Nuclear Winter Desolation: Post Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Nuclear Winter Series Book 5) Page 11

  Lacey made a suggestion. “We have lots to talk about, especially as it relates to getting into a daily routine now that everyone is here. Whadya think about letting Sonny and Phoebe get some rest? Jimmy needs to get squared away as well. Tonight, we’ll talk about this logistical stuff after dinner. Sound good?”

  The group wholeheartedly agreed. Sonny and Phoebe helped Jimmy out of the house through the kitchen.

  After they left, Hank turned to the group. “You guys know that I rely upon them a lot for operating the inn.” He turned to look in the direction of the Frees’ bungalow. “I’m no longer their boss. I’m Sonny’s brother. Jimmy is like a brother to Peter. And Phoebe, she’s like the glue that holds us all together. I’m saying all of that to say this. We’re going to share the responsibilities around here in order to survive. In addition to the obvious concerns, we, as a group, need to be rowing our boats in the same direction. Does that make sense?”

  Everyone agreed.

  Erin brought up one additional point. “I’m the outsider, and I can’t thank you all enough for taking me in. I hope to lend a different perspective based upon what I experienced while I held my position in the administration. Here’s how I look at it.

  “After the attacks, the nation as a whole went into shock. There wasn’t any guidance on what to do or how to react because this whole thing was unprecedented. It was the stuff of scientists’ theories or survival thriller novels.

  “Once people realized the government wasn’t going to take care of them, their primal instincts took over. Survival in a situation like this will take a strong, cohesive group like this family.

  “However, there’s one more thing to consider. Our world has suddenly become a lot smaller. Sure, we’re still part of the United States, and of course you could say we’re still Floridians. But what happens in Pennsylvania or Tallahassee or even Miami is of no real consequence to us. We can only control or be a part of what happens here in the Keys or Marathon or on Driftwood Key.”

  “Forget about the so-called big picture?” asked Lacey.

  “Sort of,” began Erin in response. “There is a big picture, but how it impacts us won’t manifest itself for years, I’m afraid. Outside Driftwood Key and Monroe County, people are dying by the tens of millions. I’ve seen the hypotheticals and projections. And we’re only in the beginnings of this catastrophic event. The same will begin to take place from Key West to Key Largo. We need to focus our efforts on controlling what we can.”

  “That’s why you think my dad should get involved in politics?” asked Lacey.

  “Yes, and I saw him in action today. He’s a natural. You know why? Because he’s real. He’s a levelheaded problem solver who could bring business leaders and politicians together to stand up to the mayor.”

  “Shouldn’t we focus on getting our own house in order first?” asked Peter.

  Hank stepped in to answer that question. “Peter, we learned today that Lindsey has plans to confiscate property and fuel in Key West using the sheriff’s department. Many believe it’s her goal to move systematically up the Keys with the intention of taking supplies into the government’s possession for redistribution.”

  “Ours?” asked Tucker.

  “Yes,” his grandfather replied as he placed his arm around Tucker’s shoulders.

  “How do we stop it?” asked Lacey.

  Erin sighed. “We have some ideas, but like any new political campaign, we have to get organized. We need a place or building dedicated to going over strategy that’s separate from our living space.”

  “Bungalow one is the closest,” said Hank. “We could remove the bedroom furniture and convert it.”

  “That means we’d have to go outside a little too often,” said Lacey. “What about the game room upstairs? We could move things out and cover the pool table with a board to create a table.”

  “That would work,” said Hank. “I’ll get with Sonny. I think he bought some chalkboard paint for a project Phoebe had. Heck, we’ll paint a whole wall with it.”

  “Excellent!” exclaimed Erin, excited about the undertaking. “I say we sanitize the inn first so Phoebe won’t be compelled to do it, and then we’ll focus on our new war room.”

  “Grandpa for mayor!” shouted Tucker.

