“Run?”
“Once we get there, we need to get inside and pray we can lose them.”
“But, Hank…what if the Zulus are inside?”
“One problem at a time, Wally!” Wally paled and reached for the radio. “What are you doing?”
“If I get eaten by a zombie, I want them to know where to place the flowers.” He keyed the radio and called for Hatcher.
Chapter 23
“Do you know what you’re supposed to do?” Hatcher barked. He received a chorus of affirmatives, then ordered the men to man their stations. He walked to the Harley and straddled it.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to lead this insane operation?” Roger asked.
“I don’t want them knowing you survived the Zulu attack. Not yet, anyway.” He switched on the ignition and fired the engine. “Just stay close and keep your lights off. If we can get the drop on them, all the better.”
Roger gave him a mock salute, then climbed into the cab of the larger box truck. He leaned out the window and hollered at Hatcher, “Not too fast. This thing doesn’t handle like that bike does.”
Hatcher gave him a nod, then spun the bike around and pointed it to the staging area. He waited until the guards had pulled the gates open, and then kicked the machine into gear.
It had been years since he’d ridden, and the large bike was awkward. He wobbled a bit as he turned out of the staging area. He goosed the accelerator and had to hang on as the bike shot away.
Roger smiled to himself as he slammed the door on the truck and banged on the side. “You boys ready?” His reply was a bang from the inside. He put the truck into gear and pulled out of the warehouse, pointing the truck in the direction of the taillights ahead of him.
He knew it was just a short distance to the hospital, but the streets were rough and couldn’t be taken too quickly. He could only hope that Simon would hit a pothole and be laid out on the pavement. As much as the idea pleased him, he knew the odds were against such a thing.
Hank slammed on the brakes of the pickup and slid it right up to the EMERGENCY ROOM doors. Both men piled out and bolted for the insides of the building. Wally flipped on a flashlight and threw it across the waiting room and into the Nurse’s Station. The two men ran in the opposite direction and prayed that there was a rear exit that they could slip out of and make their way on foot back to the warehouse.
The roar of multiple V-Twin engines rumbled outside of the building and Hank bit his tongue, praying that the bikes would attract any Zulus in the building.
He grabbed Wally by the sleeve and pulled him inside a room that had a heavy wooden door. He pointed to the window on the opposite side and held a finger up to his mouth.
Wally clicked the lock on the door shut, then turned to Hank. “How are we gonna break that out and them not hear us?” he whispered.
Hank was searching the border of the window, praying that it would open from the inside. He slumped beside the desk and shook his head. “It’s double pane security glass. We ain’t getting out that way.”
Wally hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “That’s the only exit.”
Hank wondered if they could lay low and survive the gang members searching for their lost friend, but knew better when he heard the heavy thud of a door being kicked in down the hall. The crash of glass and men talking loudly to each other told him they feared no man nor beast.
Not even the Zulus.
“I’m sorry, man. I think I screwed us on this one.” Hank sat on the edge of the desk and fondled the pistol in his hand. “I doubt we have enough bullets for this.”
Wally pulled his own pistol and took up a position in the corner behind a filing cabinet. “We’ll catch them in a crossfire.”
Hank gave him a reassuring smile, even though it was too dark to see it. “Sure. Crossfire. Sounds good to me.” He hunkered down behind the desk and pointed the pistol at the door.
“They’re in here someplace,” Simon barked as he kicked over a small table, scattering months’ old magazines across the room. “Search every room.” He pointed down the hallway. “Two of you start searching the rest of the hospital.”
He watched as two men took off in a jog, their flashlights bouncing as they pushed through the double doors. Simon pointed to two more. “Search the left side. You two, search the right. Check every room.”
Simon strode past the Nurse’s Station and picked up the torch. “Yeah, I know you’re in here, you silly bitch. You might tell that man of yours that if he doesn’t come clean, he can watch us skin you alive until he decides that he CAN talk!” He threw the flashlight and felt a certain degree of satisfaction when he heard the distinct sound of breaking glass.
Scud appeared at his side and held his hand up. “There’s an awful lot of blood in the cab of that truck, boss.” He shook his head slowly. “Savage might not have made it.”
Simon turned and gave him a stern stare. “Are you completely stupid?” He smacked Scud upside his head. “Stella’s what? A buck ten? A buck fifteen? And Savage is near three hundred pounds. If he died in the truck, what did she do with his body? Put him in her pocket and run away?”
Scud opened his mouth to reply, then decided it was best to keep it shut. He gave Simon a knowing nod. “You’re right, boss.”
“Of course, I am. Now get your stinky ass in there and find them!”
He pushed Scud toward the hallway and stood back
