Sanctuary: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series) (21 page)

A car horn blared from outside the house, startling all of them.

Nelson ran to the front window and looked out to see Eric waving from behind the wheel of the old truck.

Samantha jumped up and ran outside. Nelson was close on her heels.

Eric yelled out the window of the truck, “I need you both to come with me now!” Samantha and Nelson slid into the truck without a word as Eric sped off toward the community’s main entrance.

As they drew closer, Nelson could see the large gathering of people outside. Then he spotted a little girl standing in the middle of the fray. “It’s Haley! I see her!”

“Oh my God, they found my little girl. Oh my God, thank you, thank you,” Samantha cried out, looking up toward the sky.

Something wasn’t right, though. Eric wasn’t saying a thing. He just drove and wouldn’t say a word. To Nelson, that was unusual. He’d known Eric long enough to sense when something was wrong. He continued to scan the crowd, trying to identify something out of place.

Eric pulled the truck to a stop just behind Mack’s car and they jumped out.

Mack was standing at the gate with a shotgun pointed at the group. Standing on the other side of the gate with his hands on Haley’s shoulders was Truman.

Samantha’s excitement melted away when she saw who had Haley. “Give me back my daughter!”

Truman smiled and said, “You have a sweet little girl here, so polite and nice. You must be a good mother.”

“Leave her alone! Give her back, she’s just a child!” Samantha screamed.

“I want to give her back, because I wouldn’t be as good as a parent as you would be. You see, I don’t want to hurt her.”

Nelson counted ten in Truman’s group. He looked around for more. If Truman thought anything like him, he’d have people hidden with rifles trained on them.

“If you’ve hurt her, I’ll kill you! She’s just a little girl!”

“Mommy, I’m scared!” Haley cried out in fear.

“Baby, it will be fine. I’ll get you.”

“Here’s the thing. We have something you want and you have something we want, so how about a trade?”

“What do you want?” Nelson asked.

“Oh, if it isn’t the Peeping Tom!” Truman laughed.

Nelson scrunched his face in confusion.

“I saw you two weeks ago watching us from your little perch in the hills. You think that we’re just some dumb group of hicks! Well, you pegged us wrong.” Truman laughed.

Ignoring Truman’s comment, Nelson asked again, “What is it you want?”

“Here’s the thing. I want something you might not be able to give. I want my brother back!”

“We told you, we don’t—”

“Shut up! We’re not idiots. We know he came here. I already went through this with you.”

“It was an accident!” Samantha lied, hoping a retelling of Raymond’s death would be convincing.

“Samantha, don’t,” Nelson whispered.

“Tell me what happened, blondie,” Truman said.

“He fell down the stairs, he was really drunk and fell down the stairs. We didn’t know what to do so we buried him. We didn’t know anyone was looking for him.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this the other day when we stopped by? All of this could have been avoided,” he stated, holding up his arms.

“I’m sorry,” she begged. “We were concerned you’d be angry with us and try to hurt us. I didn’t, um, I tried to help him but he slipped and fell down the stairs and broke his neck.”

“You look like you have a face I can trust. If you say he died by accident, then I’ll collect my brother’s body and leave you all alone.”

Samantha had now boxed herself in. She didn’t know how to backtrack to get Haley back to her safe and sound. She was afraid that if she told him that she had been the one who had killed Raymond, Truman might not return Haley. She just couldn’t take that chance.

“Let me have my daughter and I’ll take you to his grave,” Samantha offered.

“How about we all go together? A little group outing!” Truman laughed.

Nelson reached back on his vest but didn’t feel his pistol. He couldn’t remember where he left it, but not having it made him feel very insecure.

Truman’s offer put Samantha in a bind. She wanted Haley back, but what would happen once he saw Raymond had wounds that countered her story? He would know it wasn’t an accident. She wished she had told him something else and silently cursed herself. Her heart felt like it was beating out of her chest and she resisted the urge to vomit.

No one moved. They were all waiting for Samantha to say something and she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want it to escalate into a firefight, because Haley would be in the middle. Her mind raced.

“Well, are you letting me go get my brother’s body?” Truman asked.

“Mommy? I’m scared!” Haley squealed.

