by Bushman, LJ
I didn’t have a chance to reply. Joseph strode up at that point. He looked at Trent warily. “Who’s he?”
“The medic who took care of me when Andrea was giving her lessons. He saved my arm” —I swallowed as I had a flash of her leaning on my broken forearm to whisper to me— “and more painful minutes than he can imagine by putting the cast on it.”
Since I’d told him about Trent, Joseph understood exactly what I meant. He held out a hand. “Agent Joseph Connelly.”
“Trent Williams, sir. I’ve been given instructions to report to you if Deputy Director Mason Riverson didn’t show up on time.”
“What?” Joseph and I said in stereo. “By whom?”
We looked at each other. It was a little spooky that we both asked the same questions.
“By the Deputy Director himself. He said there were weird things going on and to trust no one but Agent Joseph Connelly if he showed up late.”
He must have done some research and found discrepancies after talking to us. I sure hoped we could save him.
Joseph grabbed a chair. “The authorities saw evidence that Serena’s room door was kicked in, so they’re calling it self-defense. They know how to reach me if they need me. Now, here are the plans for tonight.”
Two and a half hours later, we sat in the car at the base of the hill below the warehouse housing the vaccine, all munching on burgers. Trent, with his own order, hid behind some of the brush on the outskirts of the property. It was cold, although not as cold as back home in Washington. Darkness had fallen deep, the moon hidden behind cloud cover winding its way across the sky. Lori shared her dinner with Al, since she didn’t have the heavy metabolic need the rest of us did. Joseph waited until we’d eaten our burgers before pushing us on.
Now that we’d rested and refueled, it was show time. In order to keep the element of surprise, we’d parked down lower where we could hide the cars behind some brush and walked. Slowly, we made our way up the hill toward the warehouse. This plan had to go right or we were screwed.
All of us walked with our weapons out, except Al. He just walked. He didn’t say much, but more and more I saw sparks of new intelligence on his face. He was definitely one for the books. Lori looked as excited as any academic getting a chance at a close-up look at her unofficial field of study.
Joseph watched Al like a hawk watching another hawk around its meal. I shivered. I really wished I’d quit with the animal analogies.
It didn’t take long for us to get where we’d end up in the open without cover in order to reach the warehouse.
We watched for Joseph’s signal, then ran quietly to the main double doors of the warehouse, two people on each side. Joseph and I yanked a door open and looked inside. It was lit up like a Christmas tree. Lights everywhere, an alarm going off. It was like a sick version of Santa’s workshop.
“Freeze, FBI!” Joseph shouted. Funny, but it wasn’t nearly as intimidating as the first time the SWAT team came through the door.
The workers stopped and raised their hands. This could get ugly. They obviously had no idea what was really going on. Potential hostages? Damn it. We hadn’t considered they’d have civilians working so late. They hadn’t when I’d been held here.
I scanned the crowd, getting a feel for anyone ready to fight. Someone on the metal stairs I stood the closest to moved. I turned in time to see them raise a gun. I fired. He dropped from the second floor to the ground. I hoped it was one of Andrea’s men.
A few more men, about six, in military garb came out of the woodwork. From what I saw, they weren’t ready to freeze.
“FBI!” Joseph yelled again.
Andrea came walking out of the room where I’d been held captive, the Deputy Director holding her arm.
“Hello, Joseph, Serena,” Andrea said as she walked toward us like a lady on the promenade. “As you can see, we have the FBI here.”
“He’s under the influence of that mind crap you gave him.”
She laughed. It sounded like beautiful Christmas music. “Is that anyway to talk to such an esteemed man?”
The Deputy Director growled low in his throat.
“You’ve done something horrible to him.”
“I’ve only given him what he wants,” she said.
My stomach heaved and I had a momentary urge to gag. I knew exactly what it was she’d made him want. But why the stall tactics?
“Joseph,” I said urgently. “She’s stalling.”
