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he could get there and back faster, with fewer problems and less risk than you could, Mom. He’s right about women being at risk in disasters. That was pointed out in one of the history books we had in school.”
     
    “But he’s only fourteen!” lamented Kathy.
     
    “Almost fifteen, Mom,” Rex said.
     
    “Still… Why can’t we just wait for more information and for the police to come around? They always drive by here once or twice a day.”
     
    “They’re going to have their hands full, Mom. This kind of thing is probably going on all over the city.”
     
    “Oh, don’t say that, Rex!” Kathy said softly. “Surely this was an isolated situation.”
     
    “Mom, what happened occurred in the heart of middle class suburbia,” Rex said. “If it happened here, it’s happening everywhere.”
     
    “All the more reason for you not to go,” Kathy replied quickly.
     
    Rex had his reply ready. “But it’s going to get worse. Better to get done what needs to be done now, before it does get worse.”
     
    Roxie and Rex could tell Kathy was wavering. “I’ll take one of Dad’s radios and check in regularly so you won’t worry.”
     
    “You should take a gun, too,” Roxie said.
     
    “No!” Kathy said again, forcefully. “You don’t know anything about guns! You’d be more likely to shoot yourself than protect yourself with one.”
     
    Rex sounded hurt when he responded. “Give me some credit, Mom. I wouldn’t take something I didn’t know how to use. Dad trained me on his guns. I know how to use them safely…and effectively.”
     
    Kathy knew Jay had taken the children target shooting occasionally over the past few years. She’d been asked to go along, but had always declined. She didn’t even know how many or what kind of guns Jay had.
     
    She felt bad about just leaving Mrs. MacGrady and Mr. Humphrey where they were, and letting the two men with shotguns get away. Very reluctantly she nodded. “Okay, Rex. You can go. But you have to promise me you’ll be extra careful and come back immediately if you run into trouble.”
     
    “I will, Mom. I promise.”
     
    “Go get the radios and the gun you plan on taking, before I change my mind.”
     
    Rex hopped up and ran for the basement steps. He was back a few minutes later. And, in truth, Kathy was about to change her mind. But when she saw Rex and the determination on his face, she decided she needed to let him do this. He was feeling the pressure to be the man of the house and, like her, needed to be doing something.
     
    He certainly looked capable of carrying out the mission he’d set for himself. He had a small backpack, his bike helmet, and there, around his waist, a belt hung with a holstered gun, and several pouches containing what, she had no idea.
     
    He handed his mother one of the radios. Rex didn’t deny Kathy the motherly hug she gave him before he went to the garage to get his bike out.
     
    Roxie hugged him too and whispered, “Be careful, huh? I don’t want to lose you.”
     
    “I will, Sis,” Rex whispered back. “And thanks for helping.”
     
    “Sure. Don’t expect it again.”
     
    Rex smiled and went into the garage. He checked his bike in the light from the crank-up flashlight and then opened the security shutter over the personnel door outside and took the bike through. He closed the door. The shutter door was already closing. Either Kathy, or more likely, Roxie, was closing it from inside.
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
    After surveying the street for dangers, Rex got on the bike and pedaled away. He swerved toward the dogs sniffing around Mr. Humphrey and chased them off. He did the same for the animals around Mrs. MacGrady, swallowing the bile that tried to rise in his throat at the sight of all the blood.
     
    He rode past the two abandoned vehicles, with their doors open and boxes and bundles strewn about that hadn’t fit into the minivan and trailer. Rex noted the splatters of blood here and there. “Good