Anna set the pistol down next to the others.
I glanced over to Cindy. “I have a plan.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
SCARFACE
The morning drew on as we closed in on Elko. Only five miles separated us and civilization.
My head stayed on a swivel, checking the side-view mirror every other second for any vehicles breaking through the wall of falling ash.
Jackal checked the rearview mirror, then glanced over at me. “You still think it’s a good idea to stop up here? There could be more of those men who were in the town. You heard the transmission from that two-way radio. They had to be somewhat close by and this town seems to be the only one in the area.”
“We don’t have much of a choice.” I stared out of the windshield at the fluttering ash. “If the weather keeps getting colder and the ash continues to fall like it is, we’re going to need proper gear. We also need to see about getting some gas. What we have in the tank isn’t going to get us to Utah and our payday. Besides, I’d rather not break down in the middle of nowhere if at all possible.”
“You and me both.” Jackal drove around another car that sat in the middle of the highway.
“We’ll just get what we need and move on,” I said. “Try to keep the jeep out of sight as much as we can in case any armed patrols roll through there.”
A large sign materialized through the falling ash on the side of the highway. Welcome to Elko.
Jackal followed the curve of the road toward the small town. The buildings in the near distance emerged through the dull-gray sky. No big skyscrapers or sprawling luxury complexes caught my eye, just an array of various-sized local businesses that lined the road on both sides of the street.
The traffic lights swung back and forth in the wind—powerless and dead. The businesses we passed had their windows boarded up. Closed signs hung on the fronts of the doors. It was a ghost town with no hint of life.
I skimmed over the buildings, hunting for a gas station or shop for us to procure some proper gear, but found nothing more than useless businesses that wouldn’t satisfy our needs.
“Doesn’t look like anyone’s here,” Jackal said, slowing the jeep as we rolled through the center of town.
“That’s good for us. Let’s hope it stays that way.” I scanned the street ahead and the alleys we passed by.
Jackal slammed the brakes. The jeep came to a skidding halt. My hands pressed to the dash. I glanced his way.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, concerned.
He pointed out the driver’s side window at a dark-brown brick building. The sign above the door read Rick’s Footlocker and Surplus Shop. “That might be as good of a place as any to check out. They may have some gear we can use.”
I skimmed over the shop and the planks of crooked boards that covered the windows. They’d done a haphazard job of securing the contents in the store. “I don’t see much else around that’s worth looking into.” I pointed out an opening between the buildings ahead of us. “Pull down that alley there, and we’ll take a closer look and see what they’ve got.”
“Roger that.” Jackal rolled past the shop and drove down the street to the alley. He turned down the narrow passageway past the corners of both structures on either side of us and stopped. He killed the engine and removed the keys from the ignition.
“Let’s hurry up and check this out.” I slipped the goggles over my eyes, pulled the hood up, then opened the door.
We exited the jeep and funneled down the side of the building to the corner. Jackal carried his rifle close to his chest, barrel trained at the ground. I had the heater clutched in my hands, fingers wrapped around the grip.
Jackal toed the edge, then checked the way we came. I scanned over the buildings across the road, then craned my neck, looking down the long stretch of street that went through the remainder of town. I tapped his shoulder.
He gave a thumbs up and skirted past the edge.
We made our way down the sidewalk at a good clip, passing the boarded-up businesses. Headlights up the street cut through the ash.
Jackal took cover inside the entryway of an accounting office. His bulky frame wedged between the door and the corner of the brick. He shouldered the rifle and brought it to bear.
I hung back, then dropped to one knee on the other side of the door. The car came closer, then turned down one of the side streets, leaving the area. We got back on the move and double timed it to the surplus shop.
Jackal approached the front entrance, slowly with his weapon trained ahead of him. He lowered the rifle and skimmed over the door. I stood at his back, watching the street and surrounding buildings, then turned toward him.
“Well?” I asked.
“Looks like someone’s already been inside,” he replied, pointing at the busted glass square in the bottom corner near the doorknob.
The plank of wood covering the window along the bottom panes from the inside had been pushed out from the door. The wood around the glass had chunks of its surface ripped out.
“Keep your eyes peeled in case anyone’s still inside,” I said, studying the damage.
Jackal grabbed the doorknob, then turned. The door opened with ease. He brought his rifle to bear, then slipped inside.
I followed him, closing the door behind us. A stale smell assaulted my nose, making
