Etched in stone, p.9
Unfinished Business: Sunshine State EMP Blackout, page 9
Joe cupped her cheek, his thumb caressing her cheekbone with a gentleness that contrasted with his weathered hands. “Always am, darlin’,” he assured her, his eyes never leaving hers. “Got too much to come back to.”
Their lips met in a tender kiss, slow and deep, conveying all the words left unspoken between them. Joe’s hand slid down Maria’s back, pulling her closer, feeling the curve of her spine beneath his palm. She responded eagerly, her fingers threading through his salt-and-pepper hair, nails lightly scraping his scalp in a way that sent shivers down his spine.
As the kiss intensified, their bodies moved together with practiced familiarity, yet each touch felt new and electric. With unhurried movements, hands exploring well-known paths with renewed wonder. They made love slowly, savoring each touch, each sigh, each shared breath. The world outside faded away, leaving only the two of them, connected in the most intimate way.
Afterward, they lay tangled together, hearts racing in tandem, skin flushed and glistening in the growing light. Joe pressed his forehead against Maria’s, their noses touching, breaths mingling in the small space between them. “I love you,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion, the words carrying the weight of everything they’d been through together.
Maria’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, a smile playing on her lips. “I love you too, Joe,” she whispered back, her voice thick with feeling. “More than life itself. You’re my anchor in this storm.”
The room gradually lightened as the sun peeked over the horizon, painting the walls with hues of gold and pink. Joe sighed, a mix of contentment and resignation, knowing their moment of peace was coming to an end. He kissed Maria once more, soft and lingering, before reluctantly pulling away.
“I’ve got to get ready,” he said, sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. The cool air hit his skin, a stark contrast to the warmth they’d shared moments ago.
Maria sat up too, the blanket pooling around her waist as she wrapped her arms around him from behind. She rested her chin on his shoulder, her presence a comforting weight against his back. “Be safe out there, okay?” she murmured, her words carrying a weight of worry and love.
Joe turned his head, meeting her concerned gaze. He saw in her eyes all the fears she tried to hide, all the love she held for him. “I will,” he promised solemnly, reaching up to cover her hand with his own. “I’ll always come back to you, Maria. Always.”
Joe approached the old shed that held their captive, the gravel crunching beneath his boots. The battered shed loomed before him, its weathered exterior a stark reminder of their new reality. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead.
Captain Rodriguez emerged from the shadows, his face etched with fatigue. “Joe,” he nodded, extending a hand.
“Cap,” Joe replied, clasping the offered hand firmly. “How’s our guest?”
Rodriguez’s lips tightened. “Stubborn as hell, but we’ve kept him awake all night. I think he’s ready to crack.”
They fell into step, moving towards the building’s entrance. Joe’s voice lowered. “What’s our play?”
“Good cop, bad cop?” Rodriguez suggested, a hint of dark humor in his tone. “You’ve got that whole stern father figure thing going on.”
Joe snorted. “And you’ve got the intimidating military man down pat.” He paused, considering. “Let’s start easy, build some rapport. Then we’ll turn up the heat.”
Rodriguez nodded, his expression grim. “We need answers, Joe. Whatever it takes.”
They reached the door. Rodriguez pulled it open with a groan. They stepped inside and dismissed the guard that was keeping Jenkins awake.
Rodriguez, then turned to Joe. “Ready?”
Joe squared his shoulders. “Let’s do this.”
In the center of the shed sat Jenkins, slumped in a chair, his wrists bound. He looked up as they entered, his bloodshot eyes darting between them.
Joe pulled up a chair, its legs scraping against the concrete floor with a harsh grating sound. He sat down deliberately, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees, his weathered hands clasped together. “Jenkins, we’re not here to hurt you,” he said, his voice low and steady. “We just want to talk. That’s all.”
