Chapter 16

Luke and Martin Schroeder quietly made calls to former soldiers they had served with overseas. Previously, the Four Corners Security team had been composed of men who were more talented, more serious, than mall cops or warehouse guards. There hadn’t been a need for military training and experience.

That was then.

Luke explained it, “This will be a short term gig. I hope anyway. I don’t see it going longer than a month.”

Martin added, “But it’s big-time trouble. With a lot of unknowns. The size and scope of the opposition for example.”

Luke, “And we’re out in the open, vulnerable at all times. It’s an intersection of two fairly busy highways. With one stoplight. Speed limit is 25, but averages around 40 for most of the east/west and north/south traffic.”

The security goal was six new hires — which would make a total of eight armed men — to defend a civilian outpost with over a thousand people at any given time. Or, to attack Delgado in Des Moines.

Not one asked about the pay. The call had come from brothers-in-arms, and that was enough.

Luke had been a sniper in the Middle East, but hadn’t kept his rifle, nor any of his equipment. He had believed that those days were far behind him. Following Martin’s advice, he procured a Barrett Mk 22 Mod 0 Advanced Sniper Rifle. He also got a Nightforce 7-35x56 scope. And, an AML 338 suppressor.

He told Claire and Willow, “More firepower than I’ll need. More range too. And, I’d hate to have to use it around here.”

Willow, “Do whatever the fuck you have to.”

He drove deep into Four Corners farmland where he had built a rifle range years ago. Martin had offered to spot, but Luke told him, “It won’t be like the Stan. I probably won’t even need a scope.”

Willow said, “Come back to my place when you have it zeroed. I’ll have some new pussy waiting for you, babe.” She and Claire looked grim. But determined.