Zombie Mountain (Walking Plague Trilogy #3) (5 page)

Taylor kept coming. Carla couldn’t believe what she was about to do. He was a young deputy with a wife and kids. Operative word:
was.
Carla raised her gun and aimed for the head. When she pulled the trigger, Taylor’s forehead disappeared and he fell to the floor in a heap.

The gunshot resounded throughout the building. The two prisoners began to whimper.

Stay calm,
she told herself.
It’s all right.
She was about to address them when she heard someone else in back of her. She whirled, still holding her weapon up.

Sergeant Manning trotted down the hall, concern written on his face. “Carla! What are you doing here? I thought you’d disappeared like the rest.” He looked down at the corpse. “Oh shit. Taylor, too?”

Carla felt her lower lip quiver. She thought of the picture Taylor had shown her recently of his wife and two little girls. “I had to do it,” she heard herself saying. “He was going to kill me. It was self-defense.”

“
You did what you had to do.” He stepped over the body, shaking his head as he looked down. “Let’s go to my office. It’s safe in there.”

Carla let out a pained sigh. “What’s going on around here?”

Manning glanced at the inmates, then motioned for her to follow him. While the prisoners begged again to be released, she left the holding area to follow the Sergeant. He led her to his office. A desk radio nearby played oldies. Manning locked the door behind her as she sat down. She felt like sobbing but held it in.

“
What’s going on here?” she asked again. “Do you know anything?”

“
The world’s gone crazy,” he said, sadly, biting his upper lip as he shook his head. “There’s hardly any of us left.”

“
So it’s just you holding down the fort?”

He nodded. “Someone has to be here, you know. This place. It’s been my life. Honestly, I don’t know where else to go.” He paused to study her. “When you didn’t report for duty, I thought they got you, too.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. I’m dealing with this on a personal level. People I care about... it’s been horrible. Like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”

“
Like
no one
has ever experienced. I need you though. Badly. I don’t even have a 9-1-1 dispatcher.”

“
It’s just us? How is this supposed to work?”

“
We can figure it out together. You’re the last man standing, Carla.”

She nodded, smiling at his sexist comment. Probably didn’t even realize what he’d said. “What do the latest reports say?”

Manning pointed to his pile of paperwork. “Not good. This ‘zombification,’ for lack of a better word, is spreading fast. Hell, it’s not just our group that’s been decimated. In fact, I think it’s safe to say it’s just me and you for this side of town, kiddo.”

She leaned forward. “Can’t we get help? The National Guard? Coast Guard? Anyone?”

Manning shook his head again. “The National Guard is protecting the White House, Pentagon, and all related facilities, including certain disbanded military bases. Coast Guard is helping the Red Cross at this point. Looks like we’re on our own here in Los Feliz.”

It seemed unbelievable to her... despite what she had already witnessed. But seeing the precinct in disarray brought it home.

Just me and you, kiddo,
she repeated in her mind.

“
Well, do we have anyone else?” she asked.

“
No one’s been here today, except you. And apparently, Taylor.” Manning thumbed absently through the pile of paperwork. Jesus, he was acting odd. “But Thompson is all right, from what I understand. He called today; he’s relocating his family. Same with Reins....”

Carla considered herself an astute cop. She prided herself in sensing people’s vibes, the odd ones especially. A prickly warning tingled along the back of her neck. What was it?

“Manning. There’s something you’re not telling me.... Look at me.”

Manning hesitated a moment, then raised his eyes to meet hers. Her reaction told him everything.
She knew
.

Carla looked into his red-streaked eyes and stiffened. “Manning...”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry but not sorry, Carla. I was sick, but now I’m better. Hey, don’t worry!” He rose from his seat, but she was already at the door. “I won’t hurt you.”

“
Jesus,” she muttered. “Listen, Boss. I know the cure. Not many do. I’m with a group of people that have been through what you’re going through now. We could help you, and you’d be normal again.”

“
Cure?” Manning laughed. “Normal? There is no normal now. Don’t you see what’s happening? I’m strong, Carla. And I’m still okay, trust me....” A hint of uncertainty seeped through this last statement. “And, I would never hurt you.”

“
You’re hungry, I bet,” she said. She didn’t dare reach for her holstered gun. Not alone, not with his new strength.

“
I am,” Manning told her. “I’ve decided I will not feed on the good guys. You included. There are plenty of deadbeats in this city. I can be a good cop, and bring down the number of losers.”

Carla shook her head. “What in the hell?! That’s not what I meant—“

“It’s just the way things are now, Carla. You think we can stop this? If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”

“
You don’t understand,” Carla tried to reason with him, reaching for the doorknob. “You think this way now. But it will overcome you. You will become one of them.”

“
Maybe, maybe not.” He didn’t seem to care, but noticed her hand turning the knob. “Yes, I’m hungry. But you’d better leave now. Because I do intend to feed.”

Immediately, Carla understood why Manning was keeping the three men in that cell. “No,” she told him, “whatever they’re in for, those prisoners don’t deserve death.”

Manning took a step toward her, anger in his expression. “Who made you judge and jury?”

“
And who made you executioner?” she dared.

“
That’s enough insubordination. Carla, I’m telling you to leave. There’s a new sheriff in town now. Different rules.”

He advanced closer, and she opened the door and backed into the hallway. “Okay, okay.” She placated him. “I’m leaving. Do what you have to do.”

