“You think there’s that many in there?” Hank asked as he approached the truck.
“Ammo is like condoms, Hank,” Hatcher muttered.
Charlie smiled. “Better to have it and not need it than not have it and be forced to pull out.”
All three men turned and stared at him. Buck snorted. “I don’t think that’s exactly how it goes.”
Charlie shrugged as he racked a round into his AR. “Still applies, though.” He patted his vest and the numerous magazines loaded in the pouches. “I’m ready for either scenario.”
Hank fought the urge to slap him upside the head and turned to Hatcher. “How do you want to do this?”
Hatcher braced the rifle over his shoulder and studied the store. “The smell was horrific yesterday.”
“Amen to that,” Buck muttered.
“How about you two cover the back. We’ll enter the front and if you hear gunshots, come in and we’ll pinch them in the middle.”
Charlie raised his hand. “And if we don’t hear gunshots?”
Hatcher glanced to Buck. “Then I guess that means they got the drop on us and you boys should run as fast as you can.”
Charlie swallowed hard as Hatcher and Buck angled toward the front of the store. Hank slapped at his chest as he walked by. “Step it up, condom boy. The girl of your dreams may be in there.”
Broussard held on to the ‘oh shit’ handle as the chopper bounced twice before settling solidly to the ground. He felt his stomach lurch on him, but he kept its contents intact. The door slid open and the soldiers poured out, scattering into a semi-circle, each man covering an area with their rifles.
Dr. Miller stepped out of the chopper and bent low as he scurried away from the rotating blades. Andre knew that the helicopter blades were well above his head, but fear overrode his intellect and he ducked as well, following him.
“Do you know where she was?” Miller yelled over the noise of the craft.
Broussard turned a slow circle, his mind trying to recall the layout of the campus. He pointed to a multistory building to their right. “There. I’m almost positive.”
Miller patted the soldier’s shoulder and pointed to the building. “There.”
The soldier made motions with his hand and the others formed up on him. If they were communicating verbally, it was through radio and quietly. They took off at a quick walk in standard, two by two formation, with four men leading the academics and three men covering their rear.
Broussard fought the urge to run ahead and find Dr. Chaplain. He had worried over her constantly since the military had removed him from the campus. He watched as the men rounded the corner of the building and he immediately recognized the entrance. “This is the one. I’m sure.”
The soldiers stacked on the entrance then breached, each man covering a specific sector as they made their way to the stairwell. “Third floor, correct?”
Broussard nodded. “It might be best if I were the first person she saw.”
The soldier sneered at him. “You really want to run point in an unknown area with those things still out and about?”
Broussard gasped slightly as the idea registered. He shook his head nervously. “She’ll adapt.”
“I thought so.” The soldier spun and gripped the man’s shoulder ahead of him, squeezing. Instantly the team was entering the stairwell, silently climbing the steps.
“Contact!” The lead soldier’s voice echoed through the hallway, and Broussard felt a chill run up his spine.
“Don’t shoot!”
He recognized the voice and pushed past the soldiers. “Carol! It’s me!” He stepped in front of the armed escorts and carefully pushed the soldier’s barrel down and away from her. “We came for you.”
She seemed to deflate as she sighed, a wide smile forming. “I’m glad you’re back. You need to see this.”
Simon used a clean towel and some water to gently wipe the remaining shaving cream from Lana’s head. He stepped back and gave her an approving smile. “You really look good.”
“I look like a chemo patient.” She stood and glanced in the mirror then paused. She cocked her head to the side and slowly raised a brow. “Hey…I do kind of look good.”
Simon slipped out of the door and looked in the bedroom again. “It’s entirely up to you, but…” He held up a cloth bag. She looked inside and saw an array of makeup.
She actually laughed as she rifled through the stuff. “Oh my god.” She lifted an eyeliner. “I think this kid was going through a goth stage. Everything in here is either black or dark purple or…” She lowered the bag and shook her head. “I think I’m too old for that shit.”
Simon leaned against the door jamb and squinted at her. “I dunno. I could see you in black lipstick. Or maybe that deep purple. With your skin tone, I think it would look sexy on you.”
She groaned as she pushed past him. “I wonder if there’s any tanning salons still open.”
Simon laughed to himself as he fell into step behind her. “I bet we could find some spray-on stuff.”
She turned and gave him a dirty look. “No way. I’m not turning orange.” She stepped back into the bedroom and rifled through the clothing. She found a longer pair of pants and a pair of biker boots that were almost her size.
She continued looking through drawers when Simon stepped closer. “We may be some of the last people on the planet.” He wagged his eyebrows at her. “You could always go topless.”
She gave him a deadpan stare. “You ever sunburn your nipples? Not fun.” She turned back to the closet and Simon laughed. Suddenly he sobered and turned back to her.
“When did you sunburn your nipples?”
She laughed and pushed him away. “I didn’t say it was me.” She pulled out a black tank top and slipped it over her head. She continued to dig through the clothing then paused. “Then again, I didn’t say it wasn’t me either.” Simon narrowed his gaze at her playfully and she
