Desperate Times Three - Revolution Read online

  The pretty Asian woman stopped dead in her tracks and held her hand to her mouth. “Oh, my God,” she said, her eyes growing large. “You look stunning!”

  Patty’s eyes welled up with tears, but they were tears of joy, and she didn’t try to hide them. Sonya rushed over to her, dropped to her knees and hugged her. She tried to thank Sonya for all that she had done for her, but the only sounds that escaped her were sobs.

  “I’m so happy for you,” Sonya said, letting Patty cry into her shoulder. “The best news is yet to come. I just heard that you’re done with your chemo. All we have left to do is start putting some meat back on those bones and get you strong. Isn’t that awesome?”

  “That’s totally awesome,” Patty said, using the expression she had heard Cindy use so many times. “But I’m not going to be fat again, not if I can help it. I just want to get my strength back. When do we start?”

  Sonya was about to answer when there was a sharp rap on the door, and it was suddenly pulled open. Detective Ralph Wilcox stood there, flanked by two uniformed officers. His partner, the tall man with the poor manners, stood behind them. He was smiling.

  “Patty Dahlgren?” Wilcox asked.

  “What are you doing down here?” Sonya asked, shaking her finger at the men. “This is a restricted area and under quarantine. Can’t you read?”

  “Can the act, sister,” Detective Bob Johnson said. “We’ve got a warrant.”

  “Are you Patty Dahlgren?” Detective Ralph asked again. He suddenly wasn’t so sure. The woman seated in the chair looked nothing like the woman in the picture. He walked inside and was followed by the two uniforms and Johnson.

  “Answer the question!” demanded Johnson. “Are you or are you not Patty Dahlgren?”

  Patty looked to Sonya and swallowed hard. They had rehearsed for this scenario, not that she had ever believed that it would come true. She had done nothing wrong, and she should have nothing to fear. But Patty found herself very afraid of the strangers who had invaded her room. And she found herself suddenly angry, and that gave her the strength to tell the lie. “I thought you said I might still be contagious?” Patty asked, looking up to Sonya. “Shouldn’t they be wearing those space suits?”

  Detective Ralph took a step back and bumped into one of the uniforms. “Will you please answer the question, ma’am? Are you Patty Dahlgren? We have a warrant for your arrest.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Patty, looking at the man with conviction. “Aren’t you men worried about catching the flu?”

  “Don’t move,” said Sonya, reaching for the telephone. “We’re going to have to quarantine all of you. I hope you didn’t have any plans for the next two weeks.”

  The four men began backing away. “What are you talking about?” Detective Ralph asked, suddenly sounding unsure of himself. “You don’t seem too worried about catching the flu,” he said, pointing at Sonya. “Where’s your space suit?”

  Sonya replied with as much sarcasm as she could muster. “I’ve already been inoculated and exposed. I don’t have any need for a biohazard suit.”

  The men were now in the hallway, and Detective Ralph stood just outside the door. “Look,” he said, running his hand through his greasy hair. “We made a mistake. There’s no reason to jump to conclusions here. We’ll get out of your hair, and I’m sorry about the confusion.”

  “I should have you all quarantined,” Sonya said, pressing the point. “It is possible that she still has the virus. Don’t you ever come back down here without permission; how could you be so foolish?”

  The men were now moving briskly back down the hallway, and a moment later they disappeared up into the stairwell. Sonya smiled as she listened to them charging up the stairs as if the basement was on fire.

  “That was close,” Patty said, standing up and joining Sonya at the open door.

  “Too close,” agreed Sonya. “We’re going to have to get you out of here.”

  “I want to be with my husband. We need to find Ken. Will you help me do that?”

  Sonya nodded. She had just been thinking the same thing.

  Chapter 25

  “How come we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?” ~ Anonymous

  On the third of July, Dunn and Jacobs drove across the border to the little town of Danbury, Wisconsin, to pick up some supplies. They left just after breakfast and promised to return in a few hours. The days had been hot and humid, but a storm front had moved through the day before, bringing bright sunshine and cool, dry air. Jimmy, Julie, and Ken, busied themselves out in the front yard, picking up the twigs and branches that had fallen during the storm.

