Nuclear Winter Devil Storm by Bobby Akart (great novels txt) 📗

the gate. After what he’d encountered on patrol one night and with Patrick’s rampage fresh on his mind, Hank broke out into a run to get to the house.

Out of breath as he reached the stairs to the front porch of the main house, he immediately noticed shadows traversing the dining room and the main foyer. He rushed inside, where he found Sonny and Phoebe, who were still awake, pacing the floor. The dimly lit rooms were illuminated by candles and kerosene lanterns.

As he entered, their worried faces touched his heart. After what they’d all been through, he tried not to assume the worst. However, the fact Jimmy wasn’t there took his mind to a dark place he didn’t want to be.

They talked it through, and Hank promised to look into where Jimmy was assigned. He’d learned while at the hospital and through additional conversation with the ambulance driver on the way home that the decision had been made to blow up the bridges coming into the Florida Keys. He’d also learned from the ambulance driver, who regularly serviced medical care centers from Key Largo to Key West, that the president had ordered the military to cross into the Keys to restore order, as the driver put it.

Hank was puzzled by the choice of words. Granted, he’d been spending all of his time on Driftwood Key, and his only information regarding what might be happening elsewhere came from Mike, Jessica, and Jimmy. However, none of them had mentioned rioting. Looting, yes. However, nothing that would warrant an incursion by the National Guard to restore order.

He stepped onto the front lawn to think. As he was recalling the evening’s events, the wind picked up at his back. It was more than the winds that normally started to blow as the sun rose over the Atlantic as cooler surface air was greeted by the warmer air above it. This wind was sustained, not gusty. And then, as quickly as it had arrived, it stopped again. Hank had seen it before but was shocked at what it portended, especially under these atmospheric conditions.

He put the thought out of his mind and returned to the house. After a quick bite to eat, he was gonna pack a change of clothing for Jessica and Mike along with toiletries. He wasn’t sure what Jessica’s plans were, but he suspected she’d want to stay with Mike during his recovery.

His other reason to travel back to Key West was to question Mayor Lindsey Free, Sonny’s former sister-in-law. Hank would have to find a way to be diplomatic as he opened the conversation. Somehow, leading with the question what the hell are you thinking? wouldn’t be such a good idea.

Sonny helped him pack the Wellcraft runabout and top off its fuel tanks. He hadn’t driven the boat since Mike had confiscated it the night the fuel thieves mistakenly messed with the wrong family. He didn’t want to take his Hatteras out with all the uncertainty around the Keys. If something were to happen, any would-be pirates could have the runabout.

Hank donned a yellow Nautica jacket and khakis. He promised Sonny he’d find out about Jimmy, but he felt the need to remind his old friend that the gate and the grounds needed to be patrolled. This would not be a good time to let their guard down.

With a promise to hustle back, Hank was off as he followed the same route Jessica had taken previously. During the hour and a half ride, he encountered more unexpected gusts of wind. By the time he arrived at Sunset Marina in Key West, which was located in the vicinity of the hospital, the gusty winds became more frequent.

He craned his neck to find a place to dock the boat. He was not surprised at what he saw as he idled through the No-Wake Zone. Armed men strolled along the floating docks nestled in the protective cove within Stock Island. Despite its proximity to the sheriff’s station, the operators of the marina—and the boat owners, Hank presumed—felt compelled to protect their boats and fuel. He couldn’t blame them.

After seeing a familiar face and making small talk, he found an available slip and was then given a ride over to the hospital in a solar-powered golf cart, one of many on the island. Despite the cloudy skies, the small batteries necessary to run the vehicles were able to be charged although it took an extraordinarily long time.

Hank entered the hospital and was thrilled to find Mike sitting upright and eating solid food. Jessica was standing by his side, stretching after another cramped night of sleep in the chair. Not that it bothered him, but Hank got the distinct impression she was happier to see the duffel bag of clothes and personal hygiene products than she was to see him. A minute after his arrival, she hustled off with the duffel, leaving Hank alone with his brother.

“How’re ya doin’?” Hank asked.

“It only hurts when I breathe,” Mike replied. He winced and swallowed hard before turning back to his Jell-O.

“Well, you’re looking good,” he began. “But hey, Rocky Balboa was handsome in a punch-drunk, beat-all-to-hell sort of way.”

Mike laughed. “Yeah. Yeah. Have you looked in the mirror? What’s your excuse?”

Hank hadn’t looked in the mirror although he imagined the lack of sleep and worry about his family had taken its toll. He felt like he’d aged a decade or two.

He sighed before responding, “I’m glad you’re okay. Mike, I’m really sorry. I should’ve never let that guy on the key.”

“Nobody knew,” said Mike. “Jess and I started to notice how squirrely he was. When you spend your days around criminals, you start to pick up on things they all have in common. You can tell they have something to hide. Some, like Patrick, play the game better than others. We compared notes, and it started to make sense.”

Hank hung his head. So much was weighing on him. He grimaced and nodded before making eye contact with