirium, so any of you could become a problem.”

  “This day just keeps getting better.”

  “I don’t think you’re infected. Hope not anyway.”

  “Yeah.” Caden nodded. “Me too.”

  The doctor pointed. “Zach is in that room. Ryan is in the next.” She continued pointing to each chamber and specifying the occupant. “But, I don’t want you, or any of the others, out of your rooms tonight. Let’s keep the spread of infection to a minimum.”

  Caden reviewed the assignments in his head. “Are you staying with us tonight?”

  “Yes. I’ve had more exposure than you.”

  “All the rooms are taken. Where are you going to sleep?”

  “I’m probably not.” She shook her head. “Get settled in your room. Change into the hospital gown and I’ll be around to check on you and perform a rapid diagnostic test, get a swab, and a blood sample in a few minutes.”

  Caden watched as the doctor collected vials, tubing, and needles. Just keeps getting better. As soon as he was in the room he spotted the pajama-like clothing he was supposed to wear. Being sick and needles were his top two reasons to avoid hospitals. Third would have to be the flimsy hospital gowns. After changing, Caden retrieved his phone and called Brooks.

  “Did you find the carjackers?”

  “Yes, and they might have the Kern flu.” Caden explained the situation. “When is the LEPC meeting?”

  “Six tomorrow evening.”

  “I think Dr. Scott will let me out of jail by then. Unless you hear otherwise, keep the meeting as scheduled.”

  After he ended the call, Caden started to dial Maria, but stopped. He hadn’t told her about the Kern flu and now there was a remote possibility that he was infected. He considered telling her he would be working overnight. Duty required it sometimes. Caden shook his head. She had said more than once that she wanted the truth.