The Hungry (Book 6): The Rule of Three (The Sheriff Penny Miller Zombie Series)

by Booth, Steven W.

  Miller turned to McDivitt. “Excuse me, Major, but your first name is Walter?”

  McDivitt seemed a bit surprised by the question. He hesitated for just an instant. Then he shrugged and said, “Yes, I’m Walter McDivitt. Now please tell me, what’s wrong with Rolf?”

  Miller put up both her hands. She hoped to signal McDivitt to stay silent for just a moment longer. She turned to Rolf. “Yes, I can see him. In fact, I’m pretty certain we can all see him. Can you see him, Rolf?”

  Rolf only nodded.

  “I think he’s actually happy to see you,” Miller offered.

  Very softly, McDivitt said, catching on, “Yes, I’m very happy to see you. What’s happened to you, Rolf?”

  Rolf finally made eye contact with McDivitt. “I’m so sorry, Walter. I tried… I tried…” The rest of his words were lost in a flood of sobs and gasps for air. Miller stepped to the side, gently moving Sheppard with her, and made room for Rolf and McDivitt to come together. Rolf could not stop crying.

  “Whatever happened,” said McDivitt, “I forgive you.” McDivitt stepped over to Rolf and enclosed him in a warm embrace. He allowed Rolf to cry unimpeded. Christa, Leland, and Scobee watched helplessly. In fact, Scobee cried too. Miller, Scratch, and Sheppard exchanged glances. Miller couldn’t get past the fact that these two men were brothers. She didn’t know what that meant for their future, but it could be very useful if McDivitt was now moved to consider Miller and her people family. The truth was coming out. She decided to be patient.

  Moments later, Rolf finished crying. He gained control of himself and there was a long, awkward moment of silence. Then McDivitt held Rolf at arm’s length. “Rolf, where’s Naomi? What happened?”

  Miller half expected Rolf to burst into tears again or hug Dudley, or make any number of other odd moves. But instead, he dug the lanyard from inside his shirt, the one holding the finger bone, and lifted the entire necklace over his head. He handed it to McDivitt. “Walter, I’m so sorry. I had to leave the rest of her behind.” His voice was strong, and the look on his face was almost… Miller didn’t have a word for it, but if she had to choose one, it would have been sane. She was not at all used to seeing Rolf that way.

  McDivitt looked at the small, white object in his hand. “What… Jesus, is this a damn finger?”

  Rolf didn’t respond. McDivitt looked at Miller, and she nodded. “Yes, Major.”

  “And are those teeth marks?” Miller opened her mouth to explain, but before she could, McDivitt shouted, “My God, Rolf! What the hell have you done to my sister?”

  Rolf shrank away again. He looked ready to mess his trousers. Miller didn’t want to see what McDivitt was capable of when enraged. She stepped in front of Rolf to challenge McDivitt, and redirect his attention.

  “Major McDivitt, I’m Sheriff Penelope J. Miller from Flat Rock County, Nevada. You people seem know all about the existence of the zombie plague. I’m not going to mince words, here. We found Rolf hiding in some old Indian caves that were taken over by a cannibal cult, a group of people that went insane and had come to worship the zombies. Your sister, Naomi, as far as we could determine, ran afoul of the cult leader, a man named Father Abraham.”

  McDivitt sagged against the wall. “Go on.”

  “There is no easy way to say this, Major. Abraham was a psychopath. He either fed Naomi to the zombies or turned her into one. Either way, she’s gone, and Rolf went off the deep end because of that. He took one finger to have something of hers to hold on to. His elevator doesn’t go all the way to the penthouse any more, but he’s our friend. He saved me and my people from some nasty folks who were pursuing us, and he’s been a faithful companion ever since he led us out of those caves. So I’d appreciate it if you would take all that into account and go easy on him.”

  McDivitt studied Rolf, who had again taken up a position of safety behind Scratch. Without breaking his gaze, he said, “Flat Rock, you say, Sheriff Miller? That’s not too far from Crystal Palace.”

  “No, it isn’t,” Miller allowed.

  “You must have been right in the middle of all that virus shit when it hit the proverbial fan.”

