Derrick scowled. “Russ and Eric came to me earlier today to see if I’d head up their new security division.”
Shocked, Matt said, “I take it you turned them down.”
Derrick chuckled. “You could say that.”
“What happened?”
“They offered me a nice deal. Head up security in exchange for all the food and supplies I would need.”
“A guy named Chris Jackson is heading it up.”
That seemed to surprise Derrick. “Is that so?”
“Yeah. Do you know him?”
“Sure do.”
“Dr. Larsen is part of it too.”
Derrick shook his head. “I wonder if they approached Jeff.”
“Jeff?”
“Yeah. He’s military too.” He chuckled. “Interesting that they approached both me and Chris. I’ve gotta assume they asked Jeff.” Derrick narrowed his eyes. “Was Jeff at the meeting?”
“Now that you mention it, no.”
“Huh.”
“There’s something else.”
Tilting his head, Derrick said, “What?”
“Tony’s dead.”
Derrick recoiled slightly, then he looked thoughtful. “Interesting.”
“Why do you say that?”
He chewed on his lip. “Don’t you find it coincidental that he was healthy yesterday, but the same day this cooperative is announced, he’s dead?”
What was Derrick suggesting? Some sort of foul play? If that was the case, what were these people capable of?
“Yeah,” Matt said after thinking it over. “It is.” When Derrick didn’t say anything, Matt asked, “What are you thinking?”
Derrick stood. “We need to check on something.”
We? “Okay.” After what Derrick had done for him at Home Depot, Matt couldn’t exactly refuse.
The two of them walked out the front door. Derrick glanced at Matt’s bike with a smirk, then they climbed into Derrick’s truck. Less than a minute later they pulled to the curb in front of a house with a bright red X painted on the front door. Nervous about going anywhere near an infected body, Matt stared at Derrick. “Whose house is this?”
Looking toward the house, then at Matt, Derrick said, “Tony’s.”
The body would be fresh. Perfect.
“And we’re here because?”
Derrick laughed. “I just have a feeling.”
Tilting his head, Matt said, “Does this feeling include a concern that you’ll catch the virus that is killing pretty much everyone who gets it?”
“Nope.” He opened the door and stepped onto the pavement.
“This guy’s nuts,” Matt muttered, then he got out of the truck. “Guess I am too.”
“What’s that?” Derrick said as he strode to the front door.
“Nothing.” He was just glad he was wearing his mask. He pulled a pair of latex gloves out of his pocket and tugged them on.
Chapter 31
Matt
The paint forming the X was obviously fresh—only hours old—a thick drip of red trailing down the cheerful turquoise-colored door.
Derrick knocked, then he turned to Matt with an embarrassed smile. “Guess no one’s going to answer.”
Matt remembered that Tony had said his entire family had died of the virus. “Right.”
Derrick took hold of the knob, but it didn’t turn. “Locked,” he said with a frown. He took a step back before landing a solid kick on the deadbolt. It took two more kicks before the door broke open.
The stench hit them immediately.
“Huh,” Derrick said, but Matt wanted to hurl.
“Do you find something about the smell interesting?” Matt asked, nearly gagging. They hadn’t stepped inside yet and the body wasn’t in sight.
“Yeah. If Tony died within the last few hours, I wouldn’t expect there to be such an awful smell yet.”
“They said he died earlier today.”
Derrick turned and looked at him. “He was alive at the meeting yesterday afternoon.”
“True.”
Derrick stepped over the threshold. Matt reluctantly followed.
As they went deeper into the house, the stink increased. Matt threw his hand over the mask covering his nose and mouth and breathed through his mouth. It didn’t help.
“I think he’s in here,” Derrick said as they approached a closed door at the end of a hallway.
Matt braced himself. Even with all the dead and dying, he had yet to see a corpse.
Derrick opened the door. Matt’s gaze shot to the figure crumpled on the floor next to the bed. It was Tony. But something wasn’t right. Did people with the virus bleed out before they died? Because blood was everywhere.
“Just as I suspected. Tony didn’t die of the flu,” Derrick stated. “He was murdered.”
Stunned that their suspicions were accurate, Matt felt his heart do a kind of ker-thump. This was bad. Very, very bad.
Derrick pointed to the lamp lying on the floor beside Tony. It was covered in blood. “Someone beat him to death.”
Sickened by the sight in front of him as well as the idea that this cooperative—if they were responsible—were capable of this, Matt just stared with his mouth hanging open.
Derrick gestured with his head that they should leave. Matt eagerly led the way out the front door. Gulping in fresh air with a greed he’d never known before, he waited for Derrick to follow, but he didn’t come out for another thirty seconds. When he did, he closed the broken door as best he could before leading the way to his truck where they both got in. It wasn’t until they’d pulled away from the curb that Derrick spoke. “His pantry was empty. Completely empty.”
Matt remembered Bryant talking about gangs that were taking what they wanted and killing anyone who resisted. Maybe it wasn’t the cooperative at all. Maybe it was one of those gangs. Matt voiced his thoughts.
