Ethan practically dropped his tray down on the table. “What was that all about?”
“I don’t know, but I guess I’ll find out soon enough,” Kate said sighing as she slowly chewed another spoon full of food.
If there was anything worse than talking with Simon, it was talking with Simon alone.
2
The outside door at Simon’s office was guarded with two men, each holding a rifle. They both tightened their grip as Kate approached even though neither of them looked in her direction.
Kate had been told that Simon’s office had been specially built for him by his followers only months before Kate had joined The Way. It was always locked, and the only time anyone was allowed inside was if Simon invited them.
Everyone else that lived in Simon’s city had to find a room in the hotel, sharing in one of the approved houses, or sleep on the ground. The Way had secured a large hotel, and the roads in the city were patrolled day and night, even though The Unholy never made it this far into Simon’s territory. Thanks to the work Kate and the others on the eradication team accomplished outside the fence.
Simon had several teams working for him. There were guards and a patrol team, those who cooked and cleaned, and then there were those that actually dealt with keeping The Unholy out of the area… the eradication teams, like Kate’s.
The Way had a doctor, but he couldn’t be troubled for anything other illness and minor injuries. If there was blood, and a chance the person may be infected, the person was quarantined in which case there were two possible outcomes… eventually surviving the injury or dying. They may die as a result of the injury depending on the severity, or the patient may become infected in which case they would be killed on the spot. Since The Way only had the one doctor, he was well protected because Simon didn’t want to lose him.
Kate looked out of the corner of her eye as she raised up her hand to knock on Simon’s door. The man to her left kept his eyes forward. They’d been expecting her.
She balled up her fist and hit the door hard with her whitened knuckles. Kate waited, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling that was building inside of her. As she was about to knock again, she heard movement near the door.
“You may enter,” Simon said.
Kate bit the inside of her cheek as she glanced over at the guard. If only she had the nerve to disarm him and take out Simon Rollins for good. Kate wasn’t even sure if she’d be called a hero by the followers of The Way or if they’d call her a traitor. She feared it would be the latter.
She opened the door and found Simon standing there three feet away from the door with a towel wrapped around his waist. His hair was wet, but she still felt a strong urge to turn around and run.
“Oh, sorry I can come back,” Kate said taking a small step away.
Simon held up his palm. Kate hated the cold, emptiness that filled his hazel eyes.
“There’s no need for that. Close the door, Kate,” Simon said lowering his hand and threading his fingers together in front of his bare stomach. After Kate closed the door, Simon gestured toward his couch. “Please, have a seat.”
Kate swallowed hard, wincing at the sour taste at the back of her throat. She didn’t trust a single thing about Simon and being alone with him was making her anxious. Kate’s blade was at her hip but taking out Simon would result in her untimely death. Maybe it was worth it… depending on what Simon wanted of her.
Kate sat down, sinking into the old, under-stuffed cushions. She rested both palms on her thighs, keeping her hands ready in case she needed to use them.
Simon sat down at the other end of the couch, the towel stretched between his wide-spread legs. Kate was thankful she wasn’t in the chair opposite where they were sitting.
“How are you doing, Kate?” Simon said making a steeple with his fingers at tapping the tip against his lower lip.
“Great, really great,” Kate said forcing a tight-lipped smile on her face.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
There were noises behind a closed door, and Simon gritted his teeth. His jaw tightened, but when the noises stopped, he cocked his head to the side and stared at Kate.
She hated the way he was eyeing her. It felt intrusive. Violating. Kate might as well have just been sitting there nude on his sofa with how invasive his gaze felt. Her skin crawled so badly she had to resist the urge to scratch every inch of her body.
“How do you like working with Ethan?” Simon asked.
Kate hadn’t been expecting that question, and it had taken her a bit off guard. Her eyebrows squeezed together momentarily before she forced her face to stay relaxed.
“It’s fine. He’s quite good at eradication,” Kate said matter-of-factly.
“No comparison to you, Kate. Or so I’m told.”
Simon wouldn’t know because going out to take out The Unholy was not something he’d do. Why would he need to put himself in harm’s way when there were foolish people like Kate that would do it for him?
“Thank you,” Kate said.
“You had a lot of practice before we found you,” Simon said knowing all about what Kate’s life had been like before she’d joined The Way.
“I did.”
Simon leaned back and rested his arm on the armrest. “Which is why I need your help. But I need to know that I can trust you one hundred percent first.”
Simon couldn’t trust her, but Kate couldn’t let him know that. If he found out, Kate’s days would be numbered.
“I wouldn’t be doing all this if you couldn’t trust me,” Kate said, her body stiff.
He stared at her for a moment before he nodded. “Tomorrow night, I need you and Ethan to go east and check up on Rosalie.”
“Rosalie?”
Kate wanted to make sure she’d heard him right. Rosalie was, or at least Kate had thought she was, Simon’s equal. He controlled his town, and to the east, Rosalie controlled hers, and Kate had thought they’d been partners.
“That’s right.” Simon’s head bobbed up and down slowly. It felt like his eyes were penetrating into her skin. “There have been some rumors that she’s been stealing from the facility where we keep the food reserves.”
