by K E O'Connor
“That sounds good to me.” I stood up from my extended petting of Stool, who lay flopped on his back, his three legs in the air to let the air cool his hot belly.
“Is everything else going to plan?” Nick asked.
“So far,” I said. “I’m sure the opening day will present a few surprises, but we can handle them.”
“I’m sure we can,” Nick said.
“I’m doing a test run of the rides this afternoon,” I said. “You’d be welcome to tag along.”
“Rides aren’t my thing,” Nick said.
“Do you get sick on them?” I couldn’t imagine a green-faced Nick Morton. He seemed too tough to get sick from our spinning teacups.
“Hardly, but I don’t see the point,” Nick said. “There are enough ways to terrify yourself in the real world than spending a load of money to get a fake thrill from some zombie puppets hidden in a corner.”
I secretly agreed with him. I’d always hated the idea of a theme park and had only taken the job because my arm was twisted by the Council. I didn’t even like the rides. They made me queasy. I was willing to grit my teeth through a few of them this afternoon to check everything worked, though.
“If you change your mind, you know where we are,” I said.
“I do,” Nick said, his gaze on Stool.
I never knew what to do with Nick when he was being friendly. I was used to his grumpy moods, but when we got along like this, I saw a different side to him. It unsettled me and made my stomach do strange flips as I puzzled through how to handle him.
“The ice cream parlor is open if you want to sample some new flavors,” I said. “Zara recommends the beef flavor.”
“I know somebody who’d definitely like to try that.” Nick gave Stool’s head a pat. “I might drop by and say hello to Beth while I’m here.”
“You know Beth?”
“I’ve met her a couple of times in the Black Dog. She asked me to show her around town when I had an afternoon off last month,” Nick said.
My stomach cramped. Nick and Beth, I couldn’t imagine a stranger couple. He was so straight-laced, and she was so, well, the only word for her was perky. Beth was a free spirit. She couldn’t be into Nick, could she?
“That’s nice of you,” I said.
“I can be nice,” Nick said. “Beth seems like a nice person. I was happy to help her.”
“I’m sure you were.” I felt a little nauseous from all the sorbet I’d devoured. “I’ve got to go. I need to sort out the ride order for later.”
“I’ll catch up with you before the opening. We can do a final check of the rotas and make sure everybody knows where they need to be on opening day,” Nick said.
“Fine. Whatever.” I turned and hurried away, unsettled by the knowledge that Nick was seeing Beth. Sure, they may only be friends, for now, but she was an attractive young woman. And Nick was single.
It wasn’t my place to tell him who to date, but it troubled me that he was interested in her. And from the sounds of it, she liked him, too.
I looked over my shoulder and saw Nick already at the ice cream parlor. Beth’s head was tipped back as she laughed at something he said. Nick had a warm, relaxed smile on his face. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world. He rarely looked like that when he talked to me.
My stomach lurched. I’d better lay off the mango sorbet in the future. That’s all it was. I wasn’t jealous that Nick was into Beth, was I?
Chapter 3
My crowd of ride test subjects stood in front of me, excited expressions on their faces. Jen had made it for the afternoon, as had Beth and Laura, my friend from the diner, and Abigail Lovejoy, a new resident and former girlfriend of the recently deceased business owner Bert Figgins.
Zara had also come along, as had Selina Talbert, our doctor and medical examiner, four zombies from the shelter, and Danny Wade. Danny had recently left his job at Figgins Golfing Supplies when his hours had been reduced. He was now one of my best and brightest recruits at the theme park and in charge of the ghoul train and a small team of staff and zombies.
“We’re starting with the Zombie House of Terror,” I said to everybody. “Try not to get too terrified and keep an eye out for any glitches in the system or things that don’t seem to work properly.”
“I can’t promise I’m not going to scream my head off,” Jen said.
“If you’re doing that, I know the rides are working,” I said. “But when you’re screaming, look out for problems. Anything that doesn’t seem right to you, report back to me. We’ve only got seven days until the opening. I want to make sure everything is perfect for our first visitors.”
“I can’t wait,” Selina said. She wore a fetching pair of polka dot shorts, red sneakers, and a white shirt. Her outfit was a welcome change from her usual black suit and the coverall she wore when she inspected a dead body. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a good scare.”
I smiled at Selina. She was a loyal Zee Town resident, despite losing everyone she loved in the zombie uprising. She was, at times, a little too obsessed with zombies and death, but I couldn’t blame her for that. With everything she must have gone through, a little morbid fascination with death was to be expected.
“I’ll be at the back taking notes, so call out any problems you see.” I held up a small recorder in my hand, knowing it would be useless trying to make notes in the dark. I intended to walk along and voice record any findings I discovered that needed attention.
I looked at Danny. “Are you ready to get the ride started?”
He gave me a perfect smile, his dark eyes gleaming as brightly as the silver rings he wore. “I just need to press a button, then it’s all systems go.”
“Get ready to be terrified, everybody,” I said.
Several hours of stomach churning rides later, and it was time to take a break. Beth and Jen hadn’t survived the Screams of Terror rollercoaster too well, and both looked green and pale.
