The Things We Do

[texican]

Aug 2, 2023 11:44:59 GMT -6 223shootersc said:

Aug 2, 2023 0:12:50 GMT -6 texican said:

Tim aka 223ShooterSC.

Have enjoyed reading many of your stories and by luck even edited a few of your stories.

223 also writes a lot about what he knows. He is involved in the environmental cleanup and works lots of hours which he understands for his characters.

His work does interfere with his writing which can be painful for his readers, but as we all know that is the way life is at times.

223, good to see you posting "The Things We Do" even though I have previously read "The Things We Do". The pieces are falling back in place and the store still has zing to it.

Guys, there are 13 completed chapters which leaves at least 10 chapters to go. If you haven't noticed, 223'sa chapters are really short story length.

Later,

TD aka Texican....

Texican,

Thanks for the kind words. They are appreciated, as always. However, you misspoke, there are now 14 completed chapters and almost a 15th chapter.

223shootersc

223,

Don't have chapter 14 and 15 sounds good too. Will read if you send over.

Texican....

[ydderf2]

thank you

[223shootersc]

A little weekend surprise reading. I hope you all enjoy and comments are appreciated.

Chapter 4
On the other side of the County, Sargent Eddie Crowe was responding to a noise ordinance violation in one of the high dollar subdivisions. Eddie was responding along with his partner for the night a newbie on the job for less than a week. One just hired from the City of Laurens police department. The newbie called over the radio saying, “I am at the subdivision, do you want me to do a drive by of the address and access the situation or wait on your arrival at the entrance to the subdivision, over.”

Eddie thinking that the Chief might be right about the new guy, replied, “Go ahead and do a drive by, do not hit the spot light or stop for any reason other than shots fired. Even at that, do not rush in, wait for me, my ETA is less than five. As we speak, I am turning onto the main road to the subdivision on the west side. I will see you soon, keep me advised, Sargent out.”

Eddie pressed his accelerator a little farther towards the floorboard and got some much-needed speed from one of the last of its kind Police cars. Thinking that rank did have some privileges, and the first choice on squad cars was one item he enjoyed. His choice and he would drive it till it died was the last of its kind a 2017 Ford Crown Victoria Interceptor model. The model was the ideal car for Police activities he though large, heavy, fast, good handling, and especially good riding vehicle. All of the traits putting it far ahead of any of the other vehicles including the SUVs that many wanted to drive today for status reasons. The Crown Victoria was a classic example of if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

The problem was Ford, decided not to build them anymore after the 2017 models were gone they would be no more Crown Victorias or Crown Vic Interceptor models. The county doing the right thing in his mind ordering for three years of cars when they heard the news. It only meant getting six of the vehicles but they were all in demand by the veterans of the department. The County Sheriff even getting one for his personnel driver’s car and giving the piece of crap SUV to his second in command, as he had so eloquently explained it to Eddie when asked. Eddie quickly saw the ornate entrance to the high dollar development and made the right-hand turn into the split lane road.

Turning in he saw the rookie waiting for him to arrive and mentally kicked himself for not remembering the young man’s name. Eddie pulled up beside the patrol car and rolled down his window as the rookie came walking to his car to give him the 411 on his drive by. Eddie asked, “Laurens what is happening at the address in question?”

Laurens replied, “Sargent, large party lots of teenagers and I would have to say underage drinking from what I saw and heard on the drive by. It was weird they didn’t even act like they cared when they saw me drive by the house.”

Thinking quickly Eddie keyed his mic for dispatch, “Maureen, I request a home owner for the noise violation address call and I need it yesterday.”

“You got it Sargent, give me a minute and I will be right back to you,” Maureen replied and started putting the street address into the county data base and tax maps. A view minutes later after confirming the owner on three different data bases.

Maureen came back over the Sargent’s radio telling him that the address in question belonged to none other than the senior Congressman for the House of Representative to the US Congress from South Carolina. She added that according to Face Book and his official web site he is at home at his residence spending a relaxing weekend with his family for the holiday.

Eddie replied, “Great, just great probably one of the Liberal neighbors trying to throw a cloud on the Congressman’s parade and I have drawn the short straw in this crap storm.”

Maureen asked, “Sargent Crowe should I send back up units it will probably be fifteen minutes or better. Unit Five is bringing in a drunk and disorderly and eight is at the Wally World picking up a man and women shop lifting team.”

“Nah, we will handle it. I am going for the soft touch and plead for his help as a protector of the nation’s values and his ultimate power. If that plan does not work, we are pulling back and nuking them from space,” replied Eddie trying to keep a straight face.

Maureen laughed and said, “I always did like your style Sargent Crowe and I will drink one at your wake when the Congressman pisses you off. In that defining moment, when you decide that your career doesn’t mean as much as the Rule of Law you swore to defend and arrest the honorable jackwagon known as Congressman Joseph Brewton. The end result being the Congressman’s time in jail and the length of your Police career are the same, both measured in minutes.”

Eddie replied, “You know me too well Maureen. Do you have any other pearls of wisdom to shine down on me for the situation?”

Maureen said, “I sure do, leave now and take the rookie with you. Go directly to that Ranch Drive-Inn you like so much and get some Onion rings, a cheeseburger, and a large Coke for supper. Then do not leave the restaurant till you are coming back to the barn to end your shift. Make sure the rookie goes with you to eat and leave him the check. That would be my pearls of wisdom, though I have known you too long to think that you will be sensible. I will call the Sheriff and get him headed that way, as soon as we break the connection.”

“You are too kind Maureen, I got this and the Sheriff doesn’t need to be called. I have tact, diplomacy, and all kinds of sensitivity around the ruling elite,” replied Eddie. The long time Sergeant busting out laughing while still having his mic keyed up. Maureen almost swallowing her tongue at Eddie’s laughable comments on his behavior and political correctness skills, knowing he had none and appreciating his sense of humor.

Eddie and Laurens rolled up to the large house with the manicured lawn and you cannot afford this written all over the ostentatious eight thousand square foot stone and stucco mansion. The music rattling the upstate night could be heard clearly a half mile away from the home. Getting out he motioned for Laurens to join him for a quick meeting before going to the door. Eddie said, “You were privy to the answer to my questions about the owner. Let me do the talking and hopefully we can get out of this mess with our careers still in one piece.”

Laurens as white as a sheet and seemingly holding his breath nodded his head in the universal yes, I understand. Eddie said, “Breath Laurens and don’t shoot anybody tonight including me.”

The pair walked up the three stone steps to the oversized arched doorway and Eddie took the large brass door knocker and slammed it three times into the door. Waited thirty seconds and then pushed the doorbell button on the wall face near the door. The pair waited for about thirty more seconds and Eddie repeated the procedure again knocking twice as many times and twice as hard. About time for him to repeat the process a fairly well dressed and obviously inebriated lady came to the door and said, “Where is the pizza? We ordered it over an hour ago.”

Eddie showed the woman who answered the door his badge and said, “Ma’am Sargent Eddie Crowe of the County Sheriff’s office and this is my partner are you the owner of the house? If not, could you get the owner for me. We have had a noise violation complaint filed and need to address the issue with the owner of the residence.”

The lady turned back into the house and hollered, “Brandon, I think the people at the door fall under your perusal.” Finished she walked away leaving the door open and Eddie and Laurens standing in her wake.

Before Eddie could think of anything to say or do a gentleman dressed in a high dollar French cut and highly tailored suit appeared as if by magic saying in a definite southern brogue, “Officers, I am Brandon Jones Legislative Director for Congressman Brewton the owner of the manor. Do we have a problem tonight? If we do, how can I be of service in solving this problem immediately, fine sirs?”

Knowing when someone was trying to one up him and shovel manure on his shoes. Eddie once again told the Legislative Director of the noise complaint and the county Sheriff departments need to speak with the owner of the house.

Brandon barged on ahead again, a man use to fixing things in Washington DC knowing he could outwit the local Sheriff Department. “Sargent, if it is a noise complaint would that be a fine or something along those lines, am I correct?”

Eddie replied, “That would be correct a ticket would be issued and a fine would be administered for the complaint. However, on arrival here my fellow officer and myself have witnessed what would appear to be minors in the possession and under the influence of alcoholic beverages. Like I said before Mr. Jones, we would like to see the owner of the house to discuss the issues and hopefully come to an agreement to end the festivities. The object being to get these people home by means of a cab or Uber and not have to spend the night trying to find the parents of all these minors. Then explaining to them how their children are being charge with underage drinking and have their licenses revoked till they are twenty-one years of age in South Carolina. The offense also can and most times does make the minors unable to get the state grants and scholarships for college.”

Sensing that he needed to regroup, Brandon said, “Officers, even though there are minors at the party and alcoholic beverages being served to the adults, the servers have strict orders to not serve anyone under age. I would like to take you now into the house and up to the library to wait while I get the Congressman and his wife who are the owners of the house. Would that be sufficient for your needs.”

Eddie said, “Mr. Brewton, my partner and I will stay right here on the porch and not interfere with the proceedings at the Congressman’s home. I would add that I expect the Congressman to be here talking to me within three minutes. I know this is a big house and he has many guest and may be a little hard to find. I also want you to know that, every car along the drive and in the driveway has had their tag numbers recorded and all our conversations have been under recording during the time we have been talking. Just for the record and your information along with full disclosure by our department.”

About two minutes and fifty-nine seconds later the Congressman came to the door accompanied by his lawyer. Saying, “Evening Officers, Brandon tells me that we have had a noise complaint and possibly underage drinking at the party. I want to say first off that I do not or have not ever condoned underage drinking. This party is for my teenage daughter who just last week received her acceptance to George Washington University and this is her party of congratulations. We do have a good many people and party members in from Washington DC to help celebrate the event. I hope I can count on the Sheriff’s department to help us squelch any problems that a lack of supervision may have let occur tonight.”

Turning back to Brandon he said, “Get this party shut down right now and any underage people here at the party, sent home by means of a Limo service or Uber at my expense. Get my daughter to help you make that happen. I mean right now get moving.” Dismissing his minion with a disdainful wave of his hand.

Turning back to Eddie and Laurens, he continued his oration, “Now Officers, I am sorry for the irregularities at the party if there were any. I and a few of my closest advisers have been in a meeting since supper and the gift of a new car to my daughter. The meeting is still in progress upstairs in the Library, we have a couple of key votes coming up on bills that we are sponsoring that needed our attention. Is there anything else we need to do to help remedy this situation and diminish any lingering effects that the kids might experience from this unfortunate situation?”

Eddie sensing that the Congressman would come off without so much as a hair out of place and a lot of young people might be the real losers in this deal, replied, “No sir. I am glad that we got to the bottom of this without a problem and that you stepped forwards and handled the situation appropriately and quickly. Like a true leader of our country.”

“Sir, we will be out at the road making sure that everyone gets out of here safely. To ensure that there are not any traffic problems, with everyone leaving the party at one time. I will have to issue you a Complaint ticket for fifty dollars that is the lowest value in respect to your duty, sir. It can be mailed into the county any time before the court date and the matter will be completed. If you fail to appear or don’t send in your ticket fee, additional charges may be levied by the Court. Nice to meet you sir and appreciate the help, good night.” Eddie turned and almost knocked Laurens down who was standing so close to him he was almost a second skin.

As the Officers walked out to their Patrol cars, Eddie keyed his mic and said, “Score one for the good guys Maureen. I didn’t shoot anyone or burn the Congressman’s house down. I am probably not even on his call the Governor list or anything.”

“Well, look at you all grown up and ready for the big time. I am proud of you. I only have one question are you rolling out or waiting for the party to breakup. Because if you are not rolling out, then the outcome is in doubt and I still might win my bet with the Sheriff. A bet that he was going to have rescue you from yourself on this one,” Maureen asked in all seriousness.

Eddie laughed and replied, “Not rolling out, yet. You might still win your bet. I am going to turn loose the rookie to be back on station.”

As Eddie was finishing up with Maureen, Melvin, followed closely by a now semi-concerned Elizabeth were heading up the stairs to get Sandy. Reaching the closed door to Sandy’s bedroom Melvin reached for the door handle to walk into the room. Eli said, “Woah, there Tiger. First always knock and since it is closed let me give it a try.”

Blowing past a thinking Melvin and knocked lightly on the door. When no one answered Elizabeth stuck her ear to the door and intently listened to see if she heard the TV or music playing. Hearing no noise of any kind she knocked louder than the first time but still not hard on the teenage girl’s door. After a thirty or so second wait she knocked again louder and reached for the door knob and found it un-locked. She pointed to herself and said, “Wait out here she might not be dressed,” and plunged headlong into the nicely appointed bedroom. One that she had put together for Melvin a few years ago one for Sandy and a second decorated for Patrick. Entering the room, she found to her amazement no one in the room and she continued straight to the bathroom and found it as empty as the bedroom.

Elizabeth walked out of the door with her hands out to her side as if to say, I don’t know and said, “She is not in her room or the bathroom. Do you think she may be in the garage with her new truck?”

“Worth a shot, but I wouldn’t think she would be there with her bedroom a lot easier to hide in, if that was her reason for not answering the phone,” replied Melvin.

Eli nodding and silently agreeing as a big knot developed in her chest and abdominal region. One caused of pure dread that the teenager had not left silently in the truck or with someone else. A feat she had accomplished many times when she was a teenager with Fran being one of the results of that hair brained type thinking and action on her part. It wasn’t only teenage boys that thought below the waist when hormones were raging over the other gender. All the thoughts of her own indiscretions not helping the dread that she felt in their quest for Sandy’s present location.

All these thoughts of dread were replaced with panic when they opened the inside door leading into the garage and found the parking spot for the new Nissan Frontier truck standing void and empty. Other than the pounding of her heart you could have heard a pin drop in the garage. Finally, she said, “Melvin, now everything is going to be alright. We need to go speak with Patrick and find out where she may have gone and who she would be going to see.”

Melvin not saying a word and silently scaring Elizabeth with a look she had only seen a couple of times in her life, both times Melvin had exploded. One time when a client told him he was not going to pay for services rendered, just because he was a big dog and that was what big dogs did to little fish. The CEO not having any idea how close the big dog came to being mauled by a little fish. The other time was when one of his crew persons had grabbed the rear end of one of her office ladies and made a rude comment in front of him and Elizabeth. That time had resulted in someone feeling the brunt of a right hook that dropped him to his knees. It also required him to apologize to all-in question and his signing a form statement of his wrong doing and the termination papers that she had drawn up while he was retching on the floor in pain.

The same look was here and now and she hoped no one decided to question Melvin or his love for the two teenagers ever again. It was evident in his eyes that Sandy better return in one piece and whole and the sooner the better for one Melvin Cudd’s state of mind was deteriorating at an exponential rate of speed. As they left the garage Melvin finally spoke, “It might be better if you spoke to Patrick right now. I don’t want to scare him and some people tell me I am intimidating at times and this might be one of those times.”

Trying to lighten the mood just a little without making light of the situation she replied, “Do you think!” Smiling as best she could at the man that looked like he might explode at any minute into Hulk like hysterics. She grabbed his arm reassuringly and said, “It will be alright Melvin. She is a big girl and left of her own wishes, no foul play of any kind. She probably went to show her beau the one she was texting earlier, her new truck. Now calm down before we go outside, we don’t want Patrick be scared and clam shut. He probably knows right where she went, if not why or that she was going. Probably be mad at her for taking the truck without telling him and that will be why he will volunteer the info.”

As the duo started to go out through the patio doors, Patrick jumped up in celebration of something happening on the big screen TV program. His favorite team scoring a go-ahead touchdown late in the game to put them up by six with the point to follow was the reason for the mini celebration by the teen. Elizabeth said, “I see your team is winning, Patrick. You have a minute to answer a question about your Sister and where she may have gone in the truck tonight without telling anyone or asking permission.”

Looking like he had been kicked by a mule, Patrick replied, “She took the truck…, you said?”

“We don’t know yet for sure, the evidence is that she is not in the house and the truck is not in the garage or parked out front. Do you know where she may have went or why she may have left without saying anything to Melvin,” asked Elizabeth.

Looking to his Uncle who he knew would be disappointed, Patrick said, “Probably to that party she has been talking about for the last couple of weeks. Her friend that is the daughter of that Senator or whatever was having a big party thrown by her family. Sandy has been talking about going for the last two weeks. She hasn’t said anything since we have been here at the lake. I bet she wanted to show off the truck to her friends, she runs with the rich kids at school and has always been the token poor one in the group. They use her for her brains to help with their projects and school work. That would be my guess, don’t know for sure.”

Melvin stepped forward and said, “Thanks for the information do you know where they live or where the party was going to be held?”

“No Uncle Melvin, I don’t. I am not a member of that group, they aren’t really into sports or jocks, they are too cool for that. My buddy Freddie might, he dated a few of those girls. They will sink to the jock level for a date with the all-conference Quarterback even if he is a Junior like me. He is probably at the party if anyone I know besides Sandy is there. I will give him a call, let me get my phone,” Patrick said and reached into the leg pocket of his Dickie painter jeans he found at the Salvation Army store that looked brand new for three dollars.

Retrieving his cell phone, he looked through his contacts, found Freddie’s number and hit send. A couple of long seconds later to Melvin, Patrick was talking to Freddie about the game and then asking if he was at the party and if he had seen Sandy. Freddie told him that she was at the party but that the police were breaking up the party and everyone was leaving. He didn’t know if she was still at the party or not. Freddie volunteered to look around for a few minutes to see if he could spot the new truck she had been showing off to everyone. Patrick told him thanks and that he would stay on the line until Freddie had a chance to look for the truck. Only seconds later Freddie said that the truck was still setting right where it had been when he saw it earlier that night with his date for the party. He told Patrick that he thought that Sandy was probably still in the house now that he thought about it, she had been with her friend and her date and a friend of his from DC earlier and was probably still inside the house with the family.

As Freddie and Patrick were breaking off the conversation with Melvin and Elizabeth both knowing exactly where the swanky high dollar houses were located on the private golf course. Eddie and Laurens were trying not to see too much that was going on, hoping that all would be safe. They observed the first stretch Limousine arriving along with a couple of Uber drivers in large SUVs to take the kids home. Eddie said, “So far so good nobody has even attempted to get in their car and drive away. Maybe we will get home on time tonight without filling out paperwork till dawn yet, Laurens.”


Laurens finally said, “Sargent why do you call me Laurens. I actually worked for the City of Clinton police department before coming to the Greenwood County Sheriff’s department?”

Thinking quickly Eddie replied, “I thought you were from Laurens, not Clinton.”

Taking the answer at its face value, Laurens replied, “I guess that explains it. I am from Laurens and actually still live right outside the City limits on the southwest side of town.”

Out of the corner of his right eye he noticed a young girl struggling to get into a truck and a couple of young guys were trying to keep her away from the vehicle, Eddie thought well at least someone is trying to do the right thing tonight. Eddie looked to Laurens and said, “Keep an eye out for any trouble. I am going over to help those guys keep that young lady out of that vehicle and trouble.”

Pointing to the two nicely dressed young men with the perfectly groomed haircuts and out of season tans. Laurens grunted and assent and watched the Sargent head towards the struggling trio with purpose in his stride. Finally realizing that the Sargent had no idea what his first or last name was even after being introduced a couple of times. Some people just had trouble remembering names he knew, but who could forget John Smith. He chuckled to himself, thinking I am the perfect gray man. Should have tried for the CIA, NSA or one of those spy clubs instead of being a cop.

As Eddie walked toward his duty, his personnel cell phone rang, looking at the name on the window he saw that it was Melvin. He decided he would answer quickly and tell him he would have to call him back. Eddie hit the answer icon and said, “Can’t talk right this minute can I call you back in a few?”

In shear panic Melvin screamed over the phone, “Eddie don’t hang up. I need to talk with you right this minute.” Hearing the panic in his good friends voiced Eddie replied, “What do you need my friend and make it quick?”

Melvin said, “Sandy is at some party at a Congressman or Senators house over by the Country Club and she is not supposed to be there. She took the new Nissan Frontier truck I bought for her and Patrick and slipped off without telling anybody. Do you know the exact address of the party a friend of Patrick’s told us the cops had shut the party down and was sending people away? I need you to call one of your friends and see if he can find her till I can get there. I don’t want her to get in any trouble.”

With bells, whistles and giant alarms going off in his head, Eddie asked,” What type and color truck are we talking about, I know it is a Nissan? Maybe a four door, four-wheel drive gray or charcoal?”

“Yeah, four doors and four-wheel drive dark gray, I guess why do you ask,” asked Melvin. Big suddenly in even more of a panic if that was possible. Melvin thought that his heart was going to explode it was beating so fast and hard. Elizabeth reached and put her arm around her friend and Boss’s waist trying to soothe his raveled soul.

Eddie said, “Hold on, I will be back to you in a second.” Putting his phone on hold and picking up his pace towards the young girl still struggling to get into the truck. As he got closer, he was sure that the lady in question was none other than a totally inebriated Sandy Manning the very niece his best friend was asking about on the phone. Getting to her and the two guys it was evident that the two guys weren’t as helpful as it looked on his first view.

The trio intent on their own little Peyton place had not noticed the arrival of the local Police Department to the event unannounced, as it were. Sandy was hollering at the two men to let her go she didn’t want to go back in the house with them and she surely had no intentions of having sex with either of the “miscreants” she called the two boys. Thinking that the young lady had a very good vocabulary to be used while drinking. Eddie said, “Sandy, may I help you and what seems to be the problem?”

Looking to the man in the uniform and almost falling as the two would be assailants let her go at the exact same moment. She righted herself by catching her arm on the truck and bumping her head, with an, “Ow… Officer these two boys have put something in my drink.” Slurring the whole sentence, she continued, “I was only drinking Coke and now I am completely out of my mind. I think it is one of those things they call Ruffies or something. They told me it was supposed to loosen me up. What they really meant was I was supposed to be ready to have sex with them…, Ewwww.”

“Officer all I can say to that is not now, not ever…” and fell back into the side of the truck door and slid down into a sitting position and started to cry.

Looking around the two well-groomed assailants were gone. Eddie keyed his mike and said, “Laurens, call Maureen and get some help headed this way and don’t let any more cars leave if possible. We have a situation here and need some crowd control and detectives here pronto.”

Laurens keyed his mike and replied, “Roger that Sargent Crowe.” Starting to call dispatch and pulling his car across the out bound lane to stop any traffic at the same time.

As Laurens was trying to stop the people from leaving, Eddie finally got back on his phone and said, “Melvin, I have Sandy right here and she is safe. Now listen and listen to me good. I need you to get over here and bring that lawyer lady of yours and do it now. Sandy is fine so don’t kill yourself or anyone else on the way over. She has done nothing wrong and is not in any trouble, we just need your lawyer to take her from my car for reasons that I will explain when you get to the Congressman’s house. By the time you get here access to the subdivision may be blocked tell the Officer’s that I requested that you come to the site. Now get over here.” Picking up Sandy like a little girl and taking her and placing her into the protective custody of the back seat of his Crown Vic Interceptor.

Melvin said, “Celeste it is time to go. I have to go and get my Daughter. Jimmy can you drive…” Seeing the look that Jimmy gave him, he said, “Never mind…, are you drunk Celeste? I need your professional help. Sandy, may be in trouble with the Law.”

Celeste stood up and said, “I am fine. I have only had one full drink and this is my second one right here over half full and that is over what three, four hours. I am fine, let me run upstairs and get my purse and phone. I might need to use my phone or my iPad Pro, for notes or to make contact with help if it is needed. I am sure it won’t be needed, probably just a misunderstanding. She is under eighteen, correct?”

Elizabeth answered, “Barely, be eighteen after the first of the year and are you sure you are alright, we talked about her age in the custody meeting?”

“Yeah, yeah, I am alright to drive or Lawyer. Just wanting to make sure I had the facts right in my head before we even leave. No time to be remembering if someone is questioning my client, need to have the answers before the questions are asked and our answers. That is why I get paid the big bucks,” Celeste answered as she headed towards the inside of the houses, double timing up the stairs.

Less than twenty minutes later Melvin and Celeste pulled up to the entrance of the high dollar estates and were stopped. The group was asked if they lived in the subdivision by the State Highway Patrolman blocking the drive entrance. Melvin replied, “No sir. I was told to tell the officer manning the entrance that I am Melvin Cudd and my presence had been officially requested by Sargent Crowe of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Department.”

The Highway man replied, “I have been looking for you, sir. Please follow the road straight down the hill and take the second right. You will see lots of cars and flashing lights. You will probably have to park and walk the last hundred yards are so down to the big house at the end of the Cul-de-sac. You can’t miss it. You will think the three-ring circus has come to town. All you need is some elephants and Clowns selling peanuts and I think we have plenty of Clowns down there, don’t know about the peanuts or the elephants. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least, glad I am out here at the main road. Let me move my car and let you all into the entrance.”

Driving the Ford truck through the opening supplied by the Highway man, Melvin followed his instructions. A few minutes later, Celeste and Big were using their mod 1 issue feet to finish their journey to the house at the end of the road. Celeste smirked and said, “Must be every cop in the county down here, no wonder the State boys were having to man the entrance. I am thinking all is good, Melvin. Your friend Eddie just wanted to get Sandy out of this mess and the best way to do that would be with a lawyer. Something must have went wrong at the party, a fight, overdose or something for all these people to be here and the news crews from at least all three major networks, I can see their trucks already. Whatever you do don’t say anything to anybody with a microphone or even raise your voice much above a whisper when we get down to the taped Exclusion zone. I will do the talking, okay.”

Melvin so anxious he could not really talk he was afraid he might throw up if he opened his mouth just nodded his affirmation answer. Then proceeded to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Walking as if he was going to face a guillotine in the time of the French Revolution. Finally, Celeste said, “Melvin come on. Everything is going to be alright and Sandy is going to be fine and dandy. I am here to make sure her interests are best served and that is all. Now come on, the sooner we get down to the circus the sooner we take Sandy out of here. Now remember keep your mouth shut and I mean it, I don’t care what you hear or if you get mad, be quiet. Those are your lawyer’s orders, do you understand, just nod.”

A couple of minutes later Melvin and Celeste were meeting Eddie in front of a squad car and being told the deal about the possible drugging of Sandy and the two young men that were possibly the culprits. The two men in question were the boyfriend of the Congressman’s daughter and his friend from DC. They had been identified by numerous people at the party. The two young men were no longer on the premises. Adding insult to injury, one Brandon Jones Legislative Director for Congressman Brewton whom he had talked to earlier in the night was also AWOL at this moment. Best the Detectives had come up with so far was one very drunk young underage boy swore when questioned he heard the two boys in question being talked to by the Congressman’s man. He heard the conversation while lying behind a chair trying to not throw up. The man telling them that they would be on a plane and in Washington DC before the local cop’s knew what day it was or could make any connections to the two of them. The drunk boy added that he told them, this was the last time he was covering for one of their indiscretions. This was the last straw and he didn’t care who their Dad and Mom were in Washington.

Celeste asked, “Are we free to take Sandy home or will she need to be questioned?”

Eddie said, “No, not yet. We would like for her to provide a blood sample. That way we would have proof that she was given a Ruffie or whatever the two pervs gave her.”

Celeste put her hand in front of Melvin’s mouth and said, “Eddie, we will not be allowing that to happen. You and I both know that we are dealing with powerful people and the only person who would get in trouble would be Sandy. If the boys ever come to trial they will have forty witnesses at the party saying that Sandy was the one with the drugs. That is if we can even get them to trial. My best guess is not only are those boys on an airplane heading for Washington DC. I would bet a week’s pay that by this time tomorrow those boys will be in school in a non-extradition country for the next four or five years.”

“With the answer to the administering of a blood test being a firm and non-negotiable negative. I ask again can we take Sandy home as she has nothing to add to any statements she made earlier to you tonight nor will she ever. We would like to get her to a doctor for a thorough examination for the lawsuit that we are going to be perpetrating against the owners of this house. A lawsuit for not protecting a minor in their temporary safeguard at their abode. Sandy will only be named and will never have to do anything other than give a deposition in my office in Columbia. A suit in which my firm will reap enough free press that I will be able to do this pro bono for a portion of the movie and book rights,” the shark said with a big smile that scared Eddie.

Eddie looking at his best friend finally said, “And that Melvin is why I told you to bring your Lawyer. I love it when lawyers actually do something besides defend scumbags. Please get Sandy home and I will be there tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner. I assume it is still on for around 12:30 like usual. Am I assuming correctly, on that matter.”

Celeste said, “Nothing would stop us having that dinner tomorrow. We will be leaving now. If I retrieve the keys to the truck could you have one of your fellow Officers deliver the truck to the house tonight or in the morning. I really don’t want to have to file a complaint about having to get our victims truck out of the county compound on Thanksgiving.”

Melvin finally able to speak said, “She does grow on you after a while doesn’t she Eddie. Thanks for having mine and especially Sandy’s back tonight my friend. I will not forget and I always pay my debts, you know that. I owe you a big on this one. See ya tomorrow and again many thanks.”

Eddie answered his friend, “You don’t owe me nothing but dinner tomorrow and maybe a cold adult beverage while I watch my Cowboys beat up on Green Bay tomorrow. That and the use of your tree stand and field for the rest of the hunting season. I need some deer meat for the freezer. I am about out and I haven’t seen anything on our hunting club since opening day. I think they are doing some man drives during the week maybe even dog drives and that is the problem.”

Melvin said, “You got it and do you still have that thirty ought-six that needs a better scope than that Wal-Mart piece of crap for glass?”

Eddie answered quickly, “The answer to that is you know I do and it was on-sale at Sports Authority when they were still in business. I work for the county. Not rich like some people. Now take your niece and get out of this zoo and I will see the three of you in the morning. My new friend and fellow Officer, Laurens will deliver you the truck about dinner time. He is bachelor, maybe Elizabeth can fix him a plate as a tip for returning the truck.”

Eddie opened the back door to the squad car and Melvin reached in and picked up his sleeping beauty and carried her back to the truck. Celeste following after remembering to give Eddie one of her cards. A few minutes later Melvin said, “Celeste can you get in the back and hold her head. She is so limp, I am afraid she might bump he head or even fall out of the seat into the floor board or something. Is that normal. I thought those things made you hyper not like a downer or something.”

She replied, “Yes…” and got into the back seat of the truck where Melvin laid his niece. Then placed her head in her lap and gently shut the door.

As Melvin struggled to turn the large Ford truck around with all the surrounding automobiles, but finally succeeded after a few minutes. Celeste went to putting the mechanics of the largest and most powerful Law firm in South Carolina and maybe the southeast to work. It might have been late on Thanksgivings eve but her firm never slept or so the big boys of the firm bragged. The firm was very well connected locally and nationally with the founders both being former Governors of South and North Carolina respectively. Celeste after getting her mentor on the phone said, “Who do we know in Washington that can have investigators at both airports, now? I need them waiting for a private jet probably out of our little airport here that is just leaving or left in the last thirty minutes. We need pictures of the two boys and the Congressman’s Aide as they get off the plane and I need them date stamped.”

Her mentor a Senior partner said, “I know we will take the case, it is too juicy not to, how are we getting paid? You know I have to ask.”

Celeste said, “We will take five points on the case awards and fifty percent on all of the book, talk show, and movie deals we can promote. Already agreed to by Melvin.”

The Senior partner said, “We can do better. We will take forty-five points on the additional all of them, on one condition. Get your friend Melvin to write us a check, personal check for a five-thousand dollar, to put us on retainer for him and his niece. Someone is going to try and make this about him and his niece and attack them personally and his assets. It would be the first thing we would do. I will wake up a judge friend of mine and have breakfast with him who knows all the players in Washington. I will talk with him after we find out who all is involved and see how to best play our cards. I think we will serve all three parties with civil suits by the end of the day tomorrow. Just to see who wants to cough up the money and get their name off the books and out of the courts the fastest.”

“If I was a betting man and you know I am, at least one will cough up a few hundred thousand by Monday morning at the latest. Maybe even two of them, I am guessing the Congressmen will have to stand his ground as it is already on the news, here in Columbia tonight. They broke in with a special bulletin on CBS I think it was while we were watching the game. They broke in for a quick headline, drive by so to speak with a more news to follow at Eleven promise to all their followers.”

Celeste said, “That is good the more headlines the better. The more we can keep this on the news the better it plays for us and the more the politicos will want to settle and settle quickly. Do you have it from here on that end? I am calling our doctor to have her up here as quickly as possible. Do you think she can be here before morning?”

The Senior Partner laughed and replied, “I have already emailed her while we have been talking and she will be there in less than an hour. If she can land nearby we can cut that time to thirty minutes or so.”

Celeste said, “Hold on a minute, Wallace.” Putting her phone down from her mouth she said, “Melvin, is there anywhere near your place where a helicopter can land?”

Melvin replied, “If they are good enough. I have a forty-acre hay field not a half mile from the house. It is wide open space, it is not exactly level, doesn’t have any big holes or terraces though. We can turn on the lights to the barn and I have a couple of spot lights we can use to help guide them into the property if needed. Past that the next closest place is probably the front lawn of the large boat marina about five miles away and on the other side of the lake. It is well lighted at all times for night fishing and boat landing.”

Celeste explained all this to Wallace and plans were completed for the helicopter to set down at the marina and for Melvin or Jimmy to be there to pick up the Doctor and her assistant. As she was finishing her plans Melvin pulled the big Ford Diesel into the carport and a waiting Patrick, Elizabeth, and Jimmy. While Celeste had been making plans, Melvin had called Elizabeth and told her they were on their way home and gave her their ETA assuring her that Sandy was fine and she was not in trouble. He also told her to tell Jimmy to quit drinking he might need him to drive and pick up the Doctor.

Elizabeth had replied, “He is fine, he stopped drinking even before y’all left and has been having ice tea ever since. That and pacing like a cat and asking me if I know any more than I did thirty seconds ago about every thirty seconds. That and something about beating the crap out of some young turds or turks. I am not sure which he was saying, I guess either could be correct. I agreed to hold them for him either way. Get here soon as possible, but don’t get killed in the process Big. Bring our girl and yourself home in one piece. I will see ya in a few and will leave the lights on for ya.” Laughing at her own little joke from the motel ads usage about the lights.

