Deep Shadows Read Free Page A

faced, he drove as if he could outrun it.

T HREE
    M ax knew he couldn’t elude what was happening, but the urgency to get his friends back home spurred him to push the old truck. He was an intelligent guy. You didn’t make it through four years of college and three years of law school if you were even marginally slow. But what Shelby was suggesting—well, it was difficult to wrap his mind around.
    He kept glancing toward her, but she stared resolutely out the window. The cab was oddly quiet, each person lost in images of a world turned upside down. The fear in Shelby’s eyes had convinced him of the seriousness of their situation. He’d lived next door to her most of his life, long enough to know that she didn’t spook easily. If she thought the aurora was a problem, then he would treat it as such.
    His mind shifted to the planes. If all air flight was suspended, it would affect their economy drastically. They’d seen that after September 11. Not to mention the loss of life from those planes caught en route at the time of the flare.
    Some would make it, though. Pilots were trained in how to land aircraft without instrumentation. If they could find a safe spot to set down, they would be okay. A field, parking lot, even roadways would work if they were cleared.
    The situation was drastic, but they would find a way to deal with it. He didn’t for a minute question the validity of what Shelby had described. She might be stubborn and increasingly silent about her feelings, but she wasn’t one to overreact.
    The truck practically sailed over the last cattle guard, and they flewpast the sign that read “You Are Leaving Colorado Bend State Park.” He might have sped right past Sad Sam’s Bait Shop, but the sheer number of cars caused him to slam on the brakes.
    â€œWe’re stopping?” Patrick asked.
    â€œLooks like we have to.”
    The normally vacant store was brimming with people. A few cars were double-parked next to the building, and some even spilled out onto the road. Max slowed to maneuver around a particularly long sedan.
    â€œMaybe we should go in.” Patrick rolled down his window. “Might be better to know what we’re driving into.”
    That would be Patrick’s military training kicking in. He’d been out five years, but old habits died hard.
    â€œAnd they might know something about the planes,” Bianca said.
    Max glanced at Shelby, who shrugged.
    â€œI suppose a few minutes wouldn’t hurt,” Shelby said. “I’m worried about Carter, but I’d also like to know what these people have heard. As long as we can make it a quick in and out.”
    As they exited the truck, Max noticed Patrick hanging back. He pulled his pack from the truck bed, unzipped it, and removed his pistol, which he then slipped into a paddle holster.
    â€œDo you really think you’re going to need that?”
    â€œCertainly hope not.” Patrick’s shirt had been tucked into his hiking pants. He pulled it out, then checked to be sure it covered his firearm.
    â€œI think you’re overreacting.”
    â€œI don’t.”
    â€œWe want to keep this low-key. I’m hoping no one will even notice we’re here.”
    The girls had stopped walking toward the store and turned to watch them. So instead of arguing, Max shrugged and they hurried to catch up.
    The four walked together in a tight group, and Max heard Bianca ask Shelby, “Do you think my parents will be okay?”
    A year earlier her father had suffered a broken hip and was currently living in their town’s only rehabilitation and retirement center, Green Acres. Miguel Lopez had healed from the hip replacement, but other health issues kept him at Green Acres. Currently his main problem seemed to be decreased lung capacity due to years of firefighting in the Houston area.
    â€œ Mamá is fragile and old, but she doesn’t seem to realize