Part 22 (1/2)
”Price isn't doing this because he's had a change of heart about the camp followers. He's making this move to keep his men alive. He'll leave behind anything that is no longer of value to him. That includes everyone on the Line and half the women inside camp, at least the ones they're bored with. Knowing my son, he won't let them just walk away. He's used to murdering those who he no longer has a use for.”
Windows' hands shook. She placed the plate down on the blanket and tucked her hands under her arms so the tremors wouldn't show. ”Do you really think he'll kill us?”
”If not, he'll take you with him where you will wind up servicing the entire camp.” He met her gaze and mouthed the words, ”And probably Cindy, too.”
Windows began to cry. How could she have been so nave? Things would not get better. In fact, her situation would become infinitely worse. And now Cindy would be dragged into it. Fear for their safety mixed with the desperation that flooded her emotions. She understood why Debra committed suicide.
”Don't cry.” Lee placed a deformed hand on her shoulder. ”There's a way out.”
”No there isn't!” she sobbed.
Lee grinned. ”What if I told you I had hidden a car less than five miles from here with a full tank of gas and three days' worth of supplies.”
”Are you serious?”
He nodded. ”When the others were getting ready to take down Price, I prepared a Rav-4 for escape just in case things went wrong. It's fully ga.s.sed and has four backpacks in it, each with a three-day supply of dried food and water. I'm the only one who knew about it, and when we got ratted out I kept quiet, hoping someday I might be able to use it to get out of here. I can't use it anymore, but you can.”
Windows rubbed the back of her hand across her eyes and sniffed. ”You're going with us. I won't leave you here.”
”You have to.”
”No.”
”Listen to me. If you and the girl disappear during the move, Price probably won't even notice, and if he does, I doubt he'll send anyone after you. If I go missing, he'll hunt me down and kill anyone who's with me. You stand a much better chance if you leave me behind.”
”I can't-”
Lee held up his hand to cut her off. ”You know I'm right. I'll be okay if I stay here. You two won't survive much longer. End of argument.”
Windows fought back the tears. She knew her only chance of saving Cindy was to sneak off on her own. She also knew that she would be condemning Lee to misery. The thought of it tore her up inside. However, she had her priorities. She forced a smile.
”Getting to the car is easy,” Lee whispered. ”Route 28 is right outside the compound. Head north, take the second street on your left, and follow it for about two miles. You'll come to an old construction site. There's a metal garage on the site. The Rav-4 is in there.”
”Thanks.”
”You can thank me by getting that little girl to safety.”
The meal continued on as usual, only this time Windows noticed that Lee had a content expression on his face.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE.
”Television.” Wayans thought about it for a moment and nodded. ”I miss television the most.”
”That's it?” laughed DeWitt. ”Of all the things you could miss from the pre-outbreak days, you miss television the most?”
”What's friggin' wrong with that? I used to love the SyFy Channel, though that sounds pretty lame now.”
”What about you?” Jennifer asked Simmons. ”Excluding family and friends, what do miss most about life before the outbreak?”
”Crime.”
”Stopping it or committing it?” chided Frakes.
”I know it sounds weird. A better answer is probably solving crime. It kept me busy. The worst part about being here is I'm bored out of my mind. I now understand why so many cops can't handle retirement.” Simmons leaned forward in his chair and smiled good-naturedly at Jennifer. ”What do you miss?”
”Drinking a hot cup of peppermint tea while reading a book.”
”I didn't picture you as the nerdy type,” Robson remarked.
”Would it make me less nerdy if I told you I did that in silk pajamas?”
”No,” he lied, enjoying the mental image.
”Your turn.”
Robson thought a moment. ”The beach.”
”The beach is still there, man,” said DeWitt.
”I mean enjoying the beach. When I was with the sheriff's department, I'd always stop by the coast on the way home, park for a few minutes, and just listen to the waves rolling in. I found it relaxing. It used to give me a few moments of solace. Now it just reminds me of how alone we are.”
Jennifer reached out for his hand and squeezed, and then steered the conversation back on track.
”DeWitt?”
”Dunkin Donuts iced coffee.”
”Oh, my G.o.d. Yes.” Allard closed his eyes. ”With a half dozen honey dipped Munchkins.”
Frakes shook his head. ”Ever been to Revere Beach down in Ma.s.sachusetts? Kelly's makes the best roast beef sandwiches in the world. We used to drive down there every Friday night for dinner. That's a meal to miss.”
Seeing that Roberta appeared ill at ease, Jennifer asked, ”What's wrong?”
Roberta's eyes went from Jennifer to the two cops and back again. ”I don't know if I should say.”
”We're all friends here. Go on.”
Roberta shrugged. ”I'd kill right now for a joint.”
Wayans threw his head back and laughed. ”You and me both.”
Roberta showed her surprise. ”But you're a cop.”