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“Gunshot with entry in the gut and exit wound in the back,” Kang said. “Spinal cord, I’m guessing, otherwise he’d have been up as well. I’ll stick with him.”
Bear rounded on Nick. “I told you to stay back. Are you hurt? Did you get bitten?” He ran his hands over Nick like a pat down until Nick slapped them away.
“I’m not hurt! Are you?”
“No, I’m fine.” Bear gazed around him, agonized. “My people. Angel, are they going to be okay? They’ve been part of my survivalist group for over a decade.”
“We’re going to do everything we can,” I told him. “A . . . specialist came down from Chicago. Dr. Kristi Charish. You might’ve seen her on the news—”
“The same Kristi Charish who locked you up in a cage?” He gave me an incredulous look. “You’re working with her?”
Shit. Forgot I’d told him all about her right before I rotted apart. “We are. I fucking hate her, but she’s the best chance we have of finding a cure.”
The sound of rapidly approaching sirens put an end to the conversation. I raced to open the door for two paramedics and a frazzled Tucker Point city cop, Seamus Hardy.
“We got ’em restrained,” I said as they entered.
The older paramedic, his right eye nearly swollen shut, gave me a thumbs up. “Thank god. That last transport was rough.”
“You didn’t get bit, did you?” I asked.
“Nope. Clocked by her heel,” he said. “What do we have?”
I gestured toward Dreadlocks Man. “He has a gunshot wound, and one of the Rucker twins got knocked out for about ten seconds. The others were trying to bite.”
“Got it. More units are on the way.” He rushed to Dreadlocks Man while his partner did a quick check of the others.
Kang remained crouched beside Dreadlocks Man, answering the paramedic’s questions. Bear and Nick stood watch over the other shamblers, ready in case any of them broke free.
Hardy radioed in a report then looked my way. “All five got sick at the same time?”
“Close to it. Within about five minutes of each other. Fucking weird.”
“Fucking scary is what it is.” His mouth tightened. “We took so long getting here because the same thing happened across town not half an hour ago. Except it was a bunch of lawyers having their weekly meeting. One went down then three more followed. Total mayhem. Two paralegals and the head of the firm got bit, so they’re freaking the hell out.”
I hissed a curse. “The hospital must be bursting at the seams.”
Hardy nodded. “Every EMT crew within a fifty-mile radius is on call, and the hospital is full. Emergency triage has been set up at the Tucker High gym.”
My worry tripled. “How is that secure?”
“Restraints. Lots of them.” He lifted his chin toward the downed shamblers. “The duct tape was good thinking.”
I gave him a weak smile. “You know what they say. Duct tape and WD-40 can fix anything.” If only.
The fire department and two other ambulances rolled up. Still reeling from everything Hardy had told me, I retreated outside with Bear, Kang, and Nick.
The first pair of paramedics followed us out, with Dreadlocks Man strapped to a backboard on their stretcher. Once they had him loaded up and were gone, I shared the new info with the others.
“The pattern has changed,” I said. “They’re turning shambler sooner. And how the hell can a whole group turn at the same time? This makes no sense.”
“Dad, are you sure you weren’t bitten?” Nick asked, voice quavering ever so slightly.
Bear showed Nick his arms. “I’m sure. Some bumps and bruises. That’s all.”
A sick thought occurred to me. “What about mosquito bites?”
“Nope. Nick already warned me. I’m swimming in DEET.” Misery twisted his face. “I brought these guys to the bowling alley to stay inside and keep an eye on them. Fat lot of good it did.”
