Lethal Seasons (A Changed World Book 1) Read Free

No one here was unscarred. Every single person living had lost family and friends to the virus. And they lost more every year. So it was down to simple math. They needed to keep adding to the population.
    Susan returned to the table where they did their planning. “Do we have any cucumbers? I could do gazpacho again.”
    Tilly groaned. “I think we’ve all had enough gazpacho.” Between the uneven supply of crops and unskilled labor, it was difficult to produce good meals consistently. But five years into their residence, they were nearly self-sufficient. They only had to rely on train food occasionally. Like maybe tonight.
    *    *    *
    Nick loaded a little of everything on to his tray—omelet, salsa, roasted potatoes and a gloppy mix of amaranth and cornmeal. No bread today. He was disappointed. The spring wheat was supposed to be harvested while he was gone. He checked the tables. Angus waved to him from a seat by the window. The storm shutters were fully retracted allowing sunlight to shine off every surface including Angus’s unruly white hair. It gave him a bright halo. As usual, Angus’s table was covered with notebooks and pads, his knobby, veined hands working over paper and keyboards.
    Nick nudged a pile aside and put his tray down. Angus brought his attention up from his studies and focused his bright blue eyes on Nick.
    “I’m glad you didn’t try to brave the storm,” Angus said. He reached over and patted Nick’s hand. “Good to have you back.”
    “It was too much even for me.”
    “Even for you,” Angus chuckled. “You are late. I hoped that wasn’t an indication of trouble.”
    Nick pulled a thick stack of folders out of his pack to hand over to Angus. “I think you'll be very pleased.” He dug into his breakfast.
    Angus laid the stack on the table and gave it a pat. “Anything out of the ordinary?”
    Nick nodded with a mouth full. “Couple of dead ends...” He took a sip of coffee. “And a murder.”
    “Murder. Well, that sort of thing was quite common pre-virus. Though it pains me to find that as a species we are too stupid not to stop killing each other when we are facing extinction. Although from what you tell me, the virus has left us plenty of fools. What about this caught your attention?”
    “It was an odd situation. Young girl. On her own, I think.”
    “A young girl murdered? Are you sure? Was it a rumor?”
    “I saw the body. She was shot.”
    “Oh dear. I’m sorry you saw that, Nicky. How sad. And you’re sure it was murder?”
    Nick halted a laden fork to speak. “From the look of the scene, she shot back.”
    “I think that is the lawman in you speaking.” Angus sat back folding his hands over one another on his stomach in his customary thinking position. “You believe there is more to it.”
    Nick gave him a dip of the head in agreement.
    “Where did this happen?”
    “Clarkeston.”
    “You’ve been there before without trouble. What’s it like?”
    “Not much different than here.” He said with a gesture toward the windows. “Built around a med center. They specialize in wool, so everybody's got sheep. Might want to remember them when we're getting ready to barter some of the grain.”
    “When did this murder occur?”
    “From the looks of it, a few days ago. Shot through the heart.”
    “Good heavens, what fool did this? Don't they know we can't afford that now? There are cities that have been completely depopulated. We cannot allow ourselves the luxury of crime! We need every human being left on this planet!”
    Nick sipped the last drops of his coffee. “I know that,” he said in what he hoped was a calming voice. He didn’t think Angus needed to know about the other body, yet. Until he had all the facts, Nick didn’t want to worry him.
    “Kill a young girl.” Angus threw up a hand in disgust. “She was of childbearing age?”
    “She seemed young, but the body was a few days old.” He finished the last bites quickly.
    Angus