Rise From The Ashes: The Rebirth of San Antonio (Countdown to Armageddon Book 3) (16 page)

-29
-

     It wasn’t easy, but they managed to wait until Christmas day to tell Scott. They thought it would be cool to present the news to him as a Christmas gift, since it was impossible to get anything else to him.

     As promised, Scott called bright and early on Christmas morning.

     “Joyce, Linda, whoever’s listening, this is Scott. Come in.”

     Linda was on security duty, but she gave the honors to
Jordan.

     “Go ahead, Dad. We read you loud and clear.”

     “Merry Christmas, son. How is everybody doing?”

     “Oh, we’re doing okay, Dad. All
ten
of us. How are you?”

    
Jordan’s hint flew right over Scott’s head.

     “We’re fine, son. Did Santa Claus drop in and visit you guys?”

     “Oh, yes. He brought toys and clothes and diapers, and Sara got a new watch.”

     “Well, I sure do wish I was there with you guys. Not having you this time of year makes me realize what’s truly important in life…

     “Wait a minute. Did you say Santa brought you
diapers
?”

     “Yes. We thought for Christmas we’d give you a grandson. His name is Chris. He’s healthy and looks just like me. He asked me to tell his grandpa to hurry home.”

     For a moment, the radio fell silent and Jordan thought they’d lost the signal. But Scott was just too moved to speak. After a few seconds he regained his composure, but was glad that Jordan couldn’t see the tears in his eyes.

     “That’s great news, son. Being a father will be the greatest thing you’ve ever done. How’s Sara doing?”

     Sara leaned over Jordan’s shoulder and he keyed the mike for her. She shouted, “I’m fine, Dad! I love you!”

     “I love you too, sweetheart. I can’t wait to see you both again, and to hold my first grandson. Congratulations.”

     Jordan said, “Here. Your other son, the freakazoid, is driving me crazy wanting to talk to you.”

     “Well, then, put him on.”

     Zachary took the mike and said, “Baby, schmaby… you people act like having a baby has never been done before.”

     Even as he feigned jealousy, he was grinning ear to ear.

     “A new child is a wonderful thing, Zach. It’s a special kind of magic.”

     “I know that, Dad. And I’m gonna be the best uncle ever. I’ll teach Chris to swear, and when he’s old enough I’ll even show him that stack of
Playboy
magazines that Jordan has hidden in his mattress.”

     Everyone in the room laughed, except for Jordan and Sara. Sara looked at him, raised an eyebrow and said, “Really?”

     Jordan stood silently with a sheepish look on his face.

     Zachary went on.

     “Dad, when do you think you’ll be back?”

     “Soon, I hope. The CDC is saying that the cold weather has helped to control the plague. They’re expecting it to run its course over the next few weeks. But they’re not going to consider it gone unless there are no signs of it when spring gets here.”

     “I wish you could come back now.”

     “I know, son. So do I. But if I did, I would be putting all of you in danger. Especially that brand new nephew of yours. So just tough it out and trust me when I say I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”

     “I know, I know…”

     “Merry Christmas, son. I love you. I love all of you. Now, is there anything else you want to tell me before you put Joyce on the line?”

     Joyce, standing behind Zachary, poked him in the shoulder and said, “That, young man, was a subtle hint.”

     “No, Dad, that’s it. Just be careful and I love you. And, oh, have somebody take your picture in your cop uniform for me to keep.”

     Scott laughed.

     “I don’t know if any of the digital cameras survived. I’ll see if I can find one. I love you too.”

     Joyce was now on.

     “Hi, Baby. I love you.”

     Everyone else in the room wandered off and found something to do, in order to give Joyce and Scott a little bit of privacy.

     Scott said, “I love you too, sweetheart. I miss having you near me. Especially at night. Sleeping alone really sucks.”

     “Yeah, tell me about it. Are you being safe and extra cautious?”

     “Yes, but you’ll have to trust me. There isn’t a lot of violence left anymore. Most of the bad guys are dead or gone. Ninety percent of what we do isn’t related to crime at all. It’s just trying to find various ways to help people and help the community recover.”

     “Good. Because if I ever lost you I wouldn’t be able to go on.”

     “Stop saying things like that. You’re not going to lose me. I’m too tough and too stubborn to die. I proved that once, remember?”

     “Yes, unfortunately I do remember. Those days, and especially the nights, were the worst of my life. I don’t want to go through that again. And even though most of the bad guys are gone, I won’t be happy until all of them are. Do you have body armor you can wear?”

     “Yes. It’s a required part of the uniform. Where did all of this gloom and doom come from?”

     “Oh, I don’t know. You know I’ve always had a very keen intuition. I just have a bad feeling that there may be something dreadful on the horizon.”

     “Well, I think it’s silly and you’re just being a worry wart. But if it’ll make you feel better, I promise to be extra cautious and to always call for backup if things look like they may get ugly. Will that help?”

     “Yes, lots. Thank you, Scott. I love you so much.”

     “I love you too, Doll. I need to give the microphone over to John now, so he can talk to Hannah and the girls. That’s fair, after all, since it’s his radio. He just let me talk first as my Christmas present, but he needs a Hannah fix
just as badly as I needed one from you.”

     “I understand. I’ll talk to you again tomorrow, okay?”