Pulling into carport and shutting down the big diesel, Jimmy opened the back door to the truck and Elizabeth went to the driver’s side to help Melvin and Celeste if needed. Jimmy took Sandy in his arms and said, “Patrick get the door, we will take her to her bedroom.”

Patrick didn’t respond immediately and Jimmy repeated his instructions a little louder to get the Brothers attention. This time obtaining the desired response from Patrick. He opened and held open the door while Jimmy toted his sister into the house and then Patrick quickly followed him. Patrick passed him running up the stairs to open the bedroom door for Jimmy and his Sandy. After lying Sandy on the bed, Jimmy turned to Patrick standing in the doorway and said, “Patrick, you come and sit with your sister till Elizabeth or Celeste can come and relieve you. She needs to have a loving face to greet her if she wakes up before the Doctor gets here to check on her health.”

By the time Jimmy came back from the other side of the lake with the Doctor and her assistant; Melvin and Celeste had finished telling Elizabeth about the night’s happenings. Explaining how his niece had probably been drugged by some young rich boys with one of the sex drugs, maybe a Ruffie. Telling her that the young rich boys were long gone by the time Celeste and he arrived at the Congressmen’s mansion to get Sandy. He also, explained how his friend Eddie Crowe had been the real hero in Sandy’s ordeal that night. Getting his hand held and a reassuring hug from his partner and friend, that all was going to be well. Celeste adding, “That not only was all going to be well, Sandy was going to be a rich young lady soon. Maybe having some of her money before you get back from Alabama.”

Melvin had started to say he wasn’t going to Alabama and the two ladies quickly reminded him that they had control of the situation. Celeste saying, “Melvin, you need to tell Sandy you love her and have her back and that she did the right thing and did nothing wrong. Then let her come to grips with a near miss on a bad decision she made. The more you make of this the worse it will be for her. We know nothing happened to her but it sure could have went a different way if she wasn’t so smart and strong willed and reacting the way she did to the situation.”

“If we make a big deal out of it so will she and it will grow into a big problem. Tell her she can’t leave the compound unless Elizabeth or myself is with her this weekend because of the press. We will not be going anywhere this weekend, that I can assure you myself. I might have to go and have some papers served but probably get someone up from my staff, specifically my assistant Anita to do that type work. On another note can she stay here in case I need her, I know you have the room.”

Melvin replied, “Yeah, by all means, whatever you need the house is yours. I know that you are doing this for the money, but you have been a God send for our family Celeste. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there to get us through the thing at the house. I am guessing something stupid and hurt our causes and case.”

Celeste replied, “I am not doing this for the money. We decided to cut our fee to less than what I told you it would be and that fee was far less than our usual fee for something like this. Well, I guess since it isn’t Pro Bono, I am doing it for the money, but you know what I mean. I am doing this for what I consider my new family. Elizabeth has always talked about her great Bossman and what a good guy and person you were. I figured it was just Boss or Father figure worship. I was wrong I am doing this for Sandy, you, Elizabeth, her girls, Patrick and Jimmy. We are now family, at least in my eyes.”

“Melvin, you need to go because you will be a nervous wreck sitting around here all weekend with nothing to do. We will handle this and make it all better for all concerned, that is my promise to the family. Just get ready and go and tell her bye Friday morning. Express to her that you expect her to be on her best behavior for Elizabeth and myself and you will see her on Sunday. I just ask you keep your phone on and charged and answer it. We may have to have you sign as her Guardian. My mentor and I expect we will get an offer or offers this weekend to pay large settlements to keep this out of the courts and public record.”

As Jimmy and the Doctor’s team came into the house, Melvin greeted them and told them thank you for coming on such short notice. As the Doctor went up the stairs, Melvin told Elizabeth that he would be out on the patio by the fire. Two reasons he needed some fresh air and to call Jessica and explain why he hadn’t already called her tonight and hear her voice. Elizabeth smiled at her friend and said, “Big, I think that would be just dandy. Go call that beautiful lady and tell her we got your back.” Turning and walking towards the stairs to the basement he said two heartfelt words in return, “Thanks Eli…”

The conversation with Jessica his wife to be had been just the right tonic for the Uncle who was beside himself with anxiety for his niece and now guardianship. Jessica had told him that she was changing her plans and would be in town sometime on Monday afternoon. She had already talked with her dad and Brother even before this happening telling them she was moving to South Carolina. So, she could be with her Big ole’ man as she had stated to them and to be married. Probably before Christmas and definitely before the first of the year depending on when her Dad and Brother could be in South Carolina for the wedding. Jessica had added tentatively, “Melvin, that is if you still want me to be your wife.” Melvin had replied a lone one-word answer, “Yes….”

Then there was a bunch of crying, then her dad and Brother had come on the phone telling him to set a date. Saying they both would be in South Carolina two or three days before to make sure everything was right and the wedding would have their blessings. Jessica had told Melvin that she would need to build a Clinic for treatment of large animals somewhere on the property and have a few corals for different animals. She went on to tell him exactly where she thought it needed to be on his property as she had already identified the piece from his address on Goggle Earth. Melvin had agreed and they had finished the call with her telling him to have a good time with his friends at the races for the next few days as there would be a new Sheriff in town come Monday and he would be taken. Not knowing how to take that Melvin closed with, “I hope the leash isn’t held to tight…” and laughed as he hung up the phone.

An hour or so later after the Doctor had finished examining Sandy and the house was beginning to settle down for the night, six-hundred or so miles north at Dulles International Airport a private charter jet registered to South Carolina firm rolled to a stop in front of an open hangar. Moments later the steps were dropped and two young rich young men emerged from the plane along with a sharply attired middle-aged business man. As they started towards the awaiting limousine with the door already opened by a Chauffeur. Standing about sixty yards away at the next hangar in the shadows stood one of DC’s best private detectives a former FBI investigator was lying in ambush. The detective was firing the trigger on a high dollar Canon digital camera with a Canon 28–300mm f/3.5–5.6L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens as fast as the camera would allow.

His firms two other partners were already stationed and waiting to follow the limousine to its drop off points for more candid camera moments. Each covering an exit and waiting to hear from the photographer as to when they were leaving and the direction of travel. Their work, this night would be long and prosperous for information and their firm. The second piece of high tech electronic gear that the private investigator was using actually supplied all the information that was needed. The directional boom microphone recording the conversation of the three individuals from the time they left the plane until the Chauffer closed his front door. The text of that conversation would be as they say in the business the smoking gun. The report would be in Celeste’s email the next morning right after breakfast. The submitted report text and pictures from the Private Investigators firm would bring a large smile to her and her mentors face when they read the account of the findings.

Around five fifteen the next morning Melvin was getting into the shower knowing he needed to wash the massive amount of body odor his body had created the night before. The odor from the Adrenalin rush, sweat and worry caused by the commotion and emotions of Sandy being missing and then found under less than an ideal situation. The whole episode draining him of energy and almost all of his ability to cope. Letting the hot water cascade over his head and shoulders and down his body for about ten minutes before actually moving to wash the stench away. Melvin just enjoying the soothing hot waters release of the tension in his shoulders neck and back. The tense muscles still present from his anti-climactic rescue of his niece a job that really wasn’t required because of his good friend Eddie Crowe being there for her rescue and safe keeping till Melvin arrived.

Getting out of the shower with the whole bathroom fogged up from the long hot shower, he realized that having a on demand hot water heater may be a real-life saver this morning. Especially for anyone else that wanted to take a hot shower any time soon. Getting dressed in his hunting clothes and putting on his very old Stetson Fedora in a charcoal gray that was his good luck hunting hat.

Putting on the Fedora made Melvin think of why he loved the hat so much. The Stetson was a special gift from BethAnn, she had purchased the hat for him when they were together before her death. His first love had lovingly told him that a gentleman didn’t wear a ball cap all the time he needed a hat for special occasions and Church. Melvin thought it was a ridiculous and expensive gift and that he would never wear it. Feeling that it just wasn’t him, or his style or his lack of style. The truth was far from what he thought, BethAnn had paid for a fitting of the hat and they went and had the hat fitted to his head. It was the most comfortable cover to use a military term for any hat he had ever worn and fit him perfectly. He started wearing the hat all the time and even bought himself a straw version for the summer. It took almost ten years to wear the hat out, where it looked too beat up for even a work hat. At that time, he made it his hunting hat and killed his biggest buck ever the first time he wore the Fedora to the field. In his heart he knew that BethAnn had sent the buck to him.

Melvin returning back to the here and now picked up his hunting bag with grunt calls, cover scents and other stuff needed for the hunt along with his rifle. Melvin quietly shut off his bedroom light and went to fill his hydration bladder with unsweet tea and get a bite to eat in the kitchen.

Arriving at the kitchen and walking in he was surprised to see Grand Central station in action. Elizabeth was cooking breakfast with the help of Celeste and the Doctor and her assistant were setting and drinking coffee. Jimmy was walking in from the living room and was asking when breakfast was going to be ready. He was followed closely by Eddie Crowe, seeking the same answer but saying, “Elizabeth, that Bacon smells good is that Applewood that my nose detects. It is my favorite, especially the thick sliced.”

“You got it Eddie, thick and Applewood smoked. We are having cheese grits, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, bacon and homemade biscuits. I knew I couldn’t cook breakfast without biscuits for Melvin and my girls. The three of them would gang up on me and send me down the river.”

Having not been noticed, Melvin laid down his hunting gear on a coffee table and joined the morning conversation, saying, “You got that right Elizabeth, did any of you even go to bed? I went before any of you and it seemed like my phone alarm went off about two minutes after my head hit the pillow, this morning.”

Elizabeth replied, “Hey, sleepy head. I thought you were going hunting this morning and we all beat you up. What’s up with that?” With a laugh that said, she was just giving her friend a hard time. Continuing she added, “Most of us went to bed right after you went to bed. The Doctor and her Assistant need to be over on the other side of the lake in about an hour. Jimmy is going to take them so we decided to make them a good breakfast for their efforts for Sandy and us, on a Holiday away from their family.”

“Celeste and I have some cooking to complete for Thanksgiving Dinner that I didn’t get finished last night anyway. Do you want to eat or just take a couple of biscuits with you to the stand? I will fix you a bag if you want to take them with you, Melvin.”

Melvin Asked, “Nah, I got plenty of time. Has anybody checked on Sandy. Is she still asleep and alright?”

The Doctor answered the questioning Uncle, “She is fine Mr. Cudd. I was just up there with her. I gave her a light sedative to make sure she got a good night’s sleep. She should sleep till ten o’clock or so by my calculations and dosage. I have also given Elizabeth a prescription for anxiety if she has any episodes. During my examination, she did not show any signs of that but it is a fairly common occurrence. Your niece is fine both physically and mentally is my professional opinion and should be fine and ready for school by Monday.”

Melvin replied, “Thanks Doc…”

After eating a delicious breakfast and seeing Jimmy off with the Doctor and her Assistant in his Ford F-350; Melvin went to the garage and pulled out the Razor and drove it to within about a hundred and fifty yards of his tree stand. Getting out he pulled his bottle of Wildlife research Scent Killer Gold and generously sprayed the solution on his clothes and especially the bottom of his boots. After spraying his clothing with the scent eliminator, he turned on his head lamp walked to his tree stand and climbed the twenty steps to the top of his tree. Settling into the spacious custom home built stand he turned off his head lamp and listened to the night sounds in the pre-dawn darkness of the woods.

Melvin had perched in this same exact spot for many years having bought the land long before he was able to build his home. Buying the land and then starting to improve the land by cutting a road into the land. Then selling some old growth timber off the land and then clearing and grubbing some of those tracts after the logging was completed. The money generated from the sale of the timber and being turned around and put right back into the improvements being made to the property. Facing southwest the stand was a perfect morning stand for the rising and sun and the wind which blew in the general direction of the lake and in the shooter face at most times. Pulling on his shooting gloves in the cold late autumn pre-dawn morning, Melvin listened to the forest world awakening for the new day. The first true loud sound was that of a flock of Turkey’s on the roost getting ready for descent to the ground.

Thinking many years ago a native Indian may have been on this same ridge-line hunting the forefathers of the Turkeys in the trees this morning. The very same birds getting ready to drop to the forest floor and then out into the field to feed today. With the arrival of pre-dawn and the light bouncing off the clouds glowing a beautiful pre-dawn orange, a Squirrel to his right began to fuss and chatter at some perceived predator. A caw from across the way from an early rising crow added to the morning symphony of forest sounds. With more and more light coming from the eastern skies Melvin sat in wonder, this time of the morning being what really put him in the stand. The high dollar seat to God’s creation awakening was as they say priceless. First light in the field in front of him betraying an empty but promising patch of turnips along the edge of the field and a full ring one harrow width wide of Pennington Rackmaster Deluxe Fall blend. A combination that had been bringing large and healthy deer to this same food plot for years.

The glistening and sparkles of the morning light shimmering from the nights heavy frost. That and the cloud of vapor coming from each and every breath reminded Melvin of the winter that was nearing. His thoughts turning immediately to Jessica and how the cold of the South Carolina Piedmont region would affect her being from the deep south Southern Mississippi. The thought process taking him to a conclusion that told him that love conquers all. Down deep in his heart Melvin knew without a doubt that he was one lucky man to have Jessica Mars MVM as his true love and Lady.

Melvin deep in thought about a lovely lady, was also hoping for that big doe or young Buck to step out of the hard wood forest line and come to graze in the food plot. Knowing that if one would come to the buffet he had supplied it would entice others to the banquet prepared just for them. Hearing the soft grunt of a deer off to his left from deep in the woods brought the hunter instincts alive in Melvin. He eased his rifle up from being propped against the shooting rail around the stand. A rail covered from top to the bottom of the floor of the stand with camouflage painted burlap with a couple of small slits to help keep the wind from moving the cover too much.

Melvin eased the lens caps off the rifle scope and laid the fore stock of the rifle on the shooting rail. Fighting the urge to hurry and moving like a glacier, he brought his Vortex Razor HD 12X50 binoculars to his eyes. The binoculars were a great plus for looking into the trees across the way where he heard the grunt. The clarity on the Vortex lenses being a vast improvement s on his old pair of cheap Tasco binoculars. The Vortex had been a gift from Jimmy for Christmas a couple of years prior. The binoculars enabling him to see maybe six rows deep into the forest proper. The first movement being about forty yards closer than the area he thought was a direct line to the field from the grunt.

The flick of a white tail in between a couple of large oaks and a Holly tree being his first reward for his patience and stealth. The glimpse of the deer gone before the decision could be established doe or buck. Easing the glass down from his eyes to widen his field of view, Melvin started systematically gridding the area where he had seen the tail of the deer. Three minutes of hard scanning for any movement or any piece of forest that looked out of place was rewarded with another quick vestige of sight. The sight the first steps of a leading doe of a group of three young does came out of the forest and quickly buried their heads into the Rackmaster ripe green foliage along the edge of the pasture. The three does moving and eating with their heads buried in Clover and turnips as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

Watching the three does work their way away from the stand, Melvin continued to use his binoculars and his senses to hear, see or smell any deer that may be sneaking into the field or by his stand. Again, putting the Razor’s to his eyes he began to do a grid by grid search of the forest where the does had emerged earlier. Moments later while he worked the grids his ears not his eyes heard the soft grunt and the snap of a limb breaking in the forest. This time the sounds came from the right side of his stand. Slowly moving only his eyes to his left and looking for the source of his attention, he saw nothing. Knowing that he needed an expanded view he moved his head to the right at well-spaced turns of no more than three to five degrees in magnitude. The movement probably taking two minutes he finally had his head turned for enough to see the edge of the tree line on the other side of the field. Looking and seeing nothing, he wondered if his mind had actually just imagined the soft grunt. After watching for about five minutes he turned his head back to the middle where with his peripheral vision he could see both edges of the field.

When he began his first grid, as if by magic the large tan warrior had slipped into the field and was giving chase to the three does. Melvin eased the rifle into the pocket of his shoulder and indexed the rifle towards the deer. Doing this while looking over the top of the scope until he came in line with the magnificent beast in the field approximately two-hundred yards to his left. Bringing his eye to the scope and finding the eye relief he indexed the power of the scope up to about eight or nine power and viewed the buck.

Counting three on one side and a brow tine he went to the other, four plus a brow tine a nine pointer. A rack that with probably a twenty-two-inch spread, a shooter buck by his criteria for his property here in South Carolina. Melvin now needed to check the age to see if it met shooter criteria. The back of the buck was very flat and he had a little gray around his nose and a big neck and shoulders for this part of the state. A definite shooter buck, all things saying yes to the buck being a shooter. With the decision made, Melvin pushed the safety forward and pulled the buttstock of the Ruger deeper into the pocket of his shoulder. Settling the crosshairs of the scope about two inches above the top of the front shoulder on the deer, he took a deep breath. Waited a moment and eased his finger onto the trigger. Releasing about half of his breath he made sure there was nothing behind the deer and began the methodical application of pressure to the trigger. The rifle going off moments later at the application of two and a half pounds of pressure as if by its own decision. The one-hundred and sixty-five grain ballistic tip bullet leaving the end of the barrel at a little over thirty-two hundred feet per second. The result was heard a fraction of a second later as the projectile whacked into the side of the deer passing through both lungs and the heart before blowing out the rib cage on the other side. The deer took one step forward on impact and fell where he stood.

Both happy and a little sad or melancholy Melvin looked skyward and thanked his maker and savior for the blessing of the bounty. After his quick prayer he looked at his Seiko Kinetic dive watch and thought to himself. I was close it is about eight fifteen instead of seven fifteen. Having had a deer get up and run off while he got down out of his stand one time before, made him sit and pause. Melvin waited ten full minutes for the deer to bleed out and make sure it was dead by looking for any movement through his rifle scope. Deciding the deer was indeed dead he finally got down out of his chair and counted the two hundred and thirty-six paces to his deer. The deer having eight-inch G2s and seven-inch brow tines with one split just a little at the top was a good deer for South Carolina. Wouldn’t make any Boone and Crockett books but a good deer none the less and worthy of mounting, if one was into that type thing.

After checking out his deer, he walked back and retrieved the ATV and drove the vehicle back to near where the deer lay, making sure to stay off the planted food plots. Walking over to the deer Melvin pulled out his trusty skinning knife a CRKT Serengeti Hunter removing the blade from a horizontal carry custom kydex sheath on his left front abdomen carry. The knife system was the best one he had ever used and as a folder had many advantages over other combination skinning and capping knives. The Serengeti scales of the folder were actually two small knives about four inches in length, one removable scale was a hawksbill caping knife and the other side scale was a detail skinner. The main blade being a 3.5-inch classic skinning blade that was easy to keep razor sharp. The only problem or negative Melvin could ever complain about was the clips that held on the scale blades sometimes caught on the nylon sheath that had accompanied the knife.

A friend of Melvin’s had made him a kydex belt sheath and that problem was solved. Opening the Serengeti, he used the main blade to unzip the abdomen of the buck, careful to not puncture the intestines or the stomach. Letting the innards breath for a moment he donned a pair of Nitrile gloves he carried in his hunting bag for just this occasion. He pulled the innards out of the deer onto the ground, cutting the cords that were hanging inside the carcass to allow the bodies organs to fall free. Knowing that Elizabeth would want the Liver he made sure to put it and the heart in a trash bag he carried. After field dressing the deer he loaded the deer onto the back of the ATV and headed back towards his home, friends and now family.

As Melvin drove the ATV back towards the house, thousands of miles away in the Kremlin, Putin was meeting with his advisors on the status of the coming attack. After talks of the attack the next morning, Putin decided he wanted to play a wild card and tomorrow morning to shut down the northeastern power grid in America. This being done, to as he put it show them what it was like to be cold and a fore warning of their future existences. Putin wanted to attack the RFC part of the grid to show them a lesson because it controlled Maryland and part of DC. Many of his advisors argued with a change in plans. Especially an intricate plan that had been war gamed to death, arguing that they could actually ruin the master plan by changing it this early in the process. Putin won and decided he wanted the Northeast grid to go down precisely at ten o’clock EST in the middle of one of the biggest shopping days in America. The advisors lost and the FSB they were tasked with shutting down the grid by ten am in the morning using their computer hacking teams to do the job.

Jimmy had delivered the Doctor and her Assistant to the awaiting helicopter and the Doctor had given him a couple of her cards just in case she was needed again for Sandy. She told Jimmy that the young girl seemed to be doing just fine after the second examination in less than six hours. She added that sometimes these ordeals have lingering effects or time delayed triggers in some patients. The Doctor had given all this information to Elizabeth and Celeste but thought that Jimmy needed the information as much as the Ladies. She knew that Melvin would probably be calling as soon as he returned from the hunting trip and she wanted to make sure that he had her number and knew that Jimmy would give his friend the card. Arriving back to the carport with the Super Duty at the same time that Melvin pulled up in the Razor with the big deer in the back of the ATV.

Seeing his friend and partner, Melvin hollered at Jimmy saying, “You are just the person I want to see. I need a strong back and a weak mind and you are immensely qualified in both criteria for the job.” Laughing at his friend as Jimmy walked over to see the nice Buck in the bed of the ATV.

Jimmy peering at the 130-class buck replied, “I see you are back to your bothersome self. I was afraid last night might have done my good friend permanent damage. Glad to see I was wrong, you going to cape this deer and take it to the processor. I think we have time, pull around to the back and I will bring the spreader bar and the half drum for the waste.”

“That’ll work, I need you to take this into Miss Elizabeth. She will want to put it in the refrigerator, I am sure. Tell here after we dress the deer we will bring in the backstrap for tonight. Tell her to put the backstrap in milk to soak. He never took but a small step, one never knows about the adrenalin, better safe than sorry. I would hate to ruin a good backstrap,” said Melvin handing the sack of deer innards to Jimmy and got into the Razor.

Forty-five minutes or so later after dropping the deer off to the processor and telling him he wanted as much as possible done in Cube streak and the rest in hamburger and add five to seven percent beef fat to the deer burger. Bringing the horns with them after having the processor cut them off with a power saw attached to the skull. Jimmy said, “I know you are not going to mount those horns, can I have them. I think they are about the perfect size for a set of rattlin’ horns. I have those plastic ones or whatever they are made out of, I think real horns are going to make a better sound.”

Heading home the pair were in a deep discussion about the next thirty days or so at work. Melvin explaining to Jimmy that he needed for him to carry the load as Jessica was coming to South Carolina early. So she could set up her practice and for them to get married sometime around Christmas. Jimmy had replied, “No problem, I got ya man. You never take off any time. Elizabeth and I can handle it and if not, we know where you live and you have your phone number on speed dial. And besides that, if you need any help with getting her building set up or anything we will help get that done also. You have always been there for us, let us be there for you my friend.”

Melvin answered, “Thanks Jimmy that means a lot to me. Now, I have one more big favor to ask… Will you stand up for me at the Wedding and be my Best Man. I know it is a lot to ask and I will not be….”

Jimmy quickly replied breaking into the question from Melvin, “Yes man. You know that I will. It would be a big honor to do that for you and Jessica. When is the date and you know I will look killer in a Tux.”

Grinning at his friend, Melvin said, “Yeah, that is very important for my Wedding for you to look good in a Tux. Probably won’t be that kind of a Wedding, thought we would have it at the Chapel at our Church. Just a private affair, Sandy, Patrick, Elizabeth, you and a few friends. Probably just her Dad and Brother from her side, since they are from Mississippi. I am guessing no more than thirty people tops. Probably have the reception back here at the house and have food catered, by the place downtown that does the cakes and all. I can’t think of the name of it but you know the one.”

Jimmy said, “Chelio’s, yeah that is where the pies came from for dinner today. I think we need to get on home. If we are late Eddie will eat it all up and Elizabeth and Celeste will be mad. Both things are a lose, lose situation for me.”

Getting back to the lake house the pair went their separate ways, Jimmy in to check on lunch and Melvin around to the patio to have a little privacy as he called his honey. Hitting Jessica’s number on his HTC One he was rewarded just moments later by the voice of his beautiful bride to be. “Hey good looking,” Jessica cooed into his ear making his heart jump and race away.

Melvin said, “Hey yourself, pretty lady. What are you doing this fine Thanksgiving morning?”

Jessica replied, “Getting dinner ready for the family and been admiring that big buck you killed this morning. Kevin and Dad can’t believe that is an average size deer. It wouldn’t be a state record by any means, there are some big old bucks in the swamps of Mississippi they are just ghost most of the time. Kevin was looking on the internet to see what it takes to get an out of state hunting license for South Carolina. He wants to go when they come up for the wedding and Dad said he would also if it wasn’t too much to ask of you and your property.”

Melvin replied, “You know they are more than welcome. Only a couple of people hunt my land and none of us hunt it much. That is my first time this year and the season opened the first of September for primitive weapons.”

“My deer may be a little better than average, but he is a fairly typical shooter buck for most any hunter that doesn’t just shoot anything with horns. We have a pretty good deer herd here in South Carolina in population and deer management. We have a liberal hunting season that keeps the herd vibrant and doesn’t let it get over populated. That and some good key game management by our hunters through the years has helped it to grow. That deer type is the results of hard work and game management practices.”

“Forget about the deer, how are you doing, I miss you a bunch and tell your dad and Kevin hello and they can surely hunt and kill everyday while they are here if they want to.”

Jessica replied, “I am ready to get traveling towards my new home and my future husband. Kevin has already loaded most of my trailer that I am going to pull. My other stuff is set up for the big truck to come on Friday to pick up the rest of the equipment. I sure am glad Sandy was alright last night. Even though I hate to say this we better get off the phone. I talked with Elizabeth a few minutes ago and she said they were waiting on you and Jimmy to get back to eat Thanksgiving dinner and I have a few things to finish myself. I love you and will see you on Monday, my sweet man.”

The conversation ended with Melvin telling her he couldn’t wait to see her and hold her in his arms. Finished he walked into the house through the patio door and up the stairs to a waiting group of friends and family. Seeing Sandy standing near the kitchen window looking out he walked up and said, “Sandy, I hate I was not there for you last night and I hope you can forgive me for not being there when you needed me. I promised I would always keep you safe, can you forgive me.”

Sandy jumped into Melvin’s arms and he caught her like a feather and held her as she told him that it was her fault for being gone without permission and that she didn’t want to be like her Mom.

Melvin cradling her in his arms replied, “Sandy, you are nothing like your Mom. She would have went with the flow just to be with those rich kids and maybe have a chance at their money. You were strong and fought them off to keep your dignity and name clean.”

Elizabeth with her arms around her daughters, Fran and Beth said, “Hey everyone why don’t we have a minute of silent praise for all our many blessings and then Melvin can bless all this bounty we have here for dinner.” Looking directly into Melvin’s eyes from across the room and giving him a slight nod.

Melvin nodded back and started, “Everyone gathered here today let’s bow our heads and like Eli said take a minute to reflect and thank the good Lord above for our blessings and all our loved ones gathered here today and in other places….” Bowing his head and silently thanking God for his new love in Jessica, his Niece and Nephew and his new-found responsibilities as their parent. Melvin continued thanking God for his partners and friends Elizabeth and Jimmy adding Eddie, his partner Laurens, and Celeste to his list of family members.

After about a minute, started, “Lord this day we thank you for your love, mercy, and omnipresence in our lives. We thank you for all your blessings including the gift of your Son for our sins and all other blessings that we know all come from thee. God we also today thank you for friends, family and keeping us all safe and in your arms. Thanks for the food and this day and your love. With all our love and thanks, Amen.”

A chorus of Amen’s came from almost everyone in the house. As Sandy continued to hug her Uncle she looked up at him and smiled for the first time since the incident. A smile that warmed the heart of her Uncle and caretaker making him feel strong and needed. As he was looking at his niece Elizabeth said, “Everyone form a line and serve yourself. We have all kinds of food and deserts and we have Sweet and un-sweet tea, Coke and water in the line. The wine for those who partake and the glasses are already on the table. Dig in and eat all you want we have plenty and there is more still on the oven and in the fridge. I made two large pans of dressing and macaroni and cheese. We also have sliced tomatoes, Cucumbers and Onions on the table along with Cranberry sauce.”

Melvin said, “Elizabeth thanks for all your hard work and I am ready to eat. Thanks all for coming to my home to enjoy this time with each other and food. Now let me get in front of Patrick and Eddie because they might eat it all.” Starting walking towards the line, the food and his family.

A couple of hours or so later found the guys Melvin, Jimmy, Eddie, and Patrick watching the Thanksgiving Day NFL football game. Laurens had bowed out after dinner and headed home. A game that had become almost as much of a tradition in America as Turkey and dressing on Thanksgiving afternoon. Jimmy said, “Hey do any of you want a piece of pie or something. I didn’t have room at lunch after all that great food. I want some now, I am going to have the Pecan Pie with the butter pecan ice cream. Anybody else want anything while I go upstairs.”

Eddie said, “The same for me, with double ice cream on mine.” With Patrick and Melvin saying they were still full and might get some later.

As Jimmy got up and walked out of the room Eddie asked, “We still on for Phenix City tomorrow morning, or not. Either way I think I am going, have not seen hardly any races since the spring. My friends I am ready to hear and feel the rumble of nine-hundred horsepower super late models and hopefully see our friend show them the way every night.”

[gipsy]

In his rearview mirror

[223shootersc]

Aug 2, 2023 16:37:58 GMT -6 texican said:

Aug 2, 2023 11:44:59 GMT -6 223shootersc said:

Texican,

Thanks for the kind words. They are appreciated, as always. However, you misspoke, there are now 14 completed chapters and almost a 15th chapter.

223shootersc

223,

Don't have chapter 14 and 15 sounds good too. Will read if you send over.

Texican....

Texican,

Care package sent, did you receive?

[feralferret]

223shootersc, another fine chapter. Thank you.

[texican]

Aug 4, 2023 21:03:48 GMT -6 223shootersc said:

Aug 2, 2023 16:37:58 GMT -6 texican said:

223,

Don't have chapter 14 and 15 sounds good too. Will read if you send over.

Texican....

Texican,

Care package sent, did you receive?

Yep.

Now will have to go read Chapter Five after taking care of the Care Package.

Texican....

[223shootersc]

Chapter 5

Early the next morning after telling Sandy and Patrick, he would see them in a couple of days and to mind Elizabeth and Celeste. Celeste had decided and agreed to stay around for the weekend and reminded Melvin that her assistant Anita would be arriving for the weekend before ten am today. Celeste and Anita staying in case they got a response to the civil suits that were going to the three parties that morning. Melvin walked over to Elizabeth and said, “Make sure you expense everything you bought to the company and here is a little something for cooking and taking care of the kids this weekend….” Having to put up his hand in the universal sign for stop or halt he added, “I know you didn’t ask for it or expect it. Elizabeth you have been a treasure for a long time but since Jimmy and I got back from Mississippi you have actually did more than I could ever expect.”

Elizabeth said, “Thanks but not necessary. We are family like you have always told us. This year it seemed to come to life for me. Sandy and Patrick will be here when you get back, go have a good time and I will see ya in a couple of days. I am going to do a little extra cleaning around here before Jessica gets here so she does not think you are a Neanderthal and run back home to Mississippi.” Laughing at the look she got from Melvin because he always thought he kept a straight and clean house and by most bachelor standards she would have to agree. It just didn’t have a women’s type of clean or touch.

Melvin said, “Either way, it is yours and there should be enough money there also for tacos, pizza or burgers a couple of nights for all of you. Whatever the kids want and do not let Patrick make all the decision but do not leave him out with all y’all girls here and him without any backup from us guys.” Getting the not us girls look from Elizabeth, Celeste and Sandy after they heard what he had to say.

Eddie stuck his head in the door and said, “Time to roll Big, we already put your travel case in the truck and Jimmy has the bag breakfast that Ms. Elizabeth and Celeste made for us to take on the trip.” Motioning with his arm for his friend to hustle up so they could make tracks towards Alabama.

Waving bye and heading for the door Melvin thought, what am I missing and then it hit him and he turned and went to his bedroom. Returning with his BOB that Jessica and her family had prepared for him and his case with the rifle and brace plus one of Glock 34 pistols and dozen loaded magazines for his rifle and the Glocks both. Feeling a little better prepared and ready for the trip he went out the door hollering Bye to everyone over his shoulder. He closed the front door heading for the truck. Where the Fostech Origin 12 rode over the visors in a custom bracket and the Fostech SBV rode between the front seats in its mounts designed by Kevin and installed before he had left Mississippi on his way home.

Opening the door of his Ford F-350 that was already backed up to the door and running, he asked, “Are we ready to travel or do either of you need a bathroom break. Because we got miles to go before, we sleep and a bunch of dirt racing to see….”

“Eddie did you talk with Smoke and tell him our agenda for today and see if he would be available or are we just making it up as we go. Either way I am ready for a good time and some great racing action. How about you two clowns?”

A few minutes after Melvin pulled onto a major highway heading south west, Jimmy handed him a homemade Cathead biscuit that had been buttered and then filled with scrambled egg and sausage, wrapped in a paper towel. Jimmy also, handing Eddie one into the backseat and pulled out a double egg biscuit for himself with a slice of Sharp cheddar between the eggs. Jimmy said, “I already blessed them for the three of us, but if you would like to say something go ahead guys.”

Eddie said, “I said a quick one before I opened mine…” and Melvin just grunted “umm...,” in acknowledgement and nodded his head as he had a big bite of the biscuit in his mouth already. As he chewed and drove the big Ford towards the Interstate with the cruise on fifty-nine miles per hour. The big truck with the new additions by his future Father and Brother-in-law making it drive and ride like a German touring car on steroids.

