The McClane Apocalypse Book Five by Kate Morris Read Free Book Online Page A

of people who used to be
from their town . Usually, the men or Condo Paul or Roy
will vet the newcomers to make sure they seem peaceful and able to
contribute to their community. They don’t need people like the
visitor’s group settling in their town.
    Reagan looks to Grandpa, who seems to be
trying to place this man’s face. He gives her a nearly
imperceptible shake of his head. She doesn’t recognize Greg,
either.
    “Where you from, Greg?” Derek asks.
    He’s a master interrogator. Many times, Reagan just hangs
back and watches him do his magic. All three of the Rangers are
good at getting information from people. Derek had sniffed out a
small group of people who’d come
last year that he hadn’t trusted. And it was a
good thing. They’d robbed one of the local farmers
before coming to their town. Kelly had found out about it from the
farmer when he’d delivered a load of potato starts to them a week
later. They’d gone on a mission looking for the thieves, but they
were long gone by then. Fortunate for them.
    “From Kentucky, up above Louisville,” Greg
answers.
    “Where specifically above Louisville? What
town?” Derek asks.
    “What’s it matter?” Greg asks.
    “It actually matters quite a lot. We have a
lot of people who have family up near Louisville,” Derek says.
“Perhaps you know some of them.”
    “Who are you? The new police around here?”
Greg asks as if he’s affronted by the questioning.
    “Something like that,” John says and stands.
“Why don’t you want to answer any of his questions?”
    “I don’t think I actually need to
answer a bunch of questions . This
is kind of bullshit. I’m not asking to live in your town. I’m going
with Jay,” Greg says with a touch of antagonism.
    “We just try to ensure that we’re keeping out
the kind of people who would mean the town harm,” Derek explains.
“We’ve had problems with that. It doesn’t usually end well for the
people who come here looking for trouble.”
    Kelly laughs once and says, “No, it
doesn’t.”
    Greg’s eyes dart to Kelly. He calms down
considerably.
    “So maybe some of the folks in this town know
some of your people from Louisville,” Derek returns to that line of
questioning.
    “I doubt it. I wasn’t a real social kinda’
guy back then.”
    “Ok, that’s fine. How did you end up down
here in Pleasant View?” Derek asks.
    “Just movin’ around, man. That’s all,” he
answers.
    “Why are you with Mr. Hernandez now?” Derek
asks.
    “Just thought I’d help him out. Stick
around. Be a part of his new town. Like I said, this is new for me,
too. I didn’t use to be real
social.”
“ Mm-hm , and you are now? You want
to help Mr. Hernandez’s community?” Derek presses.
    “Sure. Sounds like a good place to set down
some roots,” Greg says.
    “Do you have family or is it just you?” Derek
asks.
    Reagan watches her brother-in-law’s face take
on a tenseness. She doesn’t think Derek is buying this guy’s
story.
    “Nope, just me and a few of my friends,” Greg
says.
    “A few?” John asks.
    “Sure. I’ve got a few friends who are
staying,” Greg adds. “We’ll get our wall done fast.”
    His accent sounds farther south than
just Kentucky. He almost drawls out some of his vowels like Talia, and she’s from New
Orleans.
    John jumps right back on the friend question,
“How many men are staying with you?”
    “Five. If you have to know,” Jay answers for
his new friend of whom none of them are familiar.
    “And you mentioned food supplies. How are you
going to keep the group in enough food for the winter?” Derek
inquires.
    “Look, we came to deliver our decision and we
have done just that. This meeting is over, McClane,” Jay says to
Grandpa. “We don’t answer to the town anymore. We don’t interact
with you all anymore. We’re on our own and so are you.”
    “I wish it didn’t have to be that way, Mr.
Hernandez,” Grandpa says.
    Jay and Greg and the handful of people