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"Is he coming?" Sammy asked from the back seat after two minutes of total silence that was louder than the rumble of the idling Humvee.
"Yeah, he said that he had a lunch date with his wife and needed to leave her a note telling her he wouldn't make it." Bruce turned back to his friend and rolled his eyes. "Has he been acting weird to you? I think something is definitely not right with that man."
Major Samuelsson thought about it for a minute. "Now that you mention it, I would say he has been acting kind of stand-offish the last few days...though I haven't really had much interaction with him."
"Yeah, he's been acting really nervous around me. Let's be careful what we say around him for the time being. I'm going to try and spend more time with him in the coming week to feel him out. Maybe he's just a little... off."
Sammy just shrugged his shoulders. A couple more minutes went by and Bruce was starting to wonder what took so long to leave a simple note when the mayor came hustling out the front door, obvious beads of sweat rolling down his face. He climbed in the seat directly behind Bruce and shut the heavy armored door. Bruce nodded at the driver who started the Humvee rolling.
"Everything squared away, Mayor? Were you able to leave your wife a note?" Bruce practically hollered over the diesel engine.
"Yes, I was. Thank you," Mayor Thoms hollered back.
It only took a couple minutes before they pulled up to a non-descript brick house on the edge of town and they dismounted the vehicle. The front door opened as they approached and Sergeant Timms stepped out onto the front steps. He was about to speak when Major Samuelsson shook his head and gave the sergeant a threatening look. Sergeant Timms obviously caught on because he just stepped aside, holding the door open for them to enter. "Colonel... Mayor," the sergeant nodded in greeting as they entered the house. "He's just inside the living room there on your right with Cpl. Hector Lopez."
"Colonel, I'm going to have a quick chat with the sergeant here. I'll join you in just a second," Sammy said from the front porch. Bruce just nodded back to him. Working together for as long as they had, Colonel Harris knew that the Sammy was going to find out from Timms if the man had shared any information with them.
Bruce followed the mayor into the home's living room and found a man sprawled out on the couch napping. Corporal Lopez snapped to attention, causing the man to stir and open one eye to peek at them. “At ease, Corporal. Please join Sergeant Timms out front and wait for us."
"Yessir," the young corporal said as he snatched up his pack and left the room. The man stretched once before sitting up and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
Bruce walked over to the couch and extended his hand. "Hi. My name is Colonel Harris. This is Mayor Thoms and the man joining us in a minute is Major Samuelsson, whom you've already met."
The man smiled back and shook his hand warmly. "Nice to meet you, Colonel. My name is Derrick. To be honest with you, I was instructed by our mayor to only speak with Mayor Thoms. I am here to discuss civil matters which, no offense, don't really involve the US military."
"Okay, then. Thank you," Bruce smiled back warmly. Ignoring the man's last comment, Colonel Harris held out his hand in invitation to the mayor to sit in the Lazyboy across from the man as he took a seat on the worn leather loveseat to the man's left.
Major Samuelsson walked in just then, and Bruce raised his eyebrows questioningly. Sammy just shook his head ever so slightly and Bruce knew that the man hadn't given any pertinent information to the two soldiers who were watching over him. So he cut to the chase, "Welcome to Warren, Derrick. I'm glad your travels were safe. Major Samuelsson here informed me that you came to inquire about the electric grid. While Mayor Thoms and some local engineers did some amazing work repairing some of the electrical infrastructure in town, they were unable to get the power restored. So I'm sorry, but you'll have to let your mayor know that there isn't going to be any electricity available in the near future. How exactly did you hear that Warren was working on getting the electric restored?" Bruce continued smiling the entire time, trying to earn the man's trust and make him feel comfortable.
The man just smiled back at Colonel Harris and for a few seconds Bruce thought the man was going to ignore his question. Finally he spoke up, "Oh, you know, Colonel. There are these signals that just float around through the air and you just need to know how to reach out and grab them," the man responded while reaching out with his hand and pretending to snatch something out of thin air.
"Unfortunately, I am unaware of what you are talking about, Derrick. Maybe you can enlighten me?" Bruce could tell the man was being snarky with him, but he played along and asked his question sincerely.
"I'm not real sure how it's done, Colonel. I'm just the messenger. So what's so important about an empty town in the middle of nowhere that the US government feels the need to send in the military? Shouldn’t you be helping those poor people back in the Green Zones?" the man asked with a wry smile.
"I thought you were here on civil matters and not interested in things involving the military?" Colonel Harris asked in response with the same wry grin. "We're here because we heard about a large army of looters that have wiped out an entire town. We're here to restore order and take them out. Can you help me with any information on where they are holed up?"
