Miller looked incredulous at the suggestion. “You can’t be serious.”
He’d listened to the plan in silence, his expression devoid of his typical scowl, but I hadn’t really thought he’d have much of an opinion about the whole thing—despite the fact that he’d said he wanted to help—and I had to work to hide my surprise.
“I couldn’t be more serious,” I said, my tone flat.
Miller snorted in disbelief. So much for turning over a new leaf.
“Gabe is going to love this plan,” Lisa muttered.
“Gabe’s not in charge of what I do,” I replied, unconcerned.
“I’m not going to lie,” Devon said, “I’m not a huge fan of the plan myself, but I agree it might be the only way to get some inside information and help Lane at the same time.”
“Assuming Lane thinks it will work,” Lisa pointed out.
“Yeah.”
Again, Miller snorted.
I ignored him and glanced over my shoulder, scanning the crowd. My gaze landed on Doug and Gabe on the other side of the room, the two them talking, each with a sandwich in one hand. Max was present, too, sitting with Grace, the thirtyish woman who had nearly fainted at the idea of her daughter learning to shoot a gun, but the other guys in Gabe’s inner circle seemed to be missing. I assumed at least a couple of them were on watch.
My gaze flicked back to where Gabe had been, but by then he’d left. Doug, however, was still present, and he was focused on me. He smiled and nodded, but I only returned the second gesture. Unlike Max, he didn’t seem fazed by the fact that I didn’t return his smile.
Turning back to my friends, I said, “We should discuss it with Lane now. The sooner we figure out if it’s a viable option, the sooner we can plan our next move.”
“I’m in,” Lisa said, climbing from the cafeteria bench.
“Might as well get it over with,” Devon agreed, also getting to his feet but not looking totally thrilled with the options in front of us.
To my surprise, Miller got up as well. His scowl remained, but he was tagging along, which I took to mean he still wanted to help.
Before turning to leave, I focused on my sister. “You’ll keep an eye on the kids?”
“I’ve been doing it all day,” she said, but there was no malice in her voice.
“Thanks.”
My gaze moved over the other people at the table but lingering on Hank when I found him watching me. My scalp prickled at his expression, and I had a difficult time not shuddering. He’d unnerved me before my run-in with the group of hooligans, but the feeling was magnified now. Something was definitely not right with that kid.
I looked toward Zara once again. “Be careful, okay? Keep your eyes and ears open. Just because we’re here doesn’t mean you’re a hundred percent safe. Not in this world.”
Zara’s gaze was intent on mine, and I could tell she understood my double meaning. It wasn’t just zombies she needed to be aware of.
“Okay. I’ll check back in a bit. After we’ve made some plans.” I took a step back, my eyes flicking to Hank. He was really staring at me now. Creepy. I focused on Zara again. “Okay?”
“Yup,” she said.
I ventured one more glance toward Hank before following the others, but I could feel the kid’s gaze boring into me. I had the urge to run but forced myself to act naturally. I got the impression he was trying to feel me out, almost like he wanted to know if I suspected him of something, and I didn’t want to give away that I was on to him.
Devon stopped when he reached the cafeteria door and turned, pausing to wait for me, but Lisa was already out of sight. Miller paused for just a moment, looking uncertainly from Devon to me before continuing.
“You okay?” Devon asked when I finally caught up.
“Yeah. It’s Hank.” I almost looked back, but I forced myself not to. “He’s really giving me the creeps. Maybe it’s just a side effect of meeting that group of wannabe Lost Boys, I don’t know, but I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right.”
Devon’s looked past me, but I kept my focus on him. “He’s watching us.”
“He’s always watching someone,” I reminded him.
“Yeah.” His blue eyes focused on me. “But you’re right. Something is off with him. As soon as we figure out what we’re going to do about Rowan, we’ll deal with Hank.”
I exhaled, relieved both that I wasn’t crazy, and that I had someone to help shoulder the burden. “Good.”
“Let’s go.”
