by K E O'Connor
I had to agree. I loved the Zee Town zombies, but it would take a special, slightly warped-minded person to love a zombie in every sense of the word.
Nick stared out toward the ocean. “Much like you, I’m married to my job. Zee Town keeps me busy.”
I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. “And does your job give you everything you need?”
Nick looked away. “Not always. I’m glad I’ve got Stool. Even though he can be a real pain at times, the company is good.”
“I love having Stool as well,” I said. “Well, a part share in him.”
“He’s a lucky dog,” Nick said. “What about Asadi? Any idea what you’re going to do with him if you don’t find him a new home to go to?”
I looked around but couldn’t see either of the dogs. The beach was a safe place for them to play, and it was quiet. They couldn’t get up to any trouble.
“I’m not sure.”
“Maybe you could take him on.”
“I don’t have room in my life for a pedigree dog,” I said. “Having seen them at this dog show, they sure need a lot of looking after. There’s all the grooming, training, and special diets.”
“Maybe Asadi could learn to rough it with you,” Nick said.
I swatted him with a hand. “Thanks for nothing. Stool gets the best dog kibble when he stays with me, and I treat him to ice cream, sometimes.”
“For which he’s very grateful,” Nick said. “You’ll have to do something with Asadi if you can’t find anyone to take him.”
“No one wants him,” I said. “I’m not offering him to Delia’s husband. He probably has a grudge against the dog who ruined his marriage.”
Nick nodded. “And you don’t want to put Asadi in a shelter.”
My nose wrinkled. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to Asadi. He was a cute little guy, but was I ready for my own dog? “That fur must take a lot of work to look after.”
“Maybe you can trim him. Or braid his fur?”
“Can you do that to a prize-winning Afghan hound and ensure he maintains his dignity?”
“He’ll look good with dreadlocks,” Nick said.
I chuckled. “After Asadi’s fun on the beach this evening, he’ll need a full makeover. I’ll ask Jen what she can do for him.”
“I bet Delia would never let Asadi romp around in the sand.”
“She’d not approve of ice cream and play dates on the beach.”
“Then Asadi’s been missing out,” Nick said. “Think about it. It could be fun. We could walk our dogs together.”
I glanced at Nick. There was something between us, but it was so complicated when it came to him. Sticking with a friendship was the safest course of action.
Nick tilted his head as if he heard a noise.
I stood and peered into the gloom. My eyes widened as six zombies emerged from the shadows.
“What are they doing out at this time of night?” I said more to myself than Nick.
“Be careful, Cassie,” he said.
“They’re not doing any harm.”
Nick’s eyes tightened as he continued to watch the zombies shuffle toward us. His hand reached for the gun in his belt.
“No, you don’t,” I said sharply. “You’re too quick to draw your gun around the zombies.”
“I’m not drawing my gun,” he muttered. “I’m making sure I’m prepared. They’re acting strangely.”
“They’re fine.”
“Stand back. They’ve got something.” Nick tried to nudge me out of the way.
I stood, blocking his path to the zombies, and placed my hands on my hips. “If you want to take aim at those zombies, you’ll have to go through me.”
Chapter 17
Nick lowered his hand from his gun belt. “I know zombies. They’re acting oddly. If you weren’t so quick to jump down my throat every time I thought they were being weird, you’d notice it too.” He grabbed my shoulders and spun me around. “Watch them.”
I scowled but did as instructed. At first, I didn’t notice anything odd, but they were being shifty. Their heads were down, and they were sticking to the shadows as if they didn’t want anyone to notice them.
“Do you see?” Nick whispered in my ear. “That’s not normal zombie behavior.”
“Let’s find out what they’re up to, instead of thinking the worst.” I hurried toward the zombies, ignoring Nick’s words of caution. “Good evening, everyone. Are you enjoying your walk along the harbor?”
The zombie at the head of the group looked up. His eyes widened before he turned and looked behind him.
“It’s okay. You’re fine being here,” I said. “It’s Iain, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “Cassie. Yes, out on a walk.”
Nick moved to stand beside me, menace radiating off him. “What’s going on here?”
“Nothing’s going on,” I said. “This is Iain and his friends. Do you often come out for walks in the evening?”
The zombies behind him shuffled around.
Iain nodded. “Most evenings.”
I glanced at Nick. “Is Ashton usually with you?”
“Cassie,” Nick muttered. “What are you doing?”
Iain nodded. “Used to be. Not anymore. Vanished.”
“Was he with you two nights ago?” I asked.
Iain turned and muttered to the other zombies for a few seconds before turning back. “He was. Came here.”
“You’re absolutely sure of that?” Nick asked.
“Ashton came out. We go walking around town together,” Iain said.
The other zombies muttered their agreement.
“Do you remember anything particular about that night?” I asked him.
Iain tilted his head. “Nothing special.”
“How was Ashton?”
“Not happy,” Iain said. “Mean lady kicked him.”
I looked up at Nick, a triumphant smile on my face. “There you go. Ashton’s innocent. He’s got an alibi for the night of Delia’s murder.”
“So say his friends,” Nick said.
I frowned. “Interview the zombies if you must, but it sounds like Ashton’s in the clear.”
