The Liger Plague (Book 1) by Joseph Souza Read Free Book Online Page B

better use all of your powers of persuasion to keep them away.”
    “I’m not following you. How will I kill millions of civilians?”
    “I’ll release this agent in a major city, maybe two cities, if I wake up on the wrong side of the bed and see those FBI hazmat pigs roaming around over there and trying to mess with my pussycat,” the voice said. “It’s not just me. There’s a lot more of us out there. In fact, I’m part of a larger movement that will swell significantly with time and the proper education.”
    The line clicked dead.
    The caller was on the island ! Tag looked around the room to see if he could identify anyone, but there were too many people to study all of them. What could he do? By his estimation there must be well over six thousand people on Cooke’s this weekend. There were so many things to do that he didn’t know where to start. All he could think about now was getting Monica and Taylor home safely.
    He sprinted over to his wife’s booth, pushing his way through the crowd.
    “Monica, we need to get out of here and head back to the house,” he whispered urgently.
    “I can’t leave now, Tag. I’m right in the middle of displaying my sculptures. How would it look if the guest of honor wasn’t present at the opening ceremonies tonight?”
    “Please trust me on this.”
    “Dad, you need to chill out,” Taylor said, laughing. “Why don’t you go over to the Bay Inn and have a few cold beers and some fried clams until we’re finished.”
    He started to move behind the table when the community center started to rumble beneath their feet. A loud explosion sounded just outside the center. Everyone looked up in fear, wondering where the explosion had come from. His wife’s blown-glass sculptures rattled on their shelves. One fell to the floor, shattering into many colorful pieces.
    What the hell was that? Tag thought, bracing for the worst.
     

Chapter 5
    Everyone inside the community center stood quiet, registering the shock of the explosion that had occurred outside. In a matter of seconds, however, people began to push and shove their way out the front door. Tag gripped Monica and Taylor by their hands and guided them away from the stampede. He led them past the panicked throng, all of whom were struggling to make it to the front entrance. Once he reached the rear of the facility, the three of them ran out of the building.
    “The golf cart is parked on Spring Street around the corner. One of you take the BMW and the other the cart. I want you two to go directly home, lock all the doors, and stay put. I left two loaded Glocks on the kitchen table in case either of you have to use them. Taylor is not afraid to fire a weapon after all the time I spent with her at the range.”
    “Isn’t that a little overkill?” Monica said.
    “Trust me on this.”
    “Mind telling me what’s going on here, Tag?” Monica asked.
    “I’ll tell you everything I know once we get back to the house. Now do as I’m telling you and get back home.”
    “Does it have to do with the glass liger the gallery sent me?”
    “What do you think, babe? And I doubt your gallery sent that to you. Now hurry up and get moving.”
    He went back inside the center and saw people pushing and shoving in their haste to get out. Some of the older folks had fallen to the floor and were being trampled by the panicked mob. He helped those who had fallen back to their feet, directing many of the others to exit out the back. Standing on a table, he ordered the mob into two single lines, one in front and one heading to the rear exit, making sure that no one else got trampled. Many of the kids and mothers cried, and some of the men with families pushed their way past. Tag pulled out his .45 and walked up to one of the men doing the most pushing, holding it up for him to see.
    “You’re not going to want to do that, pal. Now stop being an asshole and calmly make your way out that door like everyone else in line,” he