Lisa and Miller were already in the nurse’s station when we got there, the corporal standing off to the side with his arms crossed and his mouth set in a hard line, while Lisa stood beside the bed. The expression of doubt on Lane’s face when her gaze moved to us told me Lisa had already filled her in on my idea, and I waited for her to tell me what she thought.
“I honestly can’t guess what Heath will do if I show up at the hospital,” she told me. “A year ago, I thought I knew him. I never would have thought he’d treat me the way he did. He’s given me a lot of surprises since then, and none of them have been good.”
“Do you think he’ll at least listen and not open fire?” Devon asked.
Lane’s frown grew thoughtful. “I do. Even if it’s for no other reason than to watch me grovel.”
I looked toward Devon, eyebrows still raised. “That will at least give us a chance.”
“Yeah,” he replied, but his sigh told me he still wasn’t thrilled with the plan.
“I’m going to be honest,” Lisa said, “I don’t think we have another option. I’d be willing to bet money that Lane is bleeding internally, and without medical attention, she will die.” She winced slightly and gave the other woman an apologetic look. “I’m sorry to be so blunt.”
“It’s fine.” Lane waved her hand in the air, her expression twisted and pained. “It’s not like I don’t already know it.”
“How long do we have to plan?” Devon asked.
“It’s tough to say because I don’t know how extensive the damage is. With a big bleed, a person can die in hours. A smaller bleed can take days.” Lisa studied Lane, her brows furrowed as she thought it through. “Not long. You should go tomorrow if you want her to have a chance of pulling through.”
“Which means we have to talk to Gabe now,” I said.
Lisa nodded.
I exhaled, already tired and knowing a conversation with the sexist asshole who’d proclaimed himself leader of this group was going to wear me out even more. “Let’s get it over with, then.”
Lisa got to her feet, but before leaving, she focused on Lane. “Take it easy. Got it?”
“I’m not going anywhere,” the other woman replied.
The three of us were headed for the door when Miller pushed himself off the wall. “I can’t wait to see Gabe’s reaction to this idiotic idea.”
I stopped, spinning to face him. “You said you wanted to help, Miller. Did you lie?”
“What?” His eyes widened. “No. I do want to help.”
“Then help by either pitching in or shutting up. We’re doing the best we can, but you’ve come up with nothing.”
He ground his teeth but didn’t respond.
I turned away from him and started walking again, heading toward the command center. Devon was in the lead with Lisa at his side, while Miller dragged his feet behind me. Every scrape of his boots against the floor put me more on edge.
Despite the urgency of the situation, I paused when I reached the cafeteria, my gaze going to the table we’d vacated less than ten minutes ago. Zara was still sitting there, coloring with Lexi, but Hank had left, which gave me momentary relief from that concern.
Switching gears, I did a quick scan of the cafeteria just in case Gabe was there. When I was sure he wasn’t, I started walking again, muttering to myself, “He better be working on a map.”
Devon and Lisa had already stepped into the room by the time I reached the command center, Miller right be
hind me, and the sight of Gabe and Doug standing at the table, their focus intent on a piece of paper had me sighing with relief.
“That the map?” I asked, moving toward them.
Doug lifted his gaze, watching me cross the room, but Gabe swore under his breath. “You scared me.”
“Sorry,” I said, not putting any inflection in the word because, honestly, I didn’t care. “Is that the map?”
“Yeah,” Doug replied, his focus returning to the paper. “We were just discussing how we could get inside.”
“I have a plan for that,” I said.
Finally, Gabe lifted his gaze from the paper. “Which is?”
I ignored him, my focus shifting to the hand drawn map of the hospital. It was crude—Gabe hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d said he wasn’t an artist—but clearly labeled. He’d drawn big, red exes over a few places and circled others, and my gaze zeroed in on a door that was circled three times.
I tapped my finger against it. “Is this the entrance you met Heath at the last time?”
“Yeah,” Gabe said, “and you didn’t answer my question.”