Nick’s chin lifted as he looked over the heads of the zombies. “What have you got back there?”
Iain shuffled to the side as if trying to block Nick’s view. “Nothing. Nothing to see.”
“You at the back of the group. You’re hiding something,” Nick said, “in that sack.”
“What sack?” I peered around the zombies, trying to get a better look.
“No, Cassie. Not interesting,” Iain said. “Don’t worry.”
“Then you won’t mind me looking at it,” Nick said.
None of the zombies moved.
“They’re allowed to carry bags,” I said, although their behavior was a little odd.
“Aren’t you interested in knowing what’s inside that bag?” Nick asked. “Especially since it’s moving.”
My eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Nick took a step toward the group. “Open it.”
Iain clasped his hands in front of him. “Not doing any harm.”
Worry shivered through me. “Iain, it’s best if you let Nick take a look. You know what he can be like. He gets grumpy if he doesn’t get his own way.”
Nick tutted, but I ignored him.
Iain looked at me for a second, panic clear in his bloodshot eyes. “Can’t do that. Sorry, Cassie.”
I blinked rapidly. The zombies were usually so obliging. “We’ll just take a little peek. Ten seconds, that’s all it will take, and you can be on your way.”
“No. It’s ours,” Iain said. “Told not to say anything.”
I tilted my head. “Who told you that?”
Nick stepped closer, and his hand moved to his gun again. “I insist we take a look. You have something alive in that sack. You will show me what it is.”
The zombies muttered, and the tension in the air grew.
Iain shook hi
s head, his panicked gaze going from me to Nick. “No.”
The zombies had something they didn’t want anybody to see. Something that was alive and fit inside a large sack.
Nick moved around the group, but the zombies blocked him from getting any closer to the sack, forming a shield around the zombie holding it.
“I’m not playing,” Nick said. “Show me what you’ve got unless you all want to be arrested.”
“What for?” I whispered.
“Spoiling our evening,” Nick muttered.
“Let me deal with this.” I caught hold of Iain’s hand. “There’s no need to panic. We don’t mean you any harm. Everybody take a deep breath and calm down.”
The zombies all inhaled and exhaled at the same time.
Nick stared at me but didn’t say anything.
“That’s right,” I said quietly. “Now, the zombie at the back come forward. Put the sack on the ground, so we can see what’s inside.”
The zombie hesitated, his limbs shaking.
“It’s okay,” Iain said. “Trust Cassie. Won’t hurt us. Show her the sack.”
“That’s right,” I said. “Thank you, Iain, for trusting me.”
The zombie with the sack shuffled forward. He placed it on the ground.
Nick bent over and opened the top of the sack. A dog’s head poked out.
My mouth dropped open. “Mischief!”
Mischief barked and wriggled out of the sack. She stood, shook out her fur, and scratched behind her ear.
“What are you doing taking Mischief?” I asked Iain.
Iain’s gaze dipped. “She was alone. Didn’t think she had an owner.”
“And what were you going to do with this dog once you’d caught her in your sack?” Nick asked sharply.
Iain’s shoulders sagged. “Following orders.”
“Who’s orders?” I asked.
He ducked his head.
“You know this is wrong,” I said. “Someone loves this dog. Mischief has a home and an owner. You can’t do this. You know the rules of Zee Town. You’ve lived here long enough.”
Nick touched my arm. His gaze was curious as it ran over me. “They’re only doing what’s in their nature.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You’re defending the zombies?”
“I’m not condoning what they’ve done,” Nick said, “but look at it from their perspective. A dog has got to look like a tasty treat.”
The zombies shuffled and mumbled.
I spluttered out several unintelligible words. “I can’t believe it. I’m telling the zombies off, and you’re protecting them. What kind of weird parallel universe have I slid into?”
Nick chuckled. “I’ve always told you I don’t mind the zombies.”
I pressed my lips together. “Well, okay. The dognapping aside, everything’s good here. And the most important thing is we’ve learned that Ashton is innocent.”
Nick’s mouth twisted to the side. “We’ve learned that’s a possibility.”
“You have to let Ashton go,” I said. “You need to focus on finding the real killer.”
Nick pursed his lips. “I’ll get statements about Ashton’s whereabouts on the night in question. Providing everything tallies, then he will be free to go.”
“Fair enough,” I said. “Let’s get the zombies to the station now, and we can take their statements.”
Nick held up a hand. “We aren’t taking any statements. You get the dogs home. I’ll deal with the zombies.”
“Are you going to charge them with stealing Mischief?” I asked.
Nick scratched his head. “I haven’t decided about that yet. She doesn’t look harmed.”
I looked at Mischief. Although she appeared a little puzzled about what was going on, she looked in perfect health.
“Her owner told me Mischief goes running off on her own. I can return her and say I simply found Mischief on the beach. No harm done,” I said.
“Like I said, I’ll think about it.” Nick looked around. “Where’s Asadi and Stool?”
“They’ll still be on the beach,” I said.
Nick took a step away from the group. “Stool!”
We waited a minute, but there was no sign of Stool or Asadi.
Nick headed toward the beach, yelling Stool’s name again.
