Beyond the ambulance bay was a small area surrounded by a high fence letting into the alley Marco had mentioned to Bunny before. None of the dead seemed to have roamed into the alley or had wandered on by in the night, leaving it clear and giving Bunny the illusion of normalcy.
As she dropped the old suspension coils in the dumpster, embracing the illusion, the heavy sound of a helicopter flying low reached her ears. Shading her eyes against the sun, she looked up, watching a Blackhawk cruise overhead.
Marco and the others joined her, turning their heads up to observe the massive aircraft as it went over them, so low they could see the boots of the soldier manning the side gun. In a moment, it was gone, hidden by the buildings.
"I'd give my left ass cheek to know what they're up to," Bunny said as the sound of the rotors faded.
"That so?" Peyton asked.
She looked at him warily, trying to read that half-crazed smile on his face. "You know something there, Peyton?"
"I might be able to help you with that wish of yours," he told her.
"This isn't the time for jokes, Peyton," Marco warned him.
Peyton shook his head. "I ain't jokin'."
"What do you know?" Bunny asked him.
Peyton leaned back on her car, smirking. "I seen one of the army APCs a few blocks from here. It was on its side and had more than a few dead soldier boys lying around. As I recall, they still had their radios, and their guns nearby."
"Forget it," Rosa said. "It's way too dangerous."
"Are you sure?" Bunny asked.
"Sure as I'm standing here," Peyton cooed.
"Bunny," Marco started.
She held up her hand. "It's not a bad idea."
"Are you crazy?" Rosa asked.
"No," Bunny told her. "I may need it, especially if I don't want to get shot as soon as I get close to the Park. The guns would come in handy too, if I run into lots of them on the way."
Marco sighed as Peyton smiled, saying, "There's my girl."
She shot him a dark look. "You get me there, and back, with a working radio, and some weapons, and we'll discuss our relationship."
"Man can't ask for much more than that," Peyton said with a shrug.
"I don't think this is a good idea, Bunny," Marco told her.
She offered him a wry grin. "Neither do I, but the reward is worth the risk."
"Be certain," Marco told her.
"Hey now," Peyton snapped, standing and moving between Bunny and Marco. "The lady already said she was sure. Can't keep hoggin' all the girls for yourself, dead man. Let this one go in the care of old Peyton."
Marco glared at him. "If she doesn't come back in one piece..."
"What? You'll make a late-night snack outta me?" Peyton laughed.
"Maybe I should go with you," Marco offered.
Bunny shook her head. "No, you stay and finish the car. I'll be fine. Right, Peyton?"
He smiled at her "You have my word, pretty lady."
"Get what you'll need. We're leaving in five minutes," Bunny told him.
Peyton smiled and headed back inside, blowing Rosa a kiss as he passed her, making her flinch. Marco watched him go then turned back to Bunny shaking his head, clearly not comfortable with this idea.
"This isn’t smart," Rosa said, echoing Marco's unspoken concern. "You can't trust him."
"I know," Bunny agreed. "He may be unstable, but I'm gambling he's still sane enough to know that pulling anything while we're out there is the next best thing to suicide."
"You may be overestimating his sanity," Rosa said.
Bunny nodded. "That may be, but I can take care of myself. If he tries anything, anything at all, I promise you, I’ll take care of him."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Marco said softly, though both women could see it clearly in his eye that he had no such hope.
If she were to be honest, Bunny didn't either. She was gambling, and just hoping she didn't roll snake-eyes on Peyton.
They slipped out the back of the clinic, moving down the alley like shadows, being as quiet as humanly possible. Peyton took the lead, Bunny hugging his shadow as they moved towards the street, and the hungry dead that owned it.
Peyton paused at the mouth of the alley, peeking around the corner. He stood there for several minutes as Bunny tried to keep her breathing steady. Finally, he reached out, tapped her shoulder and ducked around the corner.
Bunny took two deep breaths and followed him, crouching behind the remains of a car resting half on the sidewalk. Peyton looked at her then held up four fingers and pointed over the car. This was followed by a finger to his lips.
Bunny nodded that she understood. Four dead on the other side of the car. Slowly, they eased their way to the crushed nose of the vehicle, Peyton eyeing the lay of the land ahead of them as Bunny watched their back.
A light tap on her shoulder warned her before he darted down the street, crouching behind another car. Bunny readied herself for the run but stopped as he held up a hand. Planting her back to the car, she leaned her head around, peeking without showing herself.
One of the dead had stopped in the street and was looking towards the car Peyton had ducked behind. In life, it had been a well-dressed man; now, it was just a mindless and hungry thing. It cocked its head, groaning softly to itself for a few minutes, then turned and shambled away.
Bunny let out the breath she'd been holding as she looked towards Peyton. He held his hand out for a moment as he scanned the street discreetly
