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police cars parked there but they immediately turned toward the sound of the screaming baby.
    “Follow me,” Taylor said.
    “Where?” Matt asked. Taylor didn’t answer; he was already running. There was no time to explain.
    Jenna clutched the baby, who was still screaming, in her arms. They ran around the corner of the street and saw a waiting police car. When they got halfway to the police car, more infected started coming out of the emergency exit.
    Matt could see his house, but if they went to there now the infected would just follow.
    Taylor opened the patrol car’s front door and hit the button to unlock the other doors. Matt got in the front and Jenna slid onto the bench seat in the back as Taylor started the engine.
    An infected man ran into the door and grabbed at the handle, pulling it open as Taylor shifted the car into drive. Taylor hit the gas and the infected man fell to the ground, dragging as Taylor accelerated down the road.

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SIX
     
     
    Taylor pressed the button on the radio with his thumb and relayed his location and status to the dispatch center. As glad as Matt was that Jenna had saved the baby girl, he was still glad she was in the back seat. That baby was making more noise than something that small had a right to.
    Someone on the radio requested that Taylor switch to his personal phone.
    Taylor switched his phone to speaker and answered. “Hey Steve, glad to hear you’re okay. You’re on speaker phone, but speak freely. The guy I’m with saved my ass back in that hospital.”
    “What happened to everyone who reported to the hospital with you? No one is responding to status checks. They’re not giving updates, nothing.”
    “They’re all dead or crazy, Steve. I think I’m the only one of us who made it out.” Taylor’s voice was tight and Matt remembered what Taylor had told him: that he’d known some of those officers since the academy. They must have been like a second family.
    “I know your shift doesn’t start until later,” Taylor said, “And I know this sounds crazy, but don’t come in tonight.”
    Steve paused and when he spoke, he didn’t answer Taylor directly. “Your wife and kids already showed up here. She told us everything that you told her on the phone. Your family is safe. They’re on the way to the farm with Terry and my kids.”
    “What about you?”
    “I’m headed in to get you. We’re getting out of that city together.”
    “Just go to the fucking farm house,” Taylor snapped. “I’ll meet you there.”
    “There’s no point in arguing. I’m already on my way. Where do you want to meet? How are you on ammo?”
    “Fuck, I’m fine on ammo, Steve. I have extra rounds and mags in my trunk.”
    Matt didn’t say anything. It wasn’t his friend or his conversation, but he knew Taylor had run his weapons dry in the maternity unit. He wasn’t fine.
    “I know you’re lying, Taylor. Your usual car is in the shop. Are you telling me you pulled all of your stuff from the trunk and transferred it to your loaner vehicle? No one does that.”
    Taylor’s expression was stony, torn between anger and worry. “Fuck you, Steve. Go to the farm house and I’ll meet you there. I have my AR-15 with three mags in the trunk. I’ll be fine,” Taylor said.
    “Thirty rounds a mag, that’s 90 rounds. And I noticed that you didn’t mention your pistol or your back up, which means those are out of ammo. You need another gun in the fight. Name a spot to meet. I can help get you and whoever you’re with get out of the city. Somewhere safe.”
    Taylor gripped the wheel in frustration. “Alright,” he said. “Meet me at Cooke Elementary, by the dumpsters.”

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
    It was summer time and Matt was thankful that school was out for break. He was also thankful the baby had cried itself to a point of exhaustion, finally falling asleep in Jenna’s arms.
    Behind the school there was a partially fenced area for