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“
Not your fault he’s a jerk,” she said.

“
I’ll ream his ass next time I see him.” I paused and added with a smile, “And not in a good way. I’m so sorry about this.”

I leaned to kiss her. For several minutes. Until it began to look like I’d take off my clothes and climb back into bed after all. But at last I tore myself away from temptation. “I really have to go. What are your plans today?”

“
I’ll do whatever people need, I guess. Maybe I’ll help the cooking ladies again.” She rose and grabbed her panties from the floor. “Is there something you need? I’m happy to help out anywhere.”

I thought of the first job on my agenda today, making sure I knew how to release fuel from the tanker. Somebody would have to keep the undead at bay while I tinkered with it, but I didn’t want Ashleigh doing anything to put her at risk. Now that I had her back, I’d keep her safe inside the wall. “Just do what you’ve been doing. I’ll find you later and we can have lunch.”

One last kiss, the absolute last, and I started on my way. I grabbed a granola bar from the kitchen and a couple of aspirin to relieve the headache building in my temples. I walked across grass crunchy with frost to the scooter, my breath puffing in clouds of white steam. Maybe those who’d left yesterday had the right idea. Maybe it was stupid to fight another onslaught of zombies only to face snowstorms and frigid temperatures. But right now even Daylon was staying to defend Durbinville. For now, it seemed like the right thing to do.

I rode to the guardhouse to get a status report on last night’s activity.

“
Twelve kills and another near breach, but they got that area fortified,” Abbie said. “Mike Fessenden and a couple of others went out again this morning to look for cattle since they didn’t have much success yesterday. Also the scout team returned and estimate another ten hours before the zombies reach us.”

“
Okay. I’m going out to go check the tanker again. Can you radio somebody to back me up?”

“
Sure. But it’s not parked there anymore. They moved it last night.”

“
Who moved it?”

Abbie adjusted her glasses and looked at the report. “Brad Davies and Kevin Wording. They said they were going to drive it to a more secure spot. You didn’t tell them to?”

“
Did they say I authorized this?” The ache in my temples tightened, arching through my skull to the muscles in the back of my neck.

“
I wasn’t working then. You’d have to ask Kyle. Why? Do you think they stole it?” She looked worried.

It was a possibility. A truck full of fuel oil would be liquid gold in these times. They could drive it to some city and barter for whatever they wanted. I didn’t know either Davies or Wording well but it didn’t seem in character for either man. They’d always been gung ho for the town and two of Janice Myers’s biggest supporters.

The Legos clicked together in my mind. “No, I don’t think they stole it. I think they moved the truck for safekeeping just like they said. I’ll go talk to the council about it.” No need to get rumors of theft circulating.

I left the guard station and headed for the administration building. I was so mad I felt like steam was puffing out of my ears as well as my nose. I was ninety percent certain Janice had taken control of the oil and hidden it someplace. She wanted to keep every drop for the generators and this was her way of regaining control so she could run the town the way she saw fit.

My footsteps echoed in the stairwell as I ran up to the second floor offices of the administration building. Nancy sat at the receptionist’s desk doing something and I stalked past her, going straight for Janice’s office.

She jumped up from her chair and followed me. “She’s busy. You’ll have to wait.”

I glared at her. “Don’t even try it. I know she’s done something with the oil. It wasn’t hers to take. She doesn’t own it… or this town.”

“
Neither do you. That’s why we have a town council, to make decisions for the group.”

Her words got under my skin. I wasn’t naturally a bossy guy. Just because I thought my idea would work didn’t mean I had the right to ram through my plan. But on the other hand, this was no time for self- doubt or second guessing. I opened the door of Janice’s office and strode into the room with Daylon’s take-no-prisoners attitude.

“
Where’s the truck?”

“
In a secure location. Don’t worry.” Janice sat back in her chair, rocking slightly.

I braced my hands on her desk and leaned over it, trying to appear a little intimidating. “You know we need some of that fuel. I’m not suggesting we dump the whole thing in the reservoir. You’re the one who told me to come up with fresh ideas.” I was frustrated and tired of her power games.

“
Luring the undead away from town is a good idea,” she agreed. “If the bait works and they jump into the water, they should be stuck there. But burning an oil slick is overkill and a waste of fuel. If you must burn them, use the flamethrowers.”

“
Those won’t be enough. I’m aiming for mass extermination.” I rapped the top of her desk with my fist and glared. “I don’t have time to dick around with you. There are only a few hours left to get ready. Where the hell did you put the truck?”

“
Mr. Pasman, will you please sit down.” Her voice put me right back into my schooldays, even though I’d never been the type to get called to the principal’s office.

I sat in the chair across from her but continued to glower. The desire to punch her smug face had my hands clenching in my lap. Tension continued to knot my neck and throb behind my eyes. Janice’s unruffled gaze pissed me off even more.

“
You must agree that this town has been operating successfully in the aftermath of the undead invasion. While other towns like Oakley and Wakeeney have fallen, their people murdered or scattered, we were able to build, organize, and keep our citizens calm and busy so they wouldn’t become demoralized. I’m proud of how Durbinville has survived this disaster.” Her eyes glinted and for the first time I saw anger in them. “When I asked you to consider ideas to help the town, I never imagined a little power would go to your head. We still live in a democracy and it’s the town council’s responsibility to consider all options and come up with the best solution.”

