Soldiers of Fame and Fortune Full Series Omnibus: Nobody’s Fool, Nobody Lives Forever, Nobody Drinks That Much, Nobody Remembers But Us, Ghost Walking, 12 Book series...

by Michael Todd

  He put the picture back, then turned back and paused at the edge of the clearing, watching the fight. He shot several of the jags, then the rhino before turning quickly to find more jags creeping up behind him. He shot the first beast as it sliced across his chest. Below him, a plant wrapped its vines around his legs and pulled him off his feet. As he slid, he raised his gun and screamed at the plant, “Take this bullet up your ass, you green piece of shit. Try to eat my woman, will you? I got to ask her out, but that’s just details.”

  Salinger chuckled, elbowing her. “Ohhhh, love saved you.”

  Madigan watched as the plant began wrapping him tightly against the tree, its vines creeping into his wounds. “Love didn’t save him, though.”

  Jack’s camera looked at the vines as they turned black around him. “Oh, you think you’re gonna to sneak up on me, you creepy fucking bastard? Yeah, I got the pain for what’s about to ail ya right here.”

  Jack’s camera turned, and she saw the giant plant looming to the side. Madigan watched as he pulled his gun up, shooting the plant over and over until it withered. The vines slowly fell off of him, and he looked at the blood pouring from his chest. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the picture and ran his finger over it.

  Madigan took a deep breath as he groaned. “Looks like I’m coming to join you in hell, Melanie. Hope you saved me a fucking seat.”

  With that, his monitors beeped and his heart stopped. The footage now just focused on the picture clutched in his hand.

  Chapter Seven

  The entirety of the bar around JB was silent, and Holly’s mouth was hanging open. “So, he saved Madigan and her team? Because he liked her?”

  JB smiled. “I would say it was two-fold—both because he liked her, and because he hadn’t been able to save his daughter. Madigan got his info and kept the video safe. She saw the personal messages in it and knew he would have been pissed if people knew his heart was more than a black abyss. In the end, she released the footage to his team.”

  Dan shook his head. “It took his whole life and death to realize that Jack, as much of a dick as he was to the others, sacrificed himself for Madigan Kennedy. You know, I’m glad they released the footage. I’m glad people didn’t rejoice in his death. He was a legend in his own right. I guess it is nice to know that even men like that can have something good left inside after a tragedy.”

  JB chuckled. “I suppose. Either way, to this day, you can find a plaque in the Heavy Metal Hallway of Heroes with his face and details on it. Madigan Kennedy wasn’t going to let him go down without telling everyone that at least one group thought of him as a hero. With them being the biggest group here, people stopped talking shit about the Flash and even started referring to him as a legend.”

  Holly shook her head. “That’s nuts. I bet he was pissed as fuck in heaven or hell or wherever he went when he saw that.”

  JB laughed. “Then this is even worse.”

  Holly furrowed her brow. “What?”

  JB nodded at the photograph on the wall above them. It was Jack Flash all right, leaning against a tree with a beautiful red-haired girl smiling beside him. “That is the picture Madigan used. We had a different one up there about a year after he got killed, but she thought that one was much better. She wanted people to remember who he really was. Frankly, I wouldn’t believe he had it in him to be a decent human being if I hadn’t seen the video of what happened. I heard the rumors, and even the team said he darted off from them without a word kind of strangely.”

  Holly was surprised. “Did he know Madigan was in danger?”

  JB shrugged. “That’s what his guys thought. They were only a half a mile from the Heavy Metal team, and Flash had a habit of listening in on open channels. They think he heard her in trouble and ran for her. From the video, it looks like he was just out there on his own. No one knows what drew him to that specific place. I don’t think we will ever know.”

  Dan shivered. “That’s fucking creepy if you ask me.”

  Holly jabbed Dan. “We didn’t ask you. And I think those kinds of things are exactly what makes these stories so real. No one is as cold-hearted as they seem. I learned that early in life from my father. He was pretty cold to everyone. When he died though, he reminded me that he loved me, and he always looked out for me. It took me a while, but I realized that was true. Sometimes we are blinded by anger or hate and don’t see the good.”

