Killing the Dead Season 3 Box Set | Books 13-18

by Murray, Richard

  “But I was still annoyed with him. I snapped at him and we got the poor guy in his car and took him with us. I can’t even remember his name now. He was a really unpleasant man and we parted ways in a refugee centre.”

  “A promise,” Evie said softly. “You think that after all this time he’s kept that?”

  “Yes. The world is full of bad people, now more than ever. I know what he is, who he is.”

  “A killer.”

  “The father of my children. A man who risks himself to save others. A man who protects the people he cares about. A serial killer, yes, but one who kills only those who harm others.”

  “Like Gabriel.”

  There was such sorrow in her voice as she said his name, but I nodded anyway.

  “Yes. Like Gabriel. A man who was willing to let other people die to protect himself. I’m sorry, but he wasn’t a good man.”

  “He was vain and arrogant,” Evie said. “I know that. But he was still my brother and it hurts so very much.”

  “Ryan cares about you too.”

  Her laughter was mocking and harsh. “Now that I don’t believe. You were there the last time I saw him. He doesn’t care at all.”

  “I think you’d be surprised. I doubt even he realises it at times.”

  “What makes you even think that?”

  “Because I was in the room with you the last time you were together.”

  Her brows drew down as she tried to think back to that emotional day and she shook her head.

  “I don’t see it.”

  “You needed someone to be angry with. You needed someone to hate and he let you have that. He has no remorse over killing Gabe, I know that, but you think he would have let anyone else speak to him as you did?”

  She was silent as she considered that. She’d spent more time with him over the years but I’d spent more time with him when he could truly be himself. I knew him in ways that I didn’t think even he did.

  I was right, I was sure of that. Some part of him, probably buried deep, deep, down, knew they needed a target and he allowed himself to be that. Anyone else, he wouldn’t have even bothered listening to them or answering their questions.

  “If he didn’t care, he’d have just lied to you about it and never thought about it again. He didn’t though. He told you the truth and he let you grieve because you needed that truth. Even if it meant you would hate him for it.”

  Evie was silent for some time before she nodded slowly.

  “You’re good at this. If you ever get tired of ruling, you could do well as a therapist.”

  “I’ll bear that in mind,” I said with a smile. “But for now. The business of ruling is calling.”

  “Of course. Sorry to take up so much of your time.”

  “It’s really not a problem.”

  We rose together and she leant in to give me a warm embrace. A little of the coldness had gone from her and the tension she bore when she had arrived was almost entirely absent. I hoped that I’d helped her a little.

  I watched her leave and then returned to the reports, taking one off the top of the pile as I seated myself at the desk. I scanned it and moved to put it to one side when I stopped and returned my attention to it.

  A moment later I let out a gasp and rose to my feet before rushing for the door.

  Chapter 18

  “So, when you getting married?”

  I turned to look at Gregg, confusion obvious on my face judging by the way he cracked up, laughing at my expression.

  “What?”

  “C’mon, mate. You got her pregnant. You really gonna tell me you haven’t at least considered popping the question?”

  “Why would I?”

  He just shook his head, a wide smile on his face and I turned back to the road, irritation fading as I caught sight of the stakes dug into the ground on the edge of the village of Maughold. Lightning illuminated those desiccated corpses impaled upon them and moments later, thunder rolled across the sky.

  The wind tore at us and the rain seemed determined to soak through even the most waterproof of our clothing. I wiped that rainwater from my face and waited impatiently for the three fists of minions to clear the village.

  As much as I wanted to be in there, going house to house in search of potential danger. I understood the need to let my minions do some things themselves. It would make them feel like they had done something worthy of my praise and stop them complaining about having to let me go into danger.

  “Coming back,” Isaac muttered.

  His mood had darkened along with the sky and I had the distinct impression that he cared little for the storm. I, on the other hand, absolutely enjoyed it. Storms suited my mood, more often than not and I felt at ease as the world around hid from its fury.

  “Well?” I called out to the approaching minion.

  “Empty like the last, My Lord Death.”

  “That’s fucking weird,” Isaac said. “Why the hell do they call him that?”

  “Long story, I’ll tell you later,” Gregg replied and I shook my head as I tried to ignore them both.

  “You’ve located somewhere to spend the night?”

  “Yes, My Lord Death. There is a church.”

  I waved him to silence and pushed past him, walking the short distance into the village from where we had been waiting.

  It was a small village, even compared to the last one, with a handful of houses and a village hall that was smaller than any of the other buildings around it. I guessed the place was simply a hub for the farms that surrounded it.

  The church was little more than a chapel. Single storey with the front wall rising up, above the roof to end in a point where a wooden cross stood upright. Just below that, an opening had been cut into the wall for a metal bell to be hung.

  Surrounding the chapel were hundreds of weathered headstones in what I could only assume had been the graveyard for the entire parish for centuries.

  “Jesus H Christ!” Isaac said. “A fucking graveyard in a zombie apocalypse. I won’t be sleeping well tonight.”

