Chapter 4
"What the …” Wyatt said. “You know him?”
“We served together.” Carter turned to the weeping woman. “I need you to calm down, Renee.”
“What happened in Bakerton?” Renee asked.
“I don’t know. We are cut off right now,” Carter said, his face taut.
The door opened, making them all turn to find an older man entering. He looked as though he hadn’t slept in ages, rumpled clothes and a stained shirt a testimony to a series of long nights. Wyatt looked closer at the rusty droplets on his white shirt, realizing it had to be blood.
“Keith, you couldn’t have come at a better time,” Carter said to the older man. “Wyatt, get a chair for him.”
Doctor Keith Morris looked at Carter with professional expertise. “How are you feeling, Carter?”
“I’ll do,” said Carter.
“You were pretty sick there for a while.”
Carter shrugged and said, “I’m fine now. Work has to get done. Doc … have you heard anything from anyone outside of Copper Valley?”
“No,” Dr. Morris said. “Everything is down. Hopefully, they’ll get it back up.”
“Carter, don’t you think it would be wise if I drove to …” Wyatt started.
“Nope.” Carter cut him off. “Copper Valley first, Wyatt.”
Wyatt grabbed one of the metal chairs and pulled it to the desk for the aging man to sit. His face was as gray as his hair, his glasses resting on the blood-flecked front of his shirt.
“Doctor Morris, I don’t remember seeing you at Monsterland. Didn’t you go?” Wyatt asked.
The pediatrician sat down slowly, shaking his head. “Gave my tickets to my son.” He swallowed convulsively. “He loves …” He stopped for a minute, his eyes forlorn. “I mean … he loved werewolves. He was so … it doesn’t matter.”
“How are things at the hospital?” Carter asked.
“You saw I was understaffed. I’ve got a few nurses left. Most of the doctors went to the opening.” He leaned forward. “Generators are acting up. They start, then they go down. I have to get some dry ice for refrigeration. You think we can consolidate what Amir Mansour has left in the hardware store?” He sighed. “Oh yeah, drugs are running low. I’ve got Old Jimmy Vilardo standing with a gun in front of the pharmacy. We have to get our ducks in a row.”
“We should secure the water tower first,” Carter said.
Wyatt watched his stepfather’s jaw clench. “Why? What’s happening?”
They heard shouts as a car raced down the street, making them all turn to face the window. The people were driving luxury cars.
“They’ve stolen cars!” Renee screamed.
“I don’t know about that,” Carter said. “They’re not from around here.”
“How do you know that?” asked Renee.
“I know everybody in Copper Valley.”
They observed the large sedan, all four windows open, stuffed to the gills with men holding weapons. They were clean cut, like a car filled with regular guys going on a fishing trip. Only they weren’t carrying fishing rods; they were loaded with automatic weapons.
“They don’t look scary,” Wyatt said.
“Let’s reserve judgment until we find out why they feel the need to be driving around with all that hardware,” Carter said.
The car slowed as it neared the police station. One man’s face filled the car window. He seemed oddly familiar.
When Wyatt moved to get a closer look, Carter called out, “Stay away from the window.”
“I know that guy,” Wyatt said. “I can’t remember where, but I’ve seen him before.”
“Carter, what are we going to do?” Renee implored.
Wyatt watched his stepfather’s eyes narrow with steely resolve.
“We are going to get organized.” Carter reached into the desk and pulled out a heavy set of keys. He tossed them to Wyatt, who caught them.
“That’s the gun locker. Pull out everything you can find and put it here. Let’s take account of what we’ve got.”
“Half the town is armed. You know everybody’s got weapons.”
“Son,” the doctor said. “We don’t know who is even left in this town.”
“What can I do?” Renee asked in a trembling voice.
Carter pulled his lip, thinking for a minute. “We are going to have to go door-to-door and get everybody to meet at the VFW hall.”
“Door-to-door, Carter, we’ll never reach everyone. It’ll take all day,” Dr. Morris said.
“Got a better idea?” Carter raked his dark hair. Wyatt knew he was running close to empty.
“Where are the megaphones I borrowed from Chief Jessup?” Renee asked, her voice high. She moved back to the police chief’s office. “I borrowed them for Kristin’s Sweet Sixteen.” They heard her muffled voice as if it were coming from inside a closet. There was a thump, followed by a curse, then, “Found them! I’ve got four of them.”
Carter opened a drawer and pulled out an old creased map. He flattened it on the desk, smoothing it with a shaking hand.
Wyatt’s eyes fell on Feldspar Drive, where Howard Drucker lived. He placed two shotguns to the right of the map. He pointed. “Feldspar is a couple of blocks from here. I’ll go and get Howard and his three brothers. I’m sure they can use their dad’s car. Can I have mace?” he asked, holding up a can of the abrasive spray.
Carter nodded. “I know there are more guns back there.”
“I’ve only got two hands,” Wyatt called as he walked back to the gun cabinet.
“The Drucker boys didn’t go to the opening?” Dr. Morris asked.
“Howard went with me.” Wyatt paused, gulping, laying four automatics on the desk. The physician’s sad eyes probed him. “He got out with us. His brothers didn’t have an invitation.” He turned to his stepfather, pulling a Glock out of his waistband. “I’m taking this.”
“Carter, no!” Renee yelled. “You can’t let him have a gun.” She was standing in the doorway, a horrified look on her face.
Carter ignored her. “Know how to use it?”
His stepfather pulled a loaded magazine from inside the drawer. He held out his hand for the gun, then showed Wyatt how to eject the empty magazine. He slammed the loaded one into the grip of the gun and racked the slide back, chambering the round.
“Point and fire,” Wyatt whispered.
“Carter! Is this necessary?” Renee stood, quivering with outrage.
“The world as you knew it is no longer here, Renee,” Carter said. “Things have changed.” He then showed Wyatt how to check the safety.
Wyatt tucked it into his back waistband. “I’m getting the Drucker boys. That will give us four more guys to comb the neighborhood.”
Carter nodded. Doctor Morris stood. He reached over the desk grabbing a shotgun, then held it in his hands. “I’ll take the blocks north of Gillespie. We’ll meet at the VFW hall?”
Wyatt turned to look back at the older people in the office, their faces as colorless as the vampires. They were going to need everybody. “I’ll swing by and pick up Jade and Keisha as well,” he called as he ran down the steps. “I’ll meet up with you in a couple hours.” His heart took that moment to skip a beat at the thought of reuniting with Jade.