White Trash Zombie Unchained (White Trash Zombie 6)

“Uh huh. The FBI agent got a warrant, and she and I went over it from top to bottom looking for anything tying him to that building or what he was doing there.” He shrugged. “Didn’t find a damn thing. That car was clean. Barely any dirt on the floor mats even. Abadie thought he saw the guy ditch something small, but a search along that stretch of the highway turned up nada.”

“Or maybe there’s something hidden in the door or hubcaps.”

“I wondered that myself, but the warrant didn’t extend to ripping the car apart. And the agent was hardcore by the book. Didn’t want to do anything that might invalidate the search.” He nodded in approval at the adherence to protocol.

“Yeah, no point fucking up the case by breaking the rules, right?”

“Exactly.”

Too bad none of this cleared up why Sorsha had asked Bear about me and my dad. Could it be connected to the Larson stuff? Or was she juggling two cases at once? “Is this Reno Larson thing the only reason why Agent Aberdeen is in the area?”

“She said it was part of a much bigger case her task force is working, and that she’d be in the area for a while.”

Bleh. I glanced at my watch. “I need to get back to work. We’ve been a little busy the last couple of days.”

He winced. “So I hear. Has anyone pinned down what’s causing the outbreak?”

“The CDC is on it, but they haven’t found out anything yet.” That much was true. “But you might want to wear mosquito repellent, just to be safe. And don’t let anyone bite you. Same goes for Neil.”

In any other situation, he’d have laughed, but he simply dipped his head in a grave nod. “10-4. Thanks for the toaster.”

“Thanks for the info about the roadblock guy.”

I exited the Sheriff’s Office, musing over the conversation. Law enforcement had to stick to the terms and limits of warrants, otherwise any evidence they collected could be considered invalid and useless for getting a conviction. But I wasn’t trying to get a conviction or find official evidence. I wasn’t limited by pesky legalities.

With my plans for tonight set, I returned to the morgue.

Chapter 23

Ten minutes before my shift ended, I collected my things and watched the clock tick down. According to Allen, Sorsha’s visit to the morgue had been simply to get an update on the shambler cases. No questions about me. And no new shambler deaths. But there were nine new cases at the hospital, which left me itching to get to NuQuesCor and do my part to help end this whole disaster. Maybe I wasn’t as smart and educated as Kristi, but I could damn well wash beakers, sterilize equipment, and pipette the hell out of all sorts of shit.

The instant the clock ticked to 4 p.m., I grabbed my things and quick-timed it to my car, worry following me. If the infection kept spreading at the current rate, where would the patients go? Tucker Point Regional Hospital wasn’t a large facility. And the shamblers needed to be quarantined and restrained and—

A hand grabbed my arm.

I shrieked and dropped my bag, even as the hours and hours of practicing the ippon seoi nage shoulder throw kicked in. I seized my attacker’s wrist, pivoted, yanked, and bent in perfect-enough form to send him sailing over my shoulder.

The man let out a surprised yelp and landed in a heap before me. “Fuck me, Angel,” he gasped. “What the hell?”

I stared for a second before recognition clicked in. “Kang?” He looked a good fifteen years older—an easy disguise for a mature zombie. “Why’d you jump out at me like that? You scared the shit out of me!”

Groaning, he clambered to his feet. “I did not jump out at you. I merely touched your arm.”

“Grabbed. You grabbed my arm.” With an exasperated huff, I found my keys and unlocked my car. “Get in before someone sees you. Jesus. What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking you asked me to wake up,” he said with asperity as he climbed into the passenger seat. “And, I wanted to thank you for giving me a way to escape that place.”

“You’re welcome. Don’t make me regret it.”

Tense, I drove away from the Coroner’s Office and didn’t relax until I was sure no one was following us. For all I knew, Pierce had eyes on me in case Kang tried to do exactly what he’d just done and make contact with me.

I flicked a quick glance at Kang. “Are you doing all right? I mean, after I woke up from being regrown, it took me a couple of weeks before I could walk without looking like I was three sheets to the wind.”

He chuckled softly. “I’ve picked up a few tricks here and there.”

“Ha! I knew it.” I grinned. “You were awake the whole time, and got used to your new body while pretending to be in a coma.”

“Not quite the whole time but close enough. As far as I can tell, I woke about a day after I came out of the tank. Ariston was in the midst of a rather tense conversation with a man whom I quickly identified as Pietro in a new form. It didn’t take me long to suss out it was in my best interest to feign unconsciousness.”