Moms Against Zombies Read online

bottom. Trying to feel around in the semi dark room

  without making noise is more difficult than I thought.

  The voices drift closer again, just as my hand makes

  contact with the cold metal of my gun. Carefully lifting it

  out, I pull the clip taped to the bottom of my desk. I barely

  make it into the knee hole before the door opens.

  “All clear in here,” Steven calls out.

  I can hear the other doors being opened and shut

  throughout the complex.

  “Look, we’ve gotta go. The timeframe on the other

  building being empty is getting shorter. The actors can only

  keep it going for a certain amount of time. There was only

  the one in the break room and we took care of her.” Gary

  begins to walk back toward the main stairway exit door.

  “I just have the feeling we’re being watched. I’m sure

  it’s nothing. Even if there was someone, we covered our

  tracks, and who’s going to believe them anyway.” Steven

  glances around the cubicles, hoping to dismiss his fears.

  Even when the doors slam closed, I wait at least ten

  minutes before pushing the desk chair out. Stealthily

  checking from the window to make sure there’s no

  movement, I cautiously open the door and step outside.

  The office is once again silent, so I head toward the

  break room, dreading what I’m about to see. I know one of

  my co-workers is dead, but I really thought everyone had left already.

  “Crap!” Startling myself when it slips through my lips,

  I survey the bullet hole in Judith’s forehead. There was

  nothing I could have done to save her, but now I need to

  make sure these guys don’t hurt anyone else.

  Running a hand through my hair, I start pacing outside

  the break room until it dawns on me what is going on with

  this surreal situation.

  They were after the prototype for the Protection Project.

  It would be a great coup to make it to the market before our

  company did, and we would probably only allow

  governmental agencies access. If these guys took it to the

  next level, they could have private bidders from all over the

  world ready for any kind of major disaster or potential

  company takeover.

  They hadn’t locked my boss’s office, so I think to

  confirm my suspicions before I call in help.

  Not only is the computer on, but there’s a paper

  sticking out from under the keyboard with file names and

  passwords for quick access to those specific files.

  That means my boss, Jack, knew they would be coming

  to find stuff on his computer because the only passwords

  written are for the Protection Project. None of our other

  projects with high security are listed.

  “Crap. Double Crap.” My children aren’t around to hear

  me, and this is serious. I have no idea how far up the chain

  of command this breach goes or who I can trust.

  I go to turn on my phone again and see the missed call from Trish. What in the world am I supposed to tell her? I

  don’t want her to stay at the house, but I’m not sure

  anything will be safe if this is true.

  “Trish, sorry. I got tied up for a minute and couldn’t

  call you back. I really think you should go ahead and pack

  up. I’ve had an emergency come up with all that’s going

  on, but I think you’ll be much safer at the designated safe

  house.”

  “So you think this stuff is real and we’re fixing to have

  zombies running around attacking us?” Trish asks, with

  real fear in her voice.

  “No, babe. It never hurts to be cautious, though,

  especially since we have children. We don’t want to be

  unaware, and being in the country for a few days will be a

  great way for the children to spend Spring Break next

  week.”

  “So you’ll meet us there?”

  “I don’t know when or if that will be possible because

  we’re about to go on lockdown. I won’t be able to use the

  normal means to communicate with you. If I’m not there by

  Sunday, then you should probably worry, but I’ll try to

  send you an update if I think it will last longer than that.” I really hate to lie to her, but hopefully, she understands the

  code to only use the prepaid phones. I’m pretty sure our

  phones are monitored by the NSA or an affiliate.

  “Well, I wish you could be with us, but be careful, and

  know that I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Tell the kids to behave, and maybe we

  can still go on our trip next week. Bye.” Our call ends on

  such a final note, but I’m not going to let our eighteen years of marriage end like this.

  Instead of calling someone higher up in the company, I

  go and get my prepaid out and send a coded message to the

  only co-worker I trust.

  Cooper: Code Red at work. Zombies not real. Project

  Protection copied and stolen. Still at site. Please advise.

  Martin: Are you certain?

  Cooper: Judith has a bullet through her head as proof,

  and Jack had the password for only one project under his

  keyboard.

  Martin: Arm yourself. Go to the security room and copy

  the cameras. Will meet you at prearranged spot in one

  hour?

  Cooper: Better make it two because of Zombie scare.

  Take care.

  Martin: Two. Stay safe.

  Now I know we’re screwed. If Martin believes me, then

  all our backup protocols need to be acted upon.

  The blinds in my office are already closed with the door

  locked, so I go to the back corner and move the two-drawer

  filing cabinet. Pulling up the floorboards, I find the large

  duffle bag.

