by K E O'Connor
“Doesn’t it ever worry you they might attack or change?”
“To begin with, we were wary, and there were a lot more security and patrols in town. We even had a curfew and had to be inside before dark.”
“Why a curfew?” Grant asked.
“People were cautious. I never had a problem with the zombies, but people remembered the bad times. When the risk of us losing control was very real.”
“There was a worry the zombies got mean at night?” He arched an eyebrow.
“I know, kind of silly when you think about it. It felt more like a prison at that point. That was lifted after six months. Besides, the government sanctioned tests showed the zombies moving into town were docile and safe to be around. We were just being extra careful when we first set up Zee Town.”
“Even though the virus didn’t affect everybody the same way,” Grant said, “it still freaks me out, knowing we all carry it. It’s hard to believe we have this mutant zombie killer virus inside of us.”
“It doesn’t do that to everyone,” I said. “We were the lucky ones. We got infected, but we were somehow immune. Then you have the placid zombies. The virus changed them, but it didn’t make them violent.”
Grant gave a shudder as he finished his burger. “Those rabid zombies, though. I still see the footage online of the attacks. They were ruthless and dangerous. You really don’t worry about that here?”
“Zee Town is safe. We have the sea at our back, the hills on the other side, and our border and security controls.” Our border patrol was amazing. It was made up of ex-special forces and ex-military personnel who monitored and patrolled the town to prevent encroachment from the remaining rabid zombies. They were efficient and lethal. I was always a little nervous around the gun carrying military types, although the team here were friendly enough.
“I went through those security controls on my way in. Those guys are thorough. They searched everything and interviewed me for an hour. They wanted to know my intentions for staying in Zee Town.”
“They need to make sure no one’s smuggling in anything they shouldn’t. They’re gentler on the tourists who come in for a few days and then leave, but they do full body scans on everyone to check their temperature and make sure no one is sneaking in a zombie.”
“Have you ever had any rabids that have broken through the defenses?” Grant asked.
“Not for years. When there were more rabids, it was harder to keep them away. But our border patrols are great. We’ve not had any trouble for a long time. Like I said, this is a safe place. You should think about settling here.”
“Maybe I will,” Grant said. “Another thing that interests me is zombie rot.”
I stifled my disappointment. Zee Town was fascinating to people who didn’t live here, and the placid zombies would always be a hot topic of conversation, but this didn’t feel like a particularly romantic date to me.
“The rot is manageable. Some zombies decay slower than others, and some you don’t even notice. What was it like where you used to live? Where did you say that was?”
Grant smiled. “I didn’t. I move around a lot. The last place I lived was the Isle of Man. Over there, they’re doing interesting work with the zombies. It’s a safe place. Barely anyone who was infected with the virus changed. They’re trying to figure out why so they can make a vaccine for the zombies.”
I leaned forward in my seat. This did interest me. “A vaccine? One to reverse the virus and return the placid zombies to human? What about the rabids?”
Grant’s smile widened. “Anything’s possible. I knew you’d be interested. This topic is fascinating.”
I couldn’t disagree. So, I gave in, and we spent the rest of the date talking about zombies. Not romantic, definitely not sexy, but it was one of my favorite topics.
At the end of lunch, my head buzzed with the crazy ideas and theories Grant had about zombies and how they could be better utilized, the kind of treatments that might soon be available for them, and the future of zombies. Here was a guy who loved his zombies. It made me warm to him. I wanted Grant as a permanent resident of Zee Town. It was rare to find someone like me. Something with such a passion for placid zombies. It made me feel less of a freak.
Grant looked at his watch and jumped from his seat. “I didn’t realize the time. I got so involved with talking to you.” He took out his wallet and threw down some money.
“You have to go?” I couldn’t hide the disappointment in my voice.
“I hate to eat and run, but I’ve got to get to an appointment.”
“Oh, well, okay. You don’t have to pay for us both.” My gaze went to the money on the table.
“I do. After all, I asked you out.” He hurried to my side of the table and gave me another big kiss on the lips.
I pulled back, laughing as I did so. “Are you sure you can’t stay?”
“I wish I could,” Grant said. “You stay. Have some dessert and relax. I enjoyed myself. We’ll have to do this again.”
“We will.” Grant was already dashing toward the door as I spoke.
He was almost running as he left the restaurant. What was so important that had him sprinting away?
I looked at the money he’d left. He’d paid more than enough. I would treat myself to that dessert and a coffee. I had nothing to rush home for.
As I looked out the window at Grant’s retreating form, I spotted Stool. Behind him was Nick.
Stool saw me through the window and his limp walking increased as he made his way toward the diner.
I grinned as Nick shouted at him. Stool put his head down and powered toward me. A rush of affection flooded me. Stool had been through a lot in his life, but nothing stopped him. When he set his mind to doing something, he just did it.
I ordered my coffee and dessert and went outside the diner to meet Stool. “Have you been out for a lovely walk?”
Stool sat on his haunches and gave me a doggy grin as I tickled behind his ears.
Nick appeared behind him, sounding out of breath. “That dog has selective hearing. I waste hours training him. I shouldn’t bother.”
