Broussard stifled his smile and nodded quickly. “Thank you, sir.”
Captain Proctor stepped forward and waved a finger in their faces. “I’m giving you fair warning now…if you come into contact with any of the Zeds, even if you aren’t bitten or scratched or even touched, I’m giving explicit instructions to leave your asses behind.”
Carol’s eyes widened and she opened her mouth to argue but he cut her off. “I’m not risking anybody on this ship. Period.”
She closed her mouth and nodded. “Understood, sir.”
“Get that generator going and the yeoman will get you geared up.” He paused at the door and gave them both a knowing look. “Good luck. I hope you get the results you’re looking for.”
“Thank you, sir.” Broussard stated as the man walked away.
Simon cruised the Luv through the car lot and eyed numerous vehicles that might suit his needs. He slowed at another SUV and cocked his head. “The last one worked pretty good.” He put the truck in neutral then stepped out from the cab, the ancient door creaking on its hinges.
He looked through the window and sighed. He kept glancing back at the pathetic thing, comparing the two. He slid back into the seat and held the door open with his leg. He tilted the bottle back again and closed his eyes. Images of his wife and best friend kept creeping back to the front of his mind and he was reaching a point where even alcohol couldn’t blind him from them.
He cursed and threw the bottle against the windshield of the SUV, showering the vehicle in amber alcohol.
Simon squeezed his eyes closed and pulled the door shut, slamming it. He revved the engine and pushed the little truck into first gear, actually spinning one rear tire slightly as he drove off.
“Fuck this noise. I can get a car anywhere.” He turned the truck down another side street and certain shops came into view, looking familiar. He sat up, his mind clearing for just a moment. “Hey…I know where I am.”
He laughed to himself as he upshifted the transmission and pushed through the intersection where he’d been chased by the Ragers. He slowed the truck and stared out the window to the alcove where he’d watched the pair of Ragers eat somebody’s leg.
There were scraps of clothing and brown smears on the sidewalk, but no sign of either the monsters that made the mess or the person they ate. He downshifted and pushed through the intersection. As he drove back to the housing addition, he wondered, certainly the Cagers wouldn’t expect him to return? Surely they’d think him smart enough to stay away now that they knew where he’d been staying.
Wouldn’t they?
He drove up to the gates of the addition and his hand instinctively reached for a bottle in the box next to him. He popped the seal and unscrewed the cap. He eyed the housing addition carefully as he took a long pull on the bottle. He sighed heavily as he screwed the cap back on. He ran a hand over his stubbly face then slapped the truck into gear, easing the clutch as he turned the wheel toward his old neighborhood.
He watched the gates creep by as he slowly drove up the hill and through the winding streets. When he reached the cul-de-sac where his house sat and he stopped the truck, his eyes searching the street for any signs of life. He glanced ahead and spotted another house that sat even higher than the one he’d claimed as home.
Rather than turning right into the cul-de-sac, Simon eased the truck straight and went to the furthest house. He stared at the building and nodded. “Right around the corner, but completely different. Even if they come back looking for me, surely they won’t go house to house…” He wiped at his mouth then took another drink from the bottle.
“I guess that settles it. I’m moving.” He sniffed loudly and hocked a loogie, spitting it out the window. “Better pack my shit and get ready to go.”
He knew he’d have to clear the house before he could move in, but he was almost certain that it was empty, or nearly so.…maybe he could find another female Rager. Maybe there’s one hiding inside. He chuckled to himself at the thought. “Maybe I won’t be so quick to shoot the next one.”
Chapter 21
Hatcher leaned back in the chair and eyed the scruffy little man. “We have razors.”
Shooter nodded slowly, his eyes glued to the floor. “The nurse offered me one.”
Hatcher sipped his coffee. “Hungry?”
Shooter shrugged slightly. “I could eat.”
“Talk to me and I’m sure we can have breakfast brought in.” He glanced over his shoulder and Vicky gave him a subtle nod before turning to leave. He turned back to the man gripping the edge of his bed tightly. “Why’d you come back? I mean, you were here, then you left and rejoined Simon…that doesn’t make much sense to me.”
Shooter sighed and squeezed his eyes shut. “I get nervous around people. I just wanted out…” He swallowed hard and continued to stare at the floor. “Simon found me.”
“And you just fell right back in with the gang, huh?”
Shooter shook his head slightly. “I tried to kill him.” He finally glanced up at Hatcher. “I missed.”
Hatcher raised a brow at him. “You tried to kill Simon and he let you live?” He shook his head at the man. “I may not know Simon like you do, but that doesn’t seem likely.”
Shooter shrugged. “He ran me over with a truck. Knocked me out. When I came to, he gave me a choice…join or die.”
“So you rejoined the team.” Hatcher ignored the pain and crossed his legs, attempting to get more comfortable in the stiff backed chair. “And Simon just accepted you.” It was more a statement than a question.
Shooter nodded slightly. “I had to prove myself but…yeah.” He