  Opening it, I take out the off-network laptop and power

  it up. While it’s loading, I take out everything of value to

  me and put it the duffle bag.

  The small locker type closet where we keep an extra set

  of clothes holds my go-pack with extras hidden inside. My

  ankle holster for the right side and a thigh holster to hold my knife will provide the backup that won’t be arriving

  anytime soon. I know I’ll need to blend in with the many

  civilians leaving town, and a man in a suit will draw too

  much attention, so a T-shirt and jeans with my jacket is

  what I put on before heading outside.

  As the computer finishes, I plug in the connecting USB

  cable and proceed to start a download of everything on the

  system. While it’s transferring all the files, I tentatively

  open the office door with my gun in hand.

  Nothing stirs as I make my way to the security closet,

  sandwiched between the restrooms. Most people assume

  it’s the janitor’s room for cleaning supplies on this floor,

  but there’s a panel that holds access to the security circuits.

  A few buttons later, everything is sent to my computer.

  Most of the people who work with us are simply

  civilians working on different and varied pieces of a very

  large puzzle, but there are some that know a little more, and

  who might have a gun stashed in their cubicles.

  Donning a pair of gloves in case nothing comes of any

/>   of this, I make my way through file drawers and check to

  see if anything is taped to the undersides of every desk.

  Back at my office, I hold in my hands six guns and ten

  clips with bullets, three cans of pepper spray, and a smoke

  bomb.

  How on earth did we overlook this when we searched

  for listening devices and bombs every month?

  I divide everything between my backpack and the

  duffle, and glance up when a beep sounds from the

  computer to signal it’s finished with the download. Quickly unhooking the USB cord, I hit the special key code on my

  computer to start a full self-destruct of all the computer

  systems in the building.

  Unfortunately, there’s a mainframe where all

  information is uploaded daily, but it’s in Nevada so my

  access is limited. Shutting down the laptop, I place it into

  my protective case in the duffle.

  Doing a check to make sure I haven’t forgotten

  anything, I slip the backpack on and throw the duffle over

  my head, settling it onto my shoulder. With an extra gun in

  my holster and one in my hand, I proceed to head for the

  inner staircase most of the building uses for taking a smoke

  break.

  The roof provides an amazing view of the city, but my

  goal is to get rid of my last traceable item. My work and

  private cell phones would be a perfect way to find out not

  only where I’m heading, but held contact numbers for

  several important people to the Protection Project. The sim

  cards isn’t traceable outside of a phone, but I don’t have

  any way to dispose of them at the moment.

  I haven’t played baseball since my younger days, but I

  pitch the phones as if I’m about to win a huge game with

  the bases loaded. They don’t make any noise when they

  land, so they should be in a few dozen pieces. I stand for

  just a second longer before starting my long trek down the

  fourteen floors to the main lobby.

  Chapter 3

  Trish

  I hang up the phone after talking to my husband.

  During our entire marriage, we’ve never had to use the

  safety measures put into place when he had taken the job.

  “Kids, come here for a minute.”

  When all three children are standing in front of me, I

  take a deep breath and dive right in.

  “Remember when we had those drills every so often

  with Dad?” Joy and Nicole both nod, looking intrigued, but

  Carson’s face loses all of its color.

  “It’s time to put all that practice to good use. We have

  to pack the car and be on the road in thirty minutes. Now

  hurry and grab your stuff, but leave all the electronics on

  the counter.”

  “Ah, Mom.” The protests begin, but Carson takes up for

  me.

  “No, listen. If we weren’t in danger, then Dad would

  never have said to do this. We’ll get them back, they just

  have to stay here while we go on our trip.” Carson’s eyes

  meet mine with understanding, and in this moment, I know

  he’s just taken a step closer toward adulthood.

  “Grab the bags from under the beds and bring me your

  backpacks while you load them in the car. Please, hurry so

  we can tell Dad we did it faster than our record.”

  I run to our bedroom and pull the two duffle bags from underneath the bed and the two go-bags from the closet

  with all our important papers. The last thing I need is in the garage.

  The girls are gathering the food stuff and placing it in

  the bins, while Carson carries the filled one out to the back

  of the SUV. I follow him out and place our bags on the

  ground by the open trunk.

  “Help me get the trunk from the rafters. Dad is always

  here when we practice and I know it’s too heavy for me by

  myself.”

  Carson pulls the ladder over and scales it with ease.

  Arms raised to catch the trunk in case it slips, I almost

  miss his whispered question.

  “Mom, is Dad okay? Will he really meet us later?”

  “Sweetie, the plan is for him to meet us, but anything

  could happen. All we can do is get to the meet point and

  hope he shows up.”

