Isolation , Jones, Nathan [top 20 books to read TXT] 📗

The noncom's eyes narrowed dangerously. “Sir,” he said in warning.

“I'll go with you to help sort this out,” Nick said. “But until I talk to Gorstrom, that's as far as I'm willing to go.”

The corporal sighed in apparent defeat, then toggled his radio headset. “Preston here. The suspects aren't at the Norson place, spread the word to keep an eye out for them in town and the camps. Over.” He toggled off his mic and nodded curtly towards Nick. “Come with me, Mr. Statton.”

“Are you sure going with them is a good idea?” Ellie asked. “What if they decide to just toss you in a truck and drive you to some prison camp? We couldn't do much to stop them if they did.”

Preston scowled, although he forced some politeness into his tone. “Ma'am, we've sworn oaths to protect this country and its citizens. Furthermore, we represent the good name of the United States Army. Please don't insult us.”

“That's easy to s-” Ellie began.

Nick cut her off gently but firmly. “It's fine, Ells. Gorstrom has been nothing but reasonable so far. We'll figure this out.”

“Well, forgive me if I don't take that on faith,” Ellie said. “I'm going to talk to Borden and see what we can do about this.”

Nick didn't have time to tell her that Gorstrom had already snagged the acting mayor and most of the town's leaders. Preston was already starting for the car, and the soldiers with him were giving Nick hinting looks that he should quickly follow.

So he did, hoping Bruce would fill her and the others in on what was going on. And also that Stanberry would be able to step in and force Gorstrom to back down if she tried throwing them all in prison.

The military vehicle was roomy enough for him to squeeze in between two of the soldiers in the backseat without too much discomfort. At least, no physical discomfort; he was already regretting his decision to open his mouth and put himself in this situation.

But he was Chet and Ben's friend, and he'd been their leader through some hairy situations. He couldn't just abandon them.

The drive to the relief workers' camp was mercifully short. Before long Nick was climbing out of the car and following Preston towards the administrator's tent. The corporal called through the thick cloth of the door, listened to an indistinct reply, then turned back to Nick and motioned curtly.

“She'll be a bit. How about I get you a drink and we find some shade until she's ready?”

Nick supposed that beat handcuffs in the back of a car, so he nodded and followed.

They'd just gotten settled beneath a pavilion, each holding a cold can of soda fresh from a cooler filled with actual ice, when Preston tilted his head as if listening to his headset. Then he toggled his mic. “Roger that, bring them in. Over.”

Nick didn't like the sound of that. Especially when the corporal leaned back and gave him an appraising look. “We found your buddies at the older brother's girlfriend's house. Guess our source wasn't in the loop about where they were staying. Or he was lying.”

Nick didn't bother asking who their source was, since he doubted he'd get an answer. “So what now?”

“Now you can speak on behalf of the accused until you're blue in the face,” the corporal replied, taking a long chug of his soda. “But they're still under arrest for arson, and pretty much all our witnesses say they did it. I can't promise you a good outcome here.”

That was what Nick had been afraid of. He glumly nursed his own drink, waiting for Gorstrom to make room for him in her busy schedule.

✽✽✽

What the blazes was going on here?

Bruce had filled Ellie, Hal and Gen in on what was going on as they drove towards the town square in search of Borden and the other leaders who hadn't been taken. Or at least as much as the older man knew about it, which wasn't much. But the more Ellie heard, the more confused she became about just what Gorstrom was doing. Let alone why.

The radio was no help either, since it seemed like everyone who could tell them anything had already been brought in. All she heard was idle speculation and big talk, none of it much use.

To her relief, she spotted Borden and a handful of others near the city building, huddled together talking in low, worried voices. The acting mayor looked far more stressed than Ellie had ever seen him before, even when he'd first taken over after Jay shot Darby, during the middle of all that chaos.

Well, he was about to be even more stressed. Ellie hurried over to him, speaking urgently the moment he turned her way. “We need to do something. Gorstrom sent men to arrest Chet and Ben. Nick went in to try to reason with her, but it's not looking good.”

“The McCleese brothers, eh?” Borden said wearily. “For starting the fires in Wensbrook, I'm guessing, like everyone thinks they did?” He sighed and rubbed between his eyebrows. “They're in good company. She's arrested Mayor Darby and most of the town leaders, along with Denny and Starr and a few others from the camp.”

“What?” Ellie demanded, outraged. She was worried for the brothers, but at the same time she could understand why they'd be arrested. She had no idea why Gorstrom would go after the others. “I'd just heard she brought them in to talk to them . . . why the arrests?”

“For stuff that happened during the fight with Jay.” Borden glared in the direction of the relief workers' camp. “Darby and the town leaders for authorizing the scavenging in Wensbrook, and Denny and Starr for their firebomb attack on Jay's camp.”

“But they had good reasons for doing both those things!” she protested.

He snorted. “You think that matters to people who weren't here and are just hearing the story secondhand? Gorstrom is on a justice bender, and she means to