Once Bitten, Twice Dead

by Bianca D’Arc

  “Captain Beauvoir and I have discussed that possibility.” She nodded toward Xavier. “We’re going to check out the campus tonight. We figure it’s a trap, but I don’t see any other choice. I either go to the campus and stop the creatures before they kill other innocent kids or I stay home and let the contagion spread. The latter option is totally unacceptable, of course.”

  “Of course,” Sykes agreed, respect clear in his expression. “So what are you going to do?”

  “I’ll take my chances,” Sarah replied. “I’m armed. I have some skills. And Xavier has my back. It’ll have to be good enough.”

  Sykes sat back, watching her with renewed respect. In fact, all the men at the table seemed to be greeting her words with varying shades of surprise and admiration.

  “I have heard nothing but good things about you, Sarah, since the moment I started looking into your case,” Sykes said at last. “I’m glad to see it was all true. However, I don’t like the idea of you and Beauvoir walking knowingly into a trap.”

  “Me, neither.” Sam Archer spoke for the first time since the meeting had come to order. “Isn’t there any way we can back you up, sir?” He directed his appeal to Xavier, his expression stern. It looked to her like they’d had this argument before.

  “No.” Sam had been talking to Xavier, but it was Sarah who answered. “If there are zombies there waiting for us—and after what we’ve dealt with the past two nights, I believe there will be—Xavier and I are the only ones who can deal with them safely. These things don’t go down easily. It’s taking four shots apiece and the toxin takes a while to work. Too long to risk anyone who isn’t immune.”

  “Is this true?” Sykes looked to Xavier for confirmation.

  “Yeah. It’s in my report. Sellars has been improving on his earlier work. These creatures are much harder to dissolve. They also work together—at least a little. A group of them surrounded us at the house we visited last night. The group acted as a distraction while another snuck up from behind. It was the same one that snuck up behind Sarah in that abandoned building. It could have been coincidence, but I had the feeling it was planned. At least on a rudimentary level. I think Sellars can give them instructions and they follow their master. One of them actually used that word before she imploded.”

  “It spoke?” Sykes was incredulous.

  Reno looked really concerned. If she remembered correctly, he had some sort of science background and had interfaced with the cleanup teams at the first site. The others just looked grim.

  “She did,” Sarah answered. “It was a young girl, maybe in her early twenties. Which is what leads me to believe Sellars has already been dipping into the population of the local university.” She reached for a can of soda from the stack on the coffee table behind her. “I fully expect there will be more waiting for us when we hit the campus this evening.”

  They let that sink in for a minute. It was Xavier who refocused the meeting.

  “I think we should hear what you’ve come up with on your end of the investigation, Sam.”

  Sam Archer sat up a little straighter and gathered his thoughts before proceeding. He had a very deliberate, calm way about him that inspired confidence.

  “Only one other member of the original science team took a job here on Long Island. Dr. Sandra McCormick is now working at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory as a research assistant to one of their Nobel laureates, a Dr. Caruthers. He has no military ties at all and his research is considered purely humanitarian in nature. Nothing that could be weaponized in any way. We did a preliminary investigation into Dr. McCormick’s communications and discovered she has been receiving e-mail from Dr. Sellars and some of the other members of the original science team. None of the e-mail appeared suspicious on the surface, but Sellars in particular seemed anxious to meet with her. As a result, we’ve had Dr. McCormick under discreet surveillance. So far, we haven’t seen anything to indicate that she might be working with Sellars or that she has had any contact with him beyond the e-mail.”

  “As long as the situation remains at this level, I want you to continue surveillance on her,” Sykes ordered. “Everything points back to the members of the original research team. I’ve dispatched orders through channels to track down and keep an eye on the rest of them. The FBI is helping with surveillance, though the individual agents haven’t been read into the mission. Their orders are to track and identify the scientists, then observe them from a safe distance. Ideally, there will be physical observations of the scientists’ daily activities and especially electronic surveillance of their computer and phone communications. Since you’re already in position and there’s a potential tie-in with Sellars and your ongoing investigation, I want you to stay with McCormick.”

  Sam and Xavier both nodded in agreement.

  “I think it would also be wise for you to meet with Dr. McCormick, Sam,” Sykes surprised them by saying. “Let her know we’re aware of her and see what she does. If she’s on the level, she may turn into a valuable resource for us. If she’s dirty, she could panic and lead us to Sellars.”

  “I’ll arrange an intercept for tomorrow,” Sam agreed.

  The rest of the meeting went as expected. Sarah was asked detailed questions about her experiences with the creatures, and Xavier reported on their activities since the last time they’d all been together, going over the initial scene in that abandoned building. Was that only a day or two ago? It felt like a lifetime. So much had happened since then. And her internal clock was all turned around. They’d switched to night shift, and now everything was blending together into a mélange of too little sleep and too much action. She rarely registered what time it was anymore.

