He looked at Mitch. “Your mom and I traded text messages the day the tsunami hit—she said she was okay, and at that point she still had power and plenty of food and water…” he glanced at Cami. "We live in a decent neighborhood, and we’re friends with most of our neighbors. I'm pretty hopeful she should be okay."
"But you have to go to her," Cami said quickly. "She's got to be worried sick about you…” her eyes shifted to Mitch. "About both of you."
“You’re right,” Gary said with a nod. “I hate to eat and run, but I can't stay here—it’s been almost a week since I've seen Elizabeth. I just…I can't wait any longer."
"Dad, you're in no condition to go anywhere.” Mitch looked at Cami. "Tell him, Cami—we gotta at least wait until tomorrow. It'll be dark soon anyway, right?"
Cami nodded. "He's right, Gary. You're exhausted, and you said it yourself: you haven't had a decent night’s sleep in three days.” She raised her hand to stop his argument. “If you're sure your neighborhood is as safe as you say it is, one more night’s not going to be an issue. Elizabeth is smart, she’ll know to lie low and keep out of sight, right?”
“I hope so,” Gary said. “Yeah.”
Cami nodded. “Okay. She should be safe enough in your house, then. But you won't do anybody any good if you’re so exhausted you never make it home.” Cami looked at Amber, then back at Gary. Before he could argue, she plowed ahead. "Look—stay here tonight, get some rest—we’ll give you a good dinner tonight, and send you off with a hearty breakfast tomorrow morning. Take my car—” Mitch opened his mouth, but Cami ignored him. "No, I'm serious. If all the stores are looted and there's no food around here, there's no point having the stupid thing, anyway. I'm not going anywhere. I have to stay here and wait for Reese. But you do have a place to go. Take the car, Gary, please—get home to your wife."
Gary wiped his face. "Cami, it's too much—you’re already taking care of my son, and now this?”
Cami covered his rough, bruised hand in hers. "Gary, don't worry about it. You and Elizabeth would do the same for me and Reese. We all have to stick together in this.” She grinned. “Just take the stupid car. It’s got plenty of gas, and you can be home in 30 minutes, rather than spend another four days walking on the road."
"I can ride shotgun—oh, if…” Mitch began.
Cami frowned. "I can't give you the shotgun, Mitch. It’s…it was Reese's.”
Gary held up his hand. "No, don't worry about it. You've already given us more than I could've ever asked for."
"Mitch can keep the pistol,” Cami said quickly. “Don't worry about it."
"Thank you," Mitch said.
Cami stood from the table. “Okay then. Mitch, why don’t you take your dad upstairs and let him get cleaned up. You guys sort out your sleeping arrangements and meet back down here for dinner. We’re gonna lose the light soon, and we don't want to draw attention to ourselves by running the electric lights at night, especially if things are as bad as Gary says they are."
"Oh they're bad…and they're getting worse. I heard yesterday that the state troopers have cordoned off the capital and pretty much given up on patrolling the rest. I’ve heard rumors that gangs are taking over the bigger cities and turning them into war zones. Cops are abandoning their jobs and staying home with their families—and I don't blame a single one of them. But things are going to get nasty real quick."
"All the more reason for us to practice some light discipline,” Cami agreed, “and make sure you and Mitch get on the road tomorrow. You can’t waste any more time."
"I won't forget what you've done, Cami,” Gary replied solemnly. “Ever."
Cami looked at Gary and nodded. "Like I said, you’d do the same for me. Now listen, if for any reason you can't stay at your house, or if, God forbid, Elizabeth is hurt—come straight back here, okay?" she said quickly. Cami looked at Mitch. "Promise me, both of you, you’ll come back here and bring Elizabeth. If you’re nervous for any reason about staying in your house, gather up everything you can and drive back here. Don't wait, just do it. We have plenty of room, and with the garden, we can easily support the five of us. Okay?"
Gary nodded, reached a hand across the table and shook hands with Cami. "Deal."
Amber and Cami found themselves alone after Mitch and Gary went upstairs to get sorted out. Amber crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. "I can't believe things are getting this bad. It all seems like some kind of nightmare."
"I think the nightmare hasn't even really started yet," Cami muttered. "Can you get started on whipping together some pasta?"
"Why? Where are you going?" Amber asked, nervousness creeping into her voice.
"I want to go talk to Marty. He needs to know what's going on."
Chapter 18
Boston, Massachusetts
Reese wiped the sweat from his face again and tried to find a more comfortable position in the pile of broken wood and wet fiberglass underneath the overturned sailboat. He and Jo had spent the better part of the afternoon in their impromptu hideout. Jo slept on her side and snored softly, completely exhausted from her ordeal at the convention
