Hardcore Twenty-Four (Stephanie Plum 24)

mbies shoveled dirt over him. They were shoveling like robots without direction or emotion.

I ducked my head to avoid the dirt flying at me, and I shouted for help. Floodlights flashed on, and there were men in uniform everywhere. Some were Rangeman guys, and some were police. Ranger dropped into the grave and brushed dirt off my head.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I lost the wire. It was the stupid tape.”

“Sorry. It put us at a disadvantage. Fortunately, I had a drone up, and we were at least able to see what was happening on the ground. I would have moved in sooner, but I decided it was best to involve the police when I saw the number of zombies.”

“Slick said Daryl was here, but he wouldn’t show his face until Lula and I were zombies. Turns out, the plan was to bury us alive and take our brains.”

“That wasn’t going to happen. Diesel and I were ready to go in and snatch you out. We were just waiting for everyone to get into place.”

Morelli was standing on the edge of the grave. Ranger lifted me up, and Morelli grabbed me and set me on my feet.

“What about me?” Lula said.

Lula was two inches shorter than I was and about seventy-five pounds heavier.

Ranger looked at her and grinned.

Morelli was also grinning. “I’m game if you are,” he said to Ranger.

Ranger hoisted Lula up to Morelli, and Morelli took it from there. To their credit, neither of them broke a sweat or grunted with the exertion. Lula’s skirt was up around her waist by the time she was set on the ground, and we were all treated to a view of her purple satin thong.

“I got dirt all over my bedazzled dress,” Lula said. “And my shoes are ruined.”

The police were cuffing all the zombies, and Diesel had Slick in tow.

“I found him,” Diesel said to me. “Break out the deck of Old Maid cards.”

I shoved my stun gun back into my pocket. “It doesn’t count. I found him first.”

“Yeah, but I caught him.”

“What’s this about?” Morelli asked.

“You don’t want to know,” I told him. “And anyway, it’s about nothing.”

“We’ll see,” Diesel said.

Lula speared Slick in the foot with her stiletto heel.

“Oops, sorry,” she said. “I’m so clumsy. I didn’t see your foot sticking out there like that.” She speared his other foot. “Or that one either,” she said.

“Police brutality,” Slick said.

“I’m not no cop,” Lula said. “I’m a former ’ho and now I’m doing some clerking.”

“I’d like to talk to the Supreme Ruler,” Diesel said to Slick. “How about you take me to him.”

“I can’t do that,” Slick said. “He comes to me. I never know where he is.”

Diesel picked Slick up by his ankles and held him at arm’s length over the grave.

“Does this help?”

“I don’t know. I swear. He’s spooky. All of a sudden he’s standing behind me, and then he’s gone.”