Tainted Future (The Rememdium Series Book 3) (18 page)

Kyle felt the emotions well up inside him. Anger; bitterness; regret; sorrow; fear. All of them converged together, forming a volcanic combination. He was a man of law and order; black and white; justice served for those who’d broken the law. He’d always been that way, ever since a small tyke. Just like his father, the former sheriff of Hot Spring County, Mitchell Pender. Raised with a rough hand and a boot never far from kicking his ass, Kyle learned from a young age all about causes and effects. Break a rule—expect the consequences. Lie, cheat, steal, even murder, harsh punishment awaited you.

By the time Kyle was six, his heart was set on following in his gruff father’s footsteps. Not the political part—he never had an interest in all the back-slapping and fake smiles that went along with running a campaign.

No, Kyle Pender wanted—needed—
craved
—the rush from adrenaline. Wanted to be a part of making sure those who dared step out of the boundaries drawn by a civilized world, paid for their misguided behavior. He loved the idea of putting on a uniform; the shiny badge, the polished shoes, the oiled leather. He wanted to be seen as a formidable foe; a man who criminals would think about before making the choice to break the law.

The fun side dishes of being a law enforcement officer were plenty. Access to weapons; a fast car; flashing lights; the way women looked at him when walking by. Yes, Kyle loved every single thing about being a cop, yet the biggest plus was becoming friends, and eventually lovers, with Regina Parker.

He’d known Regina for years. The minute he saw her take down every single competitor at a local shooting tournament, he was hooked. The woman was strong, sexy, sure of herself. Real, down-to-earth with no tolerance for bullshit. The way the corners of her mouth curved into a seductive grin; the sheer, raw determination to devote her life to keeping others safe. Kyle had been drawn to Regina’s magnetism from that first meeting twenty years ago.

Back then, Regina was a young, married woman, who’d recently taken on the role of Rockport’s Chief of Police. Even though he knew she wasn’t available, and he was living with another woman, Kyle couldn’t stay away. He’d strolled in to Rockport’s tiny station one day and sweet-talked Geenie Renfro into giving him Regina’s schedule. He’d switch shifts whenever he could with other officers, making sure he was on duty at the same time. Then, he’d casually bump into her at the gas station, or Waffle House, and best of all, be able to provide backup when Rockport PD requested assistance.

Kyle loved Regina from a distance for years, secretly hoping she’d tire of her boring-as-a-door husband, Fred. He certainly never wished any harm on the man, and felt a twinge of guilt when Fred died in a car accident.

Of course, Kyle pushed the guilt aside, determined to be the strong shoulder Regina needed to lean on. And that’s exactly what he’d done. He never made a move, only offered an ear to listen and a friendly face for Regina to look at while venting. Kyle waited for Regina to reach out and seek a different course for their relationship, and when she finally did, he’d been the happiest man in Arkansas.

He’d come close to getting married once, and actually had been looking at rings, when everything changed. Regina Parker burst into his world, overtook his heart, and Kyle knew he’d never truly love another like he did the feisty woman. After letting his heart get tangled up in Regina’s, Kyle ended the long-term relationship with his girlfriend, moved out of her house, and took up residence in a small apartment. Oh, his bed didn’t stay cold for too long, but the bodies warming it were just that—bodies. No emotional connection.

He’d developed a strong friendship with Geenie Renfro, and actually took her shopping with him to assist in picking out the perfect engagement ring three weeks ago.

The memories, the worries, the overwhelming sense of dread, threatened to consume his mind. He’d never get to hear Regina’s voice again. Laugh at her wicked sense of humor. Hold or kiss her. Have the one person he trusted more than any other he’d known, by his side while the world ended. Kyle was alone, and the crushing agony threatened to send him over the edge.

“Okay, can’t do this now. She’s gone, you fool. Gone because you didn’t protect her.”

“That’s quite a load of guilt you’re carryin’ there, Kyle. Sure you need to?”

Spinning around, shocked he hadn’t heard anyone approach, Kyle saw Walter Addison about ten yards away. Lowering his weapon, he let out a sigh of relief. “You sure are one sneaky bastard, Walt. I’ll give you that. Learn that little trick in the military?”

Walt walked over and studied the ashy remains of Shaun. “Yeah, and a lot of other things, too. One that might help you, if you don’t mind me offerin’ a bit of advice, is you can’t live in the past. We can learn from history so we don’t repeat it, but that’s it. There’s no button to push for a restart if you ain’t too fond of the present.”

