Verge of Extinction (Apex Predator Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

presence.  He pointed to the boat across from them.  “Check that one,” he ordered Mike.  “Kerry, the one next to it,” he barked.  He charged down the pier to the next available boat.
    This boat was larger than the others.  It had an enclosed pilot house.  He was sure it would have an area below decks also.  He grabbed the door to the pilothouse and threw it open without thinking.  It took only a nanosecond for his brain to acknowledge his mistake; too late, as it turned out.
    The thing in front of him had obviously been dead for a long time.  The odor that poured from the enclosed cabin would have made SSgt Brown retch had he had time to think about it, which he did not.
    The zombie had been a fat man in life, maybe 350 pounds.  It had no hair anywhere, making it look older than it probably was.  Had it not been for the vice-like grip and the gnashing teeth, SSgt Brown thought, this guy would actually look frail.  These thoughts took up the next few nanoseconds of SSgt Brown’s life.
    Luckily for him, his training and combat experience kicked in before his conscious mind did.  His right hand shot underneath the ghoul’s chin, forcing its head away from him.  Next he allowed the weight of the zombie to push him back a half of a step.  This gave him room to get his foot up and kick the zombie in the chest.
    Both zombie and would-be victim went sprawling in opposite directions.  He felt the boat rock gently on the water from the impact.  He clambered back to his feet, his mind clearing as he did.  He withdrew the pistol from its holster on his right hip.  The zombie was just reaching its feet as the big man fired a single .45 caliber full-metal-jacket round into the zombie’s head.  Black and pink mist exploded from the gaping hole in the monster’s head.
    After he brushed himself off, he re-entered the pilothouse.  There, in the ignition were the keys.  Without a thought he reached over and gave them a turn.  The engines fired on the first try.  The others were jumping onto the back of the boat.  Having heard the gunshot, they were already moving in his direction.
    SSgt Brown slowly backed the boat out of its slip as Mike cast off the lines.  Looking to his right, he could see Jackson and Theresa were also slowly drifting away from the pier.  A thumbs-up from Jackson told him that everything was ok.
    Back in open waters, ‘Bamma took the lead.  Mike took the opportunity to explore their new cabin cruiser.  He ducked as he passed beneath SSgt Brown’s feet.  As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he noticed that the smell of death was getting stronger.
    He slowly withdrew his pistol, keeping it pointed at the deck below his feet.  He was standing at the end of a short hallway.  There were two closed doors, one on each side.  He could see a microwave oven through the open door at the opposite end of the hall.  Blood streaked the only wall he could see.  His stomach began doing cartwheels.  He could feel it.  Something wasn’t quite dead down here.
    He slid down the wall until he was close to both doors.  He put his left hand on the door to his left, as if he could feel something on the other side.  Nothing.  He reached out and allowed the door to swing open.  The room was a small bathroom.  Anything hiding in there would have to be a contortionist.  He pulled the door closed as quietly as he could.
    He guessed the second door would have to be some kind of sleeping quarters.  That was about the only thing he hadn’t seen on this boat, a bed.  Again, he placed his left hand flat on the door.  Again, he couldn’t feel anything on the other side.  He reached for the handle.
    “What are you doing down here,” Kerry called out as she descended the stairs.  Mike jumped back, accidently squeezing the trigger of his pistol as he did.  The big black handgun bucked as the .40 caliber round flew towards the now opening door.
    He turned toward the girl, his face pale with