The Days of Noah: Book One: Conspiracy (15 page)

“Next, we were asked to report suspicious behavior that could potentially be terror-related to the Feds, which also seemed like a normal response to stopping terrorism. The first thing that made me take notice was what DHS considered suspicious activity. It was stupid stuff like people who store up food, buy guns, or have prior military service. We live in the mountains. Anyone who ain’t dead from the snowstorm we had two years ago must have been storing food. Am I supposed to turn them all in for being terrorists? At some point, the terrorists went from being the mujahideen to being you and me.

“After the first housing bubble, the department’s budget got hammered. We all took pay cuts, chipped in more for our retirement and health care, and still saw about a third of our coworkers get pink slips. It looked like more of us were going to be out of a job. Then DC rode in on a white horse with money from the magic unicorn. Of course, that money had strings tied to it. We became obligated to the federal government. All sorts of federal grants popped up, which the department could apply for. Every grant we received was tied to training us to be a more militarized police force.

“One grant was called the Public Safety Grant; we trained with our new assault rifles provided by DHS to deal with active shooters and got several thousand dollars. Another grant was called the Mobile Response Grant; DOD donated a mine-resistant armored personnel carrier, we trained with DHS, and we got more money. Every time we needed a bailout, we got the money plus training from the government and some type of military equipment.

“I don’t want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but the federal government is getting us ready for something. A lot of the guys in the department agree.”

The waitress arrived with their order. Noah took the basket containing his food. “Thanks.”

Elliot did the same. “This looks good. Thank you very much.”

The waitress smiled. “Give me a wave if you need anything else.”

Noah turned his attention back to Elliot. “I think you’re right. My wife has been following this stuff for several years.”

Elliot nodded. “She believes in the New World Order and the whole bit? What about you?”

Noah took a sip of his Coke. “I’m a recent convert. And yourself?”

“I’ve had a front row seat. I’d have to be blind not to believe it.”

Noah tittered. “And I’ve been thrust into the arena.”

“That about sums it up.” Elliot paused. “But know that I’m getting in there with you. Whatever happens, I’ve got your back.”

“That means a lot, Elliot, thank you. But you’ve done enough. I don’t hold the arrest against you personally.”

Elliot wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I’m glad I was able to make it up to you. But I want to get in the arena with you because this battle is just as important to me. As you reminded me, I took an oath. We take our oath when we first get sworn in, and then it kind of goes to the back of our minds, behind all of the department policies and bureaucracy. I went home and looked over the oath I took.”

Elliot pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket. “‘I do solemnly swear that I will perform with fidelity the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and which I am about to assume. I do solemnly swear to support the constitutions of Tennessee and the United States and to faithfully perform the duties of the office of deputy sheriff for Sevier County, Tennessee.’”

He laid the paper down on the table. “I didn’t lay down my badge because I was giving up on the oath. I laid it down because it was hindering my ability to perform with fidelity my primary duties, which are to support the constitutions of Tennessee and the United States.

“But this isn’t going to end with me. Starkey and I are holding every man in the department accountable to this oath. We’re challenging them to lay down their badge the minute they’re asked to violate this oath. If they don’t, we want them to know that they’re liars and criminals. Treason is defined as betraying your country, especially by trying to overthrow the government. If a man puts on a badge and uses that badge to usurp the laws of the land, especially the Bill of Rights, that’s treason. I don’t care if the government is overthrown by an overnight military coup or a multi-decade-long conspiracy designed to systematically destroy our founding principles one by one. Both are treason, and anyone who is party to either act is guilty of treason.”

Noah was genuinely inspired by Elliot’s speech. “Wow! I’m honored to fight at your side. If you explain it like that to the men in your department, they’ll either come over to our side or be well aware of what they’re guilty of.”

The two men finished their meals, and Elliot paid the check.

Noah said, “Thanks again for lunch. And please tell Kevin that I said thanks for the laptop. Did he find a job?”

Elliot counted his change and left a generous tip. “I got him on at the lodge. They have several openings for third shift. Did you find a job yet?”

“My pastor wants me to focus on this trial, so he basically put me on staff at the church while I fight this. He thinks it’s an important battle for Christians everywhere.”

Elliot nodded. “A fight for freedom anywhere is a fight for freedom everywhere. He sounds like a smart man. Where do you attend?”

“Faith Church. The pastor is giving a special message tomorrow about freedom and duty. You should come.”

Elliot gave Noah’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll be there. Mind if I bring my wife?”

“Bring anyone you want.”

“Okay, I’ll bring Starkey too. He could use a trip to church.”

The two men said their farewells, and Noah headed home.

***

Noah walked in the house and handed the new computer to Cassie.

“A laptop?” Cassie was so excited. She took it straight to the table and hooked it up.

“The deputy that walked off, Kevin Starkey, bought it for us.”

“He was a Marine; we should be the ones buying something for him to thank him for his service. How did he know they took our laptop? He left before they stole it.” Cassie continued the setup process on the new computer.

“He read the report before he quit. It mentioned that the laptop was taken. I’m going upstairs to send an email to George to let him know that Leo will be joining us for the interview tomorrow evening.”

“Okay, I’ll be here.”

Later that evening, the Parkers took their meatloaf over to the Rays’ house, where they shared a meal and visited with their daughter. After dinner, the trial and the upcoming protest were the main topics of conversation.

Becky Ray brought coffee around to the adults in the living room. “I think it’s so great that Pastor Mike is putting the full weight of our church into this battle.”

