“No one. They’ll kill him and whoever goes with him the moment they step outside. No, the only thing a guy like this understands is violence.” He took off upstairs, and Colby raced after him, glancing at Paul as he passed him.
“You don’t understand. You go shooting those vehicles and you might kill someone.”
“That’s the plan.”
“No. An innocent.” He grabbed his bicep on the stairwell. “A man helped me. Saved my life. Bill said he’s in one of those trucks.”
“And you believe him?”
“Yes. No. Look, he saved my life. I don’t want him to die.”
“But you’ll let us die?” He pressed his finger into his chest. “The only reason both of you are alive right now is because of us. So I guess you need to decide who’s more important.” He continued up the stairwell, leaving Colby standing there.
He wasn’t done. This wasn’t over.
Colby raced to the roof and came up behind Jackson as he was preparing to take a shot at one of the trucks. “Don’t do this, Jackson.”
“It’s already done. Ready, boys?” He had his three sons get in position, each one focused on one of the trucks.
“You can’t do this until Paul is out.”
Through gritted teeth, Jackson replied without taking his eyes away from the scope. “Then get him out.”
Bill could probably hear them talking, the others getting ready to open fire. He got back on the megaphone. “That better not be the decision I think it is, Colby. Jeb’s life depends on you.”
“I’m pretty sure five minutes isn’t up,” Colby replied.
He heard Bill laugh then continue. “You’re right, but then why aren’t you all leaving?”
“They are here to make sure you don’t go back on your word. If my friend is followed, shot at, or anything happens, you don’t get the store.”
“You giving orders now, Colby?” Bill asked.
Colby turned to Jackson. “Is there another way out of this store besides the main door?”
“There is. In the basement, there’s a door between here and the store next door. It was built that way back when this place was a bar. The two stores were one building and they used it to roll in the alcohol.”
“Look. I know you’re protecting your business but—”
“There are no buts. I wouldn’t have let you in if I knew this would happen.”
“This would happen with or without us,” Colby shot back.
“Yeah, well, I’m not leaving, that’s all that matters.”
“And what about your sons, your wife? Don’t they matter?”
That hit a nerve. “Get out now before I shoot you myself,” Jackson snarled.
Colby nodded and realized he’d overstayed his welcome. There was no easy way through this. People would die. Not everyone could be saved. Whether it was Jeb or Jackson’s family. It was a gamble. He knew better than anyone what this man was capable of, what he would do. Colby knew full well that given the opportunity, Bill would execute Jackson and his family. After all the men Jackson had killed so far, death was the only outcome.
Downstairs, Colby made his way over to Paul. “You’re getting out of here.”
“He won’t let us walk.”
“Walk, stay, there is a chance we all die. Okay? There’s no easy way out of this. If they could shoot their way out, they would have already done it.”
“I’m not stepping out front.”
“No, you’re going out the rear.”
Paul furrowed his brow. “What?”
“The eastern road doesn’t have a truck. They’re all gathered around the north, west, and south on this street. The rear exit is to the east. It’s dark. You head out, go south on the other street. You’ll leave through the rear, head back to your wife and kid, there is a truck parked over by the elementary school,” Colby said, taking out the keys. “Take it. Head to Los Banos. Get your family to safety.” He placed the keys in his hands then turned to head back up.
“Colby. Wait.”
“What?” He looked as if he wanted to say something but then he didn’t.
“Can you get him out the rear?” Colby asked Rachel. She nodded, and they left the room heading down into the basement. Before they exited, he told her to wait for the word over the radio before letting him out. Colby glanced at his watch. Time was ticking. He collected his M4, made sure it was loaded, and headed to the roof.
“Damn it, man, are you still here?” Gareth asked.
Staying low, he hurried over. “Jackson. I’ve got an idea.”
TWENTY-SIX
It was a shot in the dark but then remaining here and doing nothing would be fatal.
“If your idea is like your last one, I don’t want to hear it,” Jackson said.
“Paul’s heading out the back. I’ll take one of your sons and go out the front.”
“No."
“They don’t know who’s injured. Paul will head east. We cover your son’s face, wrap one of those bloody bandages you left downstairs and then roll out, and skirt around. It’s dark. You want to get rid of these guys. You aren’t going to do it from in here or you would have already done it. So you keep him preoccupied, and then we hit them from every side including the trucks.”
Jackson mused as he stared. “And what about your buddy?”
Colby looked over the edge at the trucks. Was he down there? If he was, there was nothing that could be done now.
One man’s life versus six people. It was a no-brainer.
“Look, by my count, Bill’s crew is down to a handful if even that. We hit them hard, and fast. You take out the drivers.”
There was a moment of contemplation.
“Time’s up, Colby!” Bill yelled.
Colby waited for a response from Jackson. “So?”
“Sure. Why not? I’m getting tired of being holed up in here. But you’re staying. I’m going with my son.”
“What? But…”
“No buts,” Jackson said. “I trust him more than you.”
“You got it, Pops,” Gareth said.
Colby turned. “Hey. I