Jenkins glared at them defiantly, then spat on the ground, a glob of saliva landing inches from Joe’s boot. “I ain’t tellin’ you shit,” he snarled, his eyes darting between Joe and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez stepped forward, his face hardening into a mask of stern authority. The faint light glinted off his captain’s bars as he loomed over Jenkins. “That’s not how this works,” he said, his voice cold and unyielding. “You will talk. It’s just a matter of time.”
For hours that stretched into an eternity, they alternated between gentle coaxing and stern warnings. Jenkins held firm at first, his jaw clenched and eyes blazing with defiance. But as exhaustion began to set in, his resolve slowly started to crumble. Dark circles formed under his eyes, and his shoulders slumped with fatigue.
Joe offered him a plastic cup of water, his voice softening to a gentle, almost fatherly tone. “Look, we know you’re not the big fish here,” he said, holding the cup just out of reach. “Help us out, and we’ll make sure you’re taken care of. You have my word on that.”
Jenkins’ eyes darted between them, uncertainty creeping into his expression for the first time. He licked his dry lips, considering. “The Colonel...” he began, his voice barely above a whisper. “He’ll kill me if I talk. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
“He can’t touch you here,” Rodriguez assured him, his tone firm but not unkind. “You’re under our protection now.”
Finally, like a dam breaking, Jenkins cracked. Words spilled out of him in a torrent, as if he’d been holding them back for an eternity. “The main base,” he gasped, “it’s in an old theme park near Ocala. They’ve fortified it, turned the rides into watchtowers. It’s like a fortress now.”
Joe and Rodriguez exchanged meaningful glances. This was big, potentially game-changing information.
“What about supply routes?” Rodriguez pressed, leaning in closer.
Jenkins nodded wearily, resignation etched on his face. “They use the old highways, move everything at night. Got checkpoints set up every twenty miles or so. Armed to the teeth, those boys.”
As Jenkins continued to talk, a clearer picture emerged of the SS-SA’s operation. He spoke of internal power struggles, of ambitious men constantly vying for the Colonel’s favor, each trying to outdo the others in displays of loyalty and cruelty.
“The Colonel...” Jenkins muttered, shaking his head. “He ain’t right in the head no more. Keeps ranting about you, Joe Kelly, says he’s gonna be the one to take us down. He is obsessed with you Joe Kelly.”
Joe stiffened involuntarily at the mention of his name but fought to keep his face neutral. His mind raced with the implications of this revelation.
“Where are they keeping their weapons?” Rodriguez asked, his voice sharp with urgency.
Jenkins hesitated for a long moment, then sighed heavily, seeming to deflate. “Got caches all over the place. Big one’s in an abandoned mall outside Gainesville. Another in a warehouse in Lake City. They’re stockpiling like crazy, getting ready for something big.”
As Jenkins continued to divulge information, spilling secrets he’d held onto for so long, Joe and Rodriguez realized they had struck gold. The intelligence they were gathering could change everything in their fight against the SS-SA. It was more than they had dared to hope for when they began this interrogation.
As the interrogation concluded, Joe and Rodriguez stepped outside the shed, leaving Jenkins slumped in his chair. The breeze outside was a stark contrast to the stuffy interior they’d just left.
“Well, that was... illuminating,” Joe said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Rodriguez nodded, his face grim. “More than we expected. The theme park base, the supply routes, those weapon caches... This could change everything.”
“And the Colonel’s obsession with me,” Joe added, his brow furrowing. “That’s... unsettling.”
They walked a short distance from the shed, speaking in low voices.
“We need to verify this information,” Rodriguez said. “But if it’s true, we might finally have a chance to strike back effectively.”
Joe agreed, then hesitated. “What about Jenkins?”
Rodriguez’s expression hardened. “He’s a security risk. We can’t just let him go.”
Joe was quiet for a moment, then surprised Rodriguez with his next words. “I think we should release him.”
“What?” Rodriguez exclaimed, his eyes widening. “Joe, you can’t be serious. He knows too much about us, our location-”
Joe held up a hand, cutting him off. “Hear me out, Cap. For one, the Colonel already knows where we are. Jenkins is no longer a threat to us. He can’t go back to the SS-SA - Like he said himself, the Colonel would kill him in a heartbeat. And keeping him prisoner indefinitely... beside the fact keeping him a prisoner would be a drain on our manpower guarding him as well as feeding him, that’s just not who we are.”
