Read Online The Beginning of the End (Book 1): Toward the Brink by Craig A. McDonough - Free Book Online Page A

roadside. A moment later, the former Mrs. Dennard staggered from the vehicle.
    “Fuck me!”
    The echo of the .357 Magnum was most likely heard by the inhabitants of the few farm houses that surrounded the airport, if there were any alive, but the Tall Man wasn’t concerned. He thought gunshots would be common out this way.
    “So how do I get out of here now?” the Tall Man asked aloud, looking at the green spew that covered the SUV. “I’m not getting in there!”
    # # #
    The rumble of National Guard trucks and Hummers was heard before they were seen. The convoy approached from the east side of Filer Avenue, pausing at each intersection to let a squad of troops out. The evacuation had been given top priority, and it wasn’t “go home, get your belongings, and
then
leave the city.” It was a simple “leave now and don’t ask questions in the process.” Other vehicles had come from the west side of Filer, and other units, augmented by police and sheriff’s deputies, pressed from the north and the south respectively. The medical center was to be surrounded.
    “Cindy?” Elliot called out after ending his conversation with his dad. “Cindy, where are you?”
    A muffled screech came from inside Captain Brandt’s SUV.
    “What the fuck?” Elliot rushed to the vehicle and swung the door to the back seat open. Brandt was on top of Cindy, pulling at her blouse and her pants with one hand while clasping the other over her mouth.
    “WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?” Elliot seethed with anger. Only eighteen and unarmed, he wanted to kill the thirty-something cop with enough firepower to start a revolution—or finish one.
    “Elliot! Elliot!” Cindy screamed. “Get this bastard off me!”
    In his rage, he was able to easily pull the captain from the back seat. Brandt cushioned his fall as he hit the road and rolled to one side under the car door. Elliot slammed the door shut to get to Brandt, who had now jumped to his feet.
    “Careful now, little boy.” The hammer of the Ruger Redhawk made an audible click as it was drawn back.
    Faced with the barrel of a .44 Magnum, which looked like a cannon at close range, Elliot’s desire to tear the cop to pieces abated somewhat.
    “Tell you what. You grab your girl and get out of here, and I’ll forget this little incident, okay?”
    “Okay, but don’t ever cross my path again, Brandt.” Elliot held his hands out, palms up.
    “You’re not in the best position to make any threats.” Brandt eased the hammer down on the Redhawk.
    “Neither are you, fuck-knuckle!” The barrel of a Sig Sauer P-226 pressed against Brandt’s temple.
    “I’m glad to see
you,
Sarge. Wondered where you got to.”
    Elliot eased the big Ruger out of the hands of the once overconfident Brandt, now a sailing ship without a wind in the middle of the ocean and at the mercy of the elements.
    “You bastard!” Cindy yelled. Furious that she’d been attacked, she sought payback. She stormed from the other side of the police SUV and marched up behind Brandt. To Cindy, he was just a bastard that had come close to raping her. The riot gun she had taken from the front seat wasn’t seen—not until she raised it to the back of Brandt’s head.
    # # #
    First year rookie cop Rodney Tibbuts picked himself up from the road. He cautiously dusted the pebbles of broken windshield glass from his uniform.
    “Are you all right, sir?” a concerned pedestrian asked.
    “Yes, I’m fine. Just shaken a little. Can you check on the other driver?”
    Tibbuts was more than shaken. He didn’t think he would be able to remain conscious much longer.
    “Sure, I’ll do that … right away.”
    The rookie noted the pause by the pedestrian as he stepped closer. It was the smell of the green puke that covered the back of his head and face.
    “Just check on the driver, please. I’ll call in.”
    He staggered back toward the Twin Falls police SUV. Apart from a dented grill and a smashed window, it didn’t