Caldera Book 7: The End Is Here Read online

  “If. I am not comfortable risking your wellbeing on that word.”

  She came to her feet and squared her shoulders. “Then I suppose it’s the two of us.”

  “One way or the other, oui.”

  She reached out and took his hand. “Thank you.”

  He shook his head. “No need to thank me.” He stood and gave her a sad smile. “I was tired of living on this ship anyway.” He walked to her door and turned back. “San Diego was a bastion of medical research. Who knows? Perhaps we can find a suitable lab. If we can get power to it, we could continue our work there.”

  She gave him a smile and nodded. “Perhaps.”

  Simon followed the column of dust and dirt in the air and found himself parked at the entrance to an alley. “Son of a…” He shut off the engine and stepped down from the behemoth. He walked to the edge of the alley and read the large plywood sign posted at the entrance.

  “Explosives, huh? That would explain it.” He crossed his arms and snorted. “Like anybody would be stupid enough to…” He paused and stared at the numerous orange painted clay pigeons scattered about the alley.

  He reread the sign and his eyes widened. “North is the only safe avenue?” He cocked his head. “Why on earth would you tell people how to come at you?”

  He stepped away from the alley and leaned against the passenger door of the huge truck. “Unless you were prepared to fend off an attack from the north.”

  He rubbed at his stubbled chin and tried to wrap his alcohol soaked mind around the idea of setting booby-traps all around your home but leaving an avenue of attack. “You fuckers just don’t make sense.” He stared at the sign again. “All are welcome? I bet that offer don’t extend to me.”

  He pushed off the side of the truck and stared down the long, narrow alleyway. He couldn’t be certain which side of the alley the Cagers were holed up at, but he knew how to find out.

  He started the diesel engine and pulled away. He braked hard when he saw grey-skinned bodies darting through the shadows. “Son of a bitch.” He watched as another pair shot between two wrecked cars then dove into the shadows again.

  “Looks like that blast didn’t just get my attention.”

  He stomped the accelerator and drove the truck around the block, allowing plenty of leeway around the advancing Ragers. Simon circled around, allowing three blocks. He stared at each side street and tried to spot more of the signs. He noted a few scraps of orange, but he couldn’t be certain if they were more explosives or just trash that had been scattered.

  He finally worked his way around to the north of the compound and saw the open lots where they had attempted to bulldoze the place. He squinted in the bright afternoon sun and could almost swear that one of the dozers now sat parked just outside the gates of the compound.

  “Are those spikes?” He wished he had thought to bring binoculars so that he could get a better idea of what he was looking at. He didn’t dare drive closer or they’d spot his truck.

  “Well, well, well….” He reached for the single malt and pulled the cork. After a long pull from the bottle he leaned back in the thick leather seat and stared through the windshield. “Ragers closing in and me without my hardware.”

  He rolled the window down and spit. With a quick glance at his watch he knew that he didn’t have long before the sun would set. “I reckon I best get my guns.” He took another pull from the bottle then corked it. “I don’t want them Ragers having all of the fun, now do I?”

  Chapter 26

  Hatcher watched as the sun slowly set. He turned worried eyes to the sentry in the tower. “Any movement?”

  “Negative, Hatch.” He gave him a crooked grin. “Clear as the eye can see.”

  “Let’s pray it stays that way.” Hatcher turned back to the main entrance and spotted Cooper at the gates. “Anything out front?”

  “One of the guards thought he heard something earlier but…” He shrugged. “It could have been anything.”

  “Keep sharp out here. Remember to—”

  “I know, boss.” Coop interrupted. “This ain’t my first rodeo.”

  Hatcher clapped the man’s shoulder as he marched back to his office. He sat down heavily in the chair and groaned as his ribs protested. He leaned back slowly and grimaced, his hand cupping the ACE wrap around his chest.

  “You okay?”

  He looked up as Roger stepped into the office. “I’ll live.” He hiked a brow at the man. “I’m guessing Candy said yes since you’re still amongst the living.”

