The Remaining: Trust: A Novella Read Online Free Page A

figure out how we’re going to keep everyone from starving to death come winter.”
    Abe chuffed at the dismal irony of the situation.
    Briggs put a hand on his shoulder. “I know I’ve asked a lot of you. But I’ve asked a lot of everyone. We’ve all done things we’d rather we didn’t have to do. But these are unforgiving times, and decisions have to be made using logic and practicality unlike any this country has considered in a long, long time.”
    Abe nodded.
    “How is the North Carolina issue?” Briggs asked softly.
    Abe felt just the mention of it stiffen him. He considered his words and spoke them carefully. “We have boots on the ground. We’ve heard from one operative and he says he’s getting close to making contact. We’re still waiting on the other two operatives we sent.”
    Briggs just regarded him, and he seemed to be on the verge of saying something, but then decided against it. Knuckles rapping on glass drew their attention to the sliding balcony doors where Lucas was standing, eyebrows raised, looking right at Abe and pointing his thumb behind him rapidly.
    Abe felt his stomach clench as he pulled open the door. “Captain Wright,” he said formally. “What’s the problem?”
    The words tumbled out of Lucas. “Fargo Group is being hit hard just outside of Cheyenne. Tyler needs backup yesterday…”
    Abe didn’t wait to be dismissed and neither did Lucas. They were already heading for the door.

TWO
    They took the stairs two at a time, breathing hard by the time they emerged out of the lobby. It was still not quite dawn and everything hung in frosty blues and grays, with just a bare blush to the east. A gray Chevrolet Tahoe idled at the curb—Abe considered it his vehicle, because it was mostly his gear stowed in the back, though all the Coordinators used it from time to time.
    Lucas ran to the driver’s side and Abe threw himself into the backseat and immediately began reaching over into the cargo area and heaving his gear into the seat with him. The SUV rocketed forward out of the hotel roundabout, slamming Abe back into his seat. He worked through it, undeterred. Pulled his flak over his head. Started checking magazines and weapons.
    The center console of the Tahoe had been ripped out and replaced with a haphazard mount that held a SINCGARS radio on it. Lucas grabbed the handset as he steered them into a tight turn with one hand. He yammered into the handset, hailing their air wing as they accelerated down W. 29th Street toward the mall.
    After a brief pause, they acknowledged. “You’ve got Copperhead-Six; go ahead.”
    “Copperhead, I’m about two minutes out. What do you have spooled up for us?” Lucas had apparently already called ahead to prep some QRF.
    “Yankee-Six, I got you two Blackhawks and a Little Bird. Sorry, but that’s all I can get in the air this quickly.”
    “Fuck me,” Abe griped as he slapped his helmet down onto his head.
    Lucas shook his head, keyed up again. “Copperhead-Six, I appreciate it. We’re gonna need two open seats on one of those Blackhawks for myself and Rocky-Six.”
    “Yeah. Roger. We got you.”
    Lucas signed off, tossed the handset on the radio as he pulled into the parking lot of the mall, and gassed it toward two Blackhawks with the rotors already spinning.
    Abe glanced at him as he slung his rifle over his vest and worked his shoulders around to settle it down onto his frame. “You’re not goin’ out without your flak, Lucas.”
    “I got it.” Lucas threw a thumb behind him. “It’s in the back under all your shit.”
    “And I’d rather grab a seat on the Little Bird.”
    Lucas threw the vehicle in park several yards out of the rotor-wash of a Blackhawk and yanked the keys out. As they tumbled out of the SUV, the thunderous noise of the machines engulfed them, the wind batting at their clothes, filling their mouths with dust and cold air.
    Lucas leaned in close as he moved to the rear of the vehicle and threw open the