by Garth Ono
The sheriff's cell phone rang. He looked at the screen.
"Great. I knew she'd be calling," he said. Then answering, "Good morning, Mayor Gilbert."
Sheriff Coleman waved them out of the office as he listened for a protracted time, grimacing and rubbing his temples. Kate didn't hesitate leaving the room. Randy followed, catching her arm before she could leave the building.
"Where are you going?" he asked. "Sheriff hasn't released us."
"I am allowed to leave if I'm not under arrest," she said. "Despite the accent, I am an American citizen."
"Doesn't matter if you're a citizen or not, everyone has the same rights," he said. "Don't change the subject."
"What's the subject?"
That made him stop and think. She laughed, kissed him on the corner of the mouth, and almost made it out the door before Sheriff Coleman bellowed for them. Kate looked up at the unforgiving heavens, threw her hands up, and followed Randy back into his office.
I almost got away.
"Mayor Gilbert and town council are not happy," Sheriff Coleman said. "As you can well imagine. No more gunfights. Are you listening, Kate?"
"I can still shoot zombies, right?"
"Of course. Though, if you could learn a little restraint with firearms inside city limits, I'd appreciate it."
Was that sarcasm? Sometimes it was hard to tell with the sheriff.
"Fine. Tell the bad guys to leave me alone," she said. "And I promise I'll only shoot zombies."
He started questioning her about the smugglers again. Names. Appearance. Distinguishing tattoos, scars, etc… She only recalled the four first names: Max, Brody, Carl, and Mike. The only two vehicles she knew they drove were both smashed and in police custody.
"I need a last name, or at least a photo of one of them," the sheriff said. He looked at Deputy Rumpstead. "Vic, ask all of the shops with outdoor security cameras to check for footage of any of them. Check with Taylor's Hardware first. I bet their cameras' caught the attempted kidnapping."
"Did you run the license plates for the Tahoe and Camaro?" Kate asked.
He gave her a cool look. "We're not idiots. Of course we did. Both vehicles were stolen in Chicago, just like the vehicles from the Hank's Landing."
Kate's phone rang. The sheriff looked annoyed, probably thinking it was a zombie call. Kate was worried it wasn't a zombie call.
"If it's the mayor, I am not answering," Kate said. "She doesn't like me." Looking at the screen, "Jason Frasier? Why would he call me?" So she answered, "Hello, this is Kate."
"Hi, Kate, this is Jason," he said. "I just heard some men attacked you last night. Were they the same men who tried to snatch you off the street?"
"Yes, why?"
She put the phone on speaker so the others could hear.
Jason hesitated. She perked up. Jason knew something? He seemed too clean cut and straight-laced to be involved with smugglers. Maybe he had security camera footage of them. The Frasiers did own most of downtown.
"My roommate from college visited me yesterday out of the blue," he said. "He seemed awfully interested in you. In fact, he wanted me to invite you over to meet him."
"Did he say why?"
"Yes. I believe Max said he met you at a gas station, and was interested in getting to know you better," he said. "I declined. I was getting a very bad vibe from him."
"The man who tried to kidnap me was named Max!" she said. "What's his last name? Where does he live?"
"Maxwell Carter. He's originally from Chicago, but I'm not sure where he lives now. He did mention Memphis, but I don't recall if that was home or he was going there for business."
The sheriff was already on his computer inputting that information. In no time a picture of Maxwell Carter, along with a lengthy rap sheet came up.
"Thank you so much for calling, Jason. That information is very helpful," she said.
The police had a lot of information on him. His residence was not on file, though he was suspected to live somewhere in the Zombie Lands. Max was suspected to be a smuggler of drugs and guns. There wasn't anything about zombie smuggling. He had outstanding warrants for a rape in Santa Fe and two murders in Chicago. And among his known associates were a Brody Matthews, Mike Henderson, and Carl Edmunds.
"I never thought I'd suggest this," Sheriff Coleman said. "But I think you should go visit your sister down in Memphis, and don't come back until after we catch these men. You might be annoying, but I kind of like you. Alive."
