The
Zombie
Chronicles

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Finished works:
   Billions
    ---
   Outbreak
    ---
   Undead
     Advantage
    ---
   Found
    ---
   About a Woman
    ---
   Short Stories

Works in Progress:
   TZC2: Discovery

Works on hold:
   Zombie Nation
    ---
   Zombieboy

Found

Chapter 17

Chapter 17 Three weeks had passed since Theodore Roderson's suicide. A wrongful death suit had been filed against Brian, Captain Baston and the Greater Area Police Department by Roderson senior, the courts would work that one out and Brian tried not to take it personally. The investigation had grown cold. After speaking with Captain Baston, she agreed the evidence supported a possible supernatural zombie as the killer, and had agreed not to file the death as a suicide. Roderson senior alleged, in the web newspapers, that this was a ploy to prevent taking responsibility for the death of his son and weaken his lawsuit against everyone involved.

No one had more experience dealing with super zombies than Brian and his, ironically, was only of almost being killed by one. Still there was no one else. Unfortunately if there was a super running around in old Des Moines, it had covered its tracks very well. Brian's investigation into Club Necrolagnia had led no where, the club bartenders had been indecisive about whether Theodore junior had been there New Year's eve or not, they all allowed that he could have been. Teddy's friends had said they hit a lot of clubs that night and only one said he was pretty sure they had gone to Necrolagnia, that one, was, of course, Matt Donner. After the initial discussion Matt had clammed up, wondering why Brian was still bothering. Brian's two interviews with Matt had been like day and night, the first one Matt had been open and talkative, during the second one he was accompanied by a lawyer and would not say or confirm anything he had said during the first interview, other than that he might have been mistaken about which clubs they had visited on New Year's eve.

Club Necrolagnia was clean, or at least there was nothing overly incriminating there. Brian had pulled a warrant to search the property for drugs and he had found contraband, needles, a small amount of amphetamines, other drug paraphernalia, minor stuff these days and not worth making any arrests over. They fined the club, confiscated the materials and pulled a list of everyone who had paid with debit cards (credit cards were almost non-existent after the fall.) for the last few months. In his spare time Brian ran down some of the debit purchases and when the department could spare the resources they put people into the club, took pictures of the clientèle and investigated the workers backgrounds, looking for anything out of place.

Kaylee and Brian had started officially dating, but had yet to consummate their relationship. Of all the things about the case Kaylee was the best that had happened. They had done the usual 'couple' things together in the last three weeks, including one evening with Walt and Flo that Brian could not wait to repeat. The problem was work, there were very few detectives in the greater police department and often Brian's job took him to outlying communities overnight and when he was in Des Moines there were still cases to investigate, court dates to attend and physical therapy.

In fact, Brian thought to himself, I have not seen Kaylee in four days. What am I doing?

He was sitting in his office going through more debit card transactions, his other tasks for the evening included writing up the report on the murder he had been called to investigate this morning and after that he wanted to swing by the Necrolagnia, to remind them that the police were still interested in tracking down the murderer and still thought someone there had been involved. Looking at the clock Brian saw that it was already ten past ten in the evening.

I am not going to get all this done. Prioritize, I gotta prioritize this stuff better. He put off the debit transactions, mentally shoved the visit to Necrolagnia to the next night and pulled up the file on this mornings murder. Fortunately most of the paperwork had been filled out at the scene, the woman's roommate was already in custody and would probably be going to the front as a conscripted soldier or heading to the gallows in a day or two. Brian filled in the blank spots of the forms and submitted the report before powering down his computer. Ten fifty, I wonder if it is too late to give Kaylee a call? It is a Friday night, so maybe....

Brian's cell phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. “Hello?” He answered without looking at the caller.

“Brian? This is Officer Dodd, I am following your man, ah Matt Conner, for you tonight. I was told to call if he did anything unusual.”

Perking up, Brian answered, “Yes, you have the right guy, what is our boy up to this fine Friday evening?”

“He left the house, walked about three blocks and got into a sedan, they are headed towards downtown now, on the back streets.”

Sighing Brian responded again, with a little irritation in his voice, “Anything unusual in this?” Brian didn't want a play by play of the activities of Matthew Conner, he was only supposed to be called with unusual events.

“Uh, oh right, sorry detective, the car is not registered to anyone. I called the plates in and they came back negative for current registration. Belonged to Marty Feguson before z-day.”

“Alright officer Dodd, that is news, are you going to pull them over?”

“With a possible super in that car? Not without help! Should I call in for backup or just observe them?”

