Once Bitten, Twice Dead - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,26

her. He’d seen her limping and was giving her rest time. She didn’t like it. She always hated being babied. But she’d admit, to herself at least, that her leg needed the breather. Playing tug-o-war with the zombie over her foot on that ladder had not helped her hurt leg. Every tug had been agony. Only the adrenaline of the moment had deadened the pain. She hadn’t really noticed it at the time.

She’d felt it afterward, though. Bad. Real bad.

Resenting that leg with every passing minute, Sarah waited for her fellow officers to show up while watching men scurry from the vans. A couple of big bruisers piled out of the second Humvee. They all wore green berets on their heads, and even from a distance, they crackled with highly focused energy. Sarah watched the way they deferred to Xavier, saluting him when he walked over to speak with them, only falling at ease at his order.

What her chief wouldn’t give to command obedience like that, she thought with an inward chuckle. Though her police brethren took their jobs very seriously, there wasn’t that same level of military crispness. At least not all the time. Every once in a while they trotted out the formality for special occasions, but it definitely wasn’t an everyday occurrence. Things tended to be more laid-back and friendly at the precinct.

Sarah saw the first patrol car arrive at the end of the street a few minutes later. She hopped out of the Humvee, very aware that several sets of male eyes were on her, following her progress. She paid them no mind. She’d just spent a good five minutes studying them, after all. She figured turnabout was fair play.

She did her best not to limp as she walked down the street and greeted Fred Cummings, a veteran cop who’d seen a lot in his years on the force. He was a good officer who had helped her from time to time as she made her way up through the ranks. He’d always been ready to offer advice and encouragement when she was a rookie, and they’d even rolled together once or twice back before the budget cuts had dictated only one officer per cruiser.

“Quite a party you have over there,” Fred observed as he got out of the car. He’d positioned it across the road, blocking access. “Nice of the feds to invite us. How you feeling, Sarah?”

“Getting there. Glad they sent you, Fred. I’m not sure how long they’re going to be over in that building, but it’s important to keep any civilian traffic out of the area.”

“Roger that, Sarah. Nobody in or out unless the feds clear it. The chief mentioned something about national security when he said you’d been lent out.”

He seemed curious, but she knew he wouldn’t push.

“Yeah. I stumbled into a real hornet’s nest.” She walked with Fred toward the rear of his car. He opened the trunk as they talked. “It’s been an interesting couple of days.”

“So you’re okay with the feds? They’re treating you right?”

“No complaints. In fact, they’ve been respectful and forthcoming so far.” She read the relief on the veteran cop’s face, and was glad to know he’d been truly concerned for her.

“That’s good. I remember a time when cooperation wasn’t as easy among different organizations. Things have changed since 9/11 for the better, as far as that goes. I mean, we’re all on the same side, right?” He straightened, hooking his thumbs into his utility belt as he drew his gaze away from the swarm of activity in the middle of the block and looked back at her.

“You got that right, Fred. I have no complaints,” she replied easily.

“Glad to hear it. You know, everyone was concerned when we heard the ‘officer down’ call.” That was as close as the old cop would come to expressing emotion. She’d learned to read the guys she worked with over the past few years, so she understood what he was getting at.

“Thanks. It’s all good now, but it was a hairy situation there for a few minutes.” They fell into small talk as Fred scooped some wooden pieces out of his trunk.

She helped him set up two saw horses, then lit and set a couple of traffic flares. He seemed interested about her leg injury. Apparently, everyone on the force had heard she’d been attacked. He told her that they’d sent flowers, but that the hospital insisted they be sent on to her home rather than to her