I’d managed the Terrifying Teacups and Rabid Rapids log flume before calling it a day. I didn’t fancy tackling the rollercoaster, and the Zombie Attack maze was too realistic to be considered fun. I’d also stopped the zombies going into the attack maze. They got panicked by pictures of rabid zombies. I could only imagine what they’d do if they were confronted by an actor pretending to be a rabid zombie. It might be too much for their faded gray matter to cope with.
“Let’s have some candyfloss,” I said. “Then we’ve only got the ghoul train to go.” I was pleased with how the afternoon had gone. I’d not had to take many notes during the rides. Only a couple of people had spotted glitches, all were minor, so they’d be easy to fix in time for the big day. Everything was on track for a successful opening.
“I’m not sure I can handle any candyfloss.” Jen waited with me by the ghoul train as some of the group went to grab candyfloss and sweets. “I’m still getting flashbacks from the attack maze. Those zombies seemed so real. One of them got hold of me, and I froze. It brought back a lot of memories. None of them good.”
“I wasn’t sure about including the maze,” I said. “But the Council wanted something realistic, something that will terrify people. I’m worried it’s too terrifying, and people won’t come back if they have a bad experience.”
“It’s brilliant,” Danny said with a grin. “People will come back in droves to go through it again. They’ll buy the I tackled the zombie attack maze and survived stickers for their cars before they leave. I’ll have another go as soon as I can.”
“We’ve got your ghoul train to test out next,” I said to him.
“My train is perfect.” Danny puffed out his broad chest.
I didn’t doubt that. Danny was a hard worker and dedicated to what he did. Nothing was too much trouble, and he did everything with a smile. “Shall we test that theory? Come on, everybody. One final ride to go, then you’re free to leave.”
Abigail hung back from the main group as we headed toward the ghoul train carriages.
“Cassie, have you got a minute? I don’t like to bother you. I know how busy you are getting the park ready.”
“It’s no problem. Have you got a comment about the last ride? I think you’re one of the few among us who didn’t get sick.”
“I loved the ride,” Abigail said, her blonde hair curling perfectly around her heart-shaped face. “I was actually wondering if you have any vacancies at the park?”
My eyebrows rose. “I didn’t know you were looking for a job.”
“Well, I wasn’t sure I’d stay around Zee Town.” Abigail tottered on her super high black heels. “What with Bert gone, I wasn’t certain how happy I’d be. But the longer I’m here, the more the town has grown on me. If I can, I’d like to stay.”
I smiled, knowing the town often had that effect on people. “What sort of work are you looking for?”
“I’ll try anything,” Abigail said. “And, I’ll be honest, I don’t have much experience. I’m keen to learn and happy to start in any role you have available.”
“Have you got a resume?” I asked. “I can take a look and see what you might be suitable for.”
Abigail nodded and pulled a single sheet of paper from her oversized rose pink purse. “There’s not much to it. I did some waitressing when I was a teenager. Since leaving college, I’ve been looked after by other people.” She cast me a guilty look.
Abigail was sweet and had recently been attending our Kooks and Spooks book club, so I knew there was a brain underneath that beautifully coiffed hairstyle. She never hid the fact she preferred to date much older wealthy men, and not always for their life experience. If they came with a large wallet and were generous with what was inside it, so much the better. It wasn’t a life I’d choose, but it made Abigail happy.
I checked over her short resume. She was right. Other than the waitressing and a brief stint as a cashier at a movie theater, Abigail’s work experience was limited. Still, we all had to start somewhere.
“How about you try the ice cream parlor? Beth lost one of our zombies recently, and she’s looking to replace him.”
“I can do that,” Abigail said.
“It won’t be anything exciting, mainly working behind the till and taking people’s orders. If you want a trial there, you’d be welcome to have a go. Beth will take good care of you and show you the ropes.”
“That’s just what I’m looking for,” Abigail said. “I’d like to make Zee Town my permanent home, but I need some way to pay the bills.”
“You still want to stay, despite the bad memories?” I asked. Her former sugar daddy, Bert Figgins, was found murdered not so long ago.
“Yes, that’s in the past. I’m moving on with all aspects of my life.” She winked at me. “If you know what I mean.”
I tilted my head. Was Abigail looking for a new sugar daddy?
“Am I too late?”
I turned to see Archer Rhinehart striding toward me in khaki shorts and a tight fitting black T-shirt. Archer was in charge of our border security and was every inch the trained and hardened special forces operative he looked.
“Too late for what?” I asked as sweat prickled on my top lip.
“I wanted a go on some of your rides,” Archer said. “I remembered you saying you were testing a few out today.”
“We’re almost done,” I said. “You can join me on the ghoul train if you promise you won’t get too scared.”
Archer barked out a laughter. “There isn’t much that scares me.”
That was true. Although Archer rarely spoke of his time before joining Zee Town, I could tell by the way he held himself and the number of scars I’d seen on his hands and arms that this was a man who’d seen serious military action. The thought made my heart speed up.
“Then you need to ride with me,” I said. “Pretty much everything scares me.”