Truman bent over and whispered something in her ear. The look of terror that washed across Haley’s face gave everyone an idea of what he must have said.

“Yes, we’ll let you in, but we can’t let you all in!” Nelson shouted.

“I’ll tell you what, me and little Haley here are going to go back to our new home together. I’m sure I have some books to read to her,” Truman said with a vicious grin.

“Truman, please don’t hurt her. We’ll let you get your brother’s body, if that’s all you want. Just give me back my daughter,” Samantha pleaded.

“Little lady, that’s all I’ve ever wanted. My baby brother has been my responsibility since he was a boy. You see, he is or was a bit touched. In other words, he had to take the short bus. I’ve had to do everything for him since our parents weren’t model ones, like yourself. I had to feed him, fight his fights, and stand up for him when he was bullied.”

“Truman, just please let her come to me now, I promise I’ll show you where he is!” Samantha begged.

The commotion had drawn the remaining members of Eagle’s Nest. Many came with guns ready to fight.

Seneca walked up to Samantha and attempted to console her but Samantha was focused on Truman and Haley.

Truman looked up. “It’s getting dark and it’s cold as tits out here. I’d like to get my brother home to bury him.”

Samantha again looked at Nelson, then around at all her neighbors. Their numbers were similar, but there was no guarantee of who would prevail in a battle. She had no choice but to let him in.

“Haley, do you have a brother or sister?” Truman asked loud for all to hear.

“Stop taunting her!” Samantha screamed.

“Mommy, please, pleeease!”

“Truman, she did have a brother and he was murdered recently, please don’t take my only baby away from me!”

“Did that happen here? Who did that?” Truman asked with what seemed like sincere curiosity.

Samantha didn’t want to get into this with him. In fact, she wanted to scream at him that his brother was a piece of shit scumbag and deserved the horrible death he got.

“What happened to the person who killed your son?” Truman asked, still curious about the story.

“Daddy went to kill him,” Haley spoke. Her statement was an attempt to frighten Truman.

“He did? So that man there isn’t your daddy?” Truman pointed at Nelson.

Haley just shook her head.

“Aha, so much drama and intrigue here. I thought you two were an item. So your husband is gone finding the killer of your son. I have to say, he and I agree that there should always be justice, an eye for an eye as they say.”

The words he chose turned her stomach.

“All right, enough already, are you going to let us in or am I taking little precious home with me?” Truman asked in a more sinister tone.

“Truman, I lied!” Samantha blurted out.

Truman raised his eyebrows. “Another lie?”

“Things happened differently—” Samantha began to say but was stopped short when Nelson spoke up.

Nelson had had enough. His anger had been brewing and he knew what Truman wanted. “I killed him! He was beating her. I found him and beat him to death, then I stabbed him in the eye!”

“You murdered my brother?” Truman shouted out.

He pulled a knife out of the small of his back and put it next to Haley’s throat.

“God, no. No!” Samantha screamed.

Everyone in both groups raised their guns at each other after Truman ratcheted up the tension.

“So should I take her life for my brother’s life? An eye for an eye?”

“If you want a life, take me!” Nelson shouted.

Truman smiled at Nelson and said, “You’ll give yourself to me freely?”

“Yes, but you have to let her go. By the way, you’re not getting his body because that was another lie. I burned it!”

“Nelson, no!” Seneca cried out and ran over to him.

Samantha looked at him with huge eyes. “Nelson, what are you doing?” she whispered.

“I’m doing what I have to do. I promised Gordon that I’d do whatever I had to protect you both.”

“There has to be another way,” Seneca pleaded.

“Hey, brother, anytime you want me to, I’ll put one right between this fucker’s eyes,” Mack yelled out.

“Mack, please!” Samantha implored.

“You might kill me, but this little girl will die too. I can assure you of that.” Truman grinned maniacally. Samantha looked like she was going to faint. Truman continued. “But you know what? I’m a better man than that. If you give up one of the others, I’ll give you back the little angel,” he said.

Nelson stepped forward. “Take your hands off of her. I’ll go”

“Nelson! Don’t.”

“I have seen enough of this. You know me. I’ll find a way,” he said quietly.

