Nuclear Winter Desolation: Post Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Nuclear Winter Series Book 5) Read online

  “Not that anyone could blame him,” interjected Hank.

  Mike disagreed. “Hey, he wasn’t drafted for the job. He actually fought tooth and nail to get it.”

  “According to Chandler, the president is most concerned with the nation not sticking together in the crisis. Sure, there are parts of the country that are on fire, literally and figuratively. Chandler alluded to some tough decisions the president would be making soon, but he didn’t elaborate. Anyway, apparently Texas and other parts of the country continue to separate themselves from the rest of the nation. Communities are becoming increasingly territorial. The president feels he needs to put a stop to it before this independent-minded thinking takes hold.”

  Hank turned in his seat to look at Erin as he spoke. “Is he blaming the Keys for this? I mean, we have no idea what’s happening in Texas, and I seriously doubt they know what we’re up to.”

  “I agree with you, Hank,” she replied. “This president ain’t no Harry Truman. The buck doesn’t stop with him. It’s always someone else’s fault.”

  “Just like Lindsey,” Mike quipped.

  “In more than one respect, Mike,” added Erin. “Both of them believe they should confiscate property, whether real estate or personal belongings, to be redistributed to those in need. Your mayor is doing it on the localized level, and it’s likely the president will institute similar actions on the national level. That’s why his martial law declaration was so strongly worded.”

  Mike had to frequently slow down as they drove along the bridge. The roadway had become clogged with more stalled cars since he’d returned from Key West the other day.

  “Where exactly did these people think they were going?” he asked angrily. “The grass isn’t greener on our side of the bridge.”

  “Some of these cars are loaded down with clothing and personal effects,” Erin noticed. “Is it possible they’re unaware of the bridges being destroyed?”

  Hank leaned forward to rest his forearms on the dashboard. “It’s possible. Or they thought it was an insane rumor and decided to leave anyway. Regardless, if this continues, Seven Mile may be blocked by the time we return this afternoon.”

  Mike pointed his thumb toward the rear deck lid covering his pickup’s truck bed. “I have empty gas cans to fill up at the depot while I’m down here. Hopefully, if that happens, enough people left their keys in the ignition for us to move them.”

  “Plus, there’s the winch,” added Hank. Mike’s police truck also had a built-in winch. Capable of pulling ten thousand pounds, he could maneuver stalled vehicles out of the way if necessary. Then Hank had another thought. “I don’t wanna get off topic because I hope we’re successful in our diplomatic mission, if you wanna call it that. But if Lindsey refuses to cooperate, we have to prepare for her bringing her band of merry men toward Marathon in a day or so. We could use these stalled cars to stop or slow their progress.”

  “A traffic jam of dead cars,” said Mike jokingly.

  “Exactly.” Hank chuckled and then turned back to Erin. “Based on your phone call, what kind of timetable are we talking about?”

  “The man said days not weeks.”

  “No pressure,” interjected Mike.

  Hank was dismayed. “Don’t they realize this kind of thing takes time? Lindsey’s not gonna quit, which means we have to follow the legal route that Mrs. Morton suggested.”

  Mike slowed once again as the end of the bridge entered Big Pine Key. The road was still washed out due to the hurricane, and he was forced to drive over the sandy shoulder next to the hammocks bordering Spanish Harbor.

  “I guess all the road crews quit,” he grumbled aloud as he drove around a fallen palm tree.

  “Consider this, Mike,” began Erin. “What you’re seeing here is a microcosm of what’s happened around the country. Infrastructure, from electricity to roadways, is unable to be repaired. Seriously, the bridges destroyed by the mayor are likely to remain that way for many years. Electricity will require the same length of time to be reinstated because the government has to rely upon foreign nations to provide us replacement components to the grid. As time passes, the Florida Keys will start to revert to the way it looked when your family first settled here.”

  “That sounds drastic,” Mike said.

  “Yes, but that’s also very possible. What happens in the next few days will dictate whether we can help your neighbors survive or they will face the type of mayhem taking place in large population centers around the country.”

  Hank took a deep breath. “Lindsey thinks she can prevent that from happening by making sure everyone gets an equal share of what’s available.”

  “It never works that way with dictatorial governments, Hank. They will keep the largest portion of any assets they confiscate and distribute it among their cronies. The rest will suffer that much quicker.”

  “Days?” asked Mike.

  “That’s what Chandler said, but he didn’t provide an or else.”

  Hank sighed. “I’m starting to feel squeezed. How about you guys?”

  Neither Erin nor Mike answered as they both fell deep in thought.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Wednesday, November 13

  Key West

  Mike dropped Hank and Erin off a couple of blocks away from the administration building. Hank thought it was best to keep some semblance of separation between him and Mike, especially when his brother was on official business. As they walked along Whitehead Street, they discussed their approach to dealing with Lindsey. Hank reminded Erin that they most likely wouldn’t be welcomed after the harsh words he and Lindsey had exchanged following the hurricane.

  “It seems Lindsey takes issue with her constituents showing up unannounced,” he opined. “It’s not like I can pick up the phone and schedule an appointment.”

