Hardcore Twenty-Four (Stephanie Plum 24)

“He’s with the army,” Slick said. “He’ll come with the army when I give the signal.”

“What army is that?” Lula asked.

“The zombie army,” Slick said.

“I bet you got a zombie navy too,” Lula said. “And a zombie air force.”

“Not yet,” Slick said. “Just the army. They’ve been gathering while we’ve been talking. They’re going to help with the final scene.”

I looked beyond him, and I saw two red eyes glowing in the dark night. A second later more red eyes blinked on.

“What the heck?” Lula said. “Are you kidding me?”

She panned with the Maglite and the zombies groaned and swayed side to side when the light hit them. They were armed with shovels and hatchets.

“You’re surrounded,” Slick said. “Just like an apocalypse.” He had a small video camera and he started filming the advancing zombies, and then he focused on Lula and me. “Jump into the grave,” he said. “If you don’t jump into the grave, they’ll hack you to death. You’ll be safe in the grave.”

The zombies were shuffling forward. When they weren’t caught in the light beam it was too dark to see anything other than the glowing eyes.

“Red sky,” I said. “Red sky. Get me out of here. I’m done. I don’t care that the crazy guy isn’t here. Red sky. Red sky.”

“What’s with the red sky?” Lula asked.

“I’m wired. I’m calling Ranger in to get us out of here.”

I pulled the neck of my T-shirt out and looked down at the wire. It wasn’t there. I slipped my hand under my bra and came up with a single strip of loose tape. No wire.

“Stupid tape,” I said.

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Lula said.

“The tape came loose and the wire fell off.”

“Help!” Lula yelled.

TWENTY-NINE

SLICK RUSHED AT Lula, and shoved her backward. She lost her balance and fell into the grave. It was about seven feet deep, and she landed with a thud.

“Oh crap,” Lula said. “Lordy, Lordy.”

I pulled my stun gun out, but I was grabbed from behind before I could power up. I kicked back and tried to wrench free. A second set of hands was on me. I was yanked back and tossed into the grave. I scrambled to my feet and started to shout for help.

“That’s good,” Slick said. “Claw at the dirt like you’re trying to climb out. And it would be great if you could cry.”

The zombies were lined up around the grave.

“Commence shoveling,” Slick said. “We need to bury them alive.”

“Excuse me?” Lula said.

Slick looked down at us. “We’re not going to totally bury you alive. We’re going to leave your head sticking out because the Supreme Ruler wants your brains. It’s another part of the diversity movement. Brain diversity.”

I shouted for help, and I was hit in the face with a shovelful of dirt. All the zombies were shoveling. They were moving the dirt that had been piled alongside the grave back into the grave.

“I gotta get out of here,” Lula said. “Give me a boost up. I’m gonna take out some zombies.”

I leaned against the dirt wall, and Lula climbed up me as best she could. A zombie swung his shovel at her, she grabbed the shovel, and pulled the zombie into the grave with us. He was on his back, flapping his arms, grunting, unable to roll over. The other zo