I lifted my gaze, focusing on him. “I’m taking Lane there. Tomorrow morning.”
Gabe’s back stiffened, and his eyes grew wide. “Like hell you are.”
“I am. It’s already been decided.”
“By who?” Doug asked.
“All of us,” Devon replied.
Gabe was still staring at me with wide, unblinking eyes. He seemed to not know what to say.
“She’s going to die if she doesn’t get medical help,” Lisa said. “Heath is her ex-husband, and he just might take pity on her. If he doesn’t, we haven’t lost anything.”
Gabe turned his gaze on her. “You’re a hundred percent sure she’s going to die?”
“I can’t be a hundred percent sure of anything, not without tests or an ultrasound, but I’m fairly certain she has internal bleeding. Her belly is distended, and she’s in pain.”
Gabe let out a long sigh and once again focused on me. “Why you?”
“Because I’m a woman, which means Heath is less likely to see me as a threat. I’ll tell him about the radio so he can get it, and we can work on opening a line of communication. Hopefully, once we do that, we can work out some kind of deal.” I pinned Gabe with a serious look. “When I say we, I mean Devon. Whatever you and Heath have going on is between the two of you. Understand? I will let him know in no uncertain terms that you have nothing to do with this. I don’t want your conflict putting Rowan’s life at risk.”
Gabe’s expression darkened, and I wasn’t the least bit surprised when he decided to play devil’s advocate. “And if he turns you away?”
“Then we haven’t lost anything. We might even gain a little insight from it. At least we tried, though.”
“It’s not a bad plan,” Doug said, drawing Gabe’s focus to him. “We’d have someone on the inside, which might help us get in one of these back doors.” He tapped his finger against the map.
“It could also get us all killed.” Gabe let out a long breath and ran his hand over his head. “But you’re right. We don’t have a lot of options. Lane needs help. She and I may not get along, but I’m not willing to sit back and let her die without at least trying.”
I studied Gabe for a moment, turning his words over in my head and weighing their validity. He seemed genuine, and he had looked worried when he’d seen how hurt Lane was, so it was possible he wasn’t as much of a prick as I’d thought.
“We’re in agreement, then?” I looked everyone over as they nodded. Even Miller didn’t protest, which was a miracle. “Okay. We’ll leave first thing in the morning. In the meantime, I’m going to get some things together and let my sister know what’s going on.” I turned to Devon. “You’ll watch out for her while I’m gone?”
“I will,” he said.
“Okay.” I exhaled, trying to blow out the knot of tension in my stomach but failing. “I’ll want to talk to Lexi, too. Make sure she understands that I’ll be back.”
“With Rowan,” Devon said.
“With Rowan,” I repeated, the words as firm as I could manage.
I hoped to God I wasn’t about to lie to the girl.
Lisa and I left the others in the command center so I could get ready to leave and she could check on Lane.
“Tell her what’s going on for me,” I said as we moved down the hall. “And let her know I plan on leaving early.”
“I will.”
I stopped when we reached the cafeteria, and Lisa gave me a little wave before hurrying off.
I scanned the room from the doorway, but not finding Zara or Lexi—or anyone else from our group—I turned away, heading down the quiet halls toward the other end of the school. I peeked into the nurse’s station when I passed and caught sight of Lisa and Lane talking quietly, their voices too low for me to hear.
It wasn’t until I reached the front door that I finally paused. I pulled it open, allowing the scent of smoke to sweep into the building as I stared into the distance, thinking about the leader of that kid group and how he’d taken credit for the blaze. He very well could end up being responsible for burning an entire town to the ground if it didn’t rain soon, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t care. The empathy had been burned out of him years ago one cigarette at a time until he was nothing but a shell of what a person should have been. I’d seen it before, kids who’d been hardened by abuse, and I found myself wondering if that was Hank’s problem or if he’d just been born with something wrong. Wires in his brain not connected. He’d barely mentioned his family, and he’d sounded sad when he did, but I couldn’t deny that there was definitely something wrong with the kid.
