From a small room in his parents’ home to this, yeah, it was quite a step up. The front door was open and people were already looking as if they’d had one too many drinks. Zeke’s moonshine appeared to be a hit.
Although some might have perceived such an event to be foolish while in the thick of an apocalypse, these kinds of gatherings were necessary if only to allow people to feel normal and release some of the pent-up stress.
No doubt Johnson had approved this little shindig because he wanted people to see that life could return to normal, that people could do this knowing that they were protected by armed men and women patrolling the perimeter. How many other cities could say the same? He remembered how bad the towns throughout California were on the way up from L.A. Humboldt was doing it right. Leading the way. Setting the example and showing others what was possible. If they had done it, surely others had too.
Colby held on to Alicia’s hand as he threaded around a cluster of men and women, all beaming, laughing, enjoying themselves. “Does Dylan know all these people?”
He shrugged. “Probably not.”
Dylan had always been a little extravagant, overdoing things. He couldn’t just have one or two people attend a BBQ, it had to be half the neighborhood. It wasn’t that he needed the attention, he was just genuinely curious about people, their lives, their decisions and the road they traveled. It was almost as if he enjoyed living life through their eyes or discovering what he was missing in his own. If the owners of the home could have seen what was happening now, they would have been livid. He saw someone throw up outside and it was still early evening. Inside, the eye-catching wonders didn’t let up. Colorful stained-glass panels and detailed redwood ornamentation adorned every room of the home. Detailed moldings framed the fireplace. It was like stepping back in time with period wallpaper and carpeting. Each of the rooms were lit up with solar lanterns hanging from the ceiling.
The amount of effort that must have gone into building and preserving the place was astonishing. Colby had to wonder what the consequences would be if the place was trashed. That was one area of law enforcement that had slipped to the back burner. Dealing with domestics and drunks, that’s what Humboldt County was doing now, but even that came second to protecting the city.
Trust was now a valuable commodity.
People were crammed into the foyer, overflowing into the entrance hall, parlor and dining room. The smell of roasted meat permeated the air. Glasses clinked and laughter erupted.
“Anyone seen Dylan?”
A stranger pointed to the grand staircase. They made their way up past four large stained-glass windows and multiple paintings. Then they passed what used to be a bedroom but was now a living room. Everywhere they turned was rich wood paneling, French wallpaper, gilt-framed mirrors and antique furniture was everywhere. They eventually found Dylan in the ballroom on the third floor where there was a full-size billiards table in the middle, chairs around the outside, and French doors that opened to a balcony.
Zeke was at the table, lining up a shot, when he saw them enter. “Hey, hey, hey!” he said before the crack of balls erupted and several went down. “And he does it again!” He turned to some guy with a goatee and extended his hand. “I believe that is three games I’ve won. You owe me. Pay up.” The guy grimaced and reached into his pocket for a small packet of pills and handed them over. “Nice doing business with you.”
Colby made his way around and Zeke slapped him on the shoulder. “You made it. For a moment there I thought you might not show up. You know with mother and all.”
“She around?”
He cast his gaze around the room. “Somewhere. Yeah.”
“Please tell me those pills aren’t what I think they are.”
“Hey, just a little pick-me-up. You know how it is, bro.” He grinned and then greeted Alicia with a kiss on the hand, in his usual charming manner. Colby noticed Dylan on the balcony talking to some guy. He was wearing a silk robe and smoking a thick cigar.
Colby made his way over, catching his attention.
“Ah, Colby. Welcome to the national landmark. Come, check out the view. You can see right across the bay.” Dylan waved away his friend, who Colby assumed he was sleeping with. Dylan was known to date both women and men.
“Don’t you think this is a little much, even for you?”
“What? It was here. No one was using it. Figured it was a waste.”
“So Johnson offered it to you?”
“In a roundabout way.”
“And by that you mean?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, you know I don’t kiss and tell,” he said, winking at him before taking another long pull on his cigar and blowing out thick pungent smoke. “And Alicia. Hello darlin’. You look as magnificent as ever.” He stepped back and held her hand. “I must say that is a stunning outfit.”
It was a simple change of clothes, not a ball gown or dress. Alicia felt more comfortable in jeans, boots and a shirt. “Dylan, who the hell are all these people?” Colby asked.
“Friends, acquaintances, lovers. Relax. You do still know how to do that, right? Can I get you both a drink?”
“Sure,” Alicia replied.
He went back inside and bellowed to