“Why would she do that?” Kate asked.
“There are more rumors, but before I share them, I’d like hard evidence that this particular rumor is true. Then I know I can trust my source, which I almost always can.” A smile slowly grew on Simon’s face. “I’d like to make sure we punish the right person.”
Simon stared at her almost as if he was purposefully trying to make her uncomfortable. If he was, it was most definitely working although Kate hoped he wouldn’t notice.
“So, Kate, does this sound like a job you’d be interested in helping me out with? There is a good chance there are Unholy scattered between here and the storage facility.” Simon twisted his body, pulling his leg slightly underneath him.
Kate so desperately wanted to be able to say no, but Simon wasn’t really asking. He may have made it sound that way, but Kate wasn’t foolish. She knew Simon was telling her what she’d be doing.
“Yeah, sure. What exactly do I need to do?”
“Get to the storage facility, check the supplies.”
Kate shook her head. “I’m not privy to the location of the storage facility.”
“I’ll give you directions, and a key you’ll need to guard with your life. The door will be locked. There are two keys to that lock, mine and Rosalie’s.”
“Okay, but how will I know if anything has been taken?”
“There’s a log. We document everything we take, and no one ever takes anything without my approval.”
Kate narrowed her eyes. “Rosalie has to get approval from you to check out supplies from the storage facility?”
Simon’s expression hardened. Kate could tell she was asking too many questions.
“This is my operation. Rosalie reports to me.” Simon cleared his throat. “I know that the last thing I approved for Rosalie t
o take was six boxes of noodles.”
“Okay, but if she’s stealing she’s not going to write it on the log,” Kate said shaking her head slightly.
Simon smirked as he raised his eyebrow. “This is exactly why I wanted you for the job, Kate. Rosalie would be smart enough not to document it, but that doesn’t mean whoever picked up the food would be.”
“She would tell them not to.”
“Ah, but then that would get back to me. I have eyes and ears everywhere.”
Kate scrunched up her nose. “Rosalie could have people on her side. People who are willing to keep secrets.”
“That’s always a possibility, but that is the reason I’m sending you to check the log. I hear little birds tweeting in my ear, and they’re telling me that Rosalie isn’t being honest with me.”
“Say I go, and everything checks out?”
“Then we won’t have problems.” Simon leaned forward slightly. “That’s what we want, isn’t it? Everyone to get along?”
Kate nodded. “Of course. It’s just that what if I miss something? How many boxes of noodles should be in the supply?”
“There were hundreds, Kate. And when the runners find more, we add to the supplies. It will be difficult to determine if she’s stealing unless it’s documented.”
“Okay, I’m not sure I’m following. What’s really going on?” Kate asked.
Simon scooted closer, turning his head slightly at the soft noises that came from behind the closed door. He turned back and placed his hand on her knee.
“I’m going to level with you, Kate, because I know you’re smart. Too smart maybe. My eyes and ears out there have told me that she’s going to send people to collect goods tomorrow night. I have not approved this. If they are there, well, then I have my answer.”
Kate liked his response less, but at least it had made sense. Simon probably hadn’t wanted her to know the dangers involved in her mission for fear she would have rejected it.
“How many will she send?” Kate asked.
“None of them are as skilled as you are, Kate.”
“Thanks again, but how many do you think?”
“Six? That’s just a guess, but it’s also why I’m going to send Ethan with you.”
Kate chewed her lip. “Are you sure I need him?”
Simon grinned as if he was impressed with Kate. He seemed excited by the fact that she’d rather go alone.
“I’m sure,” Simon said moving his hand half an inch up Kate’s leg.
Simon pulled his hand back when the door behind them was pulled open. A woman, completely naked stood there looking back and forth between Kate and Simon.
Kate could feel Simon’s body tense up even though he was still a good foot away from her. She looked into the room, and then quickly back down at the couch cushion pretending she hadn’t seen anything.
Inside the small bedroom, there was another woman, completely naked, laying on top of the blankets. Her hand between her legs while Maya, Simon’s Second, sat on a chair with her arms crossed.
“Simon,” the woman standing at the door groaned. “We’re bored.”
“Shut the God damn door,” Simon said standing, and thankfully adjusting the towel around his waist. The veins in his neck popped out, but when he turned back to Kate, he forced them to recede.
Kate stood and took a step away from him. “I should be going. Tomorrow then?”
“Report here bright and early,” Simon said folding his hands together.
A soft giggle escaped from underneath the bedroom door and annoyingly tickled Kate’s ear. She tried hard not to let the disgust show on her face. Those women… what were they thinking? Didn’t they see Simon the way Kate saw him? She knew some treated him like a rock star, saw him as a celebrity, but Kate didn’t get it.
“Oh, Kate,” Simon said as she reached out for the door.
“Yes?” she said keeping her spine pin straight as she turned.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to stay for a while?” Simon’s expression was blank and completely unreadable.
This was one thing Kate wasn’t afraid to turn down. “I should catch up on my sleep. It was a busy day and looks like it’ll be another busy one tomorrow. Have a great night.”
