by Bushman, LJ
“Yeah. Hate to break it to you, but with that gun, he looks a hell of a lot scarier than you.”
“You’re right. Think it’s my beautiful smile making them back off?” I was a little put out he didn’t find me scary. I mean, he’d seen what I could do, right?
He laughed and slung his arm across my shoulder to give it a quick squeeze. “Don’t worry. I still think you’re a bad-ass, especially with that killer smile of yours.”
I punched him lightly in the shoulder, grateful for the distraction. It helped me tamp down my temper. “Don’t you forget it,” I said, noticing the weird looks our escorts gave us.
I decided laughing at the expressions on their faces was probably not prudent, even for me, so I smiled instead. Yep, asshats, you’re funny-looking. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I bit my tongue to keep it from coming out my mouth.
The front guard opened one of the doublewide doors common to warehouses the world over. He stood to the side and jerked his head, motioning us in. Warily, I walked past him. I wasn’t comfortable walking close to someone with obvious malice toward me. Especially when they held an automatic weapon.
We moved inside and the difference from the bright southern sunlight to the fluorescent warehouse lighting was disorienting. As my eyes adjusted to the lights, I gave a low whistle between my teeth. It was a functioning warehouse, much like the fruit warehouses back home. Only instead of jeans and brightly colored hats, everyone wore hazmat suits.
Maybe they were making the antivirus. Yeah, and maybe I’m Santa Claus.
Whatever they were making was worth kidnapping and torturing a federal agent over. My heart sank into my stomach and lodged a complaint there. Fear put a hitch in my breathing and I worked hard to get it regulated. Fear had no place here. The Infected would smell it. Fear acted like an aphrodisiac to them. The smell of prey. The smell of dinner—instinctual and primal. Even in the super soldier stage, the need to hunt was strong.
I stepped closer to Joseph to warn him. “Whatever you do, don’t be afraid. Do what it takes to overcome the fear. They can smell it. And it’ll make them want to eat you. Literally,” I whispered, before stepping back. My fingers itched to grab my gun, which the guards hadn’t bothered to take. This group wasn’t stupid. That meant they were arrogant and sure of themselves.
Whatever danger I might pose, they could get me before I caused any serious damage. The message rang loud and clear after they failed to search me. They probably meant to intimidate me. After seeing the hazmat suits, it worked.
I hoped Joseph took me seriously and found his cop face for this encounter or we were screwed. I slowly put my hands within easy grabbing distance of my gun. I was fast, but every second counted with the Infected. Shit. I didn’t want to know how many of these people were infected with the Ultimate virus.
I tried to position myself so I could see all entryways, exits, and any doors leading to offices in the building. Impossible in a building this size, but I’d try anyway.
“What are they making?” I asked the guard nearest me. I didn’t expect an answer. It surprised me when he provided one.
“The answer to all the world’s ills. What we make here cures everything from the common cold to cancer. I’ve seen it myself,” he added defensively. Maybe I’d questioned him with a look. “My wife had a rare bone cancer. The diagnosis is nearly always fatal if not caught in the early stages. We were devastated. She considered euthanizing herself. Then I met Andrea and she offered us a cure if we swore loyalty to her and her cause.”
Oh God. My stomach rolled. I understood the real reason they wanted a writer to slant the announcements their way. And me in particular. Shit.
“Where’d you meet Andrea?” I forced myself to focus, rather than give into the sick fear threatening to take over.
“My platoon was stationed in Georgia where Andrea had a job working in the military’s legal department. One night, she saw me crying over a beer. Bawling like a baby, I tell you. She asked me what was wrong and it all came spilling out. The military docs told me that afternoon my wife only had a few weeks to live. I’d be lucky if she was coherent by the end.”
He paused, waiting for me to say something. What was I supposed to say? Sorry you guys jumped out of the frying pan into the fires of hell? Because that was how I saw it.
