Relay for Life (2 page)

Okay. I’m a little bit of a hermit
.

Jason pressed the button on the elevator and keyed in his security code. “Brook loves Ager to death. He was a little awkward about the situation at first, but once he figured out that Ager would be his advocate with Jim and me, he was all about him.”

Andrew laughed. “Only Brook. He likes his new position as head field agent?”
“Eating it up like his old man. That’s our boy for you.” Jason grinned. “What’s with the questions about Brook all of a sudden, Andrew? You interested?” There was a calculating expression in the older man’s face that made Andrew shift nervously.
“Um, I’m pretty sure he’s interested in someone else. One hundred percent sure as matter of fact,” Andrew said. “Don’t get me wrong, Brook is a great guy and he’s handsome as all get out, but he’s a bit too much for me. We’re much better friends.”
The elevator pinged as it descended to its final destination and opened up at the lobby. “Who is this other boy he’s interested in then?” Jason asked. “The way you two were buddy-buddy when you came in, I could’ve sworn it was you.”
Andrew shook his head. “Sorry to disappoint you, Jason. Your son has eyes for that cute little cherub you’ve got working here.”
Jason gave him a curious look. “My son is interested in Daniel Mcarthy?”
“From what I understand. Yes. For being so handsome, Brook is absolutely lousy at letting someone know he’s interested.”
“Hmmm, good to know. Maybe I’ll arrange something for them to do together to help things along.” Andrew sent up a silent prayer for forgiveness from Brook at setting his father on the path to matchmaking. “So what about you, Andrew? You have someone special in your life?”
Andrew laughed. “Afraid not. If someone ever does come up, I imagine they would be splashed all over every tabloid from here to the West Coast. I’m a nightmare to date, or so I’ve been told.” It was one of the many reasons why he didn’t date. The last “date,” he didn’t even count him as a boyfriend, had lasted two weeks under the microscope and then had bounced with over six thousand credits from Andrew’s bank account. It still annoyed him to think about it.
They crossed the lobby and keyed in another I.D. code at the front door. “You just have to find the right man for the job, my friend. You’re a good-looking guy and a national hero. There is no reason why people shouldn’t be lining up to date you,” Jason said.
Andrew shrugged. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Jason. It’ll happen someday. But for now, I’m content being single.”
“Hey!” a voice called from behind them. They turned in unison to see Brook jogging to catch up. “Where you going?”
“I’m taking Andrew to our house to relax until he has to leave for his run,” Jason said, smiling warmly at his son.
“Aw, I was hoping to talk to you before you skipped out of here,” Brook huffed, frowning slightly. “I convinced Daniel to come over to my place after work and have a few drinks. I thought you might come with.”
“You know I don’t drink, Brook,” Andrew said. “My body is a temple. You are a big boy. Why don’t you have a night with just you and Daniel?”
Brook shifted from foot to foot. “I was hoping you’d act as a buffer.”
“Son, you’re going to have to go after what you want on your own. There will be plenty of time for you and Andrew to catch up when he gets done with the race. It’s only a week,” Jason said. “And I’m sure Andrew can be convinced to stay an extra night after the signing when he gets back to Deadzone after the run.”
“I can do that,” Andrew agreed.
Brook sighed. “Fine. I’ll catch up with you later, man.”
They shook hands, and Brook turned around and disappeared back into the crowded lobby. Jason turned his attention back to Andrew. “I didn’t know you were that close to my boy, son. He expects you to be there to support him.”
“I think he gets lonely sometimes. Everyone here relies on him to be a big bad field agent. He doesn’t have to put airs on around me.” He wished he could find someone to like him as much as Brook liked Daniel. It would be nice to be courted, cherished as Brook cherished his cherub. Granted, if he was talking ideals, he would want someone a little less aggressive to court him, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.
“Hmm,” Jason said, looking at him with a calculating expression. “You’d be good for him.” The driving staff brought the Mercedes around and handed Jason the keys.
“He’s already taken, Jason,” Andrew reminded.
Jason grinned and climbed into the car. Andrew circled the vehicle and got into the passenger seat. Jason waited until he buckled his seat belt to speak. “Three is not a crowd, Andrew. I’m testament to that.”
Andrew rolled his eyes and tried very hard not to blush. The last thing he thought his boss would suggest would be for him to engage in a threesome with his son. Not that it mattered. By the time he got back from the field, Jason would’ve probably forgotten all about the suggestion. There was just too much going on at Deadzone for any one thought to last that long, surely.
He turned his attention toward the window and watched the sector whiz by. Jason had programmed the transport to take them to his house and put on some kind of television program on the steering wheel to watch. Andrew didn’t really have an interest in that sort of thing. His blood was already pumping in anticipation of the run that would start tomorrow. He couldn’t wait.

Twenty different camera bulbs flashed at once as Andrew stepped out in front of the table that Deadzone had set up for him. The press conference before the beginning of the race was par for the course, and it was the part he dreaded most. He wore his sponsored running uniform, a black-and-white spandex material shirt with the Deadzone logo across the chest and back that allowed for the maximum amount of air to circulate on his body while being fully dressed. His shorts were of the same material except a little looser fit with the logo on the bottom of his shorts’ leg. The ball cap he was sporting at the moment would have to go before the race started. He’d overheat if he tried to wear it.

Jim and Jason sat on either side of him in their suits, fielding questions that the reporters had. The field agents that were going to be on the run with him were filed in behind him. It was all pretty standard.

“Are you going to be signing autographs after the race, Mr. Ainsley?” a perky little woman with ice-blonde hair worn up in spikes asked from the front row.

Andrew leaned forward toward the microphone. “Deadzone has a special table set up after the race. Everyone who wants an autograph needs to get there reasonably early because we’re only doing a threehour signing.” It was one of the new stipulations in his contract. He would need some time to recover from the run. He would need lots of peace and quiet in order to recover properly. He wasn’t exactly the poster child for socializing. He’d aptly named himself a hermit.

“We’ll have an additional table set up at the finish line for those of you who want to purchase some official Andrew Ainsley merchandise,” Jim cut in. “For those viewers at home who can’t make it out to the race, you can get any of the merchandise from the finish line at AndrