Devilish Dust

By Erik Dean

BETTER TURN YOUR LIGHTS OFF...

The multi-award-winning author of Garbageman, Wraith and Cryptic is back with another chilling page-turner.

This weekend, on Arizona’s freeway between Tucson and Phoenix, several drivers will be trapped in a deadly dust storm.

"Pull off the road and turn off your lights!"
That's what the transportation authorities encourage drivers to do.
So no one will rear-end their vehicle, they say.

But that isn’t the only reason.
There's something else they're not telling travelers.

But they'll find out soon enough...
They'll come face to face with the evil that lurks within the dust storm.
And it's something they could never have imagined.

Get your copy!

Other Books by ERIK DEAN:

WRAITH
GARBAGEMAN
CRYPTIC
CRUEL and UNUSUAL
CRUELER and MORE UNUSUAL

• Language: English
• Publisher: Erik Dean
• Release date: Mar 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005980504

Erik Dean

Multi-award winning author, Erik Dean, is an Arizona native with over 25 years of experience in Radiology as a technologist. When called for, Erik applies his medical knowledge when writing his novels.In his spare time, Erik enjoys reading horror and action-adventure novels. He loves watching the classics, and horror, action-adventure and sci-fi movies. His favorite pet is a border collie.Erik strives to write unpredictable novels, with characters and plots that have never been written about before.Awards and Recognitions:Finalist, Horror - 2018 Book of the Year Award, Independent Authors Network (Cryptic)Finalist, Action/Adventure - 2018 Book of the Year Award, Independent Authors Network (Garbageman)First Place - 11th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards (Cryptic)Official Selection, Horror - 2017 New Apple Book Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing (Cryptic)

Book preview

Other Books by Erik Dean

WRAITH

GARBAGEMAN

CRYPTIC

CRUEL and UNUSUAL

CRUELER and MORE UNUSUAL

Introduction

Growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, people have to get used to unusual weather patterns – the excessive dry heat, dust devils, monsoon rains, mild winters, and massive dust storms. Some people might argue that the summer monsoonal rains are the deadliest weather pattern in Arizona because of the numerous lightning strikes. They are wrong. The dust storms of Arizona are by far the most lethal. These storms have caused multiple vehicle accidents, injuries, and deaths. The authorities have advised us of what to do if caught driving in a dust storm to prevent accidents.

They tell you to pull off the road and turn off the headlights and brake lights. Put your car in park and remain buckled up. If you use your brakes and do not put the vehicle in park, your taillights will illuminate. A car behind you might think you are still driving and rear-end you. Even those precautions might not help. Because sometimes, a vehicle will collide with you because of poor visibility. The authorities want the drivers to stay parked on the freeway’s shoulder until the storm clears.

The authorities provide you with this information for your safety. But is this the only reason people get into these deadly accidents?

Or is there something else they are not telling you?

The people in the following stories will discover what is really happening within a dust storm.

A Trooper’s Story

Richard Hickman’s alarm clock rang loudly. Richard blindly fumbled in the dark, trying to shut off the annoying ringing.

Aren’t you going to turn off that damn thing? I don’t have to get up as early as you do, said his wife, who was lying next to him on the bed.

Yes, hun. Richard found the off switch.

About time.

Sorry, hun. Richard kissed her shoulder.

Richard slowly sat on the side of his bed. He was trying to find the motivation to get up and get ready for work. He stumbled toward the hallway bathroom to shower, attempting not to disturb his wife’s slumber. He turned on the water to warm it up while he got undressed. As he stepped into the hot shower, the water washed away the cobwebs of his sleepy mind. After he was done, he brushed his teeth and shaved.

Richard quietly returned to the bedroom to get dressed. He found that his wife was no longer in bed and was nowhere to be seen. So, Richard assumed, she must be downstairs. He went to the closet and took out his uniform. After getting dressed, he retrieved his service pistol from the gun safe. He checked himself in the bathroom mirror to ensure his trooper uniform looked professional. He saw no wrinkles. It was nice and neat. His body armor was at the station, where he would put it on after he was assigned an SUV.

As Richard walked downstairs, the aroma of coffee hit his nostrils, making him crave his morning brew. He noticed that Alice, his wife, was not in the living room, where she usually drank her coffee. Instead, he heard some noises coming from the kitchen.

Now he knew where she was, so he made his way there.