  When the meeting finally ended right before dusk, Sykes cornered Sarah, making small talk about her experiences as a police officer. Sykes was an interesting man, and he didn’t have the superior attitude she’d half-expected from such a highly ranked officer. He was a couple of years older than Xavier. Maybe in his late thirties or possibly early forties. She had no doubt he was a career navy man who’d earned his rank over time. Xavier had wandered off to talk with his men, and she was comfortable enough with the group that she didn’t mind being left to her own devices for a few minutes.

  Xavier and she had been nearly inseparable from the moment he’d sprung her from the hospital. It was nice to have a little breathing room, though he stood only a few yards away, across the room. She liked being with him, but the level of intensity was not what she was used to in a relationship. Never mind that it had been a really long time since she’d been in one of those.

  “How are you getting along with Captain Beauvoir?” Sykes asked.

  Had he somehow read her mind?

  She realized belatedly he might have been reading her expression. Her eyes had strayed to Xavier, who was talking with Sam. Neither man looked happy, and she wondered what could have put that look of consternation on both their faces.

  “He’s a fine soldier, as I think you know,” she answered finally. She wasn’t really sure what to say, so she settled for commenting on his professional abilities.

  “But how is he doing with you? What I mean to say is, I doubt he’s ever been on a combat mission with a woman before. Is he giving you any grief?”

  Sykes’s friendly smile invited confidences. Sarah wasn’t going to fall for that. She assumed Sykes had only her best interests at heart, but she’d never say anything that could damage either Xavier’s reputation or his career.

  “He’s been the perfect gentleman and the perfect coworker. He gives me space and he’s taught me a lot about how to operate in the field. He says I’ve been able to show him a lot about crime scene investigation, so it seems to be a good match.” It felt a little boastful to say that last bit. Sarah was never one to toot her own horn, but the situation seemed to call for it.

  “It goes without saying that most of these men are trained as soldiers, not necessarily as investigators. It’s yet another reason why I’m glad to have you on
the team.” Sykes seemed genuine enough, if a bit overly friendly. It seemed like he was trying too hard. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why.

  Sarah hated beating around the bush. She had the well-earned reputation of being a straight shooter. People were rarely allowed to get away with subterfuge in their relations with her, both in business and in her personal life. Being surrounded by cops and marines at home had done that to her. She liked having things out in the open.

  “Commander—”

  “Call me Matt.” He interrupted before she could finish her thought.

  “Matt.” She tried again. “Why is it so important to you that I’m on the team?”

  He looked at her oddly for a moment before visibly relaxing and giving a gusty sigh. “That obvious, am I?”

  The chagrined smile he gave her invited commiseration. This time, she followed where he led. Now, she thought, she was seeing the real Matt Sykes, not the public relations wannabe he’d tried at before.

  “What’s the deal, Matt?” She put a slight emphasis on his first name, drawing his grin out even more.

  “I’ve been ordered to make sure you stay on the team. Whatever you want, I’ve been told to provide. It comes down from the highest levels. We need you, Sarah. Badly. They want to make certain you’re going to stick with the mission until it’s completed.” She read pure honesty in his eyes. Now, finally, she was getting the truth behind his odd behavior.

  “Whatever I want, eh?” She felt confident enough to tease him. Luckily, he realized she was teasing. She saw the humor reflected in his eyes.

  “Yes, indeed. You hold all the cards, ma’am.” He nodded, visibly suppressing a chuckle.

  “Hmm. I think I like the sound of that.” She let him dangle for a moment longer, then relented. “Your superiors should have known just from reading my file that I wouldn’t leave this mission in the lurch. I took an oath to protect and serve. Right now, I can do that best from within your little group. Don’t worry. Xavier won’t run me off. He’s been the perfect partner, in fact. I really am learning a lot from him.”

  “I’m glad.” Sykes looked relieved. “I didn’t know him that well before this all started, but I’ve gained a deep respect for Captain Beauvoir.”

  “Me too.” She smiled softly.

  “Good.” Sykes straightened, some of the stiffness returning to his posture. “If you have any problems, Sarah, I hope you know you can come to me. Anytime. This mission is perhaps the most important I’ve ever been tasked with and I’ll do anything I can to make sure it ends in success. Just say the word if you need me.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card and a pen. He took a moment to write something on the back before handing the card to her. “This is my office number. My cell phone number is scribbled on the back. Feel free to make use of it if necessary.”

  She pocketed the card, touched that he’d make the offer. “Thanks, Commander.”

  “I thought you were going to call me Matt?”

  She chuckled. “I’ll try.”

  “See that you do.” He laughed along with her. “So besides personnel issues, how is the mission itself treating you? I suspect the Police Academy didn’t prepare you for facing marauding zombies in the woods.”

  A chuckle escaped, and a few of the men turned to look at her before she tamped down the urge to laugh.

  “Sorry.” She shook her head, still amused. “Yeah, I must have missed Zombie Day at the academy.” Reflecting on what she’d been through the past couple of days, Sarah revised her answer. “Actually, I think I’m starting to get used to it, though I’ll be the first to admit I wasn’t much help to Xavier the first time we faced them together. I’d like to think I’ve acquitted myself better since then.” Thinking about that encounter in the basement of the abandoned building still smarted. She’d been the next best thing to useless. Sarah wasn’t used to performing so poorly on duty.

