TYBEE ISLAND
By Paul Cales & Becca
Continued from the July 2019 Beachcomber.
Catch up @ http://tybeebeachcomber.com/magazine
CHAPTER 25 – WOULD YOU LOOK AT THIS SUM-BITCH
DAY 9
“You guys had better be safe,” Cheryl says.
“What’s all the worry about?” Tony asks. “We’ve got this. I’ll make sure
we bring Johnny back in one piece.”
“You freakin’ better,” Cheryl says.
“It’s going to be okay, babe,” Johnny cuts in. “We’re just going to head
over to the police station to make sure there isn’t anyone stuck in there.”
“And see if we can find the FEMA packs,” Joey says.
“Well just be careful. Seems like every time Tony and Joey go
somewhere together, something bad happens.”
“I’m going too, so don’t worry,” Becky says.
“And don’t you guys worry about us here,” Rudy says. “I’ve got this.”
“I’m not worried one bit,” Tony laughs. “Cheryl seems quite feisty today.
It would be a bad day for the zombie if he runs into her, I assure you.”
Johnny picks up his bag and looks at the group. “Alright folks. Let’s get
this show on the road.”
Joey picks up his pace a bit to get next to Tony. “Can we take the tank? I
really want to take the tank, Tony.”
“That would be a little overkill, don’t you think? I mean, fuel is going to
be a problem soon, and the tanks are very loud. I get that you love the tank
and feel safe in it, but this is more of a stealth mission.”
Joey sighs, “If you say so.”
Tony, Johnny, Joey, and Becky load up in the jeep. With Joey driving, they
head toward the police station. They’ve packed enough water, food, and
gear for a couple days, just in case they get stuck somewhere.
“Do you think we should check out the old folk’s home too?” Becky asks.
“We should at least do a drive-by to assess the situation,” Tony
responds. “Patch was right, we’re going to need some meds at some point,
and they’ve got meds.”
“Just don’t tell Cheryl we went somewhere besides the police station.
She’ll kill the lot of us,” Johnny says.
Tony laughs. “As long as we get you home safely I think she’ll forgive
us.”
“So…” Joey says. “The convalescent home first?”
“Yeah,” Tony says. “If there are folks at the jail we’re going to want to get
them out pretty quickly. We also don’t need to bring anyone else with us if
28 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | AUG 2019
we have to enter the convalescent home.”
“What do you mean ENTER the convalescent home?” Becky asks.
“I mean if there’s a chance we can get into the pharmacy and secure
the meds then we’re going to take the opportunity,” Tony responds. “Swing
around the back of the main building Joey. That’s where the pharmacy is
located.”
“How the hell do you know that?” Joey asks.
“I used to deliver food here all the time when I worked for Breezy,” Tony
says.
“Okay guys,” Becky says. “Let’s make this quick. Everyone ready?”
“Yup,” Johnny says.
“Just creep past the front doors so we can get a good look, Joey,” Tony
says quietly.
“I don’t see a soul,” Becky says. The front doors look to be secured,
and without the blood smear on the glass, everything would look perfectly
normal.
“Me either,” Tony says. “Seems quiet. Swing around the back Joey.”
“Dude,” Joey says in a whisper, “The back door is open.”
“Johnny and I are going to go check it out,” Tony says. “Joey, you and
Becky stay here with the jeep running in case we need to make a hasty
retreat.”
Johnny and Tony carefully approach the back door to the pharmacy.
They notice that someone had jimmied the door open with a crow bar or
something similar. They slip inside and out of view of the jeep.
“Someone’s already been here,” Johnny whispers.
“I’m just glad the gate to the front of the pharmacy is still in place. The
rest of the facility is sealed off.” Tony looks around. “All the pain pills are
gone.”
“Freaking junkies!” Johnny exclaims, still in a whisper.
“Let’s just bag up all the pills we can,” Tony says, and pulls a small
garbage bag out of his pocket. “We can come back for the rest of the
medical supplies later now that we know it’s pretty secure in here.”
Once the bag is full and the shelves are mostly empty they head quickly
and quietly back to the jeep.
“Took you guys long enough,” Becky says, as they load the bag and
themselves into the vehicle. “Joey was trying to convince me that we
should go get the tank in case you guys were in trouble.”
“That doesn’t even make sense, Joey,” Tony says.
“I did not try to convince you of any such thing!”
“Jesus, Joey,” Becky sighs, “Johnny stays with Joey next time.”
“So,” Johnny says, “Looks like someone was here already.”
“Who do you think would…” Joey starts, before Tony interrupts.
“Crabber Brian,” Tony says. “But the good news is we got a ton of pills.
Everything from vitamins to antibiotics.”
Joey turns around in his seat. “To the police station?” he asks the group.
A few minutes later the group pulls up to the front of the station. With
guns at the ready, Johnny pulls on the front door. When it doesn’t open,
Joey says, “That’s weird. These doors are never locked.”
“Should we try to break the door down?” Johnny asks.
“I never in a billion years thought that I would have to break INTO jail,”
Tony says.
“Stand back boys,” Becky says, “I’ve got this.” She steps up to the
doors, and with her 9mm held out in front of her, squeezes the trigger.
Glass explodes everywhere. She pulls a small piece of glass from her hair
and asks, “Everyone alright? I didn’t expect the glass to fly EVERYWHERE.”
“We’re good,” Tony answers for them all. “Let’s just wait a minute to see
/magazine