  I wait for him to finish climbing down the ladder and

  help carry the trunk.

  “The girls don’t need to know what’s going on, and I’ll

  make sure to protect them. We can do this, Mom.”

  Smiling slightly at him, I give him a quick hug.

  “Where’s your pack?”

  “In the front seat. Why?” Carson frowns, not following

  my train of thought.

  “Take your dad’s pack. It has two guns and several clips. Put one of them in your pack, then put his back here

  with mine.”

  “Mom, thanks for believing in me. I’ll be safe with it.”

  “Just know that your Dad and I are proud of you.

  Hopefully, all those mornings at the gun range with him

  will pay off in the next few days. Let’s finish this and get

  on the road.” Carson shakes off the moment and goes to

  help his sisters with the pantry.

  Since I don’t want anyone helping themselves to our

  stuff, I wait until he’s on his way out before I go back in to bring another load out.

  “All finished, girls?” Seeing heads nod, I continue.

  “Good. Run to the bathroom, and then get in the car. Got

  it?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Taking the seriousness of the situation

  to be obedient for a change, they both run off to do as I’ve

  asked.

  The last tub makes it outside and I wait until the girls

  are back before going in to wake up a very tired little boy.

  Trevor is asleep on his side with his thumb stuck in his

  mouth, clutching his blankie in the other hand. I collect his

  stuff and get a new Pull-Up out to change him while he’s

  still asleep, if that’s possible.

  He must have been out because he simply rolls over and

  lets out a snore.

  I suppress a giggle and have him changed in record

  time. Leaving him there while I do the walk through, I use

  the potty myself. I want to make sure we haven’t left

  anything on or forgotten any of the stuff we’re supposed to take.

  As I lift the sleeping baby, I glance at the clock. We’d

  made it in twenty minutes from start to finish. I pull the

  door shut behind me and set the alarms.

  Carson hits the garage door button as I buckle Trevor

  into his seat.

  Sliding into my seat, I glance behind me to make sure

  we’re all in place and I haven’t forgotten anyone. The

  neighborhood is a little busier than normal, almost like it’s

  was five p.m. instead of three in the afternoon.

  “I guess the word is out that the zombies are here,” Joy

  observes from the back seat.

  “Seriously, Joy, everyone knows there has to be an

  outbreak somewhere and we’ve been watching the news.

  They didn’t say anything about a disease that could cause

  this. There has to be another explanation,” Carson patiently

  explains to his sister.

  “Joy, your father might be able to shed some light on

&n
bsp; this when he meets us. If you want to call them zombies for

  your own piece of mind until he tells us otherwise, I’m fine

  with that. Just don’t be scaring everyone with stories

  you’ve read or seen on TV, okay?”

  Shooting Carson a gleeful look, Joy agrees. “Yes,

  ma’am. Zombies,” she whispers in amazement.

  “The kind they have on Scooby-Doo?” Nicole

  questions her older sister.

  “Yeah. Where’s the mystery fighting gang when you need them?” Joy sighs in frustration as she goes back to

  looking out the window.

  Fighting back a grin, I slide the kid’s music CD in and

  head for the highway into town, hoping we weren’t

  followed as we go against traffic.

  Our safe house isn’t actually in the country as I’d led

  the children to believe, but on the other side of town.

  -----------

  Thirty minutes later, we pull up to a small dilapidated

  house. While it isn’t in a wonderful neighborhood, the

  house was cheap, and the back faces a wooded park.

  Every six months or so, I come over and clean the

  house and make sure there aren’t any unwelcome furry

  friends who had managed to find us.

  Cooper had bought the house for next to nothing and

  had updated the security so the outside looked as rundown

  as the other houses, but the inside was a safe place for our

  family to stay. Now it was only missing him to complete it.

  There’s no garage but a carport on the side, meaning we

  would have to carry everything around the front to the

  door.

  “All right, kids, everyone out. Grab your own bags and

  I’ll help Trevor. Once we get inside, nobody comes back

  out again. In case the house is being watched, we don’t

  want anyone to get hurt or lost.”

  “Roger that, Mom.” Carson gives a mini salute as I put

  the SUV in park.

  Once everyone is safely inside, I lock the door and with Carson’s help, unload the tubs and trunk into the small

  storage shed at the back of the property.

  It’s almost five p.m., but there’s not a soul to be seen

  anywhere on the street. Evidently, people are taking the

  threat of zombies very seriously.

  The door shuts behind us and I use all three dead bolts

  and the cross bar to make sure anyone trying to get in

  would have a real problem. There’s a special knob that

  Cooper could turn that releases the board, but if you don’t