“Anything out of the ordinary,” McCrea said.

“You mean people, right?” George asked.

“Yes. People for sure. But anything else. And here’s why it’s so important not to just open fire. It’s entirely possible—likely, even—that other refugees will be coming in this direction to get away from the cities and the fires.”

“How will we even know if they’re part of the gang?” Joey asked.

Finally they were seeing the downside to this whole adventure. “You won’t,” McCrea explained. “I think I’ll still recognize the ones I saw before, but he said there were others. As far as I’m concerned, this isn’t about the gang. This is about Grubbs. If it comes to exchanging gunfire, it’ll be about everyone who pulls a trigger.”

McCrea let the words settle for a few seconds, then said, “We can always walk away.”

“No,” George said. “At least I can’t.” He pointed up the hill. “Is that the truck you told us about? The one with the murdered driver?”

“Yes.”

“That’s Ryan Hamilton’s truck. He worked for over ten years drivin’ for other people so he could finally afford his own rig. He got it about eight months ago. Now his body’s bloating up in the back because this Grubbs asshole decided he needed electronic shit that he can’t even use. That’s an evil man, Major McCrea. And evil breeds more evil.”

McCrea stood. “I’ll take point,” he said. “Right side. Caleb, you too. Caine, Kyle and Eric, are you all right-handed?”

“Left,” Kyle said. “What difference does that make?”

McCrea explained, “It means you join me on the right side of the road. In a patrol like this, it’s best to keep your weak side toward the area you’re searching. You can bring your weapon to bear quicker than if you had to pivot to take the shot. Caine and Eric, you’re on the left. Joey, you take the left, too.”

“I’m right-handed,” Caleb said. “Shouldn’t I—”

“Be my shadow? Yes.” He pointed at George. “Do you mind taking point over there?”

“Love to.”

“So everybody knows, the last time I saw Grubbs, he was in the woods on our side—the right side—of the road. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t have switched it up, but we need to be careful.” To all: “We good? Thumbs-up if you’re set.”

Thumbs-up all the way around.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN