American Infection (Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and six minivans from the 1990s sat in the parking lot. This was the kind of place that probably didn't want you to test drive their vehicles before purchasing them.
    "Beggars can't be choosers," Matt said, speaking to the look on Melissa's face.
    Matt crossed into the lot and began looking inside the cars, first a Toyota Corolla then a Ford Taurus. He shrugged, then looked back at the group.
    "We'll check inside for keys," Matt said. "We can keep an eye out for a better deal, but as long as it runs, it's better than walking."
    Rob turned to look at me and I waved him forward. Matt and Rob walked up to the entrance, which used to be someone's front door before the tenants moved out and a car salesman turned the place into a lemon lot. Rob tried the knob but it didn't budge. He stepped back and gave a swift kick just left of the handle. Wood splintered as the door burst open. The sound was much louder than I cared for, and I scanned the surrounding area. Rob's action hero antics didn't appear to have immediately attracted any visitors.
    Several minutes later, as I waited outside with the girls, slowly turning in a circle keeping an eye out for any movement, Rob and Matt emerged from the building. They looked around the lot. Matt pointed in the direction of the minivans. They jogged to a blue Dodge Caravan sitting in the corner of the lot nearest the road. Matt unlocked the driver's side door, jumped in and cranked her to life. With a giant smile, he leaned out of the open door and, looking back at the three of us still standing in the middle of the road, said "Let's go."
    Back on Route 1, we began passing houses on both sides of the road. Nice homes, well‐kept ranches and Cape Cods, most with at least one car in the driveway. None of the houses showed any signs of having been destroyed by ravenous infected, or uninfected scavengers. Apparently the folks in this town had either bunkered down as soon as the attacks began, or had managed to evacuate shortly thereafter.
    Past the houses, businesses appeared. We passed a pizza joint and another auto dealership, not much nicer than the one where we had acquired the minivan. Matt slowed the car to a cool 20 mph, uncertain if speeding through town was a good idea when we had no clue what town we were in or how big it might be.
    The next intersection was Route 1 and Route 222. It seemed like a major intersection; major for this town anyhow. To our left on the corner was a Royal Farms convenience store and a set of 12 gas pumps. To our right, up Route 222 about 100 yards, was a place called Rick's Gun and Pawn. Matt looked at Rob in the passenger seat. Rob nodded knowingly. They both turned around.
    "What do you guys think?" Matt asked, glancing from me to Sarah to Melissa then back again. "I haven't seen a single person. I say we park the car here. I'll leave the keys in the ignition. Jason, you take Sarah and Melissa into the store and grab as much water and food as you can carry, maybe make a couple trips if you can. Rob and I will check out the pawn shop and see if we can upgrade our weapon status here."
    "You sure that's a good idea, splitting up?" asked Sarah.
    I looked around, but didn't see any movement. The entire town was silent and still. Too quiet, I thought, but I couldn't think of a reason not to gather up some necessities now that we had the space and the ability to carry them. We could definitely use a few packages of beef jerky, just for the protein. And I wasn't comfortable with the weapons and ammunition we had, considering how populated West Chester was. I knew we'd be in for a fight.
    "I think Melissa should stay in the car," I said. "If she sees anything, she can honk the horn and we get our asses back here ASAP."
    "You're gonna fuckin' leave me alone?" Melissa asked. "Are you kidding me?"
    "Fine, Sarah, you stay here," I said. Turning to Melissa, I asked "Does that work?"
    Melissa nodded. She wouldn't be happy no matter what we did, I thought, but she needed to