The Line of Departure: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series Book 4) (19 page)

Her trip down memory lane was interrupted when a knock at the door echoed down the hall. Before she answered it, she wiped her hands down with antibacterial gel. She knew her chances of getting whatever the kids had wasn’t high if she hadn’t gotten it yet, but she couldn’t take any chances.

She opened the door to see Seneca and Nelson, both wearing face masks.

She took a step back. “You’re scaring me with those masks.”

Nelson stepped in first. “I brought some masks over for you. I wasn’t sure if you had any.”

“How’s Haley?” Seneca asked.

“She’s as good as she can be with a fever, chills, and a bad cough. Luke is worse—he has bad diarrhea and his breathing is very labored.”

“You’re not alone in this, unfortunately. We’ve heard about quite a few other cases around town. People aren’t panicked but they are definitely nervous,” Seneca said.

“The man that Charles Chenoweth came with is now in the hospital,” Nelson added, looking at Seneca.

“Charles Chenoweth?” Samantha asked.

“He’s a representative from Cascadia. He came with a colleague who has apparently been hit hard. From what I heard, he has pneumonia now.”

“How many others are sick?” Samantha asked.

“Not sure of the exact numbers, but it sounds like dozens,” Nelson responded. “It’s being monitored by the staff at the hospital. I’m just a bit worried about the respiratory nature of this thing. Would you mind if I go see Haley?”

“Sure, she’s down in my bedroom.”

Nelson nodded and took out a pair of latex gloves.

“First the mask, now the gloves? You’re freaking me out,” Samantha said.

“Not my intention, Sam. It’s just a precaution. I can’t afford to get sick—and neither can you. Here’s an extra pair; use them, please.”

Loud coughing came from the secondary bedroom where Luke was.

Samantha excused herself and went to him. There she found him lying on his side, his eyes closed. She approached the bed but stopped a few feet away to put on the mask and gloves.

“You awake, Luke?”

“I feel horrible. My whole body hurts,” Luke mumbled.

“Can I get you anything?”

He mumbled something that sounded like no. His hair was wet from sweating. She reached over and brushed the hair out of his face and took the washcloth at his bedside and wiped his face. He shivered as she swiped the cloth across his cheek.

Nelson soon appeared behind her and said, “How is he?”

Knowing that Luke was slightly awake, she didn’t want to answer. She placed the washcloth back and stepped into the hallway.

“He’s worse than Haley, but that’s probably because he’s had this longer. I think Haley got it from him, and he got it from someone else. We need to track down the source.”

“I’d help but . . .”

“No need to explain, your hands are full with taking care of your mom. Plus you’re just getting back on your feet.”

“I’m much better, thanks to Seneca, and my mom will be fine. I promised Gordon a long time ago that in his absence I’ll look after you and Haley. I’ve done that and I will continue to do so.”

“Thanks, you’ve been a good and dear friend,” she said, touching his arm.

“It’s what friends do, right? Plus, I might as well put all that EMT training to use. I know a few things,” he said, winking.

“What would I do without you?” Samantha asked. She was truly grateful; Nelson was a rock.

“We’ll go to the hospital and see if anyone else has been admitted with similar symptoms. Then we’ll go see Chief Rainey. If anyone knows anything, it’s that guy.”

They chatted a bit longer, then she left.

When the door closed, Nelson looked at Seneca and said, “Toss the gloves and mask, and don’t touch your face until you’ve washed your hands.”

“Trust me, I will. The last thing I want is to get the shits,” Seneca joked.

“I’m serious. I didn’t want to alarm Samantha, but something’s not right about this sudden onset of the
flu
.”

“Now you’re scaring me too.” She paused. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Nelson grimaced. “It might be the flu. I hope it’s something as simple as that. But we have to prepare ourselves for the possibility that it could be something much, much worse.”

Coos Bay, Oregon, Pacific States of America

Gordon sat in the small twelve-by-twelve-foot cinder block room. It was obvious this was some sort of interrogation room by its design and scarcity of furniture. The only thing on the wall was a mirror, which he knew was a two-way mirror. A skylight, the only source of light, cast a soft and yellowish glow. He marveled at how the Marine Corps, with all of its focus on precision and efficiency, still hadn’t gotten past the annoying “hurry up and wait” problem. He shifted in the chair. The stainless steel seat provided no comfort, and after almost an hour waiting had become unbearable.