About thirty minutes later the trio got onto Interstate 85 heading south for Phenix City, just as the Russians started dumping their holdings in American T-bills. It would take them all day but they dumped over seventy-five percent of their holdings and all of their sister states did the same. It wouldn’t be like the Chinese dumping their holdings but this was just the first move in a chess game. The second move was already starting to materialize as the Russian FSB hackers where almost to the core of the Northeastern electrical grid. They would be there in plenty of time according to their Department head when asked by one of Putin’s aides if everything was proceeding as scheduled. The computer department head stated that all was on schedule and the power would go out at ten o’clock exactly as planned.

Putin after hearing the news said, “I want to speed up the timetable again, activate our cell in Houston and the one in San Francisco. I want to set off the bombs in the harbor and sink a big container ship in each port blocking the harbor. After that they are to disappear and get out of the country the San Francisco cell to Canada and the Houston team to Mexico. Initiate the orders for the execution for Sunday night in both cities, 9:00 pm Central time and 7:00pm Pacific so the powers that be will know that it wasn’t just random. They will feel our delivered fear and will know we did the electrical grid also even if they cannot prove a thing or a connection, they will know we are in control. We will have no mercy for our longtime nemesis.

As Putin was talking, in America the CIA counter-intelligence and counter-hack anti-cyberterrorism team was right on the heels of the Russian team trying to hack the grid. Following them silently and throwing up a new roadblock three-layers deep in front of the hackers every time they unlocked one door. The head of the department sent the message up his chain of command and asked if he could send the hackers a torpedo carrying a destruction worm or did they just want to open a backdoor into their system. He also wanted to know how long to let them root around in the system before he got to in his words, “bitch-slap the heathens back to the cave they came out of today.”

The answer would come down from the head of the CIA for his group to open the back door. Then to let them do whatever they were going to do while his team mined the Russian computers on a counter-hack. The team then could stop it cold and send the torpedo with the self-destruct worm after they had mined the Russians system for everything that was in the system. The ex-computer hacker smiled and thought to himself the spooks really know how to throw a party. Thinking back to how they had caught him the first time he had hacked the Pentagon for fun and frolic as a sixteen-year-old kid with two of his buddies who were both working for the CIA and still with him and working on the project today.

As the men drove down the highway for some fun and relaxing yet exciting dirt track racing, Elizabeth and Celeste were talking about the guys. Both were trying to figure out what they were going to do on Black Friday. Celeste reminding Elizabeth she had to run into town and meet with Sandy and Patrick’s father and not to mention it to the siblings. The pair of friends decided that a trip to Greenville was in order after her meeting. Setting their sights on the malls along with a trip to Cabela’s for some Christmas shopping, were on the agenda. Patrick hearing the Ladies talking said, “Can I just stay here and watch the football games and maybe go do a little fishing off the dock in the afternoon. I wouldn’t mind going to Cabela’s but I surely don’t want to be in that mob at the mall today. Elizabeth could you pick me up a pair of Carhartt pants the double front ones. I have my allowance money from Uncle Melvin it should be enough. I need thirty-four waist by thirty-three length. I want the brown ones but the regular Carhartt color is fine.”

Celeste answered, “We can and will do that for you. Do you need anything else, while we are there, shirts, jackets, under wear or shoes? It is coming up on Christmas you know.”

Patrick thought for a moment and replied, “I really need some underwear. I like the Nike or the Russell compression type with the six inch or better leg, the nine-inch being my top choice. I need V-neck t-shirts dri-fit if you can find them. It would be nice to get some shirts and another pair of pants. Most of my winter stuff is too small, Mom didn’t get us any new stuff last year. The only winter clothes I got were the ones from Melvin I got for Christmas.”

Elizabeth slipped out of the living room and into the kitchen and got her phone, hit the number one and hit send. A couple of rings later, Melvin answered, “Go for Melvin. Elizabeth is there a problem we haven’t been gone and hour hardly?”

Elizabeth replied, “Yes and no. The problem is that Patrick just told us that he didn’t have hardly any winter clothes that fit him with the way he was growing and the fact that he was not bought any last year.”

Melvin said, “That’s not true he asked for clothes for Christmas last year and I know I got him a couple of pairs of pants a few shirts and a hoodie that he wanted, socks and dri-fit long underwear bottoms he didn’t want any tops.”

“Melvin, I think that is all he got and he wore them all last year. Having only a couple of changes of clothes and wearing them all the time they are probably pretty worn. He is a teenager too and his friends have probably said something about him wearing the same clothes all the time. I need to get him some clothes today when I go shopping. I will use the money you gave me to get him and Sandy some new threads and shoes.”

Melvin said, “No you won’t, use the company credit card and get them what they need. I will pay the card off myself at the end of the month. That and get yourself and the girls new coats and winter boots on me for the job you are doing thanks for being there for me and the kids, Elizabeth….”

“Elizabeth before you start. Please just do this for me and don’t say you and the girls don’t need new coats, you know I can afford a few clothes. Heck you can even order me a few pair of Carhartt or Duluth pants also. Go ahead and get you a pair of those Fire hose pants you always say you want to try from Duluth, when you order mine. We can wear them on the same day to work and be twins,” said Melvin laughing in to the phone at the thought of them being twins. The thought reminded him of an old movie from years ago about two odd twins and that would be them.

Elizabeth replied, “You know, you don’t have to do this. The girls love staying over here and hanging out in their room as they call it and going for rides in the ATV and to the lake. So, it is no trouble for me to be here for the weekend. They do need new coats they both have out grown their last years jackets. Thanks, Big for all you do for me and the girls. Now we are okay, you got us through the times when we weren’t okay financially and I will never forget that. Now get on down the road to Alabama. How is traffic by the way?”

Melvin replied, “So far not too bad. I know Atlanta will be a mad house, like always getting through there and out the back side. I will talk with you tonight before the races start probably around eight o’clock Eastern time. Bye.”

As Melvin and Elizabeth were discussing clothing for the kids and him, in Mississippi Jessica was having breakfast with her Father and Brother and making an announcement. The declaration was that she was leaving today right after breakfast for South Carolina. Everything was packed and the other stuff was going by carrier and she wanted to be with her Melvin. Her reasoning was that today everybody would be shopping and on her planned day of travel everyone would be going home from visiting family for Thanksgiving. She figured she could be at Melvin’s by eight o’clock tonight easily and if she had problems going through Atlanta, she would just stop and get a room for the night and be there Saturday by lunch time.

Her Father Jack had an proclamation of his own, saying, “Baby girl, Kevin and I figured as much, when you were hustling around getting packed and ready the last week or so. We have made plans of our own. Our bags are packed in Kevin’s truck and we are going to follow you up to South Carolina and help you get settled in to your new practice. Neither of us have really seen that part of the country and seeing that nice buck that Melvin killed sealed the deal. Kevin got us all out of state hunting license and booked us a Deer and Hog hunt at a plantation in South Carolina for week after next.”

“Neither of us have taken a vacation in years and Tony and Chuck can run the shop. Unless you totally are against it we are going to follow you to your new home and help you get settled in, then go on the hunt. Then we all will go to the three-gun match in North Carolina, get you married and then see the New Year in with you in South Carolina and then head back home. Hope that doesn’t cramp your style or hurt your feelings.”

She reached and grabbed her Daddy and gave him a big hug with tears running down her eyes, she said, “Nothing could make me happier except that the two of you were moving to South Carolina to stay. Melvin will be thrilled and if he happens to call either of you don’t tell him our plans I want it to be a surprise.” Reaching over and pulling Kevin into her now group embrace.

Kevin’s only comment was that if the deer were as big as the one Melvin killed on his first morning back hunting, convincing him to stay wouldn’t be a problem. He knew that he could make a living working on four-wheel drive trucks anywhere in the country. His comment was that there was mud for guys and gals to play in anywhere it rained. Adding that they were ready to go whenever she was ready. He had already filled up both trucks this morning from the shop diesel tank and checked all the tire pressures and fluids.

Jessica pulled away from her Father and Brother and said, “I love you two and this just blows me away. If you are really serious, then let’s get moving. I will clean up the kitchen and the two of you can make sure everything is shut down that needs to be and we will get out of here. The only question is the northern route through Hattiesburg and Birmingham or the southern through Mobile and Montgomery.”

Her Dad and Brother at almost the exact same time said, “The northern route.” Explaining that they ran the southern route over to Mobile all the time to get parts and go to the auction. They wanted to take the northern route to see the sites. The two taking on this trip like it was a vacation instead of a move like it was for Jessica.

About an hour later as they were heading up Interstate 59 about half way to Hattiesburg, Jack was riding with Jessica with Kevin following them in his F-550 truck. Melvin, Jimmy and Eddie where still on Interstate 85 heading south passing the Chateau and winery near Flowery Branch heading for Atlanta. They were making good time and thought they would be in Phenix City by lunch time easily if Atlanta traffic didn’t throw them a curve. Making small talk Melvin said, “Guys have you been noticing how much more expensive fuel is since we crossed into Georgia. It is like thirty-five to forty cent a gallon more since we crossed the line.”

While Melvin was talking, the Russian FSB cyber unit had their first real glimpse of the promised land for shutting down the power grid. Someone probably the CIA had been blocking their every move all morning. The head of the cyber unit called his boss and told him they could shut the power grid down in the northeast of America right now, an hour from now he didn’t know. Telling him that all the pathways they had created before had been closed and every time they got near opening a new door into the system it was slammed in their face. Right this minute they could shut the grid down, five minutes, maybe even five seconds from now maybe not. The boss had told him he would run it up the ladder, but not to do it unless it was precisely ten o’clock like Putin had told them to do. Waiting and trying to keep the portal open was trying the cyber unit managers nerves.

As it was all they could do to keep the pathway open, finally after about twenty frantic minutes the word came down from Putin to drop the hammer. Ten seconds later in America most of the northeast went dark. Ten minutes later the CIA kicked the Russians out of the computer-controlled grid and turned the lights back on in the northeast, sending the Torpedo and various other system killers to the Russians. A game of cat and mouse would go on for about an hour until finally when the CIA went to start the grid again some switch or relay burned up and started a cascade effect of taking out most of the grid. The Russians getting the results they wanted if not as they designed the outcome.

A traumatic event that the American electrical grid experts told the President might take six weeks to two months to fix. As they were told by their managers the experts were being very optimistic with their predictions. The group not wanting to tell the President it might take four to eight months in reality, if everything went as planned. Finally, the most junior member of the team told the President the truth and the President was not very Presidential with his response and wanted to send the #$%^ Russians a hot tip in return. One that would be measured in kilotons or possibly megatons.

Eddie replied, “Yeah, they have a lot more tax on fuel than we do in South Carolina. Believe it or not our state has some of the lowest fuel taxes in the union. I don’t know why, just that it is true. It was one of those trivia things they tell you in the Sheriff’s monthly meeting from DHS. Like that is going to help you catch a crook or bad guy.”

Jimmy added, “Now that is a good use of my tax dollars. Some idiot in Washington making a six-figure salary preparing a Power Point presentation to tell the County Sheriff’s office that we have a good tax rate on fuel in South Carolina.” The message delivered with as much sarcasm as Jimmy could muster.

Melvin laughed and said, “It beats paying him six-figures to sit at his desk and talk about the weather or their up and coming golf outing with his buddy from next office over, who doesn’t do anything either. At least Eddie knew the answer to why fuel was cheaper in Georgia when I said something about it just now. We would have been in the dark about that piece of information without Homeland Security doing their best to keep the country safe and informed.”

About fifteen minutes later Jessica and her dad heard the same public announcement as many throughout the country. The news of the northeastern grid fail broadcast over the radio as they were heading for South Carolina. The announcement saying that the grid had been overloaded and due to a serious mechanical malfunction. The message adding that many of the grid’s transformers and switching gear had been overloaded and it would take three to four weeks for the repairs to be made to the system. Jessica asked, “Dad what does that mean, to people with electric heat and such? Also, why would this happen, I thought we actually used a lot more electricity in the summer time than in the winter. Everybody has electric air conditioners, but lots of people heat with different types of fuel everything from wood, to coal, to petroleum products along with propane and natural gas.”

Her Dad replied, “Jessica, that is an interesting point you have brought up. You are correct we do have consumption issues in the summer with rolling brown outs and possibly even strategic black outs in places to counter act the rise in demand for electricity in the summer. Maybe like always the government is not telling us the whole truth.”

“I know for years people have been talking about the Northeast grid being vulnerable and needing to be replaced and or at least upgraded. I guess that an overload was inevitable under those circumstances. To answer the other part of your question, it is going to cause a great deal of problems. Some as easy to fix as moving in with a neighbor or family that does heat with fossil fuel. Remember though even if you have a furnace that runs on fuel oil or Natural gas, you have nothing to carry the heat through the house without a fan on the heater”

“Another thing, that is going to be a problem is commerce, how much manufacturing and production of products in the northeast is going to come to a halt. Grocery stores are going to not have frozen food or meat lockers. People with Oxygen generators, hospitals the list goes on and on to more stuff than one can even think. Drinking water and wastewater plants need electricity to run their pumps. Just a lot of problems that can’t be fixed easily. The bottom line is there will be deaths and not just tens of people but hundreds maybe thousands because of this outage and that is just if they are telling us the truth and this isn’t some Terrorist deal or something along those lines.”

Jessica replied, “That is a very harsh view dad, are you sure you are not over reacting to the situation and the possible consequences.”

Jack said, “Babygirl, I surely hope you are right and I am over reacting. I don’t think that I am, only time will reveal the true answer. I do think it would be prudent to order some things. Give me your phone do you know the address for Melvin’s home. I want to have a few things shipped there just in case. I am going to use your phone as a hot spot and make a few on line purchases as we travel. My advice to you is, let us get to your fiancées home and then we can relax a little. I am going to call Kevin and make sure we do not get separated on the drive.”

Jessica handed her dad the phone telling him where she had the address to Melvin’s place on the lake and his business stored. Placing her concentration back on the highway and kept heading north and east. Her foot pressing a little harder on the accelerator and resetting her cruise control up a few more miles per hour. As she was doing that Elizabeth, her daughters Fran and Beth, Sandy, and Celeste were fighting the Black Friday crowds at the mall. The five ladies finding a few great deals as they made their way from one place to the next. The ladies prepared for shopping till they dropped as the old saying goes. They would not have even noticed the loss of power in Yankee land if Sandy’s friend had not texted her telling her of the news. Explaining in numerous texts that it might last as much as a month or more. Her friend wanting to know when Sandy was going to be home and how she was doing after the ordeal last night at the party. Her friend telling her she was a celebrity on the local social media.

Elizabeth said, “We need to get to Cabela’s and then I think we will run by Sam’s and pick up a few things. Just in case the loss of manufacturing effects supply chains even here in the sunny south. I read this article a few years ago about how the electrical grid was all tied together and any thing that put stress on one point put stress on the whole system.”

Celeste replied, “Do you think it could really cause us problems? My condominium in downtown Columbia is all electric and on the fifth floor. The elevator wouldn’t even work for me to get to my home.”

“If the electricity goes out, walking up a few steps is going to be the least of your problems in the big city. What about red lights not working and traffic jams. Manufacturing facilities not working, no ability to have frozen food or even stuff that needs to be cold like milk and stuff,” replied Eli.

Sandy said, “I wish I hadn’t even told you all about this you are really killing my shopping mood and I had a good one going.”

As Sandy was saying this in suburbs outside of San Francisco and Houston six-man teams of Russian sleeper agents were leaving their American lives and heading to a set meeting place for the first time. Some of the sleeper agents had been in place since during the first Cold War others only a short time. Some of the sleeper agents had been waiting for the call for almost forty years, most thinking it would never come from Mother Russia.

The agents had all received a go signal by telephone communications and went straight to their pre-assigned staging areas. All except two, one sleeper agent from the San Francisco team was in Alaska on a cruise ship and didn’t receive the call. He had left his phone at home so as to not be traced while he was out of his assigned area. The other agent had long since decided that he liked America better than Russia and had turned years before. The agent immediately called her Department of Homeland Security FBI contact with the news she had been activated. The agent would run the news up the ladder and their plan was to slip a trained agent into the sleeper cell. They knew that it would be standard protocol for none of the cell members to have any knowledge or contact with the other members for security of the teams.

The FBI brought in the sleeper cell member and started debriefing him on the call and protocols immediately. They had already found an agent that met the general characteristics of the sleeper to be his double once the sleeper turned. He would go to the meeting and would be wearing one of the newest bugs in the business one that was not much bigger than a matchhead. They would also have one of the new flying camera drones that was the size of a fly for the meet and would make sure the fly entered as the agent. It would be a great piece of work by the Homeland Security team stopping the Russians from dropping a container ship in one of the most used harbors in America. The team assigned the attack in San Francisco would all be killed in a shootout in their safe house. This would take place once the FBI team was sure that all of the agents had made it to the assembly area and they found out that the team was planning to sink a ship in the harbor to stop transit and delivery of goods through the port. Only one of the agents would survive the gun battle that raged for less than three minutes. He would die within five hours of his wounds, but not before telling the FBI that at least twenty teams existed in America. He had seen the organization chart during his briefing on being smuggled into America two years prior to being assigned a target.

Around one in the afternoon on Black Friday, Elizabeth and the girls were leaving Cabela’s with quite the haul. All the girls had found coats and Elizabeth had also gotten a Carhartt Full Swing Chore Coat in the dark color Patrick wanted, along with five pairs of pants in the various Carhartt colors. She had also found him a nice pair of Merrell hikers that were Gore-Tex lined and had four hundred grams of Thinsulate material for warmth. As they left the mad house that was the Cabela’s parking lot they got onto Woodruff Road heading towards Sam’s Club the less than two-mile trip took almost an hour due to the Black Friday shoppers and the traffic of Woodruff Road. Finally making the left hand turn into the shopping center Elizabeth asked Hardee’s or the Japanese place and those are the only two options as they are both in this shopping complex. Her girls loved Hibachi Chicken so Fran and Beth immediately hollered, “Japanese Chicken”.

Celeste said, “Works for me. How about you Sandy?”

Sandy immersed in her own world of texting to and froe with her best friend, never heard or at least acknowledged the question from Celeste. Elizabeth turned the SUV towards the small restaurant and looked for a parking place in the full lot. She said, “Ladies help me find a parking place if you see one sing out the location.”

Celeste said, “There is a Suburban pulling out about ten cars down on the left on the next lane. If you hurry maybe we can get that one.”

Elizabeth headed towards the parking place and arrived even before the Chevy SUV had cleared the parking spot and headed out. Elizabeth expertly parked the truck and said, “Girls like before, you either have my hand or Celeste at all times. Do you hear me?”

As the girls were stopping and getting out of the car in Greenville, Melvin and the guys were approaching the Newnan exit on Interstate 85 south of Atlanta. Melvin said, “Guys, I need a bathroom break and maybe we get fuel and a snack. I know a really good place for Fried Chicken and Chicken Livers in Columbus and I would love to eat there if that is alright with the two of you.”

Jimmy said, “That place we used to stop at on the way to Headland, Alabama when we were on that big demolition and remediation project down there? What was that five or six years ago? If that is the one you are talking about, I say you know that’s right.”

Eddie just shrugged his shoulders and said, “Sounds like a winner. I like Fried Chicken and Chicken Livers, so I am good. I could use that bathroom break though myself and the sooner the better.”

As Eddie was speaking Melvin was turning the big Ford F-350 Super Duty off the highway onto the Newnan off ramp. The travelers heading for a truck stop, for diesel fuel, ice tea and restroom break, not necessarily in that order. Driving to the top of the off ramp he turned towards the truck stop and pulled into the fueling lane with a green colored diesel pump. Again, in his mind shaking his head at the difference in cost for the same fuel just because of the taxation difference in the two states. Melvin said, “Y’all two go on inside and get the drinks and whatever snacks you want. Jimmy get me the giant size unsweet tea and two packs of the hot peanuts, Lance if they have that brand they are a little better usually, and…”

Jimmy broke into the request and replied, “How many times have we done this Big? Only about a million and when we are traveling, it is always the same thing, large unsweet tea, two packs of hot peanuts and a large Snickers bar or a white honeybun.” Laughing at the expression on Eddie’s face who did not quite understand that even though Melvin and Jimmy where Boss and employee they were close friends. The pair could really get into each other when it came to giving the other a hard time about something. Leaving Melvin standing about to have a rebuttal and heading into the store as Melvin started to say something and decided it wasn’t worth the effort and a waste of his breath on the Knucklehead he called his best friend.

As Jimmy and Eddie headed for the store, Jimmy to the snack and drink station and Eddie to the Men’s room, Melvin put his American Express Gold card in the pump reader and started pumping Diesel into his truck. While pumping his cell phone rang and he looked to see that it was Jessica. Answering, “Hey Baby, what are you doing? I sure do miss ya.” Saying all without taking a breath or even slowing down.

Jessica replied, “Calling you to say I love you and see what you thought about the power outage situation in the Northeast.”

Melvin a little behind the curve truthfully answered, “Don’t rightly know. I didn’t know there was one. When did this happen?”

Jessica said, “I guess three hours or so ago. It has been all over the news, TV, radio, Internet. How have you missed it?”

Melvin answered, “We been driving and just talking, haven’t had on the radio. Don’t have a TV in the truck and I haven’t looked at my phone for any updates or anything, just been driving and riding towards Alabama. Stopped right now for fuel snacks and a potty break, before stopping for food in about another hour and a half or so in Columbus. Then we will make our way to Phenix City it is right across the River from Columbus.”

Jessica hesitantly said, “What do you think about me ordering some long-term storage foods. Definitely some grains and beans? I think we need that and a few other things, Dad and Kevin agree and will be ordering some things too. Also, maybe some extra ammunition and getting your propane tank filled and a few things like that, as they say just in case.”

Melvin replied, “Honey, you and your family have forgotten more about that kind of thing than I will ever know. I say if y’all think we should then we probably should. Get whatever we need, the only thing that we may need that I know of if the lights go out is a dozen or so cords of wood that is already seasoned and another dozen that is still green. Get with Elizabeth and get her to give you my work American Express card and put everything on it that we need.”

“I have my BOB with me, is there anything you think I might need for the short term. I really don’t think anything will happen like Kevin and you told me about in the next couple of days. But if there is something that I could buy that would help us get home and we might need long term anyway, what would that be?”

Thinking quickly and not wanting to scare her beautiful husband to be she replied, “I know you probably didn’t bring a rifle with you. Did you at least bring the Fostech’s that Kevin built the racks for in your truck?”

Melvin replied positively, “Definitely, I do just like Kevin and your Father told me. At the house and in the garage, I take out the SBV and leave the Origin 12 in place. I really don’t think I need them, but they have already saved me once. So, I can’t argue the logic of having them with me at all times. I haven’t had time to get one of those carrier things yet you told me about for the magazines. I do have my rifle and my BOB with me. We are going right through Columbus and it is an Army town I am sure they have somewhere I could pick up any type of firearm or the carrier stuff. I do have Eddie with me, I am sure he would know what to get, he is a gun collector junky.”

Eddie walking up with his hands full hearing the conversation said, “I am not a collector of weapons. Collectors buy things and never use them, I am a gatherer of firearms. I don’t have any that I don’t shoot. Is that the beautiful Ms. Jessica I have heard so much about?

Melvin told him, “Yeah…” and went back to talking to Jessica, “So, what do I need to buy, my dear lady?”

Thinking that she should say something about Sandy and Patrick she said, “Maybe two or three AR type rifles if you can find what you want. Either SIG, H&K 416, POF, Daniel Defense, heck, never mind if Eddie is a weapons guy, he can lead you to the right ones. Remember to get plenty of magazines and gear to go with the rifle including, slings, cleaning kits and ammo and carriers. I would get one with a Pistol Stabilizing Brace one regular size and one long gun. You need optics for all three if you can get them. The other thing that might get hard to get is Night Vision of some kind and get the 3+ version models and American made. You know we are talking about spending better than fifteen thousand on three rifles, good ones and the gear along with the Night Vision and may be twenty thousand before you are through.”

Jessica heard a loud whistle over the phone and Jimmy saying in the back ground, “She must have told him how much money she was talking about. That boy has at least thirty cents of the first dollar he ever made when he was five years old. When he opens his billfold Moths fly out, every time.” Laughing at his buddy and getting an agreeing nod of the head from Eddie. Jimmy went on asking why that Melvin was talking to Jessica about buying guns when they were supposed to be on a need for speed type weekend?

Melvin finished the conversation with Jessica telling her he loved her and couldn’t wait to see her on Monday. Melvin told Jimmy and Eddie he was heading for the restroom and would fill them in on the reasons for the possible rifle purchases when he got back. Right now, he had an urgent date with a Porcelain Pony in the Truckstop. Melvin took off across the parking lot needing to get rid of some of the ice tea he had been drinking since leaving South Carolina over four hours earlier.

Eddie said, “This new girl, must be some kind of a woman to talk Melvin into even thinking about a Black Rifle much less three and high dollar stuff like Sig, Daniel Defense and POF. I wonder if she has a Sister? She seems like my kind of woman…, and by the way what is up with you and the Lawyer, Jimmy?”

Jimmy thought for a minute and replied, “Truth is Eddie, I don’t know. It might be Love at first sight or something. All I know is she makes me feel different than any other Lady I have ever known and in a better way. I don’t know if that makes sense, because I know it doesn’t make sense to me. What is happening or how I tried to describe it.”

“I will say this, I agree with what you said about Melvin’s Lady Jessica. He was going shooting with her and her family like every weekend after they started dating and all. About the AR type rifles, he has always told me he didn’t know why anyone would want one, he could do whatever he needed to defend his property with his Ruger hunting rifle.”

Eddie said, “I am going to pull up the Columbus area and see what they have to offer in the way of gun shops or Sporting good stores. Probably need a high-end type place to get the type rifles he was talking about and may not find those off the shelf in most places. If we stop, it will probably cost me some money glad Melvin has that unlimited American Express. I have some cash with me but I promised Smoke I was going to buy the racing fuel for the nights of racing while we were down here. Need my cash for that, I try never to break a promise. Not a good habit to get into if you know what I mean.”

Jimmy agreeing with Eddie saw Melvin making his way back towards the truck. As Melvin was heading towards the truck in Newnan, Georgia; in Greenville, Elizabeth was talking with Jessica again and two of the three leading ladies in his life were plotting a strategy for if the lights went out. As it turns out the lean times in her life had made Elizabeth a prepper of sorts, vowing that no matter what happened her babies were not going hungry ever again. She had failed them one time when she and they were much younger, it would not happen on her watch the second time. Jessica said, “I need to know if Melvin has a canner or dehydrator and a vacuum sealer for starters and any way to cook besides electric.”

Elizabeth said, “The house has propane for the indoor and the outdoor kitchen and he has a vacuum sealer, but no dehydrator or canner. Excuse me I am wrong he does have one of those little things that looks like a cake dish that is an electric dehydrator that he does a little Deer jerky in when he kills a deer. It wouldn’t be any good without electricity and if you needed to do any large amounts. He does have two freezers with lots of beef, pork, chicken and deer meat along with a couple of turkeys. That if the power went out would need to be canned or smoked. He does have a big industrial sized smoker for doing barbecue.”

Jessica asked, “Elizabeth how are you and the girls on weapons. I know that can be a sore spot with some people I need to ask. I am sure Melvin would want the girls and you to be at the lake if there was trouble.”

Elizabeth replied, “I have a CCW and a pistol and a revolver. The revolver is a four-inch S&W Model 10 and the pistol is a Cz-75 SP-01 it is a little heavier than the Glocks and the other polymer pistols but it fits my hand better and I shoot better with it than others. That and I have a Ruger 10/22 rifle, that an ex-boyfriend did what he called an Ultimate job on it after he found it cheap at a Pawn shop. New barrel and stock and trigger I think, then he added a scope. I kind of inherited it when he left it at my house when he moved out. The rifle shoots a lot better than I can, but it is fun to shoot.”

Jessica said, “Get what rice, beans, sugar, and salt you can bring home. Fifty pounds of each and get more rice if you can and some Crisco and cooking oil. Would not hurt to get some paper products and with all us Ladies some feminine hygiene products. Maybe a few extra blankets wouldn’t hurt either if they have any good ones. Melvin wants you to give me the Am Ex credit card number and the pin code and for you to use it for all that you buy. Oh…, if they have pickling salt and the kind for salt curing of meat get all you can get. It doesn’t go bad, it will last for a hundred years. I will handle all the other stuff for canning and preserving foods. He did say to get ten to twelve cords of hardwood ready to burn and you knew who to get it from and to pay to have it delivered tomorrow if you had to pay extra, so be it.”

An hour or so later Melvin, Jimmy and Eddie were eating fried chicken and chicken livers along with turnip greens, black-eyed peas and cornbread. Eddie after whipping his mouth with a large napkin said, “I have to admit, as good of chicken and livers as I have ever had, well worth the wait and good call on this restaurant. Now, I am going and getting a few more of those Livers they are cooked just right good crust and juicy, not dry a bit.” Pushed his chair back and headed for the buffet for another assault on the country cooking food line.

Melvin said, “How about you?” To Jimmy who replied, “Nope, I am going to get some of that Peach Cobbler and a double scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert. It looked scrumptious and smelled even better on the line.”

Melvin replied, “You are right about that except I am going for the Blackberry with the ice cream myself. Then we need to decide which one of the two-gun stores to visit first and if you are going to buy anything or not. If you are you will have to use your own corporate card so it doesn’t look like a straw purchase. Either way you have to buy one, because Eddie said they had a two-weapon per person limit per day in Georgia even long guns.”

Twenty more minutes of eating and talking about the current events and situation had Melvin convinced there was a possibility of bad things to come, he just didn’t think there was any great probability of bad times. He had only come to that conclusion when Eddie had called his Captain in the Sheriff’s Office to find out what DHS was saying about the situation. His Captain had told him that they hadn’t even put out any bulletins. The real kicker for Eddie and Jimmy was when the County Chief had called his contact in Washington the Lady had told him there was no official statement. Her only response to the Chief had been that she would talk to him later about what his wife had cooked for Thanksgiving dinner. Code for I will call you back later from a place that didn’t have ears according to the Captain. The reason being everybody knew that the Chief was a supreme cook and his wife couldn’t boil water.

The Captain had gone on to say that he had talked with his counterpart in Laurens County and in Newberry and the consensus was that something smelled like rotten dead fish, only worse. The Captain south and east of him had talked with one of his friends at FEMA who told him on the down low that his group had wanted to declare a National Emergency and were shutdown without reason form the powers on Capitol Hill. His Laurens counterpart had talked with a friend in Pennsylvania that told him they were already having problems with rioting in Philly.

In describing the situation and the intelligence from his phone call, Eddie said, “This is not what I know. This is what I believe and I am pretty sure I am correct. This is an act of Terrorism, maybe by a National power like China, possibly Russia or Iran. The reason DC is shutting everything down is they know there is more to come and they are trying to play dead or asleep and catch the offending country. If it were the Muslims this administration would be prosecuting them to the fullest, not like the last group of numbskulls.”

Jimmy had agreed with the analysis one hundred percent and Melvin enough to stay the course saying he needed another rifle for himself, Sandy and Patrick. It could even be used as a present to Patrick for Christmas that wasn’t to far away, a few days less than a month. The trio got up from the hearty and filling meal and headed for the truck. They had decided over dessert that they would go to the store that Eddie had decided had the best selection according to reviews if not the best prices. Hoping they could find the rifles they were wanting. Eddie thinking to himself, he was going to find something that was going to put him back to carrying a bag lunch to work for another month or three. The new toy cost depleting his stash of cash and the saving on eating out every day going to build up his gun fund.

Melvin cranked up the F-350 diesel and headed towards Billy Ray’s Guns and Tactical Supplies. The add on the Internet saying they carried Daniel Defense, LMT, SIG, FN, and Springfield Arms along with several other good brands like Colt, S&W, Ruger, Bushmaster and Savage. The GPS telling him that the shop was about sixteen minutes away and he was following the shortest time route. Melvin asked, “Eddie, how many magazines do you think I need per rifle, four or five. Jessica told me to get plenty and not to skimp, should I get eight?”

Eddie laughed at his friend’s lack of understanding and replied, “I think a dozen per rifle and then one extra dozen. For three rifles four dozen is what she is talking about maybe more. Remember you are talking about someone who shoots three-gun by your own words. How many magazines did she bring to each match?’

Thinking back Melvin decided that Eddie was probably right between Jessica, her dad and brother they probably had four dozen magazine each with them each time they went to a match. They even brought more than one extra weapon for each one of the three guns in the match. Melvin replied, “I think you are right they probably brought four or five dozen to each match and they rotated them. They probably had at least two times that many. I guess this is going to be a real expensive day at the gun store.”

Eddie laughed and said, “Probably not near as expensive as a new motor for Smoke’s Super Late Model and I think he may ask for another motor if he wins the Championship which he does just by qualifying for the race and he has a provisional. He would have to tear up or blow up both cars and then not be able to talk someone into renting him a car for the night. As you say the possibility exists but the probability of that happening is almost zero.”

“Yeah, I bet even one of his competitors like Shane or Jonathon would lend him a car just to tag the field and pull off after the start. Probably even let him race the car if he wanted to do that and take the chance of coming from the back of the field,” said Melvin. While making the right hand turn as directed by the GPS mapping software on his phone told him to make. Accelerating the large truck down the highway the GPS updated his arrival time to six minutes and warned him of another turn, this one a left in five hundred feet. The trio made it to the turn into the large parking lot and pulled into a large building that looked like possibly an old Roses or local department store, much larger than most local gun stores.

The parking lot probably held at least a hundred and twenty cars and people were coming and going from the front of the store. For Black Friday it seemed pretty normal if you were at a Bass Pro Shop or Sportsmen Warehouse type of establishment. The large crowd moving like a wave around the many bins placed strategically by the front doors to the shop. Billy Ray’s even had a cash register and a few store employees working the front lot. People of all shapes, sizes, colors and ethnicities were mingling all looking for a deal and the right piece of equipment or merchandise. Many coming out of the store looked like Santa’s helpers with their hands full of bags and boxes of untold joy. Many still having to push carts like at a grocery store to handle their many acquisitions form inside and out of the store.

