Strengthen What Remains (Book 2): A Time to Endure (8 page)

Caden
shook Zach’s hand. “You saved my life last night when you shot that thug with
your bow.”

“What?”
Vicki asked with wide eyes.

Zach
ignored her.
“
I’m sorry the other man died.”

“We
all are.”

“Someone
died?” his sister asked.

“It
was my fault,” Zach said.

“No
it wasn’t. Why would you say that? You did nothing wrong.”

“I
could have…should have shot sooner. What was his name?”

“The
man who died? Private Richard Collins.” He decided not to tell him that he was
on his way to console the young man’s mother.
 

As
Caden walked back to the car he heard Vicki say, “You shot somebody with your
bow? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Caden
couldn’t help but smile. Zach’s sister would drag every little detail from him
before the morning was over.

As
he drove away he tried to remember Zach’s age. Hoover said he was a
minor…sixteen, that’s what he said. Caden bit his lip. If he could find a way
to get Zach working at the armory he could keep an eye on him. There were many
good male role models there. Maybe together they could provide a bit of
guidance.
I’m going to find a way.

He
wondered how recruiting efforts were going. Zach was too young to enlist, but
he could hire the boy to help around the unit. Caden stopped and backed the car
down the road.

Zach
watched the unusual driving with a questioning look on his face.

Caden
rolled down the window. “You mentioned once that you’ve been eating a lot of
fish lately. I might be able to diversify your diet. We need some help at the
armory, mostly grunt work, cleaning and maintenance. I can pay you in cash or
food or a combination.

A
surprised looked spread across his sister’s face.

“You
can start after you’re done with fishing each morning,” Caden added.

Zach
thought for a moment. “Sure, that would be great.”

“Good.
Report to the front gate tomorrow at 0900.” Pressing the gas pedal he drove on
toward town.

Caden
parked several houses away. His stomach twisted in a knot. He was more
reluctant to do this duty than any other, but it was
his
duty, and it was the right thing, the proper thing, to do. If
his words could bring any comfort, it was what he had to do and he would never
be at peace with himself until he did.

He
pulled into the driveway and walked up to the door.
Letters are so much easier than this.

He
knocked.

The
door opened.

Eyes
that had seen too many tears stared at him.

“Mrs.
Collins, my name is Caden Westmore. I was your son’s commanding officer and I
was with him when he died.”

Zach
approached the armory by a path that wound through meadows and a nature
preserve. The incline of the trail was more gradual than the road and made a
more enjoyable journey.

As
he walked through the forest his mind focused on pleasant things, giant fir
trees, green moss, ferns and the chirping of birds. The thought of food, other
than fish, also lingered in his mind. Pizza, hamburgers and chips would all be
nice. But always his mind returned to DeLynn, her blonde hair, cute smile and
the fact that she liked him. In all his life he had never met such a nice girl
that also liked him.

Growling
snapped his mind back to the moment. In the trees up ahead several large dogs
tore at the carcass of an animal.

He
froze.

Two
pit bulls, a German Shepard mutt and at least three others tore at the meat,
watched him and snarled at everything.

He
suspected the animal being ripped and shredded was a deer, but he wasn’t going
to try for a closer view.
 

Slowly,
he backed away.

Even
when he lost sight of the dogs, he moved with measured deliberation in a wide
arc around them and toward the armory. With a sigh, he came out of the woods
near the gate and walked up wondering what to say to the man with the big black
gun.

“Ah…my
name is Zach Brennon and ah…”

The
guard checked a list. “The C.O. is expecting you. He’s on the far side of the
main building or you can go up to his office.” The man pointed to a window.

Before
he walked away he told the guard about his encounter with the wild dogs. “You
should probably warn people.”

Entering
the compound Zach decided to find Caden, and headed around the main building. He
was surprised to see children playing in the grassy field. Rounding the next corner
he was startled to see a rifle with the bayonet stabbed into the ground in the
middle of the lawn. He took a step, then stopped and stared.

Atop
the rifle was a helmet and on either side were boots. A podium and lectern were
being set up beside it. From some half-forgotten news report or picture he knew
this was a memorial for a fallen soldier. He thought of the man he had seen
murdered a couple days before. He stood still, as if at attention, and thought
of Richard Collins.
It’s probably for
him.

