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A tear in the grayness, brief but painfully intense, like listening to quiet static on headphones only to be shocked by an unexpected blast of screeching feedback so loud it made your ears ring for days.
But it wasnt noise, and he hadnt heard with his ears. It was an emotionfear. Pure terror, rich and undistilled by logic or rationality. Hed felt it in his soul. He still felt an echo of that fear. So pure. He hadnt experienced anything like that since . . . since he was a little boy.
A little boy so afraid of the shadows under the bed that he couldnt move, couldnt look, sure that whatever was under there would grab him and pull him down forever and ever.
But now he wasnt afraid of the thing under the bed.
He was the thing under the bed.
BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY
Corporal Cope drove Charlie Ogdens Humvee out the back of the C-17 Globemaster and into the winter night. It didnt have to go far. Just off the end of the runway, a black Lincoln waited. Four men stood outside it. Even from a distance, there was no mistaking the size of Perry Dawsey.
Ogden tapped Cope on the shoulder and pointed to the Lincoln. Seconds later, Ogden hopped out in front of Dew, Perry and two other men Ogden didnt know.
Colonel, Dew said, shaking hands. Dawsey didnt offer his hand, and if he had, Ogden probably wouldnt have shaken it. The other two men just stood there, respectfully silent.
A d.a.m.n shame about Amos, Ogden said. Please convey my condolences to Margaret.
I will, Dew said.
Status report?
No problems so far, Dew said. State troopers have shut down all off-ramps to g.a.y.l.o.r.d from highways I-75 and 32. They have a dozen troopers at each on-ramp administering the swab test. Traffic is backing up a bit, but its not that bad.
Any positive tests?
Dew shook his head. So far, so good. The cops have people waiting to go over area maps with you, suggest the best places for roadblocks.
What about reports of violence? Ogden asked. Any of these b.a.s.t.a.r.ds fighting?
Dew again shook his head. Nothing reported. g.a.y.l.o.r.d police cant believe how smoothly its going, but I guess the small-town rumor mill has been spreading stories of the body the postman found. Tack on the news coverage talking about what necrotizing fasciitis can do and people are only too happy to cooperate, get the test and get the h.e.l.l out of Dodge.
Ogden nodded. Hed come to expect smooth sailing out of a Murray Longworth cover story. The slimy b.a.s.t.a.r.d knew his s.h.i.+t.
I understand that you need men, Ogden said. How many and for what?
Eight should cover it, Dew said. Those bodies they found in Bay City? The guys name was Donald Jewell. He was probably here visiting his brother, Bobby Jewell, age thirty-three. We have to go bring Bobby in.
Bobby have family in the house?
Wife Candice, also thirty-three, daughter Chelsea, seven. Thats it.
Stay right here, Ogden said. Ill send a full squad, nine men instead of eight. Acceptable?
Dew nodded.
Ogden walked closer to Dew and talked quietly so that only Dew could hear.
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