Rodriguez opened his mouth to protest, but Joe continued.
“By showing him mercy, we might gain an ally. Someone who knows the inner workings of the SS-SA. And it sends a message about who we are, what we stand for.”
Rodriguez frowned, clearly conflicted. “It’s a risk, Joe. A big one.”
“Life’s full of risks these days,” Joe replied with a wry smile. “But sometimes, a little faith in humanity can go a long way.”
After a long moment, Rodriguez nodded reluctantly. “Alright, we’ll do it your way. But I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“So do I Cap,” Joe muttered. “So do I.”
Joe and Cap returned to the shed, finding Jenkins slumped in his chair, fast asleep. His chin rested on his chest, soft snores escaping his lips.
“Jenkins,” Joe called softly, shaking the man’s shoulder. “Wake up, son.”
Jenkins startled awake, his eyes wild and unfocused. “No, please,” he begged, voice hoarse. “Just let me sleep. I can’t... I can’t take anymore.”
Joe’s expression softened. “It’s alright, Jenkins. We’re not here to interrogate you anymore. We’re taking you to a real bed where you can sleep comfortably.”
Jenkins blinked, confusion etched across his haggard face. “What?”
“You heard right,” Rodriguez added, his tone surprisingly gentle. “When you wake up, you’ll be fed and free to go wherever you want.”
Jenkins stared at them, disbelief clear in his bloodshot eyes. “You’re... you’re letting me go? Just like that?” His voice trembled. “This is a trick. You’ll shoot me in the back as soon as I leave.”
Joe shook his head, meeting Jenkins’ gaze steadily. “Hey, I promised you we’d take care of you, and that’s just what we’ll do. We don’t run things around here like the Colonel does.”
Jenkins’ eyes darted between Joe and Rodriguez, searching for any sign of deception. Finding none, his shoulders sagged, a mix of relief and exhaustion washing over him.
“Come on,” Joe said, helping Jenkins to his feet. “Let’s get you to that bed.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Joe and Rodriguez carefully guided Jenkins out of the shed and across the compound. The exhausted man stumbled between them, his legs weak from hours of sitting.
“Easy there,” Joe murmured, supporting Jenkins’ weight. “We’re almost there.”
They led him to a small, windowless room with a simple cot against one wall. Joe lit a candle that cast a soft glow over the sparse furnishings.
“Here we are,” Rodriguez said, helping Jenkins sit on the edge of the cot. “It’s not much, but it’s quiet and it’s safe.”
Jenkins looked around, his eyes wide with disbelief. “I... I don’t understand,” he whispered. “Why are you doing this?”
Joe crouched down to meet Jenkins’ gaze. “Because it’s the right thing to do. Get some rest, son. You’re safe here.”
Tears welled up in Jenkins’ eyes. “Thank you,” he choked out. “I don’t deserve this kindness, but... thank you.”
Joe patted his shoulder gently. “Everyone deserves a second chance. Now lie down and get some sleep.”
Jenkins didn’t need to be told twice. He was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow, his body finally surrendering to exhaustion.
Joe watched him for a moment, then turned to Rodriguez. “I’ll leave him a note. Can you grab some paper and a pen?”
Rodriguez nodded and left, returning moments later with the requested items. Joe scribbled out a quick note, his brow furrowed in concentration.
“What are you writing?” Rodriguez asked, peering over Joe’s shoulder.
“Just letting him know he’s welcome to join us for food when he wakes up,” Joe replied. He added a simple map to the bottom of the note, showing the path from the room to the makeshift mess hall. “And giving him directions so he doesn’t get lost.”
Joe placed the note on a small table next to the cot, where Jenkins would easily see it when he woke. They took one last look at the sleeping man before quietly exiting the room.
