Cities on Fire Read online

  Cities on Fire:

  A Family’s Apocalypse

  Apocalypse: A Family’s Survival Story

  by

  AJ Newman

  ✼

  This book is dedicated to Patsy, my beautiful wife of over thirty years who assists with everything from Beta reading to censor duties. She enables me to write, golf, and enjoy my life with her and our mob of Shih Tzus.

  Thanks to Cliff Deane for beta reading and being a great friend who I can bounce ideas off.

  Copyright © 2017 Anthony J Newman. All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. All events, names characters, and places are the product of the author’s imagination or are used as a fictitious event. That means that I thought up this whole book from my imagination and nothing in it is true.

  NOTE: My good friend Cliff Deane has four great Post-Apocalyptic novels on Amazon. If you like Post-Apocalyptic novels, you’ll love these books.

  Vigilante: Into the Darkness Vigilante: Into the Fray

  Vigilante: The Pale Horse Vigilante: No Quarter

  These books are available at Amazon:

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XG1XPQM

  Please visit Cliff’s FaceBook page:

  https://www.facebook.com/mustangpublishingllc

  ✼

  Books by A J Newman

  Alien Apocalypse:

  The Virus Surviving

  A Family’s Apocalypse Series:

  Cities on Fire – Family Survival

  After the Solar Flare - a Post-Apocalyptic series:

  Alone in the Apocalypse Adventures in the Apocalypse*

  After the EMP series:

  The Day America Died New Beginnings The Day America Died

  Old Enemies The Day America Died Frozen Apocalypse

  “The Adventures of John Harris” - a Post-Apocalyptic America series:

  Surviving Hell in the Homeland Tyranny in the Homeland

  Revenge in the Homeland...Apocalypse in the Homeland John Returns

  “A Samantha Jones Murder Mystery Thriller series:

  Where the Girls Are Buried Who Killed the Girls?

  Books by A J Newman and Cliff Deane

  Terror in the USA: Virus: Strain of Islam

  These books are available at Amazon:

  http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HT84V6U

  To contact the Author, please leave comments @:

  www.facebook.com/newmananthonyj Facebook page.

  ✼

  Prologue

  Most of my novels have a strong central character who is the hero of the story. This novel tells the story of a family that has to deal with a world that has fallen apart and survives in its ashes. The Karr family is the “hero” in this tale, and together they overcome all odds to help each other live through the horrible events that occur during an apocalypse.

  Family doesn’t always mean blood kin. The Karr family grows stronger as time goes on and with each new member.

  Most Post-Apocalyptic stories have the same nuclear bombs, EMPs, and viruses; what makes them unique is how the characters react to the challenges and meet the dangers of a new world as life deals the cards. I hope you find the Karr family’s story to be a fresh view on a well-covered genre. I think the story will keep you wondering what’s next and how the family will deal with the issues confronting them.

  I have sketched out an outline that takes the family through the first year of the apocalypse in four novels. I plan to write those four, and then decide if the family’s trials and tribulations merit further story telling.

  Enjoy!

  AJ Newman

  Character List

  Josephine Karr – She is a Policewoman, Bill’s wife and mother to Will, Missy, and Jake.

  Bill Karr – He is a Nurse and Josephine’s husband.

  Will Karr – He is the oldest child at 16.

  Missy Karr – She is 15 and a tomboy.

  Jake Karr – He is 12 and a couch potato.

  Bob Karr – Bill’s father and is a widower. He is a retired Army Officer and prepper.

  Jane Carter – Josephine’s mother. She is a nurse and works with Bill at the local hospital.

  Maddie O’Berg – The Senator’s daughter. The girl who helps Jane and the Kids, and then joins the Karr Family.

  Walt Long – Jo’s partner who loves her and wants her to leave Bill and marry him. He is an ex-Army MP.

  Barry O’Berg – US Senator from Tennessee. Crooked politician and power hungry sociopath.

  Jim Dickerson – Neighbor across the river from the Family’s home. The leader of the people resisting O’berg.

  ✼

  Cities on Fire:

  A Family’s Apocalypse

  by

  AJ Newman

  ✼

  Chapter 1

  Day One – A Bad Day Gets Worse

  They were driving along Algonquin Parkway in Louisville when Walt saw the sign for the Dixie Highway up ahead.

  “Let’s stop at Al’s and get a couple of burgers Doll.”

  “I could go for a burger,” his partner replied.

  “Okay, I’ll call into the station and tell them.”

  “Tell Sarge to have you stop calling me Doll.”

  They had been assigned to patrol the west side of Louisville for six months now and had only run into general domestic disturbances, bicycle thefts, and a few drug busts. They didn’t encounter anything that ended up being dangerous or too exciting for that matter. The west end of Louisville was the low-income area of the town and was populated with lower middle class and poor blacks and whites. It had a bad reputation that was much worse than reality.

  “Walt, move your hand, or I will break your fingers. I can’t drive with you trying to play grab ass all the time.”

