Zombies! (Episode 7): Conflicts of Interest Read Online Free Page A

the word pinched . It described exactly what she felt.
     
     
    "Martin hates his job," she said. "But at least he has one. Sammy's fine. I think he feels the tension, but really doesn't understand what's going on." He was only two years old.
     
     
    "I wish I could say the same," Heron said. "Mellie's seen and heard too much. Alicia tells me that she wakes up every night screaming that her daddy's been killed."
     
     
    "But you don't go out on calls, do you?" Abby asked.
     
     
    "Sometimes, but I don't really put myself in harm's way. Naughton would have my head."
     
     
    She smiled. "You're that valuable?"
     
     
    He smiled back. "They'd better give me a day off and soon. I'm starting to become a zombie myself."
     
     
    They eased into a conversation after that. A few minutes went by with simple chit chat, enough to relax them both. Abby brightened as the door opened and in walked John Arrick. Heron turned to see him and knew they had met before but couldn't place the face. Arrick recognized the lieutenant immediately.
     
     
    From Abby's perspective, Arrick looked terrible. He was, if anything, thinner. He certainly hadn’t been working out so he must not have been eating. His eyes were sunken and she could see dark circles underlining them. He had this perpetual expression of doom. For a moment, it appeared as if he was going to turn around and leave, but he thought better of it.
     
     
    "How are you, John? What brings you in?"
     
     
    He tried a small smile. "It's a testing day so I don't start for another hour and a half. Late proctoring, you know. I thought I might try getting back to my exercises."
     
     
    "That's great," Abby said. "Oh, this is Lieutenant Anthony Heron. He's a friend of mine."
     
     
    "We've met," Arrick said.
     
     
    Heron finally nodded. "Suzanna DeForest, right? I'm really sorry about that."
     
     
    Arrick shook his head. "Ancient history at this point, mate."
     
     
    Heron nodded. "You seem healthy, though. That's good to see."
     
     
    Arrick pounded his chest weakly. "Can't bring down a good Scot."
     
     
    Heron laughed, then turned back to Abby. "I've got to go anyway. It was good to see you Abby."
     
     
    "You, too, Anthony. Please don't be a stranger."
     
     
    Smiling, he said a polite goodbye to Arrick and left.
     
     
    Abby turned to the Scotsman and said, "Where do you want to start?"
     
     
    He shook his head. "I actually don't have as much time as I said. I came to tell you something."
     
     
    Her smile faded.
     
     
    "I know we don't know each other that well, but you're a good natured sort and I trust you. Last week, you told me that you were part of this group. An anti-zombie group."
     
     
    She shook her head. "I wasn't happy with their methods."
     
     
    "Then you've got your policeman friend." Arrick jerked a thumb out toward the door. "Either way, you've got someone to tell. And me, I barely have the strength to tell you."
     
     
    She reached forward and took his hand. She was overcome by this conflicting feeling of pity and dread. Wanting so much to help him, she would shoulder any burden he dumped onto her. But she knew that her own psyche was fragile at this point. How much more could she take?
     
     
    "There's a place in the Bronx where men fight zombies in a ring for sport. They pack the place and make a lot of money from the betting." Reaching into his coat, he pulled out the same battered business card that the stranger had given him. It had the address and times of the fights written on the back. He placed it on the counter.
     
     
    She looked at it but didn't touch it. "Seriously? How did you get involved?"
     
     
    "I went to fight."
     
     
    "Fight? John, why would you do that?"
     
     
    "They can't hurt me, Abby. I've had the disease and recovered. I was with Suzanna when she died and turned. We fought and she bit me."
     
     
    Abby let go of his hand as if it were burning.
     
     
    "I don't blame you," he said. "I suppose I could be a carrier