  “Are you sure bringing me into her office is a good idea?” asked Erin.

  “Can I answer that after we see her?”

  “No, you coward,” Erin replied before giving Hank a playful shove.

  “Well, okay, but you might not like the answer.”

  “Try me.”

  “I think Lindsey would probably blow me off like she tried to do after the storm. However, the fact you’re with me will pique her curiosity.”

  Erin shoved him again. “I see how it is. I’m not arm candy. I’m more like a ticket to get in the door.”

  “Right! Makes sense, doesn’t it? Lindsey is a selfish person, and unless I can be of use to her, she’ll ignore me. However, we both know she’s had a run-in with the president, or at least his staff. The fact a member of his cabinet is at her office door will make her intrigued or worried. Either way, she’ll let us in.”

  Erin grabbed his arm and stopped them just short of the entrance. “Oh, about that. I’m no longer Secretary of Agriculture. I’ve been removed from the cabinet. However, I am still a special assistant to the president.”

  Hank thought for a moment. “You and Lindsey have met, right?”

  “Yes, years ago at a fundraiser for the governor. I’m not sure she’ll remember me.”

  Hank placed his hand on Erin’s back and urged her ahead of him as they approached the entry. “She’ll remember. I won’t lie and say you’re still the Ag Secretary.”

  Erin interrupted him. “Just say I’m in the Helton administration. It’s the truth.”

  Hank nodded. “Got it. Here we go.”

  He opened the heavy entrance door, and the two of them entered the stuffy building. They removed their surgical masks and shoved them into their pockets. Like before, the building was bustling with activity, but the first thing Hank noticed was the increased police presence. With the power outage, the metal detectors were not operable. However, they were still being used to funnel people into the building. Hank and Erin had both left their guns in Mike’s truck, as they anticipated Lindsey might confiscate them.

  The two of them made their way to Lindsey’s office suite without difficulty. A few peopl
e recognized Hank, and he took the time to speak with them at length. Visiting Lindsey was only one of their goals in coming to Key West. Hank wanted to get a feel for how her government operations were holding up and to touch base with as many acquaintances as he could. He might need a friend in the building at some point.

  Hank knew Lindsey’s secretary, and the two made small talk. As discussed, he introduced Erin as being with President Helton’s administration. Hank and Erin had barely settled into the seats in Lindsey’s outer office when her doors flew open. The secretary exited, leaving Lindsey standing alone in front of her desk to greet her visitors. Like Chandler’s uncharacteristic friendly attitude during his conversation with Erin on the satellite phone, Lindsey acted genuinely appreciative of Hank stopping by with his friend to meet her.

  “Come on in, Hank. I won’t bite, I promise.”

  Hank gestured for Erin to enter first, and Lindsey stepped forward with a toothy grin to shake hands. “Well, Madam Secretary, this is quite an honor.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mayor. But, please, call me Erin.”

  “Lindsey for me.” She backed away without shaking Hank’s hand and motioned for the two of them to take a seat in front of her desk. Lindsey resumed her customary position of power, separating those beneath her by sitting behind the mayoral desk. Her desk acted like a shield against anyone who would do her harm. It gave her a sense of comfort when dealing with adversaries, and she was certain Hank and Erin were. “What in the world would bring you to the Florida Keys during such a period of turmoil?”

  “You may not be aware of this, but the administration has established a temporary seat of government at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. That’s in fairly close proximity to Philadelphia, where the government will reestablish itself until a decision can be made about DC.”

  “Surely, the president plans on rebuilding Washington, right?” asked Lindsey.

  Erin knew the small-talk game. It was a way to both size up and disarm an adversary. She was not much of a politician, but she was certainly capable of mental chess.

  “There’s a lot of work to be done around the country in order to save lives first and restore our critical infrastructure second. This process will take many years. One thing is certain. The president is laser focused on doing whatever is necessary to make that happen.”

  Lindsey feigned an itch to her nose so she could mentally wipe the smile off her face. She knew this wasn’t a social call. “That’s good to hear. Like him, I’m interested in the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Monroe County. He may not believe that, but it’s true.”

  Hank sat back and watched the two women joust with one another. He wondered if Erin was going to continue to dance with Lindsey or bring out the big guns. He didn’t have to wait long to get his answer.

  “I know you’re aware of how he felt about the roadblocks,” began Erin. “The decision to destroy the bridges, one of which happened to be a federal highway, was probably not a good one. The roadblocks might’ve been the functional equivalent of a gnat in the president’s ear. Blowing up the bridges was more like murder hornets coming for the jugular.”

  Lindsey stood firm. “I did what I thought was best for the Keys. As it turned out, I was right. He sent the National Guard, from out of state I might add, to Homestead. If it weren’t for the hurricane that his administration failed to warn us about, they would’ve taken over the Keys for lord knows what. Was my decision rash? Yes. Do I stand by it? Absolutely!”

  If Hank didn’t dislike Lindsey so much, he would’ve been impressed by her strong will in the face of a purported representative of the president.

  Erin continued with the full-court press. “Are you aware that the Coast Guard has been sent to cordon off any boat traffic in and out of the Keys?”