  Scratch snorted. “You don’t know the half of it, Sparky.”

  McDivitt ignored Scratch and the others and shifted his gaze back to Miller. “Exactly how long has Rolf been with you?”

  Miller thought about that question for a moment. It felt like months, but then everything felt like that. “Two days.”

  “That’s not very long. How do you know he’s been telling the truth?”

  “It’s a new world out there, and it’s ugly as sin. That tends to reveal a man’s character in a big hurry.”

  “Yes,” McDivitt said. “War always does.”

  Miller put her hand on McDivitt’s shoulder. “Besides, one truth I do know is that you seem to care about Rolf a lot, and that you just said you’d forgive him.” Miller paused for effect. “Or was that just bullshit?”

  McDivitt held her eyes then looked down. “No, that wasn’t bullshit.”

  “Glad to hear it, sir. Kindness is in short supply these days.”

  McDivitt stepped back two paces. “Okay, listen up, men. I’m satisfied that whatever happened to my sister, Rolf did everything he could to save her. There will be no more questions asked, and no accusations of any kind. Drop it, or you’ll answer to me.”

  Rolf whimpered gratefully. Scratch nodded his approval. Sheppard did as well. It was settled. Rolf was no longer under suspicion.

  McDivitt looked down at the finger bone in his hand. “I’m not sure I want to hang onto this.” He handed it back to Rolf. The Major’s eyes seemed out of focus from all the restrained emotion. “You loved Naomi as much as I did, Rolf. You… you keep it.”

  Rolf timidly held out his hand and took the bone. Then he put the lanyard around his neck again and dropped it down his shirt. He looked at McDivitt. He stood a little taller and a little straighter. “It’s good to see you again, Walter.” Then he looked at Miller and Scratch. His eyes were clear. “And I mean for real, this time.”

  Christa cleared her throat. “Why don’t you just have a seat? We all need to get to know each other.”

  McDivitt nodded. “All right, Sheriff Penelope J. Miller, I’m Major Walter McDivitt of the United States Air Force. This is my wife Christa. You’ve already met Dr. Leland Satcher, Bean, and Judy. You have not only brought back to me my best friend and partner Rolf, but also one of my most trusted men, Gus Cooper,” he said, gesturing to Scobee.

  “They saved my ass and Bean’s too,” offered Scobee. “And you can keep calling me Scobee. Everybody else does.”

  McDivitt continued to address Miller. “I owe you a debt of gratitude, Sheriff. If there’s anything I can do to return the favors you have done for me and mine, I will do whatever I can to help.”

  Miller took a seat across from McDivitt. “There just might be something we would want your help with.”

  A door opened. The noise from the far end of the room drew their attention. Bean and Judy entered and stood awaiting further orders. McDivitt waved the couple into the chairs at the other end of the table.

  Miller turned back to address McDivitt. “Bean told me that we are in the same business. We are both out to slow down or stop the progress of the zombies.”

  McDivitt nodded. “We understand the threat and want to do as much as we can.”

  “How much do you know, Major?”

  “That’s not an easy or safe question,” McDivitt said. “For now let’s just say it has come to our attention through old colleagues that the government has been conducting highly illegal and potentially catastrophic experiments, and that it continues to keep the rest of the country in the dark about that fact. We know the story of the nuclear explosion in Nevada is a lie designed to justify martial law and to hide their mistakes from the world.”

  “Someone risked filling you in?”

  “Yes, and lost her life doing so. Not everyone in government is
evil, Sheriff. Still, we don’t really know who to trust these days, so for the time being we trust no one but ourselves. At least that’s how it’s been until now.”

  Miller nodded and put her own cards on the table. “Well, my people and I intend to shut down any covert governmental support for the Enhanced Bioweapons program. We want it stopped once and for all. That alone will not going to make the zombie virus go away forever, not by itself, but at least there will be no more experiments after that, and no more attempts to make super-soldiers.”

  “Go on.”

  “We are going to kill all of them and, with Captain Sheppard’s help, destroy their research. Major, we are here to cut the head off the snake.”

  “You’re talking about the Triad. That’s a hell of a nut to crack, Sheriff.”