“No,” Derrick said with a certainty that surprised Matt. “It was the co-op.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Think about it, Matt. Yesterday when someone suggested pooling resources, Tony said that those who wanted to pool resources should go ahead and do it and leave everyone else out of it. If this co-op came to him with the idea you heard today, do you think he would have endorsed it?”
Derrick had a good point. “No.”
“Exactly. Which is why they killed him. And as a bonus, they took whatever food he had.”
The thought of Tony, a man Matt had grown to respect, being bludgeoned to death by the men at today’s meeting because he wouldn’t agree to their socialist plan made his blood boil.
“What should we do?” he asked.
“I haven’t decided. I want to talk to Jeff first.”
Matt didn’t know the ex-military man, but if Derrick did, all the better. The more men with combat experience on their side, the better. Then again, Chris had combat experience and he’d aligned with the cooperative.
Moments later they were at Jeff’s house. He was home, although he was busy cleaning the guns in his impressive collection. Matt marveled at the variety of firearms spread out on his dining room table. Fresh air breezed in from the open windows.
“I’d offer you something to eat,” said Emily, his girlfriend, “but Jeff’s put us on rations.” She smirked in Jeff’s direction.
“We’re fine,” Derrick said with a chuckle.
Matt nodded his agreement, then considered the idea of rationing food for his own family. At first it had felt like they had plenty of food, but with five mouths to feed their supplies were beginning to diminish. They hadn’t broken out the freeze-dried food yet, but when they did, it wouldn’t last forever.
“What’s up?” Jeff said as he ran a bore brush back and forth through the barrel of the pistol he was cleaning. He wore a ball cap backwards on his head and it looked like he’d given up on shaving.
“Wanted to talk to you about the neighborhood cooperative.”
Jeff stopped what he was
doing and looked at Derrick with a furrowed brow. “Yeah. They asked me to join their security team but I told them what they could do with their little co-op.” He went back to cleaning his weapon.
Matt held down a chuckle, glad these two men felt the same way about the cooperative as he did.
Derrick glanced at Matt before saying, “Jackson’s heading up security for them.”
That got Jeff’s attention. He set down the bore brush and pistol and stood. The man was well over six feet. “You’re kidding.”
Derrick frowned. “Nope.”
“This group is bad news,” Matt added. Jeff needed to know what the cooperative was capable of.
Jeff turned to him. “I got that sense when they came by. Said they’d provide food for me. When I asked where they would get it, they said members of the cooperative would donate it.” One side of his mouth quirked up. “I doubt those donations would be voluntary.”
Matt told them what Russ had explained at the meeting. Then he glanced at Derrick before saying, “Looks like they don’t tolerate resistance.”
Jeff tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
Derrick became somber. “Tony’s been murdered.”
Jeff’s eyebrows shot up as surprise swept over his face. “Murdered?”
“Yeah. Matt and I went to his house before we came over. Found him bludgeoned to death.”
Jeff stared at his array of weapons, then he looked at Derrick. “Not sure what you want me to do about it.”
Derrick raised an eyebrow. “What if they come after you next?”
Tilting his head like that was ridiculous, Jeff said, “I’d like to see them try.”
Matt knew he wouldn’t want to go up against Jeff, but he was still surprised he didn’t seem at least a little nervous.
Derrick just laughed. “Okay, bro. Thanks for the time.”
“Sure thing.” Jeff took a step toward the front door. Clearly, the meeting was over.
Disappointed that these guys weren’t going to do something about the cooperative, Matt had no choice but to leave with Derrick. Once they were back in his truck, Matt said, “Now what?”
“Now we have a little chat with Chris Jackson.”
Chapter 32
Matt
Maybe Derrick was going to do something about the cooperative. Then a new idea occurred to Matt. Was Chris the one who’d killed Tony? After all, he was the head of security.
Minutes later they were standing on Chris’s front porch, talking to his wife, a woman in her early thirties with a toddler in her arms and a boy who was about six years old hiding behind her legs.
“Chris should be back any minute,” she said as the little boy with blond hair wriggled in her arms. She set him down and he toddled off behind her.
Seeing her small children, Matt had a new understanding of why Chris may have agreed to be part of the cooperative. Surely they were going to give food to his family.
“How are things going, Amy?” Derrick asked.
Her shoulders slumped. “The truth? Not good. We’re nearly out of food, and,” she glanced behind her, “there are only a few diapers left.” Then her face brightened. “But things are looking up. This neighborhood cooperative will be a huge blessing.”
At whose expense? Matt wondered.
Derrick smiled tightly. “Right.”
“Hey, Derrick,” a friendly voice said from a distance behind them.
They turned to see Chris walking up the driveway toward the front door. As he reached them, they stepped back to allow him to pass. He kissed his wife, then turned to Matt and Derrick. “You were at today’s meeting,” he said to Matt.
“Yeah. I’m Matt Bronson.”
“Chris Jackson.” He hesitated, but only for a moment. “I have to say, people weren’t pleased when you basically called the neighborhood cooperative the mafia.”
Derrick raised an eyebrow at Matt, then turned to Chris with a chuckle. “Can you say you’re not?”
Chris motioned to the chairs on the porch. “Let’s talk.”