  Hank shook his head and playfully snarled at Erin.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Monday, November 11

  Driftwood Key

  Everyone gathered in the dining room for dinner except for Jimmy, who was still sleeping. All agreed that every moment he could rest, whether asleep or simply relaxing, would help him recover faster. Like Peter, Jimmy was satisfied with a bowl of soup and some crackers. At this point, the guys were more concerned with their sore throats than filling their bellies.

  “Phoebe, it’s amazing what you can do in the kitchen with our limited options,” said Hank as he marveled at the fresh-cut greens and vegetables from their greenhouse garden that accompanied the baked fish. “For the last couple of days, we’ve all come to realize how difficult it is to manage our food.”

  Phoebe accepted the compliment and took her seat next to Sonny. “I have to say, having Lacey and Erin around to help made a difference. But, Mr. Hank, we will have to start fishing again soon to keep our seafood levels where they should be.”

  Sonny added, “And I have to bring all of our sustainable gardening to its full capability. Remember, we cut back to fool Lindsey into thinking we were just getting by.”

  Hank nodded as he poured the homemade Italian dressing made by Erin with oil, vinegar, and Italian seasonings Phoebe had stockpiled.

  “I remember. It’s time to ramp up with a focus on our survival now that we have everyone together, almost,” he said. Hank reached over to squeeze Lacey’s hand, a gesture designed to remind her that Owen might be gone, but he wasn’t forgotten. “We’re going to entrust you to portion out our food and related supplies as you see fit. I think Sonny and I are in a position to start fishing again.”

  “Jimmy will be ready soon,” interjected Sonny. “He’s already talked about it. I tried to tamp down his enthusiasm, but he’s pretty insistent. He responded in typical Jimmy fashion. Dad, I don’t have to talk to fish.”

  The group laughed, but it was Peter who raised a concern. “Listen, I’m okay after what we went through that night. But it was different for him. He almost died.”

  Phoebe, who worried for her son more than anyone, explained why they shouldn’t be concerned. “Actually, I sense the problem is the opposite. He wants to talk about what he went through, and as he recalls a challenge, he explains how he survived it. If anything, he might think he’s invincible.”

  Hank nodded and exchanged a glance with Lacey. Lacey had been pummeled by the hurricane and almost drowned as well had it not been for Tucker’s heroics. She’d already told her dad she’d prefer to stay off the water for a while, as in maybe forever.

  “Let’s play it by ear. No matter what, he doesn’t go out without a partner. In fact, that’s one of the things we need to talk about tonight. Tucker is on the gate alone right now, but that’ll be the last time that happens. We need to establish a buddy system for things like security, fishing, or if absolutely necessary, travels into Marathon or the other Keys.”

  Mike chimed in, “Hank’s absolutely right. Let me bring everyone up to speed. After I left the hospital the other day, I convinced the sheriff to let me create my own MCSO substation for Marathon. I’m basically based out of Driftwood Key, but I was able to get access to the Monroe County Clerk’s office. He’s assigned four permanent deputies to my command, plus my darling wife.”

  “Dream on, Commander,” said Jessica with a laugh.

  “Okay, let’s just say the WET team has a Marathon division, and that’s Jess.”

  “Much better.” She and Lacey exchanged fist bumps in solidarity.

  “Anyway,” Mike continued, “I’ll oversee law enforcement activities from Knights Key at Seven Mile Bridge up to Lower Matecumbe,
at least for now.”

  “What does that mean?” asked Sonny.

  Mike looked at Erin as he responded, “Like cabinet members who serve at the pleasure of the president, right now, everyone is serving at the whim of the sheriff, who seems to be having his chain yanked by Lindsey. I think all of this is subject to change at a moment’s notice.”

  Hank finished eating and rested his elbows on the table as he spoke. “The original plan was for Mike and Jessica to resign from the sheriff’s department. However, Mike saw an opening that allowed the two of them to be close to home while remaining tapped into the MCSO resources.”

  “Resources?” asked Lacey.

  “Yeah, to an extent,” replied Mike. “I hope to be able to continue to gather supplies, weapons, ammunition, and any other item that might help us get through this. Things are in disarray at the sheriff’s depot in Key West. There doesn’t appear to be any accountability or watchdog set up. With my new position, I feel like I can continue to siphon a few things for as long as I’m still in place.”

