“Maybe drop the long gun,” Ezra whispered.
Butch hopped back in, doing as instructed. Ezra shuffled some of the packs around to cover the rifles. He and Butch retained their concealed pistols. They were hidden under their shirt tails.
The big guy got out and went right to the pump.
An officer in a blue uniform strolled the dock until he came close. He looked at Susan’s Grace, then at Butch. “You wouldn’t by chance be the three people who just left Arrow Rock, would you?”
Ezra’s pulse thumped. He wasn’t sure what to make of the question, but there couldn’t be many pontoon boats on the water. He’d only passed a handful of working boats over the past few days. They were a trio of people hard to mistake for anyone else. Ezra decided on being honest. “We did stop in Arrow Rock. We needed gas. We took five gallons in trade.”
The officer held up his hands. “Oh, you misunderstand. I got a phone call from a woman named Josephine McAdams. She said there would be a boat coming through with a crew who were being harassed by armed men on bridges. She was very keen I show up and make sure you passed through town without incident.”
Haley choked up.
“You okay, miss?” the officer inquired.
She nodded through the tears. “I want to hug Josephine, is all. She’s done so much for us. I can’t even tell you. It was so nice of her to help one more time.”
The policeman had a few extra doughnuts around his beltline. As he stood there, he hitched up his trousers, as if proud at being a part of such a poignant encounter. “Never let it be said we don’t take care of our citizens here in Glasgow.”
Ezra hopped out to talk to the officer. “Sir, those men who have been shooting at us from on the bridges are with Tikkanen Kinetic Mining. They’ve been after us since St. Charles, where they shot up the town’s police force, as well as people like the three of us.”
The man’s badge said his name was Curtis. “TKM? I highly doubt it. Since this business with the statewide lockdown, their company has given more to local sheriff’s departments than we’ll ever be able to say. I was able to buy four new police cars with cash.” He leaned closer. “And I only have three officers.”
Ezra had the man figured out in seconds. He would never believe those same benefactors would do anything as underhanded as shooting at their boat. He immediately changed tack. “I keep hearing about this lockdown. You didn’t come here to arrest us, that’s apparent, but what can you tell us about the statewide order?”
Curtis chuckled. “It’s mostly for the big-city folk. Don’t want them rioting and all. Out here, we’re a bit more relaxed. Out on the river…” He shrugged. “Stay out of trouble and you’ll be fine.”
Ezra couldn’t contain his own laughter. “Sorry. This boat used to be on Kentucky Lake. It survived passing through the broken dam. So did he and I.”
“The dam broke?”
Ezra nodded with enthusiasm. “We got a Biblical amount of rain after the first rock hit Paducah. Too much for the lake to hold. Anyway, my laughter is because me and my friends have seen nothing but trouble since we left. I’d expect we’ll find it once we leave your town, too.”
Butch caught his attention. “E-Z. Don’t look now, but they’re here.”
Ezra didn’t turn toward the bridge, which was about a hundred yards upriver. However, Curtis turned to see what Butch was talking about. “Yep, those are TKM trucks. Are you positive those are the guys who’ve been harassing you?”
“Yes,” he said, wishing Butch would finish up.
Curtis hiked his pants again, suggesting he needed a tighter belt. “You all have my word no one will harass you on the way out of my town. I’ll go up there and make sure. I guaran-dam-tee you it’s only a coincidence. They’re probably here to buy me an armored car.” He laughed, turned for his car, but halted.
The friendly sheriff glanced over to Haley. “I’m glad Josephine called me. She sounds like a real nice woman. You take care, okay?”
“I will,” Haley replied.
“Be careful up there,” Ezra cautioned.
“Don’t you worry about me. Worry about yourselves. Lots of debris floated by here two days ago. Something bad happened in KC. If you’re going that way, you’re bound for trouble.” He tipped his hat and strode for shore.
Butch finished fueling. Ezra ran into the tiny marina store and paid. By the time he started the motor, Curtis and his flashing lights were approaching the bridge.
Ezra had to talk loud over the motor. “We’ve got to leave while the getting is good. I hope those TKM thugs don’t hurt our new friend.”
Denver, CO
The call from Stricker had been a near-run thing, but his quick thinking had once again saved him from disaster. He went back to communicating with his teams around the nation, as well as the men working the streets below him. He was confident they could hold the line against corporate competition, treasure-hunting citizens, and an unreliable Denver police force.
A red light appeared on his phone, prompting him to use the intercom with his travel secretary. “Who is it this time?”
“Miss Nerio, Mr. Tikkanen.”
“Finally!” he replied. “I’ll take it.”
The woman spoke as soon as he opened the line. “Hello from Wyoming!”
She was supposed to track down Asher’s escape train as it left Denver, not go to another state. “I assume you have some good news for me?”
“I’m afraid it depends on what you consider good news. I’m sure one of your clods in security has told you about Misha Gagarin and his escape?”
“They have,” he said with expectation.
“Of course, you also figured out it was
