Zee Town Paranormal Cozy Mystery - Complete Series Omnibus: Books 1 - 6
Page 88
“But the zombies,” I said. “I’m not sure I can handle living alongside them. After everything that happened with Mel...”
Katie patted my knee. “I know, that was horrible. This could be an opportunity for you to see that things can be different. You could lead people toward making this work and finding a way for our villages and towns to get back to a state of normality. There are so many placid zombies now, we can neither ignore them or get rid of them. We have to find a way to live with them. You’d be great at helping figure out how to do that. I think you should go to Zee Town. Plus, I want you off the streets. Without me covering your back, your days are numbered.”
I looked at Katie and then over to the slumbering dog in the corner. I hated to admit it, but the attack tonight had shaken me. I’d been so close to dying, as had Katie. Although I’d had numerous near misses in the past, this was the first time it hit me as to just how dangerous this job was and how futile it sometimes seemed.
“What have you got to lose?” Katie asked.
“My dignity and possibly my life if I end up in this town and the zombies turn on me,” I said.
Katie grinned. “We’ve been around placid zombies for long enough to know that they don’t do that, despite what that idiot Scott tells everybody. The scientists are right; placid zombies are safe and they’re here to stay. We need to get used to that, and we need to create a model that works for us all, the living and the undead.”
“You make a lot of sense for someone who spends too much time with their nose in a book.”
Katie swatted me around the head. “That’s why I make a lot of sense, idiot. I read a lot, I listen, and am open-minded enough to think about other possibilities.” She stood and pointed to the bulletin board. “And I know you are, too.”
“Maybe,” I said, my gaze on the bulletin board.
“I’d better go. Carla was threatening to put me on a week’s bed rest if I don’t get some down time soon,” Katie said with a grimace. “Think about Zee Town. I bet you’d love to live by the sea.” She gave me a final grin before leaving the room.
I stood and moved to the bulletin board. I scanned the information Captain Page had left about Zee Town. Could it work? Could humans and placid zombies live together and make a real go of it?
“What do you think, boy?” I looked at the sleeping dog. “Do you fancy long walks on the beach?”
He gave a quiet grunt and shuffled on his cushions as if he’d heard me.
“Yes, I’m not sure either.” The thought of getting away from night patrols and zombie nests wasn’t without its appeal. I’d been doing this longer than most. This job burned you out fast. But wouldn’t I let people down if I left to try out some hippy zombie commune?
I heard running footsteps in the corridor outside the break room, guns being loaded and weapons strapped on. Was this what the rest of my life should be like?
“Why don’t you decide for us?” I asked the dog. “If you give me a clear sign we should try this strange experiment, I’ll put our names on the list to go.”
For a second, there was silence. Then the dog broke wind in a loud and proud manner.
I laughed and waved my hand in front of my face before picking up the pen and writing my name on the sign up form for Zee Town. Breaking wind wasn’t quite the sign I’d imagined, but it would do.
It was time for a change. I was exhausted, both physically and mentally. If Katie thought she could make a difference at the top than I could make a difference on the ground, working out how we could live in this strange new world and make things work for everybody, whether they had a pulse or not.
I put down the pen, walked over to the dog and patted him on the head. “Thanks to you, we’re going to Zee Town.”
THE END
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Thanks so much for reading. I hope you loved spending time in the sun with the zombies. Cassie, Nick, Stool, and the gang are still in Cornwall having fun and saving the day whenever they’re needed.
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If you’re ready for another mystery series, try the complete Lorna Shadow cozy ghost mysteries. The first six books are available in a bumper set of fun, twisty mysteries, with a little spookiness on the side, a dash of romance, and an adorable ghost-sensing dog.
About the Author
K.E. O’Connor (Karen) is a cozy mystery author living in the beautiful British countryside. She loves all things mystery, animals, and cake (these often feature in her books.)
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When she’s not writing about mysteries, murder, and treats, she volunteers at a local animal sanctuary, reads a ton of books, binge watches mystery series on TV, and dreams about living somewhere warmer.
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Toil of the Witch
Jinxing of the Witch
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Lorna Shadow series – a complete 12-book cozy ghost mysteries set in the fun world of a personal assistant who sees ghosts! Meet Lorna Shadow, her ditzy sidekick, Helen Holiday, and Flipper, the dog who senses ghosts, as they solve crimes and save the day (without getting fired – sometimes!)
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Zee Town – a complete cozy mystery series, featuring Cassie March, Stool the three-legged dog, grumpy cop Nick Morton, and friendly zombies (they exist!)
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