Operation Z by Szepanski, G.D. (well read books .txt) 📗

Tennessee before having to stop again for the night. He discovered a rustic-looking log cabin well off the main road. It must have been a wealthy man’s getaway since the outside looked rustic, but the interior had every luxury known to man. As Jim cleared the house, he found no signs of any recent visitors. There wasn’t any stored food in the pantry, but he found a glass front gun cabinet in one room. It held three high priced shotguns designed as conversation starters rather than serious weapons. A cleaning kit along with five boxes of shells were in the drawer underneath the display.

Before he retired for the night, Jim tore down and cleaned the Mossberg he took from the gas station. He found the gun to be like new, so he cleaned, oiled and reassembled it. With nothing but time, he tore Beth’s Glock down too. This weapon suffered from a lack of attention, so he did the best he could with it. There were seven rounds in the magazine and would hold on to it for now since it was easy to conceal. If he found more 45 caliber ammo, he would try to work on the gun some more.

Night fell and Jim drifted off to sleep in the second-floor bedroom. There was only one bedroom upstairs, and he used furniture to secure his location. This was the best he could do since he needed to rest and remained alone. With all the action and pain of the last three days, Jim fell into a deep sleep. He programmed his internal clock to wake him up at dawn to get an early start on the day.

CHAPTER SIXDay Four

A CREAK FROM the floorboards downstairs roused Big Jim from sleep. He grabbed the Mossberg and rolled to the side of the bed, away from the door. Whispered voices came from the first floor, but Jim couldn’t understand the words they spoke. From their movements he knew there were two intruders, and they were both untrained and undisciplined. The advantage of surprise, elevation, and training all went to Jim, but he was reluctant to be responsible for more death.

Jim tried to defuse the situation. “Hi, my name is Jim. I’m no threat to you. Come out where I can see you and I won’t hurt you.”

All sounds of movement below stopped with the echoing of his voice within the cabin. It took a few moments before anyone responded.

“Nice try, buddy. We’re armed and we want your stuff. Give it up and we’ll let you live.” Another short-whispered conversation followed the man’s voice. Even with the quiet inside the structure, he couldn’t catch the words, but he recognized the second voice as female.

“Sorry, I’m not giving up my stuff. However, I’m willing to work with you and share. There’s safety in numbers.”

The man laughed before responding. “Work together. Share. You’re funny. This is how it’s going to work. Throw down the keys to the truck and we’ll let you escape with your life. You’re outnumbered and we’re armed. There’s no escape for you.”

“Look, I’ve been patient with you and kind. I will not give you the keys and if you try to come up here, I’ll kill you. I’ve offered you a chance to survive together, either take it or walk away now. Otherwise, my patience will end, and you will die.”

More urgent whispers came from the female voice. Jim still couldn’t understand her words, but the tone implied a critical message. The floorboards creaked again, signifying further movement.

He laid the shotgun down at his side and aimed the Glock down the stairs. Neither were effective long-range weapons, but he guessed the 45 caliber rounds would do more damage even being fired from the short barrel. A dark figure appeared at the bottom of the steps.

“Stop!” Jim shouted with his most commanding voice, but it didn’t stop the charge. He aimed down at the figure and pulled the trigger. It took four rounds from the Glock to stop the figure’s advance. Dawn was coming, but not enough light entered the house for Jim to see where the bullets hit. The body slid down the steps, not trying to arrest their fall, so Jim expected the rounds had been fatal.

A woman’s voice called out from the first floor. “Please, don’t shoot. I told Mike this was a stupid idea. My son and I will leave. Just please don’t hurt us.”

Jim pocketed the Glock and picked up the shotgun. “What’s your name?”

“Huh… My name is Nancy and my son is Chris. Mike was my neighbor, and he said he would take care of us. I never should have trusted him.”

“Are you or Chris armed?”

“No, of course not. Chris is five years old.”

“Ok. I’m going to come downstairs. Stand where I can see you with your hands visible in front of you. I won’t hurt you, but I have to make sure I’m safe too. Do you understand?”

“Look, just let us go. You’ll never see us gain.”

“Leaving is your choice, but you don’t have to go. I won’t hurt you and we can work together.”

“That’s what Mike said, and all it got me was raped for the last three nights and now almost killed.”

“Not all men are like that, Nancy.”

She laughed a mirthless laugh. “What, are you gay then?”

“No. But not all men rape women and steal from others. Some have morals and live by a code.”

“How can you say that when you just shot Mike?”

“I gave him every chance to give up first, but he wouldn’t, so I had to kill him in self-defense. You’d be free to go at any time, but I wish you’d consider the alternative of going it alone.”

Nancy didn’t respond, and Jim wasn’t sure if she had left or planned her own ambush. He couldn’t let this go on forever, so he eased down the stairs toward the direction her voice had come from. Jim turned the corner at the bottom of the steps and came face to