  “I think I’m going to run the mower,” Ken said, putting his hands on his hips and surveying the lawn. He was dressed in blue jeans and a checkered, short-sleeved shirt. On his head was an old straw hat he’d borrowed from Dunn to shield his face from the sun.

  Julie nodded. She was dressed in khaki shorts and one of Jimmy’s tshirts. Her hair was pulled into pigtails, and her white tennis shoes were grass stained. “Jimmy and I are going to dig up some of those little pines out back. I think they’d look nice along the driveway, don’t you?”

  Ken shrugged. “As long as you don’t get too close to the house or garage that should be okay. I think Dunn will appreciate it.”

  “Well, we can always dig them back up if he doesn’t.”

  “Is Bill going to sleep all day?” Ken asked, turning to face Jimmy.

  “No, he’s up,” said Jimmy. “Last I saw, he had the back off of that old television set.”

  “Oh, shit, really?” asked Julie. “He shouldn’t just assume that he has permission to do stuff like that. You heard Roger; he doesn’t like television. That’s why he doesn’t have one. We should respect his wishes.”

  “Hold on,” said Ken, raising his hands in the air. “If it keeps Bill out of our hair, let him be. Dunn has never told me that Bill couldn’t fix that old relic. Besides, he didn’t seem too upset when Bill fixed the rototiller or his tractor. Just let it go. I doubt Dunn will mind.”

  Julie looked up to the sky and shook her head. “Okay, Mr. President, but I don’t want any part of this.”

  Julie had taken to calling Ken that, and it always drew a snarl from Ken. Today was no exception. “Would you quit calling me that?” he asked. “And don’t worry. I’ll tell Dunn that I gave Bill the okay to work on that damn thing. He said it hasn’t worked in over twenty years. I don’t see any harm in it.”

  An hour later, Jimmy brushed the dirt from his hands and surveyed their progress. Ken was trolling along on the riding mower, and he and Julie had transplanted five of the Christmas tree sized pines, being careful to stay well away from the house and garage. Jimmy lit up a cigarette and nodded his head in appreciation. “This looks great,” he said. “I think he’ll really like it.”

  “Of course he’ll like it; why wouldn’t he?” asked Julie. She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a quick kiss. She appeared to be ready to say something when something behind him caught her attention.

  Jimmy spun around. “Holy crap,” he said. “What the hell is that damn fool doing on the roof?”

  “Don’t ask me. I hope he falls off and breaks his good leg.”

  “Oh, God! Don’t even think such a thing.”

  “I not only think it, I pray for it. As a matter of fact, if I had a little Bill voodoo doll, I’d toss it under the mower the next time Ken comes by.”

  “Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?”

  “I just did.”

  The sound of the mower chugged to a halt, and Jimmy watched as Ken hauled himself off to his feet. “What the hell are you doing?” he hollered up to Bill.

  “I’ve got to fix this antenna!” shouted Bill. “I got the TV working!”

  “Oh, shit,” mumbled Julie.

  “Be careful up there!” replied Ken. “Don’t go breaking your fool neck!”

  Bill made a th
rowing gesture at Ken and did a little jig on top of the roof. Jimmy knew that Bill had no fear of heights, and he’d seen the dance before. He had lost the limp and had taken to his new leg like a fish to water.

  “Look at that moron,” scoffed Julie.

  Bill completed the dance with his signature move, what Jimmy thought of as the big wobble. Bill took a bow and continued working on the old antenna.

  Jimmy knew he should change the subject. “So,” he said, stubbing out his cigarette on the heel of his boot. “Have you thought anymore about us tying the knot?”

  Julie turned to face him as Ken returned to cutting the grass. “I have,” she said. “I think I want to wait until after the election. I want everything to be perfect. Neither one of us is going to get another shot at this. Do you follow me?”

  “Oh, so if you die, you’ll take me with you?”

  “You got it.”

  “Okay, you’re the boss. So, you want a church wedding with flowers and everything?”

  “I want a big church wedding with lots of flowers and a beautiful white dress with a train so long it takes three women to help me get it down the aisle. I want it all, Jimmy, flowers and everything.”

  Jimmy smiled and gave Julie a quick wink. “Whatever you say, baby. We’ll make it happen, you’ll see.”