Joe and Rodriguez stepped out of the warehouse, blinking in the bright sunlight. They had barely taken a few steps when the sound of approaching vehicles caught their attention. Joe tensed at the sound, but his heart leapt as he finally recognized the familiar tan beret on the head of the driver.
“They’re back,” he said, a grin spreading across his face.
As the small convoy rolled into view, Joe’s eyes widened. Behind Jojo’s truck trailed a makeshift caravan of livestock. One of the National Guards trucks brought up the rear, packed with supplies.
Joe couldn’t contain his excitement. He broke into a run, his feet pounding the dusty ground as he made his way towards his son. Jojo had barely stepped out of the truck when Joe reached him, grabbing him by the shoulders.
“Son, this is... this is incredible!” Joe exclaimed, his voice thick with emotion. He looked over the animals, then back at Jojo, his eyes shining with pride. “Do you realize how important this find is? These animals, they’re not just food - they’re a future. A way to sustain ourselves long-term.”
Jojo nodded, a tired but satisfied smile on his face. “We got lucky, Dad. Found an old farm that had somehow managed to keep going. The family there... they were struggling and being threatened daily. We worked out a trade - we brought them, their animals and supplies to continue their farming but they’ll just do it here and share the fruits of their work in exchange for the safety we can provide.”
Joe shook his head in amazement. “You did good, son. Real good.” He pulled Jojo into a tight hug, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I’m so proud of you.”
Jojo returned the embrace, allowing himself a moment to relax in his father’s arms. The two men stood there for a long moment, the chaos of unloading the vehicles fading into the background as they shared this quiet moment of connection.
As Joe and Jojo separated from their embrace, an older woman with short grey hair and a determined expression approached them. Jojo placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her forward.
“Dad, I want you to meet Betty,” Jojo said, his voice warm with admiration. “She’s the one who really made this happen. Her knowledge of livestock and farming is invaluable.”
Joe’s eyes lit up as he extended his hand to Betty. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Betty. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done here.”
Betty shook his hand firmly, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “It’s nothing, really. I’m just glad I could help.”
Joe shook his head, his expression serious. “No, it’s not nothing. What you’ve done here... it’s given us hope. A real chance at building something sustainable.” Without warning, he pulled Betty into a bear hug. “Thank you,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Betty stiffened for a moment, surprised by the sudden display of affection, but then relaxed and returned the hug. “You’re welcome, Mr. Kelly,” she said softly.
As they separated, two more women approached the group. One was tall with long dark hair, while the other was shorter with curly locks.
Jojo gestured towards them. “Dad, these are Betty’s daughters Pam and Tracy. They are all gonna join our group here and kinda take charge of running our new farm. They were getting harassed by folks at their farm, men trying to take what they had. So I suggested they just move their operations here, where they can be safer and in return we can all share in what they brought.”
Joe shook hands with both women, his smile warm and genuine. “It’s great to meet you both. Thank you for everything, this is truly a godsend.”
Pam tucked a strand of her long dark hair behind her ear and nodded towards a makeshift structure visible in the distance. “We worked through the night to set up a temporary corral for the livestock,” she explained. “It’ll do for now, but we’ll need to reinforce it soon.”
Joe squinted in the direction she indicated, impressed by the quick work. “That’s a hell of an effort. We’ll get a team on strengthening it right away.”
“Appreciate that,” Pam replied. “Now, about those chickens...”
As if on cue, a cacophony of clucks and squawks erupted from one of the trucks. Joe raised an eyebrow, and Jojo grinned.
“Yeah, we’ve got quite a few of them,” Jojo said. “Figured we should start unloading the coop before they get too riled up.”
The group made their way to the truck, where several people were already gathered around a large, wire mesh structure filled with agitated chickens.
“Alright, let’s do this carefully,” Betty instructed, taking charge of the situation. “We don’t want to stress them out any more than necessary.”
With slow, deliberate movements, they began lifting the coop from the truck bed. Joe and Jojo took one end, while Pam and Tracy handled the other. The chickens inside fluttered and squawked in protest at the movement.