“We’ll come for you, we’ll put a group together and find you,” Samantha promised.

“No, don’t do anything. The roads will soon be clear. You need to head to McCall. Gordon might already be there.”

“We’re going to come for you.”

“Save your energy. But if you feel like you need to do something, put a sign on Highway 55 so I can find my way back. It may not be that crazy of an idea. No crazier than this,” Nelson joked. Even when his life was hanging in the balance, Nelson could find a way to make fun of it.

“I can’t feel my toes anymore. So, what’s going on?” Truman asked smartly.

“I’m coming!” Nelson shouted.

“Remove any weapons you have first!”

Nelson obliged his request and took off two knives.

“What, no gun? You came to a gunfight with knives. Ha, you must think you’re a badass!” Truman said mockingly.

Nelson hugged Seneca and said good-bye to her, then gave Samantha a tight embrace. “I’m sorry this happened. You take care of that little girl there. I love her.”

“Nelson, we love you,” Samantha whispered to him, and hugged him tight, not wanting to let him go.

“Good-bye, Sam. When Gordon comes back, tell him not to take off again. Filling his shoes is a lot of work,” he said with a wink.

Nelson walked away and went to the gate. “Bring her here!” Truman walked up with her, and when he was in front of Nelson he let her go.

Instead of running to Samantha, she grabbed Nelson and held on to him. “No, don’t go, Nelson. Please don’t go!” Her little fingers clung to his jacket with desperation. In Gordon’s absence, Nelson had become the male figure she looked to for protection and strength.

Nelson knelt down and brought her close, “Oh, sweetie, I love you. You’re going to be fine now. Uncle Nelson has to go. Just know that I love you, okay?” Tears began to well up in his eyes, as he knew he’d never see her again. “You be a good girl for your mommy. Please. She needs you. And when your daddy comes home, you give him the biggest hug for me too.” Tears ran down his cheeks.

Haley whimpered, “Please don’t go. I need you!”

Samantha walked up and tried to grab her but she resisted and held tight to Nelson.

“Please, Haley, come here,” Samantha urged.

“Haley, sweetheart, listen to your mother,” Nelson said softly. Haley reluctantly gave in and went into her mother’s arms.

Nelson stood and walked into the center of Truman’s group.

Samantha fought the desire to kill Truman right then and there. This world was unfair.

Truman winked one last time at Samantha, then walked into the setting sun.

Five miles east of Hines, Oregon

The attempt to navigate the back roads of Hines didn’t work out. The townspeople had roadblocks set up everywhere going into town. They found a small unpaved county road that led directly east out of town and decided to take it.

Off the road, they saw a series of industrial buildings. Cruz needed to get out of the Humvee and rest properly. His condition had not gotten worse, but it hadn’t improved. If they were clear, these buildings would be an ideal place to house him temporarily. They pulled around.

Gordon and Christopher jumped out, weapons in hand. The buildings seemed long abandoned. After a quick walk-through, they cleared them and went back to pull the Humvee and trailer inside through a large roll-up door. Wilbur made a bed for Cruz and together they laid him in it.

Cruz curled up, mumbling unintelligibly. His fever felt bad but they didn’t know what else to do but give him more Motrin and plenty of water.

Gordon had attempted to make radio contact with both Coos Bay and Cheyenne but they were out of range.

“Nothing. We’re that perfect distance in between both,” Gordon lamented as he sat down. They all sat in silence for a very long time, trying to figure what to do next.

“So . . . what’s your story?” Wilbur asked, breaking the silence.

“We all have one, don’t we?” Gordon answered smugly.

“How is it that you’re a third party in all of this?” she asked, not attempting to hide her disdain.

“Third party?” Gordon asked.

“Yes, you were tagged as a third party by Colonel Barone. So how is it that you do his bidding?” she shot back at him.

“I don’t just do anyone’s bidding. He helped me several times in my life and I owed him one.”

“The man is a traitor and deserves to be tried for treason!” Wilbur exclaimed.

“You should be careful how you toss around the word
traitor
. I can think of many politicians who betrayed their country and were rewarded for it,” Gordon countered.

“He swore an allegiance to the United States. He had an obligation to follow the orders of the president.”