  Dan unwrapped his cigar. “Well, I think this is as good a time as any to have our cigars.”

  Holly smiled. “I think you’re right.”

  She reached into her bag and pulled two out, handing one to JB. “You didn’t think I would forget you, did you?”

  JB held the cigar to his nose and breathed deeply. Holly smiled and narrowed her eyes when he quickly slipped it in his pocket as Paula walked up to the bar. “Oh boy, breaking out the cigars.”

  Holly smirked. “Yeah, we had to get them when we saw them earlier.”

  Paula looked at JB sternly. “You know you can’t. He said so.”

  JB sighed and nodded. “Not even on my mind, Mom.”

  Paula lowered her eyelids and pursed her lips. “Somebody’s gotta keep you going. I need this job, and frankly, I don’t feel like hanging another picture on that fucking wall.”

  Holly looked at Paula, surprised. “You don’t like the wall?”

  She shrugged, putting the drinks on her tray. “It just seems so morbid to me. You don’t go on the wall until you retire or die. Only five or six people have ever successfully retired, and none of them made the wall. So, you can imagine, it’s a bit morbid every time I put one up there. I get paying homage to them. I do, I get it. Just, when I walk in the back and see one sitting there waiting, it gives me the fucking creeps. That’s when I start to get superstitious.”

  JB waved his hands. “Oh, get out of here. This is like the Hall of Fame. You try to get in before you’re dead, but you know one day people will have to stare at your ugly mug while they get wasted.”

  Paula narrowed her eyes. “Well, I don’t want to stare at your ugly mug unless it’s in the flesh, so remember what I said.”

  Holly and Dan tried to ignore the conversation since it was making JB uncomfortable. Dan clipped Holly’s cigar and handed it back to her. She chewed on the end of it for a moment. Suddenly a flame flared in front of her, and she looked at JB holding a match to the end of her cigar. She puffed on it several times before getting a full light, then leaned back and blew the smoke into the air.

  Dan did the same and glanced at JB. He shrugged. “I’ll enjoy mine when I’m home alone tonight. Then I won’t have nagging in my ear.”

  Holly smiled and changed the subject, knowing JB was desperately looking for a reason to. “So I thought, or so I heard on the American side, that Madigan and Salinger were a thing.”

  JB leaned against the cabinets. “Well, I don’t really follow the romantic lives of people out here. I know, shocking. But from what I’ve been told, they are business partners who have a romantic relationship. You remember the rule I told you about yesterday?”

  Holly nodded. “Don’t go out with someone you are in love with.”

  JB pointed at her. “Precisely. I can’t tell you they don’t love each other, but Madigan is a smart woman. She knows that rule. She watched Gabrielle go down over and over because of her broken heart. She was in town when Gabrielle died. She knew she died protecting the man she loved. I don’t think she would sacrifice anything for the lifestyle she has created for herself.”

  Holly shrugged. “I don’t know about that. Even the toughest of women find it hard to hide love from themselves. I know this since I tried in the past. But you are right about one thing: it rarely works out. One or both people usually get hurt. I’ve come to think that love was made for those who have nine-to-five jobs and comfortable little lifestyles.”

  Dan picked up his drink and clinked it with Holly’s. “I agree. Love is messy enough when life is simple. Throw in a man-ea
ting alien jungle, and you are looking at some serious fucking problems.”

  Holly laughed. “I know, right? Instead of arguing over the chores, you’re fighting about who let the fucking scaled rhino into the backyard. How he managed to get goop down your best suit.”

  Dan chuckled. “I don’t even know how it would be managed. I would never be able to let her go out on her own. Then you fall into the love rule. Boom, you have one dead person and a widow.”

  Holly shook her head, puffing her cigar. “Not to mention having a family. What, are you going to go out in the field with belly armor? Hold on, jag, I gotta pump.”

