by K E O'Connor
And despite Nick’s concerns about safety, I was certain the Spring Fling should go ahead. I’d make sure our residents and any tourists in town had something to look forward to. One rabid zombie wouldn’t scupper my event.
We’d dealt with much worse. The show must go on.
Chapter 7
The next morning found me yawning and bleary-eyed. I’d spent a long afternoon and evening at the shelter with Jen, getting statements from the zombies in residence.
There were only three who had trouble remembering where they were when the attack took place. Everyone else had an alibi. I’d put them on the top of the pile to return to Nick. I didn’t think any of these zombies were suspects. One of them had hardly any teeth, another was so old and fragile a gust of wind would blow her over, and the other was missing a hand.
I’d spoken to Nick and updated him about the questionnaires. He’d told me to bring them to the station in the morning. I dropped them off at the reception desk with Julia and was hurrying to unlock the tourism office.
The streets were eerily quiet. It felt like a different Zee Town. People must have listened to rumors about the attack.
I couldn’t help but speed up as I walked, looking around every now and again, hoping I wasn’t being chased along the cobblestones by a zombie.
I arrived without incident, and Zara came into the office a few minutes later, her movements surprisingly swift as she shut the door behind her.
“Is everything okay?” I asked as she sat at her desk.
“Worried about the zombie,” Zara said.
“You’ve nothing to worry about. No zombie will get you here. There’s far too many of us warm bloods about. We’d be its first target.” The words were meant to reassure her, but Zara’s jaw wobbled, and she looked to the floor.
“Don’t want you to be its target.” Zara’s gray-eyed gaze drifted toward me. “Need to keep you safe.”
“We need to keep everybody safe,” I said, deciding a change of subject was needed. “Something we do need to worry about, though, is that Nick’s threatening to cancel the Spring Fling.”
“What about the wellies?” Zara looked at the discarded pile of wellies we’d abandoned on the floor yesterday.
“It’s still going ahead, I’m sure of that,” I said. “I was thinking we could hold it inside for a change. Sometimes it can be chilly on the beach in spring.”
“Where will we have it?” Zara asked.
“The town hall,” I said. “They’ve got that huge indoor bowls room. It could be perfect for throwing wellies. What do you think?”
“Could be nice,” Zara said.
“I’m going to have a quick look and see if it’s okay. If it is, I’ll get posters printed and put them up to let people know about the change of venue.”
“What about Officer Morton?” Zara asked. “Might be angry.”
“Most likely. Inside will be safer, though. Nick can’t complain about that.” Although, I bet he would. The event was a daytime one, and if we were all inside a building and had security on the door, I couldn’t see a problem.
My hands brushed over the strings of half-made trinkets in front of me that I’d left on my desk, the feel of the rough shells and smooth stone relaxing me. A desire to keep working on them crept over me. I also had a few trinkets in my purse from the other day that I needed to put up. I’d spend a couple of hours getting the social media for the event sorted while checking to see if anyone was posting about the rabid zombie attack. I could finish the trinkets while I read through comments and posts.
Zara walked over to the pot of beef broth and poured herself a mug. I noticed her hands trembling. I abandoned my trinkets and went over to her desk.
“You do know you’re safe here,” I said to her. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Zee Town should be safe,” Zara said.
I stroked her red hair. “It is. Or it will be once we’ve sorted this problem.”
Zara took hold of my hand and massaged the semi-circle scar on my palm. “Safe with you.”
“I’m glad I make you feel safe.” I gave her hand a squeeze and let go. “Now, we have a Spring Fling to sort out. You concentrate on that. I’ll worry about everything else.” I sat back at my desk and began the mammoth task of writing and uploading dozens of snappy bits of information about the Spring Fling. I didn’t mention it might be canceled, but I did hint at a new venue. I could always blame the weather if we had to move it inside. Spring tides in Zee Town used to cause flooding, so it wasn’t be considered strange.
As I thought up the information and jotted it down, I also worked on my trinkets, my fingers moving rhythmically as I tied together beads, stones, and little pieces of plastic. Soon, I had five new trinkets and twenty-five posts to go online over the next day. That would keep people busy.
I had a read of the final comments and breathed out a sigh of relief. There were no messages about a rabid zombie. I’d need to keep checking, though, just in case anything popped up.
“I’m going to look at the town hall,” I said to Zara as I stuffed the trinkets into my purse. “Can you get the Spring Fling poster updated with details of the town hall venue on it?”
Zara nodded, seeming pleased to have something to occupy her thoughts.
“I’ll be as quick as I can,” I said. “Make sure you lock up behind me.”
Zara was on my heels as I left the office. The locks clicked into place as I walked away. She was scared, as were the other placid zombies.
Some of the zombies I’d spoken to yesterday had been as skittish and nervous as Jen when I’d questioned them about the attack. They sensed something was wrong.
I was panicked too. It was tempting to hide from the likely truth that we were under attack. It brought back bad memories from the time before, when the uprising was out of control.