Not that I could do anything about it now. I needed to focus on Lane and Rowan.
I took one more look around, spotting Rick near the gate where he was keeping watch, then stepped back into the school, letting the door shut.
A yelp of surprise broke out of me when I turned and came face to face with Hank.
“You startled me,” I said, putting my hand to my heart.
“Were you checking on the fire?” He didn’t even pretend to be penitent for scaring me.
“Yeah,” I replied, nodding. Then, almost as an afterthought, said, “We ran into a group of kids today. A group of boys, really. The leader was only sixteen, and he told me he was the one who started the fire.”
Something like curiosity flashed in Hank’s eyes. It was the first genuine emotion I’d seen, and it contrasted starkly with the fake embarrassment he’d tried to show when he’d walked in on me getting dressed.
“I heard you and Lisa got taken by another group. Was that them? A bunch of kids?”
“It was.” I watched him closely, waiting for a reaction, and was rewarded by a flash of something that almost seemed like admiration.
It was gone in a second.
“That’s nuts. No adults at all?”
“None,” I replied.
Hank looked past me, staring at the door, his expression blank but a thoughtful glint in his eyes. “Weird.”
He didn’t sound like he thought it was weird. He sounded like he was jealous.
“Yeah,” I replied, keeping my voice even. “I thought so, too.” I took a step away from him, and he refocused his gaze on me. “I need up to the room and pack some things. I’m going to the hospital tomorrow and try to get Rowan.”
“You are?” There was no inflection in his voice.
“Yup.” I almost hated to ask, but since Hank would most definitely know my sister’s whereabouts, I did anyway. “Have you seen Zara?”
“In the room,” he said.
I had to hold in a shudder.
“Thanks.”
I turned away from him then, allowing myself to hurry as I walked since he could interpret it as me being in a rush to get ready instead of rushing to get away. Like before, I could feel his gaze on me as I went, and this time I didn’t try to hold in my shudder o
f revulsion.
I took the steps two at a time as I headed up, pausing on the first level to peek into the room that held the toys. Lexi was there, along with some other kids and Randall, but there was no sign of Mike. Maybe he was with Zara? The thought of him sticking by my sister’s side was a relief even though the kid was only ten years old.
Two more levels, and I came to the room we’d been given. At first, the soft rumble of Buck’s snores was the only sound in the room—I wasn’t positive if him going back to sleep meant he’d disregarded what I said, but I didn’t think it was a good sign—and I found myself wondering if Zara was actually here. Had Hank lied to me? Had he dragged her somewhere and…what? What did I suspect this kid of? I knew, of course I did, but I couldn’t acknowledge it even to myself. It was too disturbing.
Something on the other side of the room rustled, and I moved toward it, reaching the cubicle Zara and I shared to find her lying on the bed, her eyes closed. Mike was sitting on the other bed—mine—with a book open, and he looked up when I stopped outside the cubicle.
“Hey,” he said, his voice low.
“Hey.” I nodded to Zara. “She okay?”
“She said she didn’t sleep much last night and wanted to lie down for a bit. I told Uncle Randall to keep an eye on Lexi.”
I tilted my head, studying the kid. “But you stayed with Zara?”
“I didn’t want her to be alone.” He paused, pressing his lips together like he was trying to decide what to say. “Hank follows her around a lot. I don’t like it. It’s…weird.”
“Yeah.” He was even more perceptive than I’d thought.
“There used to be this guy,” Mike continued, his voice lower, his gaze moving past me like he wanted to make sure no one else was around to listen, “who would hang around the park and watch the kids. I heard my mom and some of her friends talk about how they’d called the police, but no one would do anything. They made sure all the kids stayed away from that guy. When I asked Mom about it, she told me some people were just bad. She said people like that would do bad things to others. Not just little kids, either. I remember her saying that.” Mike paused, frowning. “I think Hank might be one of those people.”
Far Series | Book 3 | Far From Lost Page 14