  Dan wrinkled his nose. “Nope, that would be a parenting fail for sure. I don’t think they have anyone out here suitable to be a babysitter, nor do I think anyone would want the job.”

  JB chuckled. “Remember it’s not just a husband or wife. Jack lost his daughter to all of it. I remember Melanie. She was a good kid. Tough as nails, and she was insatiably curious. You can’t be like that when you go to the Zoo, not when you don’t have people out there to protect you.”

  Holly shook her head. “I just can’t believe he went down protecting someone else.”

  JB nodded. “I know, but I saw the video. Madison Kennedy sent me a copy of it. I was in shock and awe. Watched the thing at least a dozen times.”

  Holly tapped her fingers on her leg and bit the inside of her cheek. She had come there for information, so there was no way she could leave without asking for the tape. At the same time, she wasn’t sure he would hand something over like that to someone he had known for two days. Fuck it. Do or die at this point.

  She smiled at JB and put her cigar down. “Hey there, is there any way you would send me that video? I would love to see inside the Zoo. See this legend in action, and get a better idea what is in there.”

  JB raised an eyebrow and leaned forward. “Are you press?”

  Holly started. “No, not at all.”

  JB narrowed his eyes. “Are you going to do anything with the video besides watch it? I think it would be damaging to the research if the general public watched something like that. It would start all kinds of political problems. Animal rights, human rights, dangers. People would panic because of the Zoo, more than they already do.”

  Holly shook her head frantically. “No, of course, I wouldn’t do that. I know what is at stake here. The truth is, a company is offering me a contract to go into the Zoo with a team to find the perfect ingredient for their new cocktail and line of liquor. They want it to be from the Zoo, and they want me to record everything I see.”

  JB stood up. “Like video it? It’s illegal.”

  Holly shook her head. “No. I have an eidetic memory, so they want me to write down the details for them and possibly bring back something I think might work. I know how dangerous this gig is and I feel like they aren’t being honest with me, so until I know the details and the dangers of the Zoo, I am not even considering signing the contract. I came out here on my own dime to hear the stories, meet the people, and understand a little bit better what I would be getting myself into.”

  JB nodded. “Well, video or not, you will never know the whole truth about the Zoo until you experience it, but I understand why you would want the information. I wouldn’t suggest anyone go in there without trying to fully prepare themselves for what they may encounter.”

  Holly wrinkled her nose. “So you’ll send it to me?”

  JB thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, I guess I will. What’s the worst that happens? You start a global panic and put everyone at risk?”

  Holly shook her head and crossed her finger over her heart. “Won’t happen. Promise.”

  JB put up one finger. “Hold on and let me get my tablet. I’ll get your information and send it to you.”

  Holly clapped her hands. “This is fantastic!”

  JB looked at the bouncer and pointed behind the bar. The big man lumbered over and stood with his arms crossed heavily across his chest. Holly smiled at him, but he didn’t return it. Dan leaned over and whispered, “No use in trying to win him over. He is hard as steel when it comes to this place. He used to be a big-time merc, but he got injured. One of his legs is fake and he couldn’t handle the Zoo anymore, so JB brought him in here to do security. He is a badass, and personally, I think he would be fine in the Zoo.”

  Holly shrugged. “Probably better off here. The Zoo doesn’t really sound like the kind of place you want to be. Hopefully, he made some money while he was in.”

  Dan chuckled. “Yeah, he did, and from what I hear, he is a guru when it comes to finances. Apparently, he is only working here because he promised he would look after JB.”

  Holly was impressed. “Wow, brains and brawn. Nice. But who did he promise to look after JB?”

  Dan shrugged. “Who knows? This whole place is riddled with secrets.”

  Holly raised her eyebrows as JB clinked from the back carrying his iPad. “I’m starting to see that. But who isn’t?”

  Dan frowned. “I’m not. What you see is pretty much what you get. I’m an open book.”

  Holly raised an eyebrow at him. “Right.”