He shook his head and smiled. “Andrea told me about some experimental trials they were doing and asked us to come to the lab the next day after my duty shift was over. I figured, why not? My wife was already in so much pain, I didn’t see how trying one more thing would hurt.”
“Where was the lab?” Maybe he had salient information we could do something about. The legal red tape involved in the FBI coming to Mexico to stop the production of the zombie virus would be insane.
“Just down the road from the Atlanta Coke Museum. You ever been there?”
I shook my head no. He didn’t care about the details of the location. He was just thrilled it had all worked. And I knew it worked, because there he was, mister loving husband of the year. I shouldn’t be so hard on the guy. He had no idea of what he’d help do to his wife or the biological war he’d embroiled himself in.
“You should go sometime. My wife loved it. Anyway, nothing happened at first. We were disappointed, but we expected it to fail like everything else, you know? Then about a week after they gave her the shot, she started showing improvements. She could walk short distances by herself. Few days after that, she stood up straight and ran her old route. It’s a miracle drug, I tell you.”
His eyes shimmered. From the eager, worshipful tones in his voice as he spoke of his wife’s recovery, I knew he wouldn’t be convinced by logic. He’d have to see it for himself. Probably right before his wife ate his guts while he screamed for help.
I shook the visual out of my mind and tried to look curious. “You think this will cure all that ails you?”
“I know it does. Everyone who’s taken it hasn’t had so much as an allergy attack. I know a man who was deathly allergic to peanuts who can eat them now without worry. I’m telling you, it’s the new miracle drug.”
Nausea swept over me so quickly, I almost succumbed to it. They were producing an antivirus all right. An antivirus to all of humanity’s ills. Simple, effective, and with wonderful side effects. Well, except for a few poor souls they couldn’t save. The AIDS patients would be the only exceptions. Their immune systems too far gone.
This group planned on taking chemical warfare to a whole new level. I’m sure the FDA would approve of the process as soon as they were given evidence of so called “trials” to back up the statements. But why spread the virus? What was in it for them?
Then I had one of my intuitive leaps that often happened since the accident. Power. Whoever ran all this wanted power. The presidential nominees would be announced soon. If someone financed the cure for cancer, he’d have a great platform to build his campaign on.
“I’d like to shake the hand of such a farsighted individual. Do you know who he or she is?”
“No.” For the first time his face fell into sadness. “My wife and I wanted to meet him and tell him personally how grateful we are, but he’s shy. He doesn’t want public thanks. He prefers to remain anonymous.”
“He?”
“I’m assuming it’s a man. They told us to call him Mr. Jesus.” He smiled, as if understanding the irony. He had no idea.
I’d heard of a new wonder drug on the market, called the Resurrection Vaccine. Clinics all over the country were vying for the okay to use it on the terminally or chronically ill. My doctor told me about it at Seth’s last visit after a severe asthma attack.
“It’s said it can cure just about anything, from asthma to cancer,” he’d said. I’d bet it was the same cure they were manufacturing in the warehouse. Funny how I’d compartmentalized my mother role and zombie killer role so well, I hadn’t seen the connection before.
I looked at Joseph to see if he was as sick as I was at the revelations. Judging by
the color of his face, he understood. Just wait until I tell him what I know about the Resurrection Vaccine. I had a feeling he’d be in a killer mood.
Maybe we could get word out in time. Before they received FDA approval. Before it reached clinics and was administered to the sick in desperate acts to survive, like the man standing before me.
Yeah, and maybe my luck will turn.
“Hello, Serena, Joseph. Glad you could make it to our little party.” The voice came from high behind me, off to my right side.
Nope, my luck was as bad as ever.
I turned and gave them the evil eye. Joseph could barely stand still. I felt his smoldering rage from where I stood. Maybe he’d come to the same conclusion I had—there was no real antivirus.
“Special Agent Gene Robins. And my erstwhile kidnapper,” Joseph said. “I’d like to say it’s a surprise to see you here, but you fit right in with the rest of the scumbags.”
