The Hungry 5: All Hell Breaks Loose (The Sheriff Penny Miller Series) Read Free Page B

Rat. She shot Scratch and Sheppard a fierce look, and they got the message. They fell in behind her. True to her word, Miller did not look back at her abandoned home, nor at the grave of her pet cat. Her eyes were dry, shoulders straight enough to have had a wooden hanger inserted in her shirt.
    “Who’s driving?” Miller asked.
    Sheppard stepped forward. “Scratch and I are driving.”
    Miller raised an eyebrow. “What are you planning to do, sit on each other’s lap?”
    “We talked about this while you were packing,” said Scratch. “It makes more sense if we take two vehicles.”
    Miller shifted her gaze back and forth between the two of them like a woman watching a tennis match. “Who’s this we you’re talking about? I make those kinds of decisions. And do I need to remind you that we agreed splitting up in downtown Zombieville is not a good idea? Ever?”
    Scratch rubbed his perpetual stubble. The rim of his sunglasses glinted in the bright light. Miller guessed he was getting irritated. Good.
    “Penny,” Sheppard said, “bringing an extra vehicle with us is a good strategy. If one breaks down, we have a spare. It lets us bring extra water and spare parts and weapons. Do you really want to get caught out in the middle of the desert with only one, broken down Hummer?”
    Miller grimaced. After a moment, she nodded. “You have a point. Last I checked, the Auto Club stopped honoring our memberships maybe six months ago.”
    Scratch grinned, “There it is.”
    Miller turned to Rat. “Did you approve of this decision?”
    “First I’m hearing of it,” Rat said. “But I agree that it makes sense.”
    Miller could feel more frustration welling up inside. She was used to giving orders, not answering to a committee, but she also knew a good idea when heard one. “Fine, but we wear each other like underwear the whole damn way, got it?”
    “Got it,” all three said in unison.
    “I mean that,” Miller said. “Belly buttons to butt cheeks. Don’t get lost.” She paused and looked up and down the street. “Where’s the other vehicle?”
    Scratch looked at Sheppard, then over at Rat. Adopting a wide grin, he pulled a small object from his pocket and pushed a button. Two chirps came from the garage next door. Scratch looked like a kid surprising his Mom. “Wait till you see what we found.”
    Miller had a pretty good idea already.
    Scratch ran to the next house, a kid coming downstairs Christmas morning. He pulled the garage door up with a flourish. It slid open easily. Inside, hidden in shadow, was a tall black pickup with tires sturdy enough to drive over molten lava. A shiny supercharger protruded out of the hood. The red and orange flame job down the sides completed the picture. No wonder Scratch was excited. It was one hot ride.
    “Damn,” said Miller as noncommittally as possible. “That’s Eugene’s new truck. He was going to let his kid have it when he left for school. It’s one hell of an all terrain truck. I’m surprised that Eugene and his family didn’t take it with them.”
    Sheppard looked at the concrete driveway, suddenly refusing to meet her eyes.
    “Uh, about that?” Scratch cleared his throat. “We found a couple of bodies with their heads blown off in the living room and another one in the hallway. Looks like the kid turned first and came straight back inside. Dad did the rest. You don’t need to go look, that’s for sure.”
    Miller hardened her heart. She had liked the O’Neills. “It’s a good truck. It should do. Nice find, Scratch.”
    “You’re okay with this, then?”
    “Take it. Gene won’t mind.” Miller nodded to Sheppard. “You’re driving with me in the Hummer. Let’s go.”
    Scratch stepped in front of her. “Hey, I thought you were coming along.”
    “Cool your jets, cowboy. You can take me for a spin in your new toy some other time. I got something to discuss with Karl anyway.”
    “You mean I got to take Rat?” demanded