Once Bitten, Twice Dead - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,75

in her personal life. Being surrounded by cops and marines at home had done that to her. She liked having things out in the open.

“Commander—”

“Call me Matt.” He interrupted before she could finish her thought.

“Matt.” She tried again. “Why is it so important to you that I’m on the team?”

He looked at her oddly for a moment before visibly relaxing and giving a gusty sigh. “That obvious, am I?”

The chagrined smile he gave her invited commiseration. This time, she followed where he led. Now, she thought, she was seeing the real Matt Sykes, not the public relations wannabe he’d tried at before.

“What’s the deal, Matt?” She put a slight emphasis on his first name, drawing his grin out even more.

“I’ve been ordered to make sure you stay on the team. Whatever you want, I’ve been told to provide. It comes down from the highest levels. We need you, Sarah. Badly. They want to make certain you’re going to stick with the mission until it’s completed.” She read pure honesty in his eyes. Now, finally, she was getting the truth behind his odd behavior.

“Whatever I want, eh?” She felt confident enough to tease him. Luckily, he realized she was teasing. She saw the humor reflected in his eyes.

“Yes, indeed. You hold all the cards, ma’am.” He nodded, visibly suppressing a chuckle.

“Hmm. I think I like the sound of that.” She let him dangle for a moment longer, then relented. “Your superiors should have known just from reading my file that I wouldn’t leave this mission in the lurch. I took an oath to protect and serve. Right now, I can do that best from within your little group. Don’t worry. Xavier won’t run me off. He’s been the perfect partner, in fact. I really am learning a lot from him.”

“I’m glad.” Sykes looked relieved. “I didn’t know him that well before this all started, but I’ve gained a deep respect for Captain Beauvoir.”

“Me too.” She smiled softly.

“Good.” Sykes straightened, some of the stiffness returning to his posture. “If you have any problems, Sarah, I hope you know you can come to me. Anytime. This mission is perhaps the most important I’ve ever been tasked with and I’ll do anything I can to make sure it ends in success. Just say the word if you need me.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card and a pen. He took a moment to write something on the back before handing the card to her. “This is my office number. My cell phone number is scribbled on the back. Feel free to make use of it if necessary.”

She pocketed the card, touched that he’d make the offer. “Thanks, Commander.”

“I thought you were going to call me Matt?”

She chuckled. “I’ll try.”

“See that you do.” He laughed along with her. “So besides personnel issues, how is the mission itself treating you? I suspect the Police Academy didn’t prepare you for facing marauding zombies in the woods.”

A chuckle escaped, and a few of the men turned to look at her before she tamped down the urge to laugh.

“Sorry.” She shook her head, still amused. “Yeah, I must have missed Zombie Day at the academy.” Reflecting on what she’d been through the past couple of days, Sarah revised her answer. “Actually, I think I’m starting to get used to it, though I’ll be the first to admit I wasn’t much help to Xavier the first time we faced them together. I’d like to think I’ve acquitted myself better since then.” Thinking about that encounter in the basement of the abandoned building still smarted. She’d been the next best thing to useless. Sarah wasn’t used to performing so poorly on duty.

“Sarah.” His tone lowered, became gentler somehow. “I’ve seen the surveillance video they made of your initial encounter with two of the creatures. Aside from being appalled that someone sat there and watched while you fought for your life, I have to say I was impressed by the way you fought back, as injured as you were. You saved yourself. You can be proud of the way you reacted.”

She searched his eyes, touched by his concern. “Thanks.” Never comfortable with praise, Sarah felt like a change of subject was in order. “I know you’ve all said that being immune is rare, but I’m curious. How rare is it, really? I mean, are you immune? Is that why they tapped you to head up this case?”

“Unfortunately not. If I were, I’d be out there in the field