  “Sarah.” His tone lowered, became gentler somehow. “I’ve seen the surveillance video they made of your initial encounter with two of the creatures. Aside from being appalled that someone sat there and watched while you fought for your life, I have to say I was impressed by the way you fought back, as injured as you were. You saved yourself. You can be proud of the way you reacted.”

  She searched his eyes, touched by his concern. “Thanks.” Never comfortable with praise, Sarah felt like a change of subject was in order. “I know you’ve all said that being immune is rare, but I’m curious. How rare is it, really? I mean, are you immune? Is that why they tapped you to head up this case?”

  “Unfortunately not. If I were, I’d be out there in the field with you. As it stands, we have too few operatives who can face these things without fear of the contagion. You are part of a very select group, Sarah. Which is why we really need you on this.”

  “Well, you’ve got me. I know where my duty lies. Even if the zombies give me the creeps, I’ll do what I have to do to help stop them.” She shivered jokingly, though the zombies really did creep her out.

  “To answer your question, I ended up running this show because the first infestation occurred on my base. After losing a lot of good marines to the contagion, we finally hit on how to neutralize the creatures. We had one immune soldier. Lucky for us, he was a SEAL. He went into the woods surrounding the base and solved our little problem in a few weeks. I honestly thought that would be the end of it. Then I got summoned to MacDill in the middle of the night to meet the commander of all joint Special Forces operations. USSOCOM, which is short for U.S. Special Operations Command. Never did I expect to meet, let alone work for that particular admiral.”

  Sykes shook his head at the memory. “I was told there’d been another outbreak. Due to my prior experience, I was asked to head up the operation. USSOCOM got involved because the scope had expanded beyond my base and now the army special ops guys were involved. Anytime the spec ops units from different branches have to work together, SOCOM coordinates it. That’s how a navy guy ended up in charge of a bunch of Green Berets.” He gestured to the men around the room. “Then we got reports about your attack, which earned me another trip to MacDill, and the mission expanded in scope. I hope to God it ends there, but I’m bracing for the worst.”

  “Probably a wise precaution,” she agreed. “From what I gather, Sellars wasn’t the only scientist on the initial project. Where there’s one bad apple, more could follow.”

  Sykes looked grim. “So you appreciate the gravity of our problem. The fact that Sellars tried to get your blood while you were in the hospital was actually a lucky break for us. You were able to identify him and we can reasonably assume he’s the source of the outbreak. We aren’t quite that lucky with the outbreak at Fort Bragg. We’re still trying to figure out the source of the creature that started the problem.”

  “That’s awful,” Sarah commiserated, thinking hard about how she might be able to help. Not knowing enough about the situation, she couldn’t offer much in the way of practical suggestions.

  “I’m hopeful your investigation will turn up some leads for us to follow.”

  “I’ll certainly keep that in mind. If I see any potential tie-ins as we go along, I’ll be sure to let you know,” she promised.

  “Excellent.”

  Sykes offered his hand and she took it, pleased by his firm, no-nonsense shake. She’d often thought you could tell a lot about a man by the way he shook your hand. She liked Sykes. He was a strong man who seemed to earn respect by his actions rather than by his rank alone. That was a good quality in a leader, as far as she was concerned.

  They talked for a few minutes more about inconsequential things. She was glad Xavier had arranged this meeting. It was good to know the rest of the team and at least a small part of the chain of command.

  Xavier watched Sarah as she talked with Sykes, impressed all over again by her presence and composure. She was a consummate professional and gorgeous to boot.

  “What’s up with you two?” Sam sidled up beside
him, following the direction of his gaze to where Sarah stood with Sykes across the room. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

  “Nothing I want to talk about with you right now, Sam.” Xavier gave him the stink eye, hoping his friend would get the message. But Sam Archer was made of sterner, more stubborn stuff than that. He wouldn’t let it go. Damn the man.

  “It’s pretty obvious you’re involved. You might just be in over your head with this one. She’s nothing like the women you usually date.”

  “I said I don’t want to talk about this.”

  “Damn, buddy. You’ve got it bad. Can’t say I blame you. She seems like one hell of a woman. I just hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. Things aren’t exactly stable in either of your lives right now.”

  “I’m well aware of that. But it’s still none of your business.”

  “Just trying to look out for a friend, Xav.”

  A long look passed between them. Sam wasn’t backing down, but then Xavier hadn’t expected him to. They’d been friends a long time, having come up through the ranks together. They owed each other their lives several times over, which gave Sam more than a little latitude. That went both ways. They had each other’s backs. Always had.

  Working together on the same team was a recent development. Sam and he had trained and studied together, but they’d always been assigned to different units. When Xavier’s unit had been decimated in the zombie fiasco, he’d been reassigned and given the opportunity to form his own small task force. The first person he’d picked had been Sam.

  They’d worked well together, but sometimes—like right now—the lines between their longstanding friendship and their commander-subordinate relationship blurred. So far it hadn’t been a problem. Xavier wondered if this thing with Sarah would be the straw that broke the camel’s back. He hoped not. For the sake of the mission, their friendship and his blossoming relationship with Sarah.