Several zombies were outside Bill Guthrie’s store as I hurried along. They looked up as I walked by. I gave them a wave. As I looked back, they were following me. Not in a threatening way, just in the way they often did. Nick had once called me a zombie magnet. I did do a good beef broth in the office and it was free for any zombie who wanted it. I’d always assumed that was why the zombies liked me so much.
I nipped inside the main door of the town hall and straight through to the indoor bowls area. I wanted to check out the length of the bowling area to make sure it was suitable for long distance welly tossing.
I paced up and down a couple of times. The fake grass was pristine. I hoped it wouldn’t get spoiled by wellies whacking onto it. The green was a little short in length, but there was plenty of seating, decent washrooms, and a kitchen we could use. It would suit us just fine.
Before I left the town hall, I placed a trinket on a bare nail by the door. It looked good there and made me happier seeing a trinket inside the hall.
The zombies who’d followed me from Bill’s store were waiting outside. “How are you all?” I asked as I descended the steps of the town hall.
“Come to protect you,” one of the male zombies said.
“It’s Franko, isn’t it?” He sometimes helped out in the warehouses. He wore his warehouse overall, a cap low over his bloodshot eyes.
He nodded slowly. “Don’t want you on the streets alone. Not safe.”
“That’s kind of you,” I said. “If we’re all careful and keep our eyes open for any trouble, we don’t have anything to worry about.”
“Got a questionnaire yesterday,” the female zombie to the left of Franko said, her dark hair sticking up around her head. “Asked if I ate somebody.”
“Don’t be upset about those questions,” I said. “We have to ask every zombie in town what they were doing and if they hurt someone.”
“Somebody died,” Franko said.
“Yes, somebody has died. We have to make sure we’re all safe. I don’t believe any of our town zombies were involved in the attack, though.”
The three zombies nodded in unison.
The zombies followed me.
I turned back to them. “Really, you don’t have to look after me.”
“We do,” the female zombie said, a look of determination on her pale face.
It seemed I wasn’t getting rid of my zombie escort, so we walked toward the tourism office together. I’d just turned into the lane when I spotted Nancy Atherton dash into an alleyway.
Nancy owned most of the warehouses in Zee Town. He was a sharp businesswoman, with an equally sharp temper. I did my best to avoid her. I didn’t like being on the receiving end of one of her tongue lashings.
Seeing her going into an alleyway was unusual. And dangerous. If she stumbled onto the rabid zombie by mistake, that would be the end of her.
“Wait here,” I said to my zombie escort. “I want to see what Nancy’s up to.”
They ignored my instruction and stuck close to me.
Nancy was bent over, her pale-pink designer blouse untucked and her black pencil skirt twisted around her waist and hitched up as she lifted piles of discarded boxes put out for collection.
“Nancy, have you lost something?” I asked.
Nancy’s head shot up, her thin lips pinching together. “Oh, Cassie, it’s just you.”
“Is everything okay?” I walked toward her. “It’s best if you aren’t alone right now.”
“Because of the dead tourist?” Nancy asked. “I’ve heard. Rabid zombie, so they reckon.”
Eek! It looked like the rumors were spreading fast. “No one knows for certain, but it might be better if we aren’t in a place where a zombie would lurk.” I glanced into the shadows at the back of the alleyway. They looked dense and threatening.
“You’ve got enough zombies around you already. What’s with the undead bodyguards?” Nancy’s gaze shifted over my shoulder.
“They’ve taken a liking to me and wanted to get me back to the office safely,” I said. “It’s sweet of them.”
“Lucky you.” Nancy turned back to the boxes.
“What are you looking for?” I asked.
Nancy dropped the box in her hand. “I’ve lost my cat.”
“I didn’t know you had a cat.”
“She’s a new addition to the family.” Nancy brushed her dark brown hair off her face. “She escaped and I haven’t seen her for days. I’m worried about her, what with the zombie on the loose. A cat would make a tasty treat for a zombie.”
“I can help you look.” I hated to think of a cute kitty getting lost and scared when they couldn’t find their way home. Even if that home was with scary Nancy.
Nancy waved her hand at me. “There’s no point. She doesn’t like strangers. I’m sure she’ll turn up.”
“What does she look like?”
“Like a cat,” Nancy said.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “How big? What color? Has she got a collar on?”
Nancy hesitated. “Small, black, and no to the collar.”
That narrowed it down by not very much. “Well, if I see a small black cat wandering around looking lost, I’ll point her in your direction.”
“Do that,” Nancy said.
Her gratitude was overwhelming. I watched her kick aside trash bags and lift cardboard boxes for a few more seconds before leaving the alleyway with my zombie escorts in tow.
We got to the office in one piece, and the zombies were happy to wait outside, despite me inviting them in for beef broth.
I checked over the poster Zara had worked on, before deciding I needed a quick lunch break.
I sent a text to Jen and Laura to meet in the diner in ten minutes. I got instant replies confirming they were free.
After a quick check of social media to ensure the story about the rabid zombie hadn’t broken, it was time to go.
“Zara, stay inside,” I instructed. “Shall I invite the others in to wait with you?”
She looked at my zombie escort and nodded. “Please.”
