Footsteps came from the other side of the door. Not just one set. “Of course,” she said. “Chicken shit colonel isn’t going to work me over himself.”
She slid her chair back and prepared herself to launch at anyone who came near.
The door swung in and Sergeant Howell stood in the threshold. They sent him to beat me?
A half-shaved head with a skull earring dangling from one ear appeared at Howell’s shoulder. “Jen,” Zeke said.
Zeke?
Wayne rushed past Howell and knelt next to Jen. He wrapped his arms around her and she leaned into him. “They said you were dead,” she said.
Zeke stepped next to Wayne and handed him a set of keys. “We had to play possum.”
Wayne took the keys and went to work on her cuffs. Zeke leaned over and hugged Jen so tight her back cracked.
“Take it easy, Hulk.”
He released her. “Sorry.”
She stood and wrapped her arms around Zeke’s neck. “Missed having my protector with me,” she mumbled into his shoulder.
Releasing him, she reached out for Wayne. He slipped in between her and Zeke. “What about me?” he asked.
Jen pressed her lips to his and he held her around the waist. She broke the kiss. “Does that answer your question?”
He smiled and moved in for another.
Howell cleared his throat. “Need to get on the move.”
Jen gave Wayne a quick squeeze. “Duty calls.”
She entered the hallway and stopped. “Wait. Where’s D-Day?”
Howell nodded at the guard, who pointed at the next door.
Jen went back in the room, grabbed the keys from the cuffs, and hurried to the next room. She flung the door open and stepped in. A movement to her left and she turned. D-Day stood in the corner with a chair over his head.
“Really?” she said. “Watch too many movies?”
He lowered the chair and reached toward her, exposing his cuffs. “I was getting sick of that colonel. Figured I’d go down fighting.”
She unlocked his cuffs and they dropped to the floor. “My hero.”
He rubbed his wrists and followed her out the door. Zeke slapped him on the back. “Good to see you.”
“I thought you two were dead,” D-Day said.
Zeke laughed. “Can’t kill us that easy.”
Howell stepped forward and offered his hand to D-Day. “Sergeant Howell. Heard a lot about you.”
D-Day shook his hand. “Likewise.” He cast a questioning glance to Jen.
“Let’s get back to base,” Howell said. “We’ll figure out our next steps from there.”
Jen broke into the sunlight and took a deep breath, reveling in the fresh air. She jumped into the front seat and pushed Wayne to the middle, then took his hand and leaned her head on his shoulder.
Jen caught Vesich watching them drive away. She opened the window, extended her arms, and gave him both middle fingers.
Everyone laughed. “I’d like to beat him to a pulp,” D-Day growled.
They arrived at the airfield Operations building. “Hang tight,” Howell said. “I’ll get an update and see what resources we have available.”
When he disappeared into the building, Zeke turned to Jen. “What happened with Cartwright? Howell said she was in on the conspiracy.”
“She was,” Jen said. “She locked me up. Wanted to make me a guinea pig.”
“Had us all fooled,” Wayne said.
Jen nodded. “There are other conspirators still out there. Some at a high level. We’re lucky to have Howell. Here’s hoping he can get me to Butler.”
“What’s that going to do?” Zeke asked.
“I’m going to convince him to stop,” Jen said. “Too many innocent people dying and undying. I have to show him that killing everyone isn’t the only way to take out the conspirators.”
Zeke crossed his arms. “You think a zombie leader’s going to listen to that?”
Jen shrugged. “Depends on how much of Butler is left in his undead body, but it’s my best play.”
Howell stepped out of the building. “Just got word. The horde is closing in on Topeka, Kansas.”
“Where’s Topeka?” D-Day asked.
“Sixty miles west of Kansas City. After KC, there’s little in their way until they get here.” Howell pointed two buildings down. “Follow me to the armory and let’s load up.”
Wayne caught up with Jen halfway there. “Back into the shit again, I guess.”
