There’s that school girl again – my partner. Sheesh.
* * *
Later that evening, I meet Dad again – back in the second floor of unit C in Trey Landing.
“What have you learned today son?”
“Well, I’ve learned that you’re not running this business with the same principles that make the IAB work.”
“Such as?”
“Most of the progress the police made has been due to how you assemble your teams. You’re putting zombies with zombies, and the IAB takes advantage of that. Heck, I took advantage of that. If you want the strength of zombies and clear thinking, you should have humans in the mix too.”
“I think you’re right Rob. We’ve been thinking we can control the zombies more easily and therefore trust them, but their nature makes them less trustworthy against a prepared opponent.”
“Exactly. This is going to hurt us unless we change it. We need a zombie/human balance to succeed. Look at how successful it’s made the IAB.”
“Great idea. I’ll get the team working on this right away. Speaking of the IAB…”
I walk over to two large center doors and attempt to open them.
“What’s back here?” I ask.
“That’s our vault, security room, and base of operations. Everything about the business is stored back there, including information and money. In the case of a serious intrusion, we can also lock in for safety. My partners aren’t ready to let you see the inside son. Not just yet.”
“Oh.” It’s time to change the subject. “You mentioned the IAB?” I’m not sure where Dad is going with this.
“We need to think about how to get rid of the IAB.”
“What? But the IAB is doing really well!”
“Exactly. Our organization will be stronger – in all the cities we do business – without zombie relations to hunt us down.” The expression on Dad is severe.
I’m finally getting it. “Of course – catching zombie criminals is exactly what the IAB is great at. If you want to run a zombie crime organization, get rid of the zombie catching cops!”
“Even our plan to use the original zombies to scare the mayor was ruined by the IAB.” He slams his fist on the table. “If the mayor doesn’t trust zombies, she can’t support the IAB.”
“This is funny in a twisted kind of way. Jake, the hero zombie cop, actually made the IAB look better yesterday, thanks to the original zombies you sent in.”
My dad is mad at this realization. “Damn it. We need to give the politicians a reason to pull the plug on the IAB, and zombie relations units everywhere that police have them.”
“Is this what you and the Chief disagreed about? Were you actually trying to get him to shut down the IAB?”
“Yes. And he wouldn’t go for it. I tried to find every misstep and bad choice in the IAB, and turn it into a case for dismantling the bureau I originally helped create. I tried reasoning directly with the mayor too – but she trusts the Chief and wouldn’t listen to me.”
“We need to figure out a way to give zombie cops a bad name. Perhaps we could set one of them up?”
“Perhaps. It would have to be a really compelling reason to have an impact on the whole department and beyond.”
“Okay, I’ll think about this some more. Boy, it will sure upset Dana if the IAB goes out of business – especially if she knew we had something to do with it.”
“You are correct. She absolutely can’t know about this – she thinks I’m doing this to ‘bring humans and zombies together for the benefit of all’.” He rolls his eyes. Clearly, he is not as committed to this unification mission as Dana thinks he is.
He continues. “But we have more pressing concerns about Dana. Did you have a chance to talk to her about our business today?”
“Yes. I can see what you mean about compartmentalizing. It seems that Dana only knows enough to stay committed to your organization and to you, quite frankly. But…” I stop to think.
“Go on.”
“But I’m not sure you’ll be able to trust Dana for much longer. She is starting to piece together the parts of your business you’ve been keeping from her. She just started to figure out your plans for the original zombies today. She did not like it that they were kept hungry to put on a better show.
“With her in zombie school,” my father winces at the term as I say it, “she is going to see things more and more from the perspective of the police.”
“Agreed.”
“And she is going to see the destruction caused by drugs to other zombies. Did you hear about the big drug-related multiple homicide that was called in tonight?”
“No.”
“Well, if she hears more of that, or learns that we’re trying to discredit the IAB, or learns what was done to those original zombies and why – she won’t remain committed anymore.”
“I agree. And?”
I can’t bring myself to say it. I just shrug. “How much does Dana know anyway?”
“She has contact information for each and every city we’re established in. Son, you know that Dana needs to be eliminated – or she will bring everything down.”
“Yes, she does.” I’m sad at this realization, although to be fair, I recognized the need before now.
I look my dad in the eyes and commit, “I’ll handle it.”
Chapter Eleven – Extinction
Tuesday June 29
Ah, Tuesdays. Meeting day in the Seattle PD, and it seems even worse in IAB. I guess the fact that Tuesday’s are a low day for crime activity makes it best for cop meetings.
Last night I convinced Dad that we didn't want Dana to die too close to a Seattle PD case, or we'd have FBI guys all over the place. He agreed.
I also said I'd try to think up a plan to discredit the IAB - with international implications. This should be no problem, right?
I’m at my desk planning when Dana arrives after zombie school - bouncy as usual.
I don’t ask about it, as usual.
She is just about to tell me all about it, when the captain rescues me.