     “Count on it, Doll. I love you.”

     “I love you too.”

     Joyce called for Hannah and handed her the microphone.

     “Scott says there’s some handsome cop on the other end named John. He said he wants to arrest you for being too beautiful or something. At least that’s the
way I understood it.”

     Hannah took the mike and her girls giggled in anticipation that they’d soon be able to tell their Daddy
what they got for Christmas.

     Joyce left the room, somehow sad but not knowing why
. She just had a sense that there was trouble on the horizon.

-30
-

     Hannah and John were only able to talk for a couple of minutes before their daughters fairly wrestled the microphone away from her. She didn’t mind. For so long while he was in the hospital, they’d cried themselves to sleep each night. Now, hearing his voice every day or two was a special treat. For all three of them, really.

     “You guys tell your daddy everything, because when I get back with my cup of coffee I want the radio back.”

     “Aw, Mom…”

     “Aw, nothing. Why are you wasting time complaining to me? Talk to your father, silly.”

     John got to hear all about the girls’ hopes and dreams, was promised all their love a thousand times, and asked at least eight times what he wanted for Christmas.

     He gave them the same answer each time: “I want you guys and Mommy to be safe so when you come back here someday we can all be healthy and happy again.”

     It was a great conversation and the best Christmas present John could have hoped for, under the circumstances.

     But
like everything else in life, it eventually came to an end. After all the “I love yous” were said and the kisses blown, he signed off the radio with a smile on his face.

     Robbie came up behind him in a Santa Claus outfit.

     “Better hurry up, smiley, or we’re gonna be late. And I’m gonna tell the chief it’s all your fault.”

     John looked at the clock above his radio console.

     “Oh, crap!” he shouted and ran off to his bedroom to get dressed.

     It had been the police chief’s idea, although he blamed it on the mayor so his officers didn’t give him as much grief.

     “Hey, fellas, I tried my best to talk him out of it. But I got absolutely nowhere. We have to do it. After all, he’s the boss, so what can I do?”

     He threw his hands up in exasperation, and his officers bought it hook, line and sinker. They thought their chief fought the good fight on their behalf and lost to a higher authority.

     The truth was, Chief Martinez had pitched the idea to the mayor a few days prior.

     “There’s a Toys ‘R’ Us trailer parked in the middle of
South Flores Street that’s chock full of toys. Two blocks away from it is a Kohl’s truck chock full of shoes and clothes.”

     “Okay. So what? What good does that information do me?”

     “It helps you brighten the Christmas spirits of all the survivors out there, that’s what. And God knows, after the last few months they can sure use some.”

     He had the mayor’s attention.

     “Okay, Chief. I’m listening. I have the feeling this is gonna be really good.”

     “Here’s what we do. You have your secretary use that raggedy ass antique typewriter she found to type up two letters.

     “One will be addressed to the general manager of the local Kohl’s store. It will say that you needed the truck full of clothes and shoes to pass out to the survivors of the disaster. You’ll give him the license number of the truck and the registration number from the trailer. You’ll say that the city of San Antonio will pay for the items if the manager will prepare a bill and attach your original letter to it.

     “She’ll prepare a similar letter to the general manager at the local Toys ‘R’ Us.”

     “Okay, then what?”

    
“Then you sign both letters and give them to me. Both of the stores have already been broken into and looted, so I won’t have to break into either one. I’ll just walk into each of them, find the managers’ offices, and place their letters on each of their desks.”

     “But the managers may be dead. They may never come back. Shoot, for all we know the companies no longer exist.”

     The chief winked and smiled.

     “That’s my
guess. But as long as we offer to pay, our conscience is clear. And if they do come back and give us a bill, I’m sure there’s enough money left in the city coffers. Hell, I’m still authorized to sign checks from the SAPD budget. I’ll write them each a check and let them figure out how to cash them.”

     “You’re a sneaky son of a bitch, aren’t you?”

     “You’ve been in politics a lot longer than I’ve been a police chief. Are you telling me you’re not?”

     “Nope. I never said that.”

     The mayor smiled.

     “And after you get the goods, then what?”

     “Our officers are assigned to individual neighborhood patrols now. They’ve gotten to know the survivors. They have a pretty good idea how many people are living on each block and how old the children are. They can load down their trunks and back seats and make deliveries on Christmas Day.”

     The mayor nodded his approval.

     “I like it. It’s a great idea.”

     “Then it’s a go?”

     “Yes. Under one condition.”

     Chief
Martinez rolled his eyes and held his breath. With Mayor Alonzo there were always conditions.

     “What would that be?”

     “I want your officers to dress like Santa Claus. It’ll make more of an impression, and might give the kids the first smile they’ve had in months.”

     “Pardon my stupidity, sir, but where in the bloody hell are we going to get
all those Santa Claus costumes?”

     “When’s the last time you were at Toys ‘R’ Us, Chief?”

     “I don’t think I’ve ever been to Toys ‘R’ Us. I don’t have kids, remember? In fact, I hate the little buckets of snot.”

     “Then how come you want to take them Christmas gifts?”

     “I’m a single man, your honor. And sometimes I get lonely. There are a lot of single moms out there who will be appreciative if I make their kids happy.”

     He paused just a moment for dramatic effect.