Eddie seeing the hustle and bustle of the many shoppers along with the many sell signs on the windows, swore under his breath and said, “I knew this stop was going to cost me money and I know I am right just by looking at the front of the building and the stuff sitting out on the sidewalk. I will probably spend a hundred dollars in the bins outside with the clearance signs all over them I see a couple of bins from here that I know will cost me money.”

Jimmy said, “Looks like my kind of place too, Eddie you are not alone. I think I will call Celeste and see if she like s guns. I bet she does, that girl doesn’t have a Liberal thought in her pretty little head and I tried my best to get it out of her if she did.”

Melvin chuckled at his friend and said, “Dumbo, you do remember what she does for a living and is really good at it from all that I have seen. She is a Lawyer, they have courses in Law school in lying you know and I bet she made and A plus.”

Jimmy replied, “I bet she did too. She is one smart Lady and a lesser man than myself, would be intimidated by her brains, charm and good looks….” Laughing he added, “And she is almost as good looking as me.” Which got him a solid right-hand punch to the bicep of his left arm from Melvin that Eddie seeing and hearing the lick, he knew was going to leave a bruise and probably a large nasty one. Eddie smiled a little thinking my friend Big has no idea that hurts as much as it really does, if he did he would never do it, Melvin was just not the type of guy to hurt his friends. Help but never hurt.

Jimmy yelped, “Oh, you big Neanderthal, that hurt. I was just kidding she is a little better looking than me and only because she is a girl.” Sticking his three fingers up with his thumb holding down his pinky at Melvin saying, “This is just for you, read between the lines big guy, or do I need to explain it to you,” opening his passenger door and bailing out all in one motion to avoid anymore of Melvin’s ‘gentle’ horse play.

As the guys were walking into a heavy crowd at Billy Ray’s; Jessica and her dad followed by Kevin were still on Interstate 20 somewhere between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, closer to Birmingham. Actually, at that very moment Jessica passed and noticed a sign that read Birmingham next four exits. Her Dad Jack had been and was still busy ordering ammunition, gear and equipment for Jessica’s new home and sanctuary in South Carolina. Including a bunch of canning equipment, a large dehydrator and lots of the spices, and curing agents for both types of preserving food. Jessica also had him order a large vacuum sealer and a pallet of Ball quart jars and three times that many of the reusable Tattler wide mouth lids for the containers. Jessica also, asked her Dad to order five gallon pails with screw on lids, mylar bags. They ordered plenty of Bay leaves for the vacuum sealed grains, various beans, and popcorn she had asked Elizabeth to buy in bulk at Sam’s Club.

Her Dad diligently working the Internet for good deals on the products that would guarantee that the products would be shipped this very day. Some even guaranteeing delivery on Saturday, most only guaranteeing three-day delivery on the third day. Jake having ordered many parts for his business in his day on strict time schedules hedged his bet and double ordered a lot of his orders form two separate dealers. He had used this method many times just sending the second part back if they both arrived on time and paying the re-stocking charge. This foresight making sure a many of his clients got the delivery time he had promised on the repair or refit and upgrade of the vehicle. This delivery had help him grow his business and insure that his customer base would say good things about his work and his name.

After a long drive of silence with only the sound of her Dad’s pecking on his keyboard, Jessica asked, “How’s it coming Dad? You about ready for a break and a stretching of your legs? We are about half way or so there and I want to stop and get some fuel and find a restroom to freshen up a bit.”

Jack thinking about his next step in the ordering process finally replied, “Jessica, I have no idea what you just asked. I was ordering that canner you wanted and they only had one of the large ones, not two. I had to order the big one and two of the smaller ones to get the capacity you wanted. The two smaller ones actually have a little more capacity than one large one. I hope that works, it was the best I could do. I guess it is the Christmas season or other people like us trying to get ready for that proverbial rainy day that might already be here. Can you please repeat your question for your dear old Dad?”

Jessica replied, “I need to stop and wanted to know if you needed to do so, yourself.”

“Sure, I could use a drink or a cup of coffee or something and maybe even eat something. My breakfast is about gone. The answer to your question is yes indeed. Let me call Kevin and tell him what we are about to do.”

Jessica said, “Tell Kevin there are four Birmingham exits according to the sign, we will take the last one and that will put us on the other side of the big city and on our way out.”

A few minutes later probably about twenty the Mars family duo of diesel rigged trucks were pulling into a large Truckstop and pulling around to the trucking pumps. Jack told his Daughter to go ahead inside the store and take care of business. Telling his Daughter that her brother Kevin and he would get the trucks fueled up and the liquids checked and replaced if needed. Knowing as a mechanic that on a trip as long as this one that the oil, water, and transmission fluid could easily go low if there were any problems. Those along with the tire pressure and windshield fluids were always checked when the Mars family stopped. Jessica heeded her Fathers wishes as always as she definitely need a stop at the restroom of the facility. She had picked the nicest of the two filling stations one on either side of the Interstate hoping the high quality and clean outward appearance would equal sanitary conditions in the restrooms.

Walking into the station that had a Dairy Queen and a Wendy’s as part of the stations amenities she saw numerous people watching and glued to a TV over the counter where you paid for your fuel. Looking up to the big screen to see what everyone was so fascinated with she saw a scene from a B grade movie. People were running to and froe coming out of buildings carrying everything they could carry and none of it was in bags. The rolling headlines at the bottom of the large picture on the TV read, lights out in Major northern cities in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and other northern states effected by the blackout experiencing mild to heavy looting and rioting. Reading this she stepped forward towards the counter and asked, “Ma’am could you turn the sound up on the TV for a moment so we can hear the commentary and where these pictures are actually originating.”

Jessica got agreeing nods and yeah that’s right and a few please turn up the TV’s from the other people standing and watching. Some who had already been watching for a few minutes wishing they had thought to request the same thing earlier. The Manager not working a cash register station replied, “It is against the stations corporate policy to have the sound any louder than it is already. It is considered a safety hazard, people in the store might be distracted and fall and we could be sued for negligence. I am sorry, I would like to hear the message being delivered along with the video myself. We do have smaller TV stations in the booths that carry the same channels and you can rent them by the hour for a small fee.”

This answer bringing a groan and a few angry and not mixed for company comments directed at the Manager and her corporate policy based on greed and a self-centered and bottom line stratagem. Noticing that the more some of the crowd got mouthy the bolder others became. Jessica headed for the restroom and the real reason she entered. Quickly entering and making sure she locked the stall she completed her mission followed by the paper work and headed quickly back out to get a few snacks. She quickly got large fountain drinks for herself and family along with a few packs of cookies, cakes and some potato chips and headed for a cash register away from the still fired up crowd.

Arriving in front of a haggard looking young lady she handed the frantic cash register operator, a twenty and two ten-dollar bills showing her the drinks and snacks without laying them on the counter and said, “Keep the change, I am a big hurry, late for a big game in Atlanta.”

Turned on her heels not waiting for the Lady to even ring up the probably less than twenty dollars’ worth of snacks and headed for the back door and her waiting family. Hoping the lady attendant would just ring up the snacks and stick the change in her pocket and be happy with the big tip. She was right the Mother of two whose baby daddy had skipped the county a few years earlier for parts unknown was glad to get and pocket the tip. The tip which was almost twenty-four dollars and she kept her mouth shut pocketing the change as that was almost two and a half hours pay and more than that for her bring home for her second job.

Jessica arriving back to her Father and Brother said, “Unless you really have to use the facilities let’s go to the next Interstate rest stop. It is already starting up north and the natives are getting restless even down here in the south.”

She handed her Dad and her Brother their drinks and said, “Both are Mountain Dews and I have, cookies, chips and candy bars three of each for the two of you and a couple for me….” Stopping to catch her breath she looked at two of the three men she loved most in the world pleadingly and added, “I really hope you can hold it a few more miles and we can get back on the road towards South Carolina. Remember we still have to go through Atlanta and traffic their sucks at the best of times.”

Kevin said, “I am good and I think there will be a rest stop in the next fifty miles on an Interstate by law. I can wait how about you Dad.”

Jack replied, “Yeah, I can hold it if not we have some bottled water and I will pour out the water. I do think it might be prudent, to get out a little more protection. Not here, let’s get back on the highway and just pull over on the shoulder. Maybe at an underpass they are usually a little bigger there and less prying eyes. That would make me feel a little better.”

Kevin said, “Fine by me, but I already have my Fostech SVB loaded and one chambered in its scabbard right by my right hand. Might wouldn’t hurt to have a little more range handy though, I agree. Let’s ride, Jessica you lead and I am right behind you all the way.”

As Kevin followed Jessica and their Dad out of the truck stop back onto the Interstate heading north, in South Carolina Elizabeth, Celeste and the girls were getting back to the lake and Melvin’s home. Arriving home, they started unpacking the vehicle and Sandy went to find Patrick, as she put it her lazy, good for nothing brother to help. She found him sound asleep in front of the big screen TV on the patio covered up in a big wool blanket he had evidently found somewhere in the house. She proceeded to jerk the blanket off of Patrick and the effort rolled him onto the floor with a big thump. Patrick sleepily looking up at his sister said, “What did I do to you? Why did you throw me in the floor, are you crazy, or what…?”

As Sandy and Patrick cleared up their differences, they headed to help the others bring in the many bags of groceries and merchandise to the lake house. Melvin, Jimmy, and Eddie were deeply amazed at the sheer volume of weapons and people that were in the gun store. Eddie had a shopping cart and had already put in a dozen MagPul magazines, a plate carrier harness in Coyote tan, a couple pair of extra heavy weight BDU bottoms in MultiCam. Telling Jimmy that they were practically giving away at less than fifteen dollars a pair, he usually paid fifty or more for a pair or more at home. He could only find two pairs in his size was the reason he only had two pairs in his cart. His cart also contained four of the PMC X-Tac Green Tip Battle Pack, 5.56 NATO, FMJ-LAP, 62 Grain, containing 120 rounds each, again only getting four because the limit was four at forty-one dollars a battle pack.

As Eddie continued to look for bargains in the store he headed towards the weapons counter seeing that Melvin and Jimmy were finally able to make their way to a salesman. Melvin told the salesman he was looking for a SIG MCX Rattler with a PSB (Pistol Stabilizing Brace) or either a POF P415 Edge with the same setup. He wanted a carbine length rifle and would prefer that the two rifles be of the same brand. He would also consider rifles by Lewis Machine and Tool or Daniel Defense but the first two were his top choices. The pistol to be topped by an EOTech and the rifle a Trijicon ACOG 4X32 or an Aimpoint scope of the same quality. The salesman quickly answered we have the SIG MCX Rattler PSB but not the carbine and we have the POF P415 Edge in a carbine not the pair in either, asking if that would be sufficient. Melvin replied, “Yes, I will take both.” As Melvin answered, Jimmy jumped into the conversation and said, “Sir, to save time, while you are retrieving those boxes bring two of each as I will have the same order including the scopes.”

Eddie arriving just as the two placed their orders said, “I am going back to get eight more battle packs of the 62 grain green tips. See if we can get the MagPul thirty round magazines by the case lot, I think that is twelve dozen…, I will get the ammo and do either of you want some of these BDUs they are practically giving them away, at fifteen dollars per pair.”

Jimmy replied, “Yeah, if they have any in medium get me three, no four pairs and if they have any smalls get me six pairs for Celeste and Elizabeth for presents.”

Melvin said, “They probably don’t have any extra large but if they do get me a couple and a few pair of the smalls for Sandy and some large for Patrick.”

Over his shoulder Eddie replied, “Will do, but I got the last two pairs of large pants for myself on the first pass.” Heading back into the melee of shoppers in the store pushing his cart like a Japanese Kamikaze pilot on a mission to sink an American Destroyer in WWII. Making his way back to the bins with the BDUs first he found a few pair of larges in a black and gray camo pattern and two pairs of medium and the same of extra-large pants. He however found eleven pairs of small pants in various patterns and went ahead and put them all in the buggy, continuing on towards the 62 grain green tip battle packs. His path to the ammunition took him by a bin that had had battle belts by Condor not his favorite brand but at the discounted price he got a half dozen and then added two more and headed back to his friends with a shopping cart that was very heavy and hard to push.

Eddie arrived back to the counter and his friends just as the salesperson was returning with the pistols and the rifles. Eddie asked, “Are they going to let you buy those pistols, being from out of state?” The salesperson hearing the question asked, “Y’all guys are not from Georgia, if you are not from here, you cannot buy the pistols. I have more of the carbines if you would still like to buy a pair of rifles.” Hoping he hadn’t just lost half the volume of his sale. The clerk knowing that the sale would put him well over his quota for today and make his bonus number easy to meet in the six hours left on his shift.

Melvin said, “I want two of the POF carbines, how about you Jimmy?” Turning to look at his friend and partner, not sure what his answer would be to the question, since Jimmy already had a couple of the dreaded black rifles as the main stream media a partner in the deep state would call the AR type rifles.

Jimmy said, “Yeah, give me the two P415s and the ACOG scopes. We also need four, one-point slings Vickers or Slingmaster if you have either of those for the rifles and we want a case of the MagPul thirty round magazines in black or the earth tone color.”

Eddie joined in the conversation saying, “Probably need either angled or straight foregrips for the rifles and maybe replacement pistol grips if you have a preference. I like to put TacStar grips on mine but most people really like the MagPul MIAD…” Stopping for a moment he added, did I see an add for the POF P300 rifle on your overhead screen and was the price really only $2,999.99 and is that the eighteen and half inch barrel or the twenty-four and half inch barrel?” Eddie delivering his monologue of questions without breathing.

The salesman quickly answered, “Sir, we have both which would you like to see and may I say that is a fine choice in a precision rifle in the twenty-four-and-a-half-inch barrel. I can bring one back as I bring the two carbines back for your friends, if you like it is no trouble.”

Eddie replied, “Yeah, that would be good and I have a question for you first. With my DHS security clearance can I buy a pistol in Georgia. I should be able to do this by law, I have done this in North Carolina just never in Georgia?”

“Yes sir, I think you can. I will have to check with my Floor Manager. Do you have something specific in mind? Our pistols and revolvers are along the other wall but if you know what you want I could get it brought around.”

Smiling at the eager beaver salesperson, ripe for a large sale, “Just leave one of the Rattlers here and bring back the P300 along with a half dozen extra high capacity magazines. I am pretty sure it comes stock with two a five rounder and a large capacity.”

About an hour later the trio were leaving Billy Ray’s with a truck full of hardware. Melvin said, “We definitely need to make sure we take this stuff into the room and keep the do not disturb sign on the door from the get go. Also, Eddie why did you get that SIG pistol? I thought you were more for long range type rifles like me.”

Eddie grinning replied, “Thought your girl told you to get a couple. Hoped this would keep you out of the dog house anyway. That and I wanted to spend another two-grand of your money. It is not a gift, to you. I take gold, silver, diamonds uncut and certified checks and I am only going to charge you a three-hundred-dollar fee for the transfer to you.” Eddie could not keep from laughing as he watched Melvin’s face begin to turn red in the rear-view mirror as he drove towards the Hampton Inn they had reservations for the weekend.

“Got cha Big. I knew that would bring a rise out of him Jimmy. The boy is tight, I am talking, TIGHT. So tight he squeaks like new leather.”

Jimmy added, “You know that’s right, Eddie. I bet he has the heartburn all weekend just thinking about all the money he spent and he can buy and sell me and you and we spent almost as much. If he hadn’t have picked up all the extras we probably would have been about even with what he spent. Especially you with those precision 165 grain ballistic tip bullets you bought. What were they like almost three dollars a round? Not to mention that Kahles scope you bought for the rifle.”

Eddie replied, “The bullets were actually only about two fifty a pop buying the whole case lot of three hundred and twenty. I pay a lot more than that at home by the case. I might have bought the other lot he had if he would have sold it to me. It took all I could bargain to get the whole case lot that I bought. Had I not bought the two rifles wouldn’t have had a chance to get the whole case.”

As the big Ford pulled up into the front of the Hampton Inn and parked in the breezeway in front, Melvin said, “I will go in and get the two rooms. Sorry, couldn’t get three like we talked about, one is a suite though with two bedrooms. I am paying with my points anyway. I need the two of you to stay with the truck and from now on until we get it put away someone needs to be with the truck and the in the room.”

Eddie said, “I will stay with the truck, as my CCW is good here in Georgia because it is Federal, Jimmy’s South Carolina is not any good here and I can’t remember about his Utah. It might be good but I don’t know.”

Jimmy replied, “My Utah CCW is good here in Georgia and you are right the South Carolina is not any good with our neighbors. So, I can carry here and that is why I stay at Hampton Inn they don’t ever have the do not carry signs on the front door. That and the boss likes them and he is paying most of the time.”

Laughing at the look of amusement he received from Big. The look just the opposite of the response he was expecting from his boss. Melvin just shrugged his shoulders, at Jimmy who was at least giving him credit for the actual paying for their hotel rooms in his opinion. Melvin seeing the people standing in the lobby of the hotel was glad that he sprung for the two Pelican cases. A four-gun Pelican 472-PWC-DW3220 for the four POF P415 rifles and a Pelican 1770 Protector Long Case for the P300 and the SIG MCX Rattler. Both units had wheels and looked for all the world like some type of electronics or tool carrier. These purchases should allow them to get the weapons in without much fanfare and hopefully without much notice. Melvin thought to himself he was glad that he got the adjoining rooms and his standard first floor room. On the first floor they could come in the side door and not have to go through the lobby to access the elevators with the rifles in tow.

Walking up to the front desk he already had in his hand his points card and his American Express. He said, “Afternoon Ma’am I am Melvin Cudd party of three and I have reservations for two adjoining rooms with one being a suite on the first floor….” Handing her his cards he continued, “I would like to check in and I am in kind of a hurry. As you see I am a Diamond club member in good standings and have been for years. The rooms will be paid for in points and my American Express is for any incidentals that might be charged to the rooms.”

The reservations were solid and the check in to the hotel went off silky smooth, with Melvin getting the rooms he had requested. The three friends were able to get the Pelican cases and the other bags and boxes into the rooms without any fanfare. The trio immediately put the Do Not Disturb signs out for the staff. Melvin sat down on the large couch and kicked his Merrell covered feet up on the coffee table. Then leaned back heavily into the couch after getting a throw pillow from the bed to go under his left arm. His arm hurt a good many years back pulling on a pry bar trying to set a piece of thirty-six-inch Reinforced Concrete Squash pipe that just wouldn’t co-operate on a Naval base in Maryland. The bar had slipped from under the large piece of Storm water pipe and his shoulder had rammed into the RCSP. The x-rays had not shown anything broken but his shoulder had not been the same since and hurt a lot from time to time and today was one of those times.

Getting comfortable on the couch Melvin looked to Jimmy and said, “I know you got a bottle of Aleve somewhere nearby; can I have three or a dozen?” Trying to laugh but the pain in his shoulder not allowing his facade to work.

Jimmy sitting on the other bed replied, “Your shoulder hurting from all the driving or picking up the Pelican case with the four rifles in it out of the truck and is three enough?” Getting up and walking over to his large custom-made travel bag he opened one of the large outer pockets on the case. Jimmy got out the bottle of Aleve or actually a CVS generic brand of Naproxen Sodium for his friend and turned and walked towards the kitchenette in the suite. Jimmy came back with a bottled water and the medicine handing both to his friend before picking up the remote and turning on the TV.

Melvin said, “Thanks for the Aleve and it’s probably both the driving and the picking up the case for the pain. I have a question for you? How long have you had the Utah CCW? I knew you had the in state one but not anything else.”

Jimmy replied, “A few years, as much traveling as we do, I just thought it made sense. South Carolina doesn’t have much reciprocity with other states. I actually have the Utah non-resident and the Virginia gives me almost the whole continental United States. At least anywhere I might want to go, with all three. You may want to do the same, heck at Palmetto State Armory you can get the class for both the in state and Utah in one day I think.”

As Jimmy was turning on the big screen TV, Eddie came through the connecting door between the two rooms and said, “Turn the TV to channel twenty-one it is the news and they have a special bulletin about to show any second now about the situation in the northeast.”

Jimmy turned the TV to the channel and the three men sat and watched the next ten minutes or so of un-interrupted video and live feeds of major looting and riots in three or four major cities in the northeast. New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore were all having major problems and it was still light outside according to the national newscaster. A couple of experts were interviewed on both the problems with the electrical grid and resulting actions by the citizenry. One very Liberal expert claimed it was just the rights of the people to show their displeasure with the government. The masses being disenfranchised for the government not providing for their needs of electrical power. The bulk of these choosing to loot and get their deserved compensation without waiting for the politicians to reward them for their loss of electricity and the problems it caused. When the Fox news anchor tried to say that the rewards as the expert had called them were not coming from the government but the local merchants. The liberal experts reply was they are all the same to the man in the street. Capitalist are most likely the reason for the power going out in the country anyway, greed and making money off the labor of the people is all they think about anyway. The argument went on for a few minutes until the host finally said, “We will have to continue this discussion another time as we have US Army Retired Major General Arthur Conroy as our next guest coming onto the set.”

Jimmy asked, “Where do they find these nutcases? Seems every time we have a disaster either natural or man-made they have a lineup of every liberal looney-tune in the US of A to explain how we have caused this by making money.”

Melvin replied, “They are in almost all of the Ivy League colleges in the Northeast and really almost any Liberal Arts school in America. More and more even the state supported colleges and institutions of learning are being ran and taught by leftist leaning professors. It is even getting to where the Science and Mathematics departments are run by these Liberal leaning professors and Doctors. It is a shame and a travesty all in one, that this indoctrination is going on in all the established towers of learning in America today. Now I will get off my soapbox and thanks for the Aleve. They are already helping.”

Eddie nodding his head at the words Melvin had been saying, added, “Yeah, making money, privilege of education, white Christian, and being productive is causing the world to not be fair. Guess, I am guilty of all these. It did take me almost five years after college to pay back my loans and I worked my whole five years in college. That probably doesn’t count, because I was getting educated, making money and being productive.” Busting out laughing at the end with the other two just agreeing completely in mind and spirit.

Melvin asked, “Do the two of you think this is going to be a bad time or just another thing that blows over in a day or two? On that note do you think we should plan on going home tomorrow morning. I am here and I am going to see my friend race tonight one way or another.”

Eddie replied, “I think we are alright. We do need to keep watch on the news and pay attention to even our surroundings here in Alabama. Better to be safe than have to be sorry, if you know what I mean. On that note we have about an hour or so before we have to leave to go to the track and see Smoke, you two up for a little cleaning of rifles and using that fancy magazine loader to load up a few magazines.”

Jimmy said, “Count me in and if I know my big Boss and I do. He probably is in a lot more pain than he is letting on, let’s cut him a break and clean the rifles and load the magazines. Maybe he can at least set himself up a battle belt and a vest. That way we will be ready if needed to use them today tomorrow or never.”

As the guys started to leave for the race track and see their friend Smoke and his race team about four pm Central time; Jessica, her Dad, and Kevin were on the beltway I-285 skirting around Atlanta. The two trucks were sticking together like glue and the traffic for Atlanta on 285 was moving well about fifty-five miles per hour. The traffic was bumper to bumper across all six lanes in the north bound and south bound direction. One momentary lapse in concentration and a major accident could happen, thought Jessica. This as she drove her F-550 truck the harrowing traffic as the sun was setting behind and to her left. Having been riding all day with out the need for heat in the truck coming from the deep south of Mississippi, as the sun was beginning to drop down so was the temperature as she continued northward.

Looking over to her Dad she asked, “Dad, could you turn on the heat? I am beginning to get a little chilly and don’t want to take my hands off the steering wheel and my concentration off the highway.”

As her Dad reached over and turned on the heat, he said, “As soon as we get heading north on Interstate 85 and out of the Atlanta metro area, somewhere out around the Flowery Branch area let’s stop and get something to eat. My stomach is gnawing on my backbone and I have eaten all my snacks a while back. You think we can do that?”

Jessica said, “Yeah, we are almost to the place they call malfunction junction where I-285 dumps off onto I-85 heading towards Greenville, South Carolina. We won’t make it all the way there we will cut across country just after we cross the state line into Anderson County at Hartwell Lake. I am ready to eat something myself. Call Kevin and tell him the plan and make sure he is doing alright. He has been by himself all day, not like us. He may really need a break by now.”

Kevin answered his phone on the second ring and told his Dad that he indeed would love to get something to eat and stretch his legs. Telling him that they might as well fill up their tanks, with the happenings of the day. Jack replied, “I think you are right on the mark, on that call Son. Tomorrow could be even worse, or it may bring light on the culprits and that would be a good sign. My guess is this is going to get worse long before it gets better. I ordered a pallet of the 440-watt monocrystalline solar panels from Outback Power along with the components to build two full systems. Each pallet has thirty-two or maybe thirty-six of the solar panels. That would give us a very large system or two whole house systems. Got a great deal at about seventy-three hundred dollars delivered and they were shipped today for Saturday delivery. They are coming out of Charlotte and should be on-site by lunchtime tomorrow. The guy told me that he had sold twelve system today and about thirty pallets of panels including ours. Usually only sells about that many every eight to ten work days in this region out of his warehouse.”

Kevin replied, “I guess we aren’t the only ones that have seen the light so to speak. This traffic is horrible. I really don’t know how this people who live in and around the city put up with this mess every day. I am sure glad we don’t have to deal with bumper to bumper stop and go traffic back home. It makes one appreciate where they live.”

Jack replied, “Jessica just told me to tell you this is our exit onto Interstate 85 heading south and to stay in the second lane. She read about this on-line it is actually a turning lane also and people don’t realize it if they aren’t locals and it is a lot quicker and easier access onto the highway once you clear the off-ramp.”

Thirty-five plus harrowing minutes of Atlanta commuter traffic and the Mars family were out past the Mall of Georgia exit. Clearing this point most of the hectic Atlanta northbound traffic was beginning to subside, they were beginning to rest a little easier. Jessica and Kevin were looking for a truck stop for fuel for their trucks and their tummies, as Jack had drifted off to sleep. Back in South Carolina as darkness fully enveloped the countryside and the late autumn night began to cool for a big morning frost, Elizabeth and Celeste were getting ready to make Tacos for supper. Celeste asked, “What do you think Jimmy and the boys are doing right now?”

Knowing her boss and Jimmy’s habits to a tee, she replied, “If they are through meeting Smoke, telling lies, and patting their racing buddy on the back, then they are having a couple or four racetrack hotdogs each and drinks. My guess is they are still talking and catching up, it is still about an hour from hot laps at the track. Remember they are an hour behind so it is only approaching six o’clock at the East Alabama track. They will be breaking up soon as the Drivers meeting is at six fifteen if my mind is right on the itinerary for the race, tonight. It starts earlier tomorrow as they have more laps to run and have a midnight curfew on Saturday night.”

Celeste said, “What I really meant is Jimmy and that Sheriff you like so much, there for the fast cars or loose women? I have heard all about those race track women? In my mind that is the only reason anybody with half and education like those three would go to something that trashy and low class.”

Looking at her friend as if she was seeing Celeste for the first time and the horns and tail had appeared as if by magic. Elizabeth replied, “I guess that means you think I am one of those race track women and trashy. Cause if Sandy and Patrick didn’t need someone to watch them the girls and I would have probably went to the race with Melvin, Jimmy and that Sheriff that is pretty cute. We usually go when Melvin goes as I like racing but I need help with the girls and Melvin and Jimmy are great with them and make them happy, if not they are bouncing off the walls from the racetrack buzz.”

“Have you ever even been to a race, dirt track or pavement, in your life. To make a statement like that is pretty judgmental, even if it was true. For your information, I wouldn’t say it is trashy or low class. Do you have any idea what it cost to be in racing, especially Super Late model dirt track racing?”

Celeste looking dumbfounded replied, “I wouldn’t think very much all the people that I see doing it are like mechanics, farm boys and rednecks, from what I have seen. I went to a few races with my Uncle years ago and all the people were like uneducated and didn’t seem to have any money or at least they dressed and acted like they hadn’t ever seen a fashion magazine or been to anywhere but Wally World.”

Elizabeth replied, “Do you put my friends Melvin and Jimmy in the low class, uneducated and from what I hear poor class of people?”

Celeste replied, “I figured they went because of the trashy and easy women and their friend racing? What did they call him, Smoke?”

“Melvin actually helps Smoke out with an engine for his car every year. Those engines cost fifty thousand dollars a piece and it takes at least two and your really need three a year. Melvin gives him one every year to help him out. The cars are about fifty thousand a piece and you need at least two of them a year and really three. Heck, Melvin told me Jimmy was going to buy the tires for this weekend and that will probably be somewhere north of fifteen hundred dollars for the weekend of racing. It is definitely not for poor or low-class people, cost lots of money and you have to be real smart, like Engineering smart to work on those cars. The other thing is the clothing sometimes gets dirty at a dirt track. Knowing that people do not wear their finest evening attire to a race track where you might get mud on your clothes. Just common sense, most wear jeans and tees in the summer maybe shorts, it is hot at the races in the south even at night. Those guys are there for the racing pure and simple and their need for speed and roaring and high vibration engines,” answered Elizabeth quite put out with her friend.

Celeste said, “Sorry, didn’t mean to hit a sore spot. Guess my perception is and was wrong. Seems I missed the whole racing thing when I was there and picked up some other vibe. I would never think of you or your friends as low class and I know they are not poor. Truth is, I think I really like Jimmy that was more my point. I was worried he was off for the weekend for more than racing and seeing his friends. That was really the point of the question.”

Sandy had walked in and heard the last part of the conversation, she joined in on her own saying, “Uncle Melvin is a true race fan and maybe even a racing junky. He would probably have his own car if he didn’t work so much and Smoke would be his driver. He will be up under that car working on the transmission, the rear end or changing tires before the weekend is over. We have gone with him before and you can just see he is in an element that he loves and thrives. He told us one time he started working on race cars when he was old enough to change a tire and carry stuff. His Uncle and cousins had cars when he was growing up and he use to sneak off to go work on the cars. His Dad would have to come get him some nights during the summer he would get so caught up in working on the car that he would lose track of time and be late for supper or even bed sometimes. That is what he and Jimmy will be doing, don’t know about my hero the Sheriff, but he has eyes for Elizabeth that is for sure,” grinning at her sitter as Melvin had called her before he left. Thinking to her self at least he didn’t say babysitter and being thankful for that.

As Sandy was talking at home in South Carolina, Melvin was meeting with Smoke at his hauler in the East Alabama Speedway pits and looking at his car and the supplies inside the two-car hauler. Melvin said, “I have been following you on the Internet this season and you are having a good one for sure. Best ever maybe? What you got, ten wins in WOO and another few in big money races?”

Smoke replied, “Actually I have eleven wins in WOO and four in big money races and a couple of seconds with one at Eldora that paid twenty- two grand for second place. Not bad for a country boy from Laurens County, almost as successful as you in your business. I can only wish.” Throwing a little jab at Melvin, who never said anything to any of his friends about his own success only praising his friends good fortune.

Not knowing what to say to the comment from Smoke, Melvin just smiled and stuck his hands in his Duluth Trading pants pockets. Smoke continued, “I don’t know if Eddie said anything I kinda told him not to. I wanted to tell you this myself….”

Melvin stopped him by speaking saying, “He didn’t have too, I am sure my motor is used up and needs to be freshened. I plan on paying Crawford for your and my motor to be freshened when you send them to him. I will have Elizabeth go ahead and get them scheduled if you want me too. I have had, no my team and I have had a pretty good year this year and still have more to invoice. We will pick up the tab and just so it will ruin his surprise Jimmy is going to buy the tires for the weekend. I think Eddie is planning on buying the fuel, too.”

Smoke said, “Well thanks, as always but that wasn’t the news. What I wanted to tell you, is that your motor is still in my primary car and it has won all four of the big races and the high dollar second places and eight of the WOO races this year. It has been so good, that I have kept running it even though it is passed its lap count, over double. Took it to Crawford a couple of times for valve springs and compression checks and he told me it was fine to run. His words were that every once in a while, you get a real good one and this is probably one of those times. He actually said we probably should just run it till the end of the year or till it puked. So, far it hasn’t given up the ghost and is still as strong as ever. We are going to run it tonight and all weekend if it will stay together.”

“What I wanted to tell you, the secret that is…, I wanted to say your motor has won over three hundred thousand dollars this year…, maybe even four hundred. I would have to check and the WOO points fund in case you didn’t know is wrapped up and that is a little over a hundred grand. I probably owe you close to seventy-five large at fifteen percent of the purse we agreed to for the rent of the motor.”

Almost in shock, Melvin finally replied, “Man, I never expected any money from you for the motor. That was my ticket to help you work on the car and enjoy the racing scene from the inside not just as a fan. I thought you knew that, I just agreed to the percentage to make you happy,” replied Melvin.

Jimmy and Eddie standing and listening to the conversation were in a state of shock. They both knew that this was a rare occasion and they were almost witnessing a true legacy type happening. Almost always the owner of cars is the last one to get paid and it is usually just enough maybe to freshen the motor for another year. Most times it results in a wore out or blown motor or torn up and totaled cars that are only worth a low percentage of their original value. All happening after spending some money on major repairs just to sell them at the end of the year, to a team that is less fortunate in monetary assets.

Melvin said, “That is wild. Here is what we are going to do with what you owe me. Take it and have Crawford build us one of his big wide bore motors to go with this one or one just like this one. Whichever you think will be best. I think we need a big one that other big motor you have is not his top of the line motor. A good motor because Crawford only builds good motors but probably fifty to seventy-five horsepower less than his best motor. That way the high dollar teams don’t beat us on horsepower and I know they can’t out drive you.”

Smoke said, “I am blown away man. Without the generosity of people like you Melvin, I would not be able to live my dream. I really don’t know what to say….”

Melvin said, “Don’t say anything just go out and win the races tonight and all weekend and that will be my reward. To think that I had a little to do with the success of the twenty-two S car and the Championship. Let’s don’t back into the Championship let’s show them the way, what do you think…?”