Brian hesitated, “Just observe them. I'll stay on the line.”

“Will do. They haven't seen me yet, there is a lot of traffic out here, you'd think gas was available again, I have seen four other cars tonight alone.”

Chuckling Brian said, “Yeah, I know it is difficult, do what you can to find out where they are going. Are you in a black beauty?”

“Yeah, number three, the good one.”

'Black Beauties' were the names of three vehicles the department had that were used for stakeouts. Because vehicles had become so rare, if someone was under observation a stakeout car was usually pretty obvious. The 'BB's were painted matte black, had lights that could be turned completely off and used an infrared beam to see in the dark. The windows were also all tinted, but not mirrored, plus the fact that the cars were all one hundred percent electric meant that they didn't give off any noise pollution or even smells that might alert someone that the cars were even in use. A few creative dents and dings and someone glancing at the car might think it was just another derelict sitting on the curb from before z-day. Of course they still were not incredibly effective, cars moving around were rare, so unless officer Dodd was really smooth the people he was pursuing knew he was there.

Brian followed Dodd's pursuit for fifteen minutes, when the car parked downtown, officer Dodd let out a loud burst of profanity.

“What?”, demanded Brian.

“He didn't get out.”

“What?”

“A female got out and headed down the street towards the bars, but Matt didn't get out.”

“So stay on Matt, let the girl go.”

“No, you don't understand, I don't see him in the car. I need to go check it, but I think he gave me the slip.”

“Shit! Check the car, then follow the girl. I am on my way down there now, I will be there in ten minutes.”, Brian said.

“Roger. I will stay on the phone with you.”

As Brian made a mad dash for his department car he heard Dodd approach the now abandoned car and report that it was empty, then Dodd went after the woman he had seen, however she was no where to be found. By the time Brian arrived Dodd was back at the Black Beauty waiting for him.

Hanging up his phone Brian hobbled over and said, “Which is their car?”

Dodd brought him over to the vehicle and Brian tried to open the door, it was unlocked and he glanced inside. The vehicle was in rough shape, the keys were still in the ignition. Popping them out Brian circled around and opened the hood. Empty, not even a spare tire.

“A distraction. They gave up a car and gas to distract us and get Matt out for a night.”

“'They' who?”, Officer Dodd countered.

“Whomever did this. Don't tell me there was not someone behind this, there had to be. Officer, why don't you head back to Matt's house and tell me if you see him come home. Thanks for this too, it was important, you did good.”

Nodding Officer Dodd went back to his car and drove off. Brian stood there for awhile and had just made the decision to head over to Club Necrolagnia when his phone went off again. This time he looked at the incoming call. “Hi Kaylee!”, he answered.

“Oh! Hi Brian, you answered quick. What are you doing?”

“Clubbing tonight, still on the job.”

“Yeah, I'll bet, where you at?”

“Heading over to...look I am just trying to find this woman.”

“Hrmph.”, Kaylee pouted, “I am a woman, can't you come fine me?”

“Ah tempting, can I swing by later? How long will you be up?”

“Late. Real late, why don't you call me when you get done? You working tomorrow?”

“Well I had plans to run down a few things...”

“Take a day off, come hang out with me. I am going over to Walt's he and Flo have steak! Steak and they invited me 'and a date' over. You want to come or not?”

“Kaylee I wouldn't miss that for the world.”

“Good we are supposed to be there at two and bring an extra set of cloths, its a sleep over, and bring pajamas if you think you will need them.”

“Kaylee...”

“I am serious! Just passing on Flo's message. She said she hasn't seen you all week.” Thinking for a second Brian decided quickly, “Alright, alright, I am in. More than in, I am so looking forward to a night off.”

“Good, I will see you tomorrow, though I would rather see you tonight. You're downtown, right?”

“Right, not too far away, I gotta check out a few things first though, really, otherwise I would be over there now. I will be there soon.”

“Promises, promises.”, lightly she added, “A cops wife has to realize her husband is married to his job first.”

Brian didn't know how to respond to that, until Kaylee started laughing, “Did I scare you off yet?”

“No,”, Brian said bemused, “no you didn't. Yet.” and he laughed.

“Okay I will see you soon then.”

After hanging up Brian called into dispatch and told them he was heading over to Club Necrolagnia and that he would be checking in every half hour until he told them otherwise. Glancing up the street Brian could just make out where the club was, the temptation was to drive the eight blocks or so to save hobbling the distance. Sighing Brian checked his phone charge and then set off walking down to Club Necrolagnia. His mood was decidedly happier than it had been moments before.

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