Jen took his hand and grinned. “I’m tired of screwing around with the army and ready to kick some zombie ass.”
14
The Blackhawk followed Interstate 70 as it approached the outskirts of Kansas City. The occasional vehicle below zipped east toward St. Louis.
Zeke nudged Jen and pointed at a group of people walking along the road. Jen shook her head. If we can’t stop or slow down the horde, it’ll catch up with these people.
Tanks and Humvees drove the city streets, and troops were on the move. The Blackhawk crossed the Missouri River then descended toward a small airport on the city’s north side and touched down on the tarmac.
The engine shut off and the rotors slowed. While Jen unstrapped herself and pulled off her helmet and headset, Howell jumped down and approached two soldiers who were walking their way.
Climbing down to the tarmac, Jen scanned the area. Helicopters and small aircraft came and went in an almost orderly manner. Like there’s not much going on.
Howell joined her. “The attack on Topeka has started. Command is throwing some bombers at them to slow them down, but they’re planning on making their stand here.”
“I don’t get it,” Zeke said. “Why aren’t they just bombing the hell out of them in Topeka like they did in Spokane?”
“Our inventory of ordnance is limited, and there’s little production to refresh our stock.” Howell’s brow furrowed. “If they break through here, we’re really screwed.”
Jen frowned. “I need to get to Topeka. Getting Butler to stop may be our only hope.”
“I’m up for that,” D-Day said.
Wayne took Jen’s hand. “You’re not going without me.”
Zeke patted the hilt of his katana. “You know me and Deathblade are ready for action.”
“Deathblade?” Jen said.
Zeke’s lower lip pushed out. “I’ve been working on a new name for a long time. You don’t like that one?”
She clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s perfect. You just caught me by surprise.”
“Better name than that last one,” Wayne said.
Howell rubbed his chin. “I’ll arrange another helicopter. Should be some tall buildings in Topeka that we can land on. At worst, we can recon the horde and land at Lawrence’s airport if needed.”
“Lawrence?” Wayne said.
“Between here and Topeka,” Howell said. “About forty miles away. That’s the last decent-sized town before they get to KC.”
Jen adjusted the M4 on her shoulder. “I’ll take whatever I can get.”
Howell walked back to the soldiers. One of them shook his head as soon as Howell spoke. Howell gestured with his hands and became animated.
Be nice to hear what they’re saying.
After a few minutes of hand waving, the soldier gave a curt nod and stalked off.
Jen walked over to Howell. “We good?”
Howell nodded. “Took a bit, but he gave in when I reminded him who I work for.”
“Who’s that?”
Howell eyed Jen. “The Pentagon, of course.”
Back in the sky and leaving the city behind, the Blackhawk followed the Kansas River and flew past empty fields, roads, and subdivisions. Jen looked at the others and each seemed deep in their own thoughts.
When Lawrence appeared ahead, Howell’s voice came through the head phones. “This is our fallback. The airport is just north of town and has a small contingent of Apache helicopters and support personnel.”
Five
minutes later they hit the Topeka. “Damn place looks like a ghost town,” Wayne said.
The helicopter broke away from the Kansas River and followed a highway west out of town.
Jen’s stomach grew heavy and a tingling raced up her arm as if she’d touched something electrical. With no zombies within sight, it couldn’t be a run-of-the-mill leader.
Butler.
The tingling increased the farther west they went until her arm fell numb. Jen flexed her hand and tightened her bicep. Still works.
“Oh my God,” Wayne said.
Jen strained to look out the windshield. They’d left the city and green fields. Copses of trees stretched westward paralleling the highway.
But a few miles ahead, the interstate and the surrounding landscape was covered in black, like a swarm of flies on rotting food. “Holy shit,” she said.
The blackness spread as far to the left as she could see and stopped at the Kansas River to the right. Jen peered past the river. None over there. Howell said they don’t cross water.
His voice came over the headphones. “Take us over the horde.”