A little later the twenty-two S had already had quick time in qualifying for the night in group B and overall quick time and was just pulling in from winning the second heat race by a large margin. When at the same moment in Houston, Texas between Spillman and Hog Island three of the Russian team sleeper cell had rammed a large container ship with a tugboat filled with improvised explosives into a container ship. The resulting explosion causing a massive hole in the ship. This act started the sinking of the Panamanian flagged container ship that would partially block the entrance to one of the largest commercial ports in America.

The Port Authority would fight valiantly through the night to try and save the ship from sinking. Their efforts to get the ship pulled out of the shipping lanes mighty but every time they would attempt to hook up a tugboat a secondary explosion would ring through the night in the harbor. The explosions serving the purpose of the Russians and delaying the rescue attempts and injuring many of the rescuers.

The FBI working exhaustively would finally after it was too late to save the ship from sinking locate the lone Russian spy. The member of the Sleeper cell whose only duty was watching the Port Authority rescue team try to save the ship and stopping or delaying their efforts. The Russian spy would set off the final set of explosives in the Bay and pull the switch on the vest he was wearing as the FBI agents closed in to take him down. His final act making sure that the FBI or any other agency in America would not be able to get any information on him or the cell that took down the ship.

As the Russian saboteur was making his final desperate acts in the Kremlin orchestrated play in the Port channel in Houston; in Phenix City, Alabama Smoke, was climbing out of the twenty-two S and waving his arms victoriously to the cheering crowd. Three close friends standing close by and cheering for their friend would minutes later join him for the victory picture in Victory Lane. Moments later after the picture Melvin’s cell phone would ring and it would be Jessica, on the line calling from his kitchen in South Carolina. She standing with a group of Ladies wanting to hear from him and his two friends. Melvin answered his phone on the third ring after looking to see who was calling and said, “Jessica, I am sorry I know it is after midnight and I promised you a call. The racing has been so good and Smoke won tonight. I just got caught up in the moment and didn’t realize the time or my neglect of my promise…”

Jessica cut him off saying, “The call is not about you being late. There has been another act of Terrorism by sources unknown. They have blown up a ship in the Port of Houston and it will affect the Ports ability to bring in goods. The White House is now saying that the knocking out of the power grid was an act of Terrorism also probably from the same source as the sinking of the ship. They didn’t say who the likely suspects are, but the talking heads are saying it has to be state sponsored meaning Russia or the Chinese.”

“Say that again we are still at the track and people are kind of loud and celebrating, I thought you said that it might be the Russians or the Chinese that have attacked us on American soil. Tell me I misunderstood the last part,” said Melvin.

Hearing one end of the conversation Eddie asked, “Did you just say the Russians and or the Chinese have attacked our country?” Melvin held up his hand with his fore finger pointing up to Eddie in the universal wait one-minute sign and listened for the all-important answer from his future bride to be.

[gipsy]

The black stuff has hit the rotating blades

[feralferret]

Yea Smoke!

Thanks for another great chapter.

[223shootersc]

Thanks all for reading and commenting! I hope you are enjoying my work!

[frankie]

I love this story. Keep those chapters coming.

[hunter77]

Just as good or better than the last time I read this story. Keep up the good work. And thank you for all the hard work you put on to entertaining us more hounds.

[sniper69]

Thank you for another excellent chapter!

[dannab1]

Been off line for a bit, so happy to get back and see you picked up this story again!!

Love to see the rest of their story unfold!

I'm with Texican I think I only got up to chapter 13, bring em on!!

[223shootersc]

Chapter 6

Putin was having a late breakfast after having met with his advisors on the attacks in America and the lack of news from the San Francisco team or news of them sinking a ship in the San Francisco harbor. The Intelligence community in Russia including the FSB Chief had given him the news that they had to assume that the Americans had foiled the attack in San Francisco and knew that it was sanctioned in Russia. All of the advisors to Putin had told him to get on the direct line to the American president in Washington and tell him that they had not been involved. Putin had told them that the Bear did not flee from the Eagle asking them if they had no shame. After breakfast he would make the call to the President and take credit for the attacks in America yesterday. He would also boast to the President that more attacks where to come until the American way of life was no more. Assuring him that the next time they talked and he stepped foot into the White House, it would be as ruler of the new Russian satellite country. Putin smiled at the thought of himself in the Oval office in Washington, with the President groveling at his feet begging for his life.

At that moment he decided to give America one more taste of the Russian bears power before the call was made and to ask for the unconditional surrender of America. Snapping his fingers and aide appeared at his side as if by magic and was told of the new requirements of personnel to be in his office in five minutes. The aide replied, “As you wish, sir…” turning on his heel and heading out of the breakfast area and away from a madman. The aide moving as fast as his feet would take him. Knowing that the request of the head of the Biological weapons division of the Russian Army could only mean one thing in the mood that their supreme leader was in these days. The aide thought of just avoiding the order and leaving the country as fast as he knew how. He figured he had enough data stored away on his pocket flash drive that any country in the world would grant him asylum and set him up for life.

The Aide’s second thought was no, it would be better to give the orders to the General and then disappear. His thoughts were to contact the lovely American agent that had tried to pump him for Intelligence so many times at the Embassy parties. He had her personal number and a burner phone that she had supplied for just such events. The aide had a plan, now he just needed to put his new strategy to work and live long enough to get out of the country safely. He would make the call from nearby the Embassy and hope she was there at the building and could put something in motion immediately. The aide thought that they had no more than a couple of days before the General could make delivery of one of his new deadly airborne viruses by commercial plane flying in from some International Airport to America. The plane delivering the deadly aerosol of Biological poisons as it made its way into American airspace and safe landing. The crew and passengers being the ground zero and victims one through however many were on the inbound flight. There’s being the first exposure to the deadly concoctions of the Biological division. The virus would only live a few days and would most likely kill less than a couple of three million people but it would tie up hospital staffs and Doctors for weeks possibly months to come treating the sick. The new virus made to let people live that were hardy and strong but keep them sick and in need of medical attention for weeks. Killing only the old, young and unhealthy part of the population outright, including many with drug afflictions, especially. This not by design just a vector that the pathogen took of its on nature after being generated in the lab.

As the Russian aide was contacting the American agent, in Alabama Melvin was explaining to Jimmy, Eddie and Smoke along with his pit crew what Jessica had told him about the second attack in Houston. Melvin explaining to the group that he would be heading home in the morning and not waiting until Sunday afternoon to leave. Melvin said, “Smoke, I know you can’t leave. With a car like you have under you right now and two more big money races this weekend, I know you are going to stay. I would tell you though to leave right after the race on Sunday afternoon win, lose or draw and if you win don’t spend the night here celebrating.”

Smoke replied, “You are right, I have a real hot rod right now and you never know how long one of these last and you have to get all you can get while it is working. I do hear what you are saying and we will pack up our stuff and be on our way out of here in less than an hour after the race is over, win or lose…” Smiling at his friends he added, “Hopefully with a pocket full of money. Now the real question is are you boys staying to help put this thing back together, because I know that hole up in the middle of turns three and four bent something with about five laps to go. I hope all it bent was a tie in rod, or a ball joint. I bet it got both the way it was handling the last few laps.”

Melvin replied, “Smoke, go meet your fans, you know I am going to check out that front end. That was like hunting over a baited field. I am still going home in the morning, I promised Jessica and I am not going to mess that up if nothing else. By the way guys, she and her family traveled today and they are at the lake house, as I speak.”

“Oh, and one more thing, Celeste says to hurry back to her Jimmy. Don’t laugh Eddie, Elizabeth asked about you, too and said she would see ya when you got back home.” Grinning at and leaving his two friends standing speechless but both with whimsical looks on their faces.

Smoke said, “Remind me not to go to the lake house seems Cupid has taken up permanent residence at your place Melvin.” Being a confirmed bachelor of almost thirty-eight years, the thoughts of marriage scared him to death. Always rationalizing that the racing world and the road was no place for a man to have a wife or significant other for that matter. Thinking about it Smoke couldn’t even remember the last time he had been out on a date. Trying to figure it out he came up with almost seven years if you didn’t count the Australian girl down in Perth and he didn’t. It was nightmare that the owner of one of the best dirt race cars in the country that had invited him down under for the three weeks of racing four years ago. The invitation for racing was a fine time and paid well, the lady not so much.

About three hours later Jimmy drove the big Ford truck into the Hampton parking lot, just as the skies opened in a pouring rain. Melvin wore out from a long day and two and a half hours of hard work on the Twenty-two S front end was fast asleep. Melvin had indeed replaced the tie in rod on the right front of the car. He also had found damage to both ball joints, had to replace the shock on the right front and reset all the caster, chamber and toe in to the specifications and measurements that had been successful in winning the race. Jimmy knew that Melvin was a goner when he asked him to drive them back to the hotel. Jimmy being the only person who ever drove Melvin’s truck and then only on special occasions. Jimmy asked, “Eddie, you think we should wake him or let him sleep a few more minutes?”

Eddie replied, “Probably need to wake him and get him in bed. We have along ride home tomorrow and I know he isn’t going to let you drive all the way back to South Carolina. I didn’t know he let anybody drive his truck.”

The two friends woke up Melvin and got their big friend into the hotel. Where he proceeded straight to the shower and turned the water on full bore hot. Getting in an trying to wash the race track dirt and the exhaustion away from his body. Staying in the shower till Jimmy knocked on the door and checked to see if he was alright or just trying to use up all the hot water in the hotel. Melvin replied, “I’ll be out in a minute, my bad Jimmy. Use to having my own room and not worrying about holding up the bathroom or using all the hot water.”

Jimmy replied, “Just checking. Do you want me to put in a wake up call for in the morning, in time for us to get breakfast or are we leaving earlier?”

“Let’s shoot for pulling out of here by nine-thirty after eating breakfast. Get a wakeup call for eight o’clock and if we get checked out and on the road before nine-thirty it will be gravy. Would like to leave earlier because that will be ten thirty back home. That puts us home four-thirty or later. What do you think? It is like two am right now that is only five hours or a little better sleep. I think we need at least that much. I know I do, after working on the front end of Smoke’s hot rod,” replied Melvin.

Jimmy said, “Cool with me. Now get out of the shower, so I can get some of this Alabama dirt off of me. The dust was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. The track really dried out, during the main event. The rain should really help the track if they don’t get too much. Wish we could stay for the other two races. Before you start, I know we need to get back to South Carolina. I guess the only question is do we stop back by the gun store on the way out? It is a new day and we can buy more rifles,” asked Jimmy.

Melvin answered, “Not on my account. If we need anything else, we can make a run to Greenville or Columbia to Palmetto State Armory when we get back in SC. That way we can buy the pistols Jessica was wanting, us to get in the first place. Now give me two minutes and I will be through in the shower and I am going straight to bed. See ya in a few hours and we will eat and head out on our way back to God’s country.”

“You know that’s right, Big. We do live in the Piedmont of South Carolina and it is definitely God’s country and that pretty lawyer is there too,” said with a big grin on his face that was unseen by Big but heard in his friends voice.

What seemed like two minutes later, Melvin was being hollered at by Jimmy, to get his big butt out of bed and in the shower, it was already eight-thirty and everything was already in the truck no thanks to him. Back in South Carolina Elizabeth, Jessica, Celeste and now Anita were cleaning up after a big late breakfast, almost brunch. The three wondering how Jack and Kevin were doing hunting. Eli, had taken them to their tree stands just before daylight in the Razor. Telling the Father and Son she would be back for them at eleven o’clock, to pick them up and bring them back to the house for lunch. As the girls were sitting and enjoying each other’s company and getting to know their new family members, Celeste’s phone rang and she looked at the caller ID and it was her Mentor from the firm.

Celeste looked to Eli and Jessica and said, “Anita, come on I gotta take this, it is my Boss and maybe he has some answers on the lawsuit. I thought we would hear something yesterday. Ladies keep your fingers crossed for some good news for Sandy.” Standing up from the couch she walked towards the kitchen, with Anita in tow. She finally spoke into the phone saying, “Please tell me some good news. I got you on speaker and Anita is here, for the record.”

After a couple of what could at best be described as grunts by Celeste, Eli looked to Jessica and said, “I am guessing the news is not good. Maybe not bad but not good either.” A little more patient than her new friend Jessica replied, “She doesn’t seem too excited but I think it is still too early in the conversation to tell. The offer might not be what they expected for a first offer and they are going to have to run it by Melvin and Sandy. On the other hand, maybe, they are just trying to decide what they want to do and talking more about strategy than the actual offer. Could be that the Lawyers for these rich and powerful people or the people themselves are away on holiday. There could be numerous possibilities as to the outcome of the conversation that have Celeste weighing her or the firm’s options. Let’s face it, even though they are doing this on the cheap they didn’t get to be a powerful and successful firm by not making money.”

Eli just smiled as Jessica and said, “Two peas in a pod. You two will never argue as you both have a hundred explanations for everything that happens. You and Big are just alike. One thing though, Jimmy told me that you a Melvin met because you asked him to dance. That can’t be true cause Melvin doesn’t dance. I have tried to get him to dance with me a hundred times. How did it really happen and don’t hold back because I know old Melvin is a romantic at heart?”

Smiling then laughing till she almost was crying Jessica was about to answer when Eli said, “What did I say that is so funny? Are you making fun of my South Carolina way of talking or what?”

Jessica shook her head in the negative and started, “No Eli, I am not making fun of the way you talk. What is so funny, is that we really did meet because I asked him to dance. He thought I was funning him or that Jimmy or my friend had put me up to it as some funny joke. The first time he and Jimmy kinda hurt my feelings because he thought I was there to speak with Jimmy not him about a date or something. The truth is Melvin is a wonderful dancer as long as it is the Shag or the Texas Two Step and he can Shag to any type of music slow or fast if you can keep up with him. Luckily for me, I am a pretty good dancer took lessons from the first grade through high school thought I might be a ballerina or something. Now that is funny.” Winking at her new-found girlfriend and reaching over and grabbing her hand in a peace offering.

While Celeste was on the phone, in Alabama, the three South Carolinians were walking out of the Hampton Inn and getting in the F-350 that was now parked right in front of the door to the Hampton. Jimmy had parked the big Ford there so they could keep a good eye on the truck and its goodies while they ate. Getting into the truck without walking out into the rain was a big pus and the big diesel warmed up quickly. Putting the F-350 in gear and heading out into the local traffic, Melvin said with a laugh in his voice, “Well boys, I guess the current Terrorist attacks at least saved the two of you some money on tires and high-octane racing fuel.”

Jimmy replied, “Not really. I bought the fourteen tires for the weekend before qualifying last night. I am pretty sure that Eddie was buying a drum of fuel as I was buying the tires with Smoke’s new pit crew guy, while you and Smoke were talking about old times.”

Eddie joined into the conversation, “I bought the drum because Smoke’s crew chief Owen told me they would probably use at least forty to forty-five gallons maybe a little more during the weekend of racing. It was just as cheap to buy the drum or at least close. Went ahead and paid for the whole drum as Smoke was going to get a drum to save cost.”

“On a different note talked with my Captain this morning and he is singing a different tune. His resources in Washington DC and around the south are all saying that it is definitely sponsored by a world power. The consensus is Russia among his friends. He told me to expect the possibility of an announcement by the President that will affect travel and probably the economy. Told me that the price of fuel in South Carolina went up almost fifty cent per gallon over night and food pricing with the port messed up will surely be rising quickly.”

Jimmy replies, “Yeah, the cutie at the desk this morning told me that if we were traveling back to South Carolina to get fuel before we crossed the river. She lives in Georgia and it was already up a dollar in Columbus this morning. She added that right down the street here at the big Shell it was still the same as yesterday. She did not know about the diesel pricing, said she was only paying attention on Gas.”

Switching lanes in the big truck, to stop at the station that was coming up in a hurry. Melvin pulled his big Ford into the station and right to the diesel island. Stopping the truck at the pump he said, “Guys, I am going to top off both tanks, that will give us almost seventy gallons and that should get us home. I think we will try to get fuel before I have to switch tanks each time, just in case as they say. You guys get us some drinks and snacks and think that we may not be able to get anything to eat. Get us some Pork and Beans and or Beanie Weanies and such. Maybe even a loaf of bread and some bologna or turkey with a pack of cheese. We can put it in the cooler and we can always eat them later, if everything is cool.”

Jimmy and Eddie got out of the truck and headed inside, both deep in thought. Both out of reflex checked their CCW pistols to make sure they were covered and ready to go, as usual. Feeling their weapons, the two had different reactions than usual, knowing somehow deep in their minds that it was a different time than just yesterday. Jimmy said, “Eddie get the drinks and I will get the food. I know exactly what Big will want, anything special for you that I will need to get?”

“Get me a six pack of Coke or Dr Pepper and I want some barbecue potato chips, Snickers or Butterfinger candy bars and ham, turkey, bologna or any lunch meat for a sandwich will do. You know I am a cop so get a dozen doughnuts if they have Krispy Kreme get two.” The last part breaking the tension in the air a little and both laughed and headed inside the spacious fueling station plaza to do their shopping.

Melvin was deep in thought about his new bride to be and getting back to South Carolina when the fuel dispenser cut off with a full tank. As per his nature he put about two more gallons into the truck a little at a time. At that he only managed to put about fourteen and a few tenths into the main tank. He undid the second fuel tank cap and placed the nozzle in and put three gallons in the second tank before the auto fuel stop clicked off. Just as he put the hose back into the pump holder his phone rang, bringing him back from deep in thought. Looking down to his phone thinking Jessica was calling to see if they had left as promised. He was very glad he could truthfully tell her they had already checked out and were on the road home. When his phone read one-word Smoke, the surprise through him off guard.

Finally getting his head back in the game on the fourth ring Melvin answer, “Melvin, how can I be of service?”

Smoke replied, “Hey big guy. Got a couple of things to run by you this morning. First have you and the guys already left, heading back towards South Carolina. Second, I didn’t get a chance to talk with you last night after the race and I wanted to say thanks to Jimmy, Eddie and most of all to you Melvin for all you do and did last night.”

“The engine and the other financial support you give me make my life on the road a lot easier. I didn’t really think about the work you were doing last night while we were all celebrating the race win and the Championship. Did not realize till this morning when Owen told me you rebuilt the whole front end. That was a lot of work you guys performed. Thanks man, I know thanks is not enough, but thanks my friend. The other thing if you have not left yet to go home, can we convoy back home with y’all? Safety in numbers and all. Just found out that because of the rain and the possibility of a curfew because of the Terrorist attacks the other two races have been postponed, till a later date and will not be points races since the Championship is already decided.”

Melvin replied, “We just left the hotel filling up with fuel. Rumor has it that the price is up a dollar a gallon across the river or something like that. For that reason, we are filling up here at the Shell by the hotel for the same price as it was yesterday. I guess we could wait for you if you won’t be long, we do need to head north soon though. You still at the track, that would put you about twenty minutes or so from us.”

Smoke replied, “No we had everything put up after you left last night since it was raining and we pulled out as soon as we got the news. We were up getting ready to get ready for the race. Owen wanted to make sure your work was up to standard.” Laughing as he said the last part knowing that any work done by Melvin from experience would be if anything done well and every nut and bolt checked twice for torque specifications.

“We are actually not far from you maybe five minutes, not much traffic on the road and we have been making good time. Don’t know if that is from the rain or the attacks, either way gravy for us. Can you wait, we will need fuel also? We always get fuel after we get paid on the way home. Habits from the early days are hard to break. Sometimes back then if we didn’t make any money we didn’t know if we were going to make it home if we were this far from home. We are actually closer than I thought according to Owen who is driving we are about a quarter mile from the hotel and he can see the Shell station sign. We will see ya in a couple of minutes, my man. Thanks for all you do Melvin.”

Hanging up the phone and putting it in his coat front chest pocket per his usual. Melvin saw Eddie and Jimmy coming towards the truck. Each man carrying a couple of large bags of stuff in each hand and Eddie having even more than two in his right hand. Melvin got his butt in gear and went around and open both passenger doors for his friends. Melvin said, “Were they having a sale or something? I think the two of you could have carried maybe one more bag. You look like Eli the time I went shopping with her to help with the stuff for the guys for Christmas, never again is all I am going to say about that experience.”

Both of his friends throwing stuff in the back seat, with Eddie getting into the back and Jimmy the front as Melvin walked around the back of the truck to get in the driver’s seat. Seeing Owen and Smoke pulling up behind him to the diesel island, Melvin changed directions and went to the race car rig to see Smoke. Melvin said, “Hey man good to see you, y’all need to fill up and get some snacks as we are going to try and make this with fuel stops only. We have already done this. I will pull my truck out of the way and we can talk while you fill this monster toterhome and trailer rig with fuel.” Melvin turned without waiting for an answer from Smoke or Owen and headed back to the F-350. Opening the driver door, Jimmy asked, “What’s going on with Smoke. I thought they stayed in the toterhome at the track? Why would they come all the way over here for fuel? Today’s race, get rained out and called already? Jimmy asking the questions in rapid fire succession like a five-year-old inquisitive child.

Reaching and turning the switch to let the glow plugs warm, Melvin finally answered right before Jimmy blew a gasket. “The rest of he racing for the weekend was called due to the rain and a threat of curfews. Smoke called me while the two of you were on your shopping extravaganza and asked if they could convoy with us back home to SC. I told him they could if they could be here in a short amount of time. That was less than five minutes ago since we got off the phone. Now that I have answered your thirty questions. What is up with all the bags.”

Eddie answered, “We bought all this because things were already beginning to get gone at the local grocery stores and such according to a nice lady that struck up a random conversation with Jimmy. My chief also called and told me that because of the power outage and the possibility of Credit card fraud on Northern banks, credit card use would probably be stopped by DHS or the President lunch time today. We got everything we thought we could use and then got three or four times as much as we thought we might need. Then we both hit the ATM inside and withdrew the maximum in cash they would do. We were only able to get five-hundred apiece in cash/ Jimmy’s new-found friend was kind enough to tell us about another ATM right across the street at the little strip mall. We think it would be worth the effort to hit it before we leave. We both have a lot cause the guy in the infield selling tires and fuel didn’t want that much cash if he didn’t have to take it and gave us a little discount for using our debit cards for the purchases. What do you think?”

“I think the two of you need to tell Smoke and Owen the same thing you just told me. I also think, I need to hit the ATM inside the station. Good job, I love having level headed, competent friends and you both are that. Competent, level headed, and friends, thanks for being my friend most of all. Jimmy please call Eli and see if she can arrange a withdrawal of cash from the bank, today. Get all she can get but try for a minimum of ten grand and two-hundred would not be out of the question. It is not like is going to spoil or go bad. Think about our fuel purchases alone, how much we put on the credit cards everyday to keep our trucks and heavy equipment moving,” said Melvin. Big opening the door and heading into the station suddenly a little sick to his stomach and needing to pee like a race horse.

As Jimmy started to call Eli, Eddie went to talk with Smoke, back at Melvin’s place on the lake a lot was happening Jessica’s father had harvested a large eight-point buck from the same stand Melvin had killed on just a few days before. Jack Mars making a rather easy shot on a broadside buck at about a hundred and thirty steps with his Remington Sendero he had brought along on his trip north for just that purpose. The other event of prominence was Celeste and Anita were finally finishing a long phone call that none of the ladies could quite figure out whether the news she was getting told was good, bad or indifferent. Jessica commenting during the long phone conversation that she surely would not want to play poker with Celeste. Saying, “No tells at all on that lady.”

Hearing the distinct roar of his Father’s bean field rifle, the three does he had been watching and hoping for his chance at a buck, took off for parts unknown, with them hearing the sound associated with predators in the area. Waiting about thirty minutes to make sure the deer his dad had shot at was down Kevin slowly and carefully made his way down from the ladder stand. Then he headed towards his father with great expectation of a good buck on the ground and some fresh backstrap for supper or maybe even a late lunch. Kevin knowing that his Father since he had finally broken down and bought himself a very nice rifle and an even nicer piece of glass for the rifle seldom if ever missed. Most of the time his Father’s bucks never took a step after being hit with the 7mm Magnum round fired from the Sendero with Zeiss 50mm glass. Nearing the edge of the field where is Father’s tree stand was located, Kevin started whistling loudly after having turns his stocking cap to the Hunter orange side. Easing out he looked to the stand and saw that his Father was standing at the bottom of the ladder looking out towards the right-hand side of the field.

Hearing his son, the moment he started whistling Jack had spotted his son’s Orange headwear through the trees and climbed down from his stand. The stand where he had made a good shot on the deer and had been watching him lie prone in the field and hoping he didn’t get up and run off. Knowing the deer was finished and not wanting to have to track the deer on unknown land. Walking towards his boy and pointing over towards the right side of the hay field he said, “Nice eight point, laying about a hundred or so yards over towards the other side of the field. You ready to help me pull him out of the field and field dress the magnificent creature in the edge of the woods?”

As the pair were walking towards the deer, Celeste was telling, Eli, Jessica about the great offer they had gotten from both parents of the boys responsible for Sandy’s drugging. Entitled rich punks was the words she had used to describe the miscreants in question. Celeste said, “They are each offering a half-million up front. I have to say that is more than I had figured on the original offer. Our firm along with our Detectives form the DC area have already found where the two boys have been trouble since their early teens. One bad or malicious decision after another for about the last seven years.”

Eli with a giant smile on her face said, “Yahoo…, a million dollars, Sandy just hit the lottery. Maybe just a scratch off but the lottery none the less. Yahoo…, for her!”

“Not so quick, Elizabeth. We, my firm and I are going recommend we counter-offer at a million each and guarantee they will not be called in the law suit against the home owner by our firm. We think they will counter-offer in the middle and maybe even pay the whole amount, due to the nature of their actions. Being labelled as a sex-offender is a large step up for the boys and they will never be able to hide even the allegations. No future District Attorney or political careers in those boys resumes. Mommy and Daddy kingpin will want the best possible upwardly mobile paths for their babies. This would definitely halt any upward mobility for the two young future leaders of America. The bottom line is they are willing and able to pay and they will, they just need a little incentive to get their minds right,” said Celeste with a predator smile on her face and a gleam in her eyes. A stone-cold killer lawyer if there ever was one.

Jessica seeing the look in the eyes of Celeste knew that her future husband had hired the right lawyer to defend his niece. She said, “I don’t know much about the law or those idiot boys. I do know human nature and I think that their first offer was just that a first offer and starting place. Probably hoping that a young lady with no visible means of support will jump on the offer. I assume your firm has not let the paperwork on the emancipation from her Father make it to the public record as of yet.”

Celeste looking at Jessica and thinking about her words replied, “Seems the good Doctor knows more about the law than she would suggest. The paperwork will not be official till the first of the week. It is however legal and binding, so daddy can’t go after any of the money that Sandy receives from the lawsuit settlements.”

At that moment Melvin was phoning home and Patrick was coming from his upstairs bedroom dressed in a brand-new outfit from head to toe. His new duds the direct results of the ladies shopping the day before. His arrival announced to the ladies by his declaration of his teenage craving as he announced for a large amount of something in the food category. Not waiting or really caring for an answer Patrick walked directly to the kitchen an made himself at home. His path taking him directly to the large refrigerator, the opening of the refrigerator had him in awe with the choices. It was packed full with food, an event that hadn’t ever happened at his prior living accommodations to his recollection. Back on track after experiencing a great feeling of gain, he started pulling out containers of ham and turkey from the frig along with mayonnaise, lettuce and cheese. Proceeding to make what Eli named a Dagwood sandwich of many layers of turkey, ham, cheese and lettuce.

Patrick while stuffing a large bite of his sandwich in his mouth, “Hmm…, what is a Dagwood sammich?”

The three ladies all laughed at Patrick with mayonnaise all around his mouth and his question. Finally stopping laughing, the first of the three ladies, Jessica answered, “Dagwood the guy from the funny papers was a comic strip character that made large sandwiches and had problems with his boss. Seeing your sandwich, Eli called it what all large sandwiches were called back in the day. The day before every block had a Subway or some type of deli. Most folks did what you just did they made a sandwich from leftovers in the frig.”

Smiling and still chomping on his sandwich Patrick’s replied with a large smile, “Cool…, and excuse me but you are the lady that is going to be my aunt soon, right? What is your name again, Janice maybe?” Hoping for a long shot and failing miserably but putting the ladies back into hysterical laughing at the teen aged growing boy/man. Picking up his paper plate holding his sandwich after cutting himself a couple of large extra slices of ham and turkey, Patrick replied, “I know when I am not needed. I will be watching TV in the den call me for lunch it is almost time to eat and I will come running.” Patrick left the ladies still laughing heading for the large screen to see what was happening on Sports Center.

Patrick’s walking out of the kitchen was announced by the ringing of Jessica’s and Eli’s phones almost simultaneously. Jessica seeing the caller answered, “Hey Baby why are you calling back so quickly? Not that I don’t like it, nothing wrong is there?”

“Jessica, Eddie just talked with his boss and it looks like the government may be shutting down the use of credit cards maybe even before the end of the day. There is some cash in my safe and I would like for the three of you ladies or at least Eli and Celeste if she will to run to Columbia or Greenville to Palmetto State Armory and pick up those AR-15 pistols like you wanted. We couldn’t buy them in Alabama and if your Dad and Eddie are right, we might need them soon. Tell Eli to take the cash but use the company AMEX card for the purchases if possible. We got everything else on the list. What do you think? Am I over reacting to the terrorist threat?”

While Melvin and Jessica were on the phone talking about weapons and runs to the store. Elizabeth and Jimmy were talking about getting a large amount of cash from the local bank for working expenses for the company. Smoke was finishing grocery shopping at the Shell station and Owen completed the fueling of the car carrier. As the convoy started north, back in South Carolina at the lake the door bell to Melvin’s house was ringing and UPS and Fed Ex delivery drivers were at the front door. With all that had been going on Jessica had forgotten about all the orders her Father had placed while they drove from Mississippi. Both drivers had numerous large and heavy packages for the address and would be the start of a long day of deliveries to the home. Patrick and Sandy would spend most of the day directing deliveries to the garage area and stacking packages inside. Patrick would make numerous statements about how he was supposed to be on Thanksgiving break and being an indentured servant. Jessica, Jake, and Kevin would be helping sort, stack and open boxes of ammunition, bullet loading tools, powder, 5.56mm and nine-millimeter cases, bullets, food, and food processing equipment. Also, delivered that day was some camouflage clothing and boots for the Mars family that were placed by Kevin at one of the stops for fuel.

Eli called the local banker that handled all of the company’s financial considerations. The banker agreeing to a cash delivery by the bank of hundred-fifty thousand to the Environmental company corporate office. Saying that a couple other of his large corporate accounts had already made the same request for cash. Elizabeth told the banker thanks and agreed to meet the truck at the office in two hours. She requested that the guards accompany her inside the building with such a large cash delivery. Eli told the corporate banker she would have at least one other person present for the delivery and they would both be armed. The banker saying, he understood and that things had really changed in the last twenty-four hours. Eli, Celeste, and Kevin would make the trip into town and Elizabeth decided that with all that was going on and the chance a curfew she was going to make a food run. Planning to go to both Food Lion and Aldi and see if she could get some more food and paper products. If they had the time to go to CVS and Walgreen for some aspirin, Tylenol, Aleve, cold/ flu, vitamins and any other over the counter (OTC) meds that she could think of at the insistence of Jessica and Jake.

Due to all the time constraints Elizabeth, Celeste, and Anita were going to the local gun store and see if they could buy the AR-15 pistols that the Mars family insisted would be a good investment if possible. They were able to buy two SIG MCX Rattlers and two other pistols one from Springfield a Saint Edge 5.56mm Semi-Automatic Pistol, the other a used PSA Premier line pistol. They were able to get two Vortex and two Bushnell red dot systems for the four pistols. Not exactly what Kevin would have preferred but the Saint and the PSA were both good weapons he had to agree.

Kevin had brought along a half dozen loaded magazines and with the successful purchase of the weapons he added another dozen more P-mags and forty boxes of Prvi Partisan 69 gr 5.56mm ammunition to load the new magazines. Kevin made sure all four pistols were ready for action in the back seat of Elizbeth’s truck as they drove from the gun store to the corporate office. Deciding that he really liked the SIG MCX and wishing he had one for himself. He decided he was well healed with the Fostech Origin SBV and four extra twelve round mags and one in the pipe full of twelve rounds of alternating sabot slugs and number four buckshot. Arriving at the office Kevin was just as impressed with his soon to be brother-in-law Melvin’s office building as he had been with his home and grounds on the lake. The office building having the same good sense of style and function without any of the precocious I am rich, look at me that some rich people had to have for show. Pulling around to the back of the building Elizabeth said, “I am going to raise one of the bay doors and we can drive right into the shop. That way no one will see my truck here and won’t realize anyone is at work.”

Celeste on the phone with her partner mentor again for the third time of the morning just nodded her acknowledgement of her friends’ words and kept talking. Kevin said, “That seems like a good thing to do. Elizabeth, I know it is not any of my business but are you going to leave that cash here or bring it back to the lake for safe keeping?”

Elizabeth replied, “We have a big safe here at the office and not hardly anyone knows it is here. I had planned on leaving it at the office, as it is for keeping the place running. Now that you asked the question maybe taking it back to Melvin’s is the right thing to do. I don’t know. What do you think? This is all new to me and I guess everybody. I guess at a minimum we need to leave it here while we make the trips to the different grocery stores and come back and pick it up on the way back to the lake.”

Kevin replied, “It can always be brought back to the office if everything is good. Dad and I can always ride with Melvin if he needs someone to help guard the money.”

Elizabeth replied, “Jimmy and Eddie will be back today and they are both gun people. Eddie is a county Sheriff.”

