Frequency (Ebook--kindle and epub)

FREQUENCY – BOOK THREE in the Fallout Series from USA Today, ECPA, and CBA Best-selling Author Lisa Harris.

What would you do if modern technology was no longer available?

No power grid. No internet. No next day delivery.

Welcome to Shadow Ridge, where Longmire meets Jericho.

 

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ABOUT THIS EBOOK:

SHE TRUSTED THE WRONG PERSON.

Four deaths, most likely tied to arsenic-tainted water, leave the town of Shadow Ridge frantic for answers before someone else dies. But that isn’t the only nightmare Tess McQuaid is facing. She has proof someone attempted to cover up a murder as another arsenic death.

HER LIFE DEPENDS ON FINDING OUT THE TRUTH.

Deputy Kellan Gray is heading to Shadow Ridge when he encounters Tess, running for her life. Pursued by a killer in the isolated west Texas desert, can he keep her safe while trying to stop the man determined to silence her?

 

“Hits the dystopian bullseye.”

“A stunner.”

“Author Lisa Harris hits it out of the park with these well imagined ‘what if’ stories!”

“The unthinkable meets the unimaginable.”

“After one book, I’m a serious series fan!”

A page-turning, devour-in-one-gulp kind of read.”

“This will be a series I will read again.” 

“I am totally besotted with this Futuristic series!!”

“I’ve loved every book in this series.”

 

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ENJOY A SAMPLE FROM FREQUENCY: 

 

The feud between the Gillards and the Wilders was legendary in Van Horn. Even before the grid went down, the two families had fought over everything from crops, to animals, to property lines, while regularly throwing out every accusation imaginable. Deputy Kellan Gray pulled slightly on the reins of his horse, Dante, as he headed toward the neighbors’ adjoining properties with his partner, Deputy Miles Porter. The oldest of the Gillard boys had ridden into town, requesting help for an escalating conflict between the two men. Whatever that meant. This wasn’t the first time law enforcement had stepped in to stop a fight.

Last month, Camden Gillard had insisted on a manhunt for the person who had stolen his prize rooster—and that person, of course, had to have been Hugo Wilder. The month before, Hugo had shot at his neighbor, claiming Camden was trying to kill him when his bees ended up on Hugo’s property, and he allegedly almost went into anaphylactic shock.

Typically, the sheriff’s department response was to ignore the two fools. As long as no one actually got hurt, Sheriff Estrada’s position was to let the men battle it out on their own. The Quake, as some called it, had shifted the priorities of every lawman Kellan knew, shoving petty feuds even further to the bottom of the department’s agenda. But today, a frantic visit from Camden Gillard’s oldest had convinced the sheriff to send out a couple of deputies. Kellan and Miles had been given little information other than the fact that the two men were once again battling it out, and Gillard’s son was terrified that this time the argument was going to end in bloodshed.

“What do you wanna bet that this time Camden sicced his bees on Hugo on purpose?” Miles asked.

“It’s possible.” Kellan adjusted his cowboy hat on his head to block the sun, then shrugged, uncommitted.

As far as he was concerned, he could deal with feuds like the Gillards and the Wilders as long as he was also doing something to make a difference in this town. The recent arrest of a string of traffickers resulting in the release of the girls they had taken captive had been one of those differences.

There was no way around the fact that the grid going down had changed everything. Not just for the small west Texas town he called home, but for the entire state and beyond. They still knew very little about who or what was behind the shutdown of the grid, or how widespread it was, but what little they had heard indicated it had hit the entire country. With bandits plaguing the roads, travel to major cities was difficult if not impossible. Any news that had trickled in—including a recent convoy sent from the Texas governor—had not been enough to give them any solid answers. So for the time being, they continued doing everything they could to keep Van Horn and the towns around them safe without any of the traditional modern resources law enforcement was used to.

Which wasn’t easy, although Kellan had to remind himself that he could be living in far worse places. Too many of the towns he’d visited across the county with the sheriff no longer had any rule of law. They had been taken over by gangs, and some of their residents had simply disappeared.

This part of west Texas, different from anyplace he’d ever visited, was wild and remote, and he never tired of the incredible vistas. Around him was desert scrub and cactus that eventually gave way to forested mountains formed from volcanoes. He’d taken dozens of backpacking trips with friends. Followed trails dotted with white-tailed deer and breathtaking views. But anymore, he found little time to explore the surrounding terrain. Most of his time was spent like today—stopping feuds, dealing with thefts, and checking on people’s well-being in the community.

“So. . . Who is she?”

Kellan glanced at Miles. “Who’s who?”

“Seriously, Kellan. How long have we known each other? Your mind is a thousand miles away. And you’ve got that odd smile on your face. I just figured it has to be a girl.”

