Read The Dead Divide Us (Book 1) for Free Online Page B

news stations are holding back information. This would drive them nuts,” Roy explained.
    “What are we going to do?” Ruth questioned aloud.
    “I say that we go about our business and keep the possibility of those disastrous images in our minds. You’ve got contact with family relatively close to there Paul. They’ll call you if something cataclysmic happens. Right?” Roy said.
    “Yeah, of course. Robert and my parents are supposed to be calling me back.” Paul said, and then he reached into his pocket to take out his cell phone. No missed calls; that was good. Paul set the ring tone to ‘loud’ before setting it back down.
    “So we’ll keep an eye on the news. See if the reports change. But Ruth, I’d like you to stick with the internet searching. What was that person’s online tag name?” Roy asked.
    “It was the hidden truth, then a number…13, I think,” Ruth replied, unsure.
    “That’s good. We’ll keep our families together on this one. I love this town, this street, but I don’t and can’t trust anyone as much as I do you guys,” Roy said, sounding sincere.
    And he was right. The Benton’s and the Landry’s were very close -closer than any neighbors in Green Falls for sure. Roy Benton and Paul Landry worked together at Nintendo of America in Redmond, Washington. They had met shortly after Paul started working in their graphic design department. Roy was not a graphic designer but a lead sales representative for Nintendo. Paul always thought that was why Roy was so good with people, because for his job, he had to be a people person. Roy and Paul eventually became great friends, but their real bond came when Ruth and Roy’s wife, Kirsten, were introduced. You would have thought that they were long lost sisters who were torn apart from some war-ravaged, poverty stricken, third world country. They had everything in common. Then down the line, when it came time for Ruth to deliver her first child, the Benton’s were right there for support.
    Most recently though, and this thought kept coming back to Paul now, both families made a trip upstate deep into the mountains. They spent a week at a cabin owned by Roy’s father, Butch Benton. What a great name, Paul always thought. The cabin was fairly isolated; they had to bring five full coolers of food and drinks. And another truck, Paul’s truck, was filled with other camping supplies.
    “We trust you guys too, Roy,” Ruth said and then looked at Paul with a worried gaze.
    Paul now walked back to the center island. The box of frosted flakes wobbled as his hip hit against the counter top.
    “Roy, listen this might be premature but…”
    “The cabin, right?”
    “Yeah, how’d you know I was going to say that?” Paul asked.
    “I’m good at reading people, and that’s what I’ve been thinking about too. That cabin would be a great place to hold up if things got really bad around here,” Roy explained.
    Ruth stood up, now clearly worried and a little angry.
    “Aren’t we jumping the gun here guys? I mean, Jesus, really?”
    Paul reached out and took his wife’s hand, then pulled her in close for a hug. She began to cry into his shoulder, and as she did, he smelled the fresh scent of clean cotton cloth coming off her bathrobe. Paul now longed for sleep.
    “We aren’t saying that we are definitely going to the cabin, just saying that it’s an option if things turn for the worse,” Roy said calmly.
    “We’d have to do a lot of supply gathering before we go and perch ourselves up there in the mountains,” Paul said.
    “You’re right Paul. Hey, I’m going to get back to Kirsten and Alexis. I suggest we keep an eye on the news and even try to catch some sleep before the town meeting. Paul, I’d like you to ride there with me, if that’s okay,” Roy said.
    Ruth, still in Paul’s arms, turned back to face Roy.
    “Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll come by after seven?” Paul asked.
    Roy walked toward the kitchen door.
    “That’s