The man seemed to relax a little bit. "We don't know for sure, Colonel. Luckily, we haven't had any run-ins with them in Kane, but some of the farmers in the outlying countryside have. One such farmer who managed to escape and moved into town with family said that some of them were wearing orange prison jumpsuits. If I were to take an educated guess, I'd say they are probably holed up at the McKean Federal Penitentiary over near Bradford."
"Thank you for that information, Derrick. Hopefully we can wipe these guys out and make it safer for the surrounding areas and your town." Derrick nodded back in appreciation, so Bruce continued, "We've also heard about a platoon of Army Rangers that may have been staying near Kane and possibly joined up with this army of raiders. I hear they have been 'devastating' the surrounding areas. Can you tell me anything about that?"
Derrick laughed lightly, "I don't know anything about that, Colonel. But I can assure you that there is no rogue platoon of Army Rangers running around the countryside looting, or I would have heard about them. And I'm sure they'd probably have nothing to do with those looters from the penitentiary."
Colonel Harris gave him an inquisitive look. "I thought you said you didn't know anything about them. It sounds like you've met them or at least heard of them, or how else would you know that they aren't involved with the looters?"
The man smiled back knowing that he had slipped up, but stuck with his story. "Like I said, Colonel, I don't know anything about any Army Rangers."
Colonel Harris knew the man was either lying or knew more than he was letting on, but he also didn't want the conversation to turn uncivil. "Mayor Thoms, would you do me a favor and step outside, please? I'd like to continue my conversation with Derrick here and the subject matter may be a little sensitive."
"Sure. No problem, Colonel." Mayor Thoms hopped out of his chair and made straight for the entryway. He was obviously uncomfortable in the situation and was glad that he could be excused.
As soon as Bruce heard the front door shut he turned back to Derrick and gave him his friendliest smile. "Can I be blunt with you, Derrick?"
"By all means, Sir," Derrick smiled back, but Colonel Harris could tell he was obviously guarded.
"I have a big feeling that you know more than you are letting on...."
Derrick cut him off, protesting, "I really don't, Sir. I'm sorry that I can't help you out with more information, but I really don't know what you are talking about."
"Okay, Derrick." Bruce waved aside his protest and continued, "You say that you don't know anything—that’s fine. I'll tell you what I know. You're a soldier. Ain't no question about it." Derrick started shaking his head but Bruce kept on, "Son, I have had the privilege of serving this once great country for the better part of twenty-five years. I have commanded every manner of troop from the highest tier special operations soldiers to the mumbling and bumbling office Fobbit. I know a soldier when I see one. If something walks and squawks like a duck, it's a freakin’ duck. I've been sizing you up since I walked into the room. You weren't sleeping when we walked in, you were listening. Your chest was rising and falling too fast for someone who was asleep. You sleep with your pack under your head like you've done a hundred times in the field. Your boots are military issue, and the way the words ‘colonel’ and ‘sir’ roll off your lips betrays you. Even the way you sit on that couch screams soldier. So, cut the crap, Son, and tell me what you know.
"Honestly, we are here to help the local towns, but I'm going to need your help if I'm going to locate these looters and this renegade group of Army Rangers. So be honest with me. You're military, aren't you? Deserter?" Bruce asked curiously. "If you are, I can promise you that information won't leave this room and you can go back home when we're done here. All I'm asking in return is your cooperation and any information you can provide."
"I'm not a deserter!" the man said defensively. "You're right. I'm an ex-Marine, but I served my time. I did two tours in Afghanistan and returned home a month before the grid came down." He re-adjusted himself in the seat and just stared back at Bruce. Bruce raised his eyebrow questioningly at the man, wanting more information out of him. Derrick sat silent for a minute but could tell he wasn't going to be let off the hook that easily. He let out a sigh, "I don't have any information I can give you, Colonel. I don't know where you are getting your information, but I can reiterate that those Army boys in the area ain't looters. In fact, I've heard rumors that they have actually been engaging those rejects from the penitentiary. That's why no one has seen hide nor hair of any looters in weeks. I have no idea where to find them or anything like that. All I've heard are rumors. That's honestly all I can say."
Colonel Harris looked over at Sammy briefly before continuing, "Tell me more about these rumors you've been hearing. You've got my attention now and I'm curious. Where have you been hearing them?"
The man was spared when Sergeant Timms came bursting through the front door followed by the mayor. "Sir, a Humvee just pulled up. I think its Lieutenant Jenkins."