  Scratch leaned forward and interjected rudely. “Back up, buddy. What was that you said about a Triad?”

  McDivitt cocked his head. “Excuse me, Mister…?”

  Miller waved her hand. “Forgive me, Major. This gentleman here is my good friend Scratch, and the other valued member of my team is Captain Karl Sheppard, U.S. Army.”

  Before Miller could fill them in about Sheppard, McDivitt and Christa exchanged an excited look. Then McDivitt leaned forward to get a better look at Sheppard in the candlelight. “Sheppard? Karl Sheppard? Wasn’t there an Army Captain Sheppard in charge of Crystal Palace until just a few weeks ago?”

  Sheppard met McDivitt’s eyes. “Yes, Major and that would be me, although I’m a bit surprised that you and your people are so well versed in the details of the Enhanced Bioweapons program. Your deceased friend must have had very high level clearances to even know about the existence of that project.”

  “She had clearance, and at one point years ago, so did I. People talk, Captain Sheppard. Ever since the Triad took over Mountain Home Air Force Base, the existence of the program is a bit of an open secret.”

  “Just what the hell did you mean by Triad, Major?” demanded Scratch, cutting in again. He reached under the table and squeezed Miller’s leg. She put her hand on his, and squeezed back. Maybe they were finally getting somewhere.

  “That’s not their official name, of course. The Department of Defense created the position of Special Assistant for Biological Weapons, and the SABW created the Enhanced Bioweapons Select Committee made up of three members, which those in the know nicknamed the Triad. They oversee the entire Enhanced Bioweapons program and administer it from a secure facility on base. Captain Sheppard should know all that.”

  Miller and Scratch turned to Sheppard. He nodded and said, “I’ve never heard the Select Committee called the Triad before, but otherwise that’s about right. They give the orders, apparently with off-the-books money behind them.”

  Miller’s mind was churning over this news. “And you know where this Triad committee is, and how we can get to them?”

  McDivitt frowned. “Well yes and no. Everyone on base knows where to find the Triad. But how to get to them? That’s not so easy, and it’s likely to cost a lot of lives.”

  Scratch leaned forward over the table. She set her elbows down carefully. “But you can point us in their direction, right?”

  McDivitt shrugged. “No offense intended, Sheriff, but there is no way you three are going to be able to get anywhere near the Triad. Not without a ton of help.”

  “Then maybe you can help us,” said Miller.

  “You don’t know what you’re asking.”

  She stood up, surprising even herself. “Don’t write me off just yet, Major. I have seen more shit since the zombies appeared than you’ll see in ten lifetimes. I think I know exactly what I’m asking, and my people and I are fully prepared to do what must be done to end all this insanity. It stops now.”

  Major McDivitt sat and watched Miller. When she didn’t continue, he took in a deep breath. “Simmer down. I’ll consider your request, Sheriff. But for the moment, it is late, and you and your people are probably tired and hungry.”

  “Yes, we are.”

  McDivitt softened. He stood up as well. “Bean, would you show Sheriff Miller, Captain Sheppard, and Mister… um… Scratch to their rooms? Sheriff, Christa and Scobee will be up to your rooms soon with some chow.”

  “Thank you, Major,” Scratch offered.

  McDivitt nodded. He walked across the floor. “Eat and get some sleep. We’ll talk again in the morning when more of our people are here.” And with that, Major McDivitt left the room.

  “I guess that means we’re dismissed,” said Scratch.

  “I guess so,” said Miller.

  Leland was also standing. “Captain Sheppard, if you want to come with me to your room, I’ll finish stitching you up and get you started on those antibiotics.”

  Miller looked at Sheppard. “Go heal, Karl.”

  “That’s easy for you to say, Penny,” Sheppard said. “I’m the one he’s going to run through a sewing machine.” He and Leland made their way out of the room.

  Bean was now standing next to Miller and Scratch. Judy waited a few steps away. She had a bored expression Miller found disconcerting. The evening had been anything but boring. Bean spoke, “Would you follow me, please?”

  “What about Rolf?” Miller asked. This was beginning to feel dangerously like they were deliberately separating the members of her group.

