Page 170 of Hell and High Water

Tell flicks his gaze toward me, softening just for a second as he sees me taking all of this in, processing. Tenderness returns to his eyes for a moment. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. No.” I look down, a little embarrassed.

Tell smiles for a second, but it's a humorless display. Still, he wraps an arm around me, offering his firm presence and steadfast strength. “We need a plan before we do anything.”

Ora and Alaya gather around, my best friend resting her hand on my arm. “Take a breath. You’ve got this.”

So I do. And I realize she’s right.

Steeling my emotions, I look at each one of them in turn.

These are the strongest people I know.

My friends. My family.

They are all waiting for me to say something, to put them to task.

“Ora. Call your people. Ask for any volunteers who can head out to look for stranded civilians. Get on the radio, every band. We may need boats?—”

“Shallow crafts, smaller skiffs and shit. Ask for Haggart when you put out the call. He’s an old contact at the docks, knows everyone with a boat from B.C. to L.A.,” Tell interjects. Ora salutes, heading for the door.

“Thanks, Tell. Alaya, go with her and put the word out anywhere you can that people need to evacuate to higher ground. And watch her fucking back. You let anything happen to that girl and I will make you wish you never came to Sanctum, you hear me?”

Alaya’s eyes widen a fraction just before a huge grin spreads across her face.

“You can be one scary bitch when you want to, Micheals, I’ll give you that. You have my word.” She’s tailing Ora out to the vehicles as Tell and I finish gathering our gear.

“And us?” The question is rhetorical, but I appreciate Tell giving me the lead.

“We’re going to check on the damage, and I’m going to blast warnings across town for evacuation and higher ground.”

“Evan and Gavin?”

“We’ll head that way after making a pass through town.” I hate waiting, but it’s the right thing to do. “They can handle themselves until we get there.”

Outside, I flag Alaya down before they can leave and she rolls down the window.

“All of you. Stay safe. Do not get separated.” There’s not a single quaver to my voice, despite the fear coiled in my gut. “And if anyone sees Marco Vice tonight, don’t hesitate to put him down.”

We’re roaring through the streets a short time later, searching for any signs of stragglers. Most of the city is vacant, with only a few people stopping to listen to the announcement I pelt out over the speaker Tell rigged on top of Gavin’s truck. Some hesitate, some ignore us.

But I tried.

Flash floods aren’t unheard of in the mountains, so I can only hope anyone who hears me will take it seriously. Before long, but not soon enough, Tell takes us out along the ridge, speeding for the reservoir.

Random facts keep fluttering through my head as we race to find Evan and Gavin. We’re in the beginning of summer. The lake will be completely full to capacity after the spring melt.

Checking the map by flashlight, I try to predict what path it might take, what parts of town might suffer the worst. Eventually, I give up, tossing the map in the back.

“We’ll find them, Hell.”

“I know. That’s not…” I shake my head, my head roaring with intrusive thoughts. “We should have seen this coming or tried to figure out what Devonde?—”

“No way. Don’t go there. We had no way to predict what he was planning!” I’ve never heard Tell so adamant, so harsh with me. It sets me back on my heels, calms me down like nothing else could in the heat of the moment.

Taking a deep, cooling breath, I’m just getting control of myself when the screech of tires and roar of an engine rattle the truck. Right before the other vehicle rams into us, sending us swerving. Tell compensates, correcting the movement, keeping us on the road.

He accelerates, looking back to try and spot the other car.

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