Hatcher stared at him open mouthed. “You don’t have a license?”
Buck laughed as he opened the door of the pickup and climbed in. “I won’t tell the cops if you don’t.”
Hatcher groaned as he opened the passenger door. “Do you at least know where we’re going?”
Buck started the truck and put it into gear. “The same store we tracked Simon to. We can look for a big flatbed truck along the way. If we see two guys running for their lives, we can probably bet it’s them.”
Hatcher took a drink of the cold coffee and winced. “Don’t be a smartass.”
“Better than being a dumbass.”
Hatcher gave him a dubious look. “You seem awfully chipper for somebody who got as little sleep as I did.”
Buck grinned widely. “I never got any sleep.” He glanced next to him and smiled wider. “Let’s just say Skeeter was happy to see me.”
Hatcher winced. “I do not want to hear that.” He sighed and stared out of the side window. “In my mind she’s still a kid.”
Buck nodded slowly. “Before the world went to hell, we both were.” He sighed as he continued to navigate the pickup. “Now, we’re probably considered middle aged.”
Carol felt her entire body begin to tremble as Kelly worked her way down the stairs and slipped out the front doors. From the angle of the window, she couldn’t see her approach the pair rifling through the garbage, but she knew that she must be close.
The pair suddenly stiffened; their heads snapped towards the front of the building. They both came to their feet and slowly began to back away. For a brief moment, Carol hoped that they would spook and run, assuming that Kelly was dangerous. And really, wasn’t she?
The pair slowed their retreat and Carol felt her guts tighten. Kelly appeared at the edge of her line of sight and she watched as her hand outstretched and pointed up towards the lab. Carol pulled the poster back farther and stood plainly in the window.
When both turned and looked up at her, she forced a smile and a small wave. “Here I am. Come and eat me,” she muttered through clenched teeth.
The pair began to back up again and Kelly stopped her approach. Carol strained to listen but she spoke so softly that she couldn’t make out what was being said. The pair glanced up at the window again then turned and ran.
Carol stared open-mouthed and glanced to Kelly, who stood her ground and seemed to deflate a bit. She looked up at the window and shook her head then turned, shoulders slumped, and disappeared from Carol’s view.
Carol pressed the poster back into place and shakily took her seat at the workbench. She waited until Kelly returned then asked, “You secured the doors on your way back?”
Kelly nodded. “Of course. We don’t want a repeat of what happened before.” She pushed the door shut and Carol heard her turn the lock.
“Did they say anything?”
“Nope. They just stared at me like I was nuts, then turned tail.” She straddled the stool at the workbench and sighed. “Sorry, doc. I know they probably could have helped your research.”
Carol waved her off. “There will be plenty more, I’m sure.” She inhaled deeply and blew it out slowly. “In all honesty, I’m a bit relieved.”
“Oh?”
She looked up and gave her a sheepish smile. “One more? I could probably handle that. But two more?” She chuckled. “My nerves would be shot.”
Kelly raised a brow at her. “Two more?” Her gaze narrowed slightly. “What do you mean by that?”
Carol gave her a confused look. “Just that…” She paused, trying to think of a non-threatening response. “With two more subjects to monitor? It would be too easy to confuse samples.” She gave her a weak smile. “Too many subjects to try to keep straight.”
Kelly nodded, her face still stoic. “Yeah. I can see that.” She turned slowly and walked to the break room.
Carol watched her lie down on the couch; she could feel her cheeks flushing from the obvious lie. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Truth is, you scare the hell out of me on your own. The thought of two more potential killers in close proximity scares the shit out of me.
She opened her eyes and startled as Kelly was standing directly in front of her. “If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done it already.”
Carol swallowed hard and blinked at her. “I wasn’t…” She felt her jaw trembling. “I didn’t think…”
“Yes you did.” Kelly gave her a condescending look and shook her head. “Those two gals were too timid to hurt a fly.” She turned back for the break room. “But not to worry, doc. You’re safe in here and they’re stuck out there in a dying world.”
Simon leaned against the counter and watched as the truck backed away, the two men inside escaping with their lives. “If you had just waited, you’d be eating them right now,” he scoffed.
The hunter turned and gave him an angry stare then almost immediately bowed his head. “Apologies.”
“Were you going to go out into the sunlight to get the food?” Simon asked, fighting the urge to slap him upside his head.
The hunter hung his head lower.
“Yeah. I didn’t think so.” He inhaled deeply and blew it out slowly. “Now we have to make more arrows.”
An older Quee approached the pair. “We will make arrows once the sun goes down.” He pointed to the other elders. “They are quick.”
“See that you do,” Simon barked as he turned back for his dog food mattress. He paused and glanced down the aisle where the brown liquor was and found