“You sure? Because if there is, I’d cut off my left nut to find it. Guaranteed. Slice that puppy right off.”

“Best not be talkin’ about losin’ body parts nowadays, Kyle. It can become a reality way too quick.”

Kyle chuckled. “Knew I always liked you, Walt. Our senses of humor are similar. So, since you’re out here, I’m assumin’ that means I’m holdin’ up the party?”

“Yep. We’re all set to go. Reed, Bailey, and Allsop are on their way to the Humvees.”

Kyle cast one glance back at Shaun then grimaced. “Let’s hit it. Since I ain’t got anyone to go smooch and fill with false promises I’ll be back soon, I’m all yours.”

Together, the men walked back toward the main trail. After a few minutes, Walt cleared his throat. “I’m sorry about Regina. Really.”

“Me, too. Always knew that stubborn gal would go out with a big bang, doin’ what she loved, which was tryin’ to protect others. Just really, really wish she hadn’t.”

“She was somethin’, that’s for sure.”

Kyle didn’t want Regina to be the focus of their discussion, so he changed topics. “Walt? You sure this is the right plan? I mean, we have no idea what we’ll find once we leave here. The roads may be impassable, or full of munchers. Probably both. We’re plannin’ on drivin’ over one-hundred miles, and that’s if we stick to the main roads. If we’re forced to take the back ones, there’s no tellin’ how far we’ll have to travel. If the highways are a cluster of dead vehicles and people, even if we somehow make it through the mess in the Humvees, I don’t see the same thing happenin’ with the big rigs. They ain’t easy to maneuver on a clear stretch of road. Mountain Home is the closest town, so maybe we should just head there and raid their Walmart?”

“I wish it were that simple, Kyle. There might be some items left to pick, yet there might not. Those still alive probably already picked easy targets clean. That’s why I initially thought about the warehouses. People will stick close to their locations to scavenge, you know, because of fears of travelin’ too far. My hope is the ones in Bentonville still have plenty of supplies. We’re lucky we live in the state where Walmart’s headquarters are located. If we wait until our supplies have dwindled to go get more, we’ll be edgier. Tired. Not thinkin’ straight. Besides, you know why we’re headin’ that direction.”

Kyle’s temper flared. “Yeah, because of those chicken-shits, Bailey and Allsop. Well, Allsop ain’t so bad, but Bailey is—”

“Now’s not the time for that, Kyle. This ain’t our call. We’ve got no right to make them stay, so if they’re leavin’, and headin’ in a direction that will be of use to us, then we go, too. Plain and simple.”

“Plain and simple? Those words don’t have a place in this fuckin’ nightmare we’re livin’ in, Walter.”

“You’re wrong, Kyle. Life just became about two things: live or die. Do what’s necessary to continue on, even if it’s only for one more day.”

Kyle shook his head, walking away before he said something he’d regret.

Neither man said another word while hiking the rest of the way to the Humvees. It took less than thirty minutes for them to reach the camping area. Reed, Allsop, and Bailey stood at the back of the closest vehicle, their sharp eyes scanning the quiet forest. Lamar stood in the middle of the group, shaking hands.

“I thought he was stayin’?” Kyle asked.

“He is. He just helped carry gas cans. We might not find any on our way, and we sure can’t travel far in these gas-guzzlers without it. I hated depletin’ our supply for the generators, so when a chance arises to get more, we take it,” Walt answered.

Kyle shook his head, wishing he’d wake up from the world’s worst dream.

Ever.

“We’ll take two vehicles, in case one breaks down on the way. Bailey, you and Allsop ride with me, and Reed and Kyle will follow. We’ll take 14 all the way up near toward Ridgedale, Missouri, then get on 65. Allsop’s parents live near Table Rock, so we’ll cut over to 265 and sneak up the back way. If we get lucky along the way and see an opportunity to snag some supplies, especially gas, we will. These beasts have plenty of storage room in the back.”

“Sounds like a plan, Walter. Like I said earlier, if we find them, I’ll convince them to come with us. Then we’ll head to Bentonville, right? Hit 76, make a circle, and come down through 37 until we hit 62?” Allsop said.

“Exactly. The interstate will probably be a mess, so we’re gonna just bypass the cluster-fuck. The back roads should be easier to pass through. If we run into trouble on the roads, we’ll be able to navigate the wooded areas much easier.”