“Stool isn’t doing any harm, he just saw someone he likes,” I said. “And maybe he overheard me ordering a triple chocolate brownie dessert and wanted some.”
“Chocolate is bad for dogs,” Nick said. “He’ll have to make do with the treats I’ve got in my pocket.” He pulled out a bone-shaped biscuit and fed it to Stool.
“Is there any progress on finding our missing zombies?” I asked Nick.
“Not so far. How about you? I heard about your beach combing session.” His mouth set into a firm line. “Were you planning on sharing that news with me?”
I pushed my windswept hair from my face. “I would have if we’d found anything of use to you. There was nothing on the beach.”
“There may have been some evidence,” Nick said. “But after four over-excited Miss Marples trampled all over it, there won’t be any point in the actual police going and having a look along the beach, will there?”
Stool gave a gentle whine, as if he sensed the growing tension between us.
“The sea would have done a better job than we ever could,” I said. “The tide washes everything away.”
Nick grunted. “I won’t be wasting my time sending any of my team to have a look.”
His tone rankled me. “So, what will you be doing?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve already made inquiries around town about the missing zombies,” Nick said. “Following the appropriate procedure, as I’m supposed to do.”
“Hey! We were trying to help,” I said.
“You can help by staying away and not interfering like you said you would,” Nick said.
Stool’s whining was now continuous. I bent and ruffled the fur on his head to placate him. “Don’t worry, Stool. Your owner’s just having one of his bad days.”
Nick made a growling sound in the back of his throat. “Did I see Grant r
unning away from you?”
“He wasn’t running away from me. He was running to something.” I frowned at Nick. “He had an appointment he was late for. We’ve just finished a lovely date if you must know.”
Nick’s gaze drifted over my shoulder to the diner. “It can’t have been that amazing. I’ve never seen a guy run so fast. Are you sure you didn’t put him off with your snooping and questioning? I can imagine going on a date with you would be like being in an interrogation with the FBI.”
My cheeks flushed. I had asked Grant a lot of questions, trying to get answers out of him about his future plans in Zee Town. Still, that was none of Nick’s business. “Like you’d ever get a chance to find out what an actual date with me is like.”
“That fact weighs heavily on my mind almost every day.” Nick crossed his arms over his chest.
There was a tap on the glass behind me. I turned to see the waiter holding aloft my brownie and coffee. It was exactly what I needed after being grouched at by Nick.
“It looks like duty calls,” Nick said. “And a word of advice; stay out of this investigation. We’re dealing with it.”
I scuffed my boots on the ground. “Just find our missing zombies. I’m worried about them. Something’s wrong.”
“What makes you say that?” Nick’s tone had softened.
I sighed. “My gut.”
“Let your gut focus on that chocolate cake. Leave the detective work to me.” He turned to go, but then paused.
I lifted my chin. “Is there something else you want to scold me about?”
“You might be a little more careful about who you date,” Nick said. “You don’t know anything about Grant.”
My head snapped up. “You can’t tell me who to date.”
“I’m not, but he’s only been in town for a few days. It seems as if you’re already planning your wedding to him.”
My mouth dropped open. I swiftly snapped it shut. “You don’t know anything about Grant.”
“I keep an eye on new arrivals in Zee Town,” Nick said. “Let’s just say his behavior is somewhat erratic.”
“Define erratic,” I said.
For a second, Nick looked like he wasn’t going to say anything, but then he sighed. “He closes the store at odd times. He’s always dashing around looking as if he’s late for something. And, sometimes, he has this strange expression on his face, as though he’s a million miles away.”
“They’re hardly reasons to lock him up,” I said.
“Even so, don’t rush into this thing you have with him.”
If I didn’t know better, I’d think Nick was jealous. “My love life is one thing you don’t have any control over.”
“I’m not trying to control your love life,” Nick said. “I’m looking out for you and making sure you make the least foolish decision.”
“You should put your efforts into finding our missing zombies, not stalking my new boyfriend.” I spun on my heel and dashed into the diner before Nick had a chance to respond. I returned to my table, angled my chair so I wouldn’t have to see Nick’s irritating face, and dug into my brownie.
After a few moments, my shoulders relaxed and I let out a big sigh. Nick had no say in who I dated.
I ignored the tiny niggle in the back of my mind telling me I’d been a bit harsh on Nick. I got the impression he was lonely, despite having Stool for company. And when we got along, I did quite like him.
And what about the card? If he had sent it, did he like me? Should I be nicer to Nick?
I finished my delicious, rich dessert, sorted the bill, and left the diner, checking first that Nick wasn’t around.
The sick feeling in my stomach had nothing to do with the way I’d scolded Nick and everything to do with eating too much dessert.
I wasn’t into Nick. I’d just been on a date with Grant. I had to focus on that.
Despite making that decision, my stomach ache remained as I walked slowly home.
Chapter 17
A glorious day off work beckoned. I enjoyed a long lie-in in my comfy bed before taking a shower using my favorite jasmine body wash, then made a delicious breakfast of oatmeal with maple syrup, sliced plums, and flaked almonds.
