Read Online Commodity by Shay Savage - Free Book Online Page A

be a good place to look.”
    “We’ll follow you,” Falk says with a nod.
    The three men walk off down the street, and Falk and I trail behind.  My leg is cramping up a bit, but I try not to let it slow me down.
    “How did you know that guy was in the military?” I ask.
    “The smell.”  Falk glances at me out of the corner of his eye and his mouth twitches into a slight smile.  “Knew he wasn’t army.”
    “But you were?”
    “Yes.  Did four tours overseas.”
    He doesn’t seem interested in offering more information, and I don’t ask.  Maybe he’ll tell me more about it later.  The rest of the trip is silent as we walk to Beck’s house, just south of the Emory campus.  It looks like it was a nice, suburban community with a Panera and a Chipotle, but the entire area has been leveled.
    Beck stands in front of what I assume used to be his house, staring toward the university.  I can only determine what used to be there by the piles of red brick.  Otherwise, it’s flattened.
    “Holy shit,” Beck mumbles.
    Caesar is poking around inside a black Toyota pickup parked at the curb.  The back end has been smashed by a blue compact car, but the front seems to be intact.  He ducks out of the vehicle with his hands full.
    “I don’t think my truck is going anywhere, battery or not,” he says, “but the important stuff survived.”
    He holds up a gun in a holster and a bottle of amber liquid.
    “Is that the Glenlivet?” Ryan asks.
    “Fifteen years.”
    “First positive thing I’ve heard all day!”
    All three of them laugh, and I find myself cracking a smile as well.  I guess it really is the simple things when it comes right down to it.  Falk doesn’t seem entertained by the idea, and he gestures to me to join him.
    Caesar hands the bottle to Beck and follows.
    “Are you still planning on heading to Washington?” Caesar asks.  His voice is low, and I’m fairly sure Beck and Ryan don’t hear his question.  Falk stares at Caesar for a moment without a response.  “I’ve read the reports.  I know who she is.  I assume you are part of her security detail.”
    I bite down on my lip, remembering that Falk didn’t want me talking to these guys too much.  I should have asked him why when we were walking, but I didn’t.  I look over to him for direction and see him nod at Caesar once.
    “It makes sense to head that way,” Falk says.  “It’s the most protected place in the country, and they’re bound to have more information than anyone we find here.  Getting there is obviously an issue now.  Whatever took out the electricity and everything else must have impacted lead-acid batteries.  If I can find a vehicle that uses lithium-ion batteries, it might work.”
    “What do you think happened?”
    Falk glances at the sky but doesn’t offer a verbal opinion.
    Caesar looks over to me.
    “I assume you’d like to keep your identity under wraps.”
    “I’d prefer it, yes,” I respond.  “It’s just easier that way.”
    “I’m not going to say anything,” he says, trying to reassure me.  “I don’t think either of those guys would care, but there’s no telling who else we might run into.”
    “I would appreciate it if you don’t say anything.”  Falk’s voice is steady and stern.  “She’s still under my protection until I can get her to the right people in Washington.”
    “You’ve got more faith than I do,” Caesar mumbles.
    “It’s good to have a direction,” Falk responds coldly, “with or without faith.”
    I look back and forth between the two of them, trying to make sense of their conversation.  Falk doesn’t seem interested in explaining, and I figure I’m going to have a lot of questions for him when we’re alone again.
    Beck approaches, abruptly ending the discussion.
    “There isn’t a whole lot inside the house that’s salvageable,” he says.  “I did pull out my Berretta and my AR plus two boxes of ammo.  I can’t get to the kitchen