Manning sniffed the air and snickered. He was somewhere near the edge of the corridor. Perhaps to throw her off, he called out her name, and an instant later he jumped in front of her, lips pulled back with the obvious intent to take a very big bite.
She screamed and prepared to fire her gun, but Manning sent it flying before she pulled the trigger.
“Too late, my dear. Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you. I’m going to make you a partner. I’ll take care of—”
A shot fired and Manning’s head blew apart, burying her in a crimson shower. Her boss fell to the floor.
* * *
Jack came to her, wrapping his arms around her. She sobbed into his chest. Jack understood the camaraderie Carla shared with her fellow officers. He had his own buddies in his field, which wasn’t so different from hers. This was much more than taking out just any Zombie. It was a colleague. Her sergeant.
Jack stroked her hair, fingers lingering on her jaw and neck. She quieted after a while. “Shh,” he whispered. “It’s okay.”
“God, I’m glad you’re stubborn and followed me,” she said as she wiped her nose on her sleeve.
“Me, too. Let’s get the hell out of here,” he said.
Carla nodded and grabbed her gun from the floor.
Jack slipped his arm around her and they stepped over what was left of Sergeant Manning.
As they drew close to the holding cell, the younger guy yelled out, “Please let us out. Please. We’re sitting ducks in here!”
“I’ve got to let them out,” Carla whispered. “It’s the humane thing to do.”
“Yeah,” Jack replied. “I don’t think they’re going to get due process of law any time soon.”
She took her keys from her belt. “Listen,” she told them, “you guys better remember that I’m doing you a favor. Get safe and stay out of trouble. Whatever any of you are in here for... take this as your last chance to redeem yourselves.” She waited to turn the key in the lock, looked each of them in the eye. “Understood?”
The three nodded enthusiastically and stumbled over each other running for the door like the hunted prey they still were.
Jack caught her arm when she turned to leave. Drawing her close, he pulled her body against his. “I’ve been waiting a long time to do this,” he whispered into her ear, caressing it with his lips. He drew her mouth to his and kissed her long and hard.
She kissed him back, maybe even harder.
Chapter Seven
Over the next few days, back at the observatory, there was much to do.
As everyone got to know each other better, they drew on each others’ knowledge and skills. Jack knew how to set traps. Although he didn’t care to kill animals, he understood the need for protein. Carla was extremely resourceful; she gathered furniture and other goods. Before long, their ‘living section’ at the end of the hall was fairly comfortable. She organized the stock and kept track of what was still needed.
Mike and Joe set about increasing security and taking out wandering zombies nearby. They also brought the SUV down to the lower level at the back of the building, parking it at a loading dock used to haul large equipment and machinery. The likelihood of someone taking it from the front of the premises was slim, but they didn’t want to take any chances. Julie’s squad car finally ran out of gas and they left it in Jack’s garage at home. That left his truck and the SUV. Both had about a half tank.
Although they had cleared the building of bodies, a stench began to rise from outside. Carla boiled water and orange peels to help sweeten the air.
Anna’s sickness crept into her mind slowly. Everyone could see it. She cared less and less about anything. By the second day, she was already weak. Later that afternoon, Jack found Jared reading to her from a book he’d found in one of the rooms.
“How you feeling, angel?” asked Jack, sitting down next to her.
“I’ve been better,” she answered. Her voice was weak, monotone. She’s starting to not care, he thought as he brushed her hair back from her face. He wanted to remember the old Anna.
Not yet, please not yet...
“How about we take a little walk outside?” Jack suggested. “It’s safe right now.”
Anna smiled a little but didn’t move.
“That’s a good idea,” Jared said. “Come on.” He took her hand, helped her to stand up. They left the office and headed toward the front door. Joe was there with the keys and a rifle. Jack took comfort that his brother would cover the grounds while his niece took a walk. Maybe it would make her happy for a little while at least. Jack mused to himself that they all could use some fresh air, truth be told.