  Roger smiled as he sat down. “She wanted to argue, but I told her that I’d have asked her regardless. Just, maybe not quite this quick.”

  Hatcher nodded knowingly. “You ever been married before?”

  Roger’s face fell solemn and he nodded gently. “Yeah. She uh…didn’t survive the storm when this thing started.”

  Hatcher’s face fell and he stared at the man across from him. “That wasn’t so long ago.”

  “Feels like a lifetime.” Roger ran a hand over his face and sniffed back an unshed tear. “She was my life.”

  “Sorry man. I didn’t mean to drudge up old memories.”

  Roger shook his head. “As you said, they’re still fresh.” He turned and gave Hatcher a lopsided grin. “Need to put all that behind us, don’t we? Hey, if things were reversed, I’d wish her the best of luck.”

  Hatcher reached into his desk drawer and searched for the bottle he used to keep hidden there. He closed the drawer and gave Roger a shrug. “I guess we can toast your upcoming nuptials with coffee.”

  Roger snorted as he stood. “I forgot that Vicky swiped your stash.”

  Hatcher groaned as he sat back. “Probably for the best.” He watched as Roger poured two cups of the dark liquid. “I guess I kind of went sideways on you all, didn’t I?”

  Roger shrugged. “Everybody is entitled to a minor meltdown now and then.” He handed Hatcher his cup and sat down across from him. “You should have seen me when they assigned me to Simon’s gang. I was not happy with that one.” He sipped the coffee and grimaced.

  “Yeah, that’s left from this morning.” Hatcher held the cup up and gave him a mock salute. “Waste not want not.”

  Roger set his cup down and shook his head. “I’ll stick with the want not. That’s nasty.”

  Hatcher laughed as he choked down the bitter brew. “I was about to—”

  His words were cut short as another explosion rocked the walls, rattled windows and elicited more than one scream from the building.

  Hatcher and Roger’s eyes met. “That was closer than the first one.” Hatcher pushed up from his chair and tried his best to keep up with Roger as they darted to the courtyard. Hatcher looked up to the tower and the sentry pointed to the west again.

  “It’s out that way, Hatch.”

  Hatcher turned and stared as a column of dust rose into the air. He noted the dimming light and ground his teeth. “I think we’re about to have company.”

  Roger keyed the radio in his hand. “Lock and load boys. It’s about to get real.”

  Carol stepped down from the helicopter and waited while Broussard dismounted, his bag dropping to the flat roof beside her. The pair covered their eyes as the craft lifted up again and turned to the north, ferrying the rest of the party parallel to the coast and to the next site.

  “It’s a bit risky doing a night operation, isn’t it?” she asked the soldier assigned to them. She wasn’t sure if she should be relieved or worried that it was a different man.

  “We have night vision, ma’am. The last crew set out proximity sensors. We’ll know if anything larger than a house cat is moving around down there.” He pointed off the edge of the office building.

  Carol looked to Broussard, who had shouldered his bag. He handed over her duffel and walked to the roof access. “We’ll be down below if you need us,” he stated casually.

  “Hey!” The soldier stiffened. “I can’t let you go alone. I’m assigned to—”
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br />   Broussard held a hand up to quell his argument. “My good man, where can we possibly go but down to the lobby. We simply need to observe as closely as possible.”

  “Then I’m coming with you.”

  Carol stepped between the man and the door. “We need you up here. To radio to us if and when any of the infected begin to show up. Surely the noise from the chopper will attract them.” She pressed her palm to his chest as if to reassure him. “We’ve got solid glass security doors between us and them if we’re seen. Hopefully we won’t be.” She shrugged and smiled up at him. “We don’t want them stirred up any more than you do.”

  “But, ma’am, my orders are clear.”

  “I understand that, but right now, we need you to assist us in our task. And that assistance comes in the form of you informing us of their movements before they actually arrive. You can do that, can’t you, sergeant?”