  “I love it when you talk tough like that Jo. It really turns me on.”

  She slid to a stop in front of Al’s, grabbed his hand from her knee, and bent the palm backward until he yelled, “Damn, please let go! That hurts.”

  “Keep your hands to yourself, or I will report you to the Captain.”

  “Now wait a minute Jo; you used to love me. We have been partners for three years, and you used to let me touch you.”

  “Walt that was one time when you got me drunk, and Bill and I were fighting. I didn’t know what I was doing, and you act like we were lovers. This has to stop, or I can’t be your partner.”

  His face got red, he tensed up and had to calm himself down before he said anything. He had loved her from the first week he met her. She was five feet four inches tall, a buck twenty and dark brown hair. She had a figure that really turned him on, in her uniform, or wearing street clothes.

  “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I promise to be good from now on.”

  “Seriously, Walt, if you grab me one more time I’m reporting you. I want to be your damn partner, not your lover, and if you can’t live with that, then we can’t work together.”

  “I’ll be good. Now let’s get some burgers.”

  They walked into Al’s and sat in the back with both of them facing the door, a habit that helps to keep Police Officers alive. Germaine, the waiter, came over, took their order, and poured two glasses of water.

  “You guys are late tonight. It’s 11:00 and the chef went home.”

  “Germaine, turn the TV to Fox News and tell Al to cook them himself.”

  “We don’t want no stinking FOX News on in this place.”

  “You give me a rash of shit every day, and you still change the channel to FOX. Why don’t you just do it and save the stress for something else in your life,” asked Jo?

  “Because I like it when yo’ face turns that white girl’s red. You must have some Injun blood in your family. Now, Walt, there has some
Black blood stirring around in his family tree. See that black curly hair; one of my homeboys got in there somehow back in the day.”

  “Screw you, Germaine. If I wanted my ancestry checked out I’d go to that damn place on TV all of the ti…”

  “Walt, shut up. The announcer just said that China has done something wrong to the USA. Shut up and listen.”

  The FOX anchor said, “We have just received news that the International Money Fund, the United Nations, and the Common market have dropped the US Dollar as the World Currency and switched to the Chinese Yuan. Reports indicate that China has bribed many of the influential leaders of those organizations to force the change. The DOW Jones has plummeted all day due to the speculation and closed over 5,000 points down. Unnamed sources in the Whitehouse tell us that the President will close US trading until further notice to help stabilize the market.”

  “Bill’s Dad has been warning us to buy silver and gold for years. Bill, thought it was stupid. I’m glad I bought over ten thousand Dollars’ worth of silver coins five years ago. Silver has tripled in value while gold has only doubled.”

  “You know me, I’m a prepper. I have silver and gold coins plus enough food, ammo, and guns to start a small country.”

  “We have a six month’s supply of food, but I wish we had bought some ARs and more semi-auto pistols. We only have three shotguns, two lever action 30 30s, and my 9mm Ruger and Keltek. I should have purchased a couple of Glocks and two AR15s.”

  The TV got much louder just as Germaine brought their burgers, fries, and drinks to them.

  “Breaking news! Russia just invaded Belarus, The Ukraine, and the three Balkan countries. They have also placed their ICBMs on alert to launch if any country interferes with their invasion. Jack Terry, the Secretary of State, has logged a complaint with the UN and the President has called President Putin to register a personal complaint on behalf of the countries being invaded.”

  “Jack, we had eight years of military buildup during the last administration, and now we see this sad state of affairs just three years into Susan Barren’s foreign policy disaster.”

  “General Maddox, what is your take on this situation?”

  “We had the Russians and Chinese contained for six years, and now this piss poor excuse of a President has delivered the world to the Commie bast….”

  “Sorry, the feed from the General was cut short. We will try to reconnect later in the program.”

  The announcers continued to analyze the two situations as Jo and Walt ate their burgers and fries.

  Jo’s phone beeped, and she said, “Time to get our asses back to work.”

  Jo’s father in law, Bob Karr, was an ex-Army Officer who retired after 30 years serving in the 82nd Airborne. He had lived around the Fort Campbell area on and off most of his adult life and settled down in the Middle Tennessee area with his wife. She died the same year Bob retired and left him a lonely man with too much time on his hands. His home, on a small farm, was located a few miles south of Dixon Springs, Tennessee, which was on a piece of land trapped in a loop of the Cumberland River. The area was called the Horseshoe since its shape resembled a horseshoe thanks to the meandering river.

  Bob was a staunch conservative and felt that America was falling apart thanks to liberal Democrats. He was proud of what was accomplished during the previous President’s two terms to make America strong again; however, the current liberal President destroyed most of that progress. Iran tested a nuclear weapon just two years after her election and had stockpiled ten by the end of her third year in office. Bob had little confidence in the current government or world powers to stop evil in the world.