“Agent Connelly. I’m a little surprised to see you here—alive. Someone tripped the trap I’d set in our safe house. When we couldn’t find you and the writer at your home or her hotel, I had hoped it was you. Damn. I’ll have to work hard to get over my disappointment.”
“Not half as hard as you need to work on getting over yourself,” I muttered.
The guard heard me and let out a surprised snort.
“Speak up, Serena. Don’t be shy. We’re all friends here,” Andrea said.
“With friends like you, who needs enemies?” I heard the guards behind us cough to cover up a laugh. Andrea and Gene weren’t well liked around here, it seemed. Could definitely come in handy.
“For instance,” I said, my voice hardening to cold steel. “When I have friends who kidnap and terrorize my kids to ensure cooperation that’s already been given, I’m thinking enemies would be superfluous at this point.”
The guards behind me both sucked in a breath. Ah. Most of the help wasn’t in on the full scope of the plan. Damn. I couldn’t go around shooting everyone. If they all thought they were saving the world—goodwill toward men and all that—it was rude to kill them for it. It also explained why the guards didn’t answer my questions. Probably thought I’d lost my mind.
Andrea glanced at the guards and back to us. “Bring them to my office where we can talk in private.”
“What’s the matter, Andrea? Don’t want any of your flock to know how dirty your hands are? I want my kids brought to me. Right now. I’m not going anywhere until I see them alive and unharmed. You know what I’m going to do if they’re hurt. I believe I explained it clearly at the hotel.”
Andrea looked at Robins, who simply stared at me for a full minute. Tension rose in the room. As the guards’ feelings intensified, I was able to read them. Both felt torn loyalties. On the one hand, they were loyal to the person who’d cured their loved ones, on the other hand, they wanted no part in kidnapping children.
I don’t want to put their feelings to the test right now, but later I may find an ally in one of them.
I stared at Robins, sure that my anger was visible on my face. My teeth hurt from clenching them so tight. Just in case he needed a little motivation, I let out the full force of my Immune powers. My anger flowed out so strongly, even Joseph stepped away from me.
The two guards who walked out of the office behind Andrea at the time I unleashed my anger ducked and stayed down, like they were under fire. Andrea and Robins on the metal landing above us stepped away from the railing, their backs hitting the other side with a twang.
Robins recovered first and stepped up to his previous position. “Of course, you’ll see your kids immediately.” He nodded at the men who’d stepped out a minute ago.
They moved to a door hidden in the shadows under the stairs leading to the catwalk Robin’s stood on. I paid close attention to the knock, memorizing the pattern and the words spoken.
Two men, their faces screwed up in a grimace, emerged, each dragging a screaming kid. I smiled with great pride. My boys were putting up a fight.
“Seth, Kyle,” I called and ran toward them.
The boys stopped for a moment, hearing my voice. Together they stomped on the feet of their captors and rushed out of their grips into my arms.
“Are you guys alright,” I asked, searching their faces and bodies for sign of mistreatment. They looked fine. Lucky Andrea.
“We’re bored. And they’re awful, Mom. Can we go home now?” Kyle kicked back at the guard nearest him, connecting with his shins.
I had to hold back my grin at his audacity. Takes after his mom. “Sure, baby. In a minute.” I pointed to the men who’d brought them out of the room. “Are they your kidnappers?”
Kyle looked at them. “No. They’re all right. They think we’re here being punished while you’re doing your work.” He changed his voice to a loud whisper. “They’re nice, but a little slow. That’s why I kicked that guy instead.”
I barked a short, surprised laugh. “If it wasn’t them, then who was it?”
“The guys who knocked to get us right now. Those guys are assholes.”
“Assholes, assholes, balls, balls,” Seth sang when I didn’t immediately take Kyle to task for cussing.
“Seth, hush.” I turned to the men who brought out my kids. “Where’s their sitter?”
They looked at each other blankly. I saw a smirk on one of the men who’d come down the metal staircase. “Where is she,” I repeated.
“She’s at the main house getting special treatment,” one of them said.
