Haliday answered. “I think they’re hiding somewhere dick sucking just like you guys are known for. I saw the billboard that said so.” That brought about a hellacious lead storm. Haliday was covering his ears; they were ringing like mad from all of the noise. He had a splitting headache now. The foam earplug wasn’t working that well in the one ear; he had the earpiece for the radio in the other.
He keyed his radio. He whispered, “Blake, you out there.”
“Ya, I’m hiding behind one of the boats.”
“Can you see them?”
“Not really, as soon as I heard them fire I hid behind one of the boats on the racks. I didn’t hear them drive up.”
“Can you find some better cover?”
“Not really, not without being seen.”
“Look around again and see, maybe a quick run for a few feet or something.”
“Look, you need to raise your hands and then get up. We are not going to warn you again.”
“You guys have an arrest warrant?”
“We don’t need one smart-ass. We’re operating under the authority of the Bad Axe Minute Men.”
“Is that a division of the 4H or something? Never heard of them. You guys hold goat milking contests and stuff?”
“I’ve had enough of this asshole.” One of the guys opened fire and emptied his magazine at the deuce.
“Hey, I want to really thank you for providing me with some great cover here. Your buddies could have used something like this about 10 minutes ago.”
“That’s it, you prick.” The guy reloaded his rifle and started toward the deuce.
He got about 10 steps away from the Jeep when Blake opened up on him. He tumbled forward and as he lay there his body bounced around on the gravel as Blake emptied the whole thirty round magazine into him. The other guy fired at Blake’s position then stopped. Magazine change or something.
“Looks like we have us a little problem here Mr. Minute man. You are now outgunned.” Haliday whispered again, “Blake are you all right?”
“Ya, I ran behind another boat when you pissed the guy off earlier. This one gave me a better view and I thought it would be safer. It has two engines, and I’m kind of protected by it. I can’t see the other guy though. He’s hiding on the other side of the Jeep.”
“Ok look, here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to give him the option to get the hell out of here. If he takes it, let him go.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes I am, chances are they called this in and have more help coming. We gotta get the hell out of here.”
“Ok, if you say so. Sounds a little crazy to me but that seems to be your style.”
“Look, we want to make a deal. We can let you go if you leave now. We’ll leave the truck here along with anything else that’s yours. You probably have about five minutes or less before our group comes riding in to help us out. You got that? You leave now and we won’t have a problem,” Haliday said. Haliday was now listening to the militia freq.
“We won’t be there for about 10 minutes or so, you copy.”
“Ya, I copy, I’m gonna get the hell out of here and meet up with you guys. Maybe we can ambush them when they come out.”
“Ok, any idea on the rest of the guys?”
“No idea, but Ron is down for sure. I think the rest are too. I’m getting the hell out of here.
“Ok, I’m leaving. I’m getting in the Jeep and taking off.” The guy got in the Jeep, started it and backed up then headed toward the entrance which was about 150 yards away. Haliday got down from the truck and started running through the woods. He had some gravel parking area and woods to run through.
He had sprinted about 40 yards through the trees and came out behind the Jeep. The Jeep was moving down the road now at about 50 mph. Haliday emptied a clip into the back and quick changed magazines and emptied another one at it. The Jeep swerved side to side then ran into the ditch, came back up onto the pavement, and rolled a few times. The driver had been ejected and the Jeep rolled right over him.
Haliday ran back through the woods shouting at Blake, “get your bike, get moving, don’t worry about taking anything.” Haliday got on his bike and rode up next to the deuce. He put a couple of rounds into the other tires to flatten them. He shifted into gear and met Blake at the entrance.
As they pulled out of the exit, they heard the vehicles coming down the road. They were barely less than a half mile away. Haliday took off with Blake behind him. The approaching vehicles were coming up fast. One stopped momentarily by the rolled Jeep and another took the shoulder of the road to go around it. They kept heading straight after them.
They had a little more than half a mile before they reached the road they needed. One of the vehicles pursuing them turned into the marina and the other kept up pursuit. Haliday couldn’t make out anything on the ham; his earpiece had fallen out. He was just hell-bent on getting out of there.
They reached the little river which was more like a creek in spots and started riding in the water and on the bank. The vehicle following only made it in about 100 feet before it got stuck. The occupants jumped out and fired. It was hard to zero in on them due to the twisting of the waterway.
They rode on for almost six more miles, cutting through multiple farms and across multiple roads. They found a spot to stop. If they continued, it would practically take them right to the militia compound. They wouldn’t be very welcome there, that was for sure. Haliday sat there for a brief moment. He tried to listen on the ham, but it was silent.
“Blake, call the group and tell them to use the hams to start searching the frequencies. Tell them they need to find out what these guys are talking about. Here’s the book. Tell them to start with these. If those don’t work tell them to do it the old fashioned way and have the ham scan for them.” All hell had broken loose now. They were in the center of the fury.
Chapter 21
Haliday got up to go to the bathroom. A voice came from the woods. “Don’t you guys move or so help me I’ll put a bullet in both of you.”
Haliday looked at the guy. Mid-forties, medium build, brown hair, dressed in real tree camo. Basically your average guy off the street around these parts. Haliday looked over at Blake, “Don’t move, just stay still, and do what he says.”
“I plan to, trust me.”
The man asked, “Who are you guys?”
Haliday answered, “I can explain that, you mind lowering that rifle first?”
“Yes I do, it’s staying right here.”
“Ok, we have some land just south of Cass City. We were just out and about checking out the area. Seeing what else is going on around here.”
The guy looked at them, “You expect me to believe that crap while you hide in the woods?”
Roger said, “I guess not, may I ask who you are, sir?”
“That’s not important right now; you want to answer my question?”
Roger figured, why not. “Sir, I don’t think you would believe me.” Haliday was going to carefully word his answers and statements to try and figure this guy out.
“Go ahead and try me out,” the man said.
Haliday replied, “If I don’t answer, what do you intend to do then.”
There was a long pause. “I have a few ideas, probably shoot you two so don’t worry.”
Haliday asked him, “Why don’t you take us back to your camp and we’ll talk there?”
Here came the response that set Haliday at ease a bit. “I don’t know you or what you’re up to, but I sure ain’t taking you back to my house.”
Next question from Haliday was, “What about your boss, the one that runs things?”
The next answer came, “I’ll tell you the same thing I tell her—I wear the pants in the family, now enough bullshit.”