Kellan frowned at the shift in the conversation. There was no girl. Not really. Though if he was honest with himself, there was someone he hadn’t been able to put out of his mind. Not that he had any plans to pursue a relationship. Tess McQuaid lived a day’s ride away by horseback, and it wasn’t like he could just pick up his cell phone and talk with her. 

Still.

There was something about Tess. She was smart, resourceful, and not afraid to step outside her comfort zone. He’d seen it in the string of murders by the drug cartel. Her sketches had been a piece of the puzzle that helped them track down who was behind the grisly killings. He knew the task had been difficult, and yet she’d done what was necessary in this new reality of theirs. No electricity or labs meant no way for forensic evidence to be processed. Solar-powered chargers allowed them to have limited access to their phones, which meant they could take crime scene photos, but charging batteries took time, and at some point they would stop working. Having sketches was essential.

From their limited time together, he’d found Tess to be funny, smart, and undeniably beautiful. But this was not the world for a long-distance relationship. On top of that, his job was extremely demanding. When the grid went down, crime rose drastically. Everything from burglaries, to fights, to murder. Working under Sheriff Estrada’s experience had been a plus, but the reality was being on call 24/7 with very little downtime. He wasn’t even sure where a relationship could fit into his life.

“Am I right?” Miles pressed.

“All I’m thinking about right now is putting an end to this feud, getting home at a decent hour, and getting a good night’s sleep.”

“Nice way to shift the subject, but I’m still convinced you’re thinking about someone.”

Out of all the deputies the sheriff had hired, Miles was the easiest to work with. He didn’t complain, didn’t annoy him with corny jokes, and for the most part didn’t pester him with personal questions.

Apparently today was an exception.

“And now I’m thinking by your lack of response there clearly is someone,” Miles pressed as they turned onto the feuding neighbors’ street.

“I might have met someone,” Kellan said finally, knowing that the man was going to keep asking until he gave him something. “But she lives in Shadow Ridge.”

“Does she have a name?”

Kellan paused again, really not wanting to go there. He knew Miles. He might be easygoing, but when he got his mind set on something, he could be more persistent than a swarm of bees.

“Tess McQuaid.”

Miles grinned. “So, when you were in Shadow Ridge last month, you weren’t just there on business?”

“Oh, I was there on business,” Kellan said, immediately regretting that he’d mentioned her name. “Tess just happened to be part of that business.”

“It sounds like I need to let the sheriff send me on some of those ventures.”

“Not enough women for you here? Seems like every time I see you, you’re with someone different.”

“Ouch. I’m just. . .friendly. Unfortunately, with the limited options we have, I haven’t found anyone who tugs on my heartstrings.” Miles clicked his tongue to get his lagging horse to speed up. “But the McQuaids. They’re legends. Does Garrett McQuaid know you’re interested in his daughter?”

“No, and he never will. Because there’s nothing going on between us and there won’t ever be.”

Kellan heard the shouting as they approached the adjoining properties. The two houses sat back from the gravel road, about fifty yards from each other. Clothes, strung on lines, flapped in the wind. A wooden fence had been built on the property line between the two houses years ago, but today it was full of holes and broken boards. But none of that had captured Kellan’s attention.

Tied to a large oak tree in the middle of Hugo Wilder’s front yard, was his neighbor, Camden Gillard. Hugo had a shotgun pointed at Camden while the men’s wives argued on the sidelines.

“Out of all the possible scenarios, did this ever cross your mind?” Kellan asked, jumping down from his horse at the edge of the driveway and securing the reins to a post.

“Not exactly.” Miles dismounted then set his hands on his hips. “How in the world are we supposed to deal with this?”

“That’s a good question.”

Kellan let out a huff of air as he strode toward the clashing neighbors. Out of everything he’d seen over the past year, this had to be the most ridiculous. In fact, if he had his way, he’d simply let them fight it out right here, right now, but obviously that wasn’t going to work. Along with the wives, half a dozen children were watching the unfolding drama from inside the houses. If that didn’t motivate the men to stop, Kellan didn’t know what would.

Hugo stomped toward them. “What took you so long—”

“Hugo. . .I need you to put the gun down,” Kellan said to the burly man. “This has gotten out of hand.”

“You’re exactly right,” Hugo shouted. “He stole my chickens, that cantankerous fool. Ten of my Australorps are gone. You need to arrest him. Now.”

“I didn’t steal your chickens.” Camden’s bearded face reddened as he shouted back, trying unsuccessfully to pull himself free from the ropes. “You’re the one who’s gotta keep them pinned up. They’re always coming over to my property and eating out of my garden.”

Kellan held up his hands as he marched toward Hugo. “There are solutions to your problems, but you can’t go around tying people to trees.”

“What was I supposed to do until you got here? Y’all are as slow as molasses on a cold morning.”

“Where exactly did you think he was going to go?” Kellan asked, his irritation rising. “Put your weapon down. Now!”

