Once Bitten, Twice Dead

by Bianca D’Arc

  She found the radio and switched it on. First, though, she’d place a call to her chief. Using her cell phone, she reached him with little difficulty. His secretary had apparently been instructed to put her calls right through. He asked how she was doing, politely inquiring about her injuries. She answered noncommittally and got down to business.

  Within moments, she had authorization for two roadblocks and whatever other support, within reason, the feds needed. Her chief was only too happy to let her coordinate everything, since she was embedded with the feds. Less work for him. Less hassle for her and Xavier. It was a good plan all the way around.

  She ended the call with her commanding officer, then hopped on the radio to coordinate with Dispatch for the units they’d need. Two roadblocks would suffice. One on either end of this sparsely traveled lane. There weren’t any other structures on this stretch of road, just a wooded lot across the street. The big medical center could be seen over the roof of this building, but it was to the rear of this abandoned property, on the main thoroughfare. The police units would be at the intersections on each end of the block, far enough away that they couldn’t really see what was going on in the building, which was a plus.

  While she was on the radio, Xavier came around to her side of the vehicle and listened in. He looked well satisfied with the arrangements when she signed off.

  “They’ll be here in about fifteen minutes.”

  “Perfect.” Xavier looked at his watch. “My guys will be here in ten. I’ll give them the grand tour and get them started. If you wouldn’t mind interfacing with your people up top first, then running through events just one more time with Sam—that’s Lieutenant Sam Archer—my XO on this. He’s in charge of the B Team.”

  “Does that make us the A Team?” She had to laugh.

  “As a matter of fact, we are. Only those who have been proven immune to the contagion are being utilized in direct combat with the creatures. We’ve lost too many good men to this menace already. Sam’s willing to go up against them again if he has to, but I don’t want him, or anyone who isn’t immune, anywhere near these creatures if at all possible. We’re the only ones I’m authorizing to go head-to-head with them. Hence, the A Team.”

  “Suddenly I’m hearing that old TV show theme song in my head. I wonder if Mr. T will start building a tank out of tractor parts for us or something?”

  They had a good laugh, cut short by the arrival of another camo Humvee and a few nondescript cargo vans. Some of the vans were white, a few black, and none had windows in the rear.

  “Ah, the cavalry is here.” Xavier turned toward the new arrivals. “You rest here a few minutes more until your friends show up. Get them set, then join us in the building, okay?”

  Dammit. He was babying her. He’d seen her limping and was giving her rest time. She didn’t like it. She always hated being babied. But she’d admit, to herself at least, that her leg needed the breather. Playing tug-o-war with the zombie over her foot on that ladder had not helped her hurt leg. Every tug had been agony. Only the adrenaline of the moment had deadened the pain. She hadn’t really noticed it at the time.

  She’d felt it afterward, though. Bad. Real bad.

  Resenting that leg with every passing minute, Sarah waited for her fellow officers to show up while watching men scurry from the vans. A couple of big bruisers piled out of the second Humvee. They all wore green berets on their heads, and even from a distance, they crackled with highly focused energy. Sarah watched the way they deferred to Xavier, saluting him when he walked over to speak with them, only falling at ease at his order.

  What her chief wouldn’t give to command obedience like that, she thought with an inward chuckle. Though her police brethren took their jobs very seriously, there wasn’t that same level of military crispness. At least not all the time. Every once in a while they trotted out the formality for special occasions, but it definitely wasn’t an everyday occurrence. Things tended to be more laid-back and friendly at the precinct.

  Sarah saw the first patrol car arrive at the end of the street a few minutes later. She hopped out of the Humvee, very aware that several sets of male eyes were on her, following her progress. She paid them no mind. She’d just spent a good five minutes studying them, after all. She figured turnabout was fair play.

  She did her best not to limp as she walked down the street and greeted Fred Cummings, a veteran cop who’d seen a lot in his years on the force. He was a good officer who had helped her from time to time as she made her way up through the ranks. He’d always been ready to offer advice and encouragement when she was a rookie, and they’d even rolled together once or twice back before the budget cuts had dictated only one officer per cruiser.

  “Quite a party you have over there,” Fred observed as he got out of the car. He’d positioned it across the road, blocking access. “Nice of the feds to invite us. How you feeling, Sarah?”

  “Getting there. Glad they sent you, Fred. I’m not sure how long they’re going to be over in that building, but it’s important to keep any civilian traffic out of the area.”

  “Roger that, Sarah. Nobody in or out unless the feds clear it. The chief mentioned something about national security when he said you’d been lent out.”

  He seemed curious, but she knew he wouldn’t push.

  “Yeah. I stumbled into a real hornet’s nest.” She walked with Fred toward the rear of his car. He opened the trunk as they talked. “It’s been an interesting couple of days.”

  “So you’re okay with the feds? They’re treating you right?”

  “No complaints. In fact, they’ve been respectful and forthcoming so far.” She read the relief on the veteran cop’s face, and was glad to know he’d been truly concerned for her.

  “That’s good. I remember a time when cooperation wasn’t as easy among different organizations. Things have changed since 9/11 for the better, as far as that goes. I mean, we’re all on the same side, right?” He straightened, hooking his thumbs into his utility belt as he drew his gaze away from the swarm of activity in the middle of the block and looked back at her.

