Harry grumbles under his breath but stays put and doesn’t speak again.
The mayor pauses and asks for anymore questions, but when they don’t come, he stands and declares the meeting is over. People swarm to the table to get extra masks, rubber gloves, and the printed papers. The fliers talk about which symptoms to watch for, how much food is allotted per household, other jobs to volunteer for, and a whole bunch of other shit. There’s still no sign of the panic I keep thinking will show itself, but that doesn’t help ease the knots of worry that have formed in my gut.
Brant joins the crowd and grabs more gloves and pamphlets. On his way back, Sheriff April ambles to catch up with him. The sheriff nods his goodbyes to other people as they swarm out of the gymnasium, and then motions us over to the far corner of the room. He hasn’t shaved this morning, which is odd for him, and he has heavy bags under his eyes.
He looks like shit as he runs a hand over his face. “Boys, I have a favor to ask you, and I want you to know that I don’t ask it lightly.”
I exchange a look with Theo and notice Brant’s hand come down to rest on Puddles's neck. Sheriff pulls out a paper from his back pocket and hands it to me. I unfold it and stare at it for a second before he explains.
“This is a map of the quickest and least populated roads that lead to Libal Bluff, Idaho,” he tells us, tapping on the map to indicate the place he’s talking about.
Theo crosses his arms over his chest and adopts a mission-prep demeanor, while I focus on where Sheriff is pointing.
“And what exactly are you wanting us to get in Libal Bluff, Idaho?” Brant asks.
Sheriff April looks up at him. “My kid.”
I was expecting Sheriff April to say water, or some other type of vital supplies, so when he saysmy kid, I’m completely taken aback.
Sheriff must sense our shock, because he quickly explains. “Remington lives there and runs a big game hunting outfit. As you know, the phones are down and I’ve no way of reaching out. I’d go myself, but I’m needed here in town, and let’s be honest, you boys would be faster and way more efficient than my old bones any day,” he looks at each of us, his tone and body language beseeching.
I shift my weight from one foot to the other, not sure what to say. My immediate reaction is to say I’m in, but it’s not just me I need to think of.
“There’s a travel restriction,” Theo points out.
Sheriff April nods grimly. “There is. But...it’s my kid, and we haven’t spoken for a while,” he says, and I can tell by his tone and the way his eyes dart downward that this is something that’s hard for him to talk about.
I look over at Theo and Brant, and their expressions tell me all I need to know. We have the skills and the know how. We’re a little broken, but sheriff is right, if anyone can bring his son home, it’s us.
“I wouldn’t ask you if...anyway, I understand if you say no. I’ve tried asking a few others…” he trails off, and my jaw clenches. I don’t know which fuckers he’s asked in this town, but I hate that they turned him down. I haven’t known Sheriff April for long, but it’s been long enough to know that he never asks for help lightly.
An electric hum starts up in my belly and quickly moves throughout my whole body. It’s a familiar sensation, one that I always got whenever the higher-ups announced a mission to my Unit. I haven’t felt this unique sensation in over two years, and its presence excites me in ways I didn’t realize I missed until this exact moment.
Being needed—being the best option to execute a mission, fuck, it makes me feel whole again, and that equally scares and excites the shit out of me.
Brant leans in, studying the map that I’m still holding. He’s quiet as his eyes roam over the path that Sheriff has drawn out for us. He taps the map twice and then steps back, and it tells Theo and I that this is in fact the best way to get where we need to go, and that he’s willing to do this. Theo gives me an almost imperceptible tilt of his chin, and I turn to Sheriff April.
“We’ll do it.”
His eyes find mine, and a relieved breath escapes him. “I know you guys only have the truck, so Lewis Robisson has a new Explorer that we can have fitted and kitted in an hour. It should be big enough for all of you. I’ll make sure there’s enough gas in the trunk to get you there and back, and any other supplies we can think of that could come in handy. Meet at the church whenever you’re ready, and we can make sure you have everything you need.”
“We can be ready to go in thirty minutes. We’ll grab food for Puddles, so we’ll need room for kibble and weapons, too.” I tell him.
“Of course,” he replies, and then pauses. “Thank you, boys.”
With that, Sheriff April turns and goes out the door, before any of us can so much as smile at him and throw out ano problem. I look to Theo and Brant, and see the same excited spark of ability and usefulness that I’m feeling in their expressions.
“Well, I guess let’s mount up.”
4
Theo
The car ride is silent as Madix hauls ass back to our house. As soon as we get there, we each grab our Army-issued duffles and start packing. We’re ready in exactly eleven minutes, and we grab our guns, a box of MRE’s and supplies for Puddles. Our cells have no service or internet, but I stuff mine in my pocket anyway, out of habit.
When we get to the church, Sheriff April and Lewis Robisson, the guy who runs the gas station, are just loading up the last of the gas cans. We hop out and haul all of our shit to join what they’ve already packed in the back of the Explorer.
Lewis passes Madix the keys, and Brant opens the back door for Puddles to jump in first.