“What about my chickens—”

Kellan stepped forward, his hand on his holster. “Your children are watching what is going on out here. Watching what you’re doing—”

“He stole my chickens—”

 “Doesn’t matter.” Kellan signaled to Miles to take Hugo’s gun. “I’ve had enough of this feud between the two of you. I’m arresting you both, right now for disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, kidnapping—”

“Arresting me?” Hugo hesitated, then handed Miles his rifle. “I’m not the one who stole anything.”

Kellan started counting under his breath in an attempt to keep his anger in check. One. Two. What kind of example were these men setting for their children?

Three. Four.

“You tied your neighbor to a tree and held him at gunpoint.” Kellan finally controlled himself enough to speak out loud. “I don’t think any more explanation is needed.”

“What about me?” Camden asked, still trying to tug free from the ropes. “I didn’t kidnap anyone. I’m the victim here.”

“My husband’s right.” Becky Gillard wiped her hands on the front of her apron as she walked toward him, her voice rising. “He didn’t tie his neighbor to a tree.”

Kellan ignored all of them as he went to untie Camden. The sheriff had told him to handle things as he saw fit, which was exactly what he was going to do.

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” he said as soon as Camden was untied and both men cuffed. “The two of you are going to be spending some time in the same jail cell. Sharing a sink, toilet, and meals. And you will remain roommates until you put this feud behind you. I don’t care if it’s a day, a week, or a month.”

 “You can’t do that,” Hugo spouted. “We have rights.”

 “Last time I checked, I was the law around here. And if I want to put you in the same jail cell together, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”

“They’ll. . .they’ll kill each other.” Becky’s voice broke, the panic in her voice audible.

 “Then maybe you better talk your husband into stopping this nonsense.” Kellan motioned for the men to start walking, then turned back around to the wives. “And by the way, just so you know, we serve oatmeal for breakfast, soup for lunch, and stale bread and soup for dinner. So don’t think this is going to be a vacation. If you two women want to supplement their meals, I don’t have a problem with that.”

“You can’t do this—”

“Mrs. Gillard. . .Mrs. Wilder.” Kellan set his hands on his hips. “I can understand that you too are frustrated, because I’m frustrated as well. But I’ve also had enough of this. My suggestion to both of you would be while your husbands sit in a jail cell, figure out a way to solve these problems just in case they don’t. You’ve got children. Have them fix the fence. Repair the coop. Whatever it takes to stop this feud. We have an entire community struggling to survive, and every time I come out here, it takes me away from those who really need help. Those who are struggling to put food on their table. Struggling to raise animals. Struggling because they’re lacking medication. Real problems.”

Becky glanced at Hugo’s wife then took a step back, clearly surprised with Kellan’s candid response.

“I suspect it’s gonna take a while before you can pick up your husbands,” Kellan continued, “so until then, get things sorted out here. And pray they get things sorted out between them.”

Kellan walked to his horse and mounted up before addressing the men. “The two of you will be walking. In front of us.”

Hugo glared at him. “You can’t do this. You can’t treat us this way.”

“You tied your neighbor to a tree. I don’t think you have any room to talk.”

They headed toward town at a slow pace with Hugo and Camden grumbling in front of them, but Kellan felt no sympathy toward them. All he could hope for right now was that a few days in the same jail cell would knock some sense into the two men.

Kellan heard the sound of horses behind him as they left the property. Two men riding hard came toward them. Kellan recognized them immediately once they got close enough to see their faces. Jacob Hahn and Abe Lynch.

Kellan pulled on the reins of his horse.

“Deputies. . .” Jacob said, stopping in front of them. “We were on our way to town to get help.”

“What’s going on?” Kellan asked.

“Abe and I were doing security out at the ranch and heard someone shout. A man’s fallen into the old Cooper mine.”

Kellan’s jaw tensed at the news. Before the grid went down, federal agencies had worked across the state to close abandoned mines. But even though the entrance to the Cooper mine and others in the area had warning signs posted, they hadn’t prevented several accidents over the past year alone from curious explorers. Some had ended in broken bones, but one man had lost his life. Deteriorating conditions over time caused the ground above the mines to become unstable, and there were gases and undetonated explosives that could easily escalate an already deadly situation.

“Do you know who he is?” Kellan asked.

Jacob shook his head. “He just said his name was Mac. I don’t think he’s from around here.”

“What about his condition?”

“He’s wedged under a wooden beam about six feet below the mine’s opening where the ground gave way,” Abe said. “We tried to get him out, but couldn’t. And he’s hurt pretty badly. Broken leg and a possible punctured lung. With extra men, we should be able to move the beam and pull him up.”

Kellan glanced back toward town. If they took the time to go get help they’d add at a minimum of an extra thirty minutes. Given the dangers involved in this kind of accident and the man’s injuries, they didn’t have that kind of time.

