A Darker Shade of Dead Read Free

closed the door behind her, locking the reanimated cadavers in the lab. But she’d been too scared. And because she was a coward, scores of innocent men had died, turned into those ravening creatures, prolonging the cycle of death.
    â€œStop it,” she whispered. Rodriguez smiled evilly.
    â€œI know something else I bet you wouldn’t want getting out.”
    Dear God, what else? Sandra scrambled around in her mind, wondering what in the world this cretin could have on her. She’d never deliberately done anything bad in her life. Of course even the most casual of mistakes could be blown out of proportion and distorted to make her look very bad indeed.
    â€œI know our late, unlamented colleague, Dr. Sellars, asked for your help with a certain formula. I also know that you solved his little scientific dilemma. You gave him the missing link to his equation. What do you think your military friends would think about that?”
    She could say nothing to his threat. The commander wouldn’t understand. He’d already read her the riot act about having continued her research to work on the serum she’d developed. That could be excused, he’d told her, because it saved lives. But he’d never understand why she’d helped Sellars. He’d never understand how Sellars had played on her vanity and her naïveté, coming to her with compliments and supposedly innocent questions.
    She’d helped Sellars complete his chemical equations and solve the little scientific puzzles he’d posed to her. Only later did she piece together the conversations and realize he’d been using her. She had contributed to his new version of the contagion and she hadn’t even known it at the time.
    No way would Commander Sykes or his military superiors understand how stupid she’d been. They’d lock her up and throw away the key if they knew. And nobody would ever trust her again.
    Sandra couldn’t afford that. Not when she was finally working on a way to redeem her mistakes. She wanted the chance to solve the zombie problem once and for all. A scientific solution that would render the contagion obsolete. Her after-exposure serum was the first step. She only needed time and funding to perfect it. From there, she’d move on to a preventative that would stop the contagion in its tracks before it had a chance to infect anyone else.
    â€œI can see I’ve given you something to think about.”
    â€œWhat do you want?” The words were dragged from her in a pained whisper. She could see her plans for the future—her plans for redemption—crumbling before her eyes.
    â€œI want the same thing you gave Sellars. Your help. Your knowledge. Your expertise on the intricacies of our creation. I’m refining it, you know. Making it better. Making the creatures more intelligent. Not by much, I’ll grant you, but enough so they’re able to follow simple directions.” He looked inordinately pleased by the horror he’d created. “They make a much better army when you can keep them under control.” His obvious glee made her sick to her stomach. Only a fiend would find glory in the death, torture, and subjugation of others.
    â€œYou want me to work with you on the contagion?” Her voice was flat, dull. She felt her own horror growing at what he was trying to force her into. Worse yet, she didn’t see that she had any alternative.
    â€œYes, Sandra. I want you on my team.”
    She heard a distant flushing sound. The sound of all her hopes and dreams going down the toilet.
    â€œI just joined another team. You’re too late.” She had to try to salvage this situation.
    â€œIt’s never too late.” Rodriguez looked over his shoulder at something behind him on the road. “You think about what I’ve said. I’ll give you a little time to come to your senses, but I won’t wait long.” He slammed his hand on the hood