Fighting to Survive (As the World Dies #2)(89)

“If we head to the store and make a production of it, that will pull them out. And we can use it as a diversion to get the last of our survivors in,” Nerit said in a slightly quavering voice. “We need to pull them out. Get them to confront us.”

“So we can get into a fight with the bandits?” Peggy looked at her incredulously.

“No, so we can show them they can't beat us,” Nerit answered grimly.

Travis looked at Nerit long and hard, then slowly nodded. “I get where you are going with this.”

“We'll work out the details, but I have the general plan already in my head,” Nerit answered.

Jenni exploded into the lobby of the hotel. Her fury was livid in her eyes and her skin was flushed. “Where the hell is Bill?”

“Communication center,” Peggy said, and pointed down the hall. “He's training Ken.”

“What's going on?” Katie stepped toward Jenni.

“Fucktard got Dylan killed!” She pointed behind her, trembling with rage.

Curtis came into view, his head down, looking pale. “Jenni, I didn't mean t0-”

“Oh, shut up!”

Katarina and Felix appeared behind Curtis. Katarina laid a gentle hand on the younger man's shoulder.

“Let it go, Jenni,” she said in a soft voice.

“No! I won't! He's the gawddamn Vigilante! He told Dylan to go into that storeroom and it had a f*ckin' zombie inside! He did it on purpose cause he was mad at him for smoking weed!”

Curtis was trembling with emotion and looked up at Jenni, tears streaming down his face. “I thought it was clear!”

“You liar!”

“Get Bill,” Travis said in a soft voice to Katie. “And Juan.”

Katie gave him a quick nod and hurried down the hall.

Travis pushed off from the counter and walked slowly toward Jenni. “Jenni, things go wrong out there. You know it.”

Jenni whirled around, toward Travis. “Dylan was a boy! He's just a boy! Curtis got him killed.”

“I thought it was clear!” Curtis' face was red, his hands clenched at his side.

Katarina held onto Curtis shoulder, partially to comfort him, partially to keep him back from Jenni.

“It was not an easy ride back with these two going at it,” Felix grumbled.

“I want him locked up!” Jenni stomped her foot.

“Jenni, calm down. We need to take care of this in a calm manner.”

Peggy slowly walked up behind Travis, glad for his gentle demeanor. She, personally, wanted to slap Jenni and shake Curtis, but she also felt sick at the thought of someone so young dying so horribly. Poor Dylan.

Bill appeared with Katie, hoisting up his belt and looking slightly annoyed. “What's going on?”

Jenni and Curtis started talking at the same time. Katarina and Felix kept trying to interject, but the noise was unbelievable. Peggy felt like screaming at them to shut up.

Bill raised a hand. Everyone fell silent.

“Curtis, talk to me. What happened?” Bill looked at the younger man with a fatherly compassion that Peggy admired.

“We were in the Walgreen's. We made a sweep through. I checked the storeroom. Didn't see nothing. Told Dylan to go in and start organizing what we needed to take. I went to get a dolley. I heard him screaming and ran in. I guess the zombie came off a shelf or something. I don't know. I shot both of them.” Tears were streaming down Curtis' face. He rubbed at his flushed cheeks furiously.

Bill looked at Katarina and Felix. “Is that what you saw?”

“I didn't see anything, but I heard Curtis telling Dylan to take care of things in the storeroom,” Katarina answered.

“I didn't check the storeroom myself, but I heard Curtis call it as clear.” Felix shrugged.

“He sent him in there to die!” Jenni couldn't hold her tongue anymore. “He did it on purpose!”

Juan came running into view just then. His boot heels rang out in the huge lobby. He skidded to a stop near Jenni. “Babe?”

“Curtis did it on purpose,” Jenni shouted again, tears streaming down her face. “He did it on purpose. He's the f*ckin' Vigilante! It could have been Jason! He could have killed my son!”

The minute the words left Jenni's lips, the atmosphere in the room changed significantly. Peggy could feel it. The accusation against Curtis suddenly felt impotent. Bill reached out and snagged the younger man's shoulder in a firm, comforting grip.

Juan grabbed Jenni's arm and twirled her into his arms. She clung to him, crying violently.

“Curtis, go to your room. Clean up. Rest up. We'll talk later,” Bill ordered.

Katarina and Felix both sighed as Bill shooed them off as well.

Katie smoothed Jenni's hair back from her face as Juan whispered in her ear.

“You two, calm her down?”

Juan nodded to Bill. He helped Katie lead Jenni away.

Travis stood beside Peggy. “What do you think?” He looked at Bill pointedly.

“Shit happens out there. People die. And it ain't easy,” Bill answered.

“Can't disagree with ya there.” Slowly, Travis turned back to where Nerit was still studying the map. “C'mon, Peggy. We got work to do.”

Peggy looked back at Curtis one more time before the elevator doors shut. Her stomach clutched tightly. Her nerves were getting the best of her. It was a f*cked up world and she hated it. But at least Bill and Travis were there to make it better.