With his options limited, Kellan didn’t hesitate with his answer. “Hugo. . .Camden. . .I need the two of you to put aside your differences and come with us to the mine to help get this man out.”

The men looked at each other, clearly not thrilled with the idea, but they both nodded.

One of their sons still stood on the edge of their property. Kellan quickly shouted at the boy to bring their horses.

Kellan dismounted in order to uncuff the men, then stepped in front of them. “So help me, if either of you cause me any trouble, I’ll make sure you’re still in the jail cell over Christmas.”

After giving instructions for the boy to go to town and get Dr. Alfaro, the men mounted up and the group headed toward the ranch in silence. They all knew how high the stakes were. The limited medical resources they had after the grid went down often escalated simple accidents into life-threatening events. If they were dealing with something like a punctured lung, he wasn’t sure that his EMT training was going to be enough to save the man. And delayed treatment could lead to the rapid deterioration of the patient because of his inability to receive the oxygen his body required.

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, the men approached the mine where the ground had given way at the base of a large rock formation. There was an abandoned horse grazing to their left that Kellan assumed belonged to their victim. Beyond the mine were open grasslands with the silhouettes of mountains in the distance.

He studied the situation before stepping forward, knowing that the unstable setting made it just as dangerous for the rescue team as the victim. From his limited vantage point, he could see that a large wooden beam sticking out of the mine entrance had shifted and in the process trapped the man who’d fallen inside.

“I’m going to talk to him while the rest of you try and dislodge that beam that’s pinning him down,” Kellan said. “Go slow. We can’t have the mine collapse on top of him.”

The man would be buried alive, and they could go down with him.

Kellan made his way carefully to the opening of the partially collapsed mine shaft, then lay down on his stomach and flipped on his flashlight. He could see the man lying ten feet below him and the beam that was crushing his leg.

 “Mac?”

The man’s eyes fluttered open. Good. At least he was still alive.

“Mac, my name is Kellan Gray. I’m a deputy and here to help. Can you tell me what you’re feeling while my men try to get you out?”

“I don’t know. . .” He closed his eyes again.

“Mac. . .I need you to stay awake and talk to me.”

The men had moved into position, but so far the beam hadn’t budged.

“I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to last. My leg is broken…” The man gasped for air. “It’s getting. . .it’s getting hard to breathe.”

“I’ve got five men up here working to get you out, and then we’ll deal with your medical issues. I just need you to hang in there.”

His flashlight caught blood covering the man’s shoulder with what looked like a bullet wound. “What happened to your shoulder?”

“I. . .I was shot.”

Kellan looked up at the makeshift team, grateful that Hugo and Camden were working together, but the men were still struggling to make any progress. And now he’d just learned their victim had been shot.

“Who shot you?” Kellan asked.

“I don’t know.” The man turned his head. “You. . .you said you were a deputy?”

“Yes.”

“If I don’t make it. . .I—I need to tell you something.”

“You’re going to make it—” Kellan countered.

“You don’t understand.” The man closed his eyes for a moment, his chest barely moving with each breath. “I’m with the FBI. Three of us were heading to Austin with a flash drive full of information for the governor, but we. . .we were ambushed a few miles back. Lawrence. . .he was shot. And Manning. . .I don’t know where he is. I think they took him alive. The men in the security detail we were traveling with are all dead.”

“That’s when you were shot?” Kellan asked.

“Yes.”

A wave a nausea swept through Kellan. “Where did this happen?”

“West of here. I managed to get away and ride this far. Something spooked the horse, I was thrown off, then. . .then fell into the shaft.”

Kellan worked to process the information as the man continued.

“It’s a matter of national security. I have information about what’s going on that has to get to Austin. News about . . .about the grid going down, and the people behind it. They’ve hired bandits. . .thugs. . .making communication almost impossible.”

Kellan’s mind spun. He’d heard dozens of conspiracy theories as to what had taken down the grid. China, environmental activists, aliens. . .If this man had answers, he needed to find out everything the man knew.

“Do you know how widespread the shutdown is?” Kellan asked.

“They’ve hit the whole country plus Canada. . .Mexico. . . We’re still trying to confirm how widespread it is beyond our borders. All. . .in. . .in an attempt to take over. . . cause confusion.”

“What’s their end game?” Kellan asked, trying to stop the terror growing in the pit of his stomach.

“Don’t know. Yet. It’s an. . .an underground group. Multi-national. Cyberattack shut down satellites. Jammed signals. . .hit the electric grid, internet, water networks, and transportation. . . They call—”

Mac started coughing.

The beam slipped another inch.

One of the men shouted.

“Mac?” Kellan called out.

“They call themselves. . .” He coughed again, and blood trickled down the side of his mouth. “They call themselves The Realm.”