transit. And get my pilot a meal and somewhere comfortable to sleep. We’re gonna need him to find my boy”
He began walking again towards the facility; Alexandra struggling to keep up in her high-heels, asked, “We sir? I’m going with you tomorrow?”
“I’ll need you with us.” His tone bore a finality that chilled Alexandra.
“Yes sir.” she said with less than enthusiasm. Richardson noticed and turned.
“Is there a problem?”
“I’ll get your pilot billeted right away, sir.” She said and turned to leave. She walked fast, her high heels clacking on the tarmacadam, until she could turn behind an outbuilding. Once free from his view, Alexandra Devereaux lit another Camel light and smoked it angrily. The last place in the world she wanted to be was with an armed Gavin Richardson searching the northwest corner of nowhere for his incompetent child. Son of a bitch !
Nine
The Richardson estate’s outer gate loomed ten feet high. A polished brass “R” stood watch in the center of the twisted wrought iron. Small sharp points adorned the elaborate design, serving to discourage those who might wish to attempt climbing the ornate barrier. Jack brought his truck to a halt nudging the gate with the large chrome plated bumper. He switched the truck off and sat in silence to get a feel for the area. Nikki was on her knees in the bed of the truck with her head halfway in the cab’s rear window. All eyes looked forward up the long dark driveway towards the three story silhouette of a great mansion. Time passed and the sounds of the evening were becoming clear. Now that the loud rumble of Jack’s V8 engine had silenced it was as if someone were gently turning up the volume on a soundtrack of nature. Tony, standing in the bed, scanned the road behind back towards town. Even in darkness, his headache made him feel like squinting. He had not seen a single creature since they left the main streets of Whisper about a half-hour ago but he found no comfort in this. He forced his ears to divide the evening’s sounds. Somewhere between the subtle metal clicks of the cooling engine and the slight breeze, he heard something disturbing from the direction of town. He didn’t think that the moans of the undead could carry this far up the hill. What he sensed seemed below his threshold of hearing, but it made Tony uncomfortable. I’m still spooked , he thought. He placed his hand on Nikki’s shoulder and crouched down to share the access to the cab provided by the rear window.
Jack, his hand tense while still holding on to the ignition key, ready to engage the motor if need be, peered into the darkness. He remained motionless while almost expecting the gates to open and pour fourth the hosts of hell, as his Catholic grandmother might have said. But no clouds parted and no seventh bowl emptied, for the moment, all seemed peaceful in the dark and lonely estate.
“No one’s home” Margaret offered quietly, squeezing Veronica’s hand.
“Let’s hope so,” said Mason as he opened his door.
The Chevy was tall enough that Tony and Jack could stand on its custom made diamond-plate bumper and reach the top of the wrought–iron fence. Mason tugged at the vertical bars with both hands, bars that terminated in rather painful looking arrowheads.
“We could winch this open but it wouldn’t be quiet.” Jack said.
“Probably better to keep it intact, if we can hide out here for a while.” Tony said.
“Boost me up,”
“You sure?” Tony asked.
“What? You wanna climb it?” Mason said with unveiled impatience.
Tony looked up at the sharp points. He could support himself on the crossbar and make it over but he became uncomfortably aware of his extra weight. Daunted, Tony braced himself against the gate and interlaced his fingers to boost Mason up.
Mason’s heavy boots met the brick driveway with a loud crunch. The steel-toe and
He began walking again towards the facility; Alexandra struggling to keep up in her high-heels, asked, “We sir? I’m going with you tomorrow?”
“I’ll need you with us.” His tone bore a finality that chilled Alexandra.
“Yes sir.” she said with less than enthusiasm. Richardson noticed and turned.
“Is there a problem?”
“I’ll get your pilot billeted right away, sir.” She said and turned to leave. She walked fast, her high heels clacking on the tarmacadam, until she could turn behind an outbuilding. Once free from his view, Alexandra Devereaux lit another Camel light and smoked it angrily. The last place in the world she wanted to be was with an armed Gavin Richardson searching the northwest corner of nowhere for his incompetent child. Son of a bitch !
Nine
The Richardson estate’s outer gate loomed ten feet high. A polished brass “R” stood watch in the center of the twisted wrought iron. Small sharp points adorned the elaborate design, serving to discourage those who might wish to attempt climbing the ornate barrier. Jack brought his truck to a halt nudging the gate with the large chrome plated bumper. He switched the truck off and sat in silence to get a feel for the area. Nikki was on her knees in the bed of the truck with her head halfway in the cab’s rear window. All eyes looked forward up the long dark driveway towards the three story silhouette of a great mansion. Time passed and the sounds of the evening were becoming clear. Now that the loud rumble of Jack’s V8 engine had silenced it was as if someone were gently turning up the volume on a soundtrack of nature. Tony, standing in the bed, scanned the road behind back towards town. Even in darkness, his headache made him feel like squinting. He had not seen a single creature since they left the main streets of Whisper about a half-hour ago but he found no comfort in this. He forced his ears to divide the evening’s sounds. Somewhere between the subtle metal clicks of the cooling engine and the slight breeze, he heard something disturbing from the direction of town. He didn’t think that the moans of the undead could carry this far up the hill. What he sensed seemed below his threshold of hearing, but it made Tony uncomfortable. I’m still spooked , he thought. He placed his hand on Nikki’s shoulder and crouched down to share the access to the cab provided by the rear window.
Jack, his hand tense while still holding on to the ignition key, ready to engage the motor if need be, peered into the darkness. He remained motionless while almost expecting the gates to open and pour fourth the hosts of hell, as his Catholic grandmother might have said. But no clouds parted and no seventh bowl emptied, for the moment, all seemed peaceful in the dark and lonely estate.
“No one’s home” Margaret offered quietly, squeezing Veronica’s hand.
“Let’s hope so,” said Mason as he opened his door.
The Chevy was tall enough that Tony and Jack could stand on its custom made diamond-plate bumper and reach the top of the wrought–iron fence. Mason tugged at the vertical bars with both hands, bars that terminated in rather painful looking arrowheads.
“We could winch this open but it wouldn’t be quiet.” Jack said.
“Probably better to keep it intact, if we can hide out here for a while.” Tony said.
“Boost me up,”
“You sure?” Tony asked.
“What? You wanna climb it?” Mason said with unveiled impatience.
Tony looked up at the sharp points. He could support himself on the crossbar and make it over but he became uncomfortably aware of his extra weight. Daunted, Tony braced himself against the gate and interlaced his fingers to boost Mason up.
Mason’s heavy boots met the brick driveway with a loud crunch. The steel-toe and
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