The Blackhawk climbed and followed the interstate. It flew over the horde seconds later as the zombie army swarmed toward Topeka.
Can’t see shit from way up here. “Bring us lower,” she said.
The pilot looked at Howell.
“They don’t have weapons and can’t fly up and grab us,” Jen said. “And I can’t see crap from here.”
Howell nodded and the Blackhawk descended, hovering a couple hundred feet above the surging undead.
Jen closed her eyes and concentrated. Do you hear me?
A spasm wracked her body. She tried to open her eyes, but failed.
“Jen?” Zeke said.
Wayne took her hand. “You all right?”
A movie played in her mind. In it, she was one of the horde, running shoulder to shoulder with the other zombies. A helicopter hovered in the distance.
Butler?
“Come to me,” a voice came from within her head.
I’m here. We need to stop this.
The Blackhawk was getting closer. “Come down to me. You and I must talk. Only way.”
Can’t land here.
“Land and I will find you.”
“Jen!”
Jen’s eyes popped open. D-Day had her by the shoulders, shaking her. “Wake the fuck up.”
She pushed on his chest. “I’m back. I’m back.”
Zeke’s hands were squeezed into fists and Wayne had an arm around her, his brow furrowed.
D-Day sat down and strapped in.
“What the hell was that?” Howell said.
“We need to land,” Jen said, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. “In Topeka.”
Howell’s gaze was laser-focused on Jen. She returned it and didn’t waver. “I think I can stop all this, but I need to meet with Butler.”
“You heard her,” Howell said. “Topeka.” The Blackhawk banked and headed east.
Jen sat back, crossed her arms, and closed her eyes. A nudge on her shoulder startled her. She kept her eyes closed. “I’m fine, Zeke. Just collecting myself.”
“That was scary,“ he said. “It was like you were somewhere else.”
I was. “I’m good.”
She cleared her mind and willed herself to relax. These episodes in Butler’s head are draining the piss out of me.
“Prepare for landing,” Howell said.
Jen opened her eyes. Here already?
The helicopter slowed and descended. A rooftop appeared and the Blackhawk landed on it with a small bump.
The engine shut off and the rotors slowed. Howell gestured to the pilot to stay put and he hopped down to the roof. Jen and the others joined him as he walked to the roof’s edge.
Jen removed her helmet. “How long do you think it’ll take them to get here?”
Howell frowned. “We don’t have a lot of time. What do you expect to happen here?”
“I have no freaking idea. Butler told me we need to meet in person.”
“He told you?” Howell asked.
“We have this connection,” Jen said. “It’s always been through leaders that we’ve communicated, but we were far away from each other.”
D-Day frowned. “I don’t like this. Too many unknown variables.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Jen said. “I have to do it.”
“You can communicate with him without being in person,” D-Day said. “Why take the risk?”
Jen put her hands on her hips. “Why are you fighting this?”
D-Day shrugged. “Instinct. This feels bad.”
“It’s my decision,” Jen said, “and I’m going to meet Butler here.”
“Thought you were going to take more advice,” D-Day said. “Team effort and all that.”
Is he really going to bring that up now? Screw it. I know what’s best. “I am. I value your advice and have taken it into consideration, but my decision is the same.”
D-Day nodded. “So be it.”
Howell clapped his hands. “We need a game plan.” He strode toward the roof entrance and opened the door. “We’re on a hotel. Pilot’s staying in the helicopter, ready to start it up and go. We have to secure the top floor and roof access.”
D-Day lumbered through the door. “I’ll set up at the top of the stairway. There may be more than one set of stairs, though.”
“I’ll check for more,” Wayne said.
Zeke drew his katana, the blade catching the sunlight. “I’m not leaving Jen’s side.”
“Good,” Howell said. “You two should set up in a top-floor room. We don’t want them coming to the roof and cutting us off from escape.”
Jen pushed past Howell and into the hotel. “Let’s get going. We could be minutes from finally ending this thing.”