Reed Newberry stepped forward and asked, “Not that I enjoy bein’ the voice of ugly reason here, but we need to discuss a few things before headin’ out.”

“Such as?” Walter asked.

“For one, alternate routes if every place we try is impassable, or simply too dangerous.”

“And the other?” Mike Bailey asked.

“How you two will handle the harsh truth. If we get close, and see the same destruction like we witnessed on the way here—”

Bailey’s face flushed with anger. “I’m not turnin’ around or givin’ up until I know—for sure, without a doubt—what happened to my family. If that means I need to leave and go out on foot alone, I will. Don’t even try to play off like you wouldn’t do the same, Newberry.”

“Never said I wouldn’t, Mike. What I wouldn’t do is risk everyone else’s lives to find out. So, you just answered my question.”

“Time’s wastin’, boys. Any other things to discuss before we head out?” Kyle asked.

“Just one more,” Reed answered. “Do we all agree this ain’t a search and rescue mission, except for Allsop and Bailey’s families? We’re gonna see some things, people in need of assistance, along the way. As much as I hate to say it, we can’t stop to help. We’ve got our own loved ones to think about. If we try to save everyone we come into contact with, it’ll just end up bein’ our downfall. Personally, I don’t plan on leavin’ Jane and Jesse up here alone. I plan on comin’ back. Is it safe to assume I’m not the only one thinkin’ this way?”

“How in the world can we be so callous? All of us, except Walter here, are cops! We’re trained to help, and you want us to just turn a blind eye? That’s wrong, Newberry.”

“Were cops. Were bein’ the operative word, Bailey. Stop livin’ in the old world!” Kyle yelled. “Did the last few days’ wipe away the memories of what happened in Malvern? Those people we tried to help—most of them our friends and neighbors, mind you—they bolted! Didn’t appreciate the help and ran like frightened sheep at the first sign of trouble. We’re not helpin’ anyone else, especially strangers. Period. It’s too risky, and I’m done stickin’ my neck on the choppin’ block for ungrateful fools. That’s the harsh world we live in now, so pull your head out of the past. If you don’t, a
thing
might eat it in the present. Or you’ll fuck-up again and shoot one of us.”

Bailey lunged forward. Kyle was ready for him. “Pender, you’re an—”

It only took one, solid punch. Bailey went down after Kyle unleashed his anger directly into Mike’s chin. Kyle grinned, ready for the piece of shit to stand back up just to be knocked down once more.

“Keep your voices down, idiots. Dead ears might be listenin’,” Walt interjected, stepping over to help Bailey up. “Okay, you two done now? Got it all outta your system, Kyle?”

“I could go another round or two. Doubt he could, though. That one was for Shaun. The next would be for pure pleasure.”

“You always were a prick, Pender. That ain’t changed,” Bailey muttered while rubbing his jaw. “Yeah, I’m done.”

“Okay then, back to our original topic. Though it’s a tough pill to swallow, Reed and Kyle are correct. We can’t deviate from our plan. Can’t let our emotions get to us, and stop pokin’ the hornet’s nest of past mistakes! Those still in that cave up yonder, they need us to return. So no, Reed. I don’t plan on playin’ hero. We go, help Bailey and Allsop, then grab what we can and come back. That’s the mission. Time to move out.”

Kyle and Reed headed to their Humvee, while Walter walked toward his. Bailey and Allsop didn’t move.

“It’s not our mission, Walt. We’re not in the same place at the moment. Y’all have your loved ones around—”

“Not all of us, remember?” Kyle interrupted. “Some
died
so your sorry asses could live.”

Ignoring Kyle’s comment, Bailey continued, “We’ll go alone. If we find our families, we know our way back. We just—we can’t ignore others, and you know we’ll run across some on the way. It’s that simple. We’ll help those we can.”

“Death sentence,” Kyle muttered.

Walter paused in mid-stride. “I ain’t runnin’ a bed and breakfast, boys. You and your kin—should you find them—are welcome to come back. However, don’t even entertain the notion of bringin’ strangers back with you. If you do, y’all will have to set up tents in the woods. I’m not riskin’ the lives of my loved ones. Y’all sure this is the way you want to end things?”

Bailey and Allsop exchanged glances. Kyle knew their answer before either man spoke.

“Yeah, we’re sure. Thanks for all you’ve done, Walter. But we ain’t quite ready to let go of who we used to be just yet. Safe journeys.”

Walter shifted directions and walked over, stopping next to Reed. “Same to you, boys. Hope you find your families.”