Page 96 of Grave Danger

“It is,” Dave said. “But we need to get it to the hospital.”

“Yeah, right, of course. But why is that a problem?”

“They don’t have the right kind of vehicle here for that,” Oliver said. “They have updated golf carts and the cars the staff drive. Nothing armored that could get through a mass of zombies.”

“A mass?” Cody sat up and extended a hand. “Help me sit on the edge of the table.”

Demetrius took his hand and Dave helped him turn so his legs hung over the side. They watched him for a moment as he sat with his chin to his chest, hands gripping the edge of the table. Slowly raising his head, Cody looked at them and smiled. “There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“Nope, you’ve always looked this pale and wiped out,” Dave said.

Cody grumbled something about younger brothers before saying, “What I’m hearing you say is we need a big vehicle that’s pretty much indestructible to drive through a horde of zombies and get a group of people and a precious serum to the hospital across town. Is that right?”

“That’s what he said.” Oliver looked at Demetrius. “I think he still needs some sleep.”

Demetrius heaved a sigh and shook his head as he stared into Cody’s eyes. “No. He’s just doing his dramatic setup.”

“I love that you get me,” Cody said.

“Help us love you, too,” Dave said. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Cody slid off the table and stood. He held on to the edge of the table and swayed a bit. His face had gone a little more pale, but he was on his feet. Looking at each of them in turn, he settled his gaze on Dave and said, “I’ve got a ride that can get us there.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

After a lot of discussion and examination of the monitor displaying the Cadillac wedged halfway through both lines of security fences, they decided to all make a run for it. All of them except for Llewelyn Tisdale. Cody watched as Agatha and her father talked quietly through the thick clear walls. To afford them some privacy, Llewelyn had apparently turned off the speaker system that broadcast his voice throughout the lab. When Agatha snapped a final-sounding, “Fine, do what you want like always,” and turned her back on him, tears were in her eyes.

She approached the group and managed a shaky smile. “What’s the plan?”

Cody gestured to the surgical gurney Sam had brought from a shadowy back corner of the lab. “We have a moving barrier.”

Agatha frowned. “We’re going to get on it and someone’s going to push?”

“We’ll all be behind it and use it as a mobile barrier to keep attackers at bay,” Sam said.

She nodded. “Okay. It’s no crazier than any of our plans in the past.”

“Plans in the past?” Sam asked.

“Long story,” Demmy said, holding up a finger. “Sorry, stories. We’ve known Aggie for a while now.”

“We have,” Agatha said as she gave Demmy a smile. “Let’s get our asses in gear. I can’t get in touch with Dr. Baldwin, and I’m worried about Jugs.”

That sent a quiver of dread through Cody as well. He wanted to try calling Zenona and Lucia again, but knew that would be a waste of time. Whatever was happening in town, they would find out soon enough as they drove through it.

Zombies couldn’t be worse than werewolves. Could they?

Sam positioned the gurney at the door, and they all lined up behind it. Dr. Willoughby still appeared too weak to stand, so Dave had volunteered to follow behind, pushing her chair. Cody didn’t like it, but he couldn’t do much about it. He caught Demmy watching him and tried for a reassuring smile, but it felt off.

Actually, if he let himself think about things too much, he felt off overall. But he supposed that’s what happened after a zombie bite and the administration of a rushed-into-production cure. He reminded himself, again, not to look at the bandage covering the bite on his arm. Instead, he grabbed Demmy’s hand and squeezed. When he checked on Agatha, he found her looking over her shoulder at her father, who stood with his hands pressed to the clear wall of his cell, watching.

“He’s safer in there than we are out here,” Cody said.

“I know,” she said, giving him a quick smile. “But I can’t figure out why he won’t come with us.”

“Everyone ready?” Sam asked. They all responded, and he reached toward the door release. “Here we go. Make sure you keep up.”

The door slid open, and Sam rushed the gurney into the hall, all of them filing out after. Keeping the gurney sideways so it took up almost the entire width of the hallway, Sam, Cody, and Demmy started pushing it as the others followed close behind.