Free Refuge Book 1 - Night of the Blood Sky by Jeremy Robinson, Jeremy Bishop Page B

her desk, opposite of where Griffin now stood.
    Rule grunted. It was a technicality. She trusted Griff, and that was good enough for her. “Do you swear?” she asked him.
    “All the time,” he replied.
    She smiled at Dodge. “Good enough for me.”
    Griffin crouched by her desk and plugged the phone’s charger into the surge protector, which was zip-tied to the desk leg. He attached the charger to the phone and was happy to see the screen light up green. “You know what,” he said. “I think we can use it while it’s plugged in.”
    He handed the phone to Rule. She looked at the numbers, wondering who to call. FBI? Homeland? NASA? The damn White House? She opted for the State Police, punched in the number and lifted the phone to her ear. It shrieked at her, a wailing cry so loud that she yanked the phone away from her ear and dropped it on the desk.
    The high-pitched tone could be heard clearly from the desk. Then it stopped.
    Griffin put the phone to his ear and shook his head. He hung up and hit redial. “Nothing. Same as the cells and land lines.”
    “What was that sound?” Winslow asked.
    “Sat-phone,” Griffin said.
    Winslow scratched his gray hair. “Sounded like interference.”
    “Whatever it was, it’s gone now, but we’re not getting a signal.” Griffin turned to Rule. “Looks like you’re going for a drive.”
    Rule got Griffin situated, pointing out a few things around the office with which he might not already be familiar. She told him to stick with the solar flare story if anyone asked, and to send people home. If there was an emergency...well, he’d have to handle that as best he could. She decided to take two cars. Dodge would ride in her patrol car. Winslow with Frost. As soon as they reached Ashland in one piece, she’d send Frost back. She finished detailing her plan by handing him a radio. They seemed to work, but she couldn’t depend on that continuing, since every other mode of modern communication seemed to be on the fritz.
    “Stay safe,” Griffin said, as Rule headed for the door with Frost, Dodge and Winslow. She hung back while the others exited.
    “Listen, Griff...” She spoke quietly. Secretive. “My personal opinion is that whatever happened has probably affected a lot more people than just us. There were thousands of people in Ashland. And no one’s come home. If people there panicked...” She let that linger. “If that’s what we find, and some kind of craziness spills over into Refuge, you have my permission to take Avalon and get the hell out of town. Head up to that cabin of yours.”
    “I will,” he said. “Just as soon as you and Frost get back safely.”
    She smiled and gave his face a playful slap. “Question is, which one of us do you have a crush on? Unless it’s both of us. Wouldn’t put it past you.”
    Both of Griffin’s cheeks turned red despite only being slapped on one side. His grin confirmed her suspicions. She kissed his cheek where she slapped him. “Jess would approve.” She headed for the door. “Back in a jiff.”

 
     
    13
     
    Dodge had remained quiet for the first few minutes of the ride, but Rule could see him growing antsy. She really didn’t want to get into an argument with the man. It wouldn’t do anyone any good. So don’t argue , she told herself. Let the man speak his mind and just nod.
    Dodge pulled his eyes away from the green and brown blur of the pine forest they sped through and swiveled toward her exactly when she expected him to. But his words nearly caused her to yank the steering wheel and plow the police cruiser into a tree. “I want to apologize.”
    She glanced at him. “’Scuse me?”
    “You heard me,” he said, willing to apologize, but not repeat the words. But then he elaborated, and Rule felt like she’d been transported to another world. “I overreacted.” The words came out slowly, begrudging more than thoughtful. “I jumped to conclusions. I haven’t ruled out the supernatural, mind