  “Same for me,” added Jessica. “As an MCSO paramedic, I can restock my water ambulance with medical supplies. We’re gonna need them, too. Think about it, we’re only a few weeks into this damn apocalypse mess and we’ve lost Owen, had two near drownings, a stabbing, and two gunfights.”

  Hank took a deep breath. “Let me add, from what Erin and I learned at the hospital, these medical facilities are in a world of hurt when it comes to filling their needs. They lost access to the mainland just like the rest of us did.”

  “Hank’s right, which means I’ll only be able to, quote, restock, unquote, until I get cut off.” She used her fingers to create air quotes as she spoke. She gathered Mike’s plate and stacked it on top of hers.

  “All right,” said Hank. “I guess the point is our ability to look outside Driftwood Key for supplies or assistance will be coming to an end at some point. Maybe sooner rather than later based upon what Mike is hearing from others within the department.”

  Mike thanked Jessica for moving his plate. She knew him so well. When having a serious discussion at the dinner table, he tended to get animated and used the table to outline his point as if drawing with his fingers made it more clear for the others.

  “The issue of security and the buddy system Hank alluded to is important now more than ever. Admittedly, I’ve been out of pocket since the stabbing, and prior to that I was still focused on finding our serial killer. I had a meeting with my newly assigned deputies, who told me that the number of break-ins in Marathon has increased.

  “They’re hitting restaurants first. Porky’s, 7 Mile Grill, La Niña, for starters. Last night, they ransacked the Sunset Grille by the bridge. It could be a gang, but not in the sense you might think. Some of the eyewitnesses described it as a bunch of guys with guns. It could be anyone desperate enough to break into a business.”

  “Are they happening at night?” asked Hank.

  “Mostly, until yesterday afternoon. They drove up to Sunset Grille, smashed through the front door with the bumper of a pickup truck, and looted the place. The food was gone or spoiled, so they took all the condiments, the liquor, and the propane tanks for the barbecue grills on the deck.”

  “Brazen,” mumbled Peter.

  “Exactly,” said Mike. “They aren’t afraid of law enforcement intervening or investigating. For one thing, they have us outnumbered. And to make matters worse, my deputies showed no inclination to risk their lives to protect someone’s property. I’m lucky they show up for their shift at all. If it weren’t for the sheriff’s promise of food and the fact they live in our area, they’d probably stay home to protect their own.”

  The thought of unchecked lawlessness hovered over the dinner table as everyone cleared their plates and exited to the kitchen. The group worked together to wash dishes, allowing Phoebe and her crew of two to relax.

  Sonny gathered his clothes and weapon and slipped out of the house to join Tucker at the gate. Phoebe stayed behind in the kitchen at her desk to begin poring over her inventory journals. The rest quietly exited to take the issue up again in their new war room.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Monday, November 11

  Driftwood Key

  Throughout the day, the guys retrofitted the game room, which was rarely used by guests, to a place where they could gather to discuss their plans to rally other like-minded individuals throughout the Keys with the goal of removing Lindsey from office. The next day, Hank and Erin intended to call on Cheryl Morton, the former county attorney, to discuss their legal options. He wasn’t sure what illegal options were available, but he’d discuss them as well.

  “Okay, we can modify this as necessary to suit our needs,” began Hank as the group climbed the stairs and approached the former game room. “The chalkboard paint hasn’t dried yet, but Phoebe hasn’t had an opportunity to whip up her concoction to make chalk.”

  “How is she going to make chalk?” asked Mike.

  “Until we can find some chalk, something I hope you can help us with when you go into Marathon, she’s going to mix together equal parts of cornstarch and water to go with one of the half-inch paintbrushes from the toolshed. It’s primitive, but it can work until we have a better option.”

  “Sounds messy,” said Mike. “Let me work on the chalk tomorrow. I might be able to gain access to Switlik Elementary as part of my rounds. I want to start checking on the county-owned properties in Marathon.”