Remembering
his sorry performance during the Battle of Olympia and how his hesitation
during the gang fight got Collins killed, he felt unworthy to be there. His
gaze fell to the ground and he stepped back toward the building.

“I’m
glad to see you.”

Zach
spun around. Caden stood a few feet behind him.

The
boy swallowed. “I’ve seen this before.” He pointed to the display. “I know it
means someone died, but not much more. Is this for…?” The name caught in his
throat.

“Private
Collins? Yes it is. It’s a battlefield cross. We’re having a memorial service
for him later today. You should be there.”

Zach
shook his head. “I was afraid.”

“With
no training and little experience…anyone would be. I still get scared. I know
you said you should have shot sooner, but Private Collins was my man, my
responsibility. Only God knows if you could have saved him, but you did shoot
and you did save me.” Caden’s hand rested on his shoulder. “I’m grateful. Don’t
beat yourself up over what might have been.”

Zach
had revealed a bit of the sadness that was always with him and felt that
Caden’s response was sincere. It lifted some of the burden. He nodded. “Where
do you want me to help?”

Caden
led him to the motor pool.

When
it was time for the memorial service, Zach lingered behind the others and found
a spot off to the side and hopefully out of view. He didn’t want to be seen,
and he hoped Caden would not mention him.

The
soldiers chatted and smiled with each other as they gathered on the lawn. More
than once he heard the name of the fallen soldier. Their uniforms seemed
perfect, their faces calm, confident and resolute as they formed in ranks. He,
like an invisible observer, watched what he could never be a part of.
They seem so at home, so much a family.

“Company,
attention!”

Caden
stepped to the lectern. “We are here today to honor the memory of a brave young
man…”

Zach’s
eyes fell to the ground. Silently he slipped away.
 

*
              
*
              
*

The
next morning Caden and Maria strolled into the hospital talking back and forth
about nothing in particular. Walking through the maze of pastel colored
hallways, they finally found Dr. Scott, Sheriff Hoover and Sergeant Rand,
clustered around a monitor at a nurse’s station.

They
were watching a man handcuffed to a bed. His tattooed face was one Caden would
never forget. The man laid quietly, his eyes half open as if bored or sleepy.
When he shifted the hospital robe fell to his sides revealing an assortment of
tattoos, some elaborate, others simple. A white bandage, high on the right side
of his chest, contrasted with his olive skin, and tattoos of blue, black and
purple.

“What
was his name again?” Caden asked.

With
his eyes still on the monitor Sergeant Rand said, “The name on the driver’s
license is Gonzalo Cruz.” His face darkened. “He’s covered with Mara
Salvatrucha, MS-13, tattoos. They’re a notoriously brutal gang.”

Hoover
groaned.

Caden
rubbed his chin.
Great,
not just a criminal gang, a vicious one.
Turning to Rand he asked,
“What else can you tell me?”

“Not
much. They were just getting a foothold in my precinct.” He rubbed his chin. “I
remember from a briefing that membership estimates ranged up to 70,000
worldwide and 10 to 15,000 in this country.”

“A
worldwide gang?”

“Most
are in central America and the southwest United States.”

The
sheriff shook his head. “Apparently the northwest is a new growth area.”

“He
has a Los Angles address on his driver’s license.” Dr. Scott sighed. “We may
have an even bigger, medical problem.”

“What?”
Caden asked.

“The
influenza outbreak I told you about. They may bring it right to us.”

Caden
looked back at the monitor. “Why here? Why my town?” He sighed and looked at
Maria. “You listen from here. I want him to think he’s talking to a bunch of
English only Anglos.”

Maria
smiled. “He will be.”

Caden
grinned back at her. “Okay, I guess that’s true, but you’re my trump card.”
Still smiling he dismissed Sergeant Rand and then turned to Dr. Scott.”

“Are
we recording?”

She
pressed a button below the monitor. “We are now.”

Caden
turned to the sheriff. “Have you got the ear piece for me?”

Hoover
held out his hand. “Wear it like a hearing aid.”

While
the sheriff handed the microphone and transmitter to Maria, Caden fiddled with
the earbud.

