Omega Pathogen: Mayhem by J.G. Hicks Jr Read Free Book Online Page A

good to be true, and when things seem that they’re too good to be, it usually means he’s going to step off into a great big pile of shit.
    Having no obvious issue with immediate threats to his life, he takes a pause and goes over options in his mind. He’s going to try for the MRAP; he knows that. How he’s going to approach and check it for mechanical soundness is a plan still not well defined.
    Pulling the family’s Pathfinder a little closer to the front parking area, while continuing to observe for threats, Jim makes a wide left turn, looping the vehicle to face the direction he came. Putting it in ‘park’, but leaving the Pathfinder running, Jim removes his Glock 9mm from his low-riding holster on his right leg, checks for a full magazine, and then assures himself a round is chambered by slightly pushing the slide back enough to see a round.
    Replacing the Glock in the holster, he then retrieves AR-15 from where it’s leaning on the passenger seat, the barrel on the floorboard. All the while, he looks from weapons preparation to his surroundings.
    Taking a deep, calming breath, holding it for a fraction, and then exhaling to calm his nerves and clear his mind, he steps out of the vehicle.
    He gently eases the driver’s door to an almost-closed position to allow hurriedly gained access if a rapid escape is needed. The hospital is to the driver’s side, as is the SWAT MRAP vehicle. Numerous other vehicles are in the area, some parked neatly in parking spaces, others haphazardly parked around the building.
    The prize for Jim right now is located about fifty yards from his current position, between him and the hospital. Continuing his constant visual assessment, he heads indirectly for the MRAP, being careful to check under vehicles for possible infected, trying to shield themselves from the sunlight that seems to cause them some discomfort.
    Jim also takes into consideration the entrance of the hospital on the other side of the SWAT vehicle. Any number of the infected could be inside; a misstep could possibly bring a shit storm down on him in seconds. Taking another step, he instantly freezes when he hears some movement from the MRAP, causing a chill to run down his spine. Shit , he thinks. Pausing, Jim weighs his options.
    While thinking on his next move, the sounds from the MRAP stop. Realizing he’d been holding his breath, he slowly exhales and then begins breathing normally.
    Jim knows if the occupant or occupants of the armored vehicle are infected, which is highly likely, he’s going to have to remove them as a threat. Doing so will certainly bring more. Remaining as quiet as possible, Jim turns and heads back to the family Pathfinder idling behind him. Reaching the vehicle, he eases the driver door open and presses the unlock button for all the door locks.
    Returning the door to its nearly closed position, he walks to the rear of the vehicle while constantly taking in his surroundings. Quietly, Jim lifts the rear hatch and retrieves one of the Halligan tool. The Halligan tool has been used by fire rescue for many years, and recently utilized by SWAT teams as well. The tool is excellent for breaching crumbled vehicles, or those that are simply locked. It’s also used for much the same purpose by SWAT teams for gaining entry to locked homes during raids.
    This Halligan tool weighs around 14 pounds, and is about 36 inches long. The reason Jim wants the tool is because one end has a large claw, like that of a hammer, and the other end has a curved wedge, with a large tapered pick on a 90-degree angle from the wedge.
    Jim doesn’t want the tool because he thinks he could use it to enter the armored vehicle. The doors are already open. No, Jim wants it as a weapon.
     
    Chapter 8
    Present
     
    Although he has two combat knives on his vest and he could use one of the axes, the Halligan outweighs the axes and he’ll have a better reach than with the knives.
    Easing the rear hatch closed, Jim heads back to