He shook his head. “Then why’d you stay?”
She stared at him as though he hadn’t heard a word she’d said. “And go where?!”
He shook his head and blew his breath out hard. “Anywhere but here.”
She scoffed as she marched past him and grabbed an armload of weapons from the rear seat of the truck. “Right. The world is overrun with snappers, but I should just start driving and hope that I run into a group of ‘nice people’ along my journey.”
Hatcher hung his head and ground his teeth. “I told you that I would give you directions to where they are.” He spun on her. “And they are nice people.”
“That you ran away from,” she tossed back over her shoulder.
“I didn’t run FROM them. I…” He trailed off. He kicked at the gravel with his boot out of frustration. “I’ve told you why I’m here.”
“And even though there’s no sign of her, you’re staying.” She grabbed another armload of the weapons and turned back to the outpost. “Makes perfect sense to me.”
“You’re impossible,” Hatcher grumbled as he scooped up the last of the weapons. “There’s no winning with you.”
She set the weapons down and gave him a blank stare. “And that’s it, isn’t it? You just want to win.”
He shook his head as he tried to wrap his mind around her reasoning. “If you’d just tell me what you want—and be plain and spell it out for me, because it sounds like I have a caveman mind and can’t grasp the nuances of blonde logic.”
Her eyes narrowed on him again and she shook her head. “I’m going to patrol the park.” She brushed past him and reached for the door. “Alone!”
Hatcher watched her form pass by the front window and a moment later the Jeep engine roared to life. She accelerated away a bit too quickly, spinning gravel back towards him. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what he’d done wrong.
Carol watched as the guards escorted the last of the politicians away, presumably to be cleaned up and dressed. She sighed animatedly and fell into her chair. “I can’t believe that it’s over.”
“For now,” Broussard added quietly, his hand resting on her shoulder. “We have to pray that they maintain their…civility until after the president comes and goes.”
“They will,” she sighed. “I know it.”
“Excuse me, Dr. Broussard?” The pair turned and saw Dr. Benedict standing behind them. “I realize that this probably isn’t the best time, but I was curious if you’ve really looked at the list of CDC locations that are available to you?”
Andre shook his head. “Do you know something of them?”
Will nodded slightly and stepped closer. “I realize that Atlanta might seem to be the most obvious choice, considering the work they did there, but if you are wanting a location that is defendable and well equipped, Fort Collins isn’t that far from here.”
“What’s the difference?” Carol asked. “Besides distance?”
Will seemed to cringe inwardly. “Atlanta is more along the lines of toxins and pathogens. Which would make it seem, outwardly anyway, to be the more logical choice, but…”
“And Fort Collins?” Andre asked.
“They studied diseases with insect vectors, you know, like mosquitoes and ticks. However, they have better equipment.”
“And how do you know this?” Carol asked.
Will cleared his throat nervously. “My brother worked there. Before all of this happened.” He met her gaze and his eyes became misty. “He was complaining about having to shut down labs for all of the new equipment that was being installed.” He lowered his voice and smiled at the two. “Actually, I think he was bragging and rubbing it in a bit, but…that was just a short time before the outbreak.”
Andre looked at Carol and raised his brows. “New equipment isn’t a bad thing.”
She stood and picked up the file folder that Hilliard had supplied. “I suppose, if the facility meets our needs, we could have samples flown in from Atlanta.”
Will nodded. “I’m sure that the government would do whatever you felt was necessary.”
Andre leaned back in his chair and studied the man before him. “And what of you, Dr. Benedict? Will you be returning to academia, or would you be interested in joining us?”
Will chuckled. “I doubt seriously there will be a need in the immediate future for academics.” He gave Andre a hopeful shrug. “But if you’ll have me…”
Broussard stood and grasped the man’s hand. “Consider yourself a staff member.” He paused and added a caveat, “That is, provided I’m the one who gets to choose.”
Carol scoffed. “You’re the man who saved humanity. Something tells me you have a blank check at your disposal.”
Simon walked slowly through the woods, his mind bouncing from though to thought. He was torn between two women and he never thought he’d find himself in such a situation.
What he experienced with Veronica was more than his simple mind could grasp. Yet he felt a responsibility towards Lana that he couldn’t put into words.
He cursed silently as he swatted at a low limb.
“What did that tree ever do to you?”
He nearly jumped at Lana’s voice and spun on her. “Girl…you about made me jump out of my skin.”
She eyed him warily as she silently made her way towards him. “You looked awfully lost in thought there.”
He nodded as she came up beside him. “I’m wondering how all of this is going to pan out.” She slipped her arm around his middle as he turned back to the trail. “Doc says she’ll back me with the others.”
“That’s good, right?” Lana grinned at him. “You said that she’s key to making this happen.”
He nodded absently, doing his best to keep his mind off of what he’d done. “She is.” He continued walking at a steady pace. “I just worry how the others are going to react.”
“Why?” She tugged at him, slowing his pace. “What are you afraid of?”
“People don’t like change, Lana.” He peered into the woods and sighed. “We’re brand new to