“Say
something,” Hoover said to Maria.

“I
feel like a CIA agent.”

Hoover
nodded and touched his ear. “I heard you.” He looked at Caden.

“I
heard. Is everyone ready?”

Hoover
nodded. “Let’s question the punk.”

“I’m
going, too,” Dr. Scott said.

Caden
and Hoover looked back at the doctor.

“He
may be a murderous thug, but right now he’s also my patient.”

Caden
shrugged and continued down the hall, past the soldier guarding the room.
Taking a deep breath he entered the room. “Mr Gonzalo Cruz….”

“Así
que estos gringos pendejos ya aprendieron mi nombre.”

In
his ear Maria said, “Oh, you stupid gringos figured out my name.”

“You
know English. I’ve heard you speak it. You’re being held under the provisions
of martial law. Civilian courts and habeas corpus have been suspended. I am
Major Westmore the local military commander. We’d like to ask you a few
questions.”

 
With heavy accent he said, “I ain’t telling
you
nothing
.”

Ignoring
his comment, Caden asked, “Your driver’s license has a southern California
address. When did you arrive here?”

Cruz
remained silent

“Why
are you here?”

He
looked at Hoover. “Para matar policías.”

“He
says he’s here to kill police.” Maria advised.

Hoover
grunted.

Caden
cast him a disapproving glance.

“This
would be easier if you spoke English,” Hoover said.

With
cold calculating eyes Cruz looked at each of the three and grinned.

He’s wounded and
handcuffed to the bed, but he still wants to convince us he is in charge. Does
he really think he’s ever getting out of jail?
Caden had seen the
smug look before. This boldness, or in this case perhaps machismo was the
better word, masked a cold evil.
Is it
just bravado or is it more?
The gang, MS-13, what about them?
Caden turned to Hoover. “We killed the rest of the gang. What can one
wounded man do?”

“Somos
muchos más y cuando el resto de mis compañeros lleguen de Los Angles,
este
pueblo, Olympia y Tacoma, todos van a estar controlados
por nosotros.”

Maria
gave a sad sigh in his ear. “He says there are a lot more of them coming up from
Los Angles and when they get here they are going to run this region.”

Caden
put on his best concerned parent act. “I recognized Los Angles and the local
towns. Do you have friends or family we should contact in any of those places?”

Cruz
sneered, “Todos los del sur de California vienen en camino y cuando lleguen los
vamos a poner a ustedes bajo tierra.”

“He
says that when they get here they are going to run Hansen, Olympia and….”

Locking
eyes with Caden he asked, “Where do you live soldier boy?”

Caden
could hear Maria’s breathing but she had stopped in mid-sentence. He decided to
continue. “I’ll ask the questions.”

“Lo
voy a descubrir,
te
voy a matar, y me voy a quedar con
tu mujer y tu casa. Todo lo que sea tuyo pronto será mío. Muy pronto.”

 
No translation came from Maria. Anxious to
find out what was happening he stepped toward the door.

“¿Y
si tienes mujer, gringo, o te gustan los hombres?”

Caden
didn’t understand the words, but he heard the venom. He looked back at Cruz
with a calm, cold stare.

“Y
al que me pego con esa fleche, le voy a pelar el cuero vivo.”

Both
the doctor and Hoover walked toward the door. Caden looked at Cruz. “Keep him
here for now.”

“What’s
the charge?” Cruz shouted.

Caden
paused at the door. “See, you do know English.” Memories of the previous night
flew through his mind, the explosion, hitting the ground, the dying soldier and
this thug waving a gun and shooting. “For starters, the murder of Private
Richard Collins.”

Cruz
smirked. “Is that the guy who landed on you?” He made an arching motion with
his free hand that ended with, “Splat.” He laughed, but then locked eyes with
Caden. The thug’s face grew dark and angry. “I want a lawyer.”

The
three walked from the room and returned to Maria at the nursing station.

Only
as they approached did Maria lift her gaze from the floor. Tears welled in her
eyes.

“What
did he say,” Caden asked.

Her
eyes darted between Caden and Hoover. “Cruz promised to kill both of you and
skin Zach alive.”