Captain McDowell looks grim. “Dana, Rob – we need you in downtown Seattle. I want you two to check out this zombie massacre at a downtown brothel. The regular cops bagged and tagged everything last night - but they don't know how to question zombies for a full and complete story."
I stand up, anxious to get started on this without delay. “Got it Captain, we’re on our way.”
As Dana and I head to the stairway with Dana in the lead, I turn back around to face the captain. His expression is still even and focused. He winks at me.
I let Dana drive while I catch up on the case on route.
“Looks like we need to chat with some hookers and a bartender – mostly zombies. The perps that are still alive are in lockup.”
Dana stays focused on driving. Her zombie police training has taught her well – pay attention to driving, not other stuff. Zombies in particular need to stay 100% focused on the road – no texting! Regardless, she looks more and more serious as I continue to describe the case.
We arrive and meet with a couple of CSIs on the scene. They take us through the blood splatter directions, weapons used, and body counts. They suggest a few theories on how it may have gone down, based on evidence and witness accounts.
There are remnants of drug use all over. A lot of drugs. How many people were in this party anyway?
We talk to some of the girls that were around or heard what happened from their rooms.
The best information we receive is from the bartender. She was allowed to go home to sleep, but asked to return this morning to speak with us. She arrives as we are talking with some of the hookers.
“You’re Jan – is that right? The bartender working here yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“This is Detective Light, and I’m Detective Stack.” We show our IDs. “We’re from the Infected Affairs Bureau of the Seattle Police. I’m sure you spent a lot of time talking with police ye
sterday, but if you don’t mind we have some questions about the zombies that were involved.”
“Zombie Relations? Sure, go ahead.” She sits down in one of the chairs. We join her around a table.
“First off, are you a zombie yourself?”
“Yup. I’ve been a zombie for almost two years – working here the whole time.”
“Do you know your level?” Knowing this can be helpful in asking the right questions, in the right way.
“I tested at a level six. I couldn’t bring myself to hook, that’s why Ada has me working the bar.”
Wow. I haven’t met many sixes. I will have to be careful here – you can’t treat a six the same way you can a three. A six has more dignity, more empathy.
“Jan, I’m sure this has been a horrible experience for you. No doubt you lost some good friends yesterday. Can you tell us about them?”
Jan proceeds to explain what she knows about the girls. She gets more emotional as she mentions the last girl, Jennifer.
“Jennifer was just a new zombie. Her and I were already becoming such good friends. Ada asked me to take her out and explain how things work here.”
She sniffles a little as she pulls some papers from her purse.
“These are some photos we took together down on the pier.”
I recognize the girl. “This girl, Jennifer you say? I think I’ve seen her at the zombie church.”
“Really? She hasn’t been there that often. Maybe two times. She just turned.”
“What do you mean she just turned Jan?”
“She just became a zombie at the church. They sent her to Ada for a job, the same way I ended up here.”
Bingo. The church isn’t just staffing drug crime, but prostitution as well. Interesting that Dad didn’t share this with me.
Dana shakes her head and joins the conversation. “I’m sorry, but did you just say that the church sent this girl here for a job as a prostitute?”
“Yes – that’s right. I’m not supposed to tell anyone that, but I’m fucking done with this place.”
We ask Jan a few more questions about her involvement in the shooting and what she knows about the men, which isn’t much. They had been here before, but not too often. This was the first time they partied here with drugs.
“Dana, I’d like to visit the morgue next. Is that ok with you?”
“Sure.”
As we are driving in the car, I receive a call from my dad.
“Morning son. Tonight, the usual place. I’d like to introduce you to my partners.”
* * *
The critical ward of the hospital was no busier than usual. One room in particular contained one patient and one sleeping visitor, with two armed police guards outside.
Lights on the machines started acting up. The beeping increased with urgent effect. The visitor awoke, alarmed.
Outside the room, a nurse called over the PA – making an urgent request for a doctor.
Maria held her husband’s hand, tears flowing from her eyes. “Ben – you can fight this. Come back to me.”
A nurse entered first, followed by a doctor.
They politely but urgently moved Maria aside so they could work.
They injected the Chief with several drugs, pumped his chest, forced air into his lungs with a manual respirator, and finally used the defibrillator three times and attempted to restart his heart.
The attached machines continued to show flat lines. No heart rate, no oxygen. The doctor turned off the beeps emanating from the two machines.
“Nurse, please make a note. Patient Ben Hernández has been declared dead due to bullet wound complications at 11:36am on Tuesday June 29.”
He turned to talk to Maria.
“Maria, I’m terribly sorry that we couldn’t save your husband. You can stay with him for a few minutes to say goodbye.”
Maria was too stunned to reply. She just stared at her husband.
The doctor departed, leaving Maria to grieve, and the nurse to remove needles and equipment from the room.
* * *
After lunch, Ted was looking over several papers in despair. Dan had given him a challenging task to do. Now that his stupid kid is involved, I’m practically taking orders from him.
“Where am I going to find enough humans to pair up with all of our zombies?” Ted said aloud, and lightly pounded his fists on the table in frustration.