  “You won’t be sleeping at all,” I said and ignored his response as I headed into the graveyard.

  As with everywhere else, the grass and weeds had run wild. With no one to tend to the grounds, in places only the last few inches of headstone were visible. The wall that surrounded the graveyard was barely four feet high and made of grey stone with much of the mortar flaking away.

  It wouldn’t provide much in the way of defence and the tall grass and numerous headstones to hide behind would make it easy for an enemy to approach. Which was what I wanted.

  The interior of the chapel was all old stone with stained glass in the windows. There was little dust about and the candles that filled the rear wall behind the pulpit were well used. I grinned as I became ever more confident that I was right.

  No one would set out stakes with impaled people on and then just walk away. Well, a total nut case might do, but to take an entire villages population would require a good number of people. When the entire island was being overrun by zombies, the only reason to do such a thing would be to ward off any living folk and to provide a screen from the zombies.

  While it was possible those people had long since died after setting up their little stakes. The fact that there were no zombies in the two villages at all was telling. Add to that the local chapel being cared for, at least on the inside, I suspected that those people were still around.

  If that were the case, then they wouldn’t want some interlopers moving in.

  I grinned at the thought and issued a few quiet orders to my minions. They would play their part and I was pretty sure we were going to be in for a fun night.

  Erin gave me a questioning look as I approached her, smile firmly in place. Her frown deepened as she suspected I was about to ask her to do something.

  “How are your climbing skills?”

  “Good.”

  A single word reply. I liked that. Taciturn was always preferred w
hen I was speaking with someone since I had little interest in small talk. Straight to the point was best.

  “When it’s too dark to be seen. Do you think you could climb up to the roof and keep watch without being noticed?”

  “Yes.”

  I gave her a nod and left her to it. I really quite liked the short red-headed woman. Not only was she pretty lethal but she didn’t waste my time with needless chatter. Which I was sure to get from Gregg I realised as I sat down beside him.

  There was little to actually do while we waited so I leant back against the wall, keeping one eye on the door and crossed my arms. I waited for several minutes in silence and only then did I glance at him.

  “What?”

  Crumbs of flatbread fell from his mouth as he spoke and his cheeks were bulging so full of food were they. I cocked an eyebrow his way.

  “Hungry?”

  “Yes.”

  He swallowed a large portion of the food leaving him looking less like a hamster and reached for his canteen. I watched him for a moment with a furrowed brow and it was his turn to grin.

  “You annoy me so much sometimes,” I said and he laughed quietly, shoulders shaking with his mirth.

  “Ah, you love me really, mate. I know it. You don’t need to say it.”

  I didn’t dignify that with a reply and instead cast my gaze about the room, making sure everyone was in place. It was difficult to see much in the dark church with only the occasional flash of lightning to provide light.

  The thunder sounded to be overhead and the wind sent the rain crashing against the windows. The weather was truly wild and I knew there was little real chance of us noticing anyone’s approach in such conditions. Which made it the perfect time for them to come for us.

  I just wished they’d get on with it.

  “You know I was serious, yeah?”

  “About what?” I asked, only half listening to him.

  “Asking Lily to marry you.”

  I turned to look at him, not that I could see much more than the outline of his face in the darkness.

  “Why?”

  “It matters, mate. For some people it really does. You’re having kids together. It would be nice for her to know you are committed to that.”

  “I am.”

  “Yeah, but she doesn’t know that, does she?”

  The very fact that I was with her was evidence of that, or so I had thought. I’d never actually considered ever marrying anyone. I was far too distant to ever be a good husband and it was difficult for me to interact with people at the best of times.

  I’d had a few girlfriends of course, but that was mainly to help maintain the illusion that I was a normal guy and not some loner serial killer. Plus, there were the casual hook-ups of course. They were easy, after all, and didn’t require much in the way of an emotional commitment.

  But there had never been anything really long term. Not until Lily anyway. I couldn’t say how long we’d actually been together, not accurately anyway. But it had been at least a year. That was longer than any other had been.

  She’d never mentioned marriage though, but I supposed that was understandable as she knew me well enough to know that I wouldn’t notice subtle hints. If she wanted to be married, she would have to ask me or tell me straight up that it was something we had to do.

  Perhaps then, I should ask her. It wasn’t like I was planning on going anywhere and it made no real difference to me. So, if it made her happy, then perhaps it would be a good thing.

  “You really do annoy me,” I muttered to Gregg who chuckled softly.

  We waited in silence, listening to the wind howl and the patter of the rain on the roof. The air was chill even with twenty of us crammed into the small chapel. I kept my hand near my knife hilt and breathed slowly, listening for any change.

  Eventually, it came. A slight creak of the door hinges, barely perceptible beneath the fury of the storm. A slight increase in the sound of the falling rain as the door was opened and the squelch of a boot on the stone floor.

  I held myself still, eyes half shut as I watched the shadowy forms moving into the chapel. A flash of lightning lit the room, reflecting off of the long knives in their hands and I smiled. I’d been right after all.

