came with it. She didn’t even have time to scream.
Chapter 15
Nick woke to a jab in his side. He moved and grimaced from the sudden pain in his shoulder. He looked up to a familiar shadow over him.
“Let’s go,” Matt said.
Nick wiped his eyes, then saw the time. 5:19 A.M..
Matt left, leaving the door open and the living room light beaming into the bedroom. Nick forced his weight forward and pushed off with his good arm. When his legs were planted on the floor, he glanced over to check on Julie. She was still in a deep sleep. He threw on a pair of sweatpants and tee shirt before heading into the other room, quietly closing the door behind him.
Matt waited for him in the living room, standing in front of the television.
“Look at this shit,” Matt said with his arms folded and nodding at the television.
A local male news reporter stood in front of the charred remnants of a house. Smoke drifted over the embers while a firefighter’s hose maintained a steady stream of water. The only thing left standing was the rock chimney. It was still an hour before sunrise so tiny flickers of flame stood out in the dark.
The man was scanning his notes on a sheet of paper while reporting the facts of the story.
“At 4:05 this morning there was an explosion here at twelve-fifteen Fallen Rock Road, the home of Maggie and Devon Grabowski.”
Nick felt his throat tighten as a picture of an elderly couple filled the screen. The reporter spoke over the image. “We don’t have any confirmation yet, but all indications are the Grabowski’s were inside their home when the explosion occurred. Firefighters said they were able to maintain the integrity of the tree line around the building and prevent the spread of a forest fire.”
Matt grumbled something.
Nick said, “They were the first couple to welcome us to Payson when we bought this place,” as bile pushed its way up into his esophagus.
“Apparently a neighbor heard the blast,” the reporter said, “and ran outside to see what had happened.” The reporter came into view again as a small woman with a pink sweatshirt came into the picture, still appearing startled.
The reporter stuck the microphone in front of the woman and said, “Can you tell us what you saw?”
“Well,” the woman said, “I heard the explosion and it was so close I thought it was our house that got hit. Then I went outside I saw the Grabowski’s place in flames.” She looked up. “They were up over the tops of those trees,” she said. “It’s a miracle the whole street didn’t catch fire.”
“And did you see anyone or hear anything when you first came outside?”
“No, I didn’t see a thing. Just …” the woman seemed to realize what had just occurred and she appeared to be struggling to gather herself. Of course the reporter went in for the kill.
“Did you know the Grabowski’s very well?”
The woman put her hand over her mouth and looked back at the crumbled ruins behind them. “Yes,” her voice cracked through her fingers.
The reporter must’ve realized the line he’d just crossed and looked genuinely concerned. He gazed back at the camera as a cue to phase out the grieving woman.
“Well, there’s certainly a lot of pain being felt by the community here in Payson.” The reporter’s face now filled the screen. “Authorities are hesitant to say the exact …”
The report went on but Nick’s stomach wasn’t up for it. He reached down to get the remote and Matt grabbed his hand.
“No,” he said. “You have to see this.”
Now the reporter’s head was down again looking at the sheet of paper. “The Kurdish Security Force have taken responsibility for the brutal attack on this sleepy mountainside community. Temir Barzani is a high ranking member of the terrorist organization. In a statement sent exclusively to Channel 5 News, Barzani claims to have made this attack because Gila County Sheriff Nick Bracco failed to abide by the constitutional rules which govern the United States, thereby causing the deaths of innocent civilians. He goes on to say that a new family will die each night until Bracco turns himself over to the KSF to pay for his crimes.”
The reporter looked up at the camera. “So far no word from the Sheriff about this demand. Back to you in the studio, Mary.”
Julie came into the room wearing a tan robe, yawning and playing with her hair. “What are you guys doing up so early?” she asked, walking around them to the kitchen.
Nick shut off the TV. “The Grabowski’s have been murdered.” He got it out quick, as if pulling a Band-Aid off in one motion.
Julie stopped. She looked back and forth between Matt and Nick. “Barzani?”
Nick nodded. “They bombed their house.”
First Julie appeared in deep thought, then Nick could see her backing up. She leaned against the counter between the kitchen and living room. “It’s the same thing Kharrazi did,” she said in a stupor. “He blew up all those homes to get the President to remove troops from Turkey. Now this Barzani is starting it all over again.”
Nick stepped toward his wife, careful as he approached. “It’s not the same,” he said.
She looked up. “No?”
“No,” he said. “The KSF doesn’t have the manpower anymore, so Barzani is just attacking homes in Payson.”
“And what does he want?”
“Me.”
“I don’t understand.” Her voice cracked.
“He wants me to turn myself in to the KSF or he’s threatening to destroy a home each night I don’t.”
Julie gazed at her feet and cupped a hand over her eyes.
Nick was closer now, bending forward to see her face. “Honey?”
Julie didn’t move.
“Jule?” Nick said. “I’m going to find him.”
Julie looked up. “Then what?”
“Then we’re done,” he said. “There are no reinforcements. Once we get Barzani, it’s over.”
Julie held her stomach, her eyes pleading with him. “But what about … us? We’ll still be targets.”
Nick didn’t have an answer for that. He couldn’t guarantee someone new wouldn’t come after him, even if he did believe it. Which he didn’t. He wanted to say, “One thing at a time, please,” but she deserved hope.
“We won’t.” Matt stepped in.
Nick glanced at him with an expectant expression.
Matt approached Julie and put a hand on her shoulder. He looked at her with compassion. “We know how the KSF operates. They don’t have anyone approaching Barzani’s political acumen. He and Kharrazi both had Political Science degrees from Georgetown. They were the two great hopes of the KSF. Once Barzani’s gone, there is no one else.”
Julie seemed to take it in. She nodded absently. “How are you going to get him?”
“We have a plan,” Matt said. Nick hoped Julie didn’t call him on it.
Maybe because she believed him, or maybe because she wanted so desperately to believe him, she didn’t challenge the statement.
Nick was grateful to see a faint smile come across her face.
There was a tap on the front porch.
He pulled open the door and saw a weary-eyed man carrying a large green duffle bag over his shoulder. A soldier stood behind him as an escort.
Nick smiled. “Stevie Gilpin,” he said. “Just who I was hoping to see.”
The two men shook hands.
