“What’s going on here?” she asked again. “Do you know anything?”
“The world’s gone crazy,” he said, sadly, biting his upper lip as he shook his head. “There’s hardly any of us left.”
“So it’s just you holding down the fort?”
He nodded. “Someone has to be here, you know. This place. It’s been my life. Honestly, I don’t know where else to go.” He paused to study her. “When you didn’t report for duty, I thought they got you, too.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. I’m dealing with this on a personal level. People I care about... it’s been horrible. Like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”
“Like no one has ever experienced. I need you though. Badly. I don’t even have a 9-1-1 dispatcher.”
“It’s just us? How is this supposed to work?”
“We can figure it out together. You’re the last man standing, Carla.”
She nodded, smiling at his sexist comment. Probably didn’t even realize what he’d said. “What do the latest reports say?”
Manning pointed to his pile of paperwork. “Not good. This ‘zombification,’ for lack of a better word, is spreading fast. Hell, it’s not just our group that’s been decimated. In fact, I think it’s safe to say it’s just me and you for this side of town, kiddo.”
She leaned forward. “Can’t we get help? The National Guard? Coast Guard? Anyone?”
Manning shook his head again. “The National Guard is protecting the White House, Pentagon, and all related facilities, including certain disbanded military bases. Coast Guard is helping the Red Cross at this point. Looks like we’re on our own here in Los Feliz.”
It seemed unbelievable to her... despite what she had already witnessed. But seeing the precinct in disarray brought it home.
Just me and you, kiddo, she repeated in her mind.
“Well, do we have anyone else?” she asked.
“No one’s been here today, except you. And apparently, Taylor.” Manning thumbed absently through the pile of paperwork. Jesus, he was acting odd. “But Thompson is all right, from what I understand. He called today; he’s relocating his family. Same with Reins....”
Carla considered herself an astute cop. She prided herself in sensing people’s vibes, the odd ones especially. A prickly warning tingled along the back of her neck. What was it?
“Manning. There’s something you’re not telling me.... Look at me.”
Manning hesitated a moment, then raised his eyes to meet hers. Her reaction told him everything. She knew.
Carla looked into his red-streaked eyes and stiffened. “Manning...”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry but not sorry, Carla. I was sick, but now I’m better. Hey, don’t worry!” He rose from his seat, but she was already at the door. “I won’t hurt you.”
“Jesus,” she muttered. “Listen, Boss. I know the cure. Not many do. I’m with a group of people that have been through what you’re going through now. We could help you, and you’d be normal again.”
“Cure?” Manning laughed. “Normal? There is no normal now. Don’t you see what’s happening? I’m strong, Carla. And I’m still okay, trust me....” A hint of uncertainty seeped through this last statement. “And, I would never hurt you.”
“You’re hungry, I bet,” she said. She didn’t dare reach for her holstered gun. Not alone, not with his new strength.
“I am,” Manning told her. “I’ve decided I will not feed on the good guys. You included. There are plenty of deadbeats in this city. I can be a good cop, and bring down the number of losers.”
Carla shook her head. “What in the hell?! That’s not what I meant—“
“It’s just the way things are now, Carla. You think we can stop this? If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”
“You don’t understand,” Carla tried to reason with him, reaching for the doorknob. “You think this way now. But it will overcome you. You will become one of them.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” He didn’t seem to care, but noticed her hand turning the knob. “Yes, I’m hungry. But you’d better leave now. Because I do intend to feed.”
Immediately, Carla understood why Manning was keeping the three men in that cell. “No,” she told him, “whatever they’re in for, those prisoners don’t deserve death.”
Manning took a step toward her, anger in his expression. “Who made you judge and jury?”
“And who made you executioner?” she dared.
“That’s enough insubordination. Carla, I’m telling you to leave. There’s a new sheriff in town now. Different rules.”
He advanced closer, and she opened the door and backed into the hallway. “Okay, okay.” She placated him. “I’m leaving. Do what you have to do.”
But Manning’s eyes flashed a deep red now. “I don’t believe you,” he sneered. “You never should have come back!”
Carla turned and ran down the hall. His new chemical makeup made him faster than her now, she knew. She turned a corner and quickly ducked into a corridor with her gun drawn.
She could hear him slow to a walk. “I know you’re here,” he called out. “Really, Carla, it’s so much better on this side. You say you want to help me? Hell, I could help you. We could be true partners.”
Carla heard the radio play “You Can’t Hurry Love” as she listened to him drawing nearer. She backed up as far as she could, ashamed that she was shaking.
Manning sniffed the air and snickered. He was somewhere near the edge of the corridor. Perhaps to throw her off, he called out her name, and an instant later he jumped in front of her, lips pulled back with the obvious intent to take a very big bite.
She screamed and prepared to fire her gun, but Manning sent it flying before she pulled the trigger.
“Too late, my dear. Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you. I’m going to make you a partner. I’ll take care of—”
A shot fired and Manning’s head blew apart, burying her in a crimson shower. Her boss fell to the floor.
* * *
Jack came to her, wrapping his arms around her. She sobbed into his chest. Jack understood the camaraderie Carla shared with her fellow officers. He had his own buddies in his field, which wasn’t so different from hers. This was much more than taking out just any Zombie. It was a colleague. Her sergeant.