Free Dead Series (Book 2): A Little More Dead: Gunfire & Sunshine by Sean Thomas Fisher Page A

in the big league.”
    “The Sprint Cup?”
    “And he would’ve
made it in another season or two. Nothing could stop the two of them.” She
swiped at another tear. “Now everything’s gone and it was all for nothing.”
    Paul stared into
her dark browns. “Not everything.”
    “No?”
    “No.”
    “Yeah, I guess
you’re right. We still have breakfast bars.”
    Paul laughed and
it felt good. He grew quiet and shifted on the couch, watching Stephanie sip
her coffee. “Did you get a flu shot this year?”
    She frowned. “Flu
shot? Why? You don’t think…”
    “We haven’t come
across many people but, so far, it’s still on the table. Until you answer
anyway.”
    “Well, I didn’t
get one. The last time made me so sick I couldn’t keep anything down for a
week.” She pressed her lips together, eyes locking onto his over the rim of her
cup. “What if?”
    He held her gaze,
imagining all those people standing in line at Walgreen’s and CVS. What if?
What if all of them lined up to die? And what if someone did this on purpose?
“We’ll probably never know.”
    “Not unless they
fix the internet or we come across an infectious disease specialist.”
    “Ooh, look at the
big brain on the cheerleader. Infectious disease specialist. I would’ve just
said doctor.”
    Lightly slapping
his thigh, she traded a warm smile with him that he happily returned. A few
seconds went by and no one knew what to say next but it wasn’t awkward. It was
relaxed and easy and Paul felt her pain. Sometimes words, no matter how carefully
chosen, could only get in the way.
    “I’m glad you’re
here,” Stephanie said, breaking the silence between them.
    He smiled. “Me
too.”
    “There you are!”
    Startling, they
turned to see Wendy standing at the top of the stairs.
    “I thought you
were getting me a juice box,” she said, strolling closer.
    “Jesus, you move
like a cat.”
    “I should check on
Curtis.” Stephanie rose from the couch, flashing Wendy a tight-lipped smile on
the way by.
    Wendy took her
spot on the couch, cozying up to Paul like they were married and literally
getting under his skin. She leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed. “I just
love waking up in this house. It’s beautiful.”
    He scooted a
little away. “I’ve seen worse.”
    “It’s a long way
from my tiny two-bedroom apartment in Dwight, Kansas.”
    Stephanie came
back into the room, an unsettled look in her eyes as she scanned the bloodstain
on the floor.
    “What’s wrong?”
Paul asked.
    Coming around the
pool table, she searched the floor and then the couch, twisting her fingers in
the sunlight. “I can’t find my ring.”
    “ Ring ?” Wendy said, getting up to check
the cushion beneath her.
    Paul swallowed
hard as a slow shiver wormed down his spine.
    ☠
    Everyone ate breakfast
out on the top floor balcony, watching the sun-sparkled ocean without speaking.
Despite the cushioned patio furniture, it made getting comfortable an
impossible feat. This morning sat in stark contrast to yesterday. Yesterday,
Paul barely had time to breathe, let alone think; now he had too much time and
it was a dangerous combination. He couldn’t see Sophia’s face again and it
crippled his spirit. In between some grapes and Pop-Tarts, he rehydrated with
plenty of water to push back against the dull thud rotating inside his head
from last night’s whiskey. This whole plan turned out to be a bad idea and the
thought of staying here another minute made his skin crawl. Brock was right in
the dream. Sitting here waiting for those decomposing bastards to come to Paul
wasn’t the solution. He had to take the fight to them.
    The best defense is a good offense.
    Popping another
grape into his mouth, he stared at the bodies littering the perimeter of the fence
line. He didn’t hear a single gunshot in his sleep but it was obvious Curtis
took out some aggressions on his fans after last night’s show.
    “I still don’t get
how you knew it was under the