  “Now!” I called and my minions erupted into action. Leaping up and rushing the suddenly confused enemy. “I want them alive!”

  A cry came from outside and my smile widened as I guessed the fist I had told to bide their time outside had decided to take out any stragglers.

  It was over in moments and I flicked on my torch as a handful of filthy men were forced to their knees on the cold stone floor.

  “Give us more light,” I instructed and several of my minions pulled electric lanterns from their packs.

  By the time the other minions brought in two more men from outside, the chapel was lit with a pleasing light. Enough for us to see by, but dim enough that it wouldn’t be too noticeable through the stained glass windows, or so I hoped.

  I approached the kneeling men, who glared balefully at me as they struggled in the grip on my minions. Their faces were streaked with dirt that even the rain outside hadn’t been able to wash away and their hair and beards were long and matted.

  Their clothing was equally filthy and they stank. It was an earthy odour, like dirt and mould. That set me to thinking and I smiled down at them as I pulled out my knife.

  “Who are you?”

  No answer, just a hardening behind their eyes and a setting of their jaws. They weren’t going to give up anything easily and that was irksome. I needed to be sure of the kind of men they were before I could kill them.

  Just coming to kill us wasn’t enough to prove anything. People were allowed to defend themselves after all and they may well have thought of us as invaders.

  “Where are you from?”

  Still no answer and I nodded thoughtfully. I couldn’t kill them but I was pretty sure that I could hurt them a little without violating my promise. I caught the eye of one of the minions and nodded.

  Immediately, he grasped the back of a big captives neck and forced him forward, holding him in place, head bowed before me.

  I smiled at the others as I met their eyes one after another, making sure they were watching. Then I lifted my knife and stepped forward.

  “No! Da!”

  The one who called out was young, I realised. Barely out of his teens. I was almost disappointed that one of them had spoken so quickly. While not a fan of casual torture, it was a useful tool in my arsenal and having experienced it myself at the hands of Genpact, I could honestly say I had thought of many ways to improve on what they had done.

  After all, I was fully intending to torture the leader of that group that abducted me.

  “Where you from, kid?” Isaac asked, stepping forward and grabbing the young man roughly. “Tell us or your da will die slow and screaming.”

  Well, he had a taste for the theatrics it seemed and I wasn’t going to let that go to waste. I took another step toward the boy's father.

  “Keep yer mouth shut, boy!” another of the captives snarled.

  “Mate,” Gregg said, voice full of worry. “Don’t do this, yeah? We can just talk to them.”

  I glanced at him and he grimaced, holding his hand out towards me in a pleading gesture. I almost laughed out loud. Isaac was playing the bad cop and Gregg was playing the good. That left me to be the worst cop.

  Blood sprayed into the air and the man screamed as my blade cut deep into his cheek. It would leave a nasty scar and bleed profusely but wouldn’t cause him any real harm.

  “Da!”

  “Take the boy outside,” Isaac snapped, pushing the teen roughly towards Gregg. “He can see what’s left of his da when we’re done.”

  “No! Please, don’t!” the boy cried as Gregg grabbed one arm roughly, a minion taking the other.

  Together they led him outside, into the rain.

  “Now,” I said quietly to the kneeling men, as I brand
ished my bloody knife. “Let’s see if we can conjure up some screams to scare the boy.”

  Chapter 19

  I raced through the dark halls of the sports centre, Jinx keeping pace easily, her tongue lolling. The bodyguards Samuel had set outside my door were hard on my heels. I skidded to a stop beside the reception desk at the main entrance.

  The guards there watched me curiously but made no move to stop me. Their job was the guard the entrance and they would do that until told otherwise. They considered it their duty to obey.

  It didn’t matter. I didn’t need them just then. My mind was racing and my heart beating faster as I clutched the paper in my hand. I had the answer, I was sure of it. I stared out at the pounding rain, momentarily stuck as to what to do next.

  “My Lady?” Lisa asked and I turned to her.

  One of the guards must have gone for her as she was without her hood for once. The face revealed was young and pretty, but for the letters burned into her cheek. She caught my look and quickly pulled on her hood, ashamed.

  “A car,” I said quietly, not taking my eyes from her. “Quick.”

  The scar on her face would have a story behind it and probably one that led to her decision to join the Dead. It wasn’t for me to pry and should she want to tell me, she would. Right then, I had other things on my mind anyway.

  “Where to?” Lisa asked as she sent an acolyte running with a single, sharp, gesture of her hand.

  “To the research facility.”

  “With the weather and the danger, could this not wait till morning when we have more acolytes available?”

  “No. I need to talk to them now, while the idea’s fresh.”

  “Then it shall be as you command.”

  A small four-door Audi pulled up outside the doors and I glanced at Lisa who shrugged almost apologetically.

  “Most of the cars and trucks are being used in the search.”

  “I’m sure it will be fine.”

  One of the acolytes pulled an umbrella out from beneath the reception desk and passed it over to the closest bodyguard. He took it without a word and followed me to the door, opening it as I stepped out and holding it above my head.