Again, she gave a silver-bell laugh; it felt like it cut into my skin.
“Very good, Serena. You’re the best I’ve come across. Excluding me, of course.”
“Of course.” I smirked. What the hell was her game? She knew flattery didn’t work on me.
“I’m astounded to see you alive. And Trent, what a… surprise.”
Just then, ten men came from the back area.
“Shoot them,” she ordered and took the director back into the torture chamber.
Chapter 26
At Andrea’s order, the workers on the production lines started screaming. Some dropped to the floor and others ran. Unfortunately, those who ran were shot by the same men shooting at us. None of the workers had guns and there were only five of us—one without a gun. But the odds weren’t as bad as they sounded. Having a zombie on your side wasn’t something to sneeze at.
People crushed past us to get to the double doors. We moved to the production lines for protection during the confusion. Damn, the guards really didn’t care who they shot. I did a brief head count to make sure we were all here. We were not. Al was missing.
I couldn’t see around the screaming workers running around us. The more workers shot down, the more tried to leave out the door. There was a pile of them by the door, running three deep in places. Now I knew why they were working tonight. It was a trap, for them as much for us.
We were less likely to shoot into the melee and Andrea had hostages if she needed them. Great. Now what the hell? I still couldn’t find Al. He seemed to have disappeared. I was about to ask Joseph if he had a line of site on him when I heard, “Fucking hell. It’s Al.”
I bit my tongue as curse words flowed through my mind and wanted to break on my lips. It was hard enough to hear what was going on with the workers still screaming. Joseph had given up calling freeze. Trent stood ready to shoot, but like us, had nothing to aim at that wouldn’t put a civilian in the direct line of fire.
Lori stayed low and watched the door to the torture room she was all too familiar with. She hadn’t said how long she was in there with the kids before they sent her to the house with Captain Dead, but even a minute was too long. Lori was tough. I wasn’t worried about the now. Later, we were all going to have to deal with the horrors we’d endured.
“Lori.” I leaned down and yelled loud enough for her to hear over the noise. “Try to get samples of stuff from every line. I’ll cover you.”
She nodded, looking relieved. Probably at having something to do besides focus on the damn door.
“Joseph, Trent. Cover Lori!” We took strategic shots, shooting high when we didn’t necessarily have a safe shot. She scurried around the next line using Joseph’s covering fire and moved up the belt. For ten minutes, we covered her, pinning the men down against the outside wall.
They used the bodies of the workers for cover. A couple of the men grabbed the white-clad workers and held the poor sops in front of them. They didn’t know the white gave me better contrast to see them. Between the white walls and the white work coverings, the guards stuck out like sore thumbs.
I aimed carefully. My shot fired simultaneously with another shot. I looked over at Joseph who’d taken the shot when I had. I looked back at the guards. Both of the men holding the workers like bulletproof vests went down. The workers ran away from the vicinity, helping clear our line of fire. It cleared the guards’ sightline as well. We ducked behind the lines, taking turns popping up and shooting until Lori returned with a makeshift sack and some vials.
“There’s five different markings on the vials. I got a sample of each. I want to get the notes for them, if possible,” she said instead of the smart-ass remark I might have used.
“They’re probably in the office upstairs. We need to figure out a way to get you up there. Go tell Trent, and the two of you make a break for the stairs if you get a chance.”
I popped up, took a few more shots, and ducked back down.
“Joseph,” I called.
We were spread out to keep us from being such easy targets. Joseph crouched a little further down the line, toward the door. Trent was up the line, where Lori crawled to. I headed Joseph’s way. I was going in that door. We couldn’t leave Riverson in there, and Joseph could cover me better than I could cover him.
“I’m going in,” I yelled as I moved past him.
Fury darkened his face and he grabbed my arm. “Why?”
“Riverson can’t be left in there. You don’t understand what she does to the Infected.”
“I’ll get him!”
