Chapter 06: A Town under Siege,/b>
Hello and welcome to my readers. My thanks for your votes, PC's and e-mails on my previous stories. This chapter is a continuance from the previous one, so you may want to begin reading there. To summarize: Melodie, Kat, Jo and the others are stranded in the town of Wisteria. They make some new friends and are ready to resolve their differences with the Mayor when the town is attacked by a group of rogue survivalists. Enjoy.
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"What in the hell was that?" Chief Whitman muttered brushing glass fragments from his hair.
"A machine gun," Kat replied, "We're up against a frickin' army."
"A chain gun, probably.25 caliber," Jo said in a low voice. "Where'd those people get those weapons?"
"How do you know that?" Tiffany asked.
"Army. Two tours in Iraq."
"You never told us," Kitten said.
"Never came up."
"I have a cousin in the Army," Chief Whitman said. "What unit were you in?"
"Military Police. 2nd Brigade HQ. Staff Sergeant."
"I've sworn to defend this town," the Chief continued. "But this is out of my league. Any ideas Jo?"
"A couple, but we're gonna need help."
Kitten looked out on the street. "It would seem the friendly folks of Wisteria have hauled ass, looks like we're it Chief."
Chief Whitman grimaced. "Any of you who want to go, go now before the shooting starts again."
"I'm not leaving you," Teri replied.
"Me either, Amanda continued.
"We aren't either," Kat said firmly and the others nodded and smiled.
"Thank you all. I'll swear you in as patrol officers to make this legal." He opened a desk drawer, withdrew several badges and laid them on the desk.
Everyone took one except Mason.
"Let's let them have the money and maybe they'll leave," he said, his voice shaking. "We're outnumbered and outgunned."
"Oh grow a pair," Amanda sneered. "I'm not leaving Teri." She pulled the woman to her and they kissed passionately. Chief Whitman's eyes widened and Mason's jaw dropped.
"I love you David and I always will," Teri said. "But Amanda and I have a bond between us too. Can you understand?"
"Seeing how our new friends feel about each other, I think I do understand."
Teri and Amanda hugged and kissed him, Mason said nothing, his eyes vacant.
He sat alone and ignored as the group began to discuss a plan for defense.
***
Crouched on a roof behind a sign reading 'Midwest Auto Parts', Jo stood cautiously, lifted her binoculars and scanned the street below. Behind her, Kat and Melodie finished stuffing rags into the necks of ten liquor bottles filled with gasoline.
Three Humvee's were parked in front of the Joker within easy throwing distance. Laughter and music blared from the buildings open doors as the invaders continued to party.
All attempts to communicate with the outside world had failed. The defenders were on their own.
Jo saw Amanda waving from the used car lot next to the Joker. Kitten was working under the open hood of a large hi-lift pickup truck, Teri in the cab behind the wheel.
Her gaze sweeping to the right, she saw David crouched behind a dumpster near the Joker's back door, riot gun at the ready.
A fourth Humvee roared down the street and slid to a stop beside the others. Two men and one woman in camouflage clothing got out and went inside, greeted by whoops and shouts.
The pickup's engine started, black smoke belching from the tailpipes. Kitten slammed the hood and she and Amanda climbed into the cab. Everything was set.
***
"Damn these heels," Tiffany muttered, teetering in a pair of Teri's stiletto pumps.
"They take some getting used to," Courtney replied. Wearing short skirts, low cut tank tops and heavy makeup, the women approached the Joker's open doors. They were to serve as a distraction until the attack was launched, then join in.
"Court," Tiffany said. "What if they try to...?"
"Rape us? Then we fight back and scream our heads off. They won't have a chance to anyway. Ready?"
Holding hands they strutted inside.
***
"It's been five minutes," Jo said. "Let's rock. Aim for the one with the gun mount, then we'll flame the others."
Lighting the rags, they threw the bottles toward the parked vehicle. One bottle fell through the roof hatch and exploded, the others smashed on the hood and against the side. In seconds the Humvee was aflame. More bottles flew in flaming arcs, engulfing the other trucks in sheets of fire.
"Get downstairs before the ammo cooks off," Jo barked
They vaulted through the access door and down the stairs. Staccato detonations erupted as the vehicles burned, bullets whizzing everywhere. Figures in camouflage coveralls came running out from the Joker. Two were cut down where they stood and the rest retreated, slamming heavy doors behind them.
Crouching low, Kat and Melodie ran to the adjoining building, rifles gripped tightly in their hands. Jo followed a second later, and then they dashed across the street to the used car lot.
Kitten saw them, slammed the truck in gear and pushed the gas pedal to the floor. Tires smoking on the asphalt the truck lurched forward, picking up speed as it roared towards the wooden wall of the Joker.
"Down!" Kitten hollered as they smashed through in a shower of splintered wood and flying metal. The truck lurched to a stop in the ruins of what had been a bandstand, engine hissing and popping. Carrying riot guns, Kitten, Teri and Amanda jumped from the cab. Dust swirling around them, they ran onto the wooden dance floor cursing and shouting.
***
David peered around the dumpster and saw three men in camouflage coveralls carrying M-16's standing at the Joker's back door. He chambered a round into his weapon at the sound of explosions and stepped out. Aiming at the startled men, he shouted, "Drop your guns. Now!"
