Life After The Undead (Book 1) (64 page)

Once
we
reached
the
top
floor,
a
man
in
a
dark
suit
waited
for
us. I
recognized
him as
the
security
guard
from
when
I
was
there,
and
he
nodded
in my
direction.
He
took
us
to
the
sitting
room
where
Olivia
waited. She
smiled
as
we
approached
and
held
her
hands
out
to
embrace
me.

“Krista,
darling,
it
has
been
so
long.”
She
took
a
seat
on
the
couch
and
patted
the
space
next
to
her.
“You
must
tell
me
everything.”

I took
a
seat
where
she
indicated,
and
Pam sat
across
from
us.

“There’s
really
nothing
to
tell.
We
supervise
the
workers
as they
build
the
wall,
and
we
fend
off
any
attacking
zombies.”

Olivia
waved
her
hand
in
the
air.
“Nonsense.
I’m
sure
you
have
plenty
of
adventures
to
regale
me
with.
How
’s
Liet?”

I
forced
a
smile.
“Fine.”

“Oh,
I’m
sure
he
is.
Now
who
’s
this?”
She
directed
her
attention
to
Pam.

“This
is
Pam.
She
is
one
of
Lie
t’s
colonels.”

Pam
nodded
in
the
woman
’s
direction.

“Very
nice to
meet
you.
So
tell
me,
what
is it
that
brings
you
back to
Florida?”

“Liet
wanted
me
to
bring
you
a
gift.”

“Really?
What
is
it?”

“A truckload
of
supplies
from
the
West.
He
figured
you
might
be
running
low
on
things,
so
he
sent
stuff
to
replenish
your
stores.”

“Wasn’t
that
thoughtful
of him?
What
is
it
that
he
wishes
in return?”

I cleared
my
throat.
“He
needs
some
different
workers.
Preferably
ones
who
are
n’t
the
dregs
of
your
society.”

Oliv
ia’s
mouth
opened
in
mock
horror.
“Is
he
insinuating
that
I
’d
send
our
criminals
and
undesirables
to
him?
I
assure
you,
those
who
make
the
trip
to
North
Platte
have
every
intention
of
working
hard
for
their
country.”

I
shook
my
head.
“No,
no.
He’s
not
accusing
you
of
that.
He
wants
a
few
more…professionals
to
work
with. Say,
some
of
your
engineers.”

Olivia
glanced
from
me
to
Pam and
back
to
me.
“I’m
not
sure
we
can
give
up
any
of
our
engineers.
We
need
all
of
them
here. Give
me a
couple
days
to
confer
with
the
other
families.
I
’ll
let
you
know.”

I
smiled. “Thanks.”

“Now,
what
can I
do
to
make
your
stay
more
comfortable?”

“I
was
wondering
if
you
knew
where
I could
find
Pearl.”

Olivia
smiled.
“Of
course,
dear.”

Since
I’d
left,
they’d
converted
the
rooms
on
the
second
floor
into apartments. Most
of
the
teachers
lived
there,
along
with
the
Johnson
family
servants.
I
found
the
number
on
the
door
and
hesitated
before
knocking.
Again,
all
the
different
scenarios
of
how
Pearl
would
react
ran
through
my
mind.
I
imagined
she
’d
slam
the
door
in my
face.
Pam
stood
next
me.
I
felt
her
breath on
my
cheek.

“Well,
are
you
going
to
knock?”

I took
a
deep
breath.
Raising
my
hand,
I
tapped
quickly
on
the
door.
I heard
the
shuffling
of feet,
then
the
door
swung
open,
and
I
was
face
-to
-
face
with
Pearl.
At
first,
she
stared
at
me
blankly,
then
realization
hit,
and
she
threw
her
arms
around
my
neck.
I
was
so
relieved,
I let
out
the
breath
I
held
and
hugged
her
back.

“Oh, my
god,”
Pearl
spoke
as
she
pulled
away,
“I
would
have
never
guessed
in
a
million
years
that
you’d
be
standing at
my
door.”
She
turned
and
held
out
her
hand.
“Please,
come in.”

We
stepped
into
the
apartment.
“Pearl,
this is
my
friend,
Pam.”

Pearl
shook
her
hand.
“It’s
nice
to
meet
you.”
She
placed
her
hands
on
her
cheeks
and
stared
at
me.
“I
still
can’t
believe
you
’r
e
actually
here.
I
know
it’s
only
been
several
months,
but
it
seems
like
forever!”

“It’s
been
a
while.”

Pearl
stepped
forward
and
embraced
me
again.
“I’v
e
missed
you
so
much,”
she
whispered.

Tears
stung
my
eyes.
I
missed
Pearl
too,
way
more
than
I
imagined.

Pearl
pulled
away.
“Let
me
get
you
two
something
to
drink.”
 
She
stepped
into
the
kitchen
while
Pam
and
I
took
a
seat
on
the
couch.
“I
want
to
hear
everything
that
you
’v
e
been
up
to,”
Pearl
called
from
the
kitchen. She
brought
out
lemonade
and
handed
the
glasses to
us.