Read Zombified (Book 2): Shady Oaks for Free Online Page A

for everyone involved.
     
    ****
     
    Charlie was waiting at his truck outside City Hall when Mick showed up carrying a large backpack slung over his shoulders and a rifle hanging from one hand.
    "Sorry it took so long," Mick apologized as he carefully placed the rifle on the grass and wriggled out of the backpack, swinging it into the back of Charlie's pickup with a loud grunt. "I'm not sure Cindy bought all this, but she didn't come right out and say anything."
    "Same here," Charlie said. "Judith was giving me the look that says you're up to something. When I told her we'd be back before dark she relaxed, but not completely."
    "They know us too well," Mick remarked as he opened the passenger side door and climbed in. After Charlie hopped in he said, "Cindy and I are always honest with each other, but she and Judith have enough to worry about. They're trying to locate Megan and Darrell to let them know what's happened to Jimmy and the others. If we tell them what we're going to do, they'll insist we either stay or take more people."
    Charlie nodded and started the engine. They were going to take the road as far as possible before hiking the rest of the way in. Most of the town's inhabitants rode bikes or walked, but those in office still needed vehicles to be able to get around quickly if needed, so Charlie still had the pickup he inherited when he first came to Shady Oaks.
    "Did you manage to get everything on your list?" he asked Mick.
    "Almost," Mick said. He pulled his piece of paper out and scrutinized it carefully. "Wasn't able to get three flash bangs, but I did get two."
    "Two's good," Charlie remarked as he passed the soccer field on the way out of town. He waved at a couple of kids kicking a ball back and forth and they waved back. He sent up a quick prayer that things would continue to go well for them at Shady Oaks, but the way things were progressing he wasn't so certain.
    Until they were stronger with more people residing there to help defend the town, their entire situation was tentative at best. The Connor Group could bring them all down, but at least with the military around they had a fighting chance.
    Mick interrupted his train of thought. "Do you hear that?" Mick stuck his head out the window, then back in again. "That weird thrumming sound?"
    Charlie slowed down and stuck his head out the window. He could clearly hear it and it was getting louder. He glanced at Mick, who had his head out the window again. "What is that?"
    Suddenly Mick stiffened in his seat. "I see it! You're not gonna believe this, but it's a helicopter!"
    Charlie pulled over to the side of the road, slammed on the brakes, and jammed it into park. They both jumped out of the truck.
    "Over there!" Mick pointed toward the soccer field.
    "I see it," Charlie said as he watched the helicopter swoop in and hover over the soccer field. He didn't know too much about helicopters, but knew it was a dual-bladed Huey Cobra, and a fairly beat up one at that.
    The two kids playing there had already fled the field and were talking excitedly to one another in the parking lot.
    As the chopper began a descent, clearly intending to land on the field, Charlie reached into the truck and turned off the ignition.
    "Looks like our little trip will have to wait for just a bit, let's go see who that is and what they want," he yelled over the roar.
    Mick nodded and together they slowly trotted toward the now stationary helicopter. They were almost there when the pilot shut down and after a moment, stepped out and waved.
    "Do you know him?" Charlie asked.
    "Never saw him before," Mick replied.
    When they reached the stranger, he thrust out a hand and both men shook it. He was well built with a rugged look to him and of medium height, with short curly black hair and brilliant blue eyes. The women in his family would always tell him that he looked like the kind of guy who should be on the cover of some outdoor magazine. Beside that, he immediately reminded Charlie of