David Ray followed her in with a container of milk and a bowl of sugar. “It’s like he said, ‘if you lose, we all lose.’ I hope you both know that Becky and I are committed to this. It could have just as easily been us that all of this happened to. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Cassie sipped her coffee. “Actually, you could show us how to operate an AR-15. I just bought one. I could probably fumble around and figure it out, but you can get me through the learning curve a little faster.”

“Did you bring it?” David asked.

“Yes.” Cassie set her coffee on the table and went to the car to retrieve the rifle.

When she returned, Cassie handed him the case. David opened it. “DPMS, this is a good rifle for the money. They won NRA Gun of the Year a couple of times. I’ve probably got a few extra parts lying around if you’d like me to trick it out for you.”

Cassie clasped her hands together. “Wow! That would be fantastic.”

Becky caught David before he left the room. “And give her some of those metal magazines. They’re taking up too much room in the closet.”

“Okay.” David left to retrieve his tools and some attachments for the Parkers’ new rifle.

Becky rolled her eyes. “During the last magazine scare, Magpul thirty-round Pmags completely sold out for months. David went crazy and bought all the metal thirty-round magazines he could find before they were out of stock. A year later, when the market normalized, he bought a bunch of Pmags. Now, the metal ones are just collecting dust and filling up my closet.”

David came back in the room with a large toolbox and seven metal magazines. “These are great magazines; I just like Pmags better.”

Cassie took the magazines. “Thank you so much.”

David opened the toolbox. “I have an aluminum four-rail handguard if you want it. It adds a little weight, but you can mount a light, forward grip, and backup sights.”

Cassie looked at the handguard. “Okay.”

David placed the D-ring tool on the front of the rifle and quickly changed the handguard. Next, he put on a set of backup sights, an inexpensive reflex sight, and a forward grip. “I don’t have an extra tactical light, but you can buy a good one online.”

Noah looked on in amazement at how quickly David had totally changed the appearance of the AR-15. “Very cool. Thank you so much. What do we owe you?”

David passed the rifle to Noah. “You can pay me back by learning how to use it.”

Noah took the rifle and followed David’s instructions on how to change the magazine, operate the safety, and deploy the backup sights.

David scratched around in the box a little more and dug out a single point sling attachment. “I’ll put this on and try to find you an extra sling. Bring it over here next Saturday morning, and we’ll go over some shooting techniques.”

“Am I invited, too?” Cassie asked.

David laughed. “Of course.”

There was a knock at the door.

“That must be Sharon.” David got up to peek out the peephole before opening the door.

David opened the door and Sharon Beck came in.

“What a night at the restaurant,” she said.

“Busy?” Cassie asked.

“Yes! I thought we were ready for the season, but we still need a couple more cooks and a server. I was doing everything tonight.” Sharon plopped down on the couch next to Becky.

“That’s a good problem,” Noah said.

“Hmm. If I could find decent help, it would be. You’d be surprised how hard it is to get good workers. Especially with unemployment so high. But the government makes being unemployed so easy, people don’t see why they should make any effort. I guess Cassie thinks it’s part of a conspiracy to make people easier to control. I never would have believed that before, but why else would the government want people to be totally dependent on handouts?” Sharon looked at Cassie as if she thought Cassie would explain it all.

Cassie just shrugged.

Becky said, “You’re blessed to be so busy. A lot of the local restaurants might not make it through the season. Overall, tourism is way down.”

Sharon unbuttoned her coat. “Most of them are way overpriced. In this economy, you have to offer people value. A restaurant is just a business. You have to deliver a good product that folks can afford. To make it around here, you have to show people that you can hang on. We have people that come back every year; they like the food and know we offer a fair price.

“Hickory Creek Lodge is still doing well because the rich folks love that place. We still get plenty of them every fall. The high-priced places like that do okay if they can put out good food. A few other inexpensive places like The Kettle do all right, too. It’s the places in the middle that are getting squeezed. Pretty much like America. We’ve got rich and poor, but there ain’t much in between these days.”

Lacy and Lynette walked into the room.

“Are you ready to go, sweet pea?” Sharon asked.

Lacy nodded. “Mom and Dad, am I going to see you at church tomorrow?”

Noah grabbed his little girl and hugged her tightly. “Of course.”

Cassie gave her a kiss on the head. “You be a good girl for Ms. Beck.”

Lacy put her coat on. “I will. I love you. Goodnight.”

Noah and Cassie left the Rays’ house shortly after Lacy and Sharon.

***

The next morning, Noah and Cassie arrived at church a little early.

“There’s Elliot and his wife. Let’s go say hi.” Noah led Cassie toward the Rodgers.

Noah waved when they got close. “Elliot, this my wife, Cassie.”

Elliot shook her hand. “Pleasure, ma’am. This is my better half, Caroline.”

“Very nice to meet you,” Noah said.

Caroline grinned widely and hugged Elliot’s arm. “You’re the man responsible for turning my husband into Sam Adams?”

Noah put his hands up. “Oh, I think that rabble rouser has always been in there. If I had anything to do with waking him up, I do apologize.”

Caroline looked at Elliot. “Actually, I kind of like it.”

Cassie said, “We have to go say hi to our little girl, but why don’t you two sit with us?”

“That will be fine,” Elliot said. “We’ll save you a seat.”

“Where’s Kevin?” Noah asked.

Elliot said, “Probably shooting some espresso. He worked third shift at the lodge last night. Said he was going home to change.”

“Okay, see you in a bit,” Noah said.