He stepped up onto the step of the pickup and peered over the traffic. A short line of motorcycles were weaving in and out between the dead cars and Hatcher felt a knot form in his gut.
“Shit.” He gave her a worried look. “Load up.”
“You can’t outrun motorcycles in this thing.”
“We can go places they can’t.” He slipped in behind the wheel and started the big Cummins engine. “Load up!”
Missy slammed her door shut then leaned into the back seat, pulling Hatcher’s 30.30 forward. “I’ll cover us.”
“Use the AR.”
She shook her head and chambered a round. “This is shorter. Easier to use in the cab.” She held on as he backed the truck away from the semi and put the pickup into four wheel drive.
“Hold on.” He cranked the wheel hard and bounced the rig over the median and pointed the nose across to the other side of the highway.
“Shit,” she sighed. “They’re following.”
“Of course they are.”
“Building appears to be clear, ma’am.” The soldier stood by Carol’s window, his face a mask of concern.
“Why do I sense a ‘but’ coming?”
“Well, if it’s all the same to you, there’s been a lot of damage done here. I’d feel a lot more comfortable if you and yours could stay in groups and keep an armed guard along. At least until we can rebuild the fencing and secure some of the outer doors.”
Carol nodded and nudged Andre, who snored softly in the seat next to her. “We’re here.”
He snorted and coughed, sitting upright abruptly. “What?”
“We’re here.” She reached for the door handle and stepped out of the crew cab truck. “We need to stay in groups and keep a guard with us until they can fix a few things.”
Andre nodded absently, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “How long?”
“For what?”
He peered past her and to the soldier standing beside the truck. “For the repairs. How long do you think?”
“I can’t honestly say, sir. We have people working on the power now. I’ll spare who I can to secure the perimeter. The rest will have to act as personal guards until I’m certain you’ll be safe inside.”
Andre sniffed hard and sat on the edge of the seat, sleep still tugging at him. “Very well.”
“We should go in and assess the damages before we unload,” Carol said as she held her hand out for him.
Andre took her hand and slipped out of the truck. “Agreed. Let’s get the others caught up on…” his voice trailed off. “What is that?”
The soldier lowered his face and nodded slightly. “We found bodies inside. My men are clearing them.”
Broussard leaned back against the truck and sighed. “I guess no place was spared the ravages of this infernal virus.”
Carol appeared solemn as she turned away. “I’m sure the CDC stations were hit hardest and fastest.”
“That and local hospitals,” Broussard mumbled. “Okay. We have a lot of work ahead of us.” He waved the others toward them from the second vehicle. Once he caught them up on the circumstances, he assigned David and Tammy the top floor and Irene and Randy the next floor down. “The rest of us will start at the ground floor and meet you.”
“Actually, Doctor Broussard,” the soldier interrupted, “you have two more floors below grade.”
“Very well then. Do you have enough guards that we may effectively split into three groups?”
The soldier nodded. “As long as they stay together, then it shouldn’t be an issue.”
“You heard the man,” Carol stated, clapping her hands. “Let’s get busy.”
They trudged up the drive and approached the font doors cautiously. “My men have cleared the building, but…there’s a lot of nooks and crannies we couldn’t account for.”
“Understood.” Broussard turned to the others as their guards approached. “Stay on your toes, take no undue chances.”
The teams split up, and David was heard complaining as they approached the stairs. “Of course, we get the top floor.” He turned to Tammy, “My knees aren’t what they used to be.”
She patted his back as the door closed. “Think of all the exercise you’re going to get.”
Broussard gave Carol a knowing glance. “Perhaps he should work in the basement?”
She chuckled as they entered the side wing. “He’d complain that he had to walk back up to go home.”
“True.” Broussard paused and glanced down the hallway. “These are all offices.”
“And eventually we’ll all need one.” Carol tugged at his sleeve. “Come on. Let’s see what we’re looking at.”
The door of the corner office was marked Director. “I think this one is yours.”
“Pfft.” Andre waved her off. “I should be in the lab.”
“They put you in charge.” She gave him a knowing look. “You’re the new director, so…direct.”
He smiled at her and mumbled, “Action.”
“Wrong kind of director.” She elbowed him as she walked past. “You know the records for all of the projects they were working on will be in that office.”
He sighed and pushed the door open. “Of course they are.”
She stepped alongside and gasped at the papers scattered about. “Maybe we can hire a maid.”
He scoffed. “Supply and demand, cherie.”
She walked down to the next office and the guard gripped her sleeve. “You might wait a bit ma’am.” He nodded toward the door. “There was a bit of a mess in that one.”
She raised a brow and nodded. “I’ll check the next one.”
The guard’s radio burst with static then a harried voice came over the speaker. “Contact! West side!”
The guard gave the two researchers a worried look. “You better stay here. Lock the doors.”
Andre pushed past him. “If they’re cured, they might need help.” He marched past the man and pushed the doors open to the lobby. Carol trotted to keep up and met him at the entrance doors. “Nobody shoots!”
Simon had settled back into his chair by the dwindling fire and had fallen asleep. He wanted desperately to stay with Veronica, to simply hold her while she slept. But he knew he couldn’t risk it. He sullenly gathered his things and dressed in silence in her