"What the hell?" Bruce exclaimed. "How the hell did he even know where we were?" As soon as he finished the sentence, he knew the answer. He looked directly at the mayor who was doing his best to focus his attention on the peeling ceiling paint. "Thank you, Sergeant Timms, for the heads up. Please escort the mayor back outside."
As soon as the front door shut, Bruce started speaking very quickly: "Listen to me very close, Derrick. The man that is getting ready to walk through that door is not your friend. Do not trust him, and don't tell him anything. Stick to your original story about being sent to inquire about the electric grid and whatever you do, don't deviate."
"He's coming up the walk now," Sammy said from the window behind him.
"Cover your boots with your pack, Derrick! Hurry up! Slouch back in your seat, and pay attention to how you phrase military terms. And for God sakes don't say a freaking word about the Rangers. Not one word! If what you are telling me is true, Lieutenant Jenkins is not to be trusted." Derrick quickly nodded his head in understanding and Bruce was about to say something else when he heard the front door open to Sergeant Timms’ objections. "It’s okay, Sergeant, the lieutenant is more than welcome to join us."
The LT walked in and Colonel Harris could tell he wasn't very pleased. He glanced at Major Samuelsson before taking a seat in the now vacant Lazyboy. Bruce broke the silence with an introduction. "This man's name is Derrick. He was sent by Kane's mayor to inquire on the status of the electric grid. They would like to get their electricity restored."
"Yeah, them and every other town in this country," Lieutenant Jenkins said irritably.
Bruce forced a chuckle. "I just got done informing him that the effort to restore power had unfortunately failed and that we couldn't provide a timetable for electricity to be available."
"What was your timetable on informing me that there was a man here from the town of Kane?" the lieutenant asked bluntly.
Bruce just shrugged his shoulders and smiled back at the junior officer but didn't give him an answer.
"Okay, Colonel. Well, if you are done discussing the electric grid with this man then I have some questions for him pertaining to my part of the mission here in Warren. I'm going to have to ask you and the major to leave so I can question him.”
"Go ahead and ask," Bruce said as he leaned back into the loveseat and propped his feet up on the ottoman. He was past his limit when dealing with this little prick and he'd be damned if a lieutenant was going to tell him what to do.
"Alright, Colonel," Lieutenant Jenkins sighed as he stood up. "I'm no longer asking you, I'm telling you: Leave!" He pulled the same envelope out of his pocket that he had earlier and handed it to Bruce. Colonel Harris was on the verge of ripping the man's throat out for his audacity but was more curious what could be in the envelope that would allow a junior officer to speak to a full bird Colonel that way. He looked over to Sammy perched on the window ledge and nodded him over. He pulled out the letter and read through it with Sammy looking over his shoulder. It was written directly to him and contained words like "matters of national security" and "complete authority" and was signed at the bottom by none other than General Oates with the President's signature and seal right next to it. Bruce couldn't believe what he held in his hands and pulled the letter up to his face, turning it into the light coming through the window. The signatures contained blobs of ink in places and Bruce could tell it was signed with a fountain pen.
When he folded the letter back up and placed it in the envelope, Lieutenant Jenkins continued. "I'm sorry, Colonel. I will happily report to you any information I can retrieve, but I am going to have to ask you two to leave... please. If you have any problem with that, I'm going to have to ask you to take it up with General Oates." He had softened his tune, but Bruce could tell he was relishing in the moment.
Colonel Harris looked over at Derrick who was obviously blown away with what he had just witnessed. Bruce didn't make any facial expressions towards the man, not wanting to tip off Lieutenant Jenkins to any kind of communication between him and Derrick. Colonel Harris nodded at Major Samuelsson and started for the front door. He never looked back at the LT. He wasn't going to give the man the satisfaction.
As he passed by Lieutenant Jenkins, the LT continued, "And one other thing, Colonel. I'm going to need those men I've been requesting ready to go at first light tomorrow morning."
Bruce never even turned to acknowledge the lieutenant, just nodded his head and kept walking. As they crossed the small porch, the other men followed them down the walk. Bruce took a glance back at the house, hoping Derrick was smart enough to figure out what was going on when he noticed the mayor in lock step next to him.
Colonel Harris pulled up and turned towards the mayor. "I'm sorry, Mayor. We're all full. You're going to have to catch a ride back with your new friend, Lieutenant Jenkins." He gave the man his most icy glare and the mayor just slinked off towards the house without saying a word. As soon as they were in the Humvee driving back towards HQ, Bruce turned back to Sammy. "What the hell just happened in there?!"