  He purchased the old home and 50 acres to get away from the day-to-day BS in the world. He didn’t have a TV much less Cable or an iPhone. He got his daily news from FOX radio.

  There were only a few families that lived on this peninsula bounded by the Cumberland River, and he liked it that way. He was friendly to his neighbors but had no real friends.

  The bad news that night concerning the change to the Yuan being the world’s currency and the Russian invasion scared him. He knew his liberal son wouldn’t listen, but he had to try to talk some sense into him. He thought if he failed, he would try talking to his daughter in law. She had a good head on her shoulders.

  “Dad, yes I watch the news.”

  “Son the fucking Ruskies are invading half of Europe. Only nukes will stop the bastards. Come on down here now. When the nukes fly, Louisville will be a war zone in three days.”

  “Yes, it’s bad out there, but I’m not panicking and moving my family to Tennessee. President Barren will somehow handle this mess. The damned Republicans caused this by scaring the Russians and Chinese with our military buildup during the last administration. I hate that clown looking bastard.”

  Son, you have to list…”

  “Dad…Dad…Can I say something? I’m sorry, but I don’t think it’s the end of the world, and no, we’re not coming to the farm. This will blow over as it always does.”

  “Look, son, I know we don’t see eye to eye on politics, but I want you and your family to be safe. The Chinese Yuan is now the world currency. The dollar won’t be worth the paper it’s printed on, and we will be at war tomorrow. Please bring your family down here to the Horseshoe before the food supply dries up and the riots start.”

  “Dad, you watch too many of those prepper shows on TV. Look, I love you, and we’ll visit at the end of the month. Goodbye.”

  Bill looked across the desk, saw his friend Dawn, and said, “My old man is off his rocker. He thinks it’s the end of the world, the Russians are coming, and my family needs to head down to his farm in Tennessee.”

  Dawn looked both ways, laid her hand on top of Bill’s hand, and said, “Bill, why don’t you join me for drinks at my place when we get off. Tell your wife you are pulling a double shift and I can make you forget your troubles.”

  Bill looked over at the nurse with her cleavage staring him in the face and the tight white slacks and said, “Dawn, that sounds awful good. Let me think about it.”

  “Bill, I don’t want to break up your marriage. We will be friends with benefits.”

  “So you aren’t husband shopping?”

  “Hell no. I just want to get you in bed and have some fun.”

  “You are a brazen hussy.”

  “Wait until I show you some of my skills in the bedroom.”

  Bill knew he shouldn’t be having this conversation, but he knew Walt had the hots for Jo and Jo wasn’t the same anymore toward him. He needed a friend. He looked across the counter, squeezed her hand, and brushed against her as he passed behind her.

  “Don’t get too greedy at work. There are cameras everywhere and remember your mom in law works here on day shift.”

  Bill turned red as he said, “I’ll meet you in the janitor’s closet by Room 203 at 1:00 am sharp and see if you’re all talk.”

  “It’s a date.”

  They walked out of Al’s to their patrol car when Walt said, “Jo, something doesn’t look right across the street. There is a man in a car with the engine running in front of Patriot Firearms, and another is watching the road from inside the shop. Hell, it’s almost midnight they should be closed.”

  “Damn, you are right. It’s a robbery. I’ll call it in.”

  They ducked below the top of the parked cars and went up the street before crossing quickly behind the parked car. The driver must have seen one of them because he honked his horn and pulled closer to the door. He had barely stopped when two masked men came running out of the gun shop with their arms full of weapons.

  “Police, stop and raise your hands.”

  The driver poked a handgun out the window and started blasting away at the two Policemen who had to duck behind a car. This gave the others time to drop their stolen booty into the car’s window and come up shooting.

  Jo saw a thug’s leg below a car, took aim, and shot him just below the kneecap. He was down f
or the count as his Mac 10 skittered across the street. Walt ran from his hiding spot drawing fire and ducked behind a pickup. One of the robbers moved to get a shot at Walt and exposed himself to Jo’s field of fire. She pulled the trigger and shot the man squarely in the chest twice.

  The driver honked again for the man in the shop to get in the car, but the man ran to the back of the gun shop. The car sped off with both Jo and Walt taking shots. The car swerved and crashed into a street sweeper that had been abandoned when the gunfire erupted. The driver’s head was sticking through the windshield.

  “That son of a bitch is going to take hostages, yelled Walt as he saw Jo run up to the door.

  Jo crouched down and slowly pushed the door open to reveal one man lying on the floor and another slumped against a display case holding his side with blood everywhere. She cautiously walked into the shop while keeping the display case between her and the back of the store. Walt followed ten feet behind her.

  There was complete silence until they heard, “Please don’t kill me I have a wife, kids, and grandkids. You can have everything, and I won’t press charges.”

  “Shut the fuck up old man before I cap your fucking ass.”

  Jo looked up into a mirror and saw the thug holding the owner with a pistol to his head. She looked around the store, and she didn’t see any more people just a body to her left.