Free Hero for Hire by Margaret Madigan Page A

looking for some pharmaceutical grade coke. No big deal. Actually, we were just leaving,” I said.
    One of her minions started toward Randy, who backed away. The man-zombie just kept after him despite Randy’s frantic kicking, finally grabbing him by the hair and putting him in a headlock.
    “Care to try again?” the woman asked.
    I had no idea how I’d get us out of this. The look of barely guarded terror on Randy’s face didn’t help my creative muse, either. Unless I missed the mark, his still-fresh memories of zombie apocalypse street life wouldn’t serve him for the better here. I needed to get him out. Now.
    Miriam tilted her head at me. “Well?”
    “Just a couple of books,” I answered.
    “What kind of books?”
    I sighed. “Journals, actually.”
    Her brows shot up and she barked a gurgly, rattling laugh.
    “Gwyn Snow’s journals?” she asked.
    I closed my eyes briefly, wishing for inspiration, but getting none. Rufus had inched his way to my side. He hung on tight to my pants leg.
    “Yes. Gwen Snow’s journals,” I answered.
    “Did she send you?”
    “Yes.”
    “So, the little bitch is still alive and working on a cure.”
    “You must be Miriam,” I said, stating the now obvious.
    She grinned. It was the most hideous cracked-lip, blistery grimace I’d ever seen.
    “I’m going to let you go,” she said, “but only if you agree to deliver a message to Gwyn for me.”
    My heartbeat thudded in my chest at my luck. I’d agree to anything to get us out of there. “Sure, no problem.”
    “You tell Gwyn she can have her books, but she has to come here to get them to finish her work.”
    “Sure. You betcha. We’ll tell her first thing when we see her. Won’t we, boys?” I headed for Randy, intent on freeing him. He looked like all his concentration was wrapped up in maintaining his sanity. “C’mon guys, let’s go.”
    “I don’t think so,” Miriam said. “What guarantee do I have you’ll deliver the message? I think I’ll keep the boys as my insurance.”  
    Randy’s eyes got huge. He went crazy fighting to get away from the man-zombie, kicking, clawing and screaming. It was the perfect distraction to get Randy, so I grabbed my pistol and ran, with Rufus right behind me.
    It only took a heartbeat before all hell broke loose with Miriam and her minions jumping into the chase. Randy did a backward head-butt of the man-zombie holding him, finally managing to free himself. I grabbed the front of Randy’s shirt and shoved him toward an exit sign at the back of the lab. Rufus scurried from behind me, following Randy. I ran after them, turning mid-stride to shoot at the closest used-to-be-scientist chasing us. My bullet hit him square in the face, stopping him in his tracks, sending a large chunk of his head spewing behind him.
    That was enough gore for me, so I ran out the exit door after the boys.
    “Stairs!” I yelled. We found the stairs at the corner of the building, slamming the door open, throwing ourselves down them at top speed. I heard the door crash open above us when we were halfway to the first floor. A whole herd of footsteps chased us downward.
    When we spilled out of the basement stairwell, we found all the lights on. A woman scientist-zombie stood ready to release the room full of doomed experiments gone bad. My blood ran cold at the thought of being cornered by those things.
    I turned to head back the way we’d come, but Miriam and her friends exited the stairwell heading toward us. Picking the nearest door, I kicked it near the handle, breaking it clear of the doorframe. Inside I grabbed a chair and swung it up at the window, shattering it.  
    “Come on Rufus,” I yelled, but when he didn’t answer I spun to find Randy back in custody, with Rufus halfway between us. He looked at me, then back at Randy, who at this point had tears streaming down his face. Fear showed on Rufus’ face, too, but he stepped to Randy and took his hand.
    “I’ll stay with him,