  He drew back his head, slowly shaking it. “I don’t think—”

  “My boy, you don’t need to think. You simply need to report the activity you see.” Broussard gave him his best disarming smile. “If you are down there with us, you can’t report their arrival and if they get riled up by accidentally seeing you, you’ll feel the need to shoot at them. We are actually hoping that our cure will work and save these people.”

  “Relax, soldier. If they approach the front of the building, we’ll slip back into the stairwell and make our way back up here.”

  The man slowly shook his head. “I don’t know ma’am. What if you run into Zeds in the building?”

  “Then we cut our ground level observation short and we return.”

  Broussard stepped forward. “Do not be concerned. We’ll take no unnecessary risks, I assure you.”

  The soldier blew his breath out hard and eyed the pair. “If anybody asks, I was with you the entire time.”

  “Understood.” Carol gave him a sweet smile. “Thank you.” Broussard turned for the door and Carol pointed to the parapet of the roof. “You can observe from there. If you see anybody approaching the front of the building, just radio us.”

  The soldier gave her a curt nod and walked to the edge. She watched as he lifted modified binoculars to his eyes and peered over the edge.

  She turned for the doorway and stepped into the darkened stairwell. When the door shut she blew her breath out hard and looked to Broussard. “I can’t believe that worked.”

  “Act as though you are simply doing your job and nobody questions your motives.” He flipped on the torch and aimed it down the stairs. “Listen carefully. We don’t want to awaken any unwanted visitors.”

  Carol reached for the handrail. “I’m assuming there’s a back door to this place.”

  Broussard chuckled. “There had better be or this will be the shortest escape attempt in history.”

  Simon tossed the last of the weapons into the truck and slammed the door. “Godammit!” he cursed as he twisted the key. “I’ve burned too much daylight already.”

  He pulled the gear selector into drive and floored the accelerator. The big diesel chirped the tires as he pulled away and down the hill toward the gates. He hung on tight when he turned the steering wheel and the big dually barked tires as he cut the corner too tightly.

  He continued to curse as he drove like a madman through town, the large truck protesting at the abuse. He slammed on his brakes and stared at an intersection. “Do I go straight here or…” He blinked in the rapidly dwindling sunlight. “FUCK!” He slammed his fist down hard on the steering wheel and ground his teeth together in frustration.

  He instinctively reached for the bottle beside him and downed the last of the twelve year-old single malt then tossed the bottle out the window. He took no satisfaction in the glass shattering on the pavement. “Which way do I go?”

  The explosion that sounded to his left caused him to jump and he twisted his face in the direction of the blast. A slow smile formed as he turned the truck down the road and floored the accelerator again. “Thank you, you stupid fucking Rager!”

  Chapter 27

  Hatcher slid to a stop and stared at the figures darting between the shadows, slowly making their way closer to their compound. “Wait for a clear shot! Don’t waste the ammo!”

  He listened as single shots echoed in the evening air. He watched as men scrambled to the walls, their weapons shouldered and their eyes scanning the moment they took their position.

  Candy appeared at his side. “Where do you want me?”

  Hatcher stared at her in disbelief. “Back in your room!” He grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around. “I want you as far away from this as you can get.”

  “I’m not broken Hatcher!” She spun and glared at him. “I’m just pregnant!”

  He stared at her with wide eyes. “I don’t care. I need you to stay safe!”

  “The safest place for me is at the wall with a damned rifle in my hands.” She shoved him. Hard. “Now get out of my way and let me do my job.”

  He stared at her with wide eyes and his mouth hanging open.

  “I wouldn’t brother.” Roger appeared at his side, slamming a magazine into the magwell of the AR. “You just thought she was a tough bitch before she got pregnant. Don’t piss her off now.”

  Hatcher shook his head. “Stay with her. Keep her safe.”

  “Oh, you know it.” Roger trotted off after the future mother of his child and climbed the short section of scaffolding that made up the wall posts. Hatcher watched as he settled in beside Candy and both brought their rifles to bear on whatever threat might be outside the fences.