A Marine lance corporal stood guard inside the room. Gordon had attempted to make conversation but found out right away that wasn’t going to happen.

The door to the room opened suddenly, and there stood Brittany. Gordon’s heart seemingly skipped a beat at the sight of her. She looked exhausted. Her hair was greasy and pulled back into a messy ponytail. He saw several bruises on her exposed arms and neck.

Right behind her was a man who looked like an executioner; his tight black balaclava hid his face and his uniform was different from the others. He wore tan cargo pants and a black tight-fitted T-shirt. His large, muscular arms didn’t show any tattoos or scars to identify him by. Forcibly he escorted her into the room and pushed her into the chair opposite him. With a deep, long glare, he studied Gordon.

“You like to hurt women?” Gordon snapped at the man.

The man didn’t utter a word. He just took a place behind Brittany’s chair and kept staring at Gordon.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“I’m fine. You know me, not one to bitch and complain,” she answered with a slight grin.

Her toughness, both mental and physical, was very attractive to Gordon; he couldn’t deny it. More than once this valuable trait of hers had helped them while they had traveled together.

“How’s Tyler?”

“He’s fine, safe, nowhere near these goons.”

“Good, I was worried about him.”

She lifted her arms and shook the restraints and said, “I like jewelry but these aren’t the bracelets I was hoping were in my future.”

Gordon forced a smile. It was just like her to try to keep good humor in this awful situation. “I’m not going to ask what happened. It’s obvious everything went to hell around here. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you.”

“What are you apologizing for? I’m the fool. None of this would’ve happened if I just had agreed to go with you.”

“What’s going to happen to her?” Gordon asked the man in the mask.

He looked at Gordon squarely. “She’ll be interrogated further, then she’ll be tried.”

Gordon knew the conclusion to those proceedings would be death. He had to get her out—he couldn’t have another person’s life on his hands. The only leverage he had was information. He made a snap decision: he would use that to set her free. “Tell Colonel Barone I need to see him immediately. I need to tell him something, something important.”

“Don’t bargain with these monsters. You can’t trust them,” Brittany pleaded.

“I have to try, and I will,” Gordon said.

“I’ll inform the colonel,” the man in the mask said.

“But nothing can happen to her until I speak with the colonel. Colonel Barone and I go way back. I suggest you heed what I say.”

“Please don’t do anything, Gordon, this is my own doing. I already sold my soul just to make sure you were safe.”

“What does that mean?”

“The colonel said he was going to torture you, so I promised to tell him what I knew in exchange for seeing you. There’s no need for you to whore yourself out too.”

“I promised you a long time ago that I’d take care of you. That is my word, my oath. You helped me several times and now it’s my turn. That’s what friends do.”

Her eyes watered as he spoke. She reached across the table and took his hand. “I told you,” she said softly.

“No touching!” the masked man ordered.

“Told me what?” Gordon asked.

“That you were a good man.”

The masked man jerked Brittany to her feet.

“Easy, take it easy!” Gordon yelled as he stood up.

The guard took a couple steps toward Gordon. “Go ahead, do something,” he taunted.

A devilish grin appeared through the hole over the man’s mouth. “C’mon,” he said as he forced her out the door. Just as the door was closing he hollered out, “Keep Van Zandt here till I get word back from the colonel.”

Gordon didn’t know where this would lead, and he didn’t know what he would tell Barone. Conner stressed that he was to try to speak with Barone personally to get a sense of his mental state. He knew nothing would happen to Brittany until then. At least he had bought himself a small window of time to figure out exactly what he was going to say.

McCall, Idaho

When Nelson walked into the police station, his only hope was that he’d leave more informed. He had his suspicions about what was ailing Haley and Luke but he didn’t want to jump to any conclusions and cause a panic.

“Can I help you?” a young police officer said behind the front desk.

“I need to see Chief Rainey.”

“I’m sorry, but he’s very busy today. He’s in a meeting with the city council.”

