“Okay. Can I have my boys back?”
“Sir, there is nothing more that I would like to do than to see these kids get home. But right now, a situation pretty close to you is making that a dangerous thing to do.”
“What do you mean?”
“It appears — and I am waiting for confirmation — that a band of independents have set up a blockade in the Erie, Pennsylvania area. They’re reportedly dangerous.”
“Take them out.”
Briggs paused. “I’m sorry, did you say take them out?”
“Yeah. If they’re bad news and you’re this new army, take them the hell out. Or can’t you?”
“We could, but we believe there are civilians there and we don’t want to put them in harm’s way. And that is why, until the situation is safe, I think it’s best that the kids remain here for a little bit. I’ll keep them fed and safe and in constant contact with you. But as you can imagine, if I took them south and looped around, it would be a risk and a long haul with four children.”
“Four? I only have two grandchildren with you.”
“Chris said they’re all going to Lodi.”
“Well, I’m sure my grandson has all good intentions with his newfound friends and we’ll take them in, of course, but only two are my grandsons. Chris and the little guy.”
“The one aged six going on thirty?”
“That’s the one.”
“I like him.”
“He’s an acquired taste.” Tom breathed out heavily. “Not much of a choice, then? Where are you located?”
“Damon, New York. And I promise you I will take care of them, keep them safe and bring them home safely.”
“Well, you better. Not that I’m a man who likes to threaten those in authority, but if anything happens to those kids, you not only have to contend with me, but with their father, and that’s a big force.”
“Would this be the same man that Chris wants to see me wrestle?”
Tom laughed. “That would be the one.”
“Then you have my word and my promise, and now I’ll give you numbers so you can stay in touch.”
Tom grabbed a pen and wrote down the three numbers that Briggs had given to him. He ended the call, and stared outward as he tried to hang up the phone and kept missing the base.
Lars reached over and aided him. “So the boys are fine?”
“Safe, fine, and in good spirits enough that Chris is planning the return of wrestling with Mick and this guy.”
“That is good to hear. Very good to hear.”
“Yep, and I know now where to send Mick. Seems there’s a divide and a blockade of bad up near Erie.”
Lars cocked back. “That’s where Mick and Rose are meeting.”
“Not gonna meet, cause neither one of them can get through. I better give them a heads up.” Tom lifted the phone again.
“How are you feeling now?” Lars asked.
“Better, but now since I know the boys are fine, I am pissed as hell at Mick for losing them.” He started to dial. “I might just encourage this wrestling match to take place.”
Lars laughed and then he took Baby Doe while Tom made his phone calls.
Outskirts, Erie, PA
Rose had no idea her phone was even ringing. She spotted the rest area and when she saw Mick wasn’t there, she figured she’d ride ahead just a little.
It was only a few miles and Rose slowed down her bike and then turned it off. Something was happening ahead. She saw men moving cars on the highway and across, forming a blockade of sorts.
They must have heard her motorcycle because a few of them stepped away to look.
Rose was fast. She moved her bike quietly to the side of the road, walked it a little bit then when she was at a safe enough distance, jumped back on and rode to the rest area.
It was quiet there and didn’t appear to have been touched or visited in some time. She removed her helmet, kept the bike idling, and reached around to her pack.
When she pulled out her phone she saw she had missed calls. Two from Mick and three from Tom.
Opting to return Mick’s call first, Rose readied to dial when it rang.
“Tom,” she answered. “Hey, can I call you right back? I want to get a hold of Mick. I’m supposed to meet him and something is going on in Erie.”
“That’s why you need to talk to me. Erie is taken over. Don’t know much more than that except it’s a dangerous situation. I got a call from Chris. He and Tigger are fine. They went the wrong way and are in some small town in New York. And it’s that takeover that’s making it tough for them to get home.”
“What the fuck do we do?”
“You head back here. Especially since we know they’re fine. And I’m thinking, unless Mick decides to take on those guys in Erie, we send him for the boys. I got the name of the town.”
“You wanna call him or should I?”
“I tried, he’s not answering. Probably can’t hear the phone. But head on back, and I’ll keep trying.”
“That sounds good.” Rose ended the call, stowed the phone back in her pack and was grabbing a bottle of water when she saw the truck pull into the lot.
They pulled up fifteen feet from her and stopped. Her hand stayed inside the bag, yet instead of a water bottle, she held a knife, concealed in her grip, and slowly removed her hand. She didn’t think reaching for her rifle, strapped on her bike, was all that good of an idea.
Four men stepped from the trucks. They all were armed and looked more like a pack of wayward hunters than anything else.
“Well it’s a broad,” one said. “Saw you riding. Thought for sure you were a man.” He stepped closer. “Kind of look like a man. What you doing out here all alone, Grandma?”
Rose had a grip on one handle bar and didn’t answer. She sized up the men. Two stayed back while two walked closer to her.
“You may want to get off that bike,” the same one said. “That’s a commodity we want.”
“You’re not getting my fucking bike,” Rose said calmly.
He laughed, hyena style and mockingly. “Listen to the mouth on Grandma.” He aimed his weapon at her. “Off the bike, lady.”
The kickstand was down and Rose slowly dismounted, not moving far from the bike.
The other men laughed as if the intimidation tactics of the front guy were the funniest thing.
Bullies.
They just seemed like dimwitted bullies to Rose. The last thing she wanted to do was show any reaction to them.
Stay cool. Calm.
The first man stepped even closer, his friend right at his side. He reached out and touched Rose’s face. “You think you’re a tough broad. Look at you. Still not bad looking for an old lady. You can be my cougar.”
“Don’t touch me again,” Rose warned.
The man brought this fist to his mouth, laughing at her. “Feisty. I like it. You’re gonna come with us. We can…” he dropped his voice some, “we can have a good time. I like feisty.”
“No.”
“No?” he scoffed. “Really? No.” He reached for her.
Rose swatted his hand away. “I told you, don’t touch me again.”
“Look, lady…” He stopped face to face with Rose. “You’ll come with us or I will fuck you up.”
Cool, calm, and staring into his eyes. Rose whispered. “How about I fuck you up instead?”
He laughed loudly and obnoxiously. He looked over his shoulder to the two men hanging back and said, “Did you hear her? She said she’s gonna fuck me up. Now how does she figure?”
No sooner did he turn back to look at Rose, than she said, ”Like this.” Then reared back and gave a short quick head butt to the man. He stumbled, not much, but enough for Rose to jab hard and fast to his nose. He flew backwards to the ground.