Chapter 21
"I think the sheriff's sweet on you," Randy teased as they stepped out the front door.
She laughed. Sheriff Coleman was so worried about her safety that he insisted she stay in his guest bedroom until Max and friends were caught. Kate agreed, in part because she was worried about Daphne. And she was concerned about Max knowing where she lived.
"I always did have a thing for older men," she shot back. "They are so distinguished and experienced, if you know what I mean."
Kate felt scandalized as soon as she said it. Randy's face was worth it, though.
"Hop in, cowboy," Kate said. "I'll take you to Wild Willie's to pick up your pickup."
The crime scene crew was still there and wouldn't allow him to take the truck. Randy was told to come back after midday. So Kate drove him home, which was just a few miles up the road. He rented a double-wide on five acres.
"I didn't know you had horses," she said. "I love riding. Hint. Hint."
"Yeah, I'll take you for a ride," he said, leaning over and kissing her cheek. "We still need to finish our first date."
Kate became all tingly. Did he mean they had to bang to finish their date? They were on the way home to do just that when the bad guys attacked. And he said "first date" which meant he expected at least one more. Probably many more. She struggled to keep her breathing normal.
"I look forward to it," she whispered. "Sleep tight."
He barked a laugh. She knew the sheriff wanted him back at work immediately, if not faster. Even though he'd been up all night, Randy had to work a full shift. While Rumpstead would get to go home, ending his all-nighter. Hardly seemed fair.
Kate's stomach grumbled on the way back to Tennyson, so she headed for the diner. It was Sunday, so Morgan would be working. Maybe she'd have a moment to visit while Kate ate breakfast. There were lots of parking places since it was Sunday. Only the diner opened that early on Sundays.
Morgan was working with Sally. That meant they hadn't hired another weekend waitress, so Sally probably wasn't happy. Kate sat next to the front window and ordered a scrambled egg and sausage breakfast, with a double order of eggs. She was really hungry.
"So, Miss Popular, what have you been up to?" Morgan asked as she sat opposite her. Even Sally sat at the next table to join in, after placing Kate's order on the table. "How did the date with Deputy Dreamboat go?"
"You haven't heard?" Kate asked.
Both of them just stared back blankly. So much for bad news traveling at the speed of light in small towns. Kate devoured almost half the eggs and a sausage before she sat back and smiled weakly. Morgan already had an "aww, poor thing" look on her face.
"It started out great. We danced and danced, and then danced some more," she said. "But it was ruined by one thing."
"He made an indecent proposal?" Sally asked.
"Yes, but that wasn't the problem," she said and winked. "We were attacked in the parking lot by the same men who tried to kill me earlier."
Both waitresses cried out in shock, horror on their faces, and hands covering their mouths. Kate nodded grimly and continued.
"Exactly. We fought them off, and escaped in my Defender."
"What's a 'Defender?'" Sally asked.
"That's her truck," Morgan said. "She named it Defender for some reason. Was anyone hurt?"
Kate blinked at Morgan a second. How many times had she explained that Defender was the model, not its name? The blonde couldn't seem to grasp it.
"At least one of
the bad guys was killed," Kate said. "Do my senses of well-being and security count as casualties?" She shoveled in some more eggs. "At least we got a tip and now know the bad guys names. All we need to do is figure out where they are holed up."
"Were those guys with Daphne involved?" Morgan asked. "I don't trust them."
Sally's face screwed up. "If they are I might know where they are staying."
Kate's jaw dropped. Sally looked at her expectantly, so she nodded.
"I overheard them talking about meeting some guy named Max back at their motel," she said. "The Sunrise Motel."
She called the sheriff immediately to inform him. The first squad car tore out of there, wheels squealing, before she finished speaking. That had to be Rumpstead. Kate jumped up and headed for the door.
"I'll pay for that when I get back!"
Kate jumped into her truck and took off as fast as she was legally permitted. Sheriff Coleman wouldn't hesitate giving her a ticket for speeding. She was surprised he didn't give her a ticket for the car chase.
