The Dead Hunger Series: Books 1 through 5 by Eric A. Shelman Read Free Book Online Page A

181,000 people, there might be a decent cache of lethal street weapons in the main downtown police station. 
    But again, we were counting on some easy way in and out, and if it proved to be a mess, we would not risk little Trina.  We’d make do with the guns we had to get us to Atlanta.  The CDC seemed like a logical place to start.
     
    *****
     
    It was impossible to stay completely off the grid, and as we encountered people, everyone was either freaked out and fleeing, or freaking someone else out, causing them to flee.  Or causing them to die.  We had talked a bit when we first left Jamie’s house and had decided not to be heroes.  The world had changed today, and people were pretty much on their own.  We’d just have to worry about us for now.
    If we saw a child being pursued by one of them , or if one was in immediate danger, we’d play it by ear.  We knew that.  But around us, right here just in the state of Florida, there were thousands of children in danger right now.  Logically, we knew we’d better just worry about the little girl sitting between us at the moment. 
    When we hit the city limits it became obvious that we were going to have trouble shielding Trina from what was happening around us.  A child could only take so much horror, and this one had seen enough from her own mother to carry her for the rest of her life. 
    I pulled t he car over in a secluded spot.  Jamming the gear lever into park, I looked at Gem and mouthed the words, “We need something for her.”  I put the palms of my hands together and put them to my cheek with my eyes closed.  I quickly looked down at Trina, who was staring blankly through the front windshield.  We needed to put this kid to sleep.  Even on the floorboard of the truck she could hear what was happening, and at this point I don’t know what exactly I expected would happen.  I just had a feeling that stuff would be happening.
    Gem nodded and punched the GPS a few times, pulling up Points of Interest.  She entered Pharmacy and got several.  There was one just five minutes away.  A Walgreens.
    “Okay,” I said.  “Let’s get there first.  Then after we’re done getting what we need – or trying a second pharmacy, you use that trick to pull up a poli ce or FBI building in this area.”
    The GPS worked flawlessly.  We pulled up to the Walgreens in the exact time it estimated. 
    Gem looked around, scanning the parking lot and beyond.   I did the same.  There were seven cars in the lot, so it had to be a 24-hour location.   I guessed at least three or four of the cars belonged to employees. 
    I looked at my watch and saw it was 1:30 in the morning.
    “You go inside, Flex.  Take my gun.  I’ll take your .38 and stay here with Trini.”
    “If the employees know what’s happening with these things, I might be able to convince them to help.”
    “And if not?”
    “You’re my secret weapon.  If I can’t convince them with charm and good looks, then I’ll show them your gun and tell them that for fucking sure they’d rather deal with me than you.  Of course, that would carry more weight if they actually knew you.”
    “Good cop, bad cop.  Got it.  Go get the stuff, but don’t be stupid.  There are lots of pharmacies.”
    “Here.”  I handed her the .38 and she passed me the Uzi.  “There are only three rounds left in it, but I’ve got a box of fifty in the glove compartment.”
    “Check.  Reloading now.”  Gem popped open the glove compartment.
    After closing the door, I banged on the glass with the heel of my hand and said in a loud enough voice to penetrate the glass, “If everything goes to shit, I want you to take off.  The keys are in the ignition.  Just go if you see trouble.  I won’t say not to check on me later if you can, but don’t wait, Gem.  Go.”
    Gem nodded, and I didn’t believe her for one second.
    Walking to the entrance of the store, I looked back at the truck and scanned the parking lot