  Christa stood and put her hand on Rolf’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. He’s among family again.” Rolf looked at her with trust in his eyes, and put his hand on hers. Rolf was generally tuned in to signs of danger. He seemed relaxed, perhaps for the first time in the few days she’d known him.

  Miller nodded to Christa. She liked the woman and Rolf seemed to be in good hands.

  Bean took a step and executed a smart about face. “Come this way.”

  Miller and Scratch stood and followed Bean out of the room. Judy remained behind, tending to her fingernails.

  Chapter Five

  25 hours, 42 minutes to Stage Three (10:18pm)

  As the door closed behind them, the pleasant look left Scratch’s face. He walked around quickly, looking behind picture frames and under lamps for hidden cameras or microphones. Nothing sinister turned up. Scratch frowned and said in a low voice, “I don’t like any of this, Penny.”

  Miller sat on the bed, testing its firmness. She found herself in the opposite camp this time. “What’s not to like? Look, there are no cameras, no scientific experiments, and no guards keeping us in.” She put her arms over her head and stretched. “Best of all no cannibals trying to eat us and no hordes of zombies—albino or otherwise—clamoring just outside the door. We’ve got no motorcycle gangs or corrupt police forces attempting to assassinate us, and decidedly no drone-launched air-to-ground missiles coming to blow our sorry asses back to the Heavenly Father. I’d say, if there was one damn situation in the last fucked up week that we should try to like, this should be it.”

  “Something’s wrong, I’m telling you.” He sat on the edge of the bed.

  “Okay, such as?”

  “Well, let’s start with that little stunt you pulled on the road tonight. When we headed into town for supplies, you said the whole idea was to keep out of trouble, don’t do anything that would call attention to us, and get out clean. We’d done that a hundred times since we left Colorado. Hell, you knew the drill better than I did. But then you sprung a leak in your common sense and you decided to play Dudley Do-Right and rescue Bean and Scobee from that bus wreck and them zombies. What the fuck was up with that?”

  “Look,” she said, “I know what you’re thinking.”

  “You do? Then you know I think that was a damned foolish thing to do, and could have gotten you killed, or worse, me! Really, Penny, what were you thinking?”

  “I don’t know, Scratch,” she said, honestly. “When that bus wrecked, I could have walked away—really I could have.”

  “Then why didn’t you?”

  “I don’t know!” She was sitting on the bed, and resisted the urge
to stand up and pace. “Something about that bus drew me to it. Before you jump to conclusions, it’s not Bean or Scobee or that kid, Glen. Once all the guards on that bus were dead, the first time or the second time, the feeling went away.”

  “What feeling?” he asked softly.

  “Like I was connected to a triad again. The group mind. I could feel the damned zombies in my bones. And when they were dispatched, the feeling went away, and I started wondering what the hell I was doing there as much as you did. It wasn’t until Bean mentioned Crystal Palace that I had even an inkling of what it could mean.”

  Scratch stood over her. “I thought albinos didn’t share the group mind. You think those guards were part of the experiment?”

  “I don’t know. I can tell you pretty certainly that none of the people here were. I think they know more than they’re letting on, but they don’t know everything.”

  “Then what are we doing here?”

  “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m here to get some sleep and some decent food for the first time in a few days.”

  “Dang, Penny, do you mean to tell me you completely trust these yahoos?”

  Miller shrugged. “I never said I trusted them completely.” She lay back on the bed with her feet still on the floor. She spread her arms out to her sides, as if she were in freefall. She was already drowsy. “We’ve still got our weapons, and they haven’t made any moves against us. Dr. Satcher is fixing up Karl, and Rolf seems to finally be home. And besides, in case you didn’t notice, the door appears to lock from the inside. The only thing I could ask for right now is eight hours of uninterrupted sleep wrapped up in your strong arms. Hell, I’d even forgo the food they’re bringing for that, as long we can both take a shower first.”

  Scratch bounced to test the bed. He grinned. “So, does that mean we’re getting back together again?”

  Miller hauled herself up on her elbows. “Scratch, I’m really sorry for pushing you away the last few days. I thought it was the right thing to do. I thought I was protecting you from me, and I was wrong to make that decision on my own.”