  “You got that right, Fred. I have no complaints,” she replied easily.

  “Glad to hear it. You know, everyone was concerned when we heard the ‘officer down’ call.” That was as close as the old cop would come to expressing emotion. She’d learned to read the guys she worked with over the past few years, so she understood what he was getting at.

  “Thanks. It’s all good now, but it was a hairy situation there for a few minutes.” They fell into small talk as Fred scooped some wooden pieces out of his trunk.

  She helped him set up two saw horses, then lit and set a couple of traffic flares. He seemed interested about her leg injury. Apparently, everyone on the force had heard she’d been attacked. He told her that they’d sent flowers, but that the hospital insisted they be sent on to her home rather than to her hospital room, for some reason. Fred seemed to wait for her to explain that oddity, but she declined, making a fast getaway when she saw the second patrol car pull up at the other end of the street.

  She said a hasty good-bye to Fred and walked through the gauntlet of federal employees to the other end of the block. Xavier and his army brothers were nowhere in sight. They were most likely already in the building. And the guys from the vans were busy setting up lighting rigs, then transporting the self-contained lighting arrays into the building. Sarah thought it would be lit up like a ball field in no time, judging by the hardware these guys had brought with them.

  She repeated the greetings with the other officer, Pete Simmons. She had a good opinion of him, having worked with him a time or two on parade duty and other special events. He was still a rookie, but seasoned enough to be on friendly terms with most of the other officers.

  She also helped him with his saw horses and flares, then made her way back to the building. The van guys were mostly inside now. She could see the glow from within as she neared the dilapidated door.

  As she
entered, she realized everyone was standing silent, listening to someone speak. It was Xavier, commanding their attention. Funny, she hadn’t seen him in commander mode yet. Despite herself, she was impressed. He definitely had a way about him. It wasn’t obnoxious or flamboyant. It was more a steady presence that made people want to listen to him and do what he asked. No wonder he was in charge. He had the gift of a born leader.

  “I want this place searched from top to bottom, piece by piece. Tear it apart and put it back together again if you have to.” Xavier eyed everyone in the room. Even Sarah felt the deadly seriousness of his words. “This is a crime scene as well as a national security–threat site. We need to find any additional evidence that may be hiding in here. We also have to decontaminate anything that could be hazardous. Reno”—he pointed to one of the Green Berets who stood with a group of the guys from the vans—“I want you to coordinate the teams. One of our guys with each decontamination team. Decon first, then go in and search, room by room.” Xavier spied Sarah in the doorway and motioned her forward. “Sam, Lewis, I’ll want you to come with Officer Petit and me to go over the trail. Everyone else, set up your gear. Reno, clear the north wall first and use it as a staging area. Got it?”

  A chorus of affirmatives answered him as Sarah walked through the clustered groups of men. She reached his side as activity resumed, one team of van guys heading over to work on the north side of the building. She saw them donning protective gear that included eye and respiratory protection. Then she watched as they hefted big cylinders that looked like they held compressed gas of some kind with hoses coming out of one end. She assumed the cylinders held whatever substance they were using for decontamination. She quickened her step.

  “Is that stuff safe?” she asked Xavier in a low voice as she stepped close to his side.

  He looked up, following her gaze to the decon team. “We’re far enough away here. Besides, it’s not harmful to humans unless you’re exposed to massive amounts over a long period of time. The masks and goggles are just a precaution because these guys have been using the stuff for a while now.”

  “Good to know.” She turned back to find two other men had joined their small group. One was a giant blond who must’ve had Viking roots, and the other had a wiry build with brown hair, brown eyes, and a gorgeous tan.

  “Officer Petit, this is Lieutenant Sam Archer, my second-in-command for this mission,” he said, motioning to the blond, “and Private Lewis Kauffman, the unit’s bloodhound.” Xavier’s slow grin invited her to join in their little joke.

  “Bloodhound, huh? I didn’t know there was a rank for that in the army.” She reached forward to shake hands with both men.

  “I’m a good tracker, ma’am,” Lewis said as he shook her hand. “Learned the skill first from my grandfather, then Uncle Sam helped me add to my skills.”

  “There isn’t a thing in the woods Lew can’t find,” Xavier added. “This urban jungle might prove a little more difficult, but we can definitely use his skills outside. I want you to go over the attack just one more time with Sam and Lew so they’ll know where to concentrate. Then I’ll show them the lower level and we can leave them to it.” Unspoken went the reason he wanted to leave—the disc they had yet to check out.

  Each time Sarah went through the events of the attack it got easier. She was almost dispassionate this time as she described what had happened and where. It was comparatively easy to walk the two soldiers through the building in a repeat of what she’d done earlier with Xavier. She was glad now that he’d done a rehearsal with her. She was much more composed this time.

  Sarah wondered if he’d done it on purpose, to help her. She wouldn’t put it past him. He was a nice guy, no matter how much he tried to pretend otherwise. It would be like him to try to put her at ease privately before subjecting her to this dog and pony show.