“Cassie March, I’ve heard the tales of you fighting off rabid zombies,” Archer said. “If anything, you’ll be looking after me on this ride.” He leaned forward and tweaked a strand of my bobbed hair.
A blush crept across my cheeks under Archer’s intense gaze. “Let’s go, people. We have a ghoul train to test out.”
Archer grinned. “I’m sitting in the same carriage as you.”
He wouldn’t hear any complaints from me about that. A strong man sitting by my side might make me think twice about shrieking when a giant spider descended on my head during the ride. I needed to show people that I wasn’t scared. I was the boss here. I needed to be cool, calm, and composed.
Everyone climbed into a different ghoul carriage. I gave Danny the thumbs up to start the ride.
He grinned and pressed a few buttons on the console he stood in front of. A few seconds later, the ride moved smoothly forward. Danny jumped into the end carriage next to Abigail.
“What has your ghoul train got in store for us?” Archer whispered in my ear. “Should I pull my gun?”
“No lethal force is required,” I said. “The scares are mainly animatronics, with a few actors dressed as undead characters.”
“No zombies in the mix?” Archer asked.
“Only the human kind in dress up,” I said. “Using actual zombies on a ride like this might be too much for some tourists. When we did some testing, the zombies didn’t enjoy being dressed up either and made to act like rabid. Our placid zombies are too gentle for that, despite the Council trying to force the issue and get them involved.”
The ride crashed through the main doors of the ghoul train and they slammed behind us with an eerie sounding creak.
I jumped as a blast of icy air shot from one side. I inched closer to Archer.
“I’ll fight off any animatronic zombie who tries to take you from me,” Archer said.
“Likewise,” I said as Archer almost shot out of his seat when a web of sticky netting dropped from the ceiling and covered his head.
He roared with laughter. “I’m beginning to like this ride.”
“Let’s hope the tourists do,” I said.
“I’ve increased border patrols to cope with the expected influx of visitors,” Archer said. “The Council doesn’t like to make our jobs easy. I’ve ordered extra body thermal scanners, so we won’t have long queues at the gates. Your park won’t suffer because we keep people waiting.”
Zee Town theme park didn’t sit within the official town boundaries. There wasn’t room in such a small town for a big park like this. The Council had decided the park would be best located on the other side of the main border entry, close enough to town so people could visit, and near enough to Archer and his team if there was any trouble from dangerous zombies.
Archer had spent six weeks erecting and testing a new fencing system that went around the park, ensuring no rabid zombies would enter without them knowing. There were also twenty-four-hour patrols, extensive CCTV coverage on all entries and exits, and the use of thermal body scans on the crowds as they entered the park. That was one easy way to spot a zombie. They ran at a different temperature to humans. A simple scan of the crowd picked out any zombies straightaway.
It didn’t mean we were excluding zombies from the theme park. The placid ones were welcome, and I had a staff team that was almost fifty percent zombies, but we needed to keep an eye out for the possibility that a rabid zombie might try to get in. They’d be easy to spot. Rabid zombies had no self-control. If they were in a crowd of warm-blooded humans, you’d soon know about it. All the zombies coming into the theme park, and Zee Town, were double checked and their identities verified. We were safe.
I shrieked and leaped out of my seat, landing in Archer’s lap, as icy fingers traced along my arm. I looked back into the gloom as the ghoul train continued its journey. “What was that?”
Danny laughed in the end carriage. “You must have been through our chilling machine,” he shouted. “It gets people every time. It feels like ghoul fingers on your skin.”
I rubbed my hands briskly down my arm, goose bumps covering my flesh. “It’s very eff
ective,” I called back. It was only then that I realized I was still sitting in Archer’s lap. His arm had snuck around my waist. I shifted into my own seat and ran my hands over my hair, expecting it to be standing up in fright.
“We shall have to go around again if it makes you do that.” Laughter traced through Archer’s words.
“You’d have done the same if you’d felt it,” I said tartly.
“I might have. I don’t envy you if I end up sitting in your lap.” Archer slapped a hand on one broad thigh.
I spent the rest of the ride alternating between shutting my eyes and looking between my fingers as a variety of ghouls and spectres danced toward us through the semi-darkness. The ride was brilliant, creepy and scary. It was exactly the right level of fright to have you shrieking in terror and laughter at the same time. Despite having misgivings about the park and its effect on Zee Town, I was enjoying this particular ride.
The carriage I was in clattered through the exit doors and slowed to a stop. Several loud screams rang out in quick succession.
I recognized Jen’s shriek and tilted my head. She was sitting at the front of the ride. There weren’t any more scares to be had. What had she seen that had frightened her?
Archer hopped out of the carriage and held out his hand for me. “It sounds as if the frights continue, even though the ride has finished.”
I grasped his hand, my fingers brushing across the calluses on his palm. “Jen does scare easily.” Danny and Abigail walked past, Danny giving me a broad grin as he noticed me holding hands with Archer.
“What about you, Cassie March? How easily do you scare?” Archer’s fingers tightened around mine, and he pulled me toward him.
“I can hold my own when I have to.” I tried not to sound as breathless as I felt. Archer was dangerous, hot but dangerous. It was something I had to remind myself every time I was near him.