The zombies were reluctant, but I convinced them inside with bone broth, before hurrying to the diner. There might be a rabid zombie on the loose, but I still needed to eat. And I needed to catch up on the latest news from the others. Jen might have heard information from Alex, and Laura’s diner was the perfect place to get the latest gossip and see how far the rabid zombie rumor had spread.
With a bit of luck, this zombie mystery could already be solved, and I had nothing to worry about.
Chapter 8
Laura’s diner was always popular, no matter the time of year. As I entered, I spotted only three tables occupied. My gut churned with worry. It looked like word had crept out about the rabid attack. This would be bad for everybody.
Jen was already at the counter. She hopped off her stool and gestured to a table.
“Have you heard anything new about the search?” I asked as she settled in the seat opposite me.
“Nothing from Alex,” Jen said. “The poor lamb’s exhausted. They’ve been searching all of yesterday and most of last night. No one has seen anything. It’s weird, it’s as if the rabid zombie came in and left straightaway.”
“Which makes no sense.” Laura joined us at the table, three mugs of tea and a large plate of sandwiches and pastries on a tray which she served with a swift efficiency.
“You’re right,” I said. “Zombies don’t operate that rationally.”
“And it definitely was a zombie?” Laura asked.
“I think so,” I said. “Nick took me to see the body, and it had a lot of bite marks on it. He thought I’d be able to have some insight into what happened.”
“That was very... kind of him,” Laura said. “What else did you see?”
“Lots of gore, but then mainly the sink as I threw up,” I replied.
“Oh dear,” Laura said. “You’re not made for a life with the police.”
“Not that I want that life,” I said. “I’m happy where I am. Organizing events is what I’m best at.”
“What about the Spring Fling?” Jen asked. “Is Nick canceling it?”
“Not if I can help it,” I said. “In fact, I went to the town hall this morning. I reckon the indoor bowling green will be ideal. We can move everything inside and have the usual games and competitions. We can even have the music set up in one corner. There are plenty of tables and chairs and room for everybody. I’m determined we keep this event going.”
“It’s a good idea to have it,” Laura said. “It’ll give people something positive to focus upon, especially if the search is still ongoing. Plus, I’d planned to test out a new flavor of muffin.”
“Then we definitely won’t want to cancel,” Jen said with a grin.
Laura smiled, but it swiftly faded. “I had Nick and Maggie in earlier. As of tonight, the police are imposing a curfew. Information is going around today. We need to be inside no later than seven in the evening.”
“Which means everybody will know there’s a problem,” Jen said. “Will people panic and start leaving town?”
“The few I’ve served today don’t think it’s necessary to pack up,” Laura said. “But as you can see, I’ve not had many customers to talk to. People are nervous. They’re staying inside until they know it’s safe.”
“I don’t blame them,” Jen said. “I thought twice about opening the salon, but I had Mrs. Perkins in for a perm, and Deborah Allcock coming in for a new color and cut. I didn’t want to cancel on them. And I’ve got two patch jobs on zombies.”
“Jen was telling me about your interviews at the shelter,” Laura said to me. “It sounds like you’ve got a few suspects.”
“I don’t see them as suspects,” I said. “More like long shots. They’re just three zombies who spend a lot of time on their own. Being a loner doesn’t turn you into a rabid zombie. Nick has to be thorough, but it’s not one of our placid zombies gone rogue.”
“Maybe a rabid zombie has been trapped in somebody’s ba
sement,” Laura said. “Or in a disused warehouse and they were accidentally let out by someone.”
“If that were the case, it would have grown weak, trapped inside with no access to food,” Jen said. “It would have been hidden away for years. A rabid zombie won’t survive for long without food.”
Laura brushed crumbs from her fingers. “There’d be no reason for anybody to hide a rabid zombie, would there?”
“You can’t hide a rabid zombie,” Jen said. “They’re strong and can break through almost anything.”
“Not our fences,” Laura said.
“I can’t imagine why anyone would keep one hidden,” I said. “How would you do that, anyway? Every time you got close, they’d try to eat you.”
“The police need to check abandoned buildings and the warehouses,” Laura said. “Someone could have let one out and they’re afraid to come forward and admit to it because of the death. They could be worried they’ll be blamed for the zombie getting loose and killing somebody.”
“Alex said they’re looking everywhere,” Jen said. “They’re even talking about doing house-to-house searches.”
“The people of Zee Town are sensible,” I said. “Someone would have told the police if they’d found a rabid zombie and let them escape.”
“Unless they’re not alive to tell,” Jen said quietly.
Horror flooded through me. Was there another body waiting to be found? “Don’t say that.”
“It’s possible,” Jen said. “It would explain why nobody has come forward to say they discovered a rabid zombie. The police simply haven’t found the poor person yet.”
A chill crept up my spine. “We’ll know soon enough. It sounds like they’ve searched everywhere and haven’t found anything.”
“I hope they don’t find someone else dead,” Jen said.
“As gruesome as this sounds, I sort of hope another victim is found, If the police don’t find a second body, it discounts your theory and we’re back to square one,” Laura said. “How did the rabid zombie get into town and hide so well?”
