Event Horizon by Steven Konkoly

machine, for all I can tell,” said Tim.
    “A gumball machine? How old are you exactly?” said Kate.
    “You know what I mean. I think they’d have uniforms no matter what the situation. Take a look at the passenger. That guy doesn’t look like a sheriff’s deputy. His hair is too long and—look right there! Guy has a tattoo on his neck. You can barely see it above the collar. No way we should buzz them through.”
    “It seems like we’re asking for more trouble by not talking to them,” said Samantha.
    “Are those bullet holes?” said Kate.
    Tim pointed at the image. “Looks like the back window was shot out. Why else would they have it down in the rain? The back seat is empty. I don’t like what I’m seeing.”
    “Neither do I,” Kate agreed. “The two crazies that stopped us kept saying they were the law. Who the hell knows what’s going on out there? I say let them sweat it out. If they’re real, and they want to talk to us badly enough, they can walk in.”
    “I agree,” said Linda. “We should watch the eastern tree line and keep everyone upstairs for now.”
    Samantha nodded, but she didn’t look convinced. “Will the motion sensors pick them up in the rain?”
    “They should. It’s a passive IR system. We created overlap zones by placing two sensors facing each other at about a hundred and twenty feet apart. Even if they pass through the middle, we should pick them up. Four of these zones cover the eastern approach from the road, placed in a line from one side of the property boundary to the other—maybe three hundred paces into the forest. That should give us enough of a buffer to react,” said Linda.
    “And the rest of the property?” asked Samantha.
    Linda winced. “We only found thirty-two sensors. The north and south boundaries are roughly two thousand feet each according to Alex’s diagram, four times the length of the eastern approach. The water frontage is…”
    “Five hundred forty-two feet,” said Tim.
    “We installed five overlap zones on each side, about three hundred paces into the forest, focusing on the areas Alex highlighted. Mainly game trails and natural openings. It’s pretty thick in there, with some ledge, so we’ll get some natural channeling effect. We have two zones covering the center of the pond approach. The perimeter isn’t airtight, but the odds are stacked in our favor. Anyone heading to the house should trigger one of the sensors. We didn’t mess with the trip flares. They looked like World War One relics. I can’t believe Alex stored those in the house.”
    “Neither can I,” said Amy.
    “I drew up a chart with all of the zones. The transceivers are labeled and arranged on the table in a rough representation of the perimeter for easy reference. Each transceiver simultaneously monitors four sensors. Two zones. You’ll get a visual warning on the digital display and an audible warning, telling you which of the four sensors were triggered. It’s pretty self-explanatory when you see the setup in the dining room.”
    “What do we do if one of the alarms goes off?” asked Samantha.
    “We sit tight and stay out of sight. If they decide to pay us a visit, the only people they should see are Ma and Pa Fletcher,” Linda explained. “Under no circumstances do we allow them into the house.”
    “What if they insist, as in open the door or we’ll open it for you?” asked Tim.
    “Then we’ll know they didn’t come here on official business and act accordingly,” said Kate, patting her drop holster.
    “If they produce a warrant, you better not produce a gun,” said Samantha.
    “If they produce a warrant, I’ll serve as your personal butler for the remainder of the year,” Kate quipped.
    ***
    “What are these people thinking? Flash the lights and hit the siren for a few seconds,” said Eli.
    He waited a long minute after the sound and light show.
    “I guess they don’t give a shit about the law. All right. Back it up and park us about