Celeste finally off the phone jumped into the conversation and said, “Yeah, and Elizabeth would love to call him to come into the office. On a more positive note my Senior partner just told me that one of the parents has already agreed to the million-dollar payment to Sandy and the delivery of the payment by wire transfer by the noon deadline. The money will be sent directly to our firms escrow account. It will be available to be moved anywhere electronically as soon as the banks open Monday morning. Our firm actually would like to manage the money for Sandy if she would like and there is no fee, per our agreement. It would be part of our service to her and Melvin.”
A large smile had come over her face and her best friends with the news Celeste had delivered. Celeste knew in the small amount of time that she had known Sandy and Melvin that the young girl needed a break in life. She only hoped that it did not affect Patrick adversely sometimes money for one left the other sibling jealous, kinda like the pairs mother and Melvin. Thinking note to self-do not talk about the dead she thought.

Kevin whistled and said, “Man, I would have retired at her age with a million dollars and she is going to get more… Wow.”

Celeste spoke again saying, “If she doesn’t end up with at least five million out of this deal, my firm has not done a very good job for her or ourselves. The book and movie rights ought to be worth at least five million, not to mention the talk show circuit and personal appearance fees for the young lass that were attacked by the DC elite. Even though the perpetrators will not be able to be named. It will be easy for most of the Hollywood reporters to make the connections and do our public opinion and public relations work for us at no charge. Blood will be in the water and the sharks will be in a feeding frenzy, at least until the next one Over-doses or commits some random act of weirdness that they will move on to.”

As the armored car guards were getting back into the truck and leaving the corporate office, in Georgia heading north, Jimmy was talking with Owen on the phone. Owen said, “We don’t have any trouble keeping up with Melvin up to about seventy-eight or nine. When his foot gets heavy and he starts getting up above seventy-nine we can’t keep up. I know most of the traffic and thank God it is not heavy in this rain are moving along like eighty miles per hour. The speed limit plus a little more, is all this toterhome and trailer will handle not those speeds. It is only a few years old but they were never designed for speed.”

Jimmy answered, “I hear ya, I will get Melvin to get his foot out of the floor board and set his cruising speed at seventy-seven. He has been complaining about the fact that you weren’t keeping up and you needing to quit being a Grandma and come on. We will get him and this big Ford Diesel slowed down a little. Can you make it to South Carolina without stopping for fuel?”

Owen replied, “No problem this thing has a two-hundred-gallon tank. It is set up for trips over a thousand miles on one tank. It is hard on the pocketbook when you have to put a hundred and ninety plus gallons in this rig at one time.” Laughing at the look on Smoke’s face who was the person who ultimately paid the large fuel bills for the toterhome driving all over the country following the big money races and the WOO circuit.

Smoke finally grinned and replied, “It is a heck of a way to make a living though ain’t it my friend. To chasing the dream and every once in a while, like this year actually catching the dream with the help of some great friends.” Mocking a toast to the Ford F-350 now racing up Interstate 85 almost to the outskirts of metro Atlanta.

Jimmy told Melvin he needed to keep his speed under eighty, preferably closer to seventy-seven. Explaining that Owen and Toter home could not keep up past that speed. Melvin nodded and added, “Yeah, with the rain can’t run the cruise control and my foot gets a little heavier wanted to get home. That is if I do not make a conscious effort to ease up on the throttle every once in a while. I been doing just that when I notice them falling behind in the mirror. At first, I was thinking that Owen just did not drive as fast as I do, then I realized the new motor and turbo in this truck gives it power to burn. That and we are not pulling that big trailer with two cars and boat load of heavy spare parts down the road. Tell Owen, I will try to do better. We are making great time, by my odometer we have came over one hundred and fifty-three miles in the last two hours. We are nearing Covington, I took the southern route and didn’t even think about going through Atlanta with what we heard from Eddie’s boss about how things are deteriorating. Heck, Atlanta downtown is a zoo at the best of times after dark has been for years. Can’t imagine what it will be like if they can’t use their EBT cards or the WIC cards.”

“Jimmy you need to pull out the Atlas and find us a way to get home through the back roads. We need to get off the Interstate in case the President or DHS puts a curfew and wants to enforce a traffic ban or something. I know we can use Highway 25 in North Augusta but the Savannah river bridge would be a real easy place to stop traffic if you wanted to stop it. Should be something were we can go up to Calhoun Falls and cross the river or something else. I think we need to be off the Interstate in fifteen minutes, no more than thirty. Tell, Owen and Smoke about our plan, so they do not think we have lost our minds and check on their fuel.”

Jimmy quickly pulled a dog-eared United States Michelin Atlas out of a side pocket on the door and found the Georgia map. Plotting a quick course, he said, “Big less than twenty miles, take the Highway 441 exit towards the town of Madison. We will be going North on 441 back across the bridge and heading home. That route will take us to the crossing in Elberton and Calhoun Falls just like you were speaking about.”

After telling Melvin about the new route, he got back on the phone with Smoke and Owen and explained why they were taking the southern route by-passing Atlanta. Then told them about the new route through the country and abandoning the Intestate. Smoke just replied, “We are following y’all and that Ford Super Duty of Big’s and heading home that is all that matters and tell Big good call on the white icing honey buns. They are delicious and we have both already eaten two apiece.”

Back in South Carolina; Eli, Celeste and Kevin were in Aldi’s after already checking out the local Food Lion where they were able to get a few cans of Corned Beef, some Tuna, Salmon, and Sardines along with two-ten-pounds bags of Sugar, plus one-five pound bag, and a few boxes of Salt and one-three-pound bag of dried Lima beans, and four-five- pound bags of black beans in the Mexican isle from a store that looked like a hurricane had been through. Aldi’s was a little better as the Clerk’s were still stocking some of the shelves. The run to Aldi’s rendering a few one-pound canned hams, along with five of the three-pound variety, a case of vacuum-packed Salmon, five cans of Crisco and three-one-gallons of corn oil and another of virgin olive oil.

Celeste found cocoa, cinnamon, lemon extract, and vanilla on the aisle with the Crisco along with salt, apple and white vinegar. On another isle she found a couple of large cans of Peter Pan peanut butter and another of JFG. Twenty pounds of oatmeal and thirty of grits were added to the shopping cart by Kevin along with twenty of powdered milk and Cream of Wheat he had found five big boxes. They finished their shopping by adding eight of the thirty-six roll Scott tissues and five gallons of unscented store brand Chlorine bleach. Elizabeth like at the other stores putting the company AmEx to spectacular work, to coin the phrase used by Kevin on her whipping out the card and paying. On their way back to the shop Kevin got Elizabeth to stop a local hardware store and he ran in and asked the first person who looked like they worked in the store if they had candles, oil lanterns and strike anywhere matches.

The young man pointed to an old timer near the only cash register and said, “Ask Gentry, if there are any left, he knows every square inch of this store and we have had a few people buying those items already today. Kevin walked over to Gentry and re-asked the same question, the old guy smiled and simply replied, “Follow me, young man you are in luck.” Turning and heading to the back of the store. Arriving at the back storeroom, Gentry said, “We have a box of four Dietz #76 Original Solid Brass Cold Blast Lanterns they are so expensive that nobody so far has wanted them. I will sell all four for Nine hundred cash and throw in the last three pack of strike anywhere matches and all my spare parts and wicks for that model. We always keep plenty of candles as long as you don’t mind them being in white for the local churches. Do you want a couple boxes of the eight-inch candles, hundred forty-four to the box? I have eight boxes left on hand.”

Kevin asked, “How much for all eight boxes of the candles and the lanterns? Cash money.”

Gentry smiled and said, “Twelve hundred cash and we will help you get them to your car and throw in the three boxes of strike anywhere matches and six more ten pack boxes of the strike on box variety matches.”

Kevin smiled at the old guy and pulled out twelve one-hundred-dollar bills and a twenty-dollar bill for boot and said, “Sold to the good-looking young man from Picayune, Mississippi.” This said in his best old-time auctioneer mimicking hawker voice. Saying it as he handed the bills to Gentry with his left hand and reaching his right hand out to shake and settle the deal Southern gentleman style.

Gentry grinning at the young man and knowing he had met a kindred spirit said, “We got number ten tubs and wash boards here at the store. Would you like me to throw a couple of them into the order and a couple of five-gallon bucket washing systems with the bathroom plungers. How about some heirloom seeds?”

Kevin said, “Why not? I have two more hundred-dollar bills. Give me what you think we may need my new friend.”

Gentry replied, “Will do and cover up that pistol on your hip my friend. Young Billy almost wet his shorts when he noticed it when you came in the store. Lucky, I gave him the high sign that chucklehead would have called the law on you and to whom do I have the pleasure of doing business with today. I know you ain’t from around these parts. I know everybody and their kin.” Grinning the whole time, he was speaking.

“Kevin Mars from southern Mississippi, Picayune specifically. My sister is moving here to marry a local. You might know him his name is Melvin Cudd. He is a pretty big fellow, if you have every met him you would remember the big guy.”

Gentry replied, “Heck yeah, I know Melvin. He’s good people. Downright shame about his sister just passing. Didn’t get to the funeral, heard the Preacher did a good job with what he had to work with, you know. I had to be here at the store and I really would have only been there for Melvin anyway. Figured I would speak with him the next time he came in for something. He is a regular here at the store.”

As Gentry and Billy got a cart to help Kevin take his new purchases out to the car. Kevin went ahead to pull back the tarp covering the bed and make room in Elizabeth’s truck bed for his wares. Walking out Gentry eyed the truck with the long bed almost full of packages and said with a glee in his eye, “Seems, everyone is not oblivious to what is coming.”

Billy amused at old Gentry’s statement asked, “What is coming Gentry? Did the Almanac you are always reading say a cold winter is coming” Finally breaking into a laugh as he finished his childish admonishment of Gentry.

Gentry shook his head at the youngster and answered, “Hard times, Billy. Definitely hard times are coming and if you were paying attention. You would be doing some of this for you and your Mom. How many days of food do you think you have at home?”

Billy puffed up his chest and quickly replied, “We eat out almost every meal. Dad’s accidental life insurance and the Workman’s Compensation award for his accident at work left us fairly wealthy. I just work so I have my own money to spend on video games. Mom will not buy me anymore, she says I am addicted.”

Shaking his head, Gentry started helping Kevin put the boxes into the truck. After finishing and starting back towards the front door the old man turned and said, “Please tell Melvin I am sorry about the loss of his sister. I don’t think I will be seeing him again any time soon.” The old timer waving a sad goodbye to Kevin and Elizabeth. She had rolled down her window and spoke with Gentry, when he had first come out of the store. As they pulled away Gentry made his way back into the store, pushing Billy along in front of the cart like a cow dog herds cattle.

As the quartet were making their way back towards the lake, Jack, Jessica, Patrick, and Sandy were finishing the cleaning of the deer. They were cutting up the whole deer except for the backstrap and a couple other prime cuts for jerky and pemmican. The dehydrator and the spices for making the preserved treats coming in the orders steadily arriving at the lake house. Jessica seeing another truck pulling up to the front of the house finally asked the question on Sandy and Patrick’s mind. “Dad just how much stuff did you order yesterday on the way up here?”

Smiling at his daughter as if she was a still a young girl of six-years old, Jack replied, “Not near enough if things go the way some of us thought they would through the years with a scenario like this one happening in America. Not near enough, but if I had to guess I am going to say maybe half of what I ordered has arrived. The biggest order was the solar and wind power delivery that might not be here till Monday. I did pay the extra for guaranteed delivery today by three o’clock. I am hoping that Melvin, Jimmy and I think you said his name was Eddie will be here by that time to help off load all the solar panels.”

Making the turn off the Interstate onto the off-ramp and watching in his rear-view mirror to make sure Owen made the exit turn, Melvin asked as he stopped at the stop sign at the top of the ramp, “How far are we away from home from here. I am thinking it couldn’t be more than a hundred twenty-five miles.”

Jimmy said, “I am on the GPS and it says about a hundred and ten to the lake house address. If we go straight through the town and don’t take the by-pass for 441. My app on the phone says two hours and a few minutes and we will be to the lake and I can see that new beautiful attorney of yours.”

Eddie who had been quite most of the trip, texting and talking with friends in the Law enforcement business, said, “Melvin, I have a question for you and I am serious about the question so don’t bust my proverbial's on the matter. Do you think I might have a chance with Elizabeth and would you be okay with that if I did?”

Melvin waiting a moment on purpose to let his friend sweat before answering, “First, yeah, as long as you love them girls as much as their Momma. Secondly, what difference does it matter what I think? You are both grown and over twenty-one? But, if you think you need my permission, I think she could do no better than you Eddie and you have my best wishes. Good luck, that lady can be a handful at times.”

Jimmy agreed, “You know that is right.” Laughing so hard that his eyes started watering at the look on Eddie’s face. A look that begged do I really want to know?

Eddie finally asked, “Is her temper that bad?”

Jimmy laughed and answered, “Nah, not really, but she does like things her way at times and it is not really negotiable….”

“On another note, Melvin looking at the map I think we might want to take Highway 77 out of Watkinsville, instead of staying on 441 and going through Athens. That place can be trouble at the best of times. My guess is today is not the best of times. The routes couldn’t be over five miles difference to Calhoun Falls and good old South Carolina. Home sweet home. I will call Owen and Smoke if you agree.”

“I agree hundred percent and change. It is not a place I want to visit today or any day from now on for that matter. The home of the Bulldawgs is one of those locales that no good can come from. We just passed a sign that said twenty-six miles to Athens. How far to Watkinsville?”

Jimmy examined the map and the scale and replied, “Less than fifteen miles for sure to Highway 77 probably like twelve by the map. There is a Plez U filling station on the right as we get into Calhoun Falls and looks like a nice place from my phone app. I could use a ten-one hundred stop if you know what I mean?”

As Melvin made the right-hand turn onto Highway 77 on the outskirts of the small town of Watkinsville, in South Carolina: Elizabeth was pulling into the drive through carport at Melvin’s with their load of supplies. In Washington DC the President and his staff were meeting and some would say discussing his options. While others less polite in the ways of politics would say they were arguing along liberal and conservative fronts. Finally, not able to take it anymore the President hollered, “Enough, we are stopping the crap and telling the truth on the attacks. At least enough to let the public know we need to pull together and things are not all rainbows and unicorns. We tell them the electricity is going to be off awhile. For that reason alone, we cannot allow electronic use of credit cards because of the chance of fraud in the areas they can still be accessed. Yes, I know it will affect the people on EBT, it has to be done. At least till we get our hands on the hackers and the electrical problems. Now, get me a speech writer that can put some lipstick on this pig and a timeslot in one hour on all networks and I mean all even ESPN. This is our hour of reckoning people now work with me or get your butts gone. Make it happen, now!”

As the President was telling everyone in the room to get on board, a person came in the war room and handed the Director of the CIA a message. The Director took a minute to read the message with all eyes watching him as all the color drained from his face. The Director looked as if he had just caught the worse case of the Flu in the history of mankind and it had gone full tilt immediately. Finally, he folded the note and looked to the President and said, “Sir, we have situation, that could very well make the lack of electricity look like a blessing. A high-ranking personal aide to Putin has just defected to the United States at the Embassy in Moscow and was immediately put on a plane heading to Berlin. They should be out of Russian airspace any minute. The aide gave our agent in the Embassy a file with the outline of the plan to use Biological / Chemical weapons on American soil that Putin is about to put in motion. The plan would take a few days to a couple of weeks to actually make ready and execute, according to the aide. He is not exactly sure, not his area of expertise. He was tasked with getting the head of the chemical and biological weapons division to report to Putin. The aide added Putin was delirious with rage and power and talking about Russia ruling the world and the President of the United States groveling at his feet for his life as he took over the White House in America. Then told him to get the Minister and do it immediately he wanted to hit the American beast hard and a telling blow, before he ended the country.”

The war room was usually very quiet when people were talking, at that moment the Secretary of the Army was thinking you could probably hear a baby gnat fart, at the completion of the Director’s dialogue. After a second or two of reflection on what and the ramifications of the matter addressed by the Director of the CIA all of the Chairman and Director’s in the room started talking at once. Finally, the President smacked the table hard enough for the heavy oak table to move. Having gotten the rooms attention the President said, “I want someone in this room of brilliant people to tell me two things. First explain to me what the chances of this Intelligence being real and true. Secondly, if it is true at over fifty percent reliability why I shouldn’t turn Russia into a burning and raging fire that will be hot for the next thousand years and I mean it. Better have a good reason for me not to do that after what they have already done and tried to do in the last forty-eight hours here on American sovereign soil.”

The discussions on what the response of the American President and the military should be would rage for the next couple of hours. All sides of the military thinking we should strike before the Russians had a chance to do anything else. The Politicians were split along the war hawks and Sparrows lines, with the deep state representatives all for war and many of the normal liberals who were part of the deep state were calling for retaliation as well.

The Director of the CIA whose branch had the honor of knowing first was sending out and receiving handwritten messages about every five minutes. About an hour and five minutes after originally telling the group of the Russian plan, he got the attention of the Chief of Staffs and said, “Our defector is now out of Russian air space and our intelligence team in Russia has confirmed that the Director of Chemical and Biological Weapons is in a high-level meeting at the Kremlin with Putin. We have already contacted all of our staff an all assets in Russia and they are working the problem, as best as we can. We have two people on the Chemical and Biological staff but they are both low level and may not even be involved in the action. Other assets are giving accounts of a possible war footing in Russia, it is not yet out in the open and common knowledge. My people are putting the Intelligence as actionable already but not one-hundred percent. I say we don’t get caught with our pants around our ankles again by the big Russian Bear. We need to at least sting him good for getting in the honey bee nest, trying to steal the honey.”

Melvin pulled the F-350 Super Duty into the Plez U and said, “Can one of you pump the fuel and if possible, we want to pay with the Am Ex. We haven’t heard anything on the radio or from the ladies at home about the President making any announcement or the DHS changing any of the banking laws or anything. I am about to pee my pants and I really need to stretch my back out, while we are here and stopped.”

Jimmy replied, “I got the fuel and I can drive the last little bit home to the big city of Waterloo or at least the suburbs of the town. Probably not fifty miles from here and maybe not forty to the house. That is if you would want me too. I know how you are about your baby.” Jimmy was talking to himself seconds after he started as Melvin had bailed out of the truck the second, he got affirmation on the fuel from Jimmy. The rest of the words falling on deaf ears, if at all except for Eddie.

Eddie laughed and said, “He gone…, you are wasting your breath and words, Jimmy. I think he has an important date with a porcelain pony. I will walk back and tell Smoke and them about our plan they might want to head a different direction from here to get back to Gray Court and his shop.”

Jimmy said, “Nah, he will want to follow us till we turn off Highway 221. It is a straight shot up 221 to Highway 14 where is shop is located. Well at least right off of Highway 14. Shoot Eddie I thought a County Sheriff would know all these back roads.”

Eddie replied, “That is Laurens County not mine. We need Laurens for that type work not me. Our county especially around the lake has enough back roads for me to know. I’ll let the other counties worry about their own. Not me.” Getting out of the truck he walked over to the next fueling isle where Owen was beginning to fuel the toterhome and relayed the message from Melvin to their friends.

Smoke said, “Well, I guess this was a non-event. Traffic was even less than I thought it would be with the Holiday and all. I actually think the next time I go to Phenix City to race, I am going to take this route to the track. This route sure beats going through Atlanta with their traffic and this big rig.” Owen who had been driving like Melvin the whole time chimed in with, “I have to agree, checked it on the satellite and it is actually a mile or two shorter from the shop than going the Interstate the whole way. Seems to be about the same time with not having to fool with the hassle of the mess in Atlanta. As they say a win, win.”

Smoke after a moment continued, “We will follow you till you get off of the highway and then head home. Heck we will be almost home by then anyway. Tell Melvin and Jimmy thanks for everything, including riding shotgun for us just in case. Tell Melvin I will get the engines to Crawford’s this coming week and talk with him about a new motor. See what he recommends for us. He always gives us locals every advantage he can and maybe he has something new we might just have to have for them high dollar boys at the WoO races.”

Jimmy was finishing the fueling of the diesel Super Duty when Melvin came out of the station with a bag full of stuff and a jumbo forty-four-ounce cup of unsweet ice tea. Showing it to Jimmy saying, “They have ice tea on tap in the store like the Quik Trip stores real ice tea not that carbonated mess or mango-passion fruit or peach ice tea. Did not know what if anything you and Eddie would want. If even anything now that we are back in God’s country, sweet home Carolina, specifically South Carolina figured we had a few minutes and you could get what you wanted. They are still taking the Am Ex inside so I splurged. I got the good white icing Honey buns, large Snickers, Musketeers, Baby Ruths, and hot peanuts for everyone. Even got some for Smoke and Owen if they want one.” Passing the truck and heading over to see Smoke and Owen leaving Jimmy in charge of the truck and the important cargo for the moment. Stopping he pulled a honey bun out of the bag and flipped it to his friend before continuing his journey to see Smoke and Owen.

Almost and hour to the second after the two trucks pulled out of the Plez U parking lot Jimmy turned off of Highway 221 heading towards the lake and home. Melvin stuck his arm out the window and waved at friends as they passed heading on up the highway towards their homes. Eddie said, “Wonder if Patrick has eaten all the leftovers from Thanksgiving. Some re-warmed Turkey and dressing would be nice and maybe some of that macaroni and cheese. It was nice to get the real kind and not the Kraft’s out of a box like I fix for myself.”

Jimmy said, “Sounds good to me and you are definitely right about home-made mac and cheese. It beats the pants off of that box stuff. We will be there in ten minutes or less, Melvin have you called Jessica or Eli to tell them we are almost home?”

“No but I better and I guess I better call Jessica as she is the lady of the house now. I am glad her and Elizabeth seem to be getting along, that could have gotten ugly in a hurry,” replied Melvin. Laughing along with his two friends as he hit send on his phone for Jessica Mars.

A phone call and few miles of driving later the trio of race fans returned to what looked like a mail order shipping warehouse at his carport with two separate vans dislodging packages. Jessica along with the rest of the house moving packages either into the house or the garage, but they were all awaiting the return of the three men. Each had their own version for wanting to see the men and some of the reasons were not G rated if the truth was told. Jessica ran to the truck and opened the front driver’s door expecting to see her soon to be husband one Melvin Cudd. The look on her face upon seeing Jimmy undoing his seat belt and about to get out of the truck had him dying in laughter. Jimmy finally said, “Didn’t mean to disappoint, the big guy is on the other side of the truck Ms. Jessica. I’m sure he is just as disappointed as you.”

Jessica turned and ran towards the other side of the truck without speaking or replying to Jimmy’s words. By the time she rounded the front of the truck Melvin was already heading her way, after witnessing her open the door as he got out of the passenger side door. They ended up in each other’s arms and the embrace turned into a long kiss that was really only noticed by her Father, Brother and Sandy. Almost the same reunion was taking place with Jimmy and Celeste and a more subdued harmonizing was happening with Elizabeth and Eddie.

Eddie beheld Elizabeth’s face, took her hand and said, “Elizabeth while I was in Alabama, I did some powerful thinking, most of it was about you. I am not going to beat around the bush Elizabeth I would like us to be more than friends, I know I am older….”

Elizabeth stopping him mid-stream by stepping in closer to Eddie into his arms and saying, “Yes…,” kissing her new beau like he had never been kissed by anyone. Eddie would later describe it to Melvin as mind blowing, in a good way. This description had Melvin laughing at his friend who had always been a bachelor and telling him, “That is how love is my friend, mind blowing, is as good a description as any.”

A few minutes later Patrick walked out of the garage and hollered, “You all going to help or just kiss all day?” He would receive a wop to the head from his older sister followed by, “You have no sense, just no sense. So, just keep your mouth shut about things you nothing about.”

Patrick not to be out done said, “If we are not going to load anymore of this stuff the president is coming on at the top of the hour which is less than ten minutes. Do y’all want me to put it on the big screen?”

Jack replied, “We have everything out of the trucks. I will sign the paper work and get them on there way back to their depots. Then we can all watch the President’s address and maybe think about cooking that back strap on the grill and some garlic potatoes and broccoli with cheese or something for supper. Then we can finish getting the goods placed in the garage or wherever they need to be stored. Does that sound like a plan for everybody?”

Melvin replied, “Sounds great Jack, let’s however do it inside, instead of on the patio. I think I want to be out of the wet air. My shoulder is really bothering me and the cold and wet is not helping one bit.”

Jessica asked, “You ever had that shoulder worked on or is it just arthritis? If it is just the latter, I would be glad to give you and injection that would help. Cortisone should fix that right up if you would like a shot.”

Laughing Kevin added, “Be just like one of her horses or cows, Melvin. She will heal you right up with some of her veterinary skills.”

The opening was too great for Jimmy not to jump in an insult his best friend, “Now I see that I was always right, I always thought he was part jackass and part ape. Seeing that the Vet is going to treat him, my thesis was dead on the money.”

Laughing and almost swallowing his tongue when Celeste hit him in the stomach with a well-practiced Tae Bo back fist. One honed by many hours of doing the Tae Bo class at her local gym. Jimmy’s gag reflex from the punch bringing the house down with laughter, all but Elizabeth and Eddie laughing to beat all. The pair having a serious conversation on their future without saying a word or noticing that anything other than them were on the planet at that precious moment.

Melvin and Jessica led the group into the house and Patrick passed them as they entered the kitchen and den area heading straight for the large wrap around couch and the TV remote. He turned on the big screen and changed the channel to the local CBS affiliate and headed like a man on a mission for the kitchen and food. Saying he needed a snack if they were going to start cooking supper after the President’s speech. No way he could wait another hour plus to put on his feed bag as he so eloquently spoke his reasoning.

Melvin said, “You can get us all something to drink Patrick, thanks for being so good and volunteering. Sandy you think you could help your Brother?”

The look Melvin received from Sandy was not one of love and adoration and may have hurt his feelings had Melvin seen the look on her face. The truth was that Melvin’s shoulder felt like someone had stuck a hot poker down deep in the socket and was moving it around to make sure the whole joint hurt with equal opportunity. Jimmy seeing his friend and knowing the symptoms on sight. Walked back out of the house and headed straight for the truck and his bags. Celeste misinterpreting his actions as him leaving followed him out the door and said, “Jimmy did I do something to upset you. I thought we were beginning to really have a connection? What can I do to get you to stay?”

Jimmy gave her the million-dollar Jimmy smile and said, “Nothing, you are perfect and I agree that I was hoping for a connection and a long term one. I am just going to get Melvin some Aleve out of my bag. I have seen him like this before he is in a lot of pain. I think he probably needs rotator-cuff surgery or maybe even a shoulder replacement. He is just to hard headed to get it checked, because he might have to miss work if he needed surgery or re-habilitation on his bad shoulder. Been like this for the last four or five years. I do not even think Elizabeth knows how bad it is. If she did, she would have hog tied him and taken him to the Doctor to have it checked if she even thought it was as bad as I am sure it is for him. The pain makes him take his kidney stone medicine sometimes and today might be one of those times. Just trying to help my best friend, he has done so much for me, a couple or six Aleve is the least I can do.”

Celeste went on a bee line to Jimmy and gave him a big kiss and said, “I think I am falling in love with you Jimmy Harris. Don’t hurt me, okay. If you don’t really think we could be a couple then just tell me and we will say we had a good time the other night and be on our way. Actually, I think I am wanting to be part of this whole big family that Melvin, Elizabeth and you have going on.”

As Melvin and his friends and family settled in for the President’s address to the Union, all were wondering if life as they knew it was about to change or maybe already had changed and enough time to noticed the change had not passed. A CBS affiliate announcer was talking about the possibilities of what the President would say to the nation. Then he said, “We take you live to the White House and the Oval Office where the President will begin his speech to the nation momentarily.” The view of the Oval Office came on immediately with the President sitting behind the Resolute Desk.

Looking straight into the camera the President started his address, “My fellow Americans, today I come to you with a heavy heart. Not since we heard President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on December 7 1941, in a speech to the nation call the unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor a “date which will live in infamy,” and we entered World War II the next day has the United States faced such a grave time in the history of the nation. These times call for immediate and dire responses to the two attacks that have taken place on our soil the last few days. As of this minute we will start these responses. We as a nation will stand up and do our parts as individuals and collectively to defend the nation against all who oppose our way of life. The enemies today are both foreign and domestic as the persons who sank the ship in Houston had all been citizens of the United States for many years.

Before I start listing a few of the new rules that will be taking place, due to the lack of electricity in the northeast and the attacks on America; let me assure you that your rights will not be abused the first and second amendment will not be revoked. We want our nation to stand as it was constituted and face these enemies.

First due to the power shortage and outage in the northeast, the New York stock exchange will be run out of the Chicago exchange till other more permanent arrangements can be made to house the exchange. All trading will be stopped for Monday and Tuesday and will start back up on Wednesday as usual. Along with the stock exchange being closed for those two days we are also going to establish a banking holiday for the same time frame.

Second all credit cards and debit cards will be put on hold due to the possibility of fraudulent use due to the banking industry in the northeast not being able to track transaction usage. This hold on cards will affect any government issue cards such as EBT or others for the present. We are working on a temporary fix as we speak. Banks will still honor checks and electronic transfers in all other parts of the nation along with any cash purchases. Commerce still needs to move as much as possible.

Third the Department of Transportation is going to bypass the hours of work regulations and weight of shipment for trucking and train shipments to help move goods to areas of need. This however does not give people a free ride and the DOT will be watching for safety violations as always, during this interim change in the rules.

The last point I would like to make is very long and not yet completely decided, I would hope that we don’t have to go to war. If history shows we need to, may God richly bless our nation. Today we find ourselves at a national crossroads….”
 

[gipsy]

[CountryGuy]

Digging this story, taking me back some to the days I lived in Columbia from '02-'06 and ran some of those roads and areas on work trips and things bouncing around to places like Simpsonville and Greenwood and up to Anderson and a lot of other places.

[kiwibutterfly]

I'm so pleased you are back with this story. Thank you

[223shootersc]

Aug 11, 2023 19:27:10 GMT -6 CountryGuy said:

Digging this story, taking me back some to the days I lived in Columbia from '02-'06 and ran some of those roads and areas on work trips and things bouncing around to places like Simpsonville and Greenwood and up to Anderson and a lot of other places.

Lifelong resident of the Upstate in general. Have lived other places for short periods of time. Lived in Florida, Mississippi, NC, Georgia, TN, Maryland, and Alabama for like a year or better at each stop while working on long term projects.

Thanks for commenting and hope you are enjoying my feeble attempts at writing.

[CountryGuy]

My current employer is based out of Greer but we don't get to go down there very often now that we got bought up by a NYC equity firm.

I totally am enjoying what you're putting out.

[223shootersc]

Aug 12, 2023 16:50:41 GMT -6 CountryGuy said:

My current employer is based out of Greer but we don't get to go down there very often now that we got bought up by a NYC equity firm.

I totally am enjoying what you're putting out.

Country Guy,

I live less than 15 minutes from Greer, in Spartanburg county. What line of work are you employed?

[ydderf2]

I tripped and nearly fell over the cliff. Luckily I am hanging on with my fingertips.
Thank you 223 shooter for your work.

[223shootersc]

Aug 13, 2023 11:57:47 GMT -6 ydderf2 said:

I tripped and nearly fell over the cliff. Luckily I am hanging on with my fingertips.
Thank you 223 shooter for your work.

Hopefully, the Clif will be relieved tonight!

Thanks for reading my work! Hope you enjoy!

223shootersc

[223shootersc]

A little late Sunday night feed for the MOAR hounds! Hope you enjoy and all comments are appreciated!

Chapter 7

Early the following morning in Washington DC, deep underground at the Pentagon and in Langley, Virginia, high level meetings were in progress. The CIA had managed to get the Russian aide to Putin to the Farm and he was already on his third round of interrogations. The consensus was that his intel was real and time dependent. The aide knowing only that the plan had at least two simultaneous attacks in its original state and one would be New York and the other would be on the west coast for maximum affect on the country. His best guess knowing Putin was that since San Francisco failed that would be the second target, but his boss might want to just add San Fran and keep the other city already in play on tap, due to his want to take over and punish America.

Melvin after having a great reunion with Jessica, her father, brother, along with Sandy and Patrick was setting on the patio looking out over the water waiting for the sun to rise. He had already got his first Yeti urn full of ice tea and spoken with his God thanking him for safe travels home, a great helpmate, and all his many blessings. Requesting in his prayers the divine guidance that he thought would be required in the days to come. Asking for the will to trust and obey the Lord’s commands. Especially after talking with Jessica, Jake, Kevin, Eddie and Jimmy the night before. Melvin had been awake much of the night wondering why he had not really been paying attention to how the wind had been blowing in America for years. His best analysis told him two things had happened, one his work and building the company had been his main focus in his life. The second was like an analogy he had heard about a frog. The analogy being if you threw a frog into hot water he would jump out, but if you put him in water that was warm and continued to heat up the water he would stay in the pan and be cooked. Melvin decided he had been like the frog, in a word content with the world around him. Living in America was truly a blessing, his decision was that like everything else in life there is no free lunch and it was time to pay the cook.

Melvin had been cautioned by Jake and Eddie that even though his place on the lake was very nice and quite defendable during normal times. Times in the coming days might be anything but normal and a high dollar home on the lake would be one of the first places that scavengers or raiders as Jessica had called them would turn to look after the cities become barren of food and supplies. Thieves and Outlaws always knew where the people with the good stuff lived. They were usually soft targets, once past the alarm systems they counted on to keep their possessions in tact and safe from the criminal element. Melvin had decided that for the time being it was safer to have his friends and family all here at the lake.

Talking with Elizabeth and Jimmy they had decided to cancel the trip of Donny Ricks and Jerome to Kentucky. Elizabeth had made the call and both men were very appreciative of not having to travel so far away from their families during the crisis in America. They had even been more appreciative when told that theirs and the guys bonuses would be paid out on Monday and to tell them all to be at the office by ten A.M. in the morning. The duo had assured Elizabeth they would have the crew in attendance, not to worry. They also expressed Thanks to Melvin, Jimmy and her for being great owners. Elizabeth replied, “Y’all guys make it easy and I will make sure Melvin and Jimmy know of your appreciation. I am sure they already know from your hard and dedicated work efforts. One more thing Melvin told me to tell you to get to the grocery stores and stock up on essentials and non-perishable foods like dried beans, can goods, cereals, grits, oatmeal, flour, corn meal, sugar, shortening, cooking oil, powdered milk, and salt. He said to not wait till tomorrow go ahead and do it today and just write a check for the food. It might not be on the shelf for long, as we are already seeing runs on food in places all over the country. See ya in the morning and heed to this advice. You will thank him later, guys.”