“You better hope special doesn’t mean what I think you mean, Ace. You’re already dead. If she’s been hurt, I’ll make you suffer first.”
He started to laugh, but something about the way I glared made him stop. I saw him reassess me. Up to this point, he’d been working on the assumption I was a chump writer. He didn’t look so sure of me anymore. He would when I was through with him. He’d have a whole new respect for mothers and writers. Too bad he wouldn’t live long enough to appreciate it.
“Take me to her.”
The guards looked up at our captors. Andrea spoke something in Agent Robins’ ear. His eyebrow rose before he spoke.
“Of course. But your kids stay here. And these two will escort you.” He pointed at the men responsible for kidnapping my kids.
I looked at him and smiled like I’d just won the lottery. Because I had. Now I could injure whoever hurt Lori and kill the bastards who took my kids. I wouldn’t have to worry about putting the friendly guards in danger.
I saw Robins think about changing his mind when I smiled so happily, but it was too late. Joseph turned to come with me. My eyes darted from him to my kids. He didn’t know Lori from Eve. It had to be me who went. I needed him to protect my kids. I took his arm and whispered, “I need to be the one. How will you recognize her?”
He nodded, a scowl crawled over his face. With a last, “Hurry back,” he went to stand by Kyle and Seth as I was ushered out the door.
One of the guards grabbed my arm and dragged me. I twisted his wrist and flipped him over my hip. Since he loomed over me by a good six inches, I doubt I could have done it if he’d been prepared. As it was, he wasn’t happy.
“You bitch. When this is over, I’m going to fucking kill you.” Spittle flew from his mouth as he stood.
“Now, now. Is that anyway to talk to a lady?” I was pretty sure he was under orders not to hurt me, at least until I wrote the all-important article about the wonderful vaccine they had, or whenever Andrea was through with me. Whichever. I didn’t care.
He charged my way, like a bull. The other guard stepped in his way. “Not yet. Not until the boss says so. He promised we can do what we want with her later.”
The last statement sent goose bumps up my arms, though I planned on taking them out long before then. The fact their boss used violence as a reward spoke volumes. So much for the altruistic hero out to save the world.
I marched to the house, leaving the two of them to follow or not. I wanted t
o get to Lori and needed two seconds inside the house before they got there to get my gun out. I jumped the last two stairs and flew through the screen door. As I passed through the main door, I slammed it shut and locked it.
My gun was out and I moved through the house before the guards started pounding on the door. Muffled screams came from a back room, and I followed the sounds down the hall. Behind me, a window broke from the front door. Another scream ripped through the air. Lori.
I stopped outside the door to the room the screams came from and took a deep breath. Centering myself, I let my anger rise to the top and kicked my way through the door.
Chapter 14
“Get off her!” I growled at the man.
Lori was on the small bed, her legs splayed, pants torn, and her face was bloody and bruised. My power crackled around me like an aura. The man glanced at me and laughed. He obviously had no respect for women, even one with a gun. Sitting on his knees between Lori’s legs, he looked back at her and tore her shirt.
I fired.
The bullet blasted through his jugular. His breath gurgled, blood spewed across the bed and carpet. I fired a second shot into his brain. After pulling the knife out from the sheath around my neck, I shoved it through the base of his skull. My other hand held the gun aimed at the doorway. No sense in risking it and not finishing the job. He was dead, Infected or not. I wasn’t into necrophilia; no kissing this guy to check.
He should’ve been more wary of my gun if he wasn’t infected. My guess was he had been given the shot, along with the knowledge of what it did for him. Arrogance ran high amongst the Infected before the final stages. They acted invincible in situations where I—and any sane person—would be cautious.
The first of the kidnappers came in, gun blazing. I dropped him, single shot through the middle of his forehead and waited for the second guy. He’d enter a little more cautiously, but he’d come. I didn’t know how many other people were in the house, and I didn’t care. I had two clips for each of my three guns and a lot of knives. Should at least get us back to the warehouse in one piece.