The Man from Riverside - Chapter 4
It was a short drive to the police station. Dennis would have liked to stay in the car for a while; it was warm and definitely more comfortable than a cell cot. The sheriff pulled the car alongside the curb and turned the engine off. Both officers got out of the car, Kate grabbing the shotgun before she did. Sheriff Michael opened the car door for Dennis who shuffled out, hands still handcuffed tightly behind his back.
"Just head up that way," said Michael, motioning towards the front of the station.
Nodding, Dennis began to trudge up to the police station, Kate following right behind him shotgun in hand; it was making Dennis a little nervous. The police station actually looked very decent and well maintained. It had nice gardens out the front and was quite well lit, even in the fog. The pleasantness continued inside as well, Dennis though this was the nicest police station he'd ever seen. As they entered, a male officer sat behind the desk stood to attention as if he'd been caught slacking off. The sheriff smiled and said to him,
"It's ok Ben, we're not charging this guy, just want to interview him."
"Ok, sir."
Dennis was shown the way down several halls, which he quickly lost track of. Eventually, they came to an interview room and Michael opened the door and showed Dennis in, before Kate cut in.
"Can I speak to you a moment, please?"
Her husband looked at her a moment, slightly frustrated, then turned to talk to Dennis.
"Just sit down, uh, Dennis was it?"
"Yes, Dennis"
"Great, I'll be right back," Michael said as he closed the door behind him.
Dennis sat in the interview room and looked around. There wasn't much to see; a white room, table fixed to the floor, even his chair was riveted in place too and there was a big mirror on one side, obviously a one-way mirror. He could now hear indistinct shouting from outside, but only one voice and it sounded female. Dennis waited patiently for what felt like half an hour, before Michael finally entered the room.
"Sorry about that."
Dennis smirked.
"It's ok, it's quite cosy in here compared to outside"
"Yeah, sure is."
With that the sheriff sat down in the chair opposite and took off his hat, revealing his short brown hair. He sighed and looked at the clock on the wall. It read 11:36.
"So what were you doing driving to Riverside at this time of the night?"
"Work," Dennis replied sharply.
"And what would that be then?"
"Office supplies. I was on my way up-state when I ran into a CEDA checkpoint, so I came this way to avoid it."
Michael sighed again and looked at the clock.
"Well, do you know what's been going on?"
Dennis was a bit confused by his question.
"What?"
"The, well I dunno, the virus going around?"
"Is that what they're calling it?"
"Don't know," Michael shrugged "They're not talking anymore. Most of the radio and television stations are offline and we have no idea what's going on. Quite frankly, I'm assuming the worst and acting on it."
"And what's the worst?"
"That there's nobody left alive out there."
Both men fell silent for a moment, neither wanting to say what they really thought. Eventually, Dennis broke the silence.
"So what about me then?"
"You tell me," said Michael casually, leaning back in his chair, waiting for Dennis' response. Dennis pondered this for a moment.
"Well, I'm clearly not 'infected' so let me go."
Michael leant forward in his chair again, head on hands thinking. Dennis was becoming a little uncomfortable about the whole thing.
"The thing is Dennis," he paused for a moment, reconsidering what he was about to say. "This isn't a very big town. I have my wife and about half a dozen other officers to keep this town secure. I got some guys working on barricades while my officers try to keep those things out. To be honest, Coleman should have shot you on sight, but I couldn't have expected more from a rookie."
Dennis relaxed a little, he liked where this was going if it meant staying in town. Michael continued,
"Coleman told me what happened, and I will admit I'm thankful you were there. So, how about you hang around town? I need more able bodies and you seem pretty able."
"And what do I get?"
"You get to stay, get looked after and in exchange, you help me out. I might be able to fix you up with some more ammo for your weapon there," he said, nodding towards the gun still in Dennis' pocket.
Dennis thought the deal over for a while, eventually coming to the conclusion that he really didn't have much of a better choice.
"Ok then, sounds good to me."
No sooner had Dennis finished speaking, there was a massive thud behind the mirror, which shook a little. Sheriff Michael closed his eyes in frustration, taking a deep breath, as if waiting for something to hit him at any moment. That something was his fuming wife.
