Hoover sighed and his face seemed instantly older. “Do you know how many murders we averaged in this county before this year?”
Caden shook his head.
“Four. Last year was a bad year, we had five. One was a double killing. Do you know how many have been killed in the county in the two months of this year?”
Again he shook his head.
“Neither do I. But it’s been hundreds, maybe a thousand, including two of my deputies.” He stopped, breathed deeply and let it out slowly. “The Highway Patrol hasn’t been to Hansen since that first attack on Washington D.C. I haven’t been able to contact the state crime lab since the Seattle blast.
“You’ve been trying to do the right thing since you got here and I appreciate that. I can’t hold the threads of civilization together alone. I trust that you did what you needed to do.” He paused and gave Caden a whimsical grin. “And besides, now that martial law has been declared, you’re in charge. What are your orders?”
It was Caden’s turn to sigh as he recalled the breathless announcement of martial law on Friday. “I haven’t received any orders since the declaration. We’ve been working well together. I don’t want to change that relationship if I don’t have to.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.”
Before anyone could speak Hoover’s radio crackled. “415 in progress, corner of Birch and Main, the Salvation Army church. Request backup.”
“What’s a 415?”
Hoover shook his head and his eyes narrowed. “A disturbance. Probably people think there’s still food at the church.”
Caden asked if he needed help.
“No, you go on to the marketplace.” He looked up at the clear blue sky. “Enjoy the day. I’ve got to go.” The sheriff walked briskly to a patrol car and was off with sirens blaring.
Just inside the bazaar was a large bulletin board where community announcements had once been posted. Now the board was cluttered with “will trade for” signs. One in particular caught his eye. “NEED INSULIN. Tell me what you need.” It was followed by an address and phone number. Caden shook his head. Who would trade away insulin?
Next he came upon a man seated in a lawn chair with a rifle across his lap. On the blanket before him were a 12-gauge shotgun and two small-caliber rifles. Beside him sat a cardboard box with eight Labrador Retriever puppies bouncing around inside or hanging on the edges. On the front of the box, in bold black letters, was written, “Future Guard Dogs.” Caden laughed out loud.
The man smiled, “I’m thinking they will come in handy in the days ahead.”
“I think you’re right,” he replied and walked on. Past that on his left, a woman had chickens in a large cage. A goat was tied up beside her. A deputy stood talking with a woman at another stall. On the table between them were dozens of jars of honey and honeycomb. The deputy and Caden exchanged nods as he walked by. Farther down, he noticed a couple selling trout and other fish that he couldn’t name. The woman caught his eye, she had long, wavy, red hair.
On a nearby table were packages of dried meat. The sign hanging below read, “Deer, Elk and Beef Jerky for Trade.” At the next stall was an old man reloading and selling ammunition. The sign beside him listed calibers and read, “Will Trade for Brass.” Several guns were on display behind the counter.
“What does he mean, ‘Will Trade for Brass?’ Does he want scrap metal?”
Caden turned and smiled at Maria a step behind him. “Sort of. In this case he wants used bullet cartridges. He can reload them and make new ammo.”
Maria watched as he made one.
“Where’s Mom and Lisa?”
“Trading for food we need.”
Caden stood beside Maria and together they watched as a few more cartridges were reloaded. He hadn’t seen any paper money during his walk through the market. He noticed a few silver coins passed in trade, but the de facto currencies were guns, ammunition and food. With those anyone could barter for anything in the market.
They walked together for a minute along the stalls when suddenly Maria tapped him on the arm and pointed, “We need a car seat.”
Caden followed her gesture to a stall that looked like a yard sale. There amongst the clothes, pots, pans and toasters was a car seat. “For Adam?” Caden shook his head. “No, duct tape will do.”
Maria hit him on the arm. She took several steps closer. “She has cloth diapers. We need those too.”
“I got cloth diapers back at Fort Rucker.”
“You got four.”
“What?” he smiled. “That’s not enough?”
Exasperation spread across her face. “No!”
Caden breathed out slowly. “Okay, do we have anything left to trade for it?”
“Probably not, the eggs and milk will have been exchanged for other food by now.”
Caden recalled the pink Ruger and retrieved it from under the seat of the car. He didn’t show the pistol when asking what the woman wanted most in trade for the baby seat.
“I need food for me and my kids.”
He headed toward the booth where the old man reloaded cartridges. Caden wasn’t concerned about ammo for his SIG, he could get that at the armory, but Maria had only a few rounds for her pistol. “I need .38 ammo and whatever else you will trade for this Ruger.” He laid the pink pistol on the table. Minutes later he walked away with 100 rounds of .38 and 550 rounds of .22.
Caden gave the .38 ammo to Maria. “This is for your gun. Now come with me.”
“How is this getting us diapers and a car seat?”
“You’ll see.” Caden went back to the first stall he had visited. “Pick a puppy.”
“Why do we need a puppy?” Maria asked. “It’s another mouth to feed.”
Caden pointed to the Future Guard Dogs sign. “If we had one, Lisa might not have been attacked and that guy might not have been shot.”
After a moment she nodded. “And this gets us a car seat?”
“Well, no this doesn’t, but be patient, and pick one.”
She pointed to a cream colored pup that was crawling on top of the others as if to get attention.
Caden traded 50 rounds of .22 ammo for the little dog and wondered if he overpaid.
Maria held it in her arms. “Well how are you…” she glanced at the belly, “little girl?”
The dog licked her face.
Next he stopped at the fishmonger. He smiled at the young girl helping at the stall. It was the same red-haired teen he had seen fishing at the creek the last few days. “Are the fish fresh?” he asked with a whimsical grin.
“Oh yes,” the girl replied, “my brother and I caught them this morning before church.”
He swapped 150 rounds for two large Rainbow Trout fillets.
At another stall he exchanged 20 rounds for two cans of mixed vegetables.
When Caden laid the food on the table the woman was eager to barter.
Walking away with the seat, he assessed the trades. I got rid of the Ruger and now have a car seat and more diapers for Adam, 100 rounds of .38 ammo for Maria and I still have 330 rounds of .22 ammo. I think I did okay.
Maria, still cuddling the puppy, leaned over and kissed Caden on the cheek. “Thanks.”
The deal just got better! “You’re welcome,” he said with a smile. “I don’t want to carry this seat all over the market. Let’s head back to the car. Maybe Mom and….” Seeing a man in camo uniform, he slowed and stopped. It was Lieutenant Brooks smiling and talking with Lisa as they, along with his mother, strolled in their direction. It’s been a great day, I hope there isn’t a problem.
As they neared, Brooks saluted. “Good afternoon sir; your father said you might be here. We’ve received word that a presidential delegation has arrived in Olympia and all Guard commanders are to report there on Monday for a briefing and orders.”