“I can’t protect Lori and Trent as well as you can. Lori’s got samples from the line and needs to get upstairs for the formulas. In the meantime, you need to keep those men away from the door while protecting the others.”
Shaking my arm free of his grip, I stalked to the door. It opened into the room and would give an all-too clear view of my partners. I’d have to go in, shut the door, and keep Andrea off me all in one fell swoop.
I stood to the side of the door and took a deep breath. I nodded to Joseph, who was giving me a look. He didn’t want me to go in, but since he was better equipped to take down the other men, there was nothing else to do. The shots slowed down. It was now or never. I grabbed the handle and in I went.
Andrea looked surprised when I opened the door, and moved on to downright shocked when I slammed it shut behind me. Nice to know I could still surprise her.
“It’s me and you, Andrea.”
I’d waited for this since I found out my kids had been kidnapped. Not weakened by drugs and torture, I was ready and willing to fight her. I glanced at Riverson, but his head lolled around. I wondered if she was arrogant enough to start a session while her men were out there slaughtering people. She wouldn’t get to enjoy her favorite pastime for long.
Of course she continued on, business as usual, arrogance was her inherent flaw. As good as it would feel to crunch my fist into her face, I wasn’t waiting for a fight. All this ran through my mind in a short time. As soon as I finished speaking, I shot her between the eyes. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she slumped. Pulling my knife out of its short scabbard, I moved to finish the job.
Riverson grabbed my arm. I looked into his eyes. His pupils were dilated. He’d been drugged. I wouldn’t kill him this time for grabbing my arm. The fucking FBI guys needed some training against seizing people who didn’t want to be grabbed. Locking onto Riverson’s arm, I flipped him over my back. He landed on Andrea. I snapped his wrist and pulled him back off her.
He was in a lot of pain, but he’d live if he didn’t get cute with me again. The drugs caused a lot of issues for him; however, I wouldn’t let him stop me.
Andrea revived and sat up. Holy fuck and damn. I’d never seen such a complete and quick revival. The new virus she used on herself had to be stopped before it was distributed.
She didn’t have any of the normal zombie symptoms. Her eyes hadn’t glazed. The hole from my shot filled with the bullet for a second before it popped out and clattered on the ground. The hole closed like an artist erasing over a stray mark. It was gone that easy, quick. I sucked in a breath.
These aren’t your mother’s zombies, that’s for sure. I wasn’t sure if my immunity was strong enough to stand up to this form. I didn’t know what to call it. It was above the Ultimate form for the Infected. I’d seen it and been exposed. This was frightening.
My heart pounded against my ribcage. Andrea looked like she’d just won the lottery and was now dishing up her favorite meal. I knew my fear excited her, but I couldn’t seem to do more than keep it from getting out of control. How the hell was I supposed to slow her down long enough to put the knife into her skull? I backed away.
She came at me. My hip hit the doorknob. Andrea straight-armed me and I became one with the door before it separated into a million pieces and I went through it. I slid about ten feet before coming to a stop at the end of the line. Ha ha. Not funny, Serena. I nearly hit my head on the distribution line’s framework.
A sudden stillness surrounded me, like we’d become the center of attention in a back alley fight between the two leaders of a gang, except everyone aimed guns on each other while they watched. I got up, using the line to help me stand. Andrea kept walking at me, ruthlessly straight-arming me again, except she didn’t let go.
Andrea grabbed my neck and squeezed. Useless or not, I shot at her head and it went wild. She didn’t even flinch. I controlled my aim a little better and shot her in the arm strangling me. Her hand released long enough for me to drag in a quick breath before she went back to it. Andrea’s arm healed, with only a spot of blood to show where I’d shot her. I shot her again, and with my other hand, I stabbed her in the neck.
Damn it! I got her neck, but not where I needed to. Blood spurted from the severed artery, hitting my chest, before it slowed to a trickle, then stopped. I heard gasps all around me. I wasn’t the only one frightened of this new development. Andrea smiled. The grim, triumphant smile of a hunter who’d captured their prey.