But Manning’s eyes flashed a deep red now. “I don’t believe you,” he sneered. “You never should have come back!”

Carla turned and ran down the hall. His new chemical makeup made him faster than her now, she knew. She turned a corner and quickly ducked into a corridor with her gun drawn.

She could hear him slow to a walk. “I know you’re here,” he called out. “Really, Carla, it’s so much better on this side. You say you want to help me? Hell, I could help
you
. We could be true partners.”

Carla heard the radio play “You Can’t Hurry Love” as she listened to him drawing nearer. She backed up as far as she could, ashamed that she was shaking.

Manning sniffed the air and snickered. He was somewhere near the edge of the corridor. Perhaps to throw her off, he called out her name, and an instant later he jumped in front of her, lips pulled back with the obvious intent to take a very big bite.

She screamed and prepared to fire her gun, but Manning sent it flying before she pulled the trigger.

“Too late, my dear. Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you. I’m going to make you a partner. I’ll take care of—”

A shot fired and Manning’s head blew apart, burying her in a crimson shower. Her boss fell to the floor.

* * *

Jack came to her, wrapping his arms around her. She sobbed into his chest. Jack understood the camaraderie Carla shared with her fellow officers. He had his own buddies in his field, which wasn’t so different from hers. This was much more than taking out just any Zombie. It was a colleague. Her
sergeant
.

Jack stroked her hair, fingers lingering on her jaw and neck. She quieted after a while. “Shh,” he whispered. “It’s okay.”

“God, I’m glad you’re stubborn and followed me,” she said as she wiped her nose on her sleeve.

“
Me, too. Let’s get the hell out of here,” he said.

Carla nodded and grabbed her gun from the floor.

Jack slipped his arm around her and they stepped over what was left of Sergeant Manning.

As they drew close to the holding cell, the younger guy yelled out, “Please let us out. Please. We’re sitting ducks in here!”

“I’ve got to let them out,” Carla whispered. “It’s the humane thing to do.”

“
Yeah,” Jack replied. “I don’t think they’re going to get due process of law any time soon.”

She took her keys from her belt. “Listen,” she told them, “you guys better remember that I’m doing you a favor. Get safe and stay out of trouble. Whatever any of you are in here for... take this as your last chance to redeem yourselves.” She waited to turn the key in the lock, looked each of them in the eye. “Understood?”

The three nodded enthusiastically and stumbled over each other running for the door like the hunted prey they still were.

Jack caught her arm when she turned to leave. Drawing her close, he pulled her body against his. “I’ve been waiting a long time to do this,” he whispered into her ear, caressing it with his lips. He drew her mouth to his and kissed her long and hard.

She kissed him back, maybe even harder.

Chapter Seven

Over the next few days, back at the observatory, there was much to do.

As everyone got to know each other better, they drew on each others’ knowledge and skills. Jack knew how to set traps. Although he didn’t care to kill animals, he understood the need for protein. Carla was extremely resourceful; she gathered furniture and other goods. Before long, their ‘living section’ at the end of the hall was fairly comfortable. She organized the stock and kept track of what was still needed.

Mike and Joe set about increasing security and taking out wandering zombies nearby. They also brought the SUV down to the lower level at the back of the building, parking it at a loading dock used to haul large equipment and machinery. The likelihood of someone taking it from the front of the premises was slim, but they didn’t want to take any chances. Julie’s squad car finally ran out of gas and they left it in Jack’s garage at home. That left his truck and the SUV. Both had about a half tank.

Although they had cleared the building of bodies, a stench began to rise from outside. Carla boiled water and orange peels to help sweeten the air.

Anna’s sickness crept into her mind slowly. Everyone could see it. She cared less and less about anything. By the second day, she was already weak. Later that afternoon, Jack found Jared reading to her from a book he’d found in one of the rooms.

“How you feeling, angel?” asked Jack, sitting down next to her.

“
I’ve been better,” she answered. Her voice was weak, monotone.
She’s starting to not care,
he thought as he brushed her hair back from her face. He wanted to remember the old Anna.

Not yet, please not yet...

“How about we take a little walk outside?” Jack suggested. “It’s safe right now.”

Anna smiled a little but didn’t move.

“That’s a good idea,” Jared said. “Come on.” He took her hand, helped her to stand up. They left the office and headed toward the front door. Joe was there with the keys and a rifle. Jack took comfort that his brother would cover the grounds while his niece took a walk. Maybe it would make her happy for a little while at least. Jack mused to himself that they all could use some fresh air, truth be told.

* * *

With Jared and Jack on either side, Anna wandered the grounds barefoot, although they mostly kept her close to the building. Anna seemed to be enjoying the cool, soft grass against her feet.

She headed east, to a slope down the hill, flanked by her protectors. Suddenly, she stopped and cocked her head, listening.

“Come on—” Jared started.

“
Don’t you hear it?” she said, cutting him off. “It’s beautiful!”

Jack shushed them both. Yes, he thought he heard something, too. Down the embankment. He motioned for Jared and Anna to stay back while he took a few steps toward the sound, then paused and listened again.

All was quiet, but something moved in the bushes nearby. Jack focused his eyes on the bushes and what he had seen. But there was nothing else; not even a bird chirped. He paused, staring at the bush and unable to shake the feeling he was being watched. Jack had to admit, he felt like he was being watched.

Probably a rabbit or a fox,
he told himself.
Or a raccoon, maybe.

He turned, took Anna’s hand and led her back. All the while, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.