It was a beautiful afternoon, and with no electricity, outside was better than in. The three of them settled into wicker chairs.
“You should know,” Derrick began, “Russ and Eric came to see me this morning about heading security for their cooperative.”
Chris stared at him. “You’re saying I wasn’t their first choice.”
Derrick shook his head. “I have no idea. But that’s not the point.”
Scowling, Chris asked, “Then what is?”
“I turned them down for a reason.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Clearly, you felt differently.”
Chris glanced toward his house. “I have a family, Derrick. A wife and two small children. We’re almost out of food.” He frowned. “I get an offer to feed my family? Of course I’m going to take it.”
Matt couldn’t fault him for doing what he believed was best for his family. The truth was, if Matt was nearly out of food, he’d probably join the cooperative too. But the reality was, he had food, but he didn’t want to be coerced into giving it away at his family’s expense.
Matt stared at Chris. “What happens if someone not in the cooperative needs help? Like, if you see someone being attacked by these roving gangs we heard about. Would you just stand by and watch?”
Chris shifted in his seat like he didn’t want to have to deal with that. “I mean, of course not.” Then his eyes cut to the side as if someone from the cooperative might have overheard.
Matt noticed the move. “What would happen if you did help someone not in the co-op and Russ or Eric found out?”
He shook his head. “No idea.” Then he frowned, deeply. “Look. I’m just doing this to help my family, okay? I don’t like the way it’s dividing our neighborhood.”
Derrick made a scoffing sound. “You’re surprised that happened? I mean, come on. People are going to be forced to give up their food just to keep their family safe? That’s not right.”
Grimacing, Chris said, “I didn’t make the rules—”
“No,” Matt said, cutting him off, “but you’re benefiting from them. At the expense of those who are weaker than you.”
Chris frowned at him. “I’m not gonna let my family starve because some people don’t approve of my choices.”
Why were he and Derrick there? Had Derrick hoped to change Chris’s mind? Then he pictured Tony, crumpled in a pool of coagulated blood. “Did you kill Tony?”
Chris looked at Matt with wide eyes. Derrick frowned.
“What?” Chris asked. “No!”
“Someone did,” Matt said. He looked at Derrick for backup. “We saw him. Someone beat him to death.”
Chris looked at Derrick in stunned disbelief. “Is that true?”
Either Chris was a good actor or he was telling the truth.
“Yeah,” Derrick said with a grimace. “It’s true.”
Then Chris turned on Matt. “Why in the world would you think I did it? You don’t know me. I wouldn’t kill a man in cold blood.”
Matt had no idea who had killed Tony, but someone obviously had. It hadn’t been the virus that had killed him. “You’re head of security for this neighborhood cooperative.”
Chris narrowed his eyes. “I still don’t get the connection.”
Was he being dense?
Derrick cleared his throat and both men turned to him. “The co-op had the motive.”
Now Chris tilted his head like he didn’t want to believe it. “Look, the people who organized the co-op are good people, just like you. I don’t believe they would kill Tony—or anyone else.”
Without law enforcement to process the crime scene, it was possible they would never know who had killed Tony. All Matt knew was that he would have to be on his guard. If a murderer was in their midst, none of them were safe.
Thinking about that led to thoughts of his family. He wanted to be with them. He stood. “I’ve gotta run.”
“Yeah,” Derrick s
aid as he stood. “Me too. Thanks for talking with us, Chris.”
Chris stood as well. “We’ve known each other for a while, Derrick. We may not agree on the cooperative, but that’s not a reason to be enemies.”
Derrick smiled. “Agree to disagree.”
Chris nodded, then he turned to Matt. “Best of luck.”
Matt didn’t want any enemies. Especially not someone who could possibly step between danger and his family. Matt smiled. “You too.”
Maybe he should give Chris and his family some of their precious food stores. Then again, he wouldn’t be able to give them enough to keep them fed for long, and with the co-op already feeding them, what would be the point?
With a final nod, he and Derrick walked away.
Chapter 33
Jessica
Eager to plant the seeds Matt had picked up, first thing the next morning Jessica oversaw the family as they worked together to place the seeds in the seed starting boxes that Matt had gotten. It was April—too early in the season to plant outside—but if they got the starts going, they would be able to put the plants in the ground in a few more weeks.
Cleo kept nosing her way into the potting soil. Laughing, Jessica gently pushed her away.
“She loves to garden,” Brooke said with a rare smile as she added a few drops of water to the soft soil of a tomato plant.
Lately, it seemed as if Brooke’s melancholy wasn’t as constant. Having Cleo helped tremendously.
Jessica scratched Cleo’s head. “She’s a good dog.”
Once all the starts were done, they lined them up on a high table beside a south facing window.
“That should give them enough sun,” Jessica said, “but soon it’ll be warm enough to put them on the back patio.”
“I think it’s cool that we’re growing our own food,” Kayla said with a satisfied smile.
Jessica agreed. Now that they couldn’t run to the store to get groceries, they were going to have to learn a new way of life. “Who’s hungry for lunch?”
“I am,” Dylan said.
“You know I can always eat,” Matt said.
Pandemic: The Beginning (Pandemic Book One) Page 13