  He groaned as he marched through the courtyard and to the front gates. “Sitrep!”

  “We have movement along the tree line, but so far, nothing close in.” Cooper handed him the field glasses and Hatcher quickly scanned the front. “Let’s get non-shooters at each station reloading magazines in case this is a bigger wave then we might expect.”

  “I’m expecting the hand of God to reach down and thump us hard for daring to survive this fuckfest.” Cooper gave him a stoic look. “How many bullets do you think it will take to stop that?”

  “As many as it takes.” Hatcher replied. He handed the field glasses back to Cooper then marched to the northwest sentry. “How many are they?”

  Wally shook his head. “There’s bodies scurrying all over the place but I can’t get a head count.” He continued to stare into the darkening shadows. “Could be twenty, could be two hundred.”

  Hatcher groaned again. “Now I’m wishing we hadn’t set those explosives.”

  Wally glanced at him. “Why not? They can stop a bunch of them if they go that way.”

  “Because that’s what attracted them in the first place.” Hatcher spun and marched back towards the main entrance.

  “Hatcher!” Cooper yelled from the front gates. “You need to see this!”

  Hatcher ran as fast as his ribs would allow and skidded to a stop at the gates. “What is that?”

  “Headlights.”

  Hatcher sighed and reached for the field glasses again. “Fucking Simon.”

  “Probably.” Cooper lit a cigarette and blew grey smoke into the air. He glanced at Hatcher and shrugged. “What? I kept a pack back for emergencies. My cravings tell me this is an emergency.”

  Hatcher grunted. “Don’t let Vicky know you smoke. She’ll neuter you.”

  Cooper gave him a wide eyed look then dropped the smoke to the ground, squishing it out with his shoe. “Not worth it.”

  “What’s he doing out there?”

  “Watching the festivities?” Cooper offered. “Who the hell knows? He’s batshit crazy. Hell, he may have been the one that led them to us.”

  Hatcher shook his head. “Not this time.” He lowered the spyglasses and blew his breath out hard. “I’m sure it was the explosion that—”

  A piece of stucco beside the gate erupted as the rifle round shattered the cement mix, sending bits of debris flying and cutting him off mid-sentence. H
atcher dove for the ground and screamed, “DOWN! Gun shots!”

  Bodies dove for cover as more shots thudded against the sides of the adobe building and exterior wall. Cooper rolled to his side, cupping his hands to his mouth. “Take cover! Incoming!”

  Hatcher reached out and grabbed the man’s hand. “You’re bleeding.”

  Cooper rolled to his back and looked down at his white t-shirt, stained red with blood. “Well, ain’t that a kick in the nuts.”

  Carol pushed the rear steel security door open and blinked at the early evening darkness. It was like being under a spotlight after maneuvering the lower levels of the building in the dark. She smiled as the pair exited into the alleyway. “I’m glad you shut off the flashlight now.”

  Broussard whispered as he fell into step behind her. “We need to get out of downtown. Find a secure location to lay low in until the military call off operations here.”

  Carol ran her hand along the rear of the building until they came to the corner. She glanced out and saw nothing in either direction. “They have night vision. Won’t they be able to see us?”

  Broussard shrugged. “It’s one man on the roof. He’s supposed to be watching the front.” He sighed heavily and shook his head. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

  She nodded slowly then squared her shoulders. “This way.” She darted across the street then turned toward the coast. She could smell the salty sea air and turned into the cool breeze.

  “Funny how the wind smells different along the coast then out at sea.”

  She turned and glanced at him. “We’re running away from the only secure place we know of and that’s what comes to your mind?”

  He shrugged again. “Just making an observation.” He smiled at her. “I am a scientist, you know. I used to be paid to notice differences.”

  She pulled him into another alley and they continued to zig-zag farther away from the building. She stiffened and stopped when her radio crackled to life. “I’ve got three figures moving toward our location–coming in from the south. Over.”