Tom walked through the open door and saw tools scattered on the floor where someone had up-ended several toolboxes. He grabbed a pair of pliers, touched one end of the handle on the negative post, and brushed the other end on the positive end. Nothing happened. He tried this again on several batteries with the same result. He kept testing batteries until one barely sparked. “I hoped most of them would still be charged. Let’s try the ones in the cars in the repair bay.”
The first car was a 2038 Ford Expedition. Bill raised the hood and took the battery cover off. Tom placed the plier handle on the negative post and rubbed the other handle on the positive. Sparks flew everywhere, making Tom jump and hit his head on the hood. “Damn, this one is hot. Let’s take it.”
The old truck started and ran like a new vehicle. Granny B looked around at the group. “We’re burning daylight. Get your butts in gear and finish loading your stuff. We’re going home in style.”
Tom made the timeout sign. “Whoa, we’d be placing a big target on ourselves if we leave in broad daylight. I plan to drive at night and sleep during the day. We can use my new night vision scope to see what’s up ahead and avoid ambushes. We’re only a hundred miles from home. Just driving after midnight at twenty miles an hour puts us in Ashland in five hours. Rest and pull guard duty after loading up what we don’t need today.”
Granny B smiled. “Tom’s right. I got excited and almost got us killed.”
Tom hugged Granny B. “Everyone not on guard duty should rest as much as possible. Get some shuteye.”
Tom nudged his sister’s arm and then tugged at Granny B’s arm. “I have a couple of ideas.”
They discussed Tom’s thoughts and then helped load the truck before resting for several hours. Most of the others were asleep when Jackie and Tom snuck out of camp. It was twilight, and Tom didn’t see or hear anyone stirring around. They quickly covered the ground to the Sporting Goods Warehouse and were cautious approaching the door. No one was in sight, so they moved into the store and stood in the dark with only a small amount of light from the windows. “Oh, my God! What’s that smell?”
“Something died in here. Don’t be surprised by what we see.” Tom switched on his small flashlight and headed to the hunting and fishing section. They had to watch where they stepped because there were rotting bodies and merchandise strewn across the floor. Tom’s light shined on the first body.
Maggots covered the body, and a couple of rats ran for cover when Tom approached. Tom flinched. “This one was shot with a shotgun, up close. We should have brought some kind of masks. The stench is turning my stomach.”
Jackie saw something up ahead, “There’s the empty gun section. Maybe we can find some ammo.”
They only found a few boxes of .22 LR and a box of 12 gauge birdshot. Every weapon except a few bows and arrows had been taken, and they had plenty of those. Tom found a powerful spotlight and stuck it in his bag along with several Maglite flashlights and batteries.
“Jackie, there’s a lot of stuff we could use back at the ranch, but we can’t haul much in that short bed truck. Let’s check the camping food section and go back to camp.”
The food section was as empty as the hunting department. Jackie found several bags of freeze tried meat but nothing else. Tom had an idea. “Let’s check the stock room. Remember, we found the rifles in the other’s sporting goods store’s stockroom.”
“It’s worth a try. Lead the way, but how about giving me one of those small Maglites you scarfed up while I was gagging back there by the rotting bodies.”
Jackie kept the beam of light close to the floor as she followed Tom through the swinging doors. “Tom! Something moved over there.”
Tom crouched down, turned his light off, and pulled out the night vision scope from his rifle. “Turn your light off so I can find the bastard.”
Tom scanned the area and was astounded to see a boy and girl tied to the racking holding the stock. Their mouths were gagged and hands tied. “Jackie, look,” Tom whispered as he handed the night vision scope.
“Crap, two men are walking toward the kids.”
Tom took the scope and decided Jackie and he had to do something to free the teens. He whispered, “We have to shoot to kill.”
“But, we decided not to kill any more people. Tom, what if this isn’t what it looks like?”
That froze Tom long enough for the men to approach their captives. One of the men ripped the girl’s blouse and grabbed her. Tom said, “Watch,” and handed the scope to Jackie.
Jackie stood up and began walking toward them, making as little noise as possible with Tom trying to catch up. She stopped fifteen feet away, turned her flashlight on, and began shooting. The two men yelped in pain and fell to the ground. One tried to raise his gun, and Jackie shot him twice. Jackie kicked the other man. He moved and then begged for his life. She kicked him in the crotch and shot him between the eyes.
Tom asked, “Jackie, are you okay?”
“I wasn’t, but I feel great now.”
Tom shook his head and scratched the stubble on his chin. “Are they dead enough to suit you?”
“No, but we don’t need to waste bullets.”
Tom turned to the young man and woman. He untied them while Jackie stayed vigilant. “Why did these men capture you?”
The girl lashed out. “What do you think they were