  Julie returned the smile, and she stepped close and slowly kissed Jimmy.

  “Smoochie-smoochie!” shouted Bill from the roof, spoiling the moment.

  Jimmy continued to watch Bill as he and Julie worked in the yard. Bill had fastened the lid of a trash can to the antenna and had been up and down from the roof over a dozen times as he adjusted its position. Ken had finished mowing and sat on the front steps, sipping a glass of iced tea and enjoying the sunshine.

  “I think that’s enough for one day,” Julie said, turning to survey their progress. “I hope he appreciates how much work that was.”

  “I’m sure he will,” said Jimmy. The quarter mile driveway had been completely transformed by the new trees, and there was no questioning the improvement. Jimmy imagined the driveway in twenty years and smiled at the thought.

  “Hey, everybody!” called Bill from two feet behind Ken. “It lives! It lives!”

  Ken turned and scowled at Bill but then got up and followed Bill inside. Julie rolled her eyes at Jimmy and shrugged. “Come on,” she said, throwing her spade shovel over her shoulder. “I suppose we should see this.”

  Jimmy suddenly felt excited and wondered about that. He had never considered himself a big fan of the TV, but it seemed like forever since he’d sat down in front of one. He hurried Julie along as they put away the shovels and Dunn’s wheelbarrow.

  “You guys aren’t going to believe this!” Ken called from the front door. “Come on, get in here!”

  “Oh, it just figures,” hissed Julie. “We spend all morning out there on those trees and getting the grass cut and everything else, and then what? Bill Huggins comes along and steals our thunder by resurrecting a junky old TV set. That’s just not fair.”

  “Come on, Julie,” urged Jimmy. “You can’t think like that. He’s just trying to help.”

  “Oh, I know and I’m sorry. I get it. He’s just doing what he can. Why does he have to be so damn good at it?”

  Following Julie’s lead, Jimmy unlaced his boots and stepped out of them on the front steps. They stepped inside and stopped in their tracks. The scene on the television was one of complete chaos. Despite the old television’s terrible color and wavering picture, Jimmy could clearly see that cars were burning and hundreds, if not thousands, of people were running in the streets. There was no sound to go along with the picture, and Bill was hunkered down behind the console, working on something with a screwdriver.

  “Come on you stupid thing,” Bill muttered. “I had it just a minute ago.”

  “Get out of there,” ordered Ken. “Do you want to get electrocuted?”

  “Hey, man, I know what I’m doing.”

  “Move it, Huggins!”

  Bill scooted away with a frown and crossed his arms at his chest. Ken shook his head and made a fist, then thumped the maple top of the console. Sound began booming from the big speakers. Bill stood up and shook his head in disgust.

  “I used to have one of these things,” Ken said, stepping back with pride.

  Bill adjusted the volume and waved Jimmy and Julie to the couch. “Get in here,” he said, excitedly. “I think something big is happening.”

  Jimmy and Julie followed his direction and sat down on the couch. An announcer was giving a play-by-play description of the riot: “The crowd continues to grow here in Manhattan as word spreads about today’s terrible news. If you haven’t heard, Thrill Melbow and his new bride, Katie Flourish, have thrown themselves off of Melbow’s sixtieth floor penthouse, and drugs have been found at the scene…”

  “Oh, my God,” whispered Julie. “Oh, my God!”

  “No!” screamed Ken at the television set. “There has to be some kind of mistake!”

  “Those bastards!” roared Jimmy. “Those dirty, rotten rat bastards!”

  They sat glued to the television for another half an hour; it took a moment before they even noticed that Dunn and Jacobs had joined them.

  “We’ve got to get packed up and move,” said Jacobs. “They probably already know where we are. We don’t have much time.”

  Dunn’s eyes were red, and he hung his head as he spoke. “How did you get that thing to work?” he asked.

  Bill stood up, laced his fingers together and stretched his arms. “Nothing to it,” he said. “I can fix anything.”

  “Come on, let’s move it!” ordered Jacobs. “They could be here any second! We leave here in ten minutes, do you people understand me? Ten minutes. Move!”

