The System #2 by Shelbi Wescott Read Free Book Online Page A

a chair by its back and dragged it over to their makeshift operating table. After checking Ethan’s vitals once more, she sat down and closed her eyes. Darla refused to sit and she refused to move. She stood by her friend, and looked at the horror they had created; her stomach ached.
    After five silent minutes, the women heard shuffling in the garage and steps in the hall. They lifted their heads in unison and waited with curious expectancy.
    Darla figured the news would be Teddy-related; after all, what other reason would Joey or Ainsley have for venturing back? She gave up a silent prayer that Joey had kept an eagle eye on her rambunctious child, and that the news from the house was benign.
    But it was Principal Spencer who materialized from the dark of the hall and into the light.
    The last time Darla had been anywhere near Spencer, she was shuffling away three angry and confused people from the entrance of the high school after he had told them, “ Get out. You’re not my problem anymore. ”
    He held a metal flask in his hand and he took a swig, bearing his top teeth as he sucked down his daily allotment of bourbon. Then he surveyed the carnage and whistled low and long.
    “Looks like I missed all the fun,” he said, his bloodshot eyes resting for a quick second on Ethan’s discarded limb. His mouth curled downward in disgust. “Jesus, this looks messy.”
    “Good afternoon,” Doctor Krause said in reply, her voice easy and calm. But she didn’t budge from her chair, nor did she leave her eyes on him for long.
    “Yeah, and a hell of an afternoon it’s been,” he said. Then he nodded to Darla, who regarded him with crossed arms and blatant disdain. “I’m here on official Whispering Waters business.”
    “It can’t wait?” Darla asked him, rolling her eyes. “If you haven’t noticed…your timing is shit.”
    “No, it can’t,” Spencer replied and he took a step closer.
    “Just stop where you are. You can speak to me from there,” Darla took her right hand off of Ethan’s arm and lifted it up to halt him in his tracks. “He’s at risk for infection. Do you mind? What right do you have to just waltz in like this?”
    “I’ve been talking with Joey—”
    “I’m sure the conversation was riveting.” Darla rolled her eyes.
    “Yeah, well. We decided it was best for me to move up here. Join you guys.”
    “Like hell you will,” Darla said and she took a step away from the table and toward the door.  
    Doctor Krause turned from the debate and stood up from her chair. She busied herself with Ethan in a calculated attempt to avoid confrontation with the man who had unceremoniously whisked her away—she checked his temperature again and wrapped the blood pressure cuff around his arm, squeezing the bulb in her hand and watching the dial spin and shudder.  
    “You’re not wanted. We’ve been doing great on our own,” Darla added.
    “Totally looks that way,” Spencer said with a look around the room. Darla huffed, but stayed silent. “Look, chica. It doesn’t make sense anymore to stay at Pacific Lake. If you haven’t noticed we’re the only ones left. And I’m not gonna lie…the building is really starting to reek. But you’re in luck…I’ve got no ill-will. I’ll even bring my supplies with me.”
    “Oh, how suddenly generous .”
    “This is the way it’s going to be,” Spencer said to her and he turned to leave. “I’ve been eyeing that cute little tan house on the corner. Couple houses down from yours. Decorating style matches my taste already. Owners were probably at work when the virus hit…nary a bloater in sight.”
    “You’ve been snooping around our neighborhood?”
    “Shopping. Property is dirt-cheap right now. Surely you’ve noticed.”
    “You’re disgusting,” Darla rapped her knuckles on the table and swore under her breath. She closed her eyes tight and let out a throaty growl. “There’s no room for your ego up here.”
    “It seems a bit tactless