Hey, hun, thanks for making the coffee, Richard said.

I was awake anyway. I thought I might as well get up and get it brewing.

Sorry about waking you up.

Alice ignored his apology and asked, Are you working another long shift?

Yes, I was assigned a twelve-hour patrol for today.

I can’t believe that they haven’t added more troopers yet. They are gonna burn you out, making you work all these days and hours.

Don’t worry, I have been told it shouldn’t be too much longer. New recruits are being trained, and hopefully, they will be joining our ranks soon. My sergeant told me my hours should return to normal in a couple of weeks.

I hope so. I miss spending time with you.

I miss our time too, Richard replied. He privately hoped things would go back to normal soon because the mandatory overtime was beginning to strain their marriage.

Richard sat down with his cup of coffee, then picked up the remote, which was on the kitchen table. He turned on the small kitchen TV to watch the morning traffic report. He did this for two reasons. One, to help him plan his commute to work. Two, he wanted to know if there were any problems on the stretch of freeway he patrolled. As a state trooper, his duty was to make sure everyone traveling on the I-10 drove safely.

The newsperson displayed a map of the freeways and where the morning delays were located. Richard noticed a few fender benders along his usual route. He would have to take the surface streets instead of the freeway so he could make it to work on time. He had to take off soon.

The good news was, he didn’t see any issues on the interstate he usually patrolled.

He put his empty mug in the sink. He went to the cupboard and retrieved his thermos. He filled it with coffee and closed the lid.

I’ve got to go.

So soon? Alice asked.

Yes. There are a few accidents on the freeway, so I have to take the surface streets.

Okay, hun. Alice rose from her chair. She gave Richard an affectionate hug and kiss. Be safe out there and come back in one piece.

Don’t worry, I always have. I love you, hun, Richard told her.

I love you too, Alice replied before she closed the front door. She went to the front room’s window and watched her husband drive away.

Even though Richard had to take a different route, he made it to work on time. He had to attend a morning briefing before he went out on patrol. The sergeant announced to the troopers that high winds were forecast for that day, which meant there was a high probability of a dust storm. He wanted his officers to be aware of the danger and be careful.

The sergeant asked Richard to stay after the other troopers had left the briefing. His supervisor was the only trooper who’d been there six years earlier when Richard had his breakdown.

Are you going to be okay? the sergeant asked.

Yes. I have been through several dust storms since then, and I am doing okay.

The sergeant looked at Richard’s face, trying to read him. He felt that the trooper wasn’t lying. After all, Richard had been to counseling and passed several psychological exams since the incident. Okay. You’re telling me that you are going to be all right, and I believe you. But if you run into any problems, call it in, and I will find you a replacement, the sergeant offered.

Don’t worry, I’ll be okay. I am fine, Richard said confidently.

Good. Go to your SUV and make sure the public stays safe.

Richard went to his locker to pick up his bulletproof vest. After putting it on, he went outside and climbed into his SUV. Richard was one of several troopers who patrolled District 6, part of the I-10 freeway. This was the main route between Tucson and the greater Phoenix area. The remaining troopers watched over route seventy-nine. The officers patrolling the interstates looked for drug and human traffickers. They also watched for speeders and drunk drivers. Occasionally, they came across stranded vehicles, which the trooper would offer their assistance. The worst thing about their job was dealing with deadly car crashes. Most of them were caused by impaired drivers. The deadlier ones were caused by dust storms.

In Arizona, dust storms can obstruct drivers’ views of traffic or other dangers ahead. The state of Arizona has produced many commercials warning drivers what to do if they are caught in a dust storm – Pull off the freeway and turn off your lights. They’re given this advice because another car might see the light, not realize they’ve stopped, and collide with them. Richard knew that was only half the truth. Six years earlier, he’d seen firsthand that dust wasn’t the only dangerous thing within those storms.

Richard tried to push down those dreadful thoughts as he merged onto the freeway.

Six years ago, Richard had to go through intensive psychological therapy after that tragic event. At that time, Richard wasn’t even sure if he would be able to patrol again and was prepared to call it quits and resign. Luckily, his therapist convinced him the event that he had witnessed was nothing more than dust playing tricks on his eyes. It was an optical illusion and his imagination, his therapist explained. Trooper Sandoval’s murderous actions and suicide were the work of a delusional and depressed man. None of the events of that day had to do with any nefarious creature lurking within the dust.