  Dan tilted his head. “Okay, I’m a slightly marked-up open book.”

  JB walked up and they dropped the conversation. “Okay, Miss Holly. What is your email address? And you should give me your number, just in case it won’t send and I have to send it to your phone.”

  Holly thought that was strange, but she had no problem giving him the information. “I’ll give you a private email so no one else can access it. It’s Hollyhasa…actually, you know what? Hand it over and I’ll type it in.”

  JB looked at her funny and handed over the iPad.

  “Thanks. I made this email when I was like sixteen. It’s a bit embarrassing.”

  She typed in the email and phone number and handed him back the tablet. JB narrowed his eyes and looked at it for a moment before laughing. The email line said, Hollyhasabigbooty@gmail.com. “I can see why.”

  Holly rolled her eyes. “I was rebelling. Sue me.”

  JB smirked as he sent the email to her, knowing full well that it would work. “Okay, sent.”

  Before putting away the tablet, he saved the information under the tab Important. Holly didn’t know he did it, nor did she know there was a secret he was holding onto.

  Chapter Eight

  Holly lifted her arms over her head and stretched. Then she took the last sip of her drink, making a slurping sound with her straw. JB looked over from where he was pouring drinks and chuckled. “Do you need a refill, mademoiselle?”

  Holly lifted up her glass and stuck out her lip. “Yes, please. It was really good. Almost better than yesterday’s.”

  JB took her glass and rinsed it out. “I put a splash of Sprite in this one for a bit more sweetness. I can make you another drink, but I think that the bar is getting way too busy for me to be able to tell another story. I might piss off Paula if she catches me sitting back here rambling while she’s sweating to death taking care of the rowdy crowd.”

  Both Dan and Holly groaned, and Holly shrugged. “That’s okay. It’s early. I’ll have another drink, and maybe when I’m done things will calm down. If not, I will just be a regular patron for the day.”

  JB smiled. “That would be awesome. I’ll get this right up.”

  Holly took another puff of her cigar and blew it toward the overhang above her, trying not to send it into the guys’ faces. She leaned her head back, watching the people coming through the doors. Instead of just the regulars on their days off, she was seeing an array of people. There were military, businessmen and women obviously there from corporations, and most fascinating, some who were obviously just coming back from the Zoo.

  You could spot those people in a heartbeat. Their heads were sweaty, they were covered in dirt and dust, and they looked absolutely exhausted. Dan followed her gaze. “Oh yeah, that’s one of the Heavy Metal groups. They just rolled back in from the Zoo.”<
br />
  Holly nodded. “What about the couple who came in after them, who look like mercs but freshly showered?”

  Dan squinted his eyes. “Oh, those are the team leads. They probably went back to the rooms and got cleaned up while the rest of them were getting food somewhere. There are a ton of places to eat out here if you know what you’re looking for. It’s not like back home where there are advertising firms and everything. Out here shopkeepers sell whatever they can, and food is almost always included.”

  Holly wrinkled her nose. “Really?”

  Dan smiled. “Absolutely. Like the cigar place we were in. If you go through to the back, they sell hoagies and bratwurst. Pretty good, too. I’ve had them a few times.”

  Holly narrowed her eyes. “What about cheeseburgers?”

  Dan nodded. “The general store sells American food like burgers, fries, pizza, and all that. The burgers come and go because importing the beef is pretty expensive out here in the middle of the desert.”

  Holly scoffed. “They should put a McDonalds out here. They would make bank.”

  Charlie turned toward them. “I’ve been saying that for years on the American side. Those motherfuckers would kill for a Big Mac.”

  Dan shook his head. “Then you would slow down inside the Zoo. I think in the long run it would do more harm than good. Someone has a heart attack in the middle of the jungle?”

  Holly reached over and handed Dan a menu. “Because this stuff is so much better.”

  Charlie peeked over the top. “I’m starving.”

  Another guy looked around Charlie. “I am, too. What they got?”