Not yet, fucktard. I shot her up the nose. This time, she dropped back. I sucked in deep, hoarse breaths. Fury streamed out of her eyes like darts. I’d pissed her off and she was invincible. Oh, shit. Now I understood her fear of Gene the last time we’d had it out here at the warehouse.
“This is the shit you gave Gene, isn’t it?”
She cackled. No more fake Tinker bell laugh for her. “Yes, but his mind couldn’t handle it. I believe your mind could’ve handled it just fine. Too bad you became one of the lower Infected. You could’ve been like me.”
“A raging woman with syphilis? Naw, I’m good, thanks.” Weak, Serena. But what could I say? My brain was a little oxygen deprived at the moment.
Andrea understood; she laughed. “Are you saying my ego is writing checks my body can’t cash?”
Something like that. It was pretty obscure, even for me. I stared at her while I breathed, planning my knife throw if she ever turned her back on me.
Riverson came out the door. Andrea barely glanced his way. He cradled his hand, but his eyes looked more focused. Joseph noticed as well and I felt him come up the side of the line, heading toward the Deputy Director.
“Careful, Joseph. Riverson attacked me earlier. She has him in her thrall.”
Andrea’s smiled at Joseph. “I’d apologize, but I’m rather happy to have the Director of the El Paso office in my thrall. He’s come in handy more than once. I used him to off that ass Trent who tried to thwart me when I was teaching you your lessons, Serena.”
Now it was my turn to gloat. “You overestimate your charm.” Each second that passed, I felt better. I was rested and fueled, my body primed for a fight.
Confusion wasn’t her best look. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you see him earlier? Trent is alive and well.”
“You’re a liar,” she seethed.
In a rage, she attacked. Joseph headed over to Riverson. I sidestepped Andrea. My momentary lapse in confidence was over. If I went down, I’d go down fighting.
Trent and Lori slowly made their way toward the metal stairs leading to the offices while everyone’s eyes were on Andrea and me. If they could make it, they’d be able to blend in. The few civilians left
had crammed themselves into a corner under the metal stairs. It was the best place for them to hide and I was glad some of them were still alive. There were only four guards standing now. Damn it! That meant six zombies reviving soon. And speaking of zombies, where was my zombie, Al?
I looked over the shoulders of the four men in time to see a hairy ball with blood flying out of one end as it soared through the air. Heads up!
“Just for the fun of it,” I said, raising my voice to keep the attention on me and not the other members of my party. “Why don’t you tell me why you infected yourself? You know what it does.”
Andrea honestly looked surprised at my question. Apparently, the idea that some people might not want to be a zombie never crossed her mind.
“I know what it does. I found a way to heal faster and retain my intelligence. It’s perfect now. But I reserve this strain for a select few.” She smiled rather nastily. “Not even my boss has it. I told him the last batch was a failure. Gene made that lie truth.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Trent and Lori making their way up the metal staircase, keeping low and to the back. If someone looked, they’d be caught. If I could keep everyone’s attention focused on me, it’d buy them time.
Seemed Joseph had the same idea. “Deputy Director Mason Riverson,” he spoke loudly, startling me. “You’re under arrest for treason, spying, colluding with the enemy, bio-terrorism, and lying.”
I watched, fascinated at Joseph’s new approach. We still had four men to fight before the coast was clear, a crazed zombie on the loose, our own zombie tearing people’s heads off, and he verbally attacked Riverson?
Andrea laughed. “Seriously? You’re going to arrest the Deputy Director? I’d like to see that. Riverson, attack.”
I attempted to watch everything at the same time, but even so, I almost missed Andrea’s attack. She swung at me, putting her whole body into the punch. Riverson didn’t attack. He looked confused. I ducked and swept a kick at Andrea’s legs, then jumped off to the side. The way we stood now, I faced the staircases. Perfect. Now if I could duck her blows, avoid getting punched and throttled, I might live through this.