A door at the end of the hallway stood propped open, and D-Day was on the landing with his M4 at the ready. The door at the other end was similarly open and Wayne was visible beyond it.
Jen tried several doorknobs. The handles moved freely without opening the door. “Shit. Bet they use those stupid cards.”
Zeke pointed to a maid’s cart in the hallway several doors down. “I’ll check it out.”
He ran to it and rustled through its contents. Jen joined him. “Find anything?”
He turned to her with a grin and held his hands out. “Got a bunch of those cool little shampoos.”
“Are you shitting me?” Jen said. “What about a key card?”
“Oh, yeah.” Zeke dropped the shampoos on a tray and searched the other cubby holes on the cart.
He stopped and held up a hand. A key card on a lanyard dangled over his head. “How’s this?”
Jen swiped it from him and stuck it in the nearest door’s slot. A light blinked red, then green. She turned the handle and pushed the door open. “Nice.”
Waving at Howell, she called out, “Got a key.”
“Good,” he said. “But you should take a room closer to the roof exit.”
“Great idea,” she said. “Come on, Zeke.”
She jogged down the corridor toward D-Day. He glanced at her and gave her a thumbs-up.
Jen unlocked the last door and entered. A typical hotel room with two double beds, a small bathroom with a shower, a TV, and a tiny refrigerator, it was clean, but unremarkable. She plopped on a bed and sighed.
His hands overflowing with shampoos and soaps, Zeke hurried into the bathroom.
Jen closed her eyes and laid an arm across them. “Seems like it’s been days since I slept.”
The door flew open and Howell burst into the room. “Look alive. Something’s coming up the stairs.”
15
Jen rushed to the window and looked out onto the streets. “The horde shouldn’t be here already.”
Several cars sat abandoned and there were no signs of movement. She hurried back into the hallway. Howell and Zeke stood next to D-Day, who pointed down the
stairs.
Howell cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled down the corridor, “See anything on your side, Wayne?”
Wayne peered down the stairs and shook his head.
“I don’t feel anything.” Jen strode toward Howell. “Even if there was just one leader nearby, I’d feel something.”
“Maybe Butler doesn’t control them all,” D-Day said. “All of you get in the hallway. I’ve got this.”
Zeke frowned, but D-Day gave him a gentle push. “Jen needs you.”
Zeke nodded and stepped into the hall. D-Day closed the door behind him.
Howell checked his M4. “Where’s that key card? I’ll take cover in the doorway opposite of you. If you can’t control the zombies and they look like they’ll overwhelm us, lock yourselves in the room. I’ll back into mine and draw them in.”
Jen tossed the key card to Howell and glanced at Wayne. He had his rifle off his shoulder and ready to fire. She knelt in the doorway, propped her M4 up, and aimed at the stairway door. Zeke stood next to her and did the same.
Seconds passed. Come on. Come on.
A voice rumbled from behind the door. Another voice—a lighter one—answered.
Humans?
The door opened and D-Day stepped through, followed by a baby-faced woman and a husky bearded guy with a news camera on his shoulder.
Jen rose. “I know you. You’re the reporter staying behind.”
The woman smiled and approached Jen. “Mercy Davis, and this guy shadowing me is Josh Newman.”
Jen reached out to shake her hand, but Mercy froze then took a stutter step backwards. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
My freaking eyes.
“It’s OK,” Jen said. “I don’t bite.”
“But you’re infected,” Mercy said.
Jen sighed. “It’s a long story, but I’m no threat to you.”
Mercy’s right eyebrow rose. “Long story? Would you tell it to me, let me record it?”
This could be a good thing, if she can get it broadcast.
“I will.” Jen put her hand back out. “You’ll have the exclusive.”
Mercy smiled then shook Jen’s hand. “It’s a deal.”
“But we have a ton of zombies about to rain down on us,” Howell said. “You two need go somewhere else.”
The Zombie Uprising Series: Books One Through Five Page 64