The Sunrise Motel was halfway between Wild Willie's and the city limits. Kate was stopped a good hundred feet short by a State Police officer on the road. Deputy Doge was in a State Police car, which turned into the motel while she waited on the side of the road. After a few minutes he walked over to her. He carried a sawed off, double-barrel 12-gauge.
He's finally learning how to fight zombies, she thought.
"Sorry, Kate, but we didn't catch any of them," he said. "We found TVs on, half-eaten pizza, and empty beer cans, but none of them were in the rooms. Maybe they were all in the Camaro."
That meant they could be anywhere. Randy said the motel manager promised to call the police if any of them returned, but they were probably headed back to the Zombie Lands. It was too hot in Illinois for them, with both the sheriff and State Police looking for them. He didn't sound any more confident than she felt. Kate didn't think she'd seen the last of them.
"Here," he said, handing her the sawed off shotgun. "It could be a while before you get yours back, so use mine until then."
"You're so sweet," she said, accepting it. It was much newer than hers, but otherwise looked much the same. He'd even put an overlong shoulder strap on it the way she liked it. "I'd be lost without a shotgun."
He pointed out the differences, such as the different safety. She hung it over her shoulder, thinking it might weigh a little more. Then Randy suggested she leave town for at least a week or two, maybe take a vacation out of state.
"I could take my sister up on her offer and move to Memphis," she said. "Haley wants me to become a head hunter with her in the Zombie Lands. That's got to be safer than staying in Tennyson while I wait for some homicidal smuggler to off me."
They discussed ways to keep a low profile. She was already staying with the Colemans. Maybe she needed to keep driving the old junker pickup, since the smugglers would be looking for her Land Rover. Besides, the Defender had to go into the shop to fix all of the damage incurred. So she headed home. The pickup was in the garage, and Randy's suggestion sounded solid to her.
Kate parked the Defender in the garage, gathered some clothes and other necessities, and headed to the Coleman's house. She didn't make it halfway over in the pickup before she got a call. Being bone tired, especially after eating, she almost let it go to voice mail. But guilt kicked in, and a worry they could really be in dire straits.
"Got Zombies? Kate speaking," she said.
"Kate, this is Gail Norman," she shouted. "Zombies are beating on our doors and windows! My children are in here!"
Kate heard glass break in the background, and Gail screamed.
Chapter 22
They came up behind Kate's carriage house apartment. Max noticed the lights were only on in the main room, and on low. It was just the way Kate left it the previous night when that damned cop picked her up. If he'd known it was a date, and not an official visit, Max would've jumped them both right there.
Instead, Kate slipped through his fingers. They followed, and then ambushed the couple in the parking lot. Everything was going to plan, until she smashed him in the face with her purse. The gun in the purse gave her unexpected hitting power, so she slipped out of his hands. And then the bitch went off and killed Mike.
She was going to pay dearly for that, too.
Max thought it was all over when Kate somehow managed to lure them into a trap down close to the river. And then Carl blinked before she did playing chicken, resulting in them crashing into a tree. Still, they were able to slip into the dark woods and escape. The others wanted to give up and go home. Not Max. The fire for vengeance was just stoked by her continued defiance.
"I don't think she's home," Max whispered as they all dropped to one knee and studied the back of her place. He wondered if she bothered to lock the deck door. People in small towns were amazingly trusting, and she probably didn't think anyone could access it without stairs. "Nolan and Carl will stay here. Don't let her escape out that back door up there. I'll take Brody and go in. We'll wave you up if we catch her."
Max led the way around to the ground floor door. It was locked. Brody checked the garage doors, which were also locked. So Kate didn't suffer from small town trust issues. The locked door wasn't much of an issue. Max kicked it open and rushed up the stairs.
The upper door was unlocked.
"Halt!" Max cried as he and Brody stormed inside. They quickly checked the bedroom and bathroom. Empty. Kate wasn't home. Max cursed as he smashed dishes, lamps, and anything readily at hand. "That bitch is really pissing me off."
