“What’s up with all this, Mama?” Juan looked around in confusion.
“People are very upset,” Rosie answered. Her expression was just as strained as those gathered in the lobby. “About what happened…”
Juan heard Travis let out a low sigh and understood his agitation.
He could feel the tension in the lobby building around them. Everyone was voicing his or her own vehement opinion about the events of the night.
Bill stood in the middle of the chaos looking amazingly calm.
Curtis, on the other hand, looked overwhelmed. Juan couldn’t blame him. The rookie cop was the only survivor of the small police department that had once patrolled the small town that now was a wasteland surrounding the fort. It was a good thing Bill was able to keep an unruffled, steady demeanor. Juan wasn’t so composed. He wanted to go drag Shane and Philip out of the fort and feed them to the zombies.
“This is ridiculous,” Travis muttered. “This a mob. ”
“You cannot allow him to stay in the fort. He is a danger,” Eric said to Bill in a loud voice. He shoved his glasses further up his nose and gave Bill the sternest look he could muster. Stacey stood at his side clutching his arm as their small dog, Pepe, tap-danced around their feet, excited by all the noise.
“You just can’t turn him out,” Steven Mann protested nearby. He was dressed in his very expensive clothes and standing apart with his wife away from the rest of the people in the lobby.
“Why not? He is a danger to the women of this fort. ” Stacey put her hands on her slim hips and glared at Steven. “You should worry about your wife. ”
Blanche Mann rolled her eyes. “Please. I wouldn’t lead him on like that blond slut did. ”
Travis took a step forward, but Juan grabbed his arm. “Dude, keep focused. ”
Travis took another deep breath.
“What a man and woman do is their own business,” Ed said from nearby. His grizzled features were emotionless.
“Ed, you can’t believe that Katie allowed Shane to-” Peggy started.
Ed cut her off by saying, “I wasn’t there. Can’t say what did or didn’t happen. But whatever did go down, it’s between them. ”
“So you won’t mind if Katie shoves Shane over the wall?” Juan asked. He folded his arms over his chest to keep from punching someone. He was close to losing his temper, but knew he had to keep it in check. He was already under suspicion for what had happened to Ritchie and Jimmy.
Travis was silent beside Juan, but he was fuming. Juan could see him clenching his hands at his sides.
“Now, I didn’t say that,” Ed answered. “Just sayin’ that it’s a personal thing between them. ”
“She was leading him on,” Blanche said. “We all saw it. ”
“Actually, we all saw her getting cozy with Travis,” Peggy drawled.
She gave Blanche a look of disgust.
More voices chimed in. Frustration and anger made them harsh with emotion. People began to argue with each other in small groups.
It was becoming raucous.
“All I know is that man is nasty and he shouldn’t be allowed to stay!” This was from Lenore. The black girl stomped her foot and put her hands on her ample hips as she glared at Blanche.
“We gotta do something,” Curtis said to Bill. “We can’t let Shane go around assaulting women. ”
“What do you we suggest we do? Due process isn’t around no more,” Bill reminded him.
“Then we find a new way,” Juan interjected.
People murmured in agreement.
“A fair and just way to deal with situations like this,” Rosie added, supporting her son.