THE WILDER SIDE OF Z
S.A. ISON
The Wilder Side of Z
Copyright © 2021 by S.A. Ison All rights reserved.
Book Design by Elizabeth Mackey
Book Edited by Ronald Ison Esq. Editing Services
Book Edited by Boyd Editing Services
All rights Reserved. Except as under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a data base or retrieval system, without prior written permission of S.A. Ison.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the production of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons – living or dead- is entirely coincidental.
OTHER BOOKS BY S.A. ISON
BLACK SOUL RISING From the Taldano Files
INOCULATION ZERO Welcome to the Stone Age
Book 1
INOCULATION ZERO Welcome to the Age of War
Book 2
EMP ANTEDILUVIAN PURGE
Book 1
EMP ANTEDILUVIAN FEAR
Book 2
EMP ANTEDILUVIAN COURAGE Book 3
POSEIDON RUSSIAN DOOMSDAY
Book 1
POSEIDON RUBBLE AND ASH
Book 2
EMP PRIMEVAL
PUSHED BACK A TIME TRAVELER’S JOURNAL
Book 1
PUSHED BACK The Time Traveler’s Daughters Book 2
THE RECALCITRANT ASSASSIN
BREAKING NEWS
THE LONG WALK HOME
EMP DESOLATION
THE VERMILION STRAIN POST-APOCALYPTIC EXTINCTION
THE HIVE A POST-APOCALYPTIC LIFE
PYTHAGORAS FALLS
MY NAME IS MARY A REINCARNATION
THE MAD DOG EVENT
DISTURBANCE IN THE WAKE
OUT OF TIME AN OLD FASHION WESTERN
YESTERDAY’S WARRIOR
NO TIME FOR WITCHES
FUTURE RELEASES
THE INNOCUOUS MAN A.I. APOCALYPSE
A BONE TO PICK
PROLOGUE
Zahara Demir stood with her thumb out, her body relaxed as the golden glow of late afternoon washed over her small frame. Vegas had been fun but it was time to leave. She’d spent too much time here and she’d not fulfilled her assignment and that wasn’t good. She had, however, warned her target and helped facilitate with an exit strategy. Would the big boys in D.C. find out? She didn’t know and she didn’t care. This assignment had been off the official books, so it didn’t really count. She surveyed the big rigs as they arrived and departed the truck stop. She saw a potential ride and lifted her thumb higher and brought forth a wide smile. This was her usual mode of transportation when she was feeling adventuresome and restless. She stood near the exit ramp of an anonymous truck stop at the ass-end of Vegas, knowing that she could pick up an easy ride. The massive trucks circumnavigated the country and she could get to most any place she wanted to. She shifted the heavy backpack and watched as an eighteen-wheeler headed toward her. Her smile broadened when she saw the face of the man within the large cab. He had a smile on his face and began to slow down for her. Zahara picked up her guitar case and readied herself to climb up.
“Hi, where ya headed?” the driver asked, leaning toward the open passenger window.
“Just heading east.” She smiled up brightly.
“Climb on up. You need help with your gear, little lady?” he asked.
“Naw, I got it, thanks. I appreciate you stopping for me,” she said as she climbed up into the cab. The spacious cab smelled of cigarette smoke, fried food, and sweat, causing her nose to twitch. She settled herself in the large seat, moving papers and trash off of it. She pulled the seatbelt across and looked over to the drive.
“Sam’s my name, how ‘bout you?” he asked, grinning. Zahara could see that the man hadn’t kept up with his dental plan and also chewed tobacco. She grimaced internally. Yuck.
“I’m Lucy. Thanks again for the ride,” she said, pulling a pink straw from her denim jacket pocket. She popped it in her mouth and began to chew.
“Trying to stop smoking?” Sam asked.
“Something like that,” Zahara said grinning, her emerald eyes crinkled in humor. She relaxed as Sam pulled the rig onto the highway. She ran her fingers through her dark wavy hair, which had been pulled back into a loose ponytail. Her fingers bumped the ornamental elastic and she sighed happily. She was on her way and she could enjoy the ride. She liked riding in the big rigs, it offered a high vantage point and traveled to places unknown. She was a small petite woman, so when she had a chance, she chose to perch up high. It somehow gave her a feeling of power; she wasn’t sure where that need came from. The two rode in companionable silence for a while. She wished her traveling companion was a bit neater and cleaner with his rig, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.
“So, uh. You travel a lot like this, Lucy?” Sam asked, looking sideways at her. Zahara almost groaned, she would have liked to just ride in silence. Ah, the chatterboxes, she thought.
“Sometimes. I enjoy the open road. I meet a lot of interesting people,” she said, still chewing on her straw.
“Yeah sure, guess that’s true. But how do you know you aren’t getting into a rig with a serial killer?” Sam asked, grinning.
“What are the chances that there are now two serial killers in a rig?” Zahara said and her tinkling laugh filled the cab.
ONE
Agent Echo reclined in a hand-carved oak rocking chair on the wraparound porch of his log cabin, his long legs stretched before him. He cradled an ancient briar wood churchwarden pipe in his hand, enjoying the aromatic cherry blend, as the blue smoke curled around his head. It was late morning and Alexander Wilder was feeling decidedly lazy as the breeze from the large pond blew toward him. Xander was on an extended sabbatical from the agency. A sardonic smile curved on his lips; the agency assumed he’d gone on regular leave, but Xander had different plans. He had been edging toward burnout and he wanted well
