Free Sympatico Syndrome (Book 1): Infection (A Pandemic Survival Novel) by M.P. McDonald

books that might come in handy, grab them. We may not have Internet and we’ll have to look things up.”
    Piper bit her lip, glancing at her dad before looking at Cole. “I have some How-To books in my closet. I got them at a thrift store. I was going to glue them together and make a cool table out of them like I saw on Pinterest, but I guess I can still do that when we come back.”
    Sean’s lips clamped together, and he gave Piper a curt nod. “Fine.”
    She spun and ran back to her room as Cole shifted the bin of books. He lifted an eyebrow when Sean remained in the hallway, blocking his way. “This box isn’t getting any lighter, you know.”
    “Look, Cole—I get that you’re trying to help us. And I respect your expertise in this area, but my family is my domain. You don’t get to override my authority regarding my children.”
    Shocked, Cole simply nodded. “I apologize. I wasn’t trying to—” He broke off and hiked the bin higher. “I’m worried we might be out there a long time, and the kids will need something to keep them occupied. That’s all. I wasn’t trying to make you look bad.”
    Sean blew out a deep breath, shaking his head. “Fine. This thing is freaking me out.”
    “Yeah. Me too.” His fingers were going numb from the weight of the bin so he shouldered past Sean. He wanted to offer reassurance that everything would be all right, but he couldn’t make that offer.
----
    I t was noon before they had everything they felt they needed from Sean’s house. The beds had been the last things to go into the truck. Most of the other furniture had to be left behind. A few chairs and some folding tables were added, but Cole hoped the cabins at the island still had some furnishings. They had been furnished at one time, but it could all be gone by now. He tried to remember what the papers from the will had stated. It was just something about the land and holdings, whatever that meant. He had received a ring of keys to the various buildings. He hoped one was to the boathouse on the shore.
    Cole secured the back of the truck, and wiped his hands on his jeans, turning to Sean and Jenna, who were shoving last minute items into the back of their van. “I need someone to ride with me to get my vehicle at the truck rental place.”
    “I’ll go.” Sean tossed his keys to Jenna. “Are they going to follow us or meet us back at your place?”
    Cole started to tell Jenna to meet him at his house but then changed his mind. He wanted to stick together. “You might as well follow us. My house key is on my keychain with the car keys and it’s a pain to get off the ring.” That was his excuse, and they seemed satisfied with it, but really, he just had a gut instinct. In the five or so hours he had been here, he’d caught glimpses of the news on the television in the kitchen. Panic was already starting to erupt in larger cities as deaths increased.
    Cole pulled into the parking lot at the rental place. “Shit!” a guy stood beside Cole’s car, a rock in his hand, poised to bash in the rear passenger window. He laid on the horn, which startled the man. But it didn’t make him run. Instead, he raised the rock again.
    Slamming to a stop, Cole leaped out of the truck, leaving it running. “Hey, what the hell are you doing? That’s my car!”
    The man turned on Cole, the rock now aimed at him. “The stores were empty, but you have a shitload of food. I need stuff for my family!”
    “Sorry to hear it, but that doesn’t give you the right to steal from my family and me.”
    “Yeah, well, just try to stop me!” He raised the rock. Whether he was going to throw it at Cole or take a few steps closer and try to crush his skull with it, Cole never found out.
    “Drop the rock and step away.” There was the click of a safety.
    Cole watched Sean step up beside him, a gun in hand. His eyes widened. He hadn’t known Sean even owned a handgun.
    The man hesitated, but finally dropped the rock.
    “Now get out