Free The Homecoming: Countdown to Armageddon: Book 5 by Darrell Maloney

or without a shirt on. It can be a pretty ugly sight. Especially Randy in his tighty whities or John in his SpongeBob or Scooby Doo underwear.”
         “SpongeBob and Scooby Doo underwear? Really?”
         “Seriously. Hannah bought them for him just before the blackout as a gag. He said he was wearing the Scooby Doos the last time he and Hannah made love. He said they bring back pleasant memories and calls them his lucky underwear. We told him we don’t mind him wearing them as long as he doesn’t try to get lucky with us.”
         She winced and said, “Ugh. I could have done without that visual, thank you very much.”
         From inside the house came a voice, “Come in.”
         In the small entryway were all three of Scott’s roommates, curious to see the woman Scott had brought home with him.
         John groaned.
         “Oh, man. I thought you were bringing home a hot chick we could all flirt with. And all you brought was Becky ?”
         Becky responded with, “You better watch it, Gooberhead, or I’ll tell all the other nurses about your SpongeBob underwear.”
         John looked at Scott, who just shrugged.
         “Thanks a lot, blabbermouth.”
         “Don’t worry, John. I won’t be here long. I’m just here with my darlin’ to use your ham radio for a bit. Then I’ll be out of here and you can get back to being your old disgusting self again.”
         She smiled.
         John looked at her and said, “’Darlin’? Are you and Scott a couple now?”
         “Yep. Pretty much. He finally realized I’ve loved him ever since we met, and he decided he kinda likes me too.”
         John slapped Scott on the back.
         “Well, congratulations, you two. Becky, I’m glad to see you so happy. You more than anyone else I can think of deserves a little bit of happiness. Especially after all the misery you’ve seen lately.”
         Randy walked into the room with a bottle of French wine he’d liberated from a liquor store a few days before.
         “Should I pour everyone a glass so we can toast to the new couple’s success?”
         Scott’s face took on a serious look as he remembered the task at hand.
         “Give us half an hour of radio time, Randy. We’ve got something we’ve got to do first.
         Scott knew that Linda was scheduled to work the ten p.m. to two a.m. shift at the security desk.
         It was just past ten.
         “Linda in Junction, this is Scott in San Antonio. Come in.”
         “Go ahead, Scott.”
         “Hey, how are things going up there?”
         “Not bad at all. Everyone is eagerly awaiting your homecoming and hoping you get here in time to help us harvest the wheat and corn. What’s the latest estimate on the all-clear?”
         “The rumors are saying it’ll come any day now. But you know how rumors go. My guess is within the next month or so. Hey, are you alone?”
         “The girls are watching TV in the next room. Tom is AWOL, everybody else is around but not close.”
         “What do you mean, Tom is AWOL?”
         “Sheriff’s business is all Dawn will tell me. He didn’t come home last night, and I’m a little bit worried, but Dawn says he’s fine and will be back soon.”
         “Are you guys safe?”
         “Oh, yes. He posted a deputy at his ranch to give us some extra security in case he didn’t come back last night and tonight. He didn’t tell us, but Jordan saw him on one of the security cameras. So we’re safe, just worried. He’s gonna have some explaining to do when he finally does come home.”
         “Hey, put on the headset, will you? I don’t want the girls to overhear what I’m going to tell you.”
         “Okay. Headset’s on. Go ahead.”
         “Sara was asking about her folks. They’re dead. Both of them. I went to their house and saw the blood stains. I’ll tell her, because I