“
Most people seemed fine with my idea when I presented it at the meeting,” I pointed out. “There’s a time for mulling things over and a time for action. We don’t have the luxury of discussing and voting on this. The window of opportunity is closing fast. Can’t you just trust me?”

“
Maybe we can make a deal. I’ll grant you a portion of the fuel if you agree to leave town after the immediate crisis is over. Would you be amenable to that?”

Her proposal whirled around in my mind like trash in a tornado. My aching head made it hard to focus and it took me a few seconds to connect the dots. This had all been about winning her power back. If my plan worked, I’d be some kind of town hero which undermined her authority even more. Her solution: eliminate the zombies then eliminate me.

“
That would be fine. I’ve been thinking of moving on anyway,” I answered, keeping my voice as calm as hers. We were civilized people after all. “But you could’ve just told me what you wanted and saved yourself the trouble of hiding the tanker.”

“
It was no trouble at all. Brad and Kevin parked it in a pole barn. Now, do I have your word you’ll leave after this new threat is over? Whether your plan works or not, I don’t think you have a place here any longer.” She might as well have said
This town ain’t big enough for the both of us
.

I forced a tiny smile and held out my hand to shake. “Agreed.”

It wasn’t as if she could force me to keep my promise. I could renege. Maybe I wasn’t the honorable Boy Scout she thought I was.

The door of the office flew open and slammed against the wall as Daylon stormed into the room. “Where the hell did that truck go? What’s going on?”

“
It was moved to a safe location,” I answered.

“
The Wilkinsons’ pole barn,” Janice added smoothly. “If you can find Kevin Wording, he has experience with operating release valves on this kind of tank. He can help you.”

“
Well… good”—Daylon’s bluster fizzled—“because a small army is still headed this way.”

I rose and a wave of dizziness swept through me. I steadied myself by grabbing the back of the chair. The throbbing in my temples turned to a ringing in my ears. Maybe a granola bar for breakfast hadn’t been enough. “All right then. Let’s set the stage for them. The only thing we still need is live bait.”

* * * * *

Chapter Sixteen

Fes and his band of cowboys in pickups herded five animals into town around midday. Everyone stopped what they were doing to go outside and watch the unusual sight of cows trotting down Main Street. All of the cows were red or red and white. Three of them looked well-fed and healthy. The others’ ribs were showing. The grassy odor of manure wafted to me as the animals passed by, their hooves clicking on the asphalt.

I turned to Becky Lindstrom, the baker who I’d been helping all morning. “Poor cows have no idea what’s in store for them.”

“
Are you a vegetarian, Ashleigh?”

“
No. I like my burgers and steaks.”

“
Don’t ever visit a slaughterhouse or trust me you won’t want to eat meat again. I went with my dad to the stockyards in Kansas City once. Big mistake.” She nodded toward the bossies being herded toward the park. “These guys are giving their lives for the greater good.”

“
I know. It’s just sad. Poor ignorant cows.”

I was saved from more dough-kneading by Brian’s arrival on his motor scooter. It was a little after noon and true to his promise, he’d come to have lunch with me. I loved his punctuality, not something I was used to in the men I’d dated. I couldn’t stop smiling as I walked over to him and leaned in for a kiss. “Hey. What’s up?”

“
Cows.” He nodded a greeting to Becky, who nodded back then went inside leaving us alone on the street. “And a more detailed battle plan thanks to Daylon.”

“
Tell me about it.” I led the way to one of the café tables outside. “Take a seat. I’ll get some soup and bread.”

As I scooped two bowls of soup from the pot on the kitchen stove, Becky grinned at me.

“
Shut up,” I said.

“
I didn’t say anything.” Her grin grew even wider. “It’s just…Brian Pasman. Unexpected.”

“
And again, shut up.” I grabbed a couple of rolls, warm from the oven, poured tea, put everything on a tray and headed back outside. The day had warmed from its frigid beginning and was now fairly warm. Brian sat with his elbows propped on the table, rubbing his temples.

I set down the tray. “Headache? I can find something for you to take.”

“
Already did but it’s not going away. Too much tension I guess. Myers caused me some trouble this morning but we hammered it out.”

“
You’re the big cheese now. How does that feel?”

“
Overwhelming. And I’m not sure how it happened. One day Fes and I are patrolling, the next, everybody’s asking me what to do. I’m not too comfortable in the role.”

“
Some have greatness thrust upon them,” I said, proud of myself for remembering the quote. “But I knew you were a leader when I met you. You just hadn’t realized it yet.”

He stared at me.

“
You are,” I insisted. “You might not be super ‘take charge’ guy but you’re the kind of person people respect and listen to.” I sipped the herbal tea, wishing we had real coffee, but Becky had run out long ago. “So what’s this battle plan?”

Brian pulled out a tattered local map and spread it on the table. “Here’s the town. A few miles north is the reservoir. We estimate the bulk of the zombies will reach our area about dusk, but we’re rigging some lights at the reservoir. The trick will be to intercept the flow and divert it.” He hunched over the map. Lines etched between his brows and on either side of his mouth.

“
Maybe you should take a break from thinking and eat,” I suggested. “Don’t stress about the details you can’t control.”

Brian folded the map. He put his spoon in the soup but didn’t take a bite. “After we set our bait to lead them toward the reservoir, teams with flamethrowers will continue to herd them that way.”