Ted had almost thirty male zombies paired up in distribution centers around the city. He had less than five human “employees”.
He continued talking to himself. Okay, what if I start by stack ranking these zombies by level. I’ll take my level twos out of operation for now – and put them on vacation, or non-critical jobs.
Then I’ll take our worst threes and pair as many of them as I can with our human employees. I’m not sure all the guys will like this; I’ll have to sell it to them as a supervisory role or something.
The remaining threes and fours I’ll pair up with the fives and sixes we have. Except one three and five pair I had were easily outwitted by this kid and Dana. Why the fuck did she have to shoot them? She should know better.
Ted continued to try different combinations and permutations of each zombie partnership, looking for the best possible combinations with the resources available. It seemed hopeless.
His cell phone rang. It was one of the other partners.
The voice was female. “Ted – I need to meet with you and Dana tonight, in person. We have something of critical importance to discuss – we can’t talk about it on the phone.”
“Okay. I’ll contact Dana.”
They discussed the time and place details, and then Ted hung up.
* * *
Dana and I decide to eat an early lunch before we visit the morgue. Dana might have a stomach of steel, but I always get a little queasy meeting the coroner.
Just after lunch, I get a call from my captain. “Rob, the Chief has just died. We won’t be able to sit on the incriminating evidence for much longer – have you figured it all out?”
“Almost boss. Appreciate the update.” I hang up.
Dana and I arrive at the morgue and make our way inside, signing in at the front desk.
The coroner was more upbeat than usual. “Let me take you through the men and women of our latest zombies’ gone wild party.”
“How many zombies Doc?” I ask.
“All of them. All of the prostitutes and all of the johns here are zombies. I hear the ones that made it through alive are also zombies.”
She walks us by several gurneys of women.
“Quite a lot of heroin and cocaine in each one. Generally speaking, the men have quite a bit more in their system than the women. Two of the men also have levels of alcohol that would be considered deadly toxic to a regular human.”
Dana stops by the men and looks at them carefully.
“What is it Dana?”
“I’ve seen these men before Rob. They all worked for that security firm I investigated. We were playing games together just this weekend. These were good men.”
“I’m sorry Dana.”
She stands and stares at the dead zombies around her.
* * *
“Chief, its Ted.”
“Hi Ted.”
“First, I thought you’d want to know that I haven’t been able to handle Maria yet. She’s spent most of her time at the hospital, and when she does leave she always has two cops with her.”
“I understand.”
“I hear that Ben died today.”
“About time. Hopefully the police will finally reveal some of the evidence they found.”
“Agreed. And Dan – I’ve been going over the resourcing challenge you gave me. I can improve some of our teams, but we don’t have enough humans on the payroll to solve the problem completely.”
“I understand. We’ll talk about that more tonight.”
“Okay – see you then.”
* * *
Later that eve
ning, I arrive upstairs at unit C to see my dad seated in the comfy chair.
“Hey Dad.”
“Hi son.”
I take a chair nearby. “When will the others get here?”
“Soon.”
“Shall we go inside?” I motion to the central vault.
“Perhaps later.” Darn it.
“I’ve been giving our problem with the IAB a lot of thought today. I think I HAVE A PLAN.” I speak loudly and clearly.
“Really?”
Right at that moment, a siren sounds and some lights appear outside by the front door. Dad steps up and over to the window to have a look. “It seems the police are here. Did they follow you?”
“Why the hell would they follow me?”
We can hear people entering noisily, and coming up the stairs.
“Shit – what do we do Dad?”
“Nothing. We’re just a couple of guys talking to each other. The police won’t do anything.”
We wait. I’m nervous as all hell.
Jake and Mac step through the door to the stairs.
“What the fuck are you doing here Mac?” I ask in a surprised voice.
“I’m sorry Rob. The captain has asked us to take you in. Something about hiding evidence to protect your father. More police are on the way.”
“What? What the hell?” I look at my dad in shock. His eyes glance meaningfully at my holster.
I turn around. Neither of the guys has their gun out. They trust me. They expect us to talk this through.
As I reach for my gun, my father dives behind some chairs and a desk for cover. I draw faster than Jake – I take aim at his chest and fire. Jake goes down.
Mac has managed to pull his gun out almost as quickly as me. He takes a shot and I can feel a sting on my side. I fight to stay standing, while I aim for him. I pull the trigger and hit him in the right side of his chest, right near the heart. Mac goes down.
Dad has been watching this through the chairs. I fall backwards a little and stumble towards him.
“I think I’ve been shot. Fuck.” I sit down in a chair and put my gun away so I can put both my hands over the blood seeping out.
Dad rushes over to check on me.
I stand up weakly. “Did he say there were more cops on the way? Shit. I need to get out of here Dad. I’m fucked up.”
“Okay son, let’s get you inside.”
He walks over to the double security doors leading to the vault. He types in a four digit code to let us in. I notice the number – it’s Mom’s birthday. How touching.
He opens the door and helps me limp inside. The door closes securely behind us.