After completing a year of therapy, Richard was given a clean bill of health, and he was able to go out on patrol again. Most of the other troopers were sympathetic toward Richard because he had witnessed his good friend kill himself. It was a tragic loss for all of them, losing an officer in that manner. Many of them blamed the murder and his suicide on the job’s high stress. Unfortunately, the grieving time didn’t last long because the traffic flowed with or without them. For public safety’s sake, the patrols must go on.

The first vehicle Richard had to pull over was a ridiculously overloaded pickup truck. The man driving the vehicle gave Richard his explanation for why the truck was so full. His son, in the passenger seat, had a court order to remove all his belongings from his house. If he didn’t get it done that day, his ex-wife would put all of it on the street and let people take whatever they wanted.

How much farther do you have to go? Richard asked the father.

About five more miles. I live in Casa Grande.

You should have rented a bigger truck.

We would have, but his ex-wife cleaned out their bank accounts, and I am living on a fixed income. This is the best I could do, given the circumstances, the father explained.

Richard thought about it for a moment. Let me check your truck and see how his belongings are tied down.

Okay.

Richard inspected the load and found it was secured with an assortment of bungee cords, tie-downs, and ropes. He checked out the tires and found that they were in good shape. The load was very secure but top-heavy. A good gust of wind could topple the truck.

Is this the only load you will be hauling today? Richard asked.

Yes, this is all of his possessions.

Richard scanned the freeway. The traffic was light at this time of day. I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I will follow you to the Casa Grande offramp and make sure you get there safely. I need you to drive fifty-five miles per hour even though it is posted as sixty-five. If the wind picks up and it feels like it’s making your vehicle sway, pull over, and we will wait it out. Do you understand my instructions?

Yes, and it is very much appreciated.

I will help you make it to your turn-off. But if I see another load like this, I won’t be this nice next time, Richard warned them.

I understand.

Good.

The father watched the trooper return to his SUV. Then he waited until it was safe to merge back onto the freeway.

Richard followed the overloaded truck to their turn-off, then watched them drive away. It felt good to help a citizen in their time of need.

Richard returned to patrolling the freeway, looking out for lawbreakers. He had to pull over several speeders driving well over the posted speed limit. Richard determined how severe the ticket would be depending on the driver’s attitude. If they were cordial and respectful, he would let them off with a warning.

For the next couple of hours, the traffic offered no lawbreakers. When drivers noticed the trooper’s SUV on the freeway, most of them slowed down to the speed limit or five miles below.

Richard was getting bored of the monotonous driving when he noticed a disabled sedan parked along the side of the road. He radioed in that he was stopping to assist a stranded driver. Luckily, the SUV and the disabled vehicle were way off the freeway and on the broad shoulder. When it was safe for Richard to exit his SUV, he approached the sedan, which had a couple inside. He asked them, What is wrong with your vehicle?

My tire is flat, the young man answered.

Do you have a spare? Richard asked.

I am not sure.

Richard inspected the car and saw that one of the tires was slightly low on air. What made you think you had a flat tire?

The indicator light was flashing, which told me that I had a problem with the tire. So I pulled off the freeway.

All the indicator light was telling you is that your tire needs air, because it isn’t at the proper inflation, Richard told him. Do you have a tire gauge or an air compressor?

I don’t know.

I don’t have one in my SUV. Would you mind if I looked in the trunk to see if you have one?

Sure, but we will have to move our luggage out of the way, the young man said.

Okay, I’ll leave that task to you.

The man removed the couple’s luggage and set it on the car’s passenger side.

Richard lifted the wheel-well cover and quickly found the tire kit from the manufacturer.

I didn’t know that was in there, the man commented. Do you know how to use it?

Yes. Plug it in into your cigarette lighter.

Cigarette lighter? The man sounded confused.

Richard rolled his eyes. Plug it into the port you use to charge your cell phone.

Oh, I know where that is. The man quickly plugged in the compressor.

Turn your car on, Richard yelled. He attached the compressor hose to the valve stem. After reading the instructions, he turned the unit on and inflated the tire to the proper PSI. Once he was done, Richard had the man unplug it and put it back into the wheel well.

Richard looked down the freeway. Let me give you a hand with your luggage. It looks like a dust storm is brewing ahead.

Thanks.

The two men quickly reloaded the trunk. Richard figured that the man was not an experienced driver, so