I glanced at the zombies as a cold ball of worry lodged in my gut. “You haven’t done anything with Stool, have you? You know him. He’s Nick’s three-legged dog.”
Iain shook his head quickly. “Not us.”
I stepped away and scanned the beach. There was no sign of either dog.
I tried to scoop up Mischief, but she was too heavy to carry. I hurried after Nick, keeping a hand on Mischief’s collar to stop her from making a run for it.
My stomach churned. What if these weren’t the only zombies taking part in dognapping? What if another group of zombies had taken Stool and Asadi?
Chapter 18
I’d been walking the beach for twenty minutes with Nick and Mischief, who seemed happy to explore the beach.
The more we searched, the more worried I became. Stool and Asadi had vanished, and it was almost completely dark. Other than the light of the big moon that hung in the sky, it was impossible to see any sign of the dogs.
I hurried over to join Nick, who stood at the water’s edge. “Still no sign of them?”
He puffed out a breath. “Stool has a tendency to wander off, but if he’s within earshot, he’ll eventually turn up.”
“I don’t know Asadi, but he seems pretty well-behaved. He responds to his name and knows his commands.”
“You don’t think...” Nick ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, if the zombies took this dog, what if they’re hunting for others and found Stool and Asadi?”
I shook my head quickly. “I asked Iain if he’d seen Stool, and he said no. All the zombies know Stool. They wouldn’t touch him. They’ve never shown any interest before.”
“The dog show has put a new idea in their heads,” Nick said. “Suddenly, dogs look like food. And with Stool only having three legs—”
“Hold it right there.” I grabbed Nick’s arm and turned him toward me. “Stool knows his way around zombies. He’d be able to get away from a zombie if one chased after him. He’s a clever dog.”
Nick sighed before nodding. “You’re right. Zombies are no match for Stool. I’d feel better if I could see him, though. This is out of character. He never runs off in the dark. He’s always home at night or at the station if I’m working a late shift.”
“He’ll be back as soon as he gets hungry or bored,” I said.
Nick’s brows lowered. “You don’t know that, Cassie.”
“I know Stool. We both know him.” I squeezed Nick’s arm, my heart aching with worry. Stool had to be okay. I couldn’t imagine Zee Town without him in it.
A bark had me turning. “It’s Asadi!” I hurried over and caught hold of his collar. His fur looked damp in places as if he’d been in the water, and he was shaking.
Nick strode over. “Is Stool with him?”
I looked around, expecting to see Stool limping from the shadows, but he didn’t come. “They must have gotten separated.” I ran my free hand over Asadi, but other than his damp fur, he seemed fine.
Nick took a few steps in one direction then turned and walked back. “I need to keep looking for Stool.”
“I’ll help,” I said.
“You’ve got enough to deal with. Get Mischief back to her owner.”
I looked at Mischief. “I’ll take her to the bed-and-breakfast and come back and help you search.”
Nick shook his head. “It’s getting late. I’m going to try at the station and see if Stool made his way there. It wouldn’t surprise me if I’ve been searching all this time, and he’s curled up fast asleep in the corner of the office.”
I smiled. “Let’s hope that’s the case. Let me know when you find him.”
“Will do.” Nick continued to scan the beac
h.
I sent a quick message to Jane on my phone, letting her know I’d discovered Mischief and was bringing her back. Then I did one last look around before hurrying away, Asadi’s leash attached to him and my fingers hooked in Mischief’s collar.
I hurried to the bed-and-breakfast Jane was staying in and knocked at the door.
It took a few minutes, but then the door opened. Jane’s eyes widened when she saw me with Mischief. “You keep finding my wandering dog!” She laughed and held her arms out.
I nodded as I let go of Mischief. “She seems like an expert at sneaking out.”
“I swear I turned my back for two minutes to run a bath. Mischief got out the door, and someone must have let her outside. I’ve been calling for ages trying to get her back.”
“She must like a good nose about.” I decided not to mention anything about the zombies catching her while she was out exploring.
“She does,” Jane said. “Although, I was beginning to panic this time.”
“I thought you were used to her roaming,” I said.
“I am,” Jane said. “But with the other contestants’ dogs going missing, it made me worry something bad was happening.”
I took a step back. “Other dogs have gone missing?”
Jane nodded. “At the end of today’s contest, Mary and Nicole couldn’t find their dogs. I help them look for a while.”
My stomach flipped. “Do you know if they’ve found them yet?”
“I haven’t heard,” Jane said. “Mary owns a powder puff Bichon Frise, and Nicole shows Boston terriers.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about,” I said, although I was most definitely worried. “Maybe they’re the same as Mischief and went exploring.”
“The dogs do get bored waiting for their slot. This time, I’m putting Mischief’s tracking collar on her, and it’s never coming off. You’re such a naughty girl.” Jane kissed the top of Mischief’s head and immediately pulled back. “Yuck! She smells funny, and her fur’s sticky. Just what have you been up to?”
“There are all sorts of strange things on the beach.” I wondered if the zombies had sucked on Mischief a little to get a taste of things to come. That would definitely make her smell bad. “She’ll need a bath after her adventure.”