  “Okay, I’ll let Phoebe know in the morning,” said Erin. She looked around the room and thought of a few things that might help. “Mike, if you come across legal pads or any other office supplies. We need to start making some notes as we consider our options.”

  “Tell us what the process looks like, Erin,” said Lacey.

  Hank urged everyone to sit down as he turned the floor over to Erin.

  “After what Mike told us at dinner, before we worry about Lindsey, we need to make sure these armed, roving gangs don’t show up at our doorstep like they have in the past. Mike, what would it take to stop them?”

  “More manpower,” he replied. “I don’t have enough deputies to fight them off.”

  “Okay, let me think out loud for a moment,” continued Erin. “Marathon has residents and business owners who are in the same situation as we are. What if we approached them and laid out the threat? You know, tell them about this gang, or gangs, of armed men who are raiding their key. Do you think they’d band together to stop their looting before they grew larger in number and therefore too strong?”

  “I don’t like civilian deputies,” said Mike bluntly.

  “I get it. Vigilante justice isn’t always the best way to go, but correct me if I’m wrong. Haven’t you guys had to administer that kind of justice at your dock and then later at the bridge?”

  “That was self-defense,” countered Mike.

  “True, but it didn’t involve calling law enforcement for assistance. You guys handled it on your own. I’m suggesting you bring the locals together to fight back against this group. Plus, it will have a twofold purpose.”

  “What is the other reason?” asked Hank.

  Erin appreciated Hank’s ability to carry the conversation in the direction she needed it to go.

  “It will give you an opportunity to show them Lindsey and the sheriff will not come to their aid. It will give them a newfound sense of self-reliance while showing Lindsey’s ineptitude. We want them to look to the Albright family for leadership, not the person who is ignoring their needs in order to confiscate property in Key West.”

  “Makes sense to me,” said Hank.

  “Follow me for a moment,” said Erin as she unfolded a map of the Florida Keys. “From everything we’ve heard, the mayor, with the aid of the sheriff, is working her way up the Keys. She’s started with the largest population areas. Eventually, she’ll want to send her minions across Seven Mile Bridge. That’s where we need to take a stand and say enough is enough.”

&n
bsp; Jessica started laughing. “Great, we’re gonna blow up another bridge.”

  Erin appreciated the humor, but she felt compelled to confirm this was not her intention. “Step one is to garner the trust of your neighbors and fellow business owners. Then we need to develop allies in the Middle and Upper Keys who will help us send a clear message to the mayor we’re not going to willingly give up our property, including food and supplies, to her administration to redistribute.”

  Peter, whose voice had improved throughout the day, added, “By the time we have to take a stand, she will have pissed off everyone in the Lower Keys. Taking this drastic an approach would’ve had a better chance if she had a consensus of opinion on her side. She thinks she can run roughshod over everyone. That may work for those docile people in Key West, but with each day, she’ll face more resistance.”

  Jessica stood and ran her fingers along Seven Mile Bridge. “If we’re not gonna blow it up, we can certainly make it near impossible to cross.”

  “They’re not going to stand by and let us do that,” said Mike.

  “It sounds to me like she’s allocated a lot of manpower to her activities in Key West,” Jessica responded. “Maybe we can do it quickly to frustrate her plans? By the time she figures out what happened, we’ll have a lot of folks on our side.”

  “Here’s my question to you, Mike,” began Erin. “How long will it take the sheriff to move toward Marathon?”

  “Five or six days, assuming they’re thorough,” he replied.

  Erin stepped backward and sat on a bar stool, one of two sitting next to a rack of pool cues. “We’re gonna need to move quickly, and a little luck would be nice.”

  Hank took the floor. “Okay, for tomorrow. Here’s the plan. Erin and I will work the political angle. We’ll see Mrs. Morton first, and then we’ll reach out to the county commissioner from district three. We know we have district five covered with Bud Marino. District one will be difficult to reach, but by the time her home is raided on Stock Island, she’ll be on board.