Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel Read Free Book Online Page B

speaking of that mess, I’m going to go get an update.”

“Okay,” I said, thunking a blank leather journal on the edge of Ren’s cluttered computer desk. “The Dearly House Exit plans.”
    Renfield Merriweather peered at the tome. Skinny in life, he’d become a scarecrow in death, all elegant half-revealed bones and long limbs. He wasn’t nearly as hardy as the other dead boys, which was why he almost always stayed behind as base support, wherever that base happened to be. He found his spectacles on the desk, somewhere amidst all his mixed-tribe gadgets and computer equipment. “Why hasn’t Griswold had me digitize this? I could cross-reference maps, databases …”
    “He prefers to work it out on paper.”
    “Benighted fool.” Ren, NV that he was, loved his tech. Although he shared the guest room with the other lads, his computers and toys had come to dominate one side of our attic—the other side belonged to the dead priest, Jacob Isley. Surrounded by stacks of papers and books, Isley was still solidly asleep on his cot, stretched out like a body on a mortuary slab. Cats lounged everywhere. Isley had a thing for them, and took in as many strays as he could.
    “No time for names. We need to double-check the carriagesituation, the weapons situation. We follow this, we can all get out of here in under ten minutes if it comes to that.” I’d decided that I couldn’t spend my time moping. I needed to work, to contribute.
    “Has everyone else been informed? From a logistics standpoint, that should be our first concern.”
    “Everyone except the sleeping wonder there. Chas should be up soon. She wanted to tell her mom.” Looking to his computer array, I found myself staring unfeelingly at the steam-holographic projector I’d once seen him use to play Aethernet chess with Vespertine Mink. “The others went to the boats. Which is precisely where I want to be. If things go wrong—” I pressed my lips tightly together before anything else could slip out.
    “I don’t think that would be very wise, Miss Dearly. We don’t know if our assistance is even required.”
    Tearing my eyes from the desk, I said, “I hate sitting around and waiting , though. I don’t know about you, but it makes me go insane.”
    “Yes, I figure I’m already more insane than not.” Ren’s posh northern accent only augmented his sarcastic delivery.
    “I am not in the mood for jokes! Remember the last time this happened? When I was at Z Beta Base and no one would tell me anything, no one would let me go anywhere or help …” That was a big part of it. Logically I knew I had no reason to leave the EF, but I loathed being kept on the sidelines.
    “We’d probably create more problems if we did go.” Ren brushed a few curly auburn locks out of his face. “Look. Are you afraid this development will make the living want to round up the dead again?”
    Ren was incredibly observant for a dead guy who needed glasses. I nodded once.
    “Well, keep in mind that some of our people fought for their dead. They didn’t hunt them down and kill them indiscriminately,like the Punks. No one’s called for the new pro-zombie Prime Minister to step down, have they?”
    “No. Not yet.” I had to keep reminding myself of that. “I just don’t like this. Only a few months ago the government tried to kill every dead person. Permanently.”
    “I know. Zombies have every reason to be distrustful of the authorities. But those of us who have a firm grasp on reality know that we need to keep our wits about us.”
    Opting not to say anything, I opened the book, my stomach still in knots. I could only pray that Renfield and Dr. Chase were right—that cool heads would actually prevail. They had, for a while. There was hope, just … no certainty.
    Not like we hadn’t played with those odds before.
    Before I could do anything else, Chastity Sweet appeared in the doorway. She was a tall dead girl with bleached-blond hair, blue-tinged skin, and a