Brody was looking inside her refrigerator. "What kind of goodie-two-shoes doesn't have beer?"
She didn't have much food, either. No leftovers at all. Everything she had required cooking. And Max was hungry and thirsty.
Max stood in the front window and gazed out at the driveway. He wondered if they could wait for her inside, but decided the smashed in door would alert her. Then the idea of grabbing Daphne returned. Only where would they take her without a vehicle? Then it occurred to him that the girl's father might be home by then. And he was the sheriff, well armed, and ready for trouble.
"Step back from the window," Brody whispered urgently.
Max did as he said without thought. His eyes darted all around, looking for danger. What he found was the homeowner. Kate's landlord. He didn't like that nosy old man.
"Well, do you think the slayer girl cares about her landlord?" Max asked.
"Small town folks care about everyone," Brody said. "Or so I've heard. I can't fathom it, but I'm from the city. Why? Do you want to kill him to get at her?"
"That's your problem, Brody. You only think about the feel good answers," Max said, grinning evilly at him.
"All my happy thoughts involve smashing in Kate's face," he said. Brody stopped to touch his swollen nose and discolored face. "It's long past due for me to return the favor."
"But if you break her nose and make her face swell up, it might diminish the pleasure I'll receive by carving it into thin, bloody strips."
"You're point?"
Max chuckled. Brody was pretty vindictive, but usually not that sadistic. Maybe he was finally starting to bring him around to his way of doing things. The next few hours might be interesting.
They watched the old man a few minutes. He obviously didn't know they were up there. The homeowner picked up one of those long poles with a net on the end and began scooping leaves out of his pool. Max scowled at him in his tranquil show of wealth and privilege: expensive Polo shirt, khaki trousers, and gold watch. The huge Victorian and manicured lawn were other symbols he'd never know want and need, while Max had to fight for everything he'd ever gotten in life.
"Grabbing the old man solves many problems," Max said, heading for the door. "It gives us a place to wait for the slayer. Namely, inside his house. It gives us a hostage she might care about. And it will give us another body to take across the river and turn into a rotter. And I bet he has beer in h
is fridge."
"Do we actually have to keep him alive?"
"Only if she cares," Max said. "And then we can kill him after we kill her."
Max charged out of the carriage house. The old man dropped his net and ran for the back door. They caught him before he reached it. He thrust the barrel of his pistol up under the old man's chin, forcing his chin up.
"Mouth shut, old man," Max snarled through clenched teeth. "If you cooperate, you might survive this."
"What do you want?"
"Kate Brokenshire."
"She's not here," he said. His eyes were wild as he panted and trembled. "I should've never rented to her. I knew she was trouble."
"On that we agree," Max said.
He forced his prisoner inside. The others joined them shortly. They began searching the house while Max tied the homeowner to a dining room chair. Then he blindfolded and gagged the old guy.
"Look at this," Brody said, and tossed Max a can of beer. "Ice cold."
"I found the keys to the Lexus and Tahoe in the garage," Carl said. "So we lost a black Tahoe and my Camaro, but gained a silver Tahoe and white Lexus. Not bad."
"Things are starting to look up for us," Max said, and popped open his beer. "Old man, you better hope Kate cares more about you than you do about her, because if she doesn't cooperate and come when I call… You are dead meat."
Chapter 23
Kate knew exactly where the Normans lived. They had a custom ranch on an acre at the edge of town, right off the highway. She tore down the road at 80 MPH, with Deputy Doge hot on her tail. His lights and sirens were on.
It only took a few minutes to get there, but it felt like an eternity. All Kate could think about were those three terrified children, five thru eight. She hit the brakes at the last second, skidding up onto the lawn and close to the front door. There were no zombies in front, but three down the street. The door and front windows were all intact.
She heard the children screaming inside. Someone, or something, was pounding on an interior door. The zombies down the street started moving toward the Norman's house, but Kate ignored them. It would take them a few minutes to reach her.