  “I’ve heard about that.”

  “And you do know that the next logical step is to send in a couple of Marine battalions to finish what the National Guard was authorized to do, right?”

  Lindsey leaned back in her chair and clasped her fingers together in front of her. “I suppose he could do that, but the world wouldn’t stand for it. He’d generate a political firestorm and an unparalleled boondoggle in modern American history.”

  Erin glanced at Hank, who remained stoic. He was aware of the time constraints placed upon Erin to act on behalf of the president. Accordingly, she had to play hardball.

  “Do you think he’s bluffing? I would not underestimate him. He sees your actions as fostering discontent in other parts of the country. He might just make an example of you.”

  Lindsey laughed. If she was threatened by Erin’s straight talk, she didn’t show it. She abruptly stood, catching Hank and Erin off guard. “Well, I’ve got a county to run, and this conversation isn’t very productive for me to continue. I get the sense the president is taking my actions to protect Monroe County’s citizens a little too personally. When you speak to him, may I suggest he focus on his own shit?”

  And with that, the conversation was over, and the two of them were summarily dismissed.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Wednesday, November 13

  Key West

  They had barely left the administration building when Erin issued her opinion of Mayor Lindsey Free. “She certainly chose the right career. That woman is a vulture who belongs in the halls of Congress.”

  Hank let out a nervous laugh. He was not a confrontational person by nature, so the toe-to-toe exchange between the two politicians had made him somewhat uneasy.

  “She’s always been stubborn and righteous, too. There’s no way she’ll leave office willingly. We’ve got a helluva fight on our hands.”

  “Sadly, you’re right. If anything, she’ll set her sights on us as soon as she can.”

  Hank glanced at his watch. He hadn’t worn it in the nearly four weeks since the nuclear missiles began flying. There were no appointments to be kept or places to be. Today, however, Mike had given them a precise time when he planned to return to the administration building to pick them up. It was more than two and a half hours from now, which gave them plenty of time to start walking along Truman Avenue toward the sheriff’s department.

  “Are you up for a walk?” asked Hank.

  “Yeah. I’d like to see more of Key West.”

  Hank broached the subject carefully without doing anything to offend Erin for the approach she’d taken with Lindsey. There was no good way to talk to the mayor, so he couldn’t fault Erin for trying to make her points.

  “Is there a chance the president is bluffing? I mean, would he really send in the Marines?”

  She raised her eyebrows and shrugged. After rolling her head around her neck to relieve some tension, she replied, “I could answer that question better if I’d been in the room with the president when he issued his instructions to Chandler. I don’t trust Chandler, and the subtle threat may have been his own doing. That said, the president can be flighty. Oftentimes making decisions ruled by his emotional state at the time. Even if he didn’t say it, Chandler spoke for him, so I have to assume it to be his directive.”

  “Would we have better luck by staying out of everybody’s way and allowing the military the opportunity to take care of Lindsey?” he asked.

  “If it goes that far, the president will want to install one of his political cronies. Most likely someone who’d receive the blessing of the governor. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t. Especially when you consider the law enforcement duties could be taken over by the U.S. military instead of your sheriff and those serving beneath him.”

  Hank grimaced. Lindsey had put them all in an untenable situation, and now they had to move quickly before the president lost patience or confidence in Erin’s ability to deliver a peaceful resolution.

  As they walked up Truman Avenue to the point where it became Roosevelt Avenue, they both pointed out the looted buildings and the number of people who were sleeping in makeshift tents.
Several businesses had been burned out, and most had their windows broken. The town looked like a war zone, and it was just a matter of time before every business was stripped of anything of value.

  Even the car dealerships across from the marina weren’t spared. People desperate for gasoline had attempted to siphon what little fuel the dealership’s vehicles had in them. A row of three Jeep Rubicons had caught on fire, likely because someone had attempted to drill a hole in the underside of a gas tank, creating sparks that ignited the fuel.

  Up the street, the scooter rental store was being pillaged as they walked by. Hank quickly pulled Erin with him to cross the street so they didn’t come into contact with the looters. The scooters weren’t the target of the thieves. They wanted the bicycles that had been shackled together in front of the store. One man tried to hold a bike on his back as he pedaled away on another one he’d stolen. He could barely control the handlebars as he pedaled.

  “It will go on like this, Hank, until somebody steps in and stops it,” said Erin. “Every retail store followed by residences of all types will be looted.”

  They walked another ten minutes, pointing out damage to property and the occasional dead body that had been covered with palm fronds. It was a disturbing and depressing scene that started to weigh heavily on Hank.

  Then they came upon the Gordon’s Food Service location. The aftermath of the sheriff’s office raid and the ensuing gun battle shocked them both. Bloodstains filled the parking lot. Torn sheets and bedding were used to cover the dead, held in place by small coquina boulders. People were still filing in and out of the building, desperate to find any morsel of food to sustain them for another day. While Hank and Erin paused to take in the scene, a man approached them.

  “Say, do you have anything to eat that you can spare?”

  “No, sir, we don’t,” replied Hank. “I’m sorry. Can you tell me what happened here?”