  Chapter 26

  “We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.” ~ Aesop

  The drive would last seven hours, and Dunn stuck to county roads, totally avoiding the interstate and the major highways. “We’re here,” Dunn finally said, pointing ahead to a small gatehouse and a formidable iron gate. “The old man here is a bit strange. He doesn’t own a television or a radio and he likes it that way. Do you understand?”

  “Don’t bring up anything from the outside world,” Jacobs said, turning in his seat. “He has a rule about that, and you don’t want to test him on it.”

  “I understand,” said Ken.

  “Me, too,” agreed Julie.

  Suddenly all eyes were on Bill and he frowned. “What?” he asked. “Do you think I’m stupid or something? I’m picking up what you’re laying down.”

  “Good grief,” muttered Ken.

  Two men stood at the gate as it slowly opened, watching them as they rolled through, and Jimmy wondered why they hadn’t been stopped. They were on gravel now, and the Suburban snaked around hairpin corners and up and down rolling hills. Jimmy sat at the edge of his seat, his eyes on the windshield and the road ahead. Nearly ten minutes after their initial stop, the SUV rolled up to blazing lights in front of a mammoth A-frame structure.

  “Not bad,” said Bill, nodding to Jimmy.

  They were met at the bus by a single old man who Jimmy estimated to be somewhere near eighty years old. He was dressed in jeans and a red flannel shirt, a wiry old fellow with bright eyes, a mouthful of chewing tobacco and a shock of unkempt white hair. He smiled at them as they filed past. “And you must be Julie,” he said, taking Julie’s hand as she exited the bus in front of Jimmy. “I’m so glad to meet you.”

  “Thank you,” Julie said, turning to face Jimmy. “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch your name.”

  “That’s because I didn’t give it,” the old man said, giving Julie a quick wink.

  “People around here just call me Pops. I look after the place when my boy is away.”

  Dunn slapped the old man on the back. “Look, Pops,” he said, stretching his arms. “I’m bushed. I think I’m gonna head down to the bunkhouse and turn in.”
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br />   “Yeah,” agreed Jacobs. “I think I’m going to do the same thing. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Whatever toots your horn,” said Pops. “I’m going to give your friends the tour, and then I’ll get them settled in the bunkhouse. You fellas go ahead and hit the hay.”

  “Huggins,” Alex Jacobs said, sternly. “Just remember what we told you. Do you hear me?”

  “That’s right,” agreed Dunn.

  “I told you guys,” hissed Bill. “I got it, okay?”

  “Got what?” asked Pops.

  “Oh, nothing,” said Jacobs. “Bill just likes to flap his gums, that’s all.”

  “Well, he ain’t gonna get the chance tonight. I’ll be doing the talking, and he can do all the listening. I’ve been cooped up alone out here for too long. Go to bed. I’ll see you guys in the morning.”

  Ken nodded to the men as Pops turned away from the group and waved them all to follow him. “Come on,” he said. “This is past my bedtime, and I want to give you all the tour. I think you’ll like it here.”

  Jimmy stared up at the three-story structure and then over to the long, one-story building that sat flanking the lodge. The bunkhouse looked like a roadside motel, well kept and mysteriously inviting. With Julie at his side, Jimmy lit up a cigarette, and the two of them brought up the rear of their group. Jimmy could see that once again Bill’s feelings had been hurt. Even from fifteen feet behind him and in the dark, it was impossible not to see it. Bill shuffled along with his head down, dragging his real foot while slowly limping along on his prosthesis, his arms hanging limply at his sides. He reminded Jimmy of a sulking, spoiled child.

  “He’s really starting to piss me off,” Julie whispered. “He’d better knock that off.”

  Jimmy nodded his head, watching Dunn and Jacobs as they followed behind Bill, each taking turns trying to imitate his walk of depression. Jimmy chuckled under his breath and pointed this out to Julie. She giggled and held her hand to her mouth.

  Jimmy stared up at the massive redwood A-frame home. He estimated the peak to be sixty feet in the air and the house to be at least a hundred feet long. Lights blazed from behind the many windows on the bottom level, and with the chill in the air, the inside looked warm and inviting. Pops stopped at the front door and turned to face the group. Jimmy quickly snubbed out his cigarette and stuck the butt in the pocket of his jacket.