Melvin saw a big bass jump across the way from his boat dock and smiled, just as Elizabeth asked, “Penny for your thoughts big guy. That new Mississippi Veterinarian gal of yours got that big smile hung across your face?”

Continuing his smile, he said, “No and yes. No, the smile was for that great big bass that jumped across the way and thinking it might be time for Patrick and I to put out a couple of trotlines, today. That and how much God has blessed this old South Carolina country boy, some might call a red neck and I wouldn’t be offended. The yes, is yeah, she is truly a blessing and I am surely thankful she is here safe and sound and my gal as you put it. Quite lucky and fortunate. I am a very lucky and blessed man. Indeed Miss Eli, we all are to have each other as family and friends and I consider all here family now. That definitely includes you and your girls, for sure.”

“On that same note, seemed Eddie might be very interested in my business partner as a partner of his own. I am thinking monkey business with you, my dear. Did he express that to you last night or was he too shy?”

Eli smiled and replied “Eddie is a shy person, to say the least. He needed a little push and I was just the person to give him a good shove. A lady could do worse than one Eddie Crowe, our district Sargent for the County Sheriff’s Office. I might add not a bad looking prize either to go with his great morals and upbringing. He even told me that he had always wanted children and to be a Father, just didn’t think it was in the cards for him especially at his age. Not that it matters, how old is Eddie? I know you are close to the same age.”

Melvin replied, “Eddie and I are both about the same age. I am like five almost six months older than him. I was born in early March as you know. Eddie was born the last of August we are both thirty-nine right now. We went to school together our whole lives from K-5 kindergarten till we graduated high school on the same night. He is a little older than you but not much more difference than Jessica and I. She just turned thirty-three and I will be forty in the spring. We are a little over six years apart and you and Eddie would be what ten years or so different.”

Elizabeth trying to look indignant with her hand on her hips and stern face replied, “You know good and well I am already thirty years old. You made sure the cake at work had thirty candles all burning. It looked like you could light up the world with all those small fires burning on that Strossner’s cake.”

Just as she finished Jessica walked up and asked, “My big ole man giving you a hard time on your day off Elizabeth? Do I need to teach him some manners?” All said with a big grin and defiantly in jest as she could see right through Elizabeth’s put-on act for Melvin.

“No, the big lunk was actually being nice and giving me an extra year on my age. Saying I was twenty-nine instead of the big three oh,” grinned Elizabeth in reply.

Melvin answered, “Well you keep telling people you are twenty-nine. Thought I would go along with your candid and stock answer. Even though we both know you born in ninety-three. Always said that was why you pulled for Earnhardt.”

Jessica asked, “What are we going to do for breakfast? I know Dad and Kevin are interested in seeing you and Patrick put out the trout lines. Not something we do in southern Mississippi, maybe because of the gators, don’t know. Anyway, they are used to having a big breakfast and a light or no lunch just a candy bar, chips, peanuts or a snack of some kind while they work.”

Melvin asked, “Y’all, probably know more about what is here to eat, than I do. I know you all went shopping and ordered a lot of staples. The question is do we have eggs, grits, pan cake mix and stuff like that in our supplies. I know Jimmy and Celeste stayed over last night, don’t know about Eddie. If he did, we are feeding an even dozen with all but Eli’s girls being grown. That is a lot of food for each meal, do we need to make another run to Sam’s or Costco’s or at least to Wally World or the local grocery store?”

Jessica answered, “We ordered powdered eggs, and milk along with grits, oatmeal, and pancake mix. However, I think we need to eat what we can purchase at the store as long as it is available. We definitely have enough for a few days of the perishable type foods. Do you think we might could get to the store today?”

Elizabeth answered, “I think Jimmy, Celeste, Sandy and myself should make a run into town and hit the local grocery stores and Wally World. If we don’t have good luck when we get back, we re-group and head for Sam’s in Laurens for sure.”

In Moscow, Putin and his minions were putting into action his plan to send four different Biological attacks to America. The cannisters of aerosol and the four different infected people aboard the planes as a safety valve. The flights were a flight out of Heathrow in London bound for John F. Kennedy International in New York City. A flight out of Toronto Pearson International bound for National in Washington DC. The San Francisco flight would be flying American Airlines out of Narita International Tokyo, Japan, in a pure case of irony. The last plane would be flying out of Mexico City International to St Louis, Missouri. A four-prong attack that the head of Biological warfare assure Putin would kill out right ten plus million and put three times that many in the hospital for extended care. With many lasting months before dying and tying up valuable resources in the hospitals. The flights all timed to land in America within a two-hour window, to insure maximum damage. Many of the people on the flights would get on connector flights to other parts of the country before all flights could be banned due to the outbreak of biological poisoning. The Biological weapon would render harsh flu like symptoms for the first two to four hours before many realized it was more than the flu and would be to late to seek medical attention. This being the large advantage to the agent in that people would be mobile while they were able to transmit the disease for maximum effect.

Another Human Intelligence lead would help the American cause, an Israeli undercover agent in Moscow would hear that the attack was to take place in three days on Wednesday and there were more than two planes involved. New York City and San Francisco were definite targets, which others and exactly how many was not part of the intel. A time table that was much faster than the Putin aide thought was even possible. He said that the Minister must have already had the agents and the weapon cannisters in place or at least the routes already established. That would be the only possible way to make the attack happen in that small of a time table. The aide told the CIA that undoubtedly the Minister and Putin had already talked about this piece of the inventory being in play and had made prior plans.

The CIA Director after learning of the dire nature and the fast time table for action decided it was time to play his Ace in the hole. Calling the White House and asking for an immediate face to face with the President to explain the new Intelligence and the ramifications of more than two targets. Before leaving for the White House he told his second to get the computer wizards to start figuring out which cities and planes were the most likely to be part of the target package. Reminding him that their own lives depended on the wizards being right and doing it now. They needed to have time to do some work on the ground in cities all over the world hoping to find the needle in the stack of needles.

As this was happening at the Puzzle Palace in Langley, Virginia; Elizabeth, Jimmy, Celeste, and Sandy were heading into town in Melvin and her truck to do a little shopping. Jimmy said, “Man, that was a great breakfast. Having to wolf it down like there was no tomorrow was a real waste of a good eating experience.”

Celeste replied, “If what all of you are saying is true. A few months and maybe a few weeks from now having food to eat is going to be a real eating experience. I talked with my Mentor at work and he is saying his sources in DC are all on holiday. Which would be normal for most folks on Thanksgiving weekend, these people are movers and shakers and don’t ever go on holiday from moving and shaking it is what they do. Something is stinking to high heavens according to the partners. He did say that the second group had decided to pay up the full price without haggling. We don’t have it in writing yet is why I haven’t told Sandy and Melvin. They both have agreed to take the payout in cash, Treasury bonds, Gold and Silver equally divided. That was what our financial guy was recommending for right now. The only thing that Melvin changed was he wanted the Gold and Silver in hand and not in somebody else’s hands as he put it, to our guy on the phone yesterday. I would have loved to see our Financial guys face listening to Melvin explain to him that he didn’t care how much extra he could make on the paper. Told him the paper might not be good for anything but for use as toilet paper soon. I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants just listening to Melvin….”

“On another note, I am not sure Anita made the correct call on heading back to Columbia. She is from Maryland and has no family or really friends in Columbia. She told me she was sure the government would take care of things. I guess she was a RINO as I thought she was a conservative and not a person to feed from the government. I am thinking I was wrong and I am sure she was for heading back to her apartment in Columbia. Heck, she cannot even boil water she eats out every meal. You think I am right?”


Jimmy replied, “Yeah, you are right on Anita going back to the big city. You know my main man Melvin has some strong opinions on the matters of commerce, especially Gold and Silver. He really is a Prepper like Eli and I, he just doesn’t realize it. He buys in bulk because he saves so much money doing it that way, not to have extra on hand that is just an effect not the cause. Have you ever seen a confirmed bachelor with three freezers and a big walk in pantry and they all be full all the time? Heck, I try to be a prepper and he probably has more food than I do on hand at any one time. If you don’t count my long-term stuff, like Mountain House it wouldn’t even be close. He doesn’t can because he goes to the county fair and buys lots of home canned, tomatoes, peaches, soup and corn every year and what ever else he thinks he might like. Last year it was canned pumpkin, he had Elizabeth make Pumpkin pies about twice a month for him and me and of course her and the girls.”

Celeste with a large mad coming on exclaimed, “He has Elizabeth cook for him. No wonder he made her a partner, she told me she took his laundry and cleaned his house. She was basically his personal slave.”

“Stop right there, Celeste. First off, Elizabeth would do all that stuff for free. The truth is he pays her hourly at her rate to do this stuff. Before she was a partner, she was having it rough financially and Melvin had her do things for him so he could pay her extra money. Basically, just made up things for her to do. Melvin, keeps a pretty clean house and does his own laundry on the road. He still paid her to clean his house and do his laundry when he is out of town and check on his plants. Who pays someone to check on their plants? A good friend and boss, Melvin Cudd that’s who,” expounded Jimmy.

Jimmy’s phone rang as he was finishing, he answered, “Hello, what can I do for you Eli?”

“Sandy wants to go by the Ace Hardware, said Patrick wanted some kind of stainless-steel leader line or something and a bunch of treble hooks. He said Ace usually has them and if not, we could get the braided line but not the stainless and the hooks at Wally World. He also wants some, in his words a bunch of nylon cord. Couple of thousand feet of the heavy cordage for the Trout lines to be put out. That and a bunch of packs of the cheapest rubber worms we can find in watermelon and some other color I don’t remember,” said Eli.

“Great minds think alike, I guess Melvin told me the same thing almost to a tee. Except for the part about the Stainless leaders which actually makes more sense. We will stop at the Ace right before we get into town. I think it makes the most sense to stop there first and then go to Wally World and then the grocery stores on the way out of town and back to the lake,” replied Jimmy.

Pulling into the local Ace Hardware store and getting out of her truck carrying her large all leather Galco purse that housed her Cz-75 SP-01 and two extra twenty round magazines. The high dollar pocketbook a Christmas gift from Jimmy when she got her Concealed weapons permit. She had been carrying the weapon and the purse ever since that day. Meeting Celeste and Jimmy as the group headed into the store she asked, “Kevin got kerosene lanterns at the other Hardware store in town, he was only able to get four lamps you think I should ask if they have any here. I think he got Dirts or Dees or some brand he told me was really good.”

Celeste baffled the group when the city girl said, “Dietz lanterns spelled D-I-E-T-Z are what you are trying to come up with Elizabeth. They are among the best in the world.”

Elizabeth, and Jimmy just looked confounded, Sandy asked, “How do you know that? I thought you were the big city girl.”

Smiling Celeste answered, “They are all the rage in fashion for houses and the old timey look that rich people crave. They are still made just like they were in the 1800’s and look the same. I have seen them at a couple of shows that I went to when decorating my townhome, even thought about going for that rustic antique look at one time. This city girl did go with the best of both worlds. My choice was eclectic being my decorative motif. Four lamps would not be very much light in a house the size of Melvin’s. I think it is worth a shot, to ask and the oil to burn in them also even if we don’t get the lanterns the oil would be a bonus.”

As they walked into the Ace Hardware, in Washington DC the Director of the CIA was getting off the helicopter that had just landed on the White House lawn. Secret Service personnel were escorting him directly to see the President and were moving at almost a run to the waiting President and his Chief of Staff in the Oval Office. Entering through the famous Rose Garden entrance and heading straight to the President. The Secret Service agent on the door to the Oval Office had it open as his boss and four other agents guided the Director down the long corridor towards the office. The Director said, “Thanks Henry as he passed into the office.”

Henry smiled inwardly and thought the Director was one of the few powerful dignitaries that came and went from the White House that always new everyone’s name and treated them with respect and dignity. He was a man that earned the respect of others by his actions, not demanded it because of his station in life, a real leader of men.

Entering the Oval Office, the Director was greeted by the President and asked if he would like a glass of ice tea or something stronger before they started. The Director replied, “It is probably a double Bourbon kind of day Sir. I will wait till after addressing you with our latest findings and get your directions for my office.”

“Sir, today we have Human Intelligence with a ninety-eight percent correlation percentage. This intel says that the planes will be on the ground here in America in the neighborhood of seventy-two hours or less. This information says that the plan is already in motion and we are probably to far behind the curve to stop all of the planes from breeching American soil. The only way to do that is to stop all planes from entering American airspace from any airport in the world. Basically, to ground all flights and to do so would guarantee that the Kremlin knows we have a mole in their inner circle.”

“Sir, I have Top Secret information, that has been held in reserve for over thirty years. This secret information is a game changer, but if used will certainly start World War III. Back in the eighties when the wall was coming down and the USSR was being destroyed from the inside. A group of outsiders were brought into the Kremlin to do some remodeling. This group was led by an American agent and they were able to put the famed dozen missing suitcase nuclear devices in the walls in the Kremlin. The United States of America has controlled the trigger mechanism for these devices this whole time. This is our Ace in the hole, we can’t tell Putin that we have him in checkmate. We do have to convince him that if anyone and I say anyone else dies from his attacks on America we will have a scorched earth policy on Mother Russia. If one ICBM is fired from Russia or any of her surrogate countries, we push the button and Moscow is no more.”

The Chief of Staff said, “We could never use such a weapon, it is unthinkable. We have to be the bigger man in this dispute.”

The President hollered, “James shut the #@%* up! We have already had unacceptable loss of lives in this war that they started and we will use this Ace as the Director called it to win and end this damn war. I am going to call Mr. Putin and tell him in no other words to stop his plans to attack the United States that we know he has already put in motion. I won’t say that we know that it is going to happen soon or that it is biological, just that we know it is in the operations stage….”

While the President was contemplating strategies at the highest and most deadly levels known to mankind, at the lake Jake, Kevin and Melvin were breaking down, checking and setting up the newly purchased rifles and equipment for all of the group at the lake house. Patrick asked, “Can we go and shoot these guns. I have never really shot an AR type weapon and I would really like to be able to help defend my sister and new kinfolk. I don’t much like being the weak link in our family.”

Jake replied, “Patrick I think that is a brilliant idea. One correction though these are rifles and pistols. Guns are what you find on ships and artillery ranges large canons. No offense lots of people, even ones who should know better call them guns. Another misnomer is the difference between clips and magazines. Some weapons are clip fed like an M-1 rifle, most use magazines for their weapons feeding. Most people use these two terms interchangeably and it is not a bad thing just the incorrect usage of the terms. Now let’s load up some magazines and go shoot these new rifles and pistols.”

Eddie who was about to leave to go home and get ready for a twelve-hour shift asked, “Melvin, would it be okay for me to come and go from here at your place, until we get some clarity on the current situation at least? The Captain told me when he called me back to work before my rotation was due, that we might have some long days and lots of overtime and unscheduled shifts. Your place is a lot closer to my work assignment than my house. It would also give me a reason to be in this area even though it is on the wrong side of the lake. I wouldn’t normally ask but these are not normal times.”

Melvin with a large smile and reaching out his hand to his friend to shake replied, “I just thought that you would want to stay near your home or I would have asked. I didn’t want to impose on our friendship if you needed to be elsewhere. Just asking why do they have you working on the other side of the county from where you live”

Eddie laughed and replied, “Government efficiency my friend. Kind of an oxy-moron if there ever was one. The standard reason they give is so your neighbors won’t ask for favors like riding by and watching their house when they are on vacation. I guess that one is good as any. It is just plain dumb; every unit has to drive all the way across the county to get to work. Unless something changes, I will see y’all in about fifteen hours or so. Keep your powder dry and your ears on, if I hear any news, I will call you and we can meet at the landing to discuss if it is urgent.”

Eddie turned and headed out towards his truck and home. Kevin breaking down one of the POF P415 Edge rifles that Melvin or Jimmy had bought in Alabama, after checking the rifle he stated, “Guess, Eddie must have cleaned and lubed this one. I couldn’t have done better myself, look at that BCG, Dad. It is just right.”

Looking at the offered BCG, Jake said, “The SIGs were the same way. Maybe, our new family member has learned a thing or three. Look, he is wearing one of those Glock 34’s on his belt right now, that and is that a four-magazine carrier on the other side.”

Melvin beaming with pride replied, “Not only an extra four magazine carrier, the magazines have the Glock 17 plus five magazine extension base plates from Suarez International that allows them to hold twenty-two rounds instead of the normal seventeen. They are a great addition, with the magazine in the pistol it gives me an additional twenty-five rounds over the standard. Really like carrying five plus extra magazines, instead of four.”

Kevin said, “You have learned well, young Grasshopper.” Turning and fist bumping his soon to be Brother-in-law Melvin.

Melvin had been disassembling the SIG MCX Rattler PSB pistol trying to learn the nuances of the takedown and operations of the pistol with a brace. The weapon for all practical purposes an SBR, with the eleven and half inch barrel and Pistol Stabilizing Brace. The pistol was a small and deadly package. Getting it back together and checking the action on the brace he adjusted the single point sling length for his frame. Then he mounted the weapon to his shoulder and checking the eye relief on the EOTech. Seeing that everything was mounted and ready to go he picked up one of the already loaded thirty round MagPul magazines and entered it into the magazine well tapping it to make sure it was indeed ready and in place.

Jake watching intently finally said, “Melvin, if you are going to insert a magazine into a weapon, you need to charge the weapon and make safe. If not, it is basically still an unloaded big piece of metal, only good for knocking on someone’s head. An unloaded weapon is just another form of a paperweight.” Watching as Melvin took his advice and charged the SIG MCX pistol and clicked the safety to the safe position, before saying, “Jake, I have a lot to learn about weapons and their use. I am not a complete novice as you know and I know I can be better with the help of Kevin, Jessica, and you, who know so much. I am capable of learning I just hope I have the time before the actual need for usage comes my way. If you know what I mean?”

Jake and Kevin were both nodding in agreement and Patrick had just been listening and hopefully absorbing the lessons that were being given by the Mars men and his uncle who seemed to know a lot compared to what he knew. Jake finally replying, “It is an acquired skill set that I hope as my future Son-in-law you never have to use in anger or to defend yourself or your family, new and old.”

As the men were walking towards the area not far from the house where Melvin and Jimmy did what little range practice that Melvin had ever partaken; Elizabeth and her group including Jimmy were leaving the Ace Hardware. The group had bought some heirloom seeds, corn, okra, squash, turnip greens, cabbage, and a bunch of different beans along with three varieties of tomatoes. Jimmy had wanted to buy some rabbits at least three breeders and a male. Elizabeth had just about talked him out of the purchase when a farmer came in ands wanted to buy all the live stock that was in the store along with all the feed. The store man told him he could have it all except the four rabbits and ten chicks that the nice people in front of him had already told him they wanted to purchase that and the food and pens for the stock.

The Store Manager actually sold them the rabbits and ten pullets and two cockerel chicks. Making sure they had a chance to breed if the chicks made it to full maturity, with the amateur farmers as owners and care givers for the chickens. Waters, feeders, pens, feed and oyster shells were included in the purchase. The Store Manager regrettably only had one Dietz lantern. It was a high dollar brass model that had been in the store for a few years setting on the shelf almost like a display ornament. They purchased the lantern and four one-gallon jugs of designer oil and a two and half gallon can of kerosene, to finish off the order. Jimmy decided that three of Husqvarna axes, two thirty-inch traditional and a double bit axe, two wedges, a large splitting axe and a ten-pound wedge maul were needed as they passed the tool section on their way to the checkout counter. Elizabeth calmly paid the manager with the corporate AM EX and told him thanks for all the help with their purchases.

Leaving the store parking lot and pulling out into traffic a large older model Mercury Marquis with twenty-eights at least came flying by almost side swiping Elizabeth before she could get her truck stopped still three-quarters of the way in the lot. The driver blowing the horn and both riders on the passenger side giving the group the universal gesture of one finger. Almost ready to finish pulling out of the parking lot and completing her right-hand turn onto the highway, a second car almost just like the first comes flying by their exposed position. The only difference being the first car was metal flake orange and the second was a bright neon almost green and it was probably on thirties.

Sandy was about to ask Elizabeth if she alright when, Elizabeth said, “Sandy, I know you have shot a little with Melvin and Jimmy don’t know if that involved pistols or revolvers. Doesn’t mater here is my S&W Model 10 revolver and as soon as I can get them out of my pocketbook, I am going to give you two speed loaders for the weapon. A revolver only has one safety your brain and trigger finger. Keep your finger off the trigger till you are ready to shoot. Make sure you are willing to kill what ever you shoot and that behind the target is clear.”

Handing Sandy the pistol in a strong hand appendix carry leather holster and starting to go through her pocketbook for the two speed loaders. This after backing her truck back into the parking lot, this after waving to Jimmy to show her intentions to do just that. Finding the two speed loaders she pointed to them and then Sandy’s coat pocket saying, “For now put them in your coat pocket on your right hand side. We will try to figure out something better in the future. The holster needs to be run through your belt and placed on your right kidney or appendix as it is really called. Now, just do it and we will figure it out as we go along. I think it is a choice of being safe rather than sorry right now.”

Sandy almost ready to give a rebuttal, thought about how much she would have liked to have been able to defend herself just a few days before. Took the revolver, pushed it under her left leg and started undoing her belt. She finally said, “I think you are right, Elizabeth. I have never really told you how much my brother and I appreciated the way you have been so good to us and our Uncle. Setting up the rooms and making sure we got the right clothes and just always looking out for our best interest, even though our own Mom did not do the right things by us. Melvin and you sure did for us. If I ever said anything uncool to you please take this apology from my heart to you and know that now I see who was right and who was wrong.”

Jimmy and Celeste came walking up and knocked on the driver side window and motioning for Elizabeth to roll it down so they could talk. Finally hitting the button, the electric window buzzed down and Elizabeth said, “We were just making an adjustment to our attire. I gave Sandy my Smith thirty-eight special and a couple of speed loaders. I was going to give her a quick lesson in loading the weapon with the speed loaders and then we can be on our way to Wally World.”

Jimmy said, “Good thinking Celeste thought that she saw a weapon in the hands of the front seat passenger of the second car. I wish I had something to give to Celeste for her protection.”

“Celeste, you don’t have that fancy Taser pistol thing you showed me that time that your company gave you for irate clients or whatever,” asked Elizabeth to her friend.

Celeste got a big smile on her face and replied, “Never thought I would say this but I have a pistol, no that’s not right. I have a twin barreled nine-millimeter Bond Derringer. My firm required me to get a CWP when the firm started doing more criminal cases in the down economic times. Seemed the dope peddlers, robbers, and crooks still had money to spend on Lawyers during the down economy. I actually have the Derringer and a Ruger LCR that the company bought me, that shoots three-fifty-seven magnum and it hurt my wrist. I got the Bond after doing some research it actually weighs more than the LCR and doesn’t kick near as much. The barrels are more in line with the wrist or something like that anyway.”

Jimmy smiled and said, “Do you have the Ruger with you? If you do, we will buy some thirty-eight Special ammunition at Wally World and you will like shooting that much better in your Ruger LCR. It will be mild compared to the magnum loads. I am surprised they didn’t tell you that in the CWP class training. That way you will have five shots instead of just two with the Bond Derringer.”

Sandy had managed to get the holster attached to her belt, the skinny and lite weight designer belt was not near strong enough to hold up the old school metal Model 10 from Smith. Sandy asked, “How do you wear one of these all day? I haven’t had it on two minutes and it hurts already and is really pulling down my pants.”

Looking over at Sandy’s predicament and busting out laughing, Elizabeth said, “Looks like we need to see if we can find Sandy a better belt. Maybe even some type of Rigger belt to be sure it is heavy enough and doesn’t pull down her pants.”

Joining in, Jimmy said, “Her body type might make her a better candidate for a shoulder holster or and inside the waist band type of carry. Still think she will need a better belt to even mount the speed loaders. That belt won’t hold up a gnat, it is more for show than actually holding up anything.”

As they started to head back to the truck, Jimmy turned around and ran back to Elizabeth and Sandy and said, “Let’s run by the shop and pick up our radios, that way we can keep in touch better. I say we get at least six and maybe should get all eight if they are still working. What do you think?”

“No brainer probably should have already picked them up. We can also take a few minutes and make sure everything is locked down as good as possible. I am afraid the alarm company’s response time might be non-existent these days and will get worse before it gets better. Follow me and keep it close,” said Elizabeth. Hitting the switch to roll up her window and cut out the cold wind that was whistling through her truck cab.

Getting back to his ride, Celeste was hanging up her cell phone with a big smile on her face. A smile that reminded Jimmy of a predator after the kill. “Good, no great news Jimmy…,” she beamed. A long moment later she continued, “The second family agreed to all the terms and the payment is to be in place within the hour. By the time we get through shopping, one Ms. Sandra Delaine Manning will be worth a little more than two million dollars. The boss worked the Attorney fees into the settlement and our standard rates are much more than the five points. We split the difference on the settlement fees. We took forty percent and gave sixty to Sandy. My mentor and the senior partners are happy as a pig in crap.”

“My mentor told me they are talking about a full partnership and will probably meet this coming week to make the decision. I told them that I would be needed here for a while to make sure we had all the local angles covered for the law suit against the Congressman. The blow hard told me to take as long as I needed and make sure I was expensing everything as they would invoice the two families for everything. Told him that I hadn’t even been driving my car and was staying with the client at their personal residence and eating my meals with the family. He laughed and told me to itemize everything on the CONUS ratings for per diem and lodging and we would bill them in full. I bet he and his Mistress maybe even his wife will eat at the most expensive restaurant in town and have drinks and wine. Heck, he probably will even expense a couple or maybe half-dozen of those expensive cigars that he smokes on a big win,” Celeste said. While in her mind laughing at the thought of her boss ordering the most expensive bottle of wine on the menu and a second cheaper bottle. Having the waiter to open the cheaper bottle and taking the second one home for his wine cellar. A trick he had told her about when showing her his wine collection, bragging that most of it had been expensed to clients.

“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours Celeste? It was like you were suddenly miles away after telling me of the settlement,” asked Jimmy. Looking away as he had to make a hard-left hand turn across heavy traffic following Elizabeth.

Celeste said, “Remind me and I will tell you when we get back. It is kind of a long story. I do want to try and see if we can get some ammunition for my revolver, two shots are not much other than for a mugger or something. I really would like to see if we could go somewhere and I buy a pistol of some kind. Maybe the gun shop will be open tomorrow even though I don’t have any cash hardly and with the ATM’s closed and no card usage. I guess I will have to go to the bank and do a counter-check or something. I don’t even have a check book anymore with debit cards and credit cards, just didn’t use them. When I ran out I never re-ordered checks.”

Jimmy grinned and said, “Celeste, I can handle it. I think when we get back, we need to get on the Internet and check Armslist or something and see if we can find something local and a private sell, I have a bad feeling about gun ownership no matter what the President said. That Pigolosi woman in the Congress will be having a field day about how we need to limit gun ownership I am sure. She might just get something passed. I can handle the money part of the transaction. Learning from the Cudd school of Economics, if you can’t pay cash for it you don’t really need it. The second part is if you find a good deal on something you can usually get it even cheaper if you show them the cash. I have to admit it has saved me lots of money on purchases over the years. We can pay in cash don’t worry and I kinda like taking care of you. A new but good feeling, according to Melvin it is Love. Would that be too bold to say, so early?”

The question asked as the two trucks pulled into the back-parking lot and into the shop through the roll-up doors. The loud high-pitched ear-piercing squeal that came from Celeste had Elizabeth and Sandy running to the other truck, both with weapons pulled. When they got to the truck it looked like Celeste was attacking Jimmy. Elizabeth reached and pulled on the passenger’s side door and was about to pull her friend off her partner and see what the heck he had done when she realized that Celeste was hugging and kissing Jimmy. She was not trying to tear his head off as it seemed on her first view. Elizabeth turned to Sandy who was standing at her side and said, “I don’t think our services are needed. Seems that sound she made was a sound of elation not fear. Who knew?” Throwing her hands up and out to the side with a gesture that said everything to Sandy and anyone else who saw Elizabeth.

Sandy flippantly and with a high degree of sarcasm replied, “And I thought I was going to get to shoot someone with my new pistol.”

Elizabeth said, “Revolver, you have a revolver. I have a pistol; a pistol has a magazine either internal and fixed or a removable one to hold its ammunition. A revolver has an actuating or rotating cylinder that houses the bullets.” Sandy just rolled her eyes toward the heavens and turned and headed into the office following Elizabeth. They had a bunch of radios and the chargers for the units to retrieve.

An hour or so later Melvin, Patrick, and the Mars men were finishing up at the homemade range. Each having spent some time on their own weapons checking to make sure they had not lost their zeros in the trips from Mississippi. In the case of Melvin since he had been home. They each had also spent some time checking out the new rifles and gear that Melvin and Jimmy had purchased in Alabama. Melvin had explained that one of the POF carbines that Jimmy had purchased was for him and would be going to Patrick the other was for Sandy. Melvin saying that he had decided he liked the SIG MCX pistol and was going to keep it for himself. Kevin asked, “What about your POF Warhog you purchased from me in Mississippi, what are you going to do with that rifle?”

Melvin replied, “Maybe Sandy or Elizabeth can use that rifle. I hadn’t really thought about all the other people who may not have a rifle or carbine. I know Jimmy already has an AR-15 or M-forgery type rifle and he bought another one in Alabama, maybe he could outfit Celeste.”

Kevin answered, “If we were in Mississippi, we could outfit everyone from Daddy’s safe alone…,” Thinking for a moment, “Hey you know, we put Jessica’s safe on the moving company truck that is bringing her stuff for her practice and all her clothes. Thought we was going to have to get a separate truck just for her wardrobe. That girl has some clothes and shoes.”

Melvin said, “When is the truck due to deliver her stuff?”

Jake answered, “Guaranteed to be here in the A.M. on Thursday but the driver told me he was driving straight through leaving Monday morning and would give us a call to see about delivery first thing Tuesday. He said, it would be great for him that way he could pickup a load in Dunwoody, Georgia heading back to Monroe, Louisiana. The trip would make money going and coming, if not he was going to have to dead head back or run up north for a load and he would rather drive back empty.”

All four of the guys had a good chuckle about the Mississippi driver not wanting to go across the Mason-Dixon line. With Patrick saying, “I know we fought them in the war. Why is it that southerners still hundreds of years later want to hold that against the north? I know I am supposed to laugh about that kind of talk but I don’t get it.”

Melvin started to say something and Jake said, “I’ll handle this one, son.” Melvin nodded his head in agreement with his soon to be Father -in-law and sat back in rapt attention to the lesson in Southern wisdom. One that was about to be bestowed on Patrick thinking this is going to be a good one. Wish I had a Diet Mountain Dew and some popcorn. With a funny little smirk on his face that he didn’t even realize was there himself.

Melvin said, “Patrick, first off what do you think caused the War of Northern Aggression”

Patrick said, “Slavery, the north didn’t have slaves and they didn’t think it was right to have people in slavery. The south wanted to keep slavery in existence for free labor.”

Rubbing his chin, Jake replied, “Interesting point of view, wrong but interesting thought process none the less. Patrick were you taught that in school or is that your opinion on the matter based on your own studies and views.”

Patrick replied, “Taught in school and some opinion of my own I guess, why?

Jake replied, “First the north had slaves and the largest slave markets were in the north. Second, slaves were sold. That being said, then how could they be free labor? A slave at that time cost about a thousand dollars, in todays money that is like a couple hundred thousand dollars maybe even a million or more. A week’s groceries could be bought for less than a dollar and an acre of land in big tracts was a couple of dollars or less per acre.”

“The north did not like the fact that the south controlled their pricing for raw material, cotton. They didn’t call it King Cotton at the time for nothing. The north wanted raw cotton for their cotton mills and clothes manufacturing. The garment district is still controlled in New York City to this day, you know. If you are rich and powerful what do you do you buy the other guy out or sell for so low like Wal-Mart that nobody can compete. The north couldn’t do that because the south had what they needed to make cloth, again cotton.”

“The American Civil War was never about the slavery issue, it was fought like all or at least most wars over money or more correctly about the control of money and its velocity. All wars that aren’t fought over money are usually about Religion and that will be what some old guy is telling a young kid about in another hundred years. The next world war will be over religion, Christian versus Muslim. Get on the Internet and dig into the issues, even Abraham Lincoln wasn’t against slavery per se, he wanted control. Just for giggles look up Sherman’s path through the south and especially through the south especially Atlanta. You might find out in that reading why southerners still hold strong feelings against the north.”

Melvin thought, I wonder what the liberal snowflake high school history teachers of today would have to say about the lesson that Jake Mars had just given Patrick. The poor retch probably would have to go to a safe place for the rest of the school year on hearing the real truth about the War of Northern Aggression. He was about to add that some might not agree with what Jake had told him but it was the truth and as they say the truth will set you free. Smiling at the bewildered look on Patrick’s face, he quickly gave his young nephew something to refocus his mind by just adding, “Hey, Patrick let’s get this stuff loaded up on the ATV and head back up to the house and see if the girls have driven Jessica crazy or have her tied up and held in a closet somewhere.”

Patrick with his mind still not quite able to grasp the real world, asked, “What was that Uncle Melvin? I am still trying to get my head wrapped around what Jake told me. Was he funning me because I am the young one? Like snipe hunting or something like that.”