  Her leg was throbbing by the time they came to the end of her tour, and they’d gathered a small crowd. A few soldiers had begun to follow along when they’d emerged from the hallway. When they reached the main area all the Green Berets surrounded her as she described her fight with the two zombies. Xavier seemed content to let them listen in, so she didn’t object. Sam asked a few pertinent questions, and she thought she read approval in some of their eyes when she looked up from the place where she’d fallen over a week before.

  She described the mad scramble away from the creatures and the way she’d headed for the door, calling for backup. She tried to keep her voice composed and thought she’d succeeded, but she still caught a few emotion-filled looks from the men gathered around her. Some of their expressions held pity, others admiration or a mix of the two. When she met Xavier’s gaze, all she read there was pride.

  He was proud of her? What a strange thought, but that’s what she saw in his whiskey-colored gaze. It puzzled her, but it also made her feel warm in the secret heart of her that craved his approval like a teenager with her first big crush.

  Damn. The man had affected her in ways she hadn’t even realized. He’d slipped right under her defenses and turned her into a silly schoolgirl. She should really be annoyed with him, but she was too busy falling under his spell to grumble too much.

  “Thanks, Officer Petit.” He ended the retelling of her nightmare encounter once they were outside and she’d gotten to the point where she’d passed out. He sent his guys back inside, then stepped over to Sarah. “Why don’t you get off that leg? I’ll show them around downstairs, then pop back up here so we can check out the disc together. All right?”

  She hated to admit to weakness but knew the value of truth. “I’d be grateful not to have to climb up and down that ladder again today,” she admitted, earning a nod of understanding from Xavier. “I’ll wait in the Humvee.”

  Xavier stilled her as she moved away by placing one big hand over her forearm. “You heal fast now, but you still have to take time with serious injuries like the one you suffered. It’s not weakness to admit when you need to take it easy. It’s just common sense.”

  She was touched by what he was trying to say. “Thanks, Xavier. I hear you.”

  She limped away, her leg too painful to hide.

  Xavier joined her in the vehicle about fifteen minutes later.

  “I think we should head over to the precinct,” Sarah said without preamble as he seated himself in the driver’s seat.

  “Why’s that?”

  “The chief wants to meet you. He called a few minutes ago. Seems he began to rethink things after we hung up before. Plus, I have a fast computer with good virus protection on my desk at work. I’d rather not chance destroying my home computer with an unknown disc.”

  “Good point,” he conceded, starting the powerful engine. “The precinct it is.”

  When they arrived at the station, her fellow officers greeted Sarah with genuine happiness. It was clear she was well liked and respected among her coworkers. Most expressed their concern over her injuries and mentioned that they’d tried to visit her in the hospital, but had been turned away.

  They eyed Xavier with varying levels of inquiry, concern and even a little distrust. That was only to be expected, he figured. He’d swooped in and denied them the right to visit their fellow officer in the hospital, then had taken over her work schedule and had her reassigned to his top-secret little project. He wasn’t surprised by the way they eyed him, taking his measure as Sarah introduced him around.

  He was taking their measure, too, though they probably didn’t realize it. He wanted to meet the people Sarah worked with so that he could observe their reactions to her injury. Their reactions to his presence were just as interesting. He didn’t expect to learn anything troubling, but it was better to take a look just to be sure. He couldn’t leave a stone unturned in this investigation. The stakes were just too high.

  Not that he suspected anyone on the local police force of having dealings with the people he was after. Still, it didn’t hurt to gauge their expressions. If, by some odd chance, one of them starte
d acting suspiciously, Xavier could have Sam and the rest of the team do a little digging. So far, though, he wasn’t seeing anything other than a group of people who were genuinely concerned about their coworker and curious about the Green Beret at her side. All in all, that was totally acceptable and understandable.

  “One more introduction before we can get to our mystery disc,” Sarah said in a low voice as they approached a big office in back. She knocked perfunctorily before opening the door. A big man with wavy salt-and-pepper hair sat behind a cluttered desk. He had his shirtsleeves rolled up and appeared to be laboring away, pecking at keys on his computer keyboard with a scowl on his face.

  “Chief O’Hara, this is Captain Beauvoir.” She made the introductions as the older man rose from behind his desk. He stuck out a hand and Xavier returned the gesture.

  “Have a seat,” the police chief invited, gesturing toward two empty chairs as he reseated himself and cleared a space in front of him on the blotter. “It’s good to see you up and around, Sarah.” He gave her a rusty smile. “I was with you at the hospital when the feds arrived. They quarantined everything, and a day later, this guy showed up but didn’t do me the courtesy of an introduction.” The sarcasm in his tone was pointed and not easily missed.

  “I’m here to rectify that now, Chief O’Hara.” Xavier did his best to soothe the chief’s very obviously ruffled feathers. “Things have been moving rapidly since Officer Petit woke up.”

  “So I gathered, given the roadblocks you requested and all the activity my officers are reporting out on Wheeler Road.”

  “Sir, I believe you’ve been briefed on the national security aspects of this incident. I can’t tell you much more than what you’ve heard already, except to say Officer Petit is vital to the ongoing investigation and a credit to your department.”