AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Pete shifted on the couch next to Deb. “I’ll bring our camping gear up. But don’t forget, he doesn’t have to wait for night. He could have folks drive by with shoot and run weapons, hitting all the town sites tomorrow. Your current project, Michael, is a great distraction. It’s in the middle of town, and destroying a historic home will upset a lot of people. They’ll be scared, and they’re likely to take it out on us, rather than the mob, who is even scarier.”
A buzzer sounded and Michael jumped. Wiz tapped a few keys and Mills’ face appeared. “Koslov’s rolling a lot of vehicles south. They’re spread out, trying to avoid notice, but with only a couple of routes available and rush hour traffic over, the change was noticeable, but it took too much time. You’ve got five minutes, tops. There may be others already in the area.”
Michael rose. “Time to go. Grab your bags, Pete, Deb, and let’s get to Wiz’s house. Keep in touch, Wiz.”
Deb put a hand on his laptop, keeping it open. “Sam, where are you?”
“I’m in my house. I’ve got a bag, and I’m leaving now.” Her display bounced, like she was running while carrying her phone.
“Too late, Sam,” Mills yelled. “Go out your back door and meet me at the back fence.”
“What? Why are you in my backyard?”
“It doesn’t matter. Move. Vehicles pulling up at your house now. Go!” Mills disappeared.
“Men.” Sam’s face got larger. “But I’m going. I’ll check in later. Be careful.” Her face disappeared.
Michael slammed the laptop closed and ran up the stairs, dropping it in his bag. He could only hope Mills would keep Sam safe, because there was nothing else any of them could do. He swept his pill bottles from the dresser into his bag, too, and grabbed his kit from the bathroom. He’d gotten lazy; everything should have been packed. His phone buzzed with a text from the Copperline number. “Deploying barrier at ranch road. One truck got past. Recommend alternate route to house.”
Pete waited at the back door with his sniper rifle and his six-shooters strapped across his hips. Deb’s footsteps pounded down the stairs. Michael grabbed their night vision monoculars and held one out to Deb. “Vests, both of you.” He pulled his headset on, and slid the new earpiece in giving them comms with the group. “A vehicle got past the ranch road barrier. We can’t take the road to Wiz’s.” He put on his bullet-resistant vest, the sound of Velcro loud in the mudroom.
“Michael, Nic. Getting the family in the basement, then I’ll take the sniper perch. Got your six.”
Michael double-clicked his microphone to acknowledge Nic’s information.
Pete fastened his vest, and fumbled with his helmet. “We’ll take the ATV out the back. I know a couple of alternates.”
Michael took the lead out of the house and into the garage, scanning for movement or weapons. “Clear. Move.”
Pete and Deb ran to the ATV, Pete taking the driver’s seat. Deb put a foot on the tire, to hop in the back. “Deb, take the seat. I need the back to shoot from.”
“Okay.” She plopped in the seat and strapped in.
He climbed into the cargo area, bracing his feet against the short tailgate. “Lights off, go!” With the backpack still on, it wasn’t comfortable, but secure as possible without a harness.
Pete fired up the ATV, bright flares making him wince for a split second, then green spots danced on the edges of his vision. Good thing Michael had been looking out the back. Hopefully, Pete and Deb didn’t put their night vision gear on until Pete turned the ATV lights off.
They rolled forward, across the yard and past the small training corral. In his ear, Copperline reported multiple vehicles incoming to the bakery. Wiz said, “Do not fire until fired upon.”
Red flared from the ATV taillights. They should have disabled those. The ATV bounced as Deb got out, opening the gate, and Pete rolled through. Michael said, “Don’t use the brakes!” Deb closed the gate, and jumped in. The ATV bounced and jolted across the field, on a rough track. The enemy’s headlights flashed when the vehicle pulled into the opening between the new garage and the old barn. Gunfire hammered the garage, metal pinging.
Michael raised his AR-15, but they bounced too much to fire back. The enemy’s headlights shone on the ranch driveway, and then on the road to Wiz’s house. He clicked his mic on. “Nic, vehicle inbound, shots fired on the ranch house; clear to return fire. We’re taking a back route.”
“Copy. Almost in place.” Nic’s panting was loud in his ear, then shut off.
“Shots fired at Sam’s,” Wiz reported. “Three vehicles stopping. Six personnel; two at front, four going to the back. No sign of Sam or Mills. Drive by shots fired at the lumberyard and bakery. Copperline, clear to return fire if vehicles return. Ranch, personnel cutting locks at south highway gate; two vehicles. Will blow culvert when they’re on top.”
Of course Wiz had rigged the culverts. Her paranoia was paying off, big time. The ATV’s brake lights flared for a split second and they skidded around a turn. Shots zinged around him. He slid down, staying on his side so he could continue firing. With the odd movement, his back screamed and electric shocks jolted through his arms. His hands spasmed, and he dropped the rifle, but the tether to his harness meant it didn’t go far.
“Heavy weapons showing at the bakery. Copperline, Wiz, Tom, get out!” Geo wasn’t panicking, but forceful.
“Copperline, go,” Wiz said. “Right behind you. Shoot.” Static buzzed in his ear, and bullets flew by. If Wiz couldn’t blow the culvert and he couldn’t return fire, they were in a world of hurt.
Chapter 20
Deb shrank down in the ATV’s seat. Any farther, and she’d choke herself when they bounced. Bullets zipped by them, but Michael wasn’t shooting back. She twisted to the back; he was lying down. They must have hit him. She reached for Pete, but pulled back at the last second. They couldn’t stop, or they’d all die. Wiz and Tom might be dead already, and Sam might not be safe with Mills, either.
“Deploying screen defense,” Geo said.