Melvin grinned and said, “Like the man told you, look and learn for yourself the real information is out there, just have to dig a little deeper than the surface. I have heard that they are starting to try and disavow the Holocaust and the millions of the Jews that were killed by Hitler and his madmen in WW II history in some text books. Need to always verify the facts on what people tell you as the truth. The truth about history is often discarded by the Victors of wars as they write the history. Now, like I said let’s get packed up and back up to the house and see if we need to be doing something helpful.”

As Melvin and the guys rode back to the main house; Jimmy was buying the last three boxes of thirty-eight special, two fifty round boxes of cheap Remington UMC 130 grain FMJ and a twenty-round box of +P Hornady 110 grain FTX self defense ammunition that twenty rounds cost more than the fifty round boxes. It was all they had in thirty-eights. Remembering that Melvin had said he didn’t have hardly any slugs or buck twelve gauge for his Fostech shotguns. He bought the last two boxes of ten number four buck shells, a couple of ought buck boxes of five and the last box of double ought in the store, the shells a mix of two and three quarter and three-inch shells. Jimmy also was able to acquire a couple of boxes of five of sabot slugs and two boxes of twenty-five shells of number three goose loads in three-inch magnum. For Elizabeth he picked up the last box of nine-millimeter in the store it was the 147 grain Winchester Super, a box of fifty. It wasn’t much of a haul, he had shot more rounds in one afternoon at the range, but he thought it was better than nothing. He hoped the girls were having better luck when he spied a lone box of match grade 7.62 X 51mm 168 grain Winchester laying on the floor under the bottom shelf of the ammunition counter. He figured someone would probably have a use for it and it would be good for trade if nothing else. He payed for his ammo at the register there in sporting goods as the rest of the store was packed. Then made his way to find Celeste, Elizabeth and Sandy and head back to the lake hopefully. Jimmy pushed the talk button on his handheld radio and said, “Celeste, where are you located in the store, I am ready to head your way. I am finished in sporting goods, comeback.”

Jimmy was just about to re-transmit his message when, Sandy came back over the radio saying, “Jimmy, Elizabeth and Celeste have their radios in their purses and can’t find them. We are at the bed linen isle near the front of the store picking up some blankets and bed linen. Elizabeth thought they might come in handy in the future…,” Then added, “Comeback over,” with a slight giggle that came through at the end over the radio.

Moments later Jimmy had rendezvoused with his three lady friends and it was evident that they had been doing some power shopping at Wally World in his absence. All three had a cart filled to the rim and over flowing. Jimmy saw, dried beans, aluminum foil, vitamins, Tylenol, a couple of flats of quart Mason jars, toilet paper and various spices. Along with numerous other things that he couldn’t tell what they were due to so many things being in the shopping carts. Elizabeth was stacking white, gray and tan sheets on her cart like firewood and Celeste was doing the same with some type of blankets. Jimmy said, “I think we better get to the cash register ladies, before we run out of time and money.”

Sandy jumped in saying, “That’s what I been telling them. We don’t have any use for most of this stuff. Heck, I think Elizabeth bought like ten of those three packs of a thousand strike anywhere matches and another half dozen or so of the strike on box wooden matches. We will be able to make fire for a thousand years. That and she bought like a thousand needles, pins and safety pins. What we will ever do with all that is beyond me, I think she has lost it or something. She bought like a thousand count of Tylenol, Aleve and something else, the same with multi-vitamins, cold medicines, that generic Neosporin, Alcohol and betadine solution for gosh sake.”

Jimmy replied, “Good thinking Elizabeth, I would have never thought about pins and needles, did you get any thread to go with them.”

Elizabeth replied, “A couple of the extra-large spools of back, brown, dark green, navy and white each. Just the basics nothing fancy and two bolts of heavy denim and one of light cotton, might come in handy one day. We do probably need to go and get your truck and pull it up to the front to load where we saw the two-armed security guards out front. Can you do that, while we get checked out.”

“I can but I am going to wait till at least they start checking you out before I leave the three of you alone. This crowd is beginning to get a feel to it that I don’t like. The hair on the back of my neck is beginning to stand up, if you know what I mean,” answered Jimmy.

About forty-five minutes later the three ladies pushed their carts out to the waiting F-350 truck and the four started loading the goods into the back seats and the floor board of the truck as fast as possible. This being done under the watchful eye of the uniformed and armed security guards Wally World had hired to keep everything under control. Finished with the loading Jimmy said, “Elizabeth you drive and Sandy you in the middle with Celeste on the front passenger side window. Follow me around to your truck and then Celeste and you can trade places once we get to the truck.”

Jimmy took off at a fast walk towards the end of the parking lot where they had parked the truck because the lot was pretty full when they arrived. It had cleared out a little while they had been in the store as every minute the store was being cleaned out. To this point the crowds had been pretty calm and respectful of others. Jimmy got to the truck and was doing a three-sixty check of his surroundings as Elizabeth pulled up to her truck and got out leaving the F-350 running. She was followed by Celeste who stopped for just a moment to give Jimmy a quick kiss before turning and running to get in the truck with Elizabeth. Elizabeth had already closed her door and was fastening her seat belt as her friend opened the door and hoped into the truck saying, “I am in love.”

Jimmy looking around and checking his six as he got into his truck, and closed the door was startled by Sandy saying, “Look at that…” pointing hard to her right and Jimmy’s ten o’clock. Straining in his seat belt and trying to look around the door post in his truck he asked, “What am I supposed to be seeing…” with his right hand sliding towards his EAA Witness Limited Custom nine-millimeter edition riding in his appendix carry Crossbreed OWB The Reckoning Holster. He had been wearing the weapon full time since they had left Alabama heading home. The grips felt like home as his fingers wrapped around the weapon.

Sandy still pointing replied, “They are taking that man and woman’s stuff right out of the cart. Oh my, that big thug just slapped the woman as she tried to get her stuff away from him. They just pulled up and the three of them started taking the goods out of the cart as the man and woman was trying to put them in the trunk. Good the Security Guard just arrived.”

Jimmy reached and hit his radio call button and said, “Lead us out of here Elizabeth the natives are getting really restless and this place is about to become a bad part of the neighborhood I am afraid.” Not waiting for Elizabeth’s reply he continued, “Sandy call 911, don’t give your name and hang up the phone quickly after telling them of the attack and assault location.”

Across town Eddie was getting dressed and ready for work, deep in thought about the ride across the county to his home and the sights he had seen. Deciding that today would be a good day to start wearing that Glock 19X he had purchased as a backup to his issue Model 17. He pulled out five magazines with the Suarez plus 5/4 magazine extension for Glock from his gun locker. He had opted for a locker and higher dollar security system for his home after seeing many of the high dollar gun safes broken into on his job. He quickly replaced the magazine in his duty weapon and on his belt, doing the same with the magazines for the 19X. Getting up from sitting on his bed where he had dressed, he picked up his hat, placed it on his head and headed for work and his awaiting steed, the mighty LTD interceptor model. Heading to the station to check in he decided to call Laurens and see if the new guy had any information that he would not get from the Day Officer or any of the brass except his Captain.

The ride uneventful for Eddie, the conversation with Laurens told a very different story. One of a boiling under current right under the surface of humanity. Eddie told of domestic violence calls being up by at least a factor of three in his estimation and really a factor of five according to Maureen the dispatcher friend that Eddie had introduced Laurens too as a life saver and a great person to know. Telling Laurens that, Ms. Maureen really loved being brought a Hardees biscuit in the morning from time to time, Sausage and Egg. Saying it would be repaid in kind with all the info a Sheriff’s officer could need or want for that matter. The B and E numbers were flying up the charts like a country music stars latest single also. Eddie told him that as they were speaking a robbery at the local Wally World with assault was being responded by county units.

Eddie thanked Laurens for the info and asked him how he was set for food in the long term. Laurens replied, “I keep frozen pizza, chicken tenders and beef patties in the frig and try to keep it full. I also have plenty of can goods, especially vegetables for making quick soups with that canned Chicken from Sam’s, that and chili beans are about my total abilities for cooking. Well that and spaghetti, box mac and cheese, and cheese grits and eggs. I guess I am good for a couple or three weeks maybe a little more, with a few can goods like corn beef, tuna, and Salmon for some protein. Why you ask?”

Eddie answered, “Seems you are better than most. How would you cook this stuff and keep the stuff frozen if we had no power?”

Laurens got a big smile that even came through on the phone. Eddie could see the smile in his mind’s eye. Laurens replied, “I have a nice propane grill and a charcoal grill for cooking. Keep a couple of large bags of charcoal and I moved up to the hundred-pound Propane tank and keep the small one full as an extra. Learned my lesson the hard way after that big freezing rain and snow episode a couple of years ago. I also have a small wood burning smoker, I guess I could cook some meet on if I needed too. As for keeping things frozen, cold weather and freeze some water jugs at night, then put them in my hundred-quart Wally World Yeti cooler clone. That thing will hold a whole deer and keep it cold for a week plus.”

“Sounds like you are ready for the food part, how about the cold and heating your home? Didn’t you tell me you lived in a condominium,” asked Eddie.

“Not really, I told you I live in a duplex. It was built by my family and I inherited it at their death. My sister got the house and I got the rental apartments. I redid mine and added a fireplace and I live in one side and rent out the other to a friend. I added a garage on part of the land with a small shop for working on my truck and parking the lawnmower. I own it outright even with the remodeling. If things go to crap though it is not defendable at all an even though it is not in town it is close enough and on the wrong side of the tracks. I really don’t think that end of the world stuff will ever come into play. The rich have too much to lose, if the masses start to revolt in America,” said Laurens.

Eddie replied, “Maybe, maybe not. I hope you are right. Just remember, you have a place at the lake with Melvin and our group. It would be nice to have another trained hand around. Safety in numbers and all, just remember that and do not wait too late to make your decision being a hero or whatever,” said Eddie.

“On that note, Maureen told me that we are already getting weird request about people in the county and Melvin is on the list. Well, not really Melvin just his address at the lake and the office. You might want to bring her a biscuit and see if you can find out anything more on the request,” said Laurens.

Deep in thought Eddie finally replied, “Too late in the day for breakfast, but it is never too late for M&M peanuts and Dr Pepper. Works just as well, always kept that one a secret. Might be a good day to stop by the QT on the way in to work. Will I see you tomorrow? What hours are you working, anyway?”

Laurens replied, “I’ll be back on at midnight. We are changing to sixteen on and eight off for three days in a row, then four twelves and restart the sixteen hour shifts till this mess calms down. My check is going to be fat, this next payroll and for the next one after that I am sure. Oh, and since you are a Sargent make sure you get a dedicated rifle or carbine for your LTD. Don’t let them kid you they have about a dozen M-4s and a few AR-15s left they got from DHS today. I got an M-4 a real M-4 with a joy switch with a couple of old school twenty rounder aluminum magazines. Henry also gave me six loaded thirty round MagPul magazines and an ammo box with four hundred rounds of 69 grain 5.56mm ammunition. Some of the guys didn’t get one they just wanted extra twelve-gauge shells. I think they will regret this at some time. Hey, I will see you tonight and we will eat supper at the burger place you like on me. I am out, I just drove into the garage and I need some sleep.”

A few moments later after stopping at the QT and picking up some bribery snacks for loosening the tongue of Miss Maureen. Eddie walked into the station looking for the Captain and passing by the armorer’s room he remembered he needed to stop by and see about a M-4 for his car. Waving at the armorer he said, “Henry, put me back the best M-4 or rifle you have left in the armory and plenty of magazines.”

Henry having always liked the Sargent who stopped to speak and make sure he had an outlet if needed. His position in the weapons locker keeping him away from the others most of the time. Some officers actually thought of the job as a form of punishment for Henry. Most didn’t know of his pre-teen son from his first marriage being shot and killed in a MS-13 drive by in Baltimore. The death making Henry question his ability to be fair with perpetrators he may face in the line of duty. Loving his career and being a person who liked to tinker especially with weapons he requested the position that most officers hated to be assigned to him. Henry thought, that he would put back two weapons for Eddie like he had for himself and the captain. He had left in his arsenal a Daniel Defense Mk 18 SBR that would be a lot better than either of the Colt M4s he had left and a FN15 DMR 3 FDE with and eighteen-inch heavy barrel. It was mounted with and one of the newer Trijicon 6X48mm ACOG scopes with a red dot DMR mounted on the top of the scope. Smiling he thought these two beauties ought to do the trick. He had put up a FN15 DMR3 Gray tricked out the same for himself along with the only SIG MCX SBR they had received from Homeland.

When the DHS supplied weapons had been transferred and inventoried, he knew that things were a lot worse than anybody was letting on. The reason for his concerns and judgements were because of the mismatched set of weapons being delivered. Normal government acquisitions would have had all of the same weapons, and accessories. The unit had gotten a real hodgepodge of weapons, scopes and red dots, along with three different types of magazines and five different brands of ammunition in three different weights 55, 62 and 69 gr projectiles. He put the weapons in a dual thirty-nine inch ballistic carrying case along with ten MagPul thirty round magazines for each. Loading the magazines with IMI 69 gr HPBT Razor Core ammunition, his personal favorite. He also put in a carry bag the last two of the four hundred-round battle packs he had of the IMI ammo for his friend. Then added five boxes of fifty 147 gr nine-millimeter rounds for his friend, along with the lone SIG P226X5 and three extra twenty round magazines, that had come in with the DHS shipment. Three boxes of ten sabot twelve-gauge slugs and four twenty-five round boxes of number four buck shot for his shotgun, were put in the same bag. His good deed for the day completed he stored the gift package under the counter and called his wife, he wanted to tell her he would be bringing home some extra dried beans, corn, and rice form the Latino market.

Walking into the Captain’s Office, Eddie was met by his Captain saying close the door behind you my friend. As Eddie closed the door the Captain said, “I saw where Smoke won the race. Sorry to have to call you back from your holiday, but things are getting tight and I have some information that I needed to get to you in person…” Putting his finger over his lips in the universal be quiet sign. He mouthed, small talk and then we go for a walk on your way out.

Nodding that he had received the message, Eddie replied, “Well, Boss they had called off the last two races because of the rain and the Terrorist attacks. I was just hanging out at the lake and getting bored. I probably would have went hunting tomorrow but that is about the extent of my busy schedule. Spent some big money at the races, some OT would not hurt my bank account at all. Now, what did you have to tell me?”

The Captain said, “Things are getting bad my friend. Not as much here in our little county yet. Other parts of the country things are already at a boil and boiling over in some of the northern big cities like New York, Boston, and the DC area including Baltimore for sure. We need to keep a lid on things and I knew you would want to be involved as one of my team leaders. I want you to pick out a team of three officers and your self to handle your quadrant of the county, two on and two off as a QRT. I will have some Junior deputies to take over your and their regular patrol zones. I need your team members by the end of the twenty-hundred-hour shift. That way we can get you all on a twelve-hour rotation starting at zero eight hundred in the morning. I know that is when your shift is supposed to end, we will make it work. Now get out of here and let me do some police work.”

The pair of long time Sheriff’s officers walked out of the captain’s office together. The captain turned right down the hallway, supposedly on his way for a refill of his large Yeti coffee mug and Eddie the other way to his patrol vehicle. The Captain did refill the urn and wandered out to the parking lot and caught Eddie bringing two large bags to his Crown Vic Interceptor. The bags looking to be very heavy to the Captain. The Captain asked, “You looting the place?”

“Nah, just a little luv package from Henry, told me you had the same one put up in your own LTD already. Don’t be busting my chops or his about this package,” replied Eddie with a big grin on his face at the look on the captain’s face of being caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Dropping both bags by the back of the car, he reached in his right front pocket for his keys and opened the deck lid. The captain picked up the gun case and as he leaned over to put it in the trunk he said, “Eddie, all my sources are saying the action by the Terrorist is probably Russia’s doings. This is going to get a lot worse before it is over if that is true. The gloves are off and it may even end up in a limited nuclear exchange.

I wanted to make sure you knew that your friend Melvin and his new Doctor friend are on the list of people who have made large orders of supplies that were delivered before the government could put a hold on transactions. His house at the lake and his operations building are on the list of properties to be searched and assets seized if things get worse. One of the good guys, that used to work for me, is now working for DHS and sent me the list on back channels as a heads up. When you get off at midnight to get a little sleep might be a good time to visit your friend and make him aware. These things could start happening any day, any day, even as soon as tomorrow according to my friend. They are already freezing assets at the company level. Thought I owed you and your friend that much after all the big bucks I killed there the last few years on his property.”

“Thanks Pete. Melvin will be very appreciative of the information I am sure. If you ever in need of a favor, he will be the one to call and he always remembers who his friends are in life. Don’t hesitate and that means me too. Now go back to your desk and drinking coffee, some of us still must work for a living,” answered Eddie. Finishing putting the large satchel in the trunk, not having even looked to check its contents. He knew that Henry had definitely put extra goodies in the two bags just by the weight of the carriers. Walking around to the front door he opened it and thought who besides Laurens do I trust enough to put on my team? Then an epiphany hit him the third member was going to be Henry. His thoughts saying it was time for Henry to come out of his self-employed hiatus from the world and do what he was built and trained to do, ‘Serve and Protect.’ Eddie drove out of the lot with a big smile and thoughts of who was to be the fourth member on his mind.

As Eddie cleared the station, Celeste was getting a call from her mentor telling her that the money was in Escrow and the orders for Cash, Gold and Silver had already been placed and would be filled at eight A.M. in the morning. Hanging up the phone with a big smile she said to Elizabeth, “Hey get everyone together, I have great news for Sandy and Melvin….”

A few minutes later after some hollering by Elizabeth and Melvin, everyone was in the den even Patrick the cause of the hollering by Melvin. My boss says the money is already in our Escrow account and he has already talked with the Bank President about getting it turned into Gold, Silver, and cash. The local bank will have the funds by noon and we can have the assets delivered by armored car or whatever means we need and to where ever we want it delivered.”

Melvin looked to Sandy and asked, “What do you want to do with your new fortune, Sandy? Normally I would have said to put some of the cash in the bank and the rest in Annuities. These are not normal times. I think we leave the half the cash in the bank with half of it in CDs and the other half in a checking account that pays interest. That way you can spend what you want and bring the Gold and Silver here and put it in the vault.”

Sandy replied, “Sounds good. I do want enough money available for me to go and buy me a new truck. I am giving my share of the truck you bought Uncle Melvin to Patrick and I am buying him the tire upgrades and the truck vault and the roll cage he wanted for the truck. Can we get that at the Ford dealership in the morning?”

Patrick in awe yelled, “THANKS, Sis! Sweeeeet!”

Melvin with a big grin on his face as he had his arm around Jessica at his side replied, “No, but I think Jimmy’s buddy over at the four-wheel drive shop can hook us up. What do you think Jimmy? Can he get that done quickly for us?”

Jimmy replied, “He owes me a big favor. I am sure we can make that happen. I will give him a call and get the ball rolling if you want me too.” Getting a knowing affirmative head nod from Melvin as an answer.

Patrick asked, “Hey Sis, what about the exoskeleton for the truck, since you are all rich and everything now?”

Sandy shrugged her shoulders and looked at her Uncle Melvin for guidance. Melvin shrugged his shoulders right back at her and answered, “Sandy it is your money and he is your brother. You must do what your heart and mind says is the right thing to do. You have already showed that your heart is in the right place with the gift of your half of the truck. I think you know the answer."

As the Cudd family and friends were trying to decide on the usage of Sandy’s new-found fortune; in Washington DC the president and his advisory staff were still trying to decide on the best use of the new information about the nuclear bombs they had access to in Moscow. The CIA head was reporting that they had absolutely zero leads on where the biological agents would be deployed. The NSA had little or no leads either, the only person who had any hard information was Army Intelligence, who had a lead on some suspicious container on a freighter that had left out of St Petersburg on the Baltic Sea earlier in the week. The containers were not found on board when it was boarded at our request near Copenhagen by the Denmark Coast Guard. Best guess is they were loaded onto a trawler or a submarine at night during the trip of the ship in question.

The President stood up and calmly looked at each leader in the room and finally said, “Ladies and Gentlemen we find ourselves at a crossroads. This crossroads could make or break our Republic. A Republic that has stood as line between good and evil in the world for almost two hundred and fifty years. Now we have to ask ourselves do we continue to be the strong Nation and shining example of freedom or do we let a would-be Hitler rule our Nation and thus the world? I say we take the stand like our Fore Fathers did with the British and say we will not go softly, we will not stand for tyranny and we will defend the Republic to the last vestige of our lives. We do this for God and country, in the name of all that is good.”

The room erupted in a hail of USA an almost all were in accordance with the President. A couple of Junior CIA and NSA clerks would notice on re-watching of the recordings of the meeting that a couple of the people who weren’t of accord were making hand signals to each other, during the celebration of Freedom. They would be singled out for some extensive counseling as it was delicately described by the Langley head of station. They would also until which time this counseling was arranged would be on a need to know basis and they didn’t need to know. A decision that would be herald in future years as a savior of the nation, not as much as a strong President’s stand and line in the sand. A turning point none the less in fighting the Russians and their would-be world ruler.

At the same time in Moscow, Putin was being told that everything was a go for the Biological weapons to be released on American soil in the four key cities. All the canisters were ready to be placed and the agents to be on board the planes to ensure delivery were already in their departure cities and had their electronic tickets already in their possession. All was ready for the final decision and go ahead to be given. The planes would be on the ground in three days if the orders were given to execute the plan. Putin said three words on hearing these reports, “Execute, my orders!” A reply from the head of CBN was, “So be it, my Commander.” Turned and walked out of the Kremlin and called his second in Command with the orders. The head of the CBN department would be on a private jet owned by the head of one of the Russian mafias heading for Berlin within fifteen minutes of his delivering the message to his second. He had already informed the head of the Mafia to move his assets to France or Italy the day after his first meeting with as he described him a committable Putin. Going on to say that Putin was clearly insane and could not be counted on for a good decision for the Motherland or its people. The two old friends would enjoy a quiet flight and some good Vodka and Russia’s finest ladies of the evening on the long flight to Berlin and then on to Rome.

A few hours later about nine pm EST, Melvin got a call from Eddie saying he was on his way there and would be at the lake in about ten minutes. They needed to talk in private and he didn’t have much time, as he was still on the clock. He asked Melvin if he could get him a sandwich of some kind Turkey if they still had any ready so he could use this time as his lunch thirty minutes. Melvin had replied, “No problem on the sandwich, Turkey mayo, lettuce and tomato alright. I was thinking of having one myself. How about some chips and a piece of pie we still have both pecan and sweet potato? I have first Dibbs on the Sweet Tater, I have to tell ya.” Eddie hearing the loud chuckle from Melvin over the phone, replied, “Yes, on all of the TLT and mayo and pecan is my favorite anyway and you know it, wise guy. See ya in a few, get a move on big guy you know you are not near the Chef you are a businessman.”

Melvin replied, “I can’t argue that. But since Jessica and Elizabeth are already making sandwiches for everybody here, I bet my charm and handsome good looks can get another sandwich or two made. If not, I am perfectly capable of putting mayo on bread, the tomatoes are already sliced and so is the Turkey. Either way it will be waiting on you when you come in the house.”

Feeling a little better after getting that off his chest and deciding that the last person on his team would be Maureen. It was really an easy decision after clearing his head of all the possible bad scenarios. Maureen had been at the top of her class and had made one little mistake in her first few weeks on the job and the prior Sheriff had put her on the bench as a Dispatcher. She had wanted to come off every since he had been fired and the new Sheriff had been elected. Budget cuts had kept her on the mike, that and she was good as any and better than most at her job. This would be her chance and he knew without a doubt, like Henry and Laurens he could trust her to have his six. His decision made he placed a call to his Captain and told him of his three choices for his team. Pete after hearing the choices made by his senior Sargent replied, “Very interesting choices. A new guy, our armorer and our best dispatcher, if I put much thought into your choices, I might think you were worried about some of our Officers not playing well with others. Specifically, not having your back and / or the best interest of the force. Should I be worried about anyone in particular Eddie?”

Eddie started not to say anything, then thought better of it and replied, “Captain when Melvin made the Citizen’s arrest that night, Danny and Glenn were there at the request of the bad guys and to do their bidding. Ever since then I have been paying more attention and they have a couple or three buddies and you know who they are that probably fall on the wrong side of the fence Pete. I would not ever want to have them at my back and trust is out of the question. I hope that is the extent of the bad apples but one never knows. The three I picked I know will have my back when the time comes.”

“Eddie, you always have the situation under control. I haven’t always agreed with your methods, but I could never question the results or if you had the department and the local citizens best interest first and foremost. Do you want to inform your team or do you want me too? It might be best for me as Laurens will not need to come back in till zero eight hundred in the morning and I probably need to get Maureen and Henry off the clock. As we are going to have you riding in tandem cars instead of just two per shift it is going to be four,” replied Pete.

Eddie said, “Yeah, you tell them and then have them give me a call if you would, Boss.” Pulling up into the drive through carport at Melvin’s and shutting down his cruiser and heading into the house for a sandwich or two and a head to head with his best friend. The conversation not one that he wanted to have, he knew that it had to be done and hoped his friend had a hole to hide the goods and his family. A hole that was big enough for him to hide too, if the time came. Maybe him and his whole team, the only one with any baggage on his team was Henry. He had a wife and a teenage daughter freshman or maybe sophomore in high-school. Thinking he would ask Sandy and Patrick if they knew her while he was at Melvin’s.

Eddie walked into the kitchen through the side door and saw a madhouse of people eating and from the looks of it having a party. Jimmy being the first to see him said in a very loud voice, “Fuzz, everybody be cool. Man, I have always wanted to say that after hearing something like that said on an eighties TV show rerun.” Laughing at the expression on Eddie’s face and hearing Melvin, Jack and Kevin laughing at his satirical announcement.

Melvin said, “Good to see ya. We have a couple of sandwiches ready. Do you want chips or Elizabeth’s famous tater salad?”

“Tater salad, sounds right, a big helping,” replied Eddie. Finding an open stool and setting down beside Melvin at the kitchen bar as he had numerous times. He knew today was different and Melvin sensed it from his friend. Patting him on the back as he sat down, he said, “We will talk after we eat, just you and me or everybody?”

“Probably everybody, maybe not the young ones. Elizabeth will probably need to send them on up to their rooms or something,” answered Eddie. Then reached for his sandwich that had been set in front of him by Jessica with a very large scoop of potato salad and a pickle.

After eating and Elizabeth getting the girls to go to their bedroom with the promise of a story from Melvin or Jimmy. Then the earnest conversation started with Eddie explaining about the problem the group faced from Homeland Defense and their list. Numerous thoughts were given and the thought of even taking the group back to Mississippi was offered by Jack. The conventional wisdom was they really didn’t know how to move the large amount of stuff they needed in the small amount of time that was allotted by the end of the week. Jimmy had just been listening to the group go back and forth and he finally said, “I know where we can go and have plenty of room and two fences between us and the outside world. The place is not far from here at all and is hidden from view, even though it sets right off a farm to market road. It has well water and right now some electricity. We have the panels to help if grid electric is lost.”

Melvin asked, “Where is this mystery place?”

Before Jimmy could answer the question, Elizabeth asserted, “I bet I know and Melvin it has been years since you have been there. That is the reason it didn’t come to you. We still have the long-term remediation contract to the place and someone goes out twice a year and maintains the system and changes out the Carbon filters. We keep the grass under control on a limited basis and repair any vandalism. Hasn’t been any vandalism in years and amazingly enough the place still has all of its copper wire. I guess all the locals forgot about the place, it is so well hidden from the road. Heck even the sign that was built to blend in with the surrounding countryside now is part of the countryside. It is the old Titus wheel manufacturing facility that we did all the remediation and close out of the plant what six or seven years ago. It was one of our first really big jobs, a complete shut down and decontamination of the facility.”

Jimmy smiled and said, “Don’t nothing get by our partner, Bossman. That is exactly the place I was talking about. Eight hundred plus acres of countryside completely fenced with eight-foot chain length fence and topped with three strands of barbed wire. The interior sixty-four acres of the plant itself fenced the same way except the barbed wire on top is replaced with razor wire. Heck we can put the jersey barriers inside the second fence and completely close the place down. The other cool thing is we know that they have lots of wild life at the site, definitely deer, turkey, ducks and geese on the ponds besides the fish in the two big lakes and it hasn’t been hunted or fished in years. Well maybe a little we have hunted turkey and deer there a few times and took the girls fishing a couple of times.” Winking at Elizabeth, because they had taken the girls fishing there a bunch of times, as they could always catch fish and her daughters loved to catch fish, if they weren’t biting not so much.

Jessica said, “Who owns the place? Do you think they might try and come and take over the place if it is such a good place?”

Melvin said, “I can answer that, the place is actually owned now by a French company. When it was Titus it was owned by a family in Wisconsin that started the business. They closed the plant when the French company bought out the firm. They wanted some specific line of the Titus business for Europe, didn’t really care about the US market. Started dismantling the company the day they bought the market share. We get paid by a Lawyer firm out of New York City that specializes in the French business in America. I think we have actually worked with them a time or two for Michelin USA. I doubt the Frogs even remember they have the property, they tried to sell it originally at a way high price and never even got so much as a nibble. Probably wrote off the entire thing as a loss and forgot about it. Might even have been why they were asking like three times the market rate.”

Jessica said, “Well that solves one problem the second is how do we get all this stuff there without drawing a crowd?”

Jimmy smiling ear to ear replied, “We are out there all the time as a company, we move the stuff to the site in our Company enclosed trailers. Heck, we might even want to move some of our equipment out there. The DHS might decide they have a better use for that, than we do. Just like the food and supplies. Don’t think anyone will be paying any attention. The real question is do we get to use the strong backs of Sandy and Patrick or do they head back to school in the morning?”

Patrick said, “I say we help the family and just skip school if you are right what is three more days of public education actually going to accomplish for us.”

Melvin replied, “I agree Patrick and the Doctor told me we might want to keep Sandy out for the whole week anyway. For no other reason than she doesn’t have to hear the innuendoes and the snide remarks from her so called friends.”

Sandy had been thinking about her money situation, and said, “If my money is going to be no good in a few days I would like to spend some of it maybe even all of it. I want to buy a pistol or two and a pretty shoulder holster for them. That and Mott’s downtown has this hand-crafted sweater and scarf from the Himalayas, Alpaca I think, that cost like a thousand bucks that is to die for, and it is there for the buying.”

Elizabeth will a silly look on her face, said, “And they say money doesn’t change people.” A line that as they say broke up the house. With everybody laughing she walked over to Sandy and gave her a big hug and asked, “Do they have two? One for you and one for me, remember Aunt Elizabeth has always been your favorite.” Getting a big whole hearted smile from Sandy for the first time since the incident.

Melvin walked out with Eddie who was heading back to work. Getting into the Crown Vic Eddie said, “Got a question, if it goes down and the world or at least the US of A falters, is there a place for my team from work? There would be seven of us total with Henry’s wife and kids being three of those and that is counting me and Laurens who we have kinda already talked about.”

Melvin thought for a moment and said, “It will be like always. At my place my rules, you know I am not a dictator or anything. I do require everyone to pull their own weight. One other thing, you probably know the answer to this question, can I buy more than one pistol at a time. Back years ago, you couldn’t I think that changed and you can?

Eddie replied, “You can buy as many as you want anything over two and the government approval might not comeback and put them all on hold till after the SHTF in the next few days. Give me the money and I will go and buy two, and maybe you Jimmy and Celeste or Elizabeth can go buy two each. I heard that our group is a little short on hand guns.”

Melvin said, “Hold on a minute.” Melvin took off at a run to his bedroom and opened his safe and removed three thousand dollars in cash and headed back out the door to his waiting friend. Handing him the cash saying get what you think you can get approved and at least a half dozen magazines each and some type of holster kydex or leather. Big no on ballistic nylon, they do not last.”

Eddie whistled at the stack of hundred-dollar bills and said, “See ya tomorrow night. I am probably just going to sleep at the office on my couch tonight. Won’t be the first time and have a donut for breakfast.” Eddie laughing hard at his friends face as he drove away heading back to work. Knowing that Melvin was thinking about him eating free donuts and drinking coffee at Momma Jeans as the world was ending.

At midnight as he pulled his patrol vehicle into the lot at the end of his shift, heading to sign out from his shift and a quick shower before bed he saw Maureen leaving the office. She saw him at about the same time and made a straight line towards him, covering the ground at a pace that ensured she would intercept him before he made the front door. Maureen said, “Hold it right there Eddie Crowe, I mean to have a word with you right now.” All this relayed in a voice with enough whim and vigor for Eddie just to nod and say, “Okay, shoot.”

The two words from Eddie seemed to have the effect he was looking for, as Maureen lost a little bit of steam from the locomotive that she was riding and about to steam roll Eddie. Catching her wind and redirecting her energy, Maureen said, “Did you nominate me for an RRT spot on your team or is the Captain full of it, like usual?” Waiting for an answer with her hands on her hips and a facial expression that told Eddie he could run but he would only die tired.

Eddie swallowed the bile that had raced up into his mouth and replied, “Yes Maureen, why yes I did. Thought you would jump at the chance. I didn’t mean to overstep my bounds.”

Maureen jumped back into the conversation with both feet saying, “Shut up…, just shut your mouth, boy. I am happy as I can be. I thought it was some type of joke by the captain and his guys. It being my birth day and all. I turned twenty-eight today, well about three minutes ago I guess officially. My birthday is today or right now. I just thought it might be some elaborate joke, the only thing that let me think otherwise as they told me that you picked me for your team. I knew down deep you were not one of those frat boys like the captain and some of the others/ I knew you would not be part of some bull crap stuff. Stuff to hurt me, as part of a joke. Thanks for the nomination and I will do you and the department a good job and have your back.”

Finally finished with a now happy Maureen who had given him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek and said, “No turning me in for sexual harassment now that I have a chance to do some real police work Eddie and I will bring the donuts in the morning from Momma Jeans.” She headed towards her truck prancing like a fine filly and he headed on into the station to end his shift. Walking into the station his cell phone rang and it was Laurens thanking him and telling him he would see him in the morning.