Nelson looked at his watch. “How long will it be? I can wait.”

“We estimate it will be some time. I can take your name down so when he returns he can try to find you.”

“Sure,” Nelson said, then gave the police officer his name. He then exited and saw Rainey walking to his 1970 Chevy Blazer.

“Chief Rainey, wait!” Nelson hollered.

Rainey stopped and hollered back, “Hey, Nelson, what you got? I don’t have much time.”

Nelson jogged over to him. “Chief, I have some concerns about an illness around town.”

“We all have concerns.”

“So you’re aware?”

“Of course we are. I just had a meeting with the city council and I’m headed to the hospital to see the mayor.”

“The mayor’s sick?”

“Yeah, he came down with it a few days ago. He can barely breathe. It’s bad.”

“What are they saying at the hospital?”

“Nothing right now. At first they were thinking it was some type of flu,” Rainey said as he climbed into his vehicle. He was definitely in a hurry.

“I have some thoughts too, but I’m sure the professionals know better than me.”

“Climb in, tell me on the way.”

Nelson didn’t need a moment to think about it. “Give me a second.”

“Hurry up,” Rainey answered as he put his vehicle in gear and began to back up.

Nelson ran over to his truck, where Seneca was patiently waiting for him. “Hey, I’m going with Rainey to the hospital. Follow me over.”

“Okay.”

Nelson ran back and climbed in the Blazer.

“What are your thoughts?” Rainey asked as he punched the accelerator.

“I was visiting the Van Zandts, and Haley and Luke have the same illness. At first it appears to be flu, but I’m thinking it’s something different, I just feel it.”

“Nelson, you’re a smart guy and your gut instinct is right.”

“So it’s not the flu of some type?”

“It’s not the flu for sure.”

“Have they tested it?”

“Yes, they have,” Rainey said as he made a hard left than a quick right. He pulled into the hospital parking lot, stopping the vehicle right next to the front doors.

“So what is it?”

Rainey got out and said, “Come with me.”

Nelson followed right alongside.

Rainey stopped him just before they entered the hospital and said, “I don’t know you as well as I know Gordon, but he trusts you, so I’ll give you the same courtesy I’d give him. He’s really talked you up. Says you’re a solid man, a good man. I’m glad to see you’re up and about now, considering you were a bit banged up when you first arrived.”

“I don’t think I ever told you, but thanks for everything you’ve done for all of us.”

“My pleasure. Good people are always welcome here.”

They both began to walk again.

“I hear you were a firefighter and an EMT back in San Diego,” Rainey said.

“Yes, sir, I was.”

“Then what you’ll see won’t make you too squeamish.”

Nelson’s heart was beating fast as they walked into the main hospital entrance. Inside, everyone on staff and those in the waiting room were wearing masks.

Rainey waved to the nurse at the front desk and proceeded down the main hallway. The sounds of coughing, hacking, and crying could be heard from the rooms that lined the hallway. Nelson couldn’t help but feel a sense of doom. Rainey stopped just outside a hospital room and took out two masks. Turning, he offered one to Nelson. “I suggest you wear this.”

There, Nelson saw the mayor lying on his side. Nelson knew he was asleep but he could have easily have been mistaken for dead.

“We brought him in several days ago. He was fine last week, then developed just a slight cough, then the fever, and bam, here he is. We’ve kept his sickness private for fear of people getting panicked. But this is spreading, no doubt about it.”

“How many people has it affected?”

“At last count, over four dozen.”

“Any idea how he got it?”

“It’s all a guessing game. We had a visit from the governor’s office early last week. He drove up here to talk with us; apparently the Cascadian business has them worried down in Boise. Anyway, he comes up, he was coughing and hacking. The poor bastard looked like shit from the moment he arrived. He’s now down the hall. They say he might not make it, something about renal failure.”

“Have you contacted Boise?”

“Of course we have; they’re the ones who did the test.”

“Chief, I think this is some kind of major respiratory illness. Please tell me the test they took say it’s not.”

Rainey just looked at him and didn’t answer.

“What are we dealing with?”

“It’s nothing they’ve seen before, but it does resemble something.”

“What’s that?”