After Siege (As the World Dies 4)

Voices from close by drew Emma to a spot on the far end of the building toward the last bay.

“…and tell him he’s an asshole for killing himself. I’m a pilot! This isn’t my gig!” a woman said testily.

“Patrick ain’t around,” Rune drawled. “I ain’t seen him since he took a header out his hotel window.”

Emma found the two people next to an impressive Harley Davidson. Rune was on his knees, attentively cleaning a part of the engine. A tall, thin woman with short, dark hair that curled around her ears and forehead grunted in response and placed her hands on her hips.

“It’s bad enough that I’m grounded, Rune, but now I have to run the damn garage because he was chicken shit.”

“You’ll be back in the air soon enough, Greta. This ain’t going to last forever.”

“It feels that way.”

Rune caught sight of Emma and waved her over. “Hey, Emma! Have you met Greta yet? She’s a kickass helicopter pilot and now runs the garage.”

Greta spun about, hand extending. She had a long, angular face with keen eyes that swiftly looked her over, as though evaluating her. “The fearless zombie killer. A pleasure.”

“For God’s sake, Rune. Have you told everyone?” Emma complained, but clasped the woman’s hand warmly. “I’m just Emma.”

“Rune actually didn’t tell me. Calhoun did. He’s excited about your arrival. He thinks you’re some sort of alien hybrid that will wipe out all the zombies for the Amazonian Queen.”

“Huh?”

“Calhoun thinks Nerit is an Amazonian Queen,” Rune explained.

Dropping her hand, Greta shot a grin at Rune. “Would you be surprised if she was?”

“Not one damn bit.”

“She is impressive,” Emma said. “Kinda scary too.”

“Rumor is she was Mossad. I’d believe that.”

Rune nodded. “I’d put money on that one.”

“Got any inside information on that?”

Rune sat back on his heels. “That’s the thing. She ain’t got no one haunting her since Ralph moved on. Maybe even the ghosts are too afraid to try to haunt her.”

There was a loud clatter nearby and furious cussing.

“I better go check on Carlos,” Greta huffed. “He’s trying to fix the Mustang that kid wrecked. Good thing I rebuilt one with my dad back in the day. I know exactly what to do. Catch you later, Emma.”

Brushing his hands off on his jeans, Rune scrutinized Emma’s face. “Hmmm,” he said, “you look like a woman with a purpose.”

“I need your help.”

Rune leaned back against a work bench. “I had a feelin.’”

Emma emulated his stance, resting her back against a pillar, instantly regretting it. It was grimy and left a swath of dirty grease on her clothes.

“Tell me what you need, Emma.”

So she told him. Rune listened to Emma, his brow puckered. He grunted a few times, nodding in understanding.

When she finished, he exhaled long and hard. “I’ll go with ya to talk to this Macy, but I’m warnin’ you now, I will not lie to her. If we get over there and I can’t help, you’re gonna have to accept that. The dead don’t always haunt the livin’, though it is a helluva lot more common now. And sometimes, even when they’re hauntin’, they don’t talk.”

“I don’t want you to lie,” Emma assured him. “Even if her kid has moved on, knowing that might help her.”