The deputy tried to answer but began coughing so harshly that he couldn’t speak for several minutes. “Dan…I know you’re worried…but it’s just not safe yet.”
“Why the fuck not? Seems like most people are sick,” Dan glowered at the deputy, obviously at the end of his rope. “So why in the hell is the school locked down? My daughter is in there, and I need her home.” His eyes became glassy. “My Anne is in a bad way.”
The crowd all started yelling at once, and it was more than obvious that the deputy was completely out of his league.
I knew Lucas was inside, and there weren't nearly enough students with him to match the number of parents here.
I was deciding how to play this when I saw Ben cutting through the crowd toward me. A helmet tucked under one arm; his dirt bike parked crookedly at the curb. Dust streaked his jeans, and his salt-and-pepper hair was disheveled. Nowhere near the fastidious man I knew him to be.
“I figured you’d show up.” He motioned me away from the crowd for privacy. “This is a lost cause. These peoplearen’t getting their kids back.” His face grew puzzled. “I did some scouting of the building last night. Besides having no explanation for what I saw, the school’s doors are chained from the outside.” He frowned at me. “Do you know what’s going on?”
“I have some theories, but nothing concrete. As for the building being chained, I’m sure the authorities in charge are trying to contain the threat. Not that they can.” I motioned toward the building. “Lucas is in there, and I need to get him out.”
“Is he still…Lucas?” He stared at me intently.
I didn’t pretend I didn’t know what he was talking about.
“He was a few hours ago.” I ran a hand through my hair. “He’s barricaded in the teacher’s lounge with a few of his students.”
He mulled that over for a minute. “You’re going to need my help.”
His help would be valuable. Ben possessed a wide range of weapons, which would be crucial for getting Lucas back.
“I’d appreciate that.”
“I could give two shits about your appreciation. I need you to help me retrieve Taryn.” His voice was gruff.
Ben hadn’t changed one bit. I admired his directness.
“She was headed back toward town, but her movements stopped a little while ago.” I ran a hand through my hair.
We both had the same goal: to bring Taryn home no matter the cost.
His eyes turned sharp and assessing. “How do you know that? Are you tracking her?”
“Yes.”
There was no point in lying. Taryn was mine, and Ben knew it. She always had been.
“Why am I not surprised?” He stepped closer, “How?”
“I’ll explain later, but first we need to get Lucas out.”
He glanced around at the chaos. “The authorities—" He rolled his eyes. “—are still playing like this is a normal pandemic.”
“That’s not surprising.”
Behind us, a woman screamed a name into the crowd. Somewhere closer, glass shattered. A siren started and then died halfway through its first wail.
Things were going downhill fast.
“Follow me back to the house. This is going to call for a few of my toys.” He narrowed his eyes. “While we’re gathering shit, you can tell me what you’ve seen on your way here.”
I followed Ben into the house and down into the prep room. Comforted by familiar scents, gun oil, tobacco, and the slight coconut undertone of Taryn's lotion, I relaxed for the first time in days.
Ben set his pack down on the table and flipped the light switch.
“Start from the beginning,” he demanded. “Don’t leave anything out.”
