Controlling the Dead Read Online Free PDF

days,” Bunyan’s deep voice says impatiently, ignoring Ty. The guy is as tall as he is muscular—an axe man in the old life. Ty is just as baggy and slouchy as ever. He bounces, and I assume he can’t sit still. His little dreads bob on the top of his head. He flashes me a gold smile.
    I hop out of the van and ask, “Days?” They nod simultaneously as Reece strides up.
    “What happened?” Reece inquires.
    Bunyan looks behind him. I follow his gaze to see Felix, Sam, and Thomas lounging on the ground. Tents are set up in a semicircle to shape their makeshift campground in the middle median of an interstate overcrowded with cars. Tools, first-aid kits, jugs of water, and other items cover the ground. They must have looted from vehicles while they waited.
    My brows draw together. They probably can’t see it from the sunglasses. I don’t wait for anyone to answer Reece. “Where’s Dalton?”
    Bunyan explains, “The Coalition sent him back to wherever he’s stationed. You wouldn’t believe the questioning we had to go through. Like an interrogation. They basically took the bags of vaccine and sent us on our way.”
    Glancing at Reece, he nods his head in reassurance. The little we discussed of Mago last night, we decided to tell the team. “We found Mago.”
    Thomas jumps up from his lounging position, “Did you kill him?” Thomas is average and soft. I believe he held some corporate job in the old life. At first, he had major problems with me, being an asshole whenever possible. My trauma has softened his attitude toward me. His brown hair needs a cut. The wind wisps it away from his forehead.
    “No. Actually, he might help us.” Reece and I relay the information Mago told us and about his daughter, Mya, while they listen with rapt attention. The team takes the news of the vaccine much the same way we did. Reece explains my mishap with Pappers. We also discuss our theory on what is in those vials. There’s a long moment of terse silence as it soaks in.
    “Damn,” Bunyan voices the understatement of the year. The team peers at me as if I’m the unluckiest person on the planet right now. I have to agree.
    “So we aren’t getting any help from the military?” Reece states more than asks, just to be clear on the subject.
    Bunyan shifts on his huge feet, looking impatient. “We didn’t say that. They are already working on it, but we shouldn’t get involved,” he mocks, which sounds comical with his ultra deep voice. “Also, they sent Mac back to the community.”
    My head snaps up, hurting my neck. They all observe my reaction. “You saw him?” I ask Bunyan. Blood rushes through my body as my heart pounds, and not because Mac is back at the community. I’m not ready to deal with any of it.
    Bunyan shakes his head. “No, he left before we got there.” He’s been back at the community for over a week. Rather than putting a hindrance on my plans, this development confirms them.
    I pull Reece to the side and lower my voice, “Let me borrow the bike.”
    He nods instantly, probably thinking I want to get back to the community faster. He’ll want details, but I attempt to explain, “It’s not what you think. I need to do something. Alone.”
    He lifts his sunglasses to the top of his head to look at me. “Where are you going? And don’t think about lying to me.”
    “My hometown and that’s all you need to know for right now. Give me two days, three tops.”
    By his intense speculating, I can tell he doesn’t like this. “Why don’t we go back to the community first? Glinda will come with us.”
    “I said alone.”
    “Yeah, well, I won’t be alone. In fact, there’s this really big guy that’s not going to leave me alone until I tell him everything I know.”
    “Tell him what you know, then. He can wait.” I look away from him. “He’ll understand.”
    I peer at Reece. He sees my face and visibly slumps. “I despise four wheels,” he gripes and hands me the keys to the motorcycle.