"What the fuck are you doing?" She screamed before the door could even slam into the wall as it flung open.
"Kate, I…" but he could hardly get a word in before she continued her enraged screaming. Dennis was a little shocked at the sudden outburst.
"How can you do this? You don't even fucking know him and you're going to let him stay? And better yet, you're going to arm him?"
"Kate!" Michael yelled much louder than either Dennis or Kate expected. Kate immediately stopped yelling, allowing Michael to start.
"I'm trying to handle the situation as best I can, ok? This town is too bloody big and I need more able bodies! I'll be responsible for him, but for now, I need the extra help. You're just going to have to deal with it."
"Fine," Kate snarled before turning to Dennis, leaning over the table and growling quietly at him, "You so fucking much as set one foot wrong and I'll fucking drop you. Got that?"
Still shocked from the whole outburst, it took Dennis a moment to find his voice.
"Yeah, sure, whatever you say."
With that, Kate stormed off, leaving an exhausted Michael covering his face with his hands, breathing yet another large sigh.
"It's been a long fucking day."
Dennis forced a small smile, remaining quiet lest he face the sheriff's recently witnessed wrath. Michael stood up very suddenly, grabbing his hat and placing it neatly on his head.
"Come on then, I suppose you need some rest if you've been driving all day."
"Hell yes. You have no idea."
Dennis stood up and walked over to Michael.
"Mind taking these off?"
"Sure," Michael smirked, "Just let me grab the key."
After a moment, Dennis and the sheriff were walking through the station again, Dennis no longer in cuffs. Michael stopped at a keypad locked door and punched in a code, opening the door with a mechanical click. He pushed the door open and stepped in, Dennis following right behind. Dennis was immediately stunned at the sight before him. Racks and racks of weapons and ammunition, including a range of shotguns and automatic rifles. Without looking, Michael somehow knew that Dennis was shocked at the immense stock of weapons such a small station had.
"Yeah, we're pretty well stocked here thanks to the AHR Program. We were one of the lucky towns to be included in the program, not that anyone here except us knows about our stash."
"The AH what?" Dennis asked, still both stunned and confused.
"Anti-Hostile Repulsion Program or AHR for short. It's a government program that was initiated in the event of a war or invasion of the United States. The idea was to stock local law enforcement with a heavy array of weapons and firepower. In the event of a, I don't know, a nuclear war or if China decides to invade America. Select residents are to report here and get drafted into some sort of rebel army or whatever."
"So why don't you get them to come here? You'll have a small army to protect the town."
"Because the program isn't completed yet. Basically, we've got the weapons to supply an army, but no troops to actually supply. That part of the program isn't ready."
"Ah, I see," said Dennis, though still not completely understanding.
Michael rummaged through a large box and pulled out three clips.
"Here you go Dennis," he said, handing him the ammunition, "A few clips for you all ready to go."
Dennis took them, not exactly sure what to do with them. Michael noticed his hesitation and told him to give him his gun. Dennis complied, passing the sheriff his Beretta and a clip. Michael pushed a small switch on the side of the weapon, and the empty clip immediately fell to the floor. He raised a new clip, and pushed it sharply into the weapon, the slide immediately snapping back into its loaded position, ready to fire.
"Ok with that?" Michael asked, holding the gun out to Dennis.
Dennis nodded, taking the weapon and examining what Michael had just showed him.
"Ok then, we haven't got much in the way of beds here, so you can either take a cell cot or the staff room couch."
Dennis didn't like the idea of sleeping in a cold cell.
"I think I'll take the couch, thanks."
"Sure. Good choice if you ask me, the cells are a little cold this time of year."
Dennis was shown the staff room and the bright blue couch sitting in front of a small television.
"Help yourself to whatever you want, you won't be bothered. All my men are out on duty, but they'll be back in the morning, so try to clear out by eight. They get a little rowdy."
"Thankyou," Dennis said happily, looking eagerly at the couch.
"Ok, see you in the morning then."
With that, Michael left Dennis alone in the staff room. He was feeling exhausted and immediately lay down on the couch. Within moments, his eyes began to droop close and before long, his snoring resonated through the quiet room, only the small fridge humming quietly in return.
