Return of the Reaper novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Gate

Noelle drove the old Buick.

They covered the twenty-six miles to Eden in nineteen minutes.

Doyle sat beside her with the gray phone in one hand and his other hand braced on the dash.

He called Abel twice.

Nobody picked up.

At 12:51 she took the turn at the mailbox on two wheels, and the gravel track opened up in front of them.

The Suburban was parked across the farm's gate with its doors open.

A tow chain lay on the ground beside it.

Two men in dark coats were walking toward the house carrying a red gas can between them.

A third stood by the barn with a pistol held low along his leg.

On the porch, Abel Moss stood alone in his cardigan with the shotgun raised to his shoulder.

"That's far enough!" he called, in a voice that cracked. "I have a hearing aid, a bad hip, and nothing left to lose!"

The man by the barn laughed.

"Grandpa, put it down. We're only here for the lawn."

Noelle stood on the brake.

The Buick slid sideways to a stop.

"Stay in the car," Doyle said.

"No."

"Noelle."

"There's a six-year-old in that house," she said. "Don't tell me what to do with my hands."

He was already out.

The man with the pistol turned at the sound of the door and brought the gun up.

Doyle didn't run at him.

He walked, fast and straight, with his hands open and his shoulders loose, and the man's aim wavered for exactly the length of two steps.

That was the second Doyle needed.

He took the pistol wrist in his left hand, turned it, and smashed the man's forearm over his own knee.

The gun fell into the dirt.

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