Read Slow Burn: A Zombie Novel for Free Online Page A

despite nearly five years on the street, Chris did not yet have a take home squad. Budget cutbacks and the bad economy placed the department on a seemingly permanent hiring freeze. But he was just glad his job was waiting for him when he returned home from Afghanistan.
    After filling out the paperwork and getting the squad keys, Chris jogged out to the motor pool lot where the spare high mileage and abused squads were parked. Starting up the older Ford Crown Victoria, Chris accelerated up to where he had left his truck and began loading his police gear into the squad. One thing Chris had gained from the military was his love of high speed gear. A large duffel bag that contained all the forms he might need during his shift was placed on the front passenger seat and buckled in. It also contained binoculars and a tool kit. His report and ticket tins he tossed onto the front seat as well. First Aid kit and ballistic shield were tossed into the trunk, along with his police issued 870 Remington shotgun. His emergency go-bag, filled with extra shotgun slugs, 9mm pistol ammo, extra magazines, medical supplies, energy bars and water was also placed into the trunk. Slamming the trunk lid, Chris advised dispatch that he was clear for calls. Immediately Chris was rewarded with a ‘several car accident with injuries’ in the 600 block of Gardner.
    “ Roger that. I’m en route,” Chris responded while activating the squad’s lights.
    Before he had reached the accident site, dispatch advised Chris that several vehicles actually crashed through the guardrail of Interstate 80, which was elevated through that area, and landed onto the street below.
    “ Well fuck me,” Chris said to himself. “This call is going to tie me up for hours.”
    When Chris finally arrived, he had a bit of a flashback to a similar scene from his recent past, an IED attack on his convoy in Afghanistan. Damaged vehicles were strewn about, but at least this time he wouldn’t have to worry about sniper fire.
    “ Wow!” Chris said aloud. “This looks bad, even worse than I guessed.”
    There were at least seven or eight vehicles involved in the accident, each with varying types of damage, from simple fender benders up to flipped over and crushed. Joliet fire trucks and ambulances, as well as an Illinois State Trooper and a Will County Sheriff squad were already on scene when he pulled to a stop and blocked southbound traffic with his squad. There was already a very large crowd of gawkers doing their best to get in the way and take pictures with their cell phones. He took a bit of time to yell at civilians who were not staying out of the scene and chased them back a distance.
    I might need crime scene tape for this mess , Chris thought while pulling his notepad from his pocket and turning back to begin to write down vehicle types and license plates.
    Looking at the path of destruction from the street, up the dirt embankment to the interstate, Chris saw a jackknifed semi-truck on the interstate, which he figured was probably the cause of this mess. Chris started to make his way past the roaring diesels of the fire engines and ambulances all while dodging out of the way of running paramedics who were checking the occupants for injuries. Some obviously were hurt badly enough that after the stretchers were loaded, the ambulance took off with sirens blaring. Completing his survey of the scene, Chris noticed some steam coming from a large clump of vegetation that was up the embankment several yards from the main accident. Upon investigating, he observed a vehicle that was obscured from view at street level. The vehicle, an older green Ford Taurus, was upside down. The damage was considerable, and the vehicle made ticking and pinging sounds as the engine cooled. The steam was made by a busted radiator that had a large piece of guardrail stuck through it. Ducking down and pulling away several small broken trees, Chris could see a male Hispanic driver was trapped between