The log burner was lit and filled the tiny cottage with a wonderful warmth, taking the chill out of my toes and making me want to doze on the couch for most of the day.
I got the urge to make some trinkets, and set out my latest finds of beads, tiny pebbles, and bits of glass, and started making some new designs.
Thoughts of the missing zombies kept playing through my head, as did the way I’d chastised Nick yesterday. I had been hard on him. I knew how worried he was about the Council cutting the funding for Alex’s post. I just wished he wasn’t always so rude to me.
Someone had to be responsible for the zombies going missing. Since Seth had been ruled out, that left The Flounder or Bill Guthrie, and I wasn’t sure about either of them. Every day that passed, and the zombies weren’t found, it increased the likelihood of them being hurt or dead.
Three mugs of tea later, and I’d completed two new trinkets. I held them up, enjoying the way they gleamed in the firelight from the log burner. I already had several around the cottage, one in each window, and one by the front door. I always relaxed when I looked at them.
As I tidied away my supplies, I realized I’d yet to give Selina a trinket. She could use one in her surgery. It would take away its stark appearance and make it friendlier for her patients when they came in for appointments.
I pulled on thick woolen socks, my long boots, put on a coat, hat, gloves, and scarf, and headed into the frigid morning to give Selina the trinket and get some fresh air.
I walked past the Black Dog. Marissa was opening for the day, her bright red hair blowing in the wind and a startling shade of crimson on her lips.
I gave her a friendly wave. “Any sign of Lucy?”
“No, she’s still missing, poor love,” Marissa said. “Have any of the others turned up?”
“No, but I’m keeping an eye out for them,” I said. “Nick is finally on board with helping to find them, too.” That was if he could stop being such an enormous misery and giving me unhelpful advice about my love life.
“Between the two of you, you’ll get it sorted. I’ll be glad to have my Lucy back,” Marissa said. “I can’t stop, sweetie. I need to get the glasses out of the washer before the regulars come in and start ordering me around.” She gave me a wink before heading inside the pub.
I had no doubt that no one ever ordered Marissa about. She was a whirlwind of energy and passion. If anybody stepped out of line in her pub, they knew not to do it again.
I walked along the lane and turned right, heading toward Selina’s surgery. Being a Sunday, it wasn’t a surprise to find it shut. I tried the buzzer on the apartment above the surgery where she lived, but there was no reply.
After waiting a few minutes, I carefully posted the trinket through her letterbox. She’d know who it was from as soon as she saw it. I was the only one in town who made these strange little trinkets.
My ten minutes outside was more than enough. My ears were numb from the cold, and my log burner beckoned with increasing urgency. I decided on one more stop before returning home. I wanted to thank Grant for our lunch date. He’d dashed off so quickly that we hadn’t had a chance to say a proper goodbye. I might also be hoping for a few of those enthusiastic kisses he was always so generous with.
I stuffed my hands into my pockets and hurried down the street and around the corner toward Bill’s store. As I drew nearer, I spotted Grant outside. He was locking up. He turned and scurried in the opposite direction.
I sped up to catch him. I paused by the store and looked inside. It was shut, the blind pulled down over the door, and the lights out. That was unusual. Bill wouldn’t be happy if he found out. He liked his store open every day to ensure his customers could get what they needed.
Where was Grant going in such a hurry? I dashed after
him. As I turned the corner, he was moving in the direction of the harbor.
My pace slowed as he headed onto the beach. What would possess somebody to go to the beach when it was this cold? I could see the tide was creeping in so he shouldn’t be down there for long or he risked getting trapped. The beaches were beautiful, but you had to respect high tide.
“Grant!” I called as I hurried onwards, the wind whipping the words from my mouth.
Grant turned up the collar on his coat and pulled a wooly black hat out of his pocket, jamming it low over his head and hunching his shoulders.
Maybe he was going to one of the boats to see if there was any fish available. He’d be out of luck. Most of the fishermen took Sunday off as well. They enjoyed the Sunday lunches and real ale that Marissa served a bit too much to work today.
Grant passed the boats and continued on. He was heading straight to the caves at the end of the beach.
I loved those caves when I was a kid. They were great fun for exploring in. When I was younger, I used to think there were pirates or buried treasure hidden in the caves. They were a natural feature, created by thousands of years of pounding by the relentless sea, and they went a long way underground. You had to be careful inside the caves. At high tide, they were partially submerged. If you found yourself trapped inside, there was no hope of getting out unless you were a strong swimmer.
An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. I slowed, pausing by the side of a boat as I watched Grant enter the mouth of the main cave. Surely, he couldn’t be exploring the caves on a day like this?
Once Grant had gone inside the cave, I ducked out from behind the boat and hurried after him. I didn’t even make it to the entrance before he appeared again, looking over his shoulder, before leaving the caves.
I barely had time to conceal myself behind a few discarded crab cages, but I needn’t have worried about him spotting me. Grant kept his head down and strode along the beach toward the harbor.
Once he’d gone, I crept from behind the crab cages and walked to the cave entrance, keeping a close eye on the tide. I reckoned I had an hour before I needed to get out of the caves. That should give me plenty of time to see what Grant was up to.