“Good night, my beautiful Kate.”
Kate turned the doorknob and dashed out of the room. Her skin crawled as she walked quickly away from Simon’s office.
3
When Kate arrived in the morning, Ethan was standing outside of Simon’s office leaning against the wall off to the side of one of the guards. He took a bite of something he was holding in his hand and smiled at Kate.
“It’s just you and me today, huh?” Ethan said loudly as he pushed himself away from the wall to meet up with Kate away from the guards.
“Guess so.” Kate squinted as she looked around the area avoiding eye contact with the guards. “How long did you know about our little adventure?”
“A bit before you found out I suppose.”
Kate tilted her head. “How long before?”
“Possibly before dinner time.”
“You ass, why didn’t you tell me?”
Ethan’s mouth dropped open feigning shock. “I didn’t know he was going to ask you. He just said he was planning on asking another to join me.”
My eyes jerked up toward the sky. “Please. He didn’t start off by asking how you like working with me?”
“No,” Ethan said crossing his arms across his broad chest. When Kate kept her eyes on him, he took a step closer. “Seriously. He didn’t.”
Kate could tell he was telling the truth. Her shoulders relaxed slightly as she looked at Simon’s office over Ethan’s shoulder.
“He asked you if you liked working with me?” Ethan said grinning. “What did you say?”
“I said you were tolerable.” Kate teased, but she kept her expression unreadable. “Are we just supposed to wait out here?”
“Guard says he’ll come out when he’s ready,” Ethan said, bumping his elbow into Kate’s arm lightly. “I think you’re tolerable too.”
Ethan turned positioning himself perfectly at Kate’s side when Simon’s door opened. Simon stepped out fully clothed with his white clerical collar around his neck and a bible in one hand.
“Good morning,” he said holding up his palm. “Are you two ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Ethan said, and Kate nodded.
Simon stepped forward stopping a foot away from Kate. “If you were wondering, I had a great night,” he said winking at Kate as he grabbed her hand and slapped a key into her palm. “You’ll need this for the lock.”
“Where do we go?” Kate asked. She’d never been to the storage facility. As far as she knew, the location was kept secret from most.
“Ethan can help with that,” Simon said, slowly letting go of Kate’s hand.
“You’ve been to the storage facility?” Kate said turning to Ethan, trying not to let the surprise show on her face.
Ethan placed his hands on his hips and sniffed. “Once or twice.”
“You remember the way, yes?” Simon said turning his attention to Ethan. He looked him up and down, checking his gear.
Ethan was wearing loose tan pants and didn’t bother concealing the gun in his holster. Kate knew he also had a long blade that he kept on his other hip. She’d seen him use the blade on The Unholy multiple times. Ethan’s brown shirt clung to his every muscle. Simon nodded approvingly.
“Pretty sure I do,” Ethan said.
“Pretty sure?” Kate asked.
Ethan shrugged. “I’m like ninety-five percent sure so—”
“Good enough then,” Simon said folding his hands in front of him. “I’d stay and chat with you two, but you must be off, and I have an early mass to lead.” Simon leaned close to Kate, his lips inches from her ear. “The choir girls should be at the top of their game this morning.”
It took the use of every muscle in Kate’s body not to cringe. She ha
d absolutely no idea what to say, or how to respond. Even if she had been able to unsee the girls that had been in Simon’s room, it wouldn’t have mattered because Simon apparently wasn’t going to let her forget.
“All right then,” Simon starting walking down the path toward the church. “Godspeed.”
One of the guards at Simon’s door stepped forward and followed Simon. The one that stayed behind adjusted his grip on his gun and looked me up and down before fixing his eyes on something in the distance.
“I guess we should go then,” Kate said.
“Did you have anything to eat?”
Kate shook her head. “Not hungry. My stomach’s been queasy ever since last night.”
Ethan shifted his eyes to Kate, but he didn’t ask. She wouldn’t have gone into details at least not when they were still inside the fence.
“Which way?” Kate asked when Ethan didn’t move.
“Right,” Ethan said pointing out past the church toward the east.
“How far is it?” Kate asked squinting her eyes.
Ethan drew in a breath and released it slowly. “It’s a fair distance, but we’ll make it before dark, and long before we need to be there. Simon wants us to check it out and then wait for Rosalie’s gang.”
“Truck?” Kate asked.
“No truck. Too noisy… too hard to hide.”
Kate’s eyebrows pulled together. It seemed as though Simon had given Ethan more information, or at least different information than he’d given her. Kate was still surprised that Simon had chosen Ethan to accompany her, but her best guess was because they might encounter some of The Unholy and Ethan was second best when it came to eradication.
They walked through the town past the church and the other small buildings Kate mostly avoided. If she could help it, she’d spend her time in the hotel or outside. Being inside any of Simon’s buildings made her feel claustrophobic. She needed to be out in the open where she could attempt to get away if need be.
Ethan and Kate walked past the small cage set up outside one of the buildings. The large dog inside barked at Ethan.
Falling Darkness Series - A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller - Books 1-3 Page 2
