“What makes you think he’ll show himself?”
Buck tugged his boots on then spun on the floor and faced her. “He’s too stupid. His pride will have him right out front.”
Skeeter sat up, the bed sheet falling from her shoulders. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, okay?”
Buck crawled to her on hands and knees and kissed her gently. “Of course I’ll be careful. I have too much to come home to.”
He gave her another quick smooch then gathered his things. He slipped through the door as quietly as he could and trotted to the dining hall.
Hatcher was already seated, a large mug of coffee and a lumberjack breakfast spread before him. “Early bird and all that,” he said as he forked eggs into his mouth.
“I think I’ll just grab something light.” Buck went through the line then returned with juice and toast. “Are we the first ones through?”
Hatcher shrugged. “I doubt it.” He nodded out to the courtyard where a small group of men were already working on the fire damaged roof.
“Do you have an actual plan of attack?”
Hatcher sipped the coffee and shook his head. “Honk until Simon shows himself then put a bullet in his brain.”
Buck shrugged. “Works for me.”
“Did you think I was gonna let you go after him by yourselves?” Both men turned to see Hank approaching the table. “I want a piece of this action.”
“Fuel up then,” Hatcher said. “We leave as soon as you suck down breakfast.”
“No killing on an empty stomach, huh?” Hank turned and headed for the steam tables.
Hatcher glanced down at his food then noticed Charlie entering the dining hall. “You too? Or am I to believe this is all a coincidence?”
Charlie smiled sheepishly. “Hank thought that if we caught you before you left, you wouldn’t tell us no.”
“He knows me too well.” Hatcher gave Buck a knowing look then nodded to Charlie. “You two gear up when you’re done here. We leave as soon as you’re loaded.”
Charlie gave him a mock salute then went for the coffee.
“Do we really need this many people to kill one man?” Buck asked, his voice low.
Hatcher met his gaze and smiled. “You can feel free to stay here. I’m sure Will has a number of jobs you could help with.”
Buck shook his head. “Not just no, but…” He trailed off. “Remember who tracked him to the grocery in the first place.”
Hatcher nodded. “Yeah. Me. You were just tagging along.” He set his fork down and sighed. “We could probably use a few extra sets of eyes. Just in case they aren’t as afraid of the sunlight as they used to be.”
Buck’s brows narrowed. “What does that mean?”
Hatcher set his fork down and sighed. “Roger and I encountered a Zulu, except she wasn’t a Zulu any more. She was making her way home.”
“So the cure is working?” Buck asked hopefully.
Hatcher shrugged. “I want to say yes. But I’m not ready to jinx anything yet.” He took another sip of coffee then pushed his plate away. “Let’s just say that she was improved.”
“So there’s a chance that the sun won’t keep them cornered in the store.”
Hatcher nodded. “Which might work to our advantage. We go there and wake them up, and if Simon gets riled enough, he’ll come to us. We won’t have to worry about the others so much.”
Buck smiled in approval then downed his juice. “I’m ready.” He stood and turned for the door.
Hatcher picked up his tray and took it to the trash cans. “Ah, to be young and stupid again.”
Broussard startled awake and blinked rapidly in the early morning sun. He fumbled with the headset and keyed the mic. “Where are we?”
“Close.” Miller sat across from him, his face painted with fear. “I don’t know how you can sleep on these things.”
The chop of the blades overhead was only overpowered by the roar of the turbine engine. Broussard gave him a slight shrug. “Why worry about what you can’t change?” He glanced at his watch then peered out of the window. “We’re not going inland?”
Miller pointed ahead of them. “We have to go up the coast first. Not much further.”
Broussard laid his head back and closed his eyes. Although the helicopter flight should have been his foremost concern, he was worried about Dr. Chaplain. She had only been left to her own devices for a few days, but it was entirely too long, in his opinion.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Miller stated as if reading his thoughts.
Broussard turned to him. “She’s quite capable.” He looked through the window again then settled back in his seat.
“Remember, we have a thirty-six hour window.” Both men turned to look at the soldier speaking. “Skipper says if we’re not back within that time frame, don’t bother to return.”
Broussard frowned. “Why would he say that?”
“They’re not sending out rescue parties. They can’t afford to lose the resources.”
Broussard gave Miller a confused look. “But why say not to bother returning?”
“Captain’s orders.” The soldier gave him a stern stare. “So when we say wrap it up, it means wrap it up right then. We’ll give you as much time as we can, but once that clock ticks down, there’s no leeway. Understood?”
Broussard nodded and Miller gave the man a thumbs up. “Understood.”
“Twenty mikes,” the pilot announced. “That’s assuming there’s a clearing large enough to land at the university.”
Broussard smiled. “Plenty of parking lots. Shouldn’t be a problem.”
The soldier made a motion with his hands and the others seemed to come alive. “Grab your rucks and hug your nuts. We’re going in.”
Simon led Lana across the parking lot and toward a block of rundown houses. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going shopping.” He gave her a crooked grin. “Sort of.”
The pair crossed the lot and began walking along the sidewalk. “Let’s try this one.”
She followed him through a rusty chain
