Warning Shot

“Sir, I’m Homeland Security—”

“We know who you are,” said Judy Coopersmith, her chin now aimed at Rylee like a knife. “You holding my boy?”

“No, ma’am. Morris was arrested for shoplifting by local law enforcement. He has a hearing scheduled for this morning.”

“You come here to tell us this?” said Coopersmith.

“No. I’m here investigating a case.”

“You here to shut us down?”

Visions of Waco, Texas, flared like a dumpster fire in her mind.

“I am not. My job is to secure our borders.”

“Well, we can assure you that this border is secure. Nobody sneaks through this patch of ground without us knowing. Yourself included.”

“That’s reassuring,” said Rylee. “Has anyone tried recently?”

The two exchanged a look but did not reply. No answer is still an answer, she thought.

She took a leap of faith that their mutual threat made her, if not an ally, at least not an enemy. “We have intelligence that indicates something dangerous might be coming over from Canada. I’d ask you to be extra vigilant and hope that you will alert me if there is anything that threatens our national security.”

Another long look blazed between the two.

“Why do you think we’re up here?” asked Coopersmith. “Just a bunch of crazies playing war games in the woods? We know what’s coming.”

“And you do not think the federal government is capable of stopping threats from foreigners.”

“If I did, why would I build a bunker?”

Rylee glanced toward her vehicle. “I’d best get back.”

It was a long, long walk...to her vehicle. She did not draw an easy breath until she was safely behind the wheel. However, when she pressed the starter, her vehicle gave only an impotent click. The engine did not turn over on any of her next three attempts. There was no motor sound. In fact, the only sound was the thumping drumbeat of her heart.

THE FOG HAD settled into a steady drizzle by midday. Axel reached the stretch of old timber bordering Coopersmith land. He’d received a tip from Hal Mondello, who knew how to spot a fed’s car if anyone alive did, that Rylee had headed past his place. Beyond Mondello land was the cult that called itself the Congregation of Eternal Wisdom. Beyond that was Hal Coopersmith’s spread and his survivalist family. He didn’t know which was a worse place for Rylee. For personal reasons, he decided to try Coopersmith’s first and backtrack if necessary.

Hal Mondello was not a friend, but he protected his self-interest. Having the sheriff rein in a fed nosing around would be to his benefit. Hence, the call.

Mondello called himself a farmer, but everything he raised went into his cash crop, moonshine. Hal supplied most of the entire region with hard liquor. His brew was popular for its potency and the fact that it was cheap, due to Hal’s complete avoidance of paying any federal tax. That made his moonshine a working man’s favorite. Thankfully, that sort of violation fell under the auspices of the ATF, who had found his operation too small to be bothered with.

Axel raced out to the Coopersmiths’ main gate, running silent, but exceeding the speed limit the entire way. He understood the Coopersmiths’ desire to live off the grid, be largely self-sufficient, but he didn’t understand living in a constant state of fear of some upcoming disaster from which only you and yours would survive. What kind of a world would that be, anyway? The thought of only Axel and his family surviving such a calamity gave him a shudder.

On the other hand, he did admire the Coopersmith family. Before they’d taken to their compound and ceased interacting with the outside world, Axel had been to their farm and respected the close-knit group. Anything could be taken too far. Religion came to his mind and he shuddered again.

He’d just be happy to have a family that didn’t scare him so much that he didn’t dare leave them out of his sight. And he owed Stanley Coopersmith for getting him out of his abysmal situation and helping him take his GED. Without him and Kurt Rogers, Axel didn’t know where he might be now.

Axel was pleased to find Stanley’s oldest son, Edward Coopersmith, minding the gate when he roared up. He and Eddie had enlisted in the army together and the two had been friends up until a year ago when his father had shut the family up on their land.

By the time Axel had left his sheriff’s unit, the dust he’d raised was falling about them in a fine mist, settling on his hat and the hood of his car. Here, beneath the cover of trees, the drizzle had not succeeded in reaching.

He and his former comrade stood on opposite sides of a closed metal gate.

“Where is she, Eddie?”

“Who?”

“The homeland security agent your family is detaining.”

Eddie could not meet his gaze.

“No concern of yours, I reckon.”

“Eddie!”

His friend gripped the shoulder strap of the rifle slung over his shoulder so tightly his knuckles went bloodless.

“She’s up at the farm,” Eddie admitted.

“Under duress?”

“Not that I could see. But they was armed. So was she, come to that.”

“Trespassing?”

“Well, she was.”

“Eddie, she’s a federal agent. You do not want her harmed.”

His friend offered no reassurance.

“Bring me up.”

“No outsiders.”

“I’m not an outsider. I’ve eaten at your table. Your ma taught me algebra.”

“Still...she ain’t your concern.”

Axel imagined the news crews and federal helicopters circling the compound. He had to stop this right now. Looking back, he didn’t know why he did it. Perhaps because it was the only idea that popped into his head.

“She’s my girl,” said Axel.

“She’s what now?” Eddie cocked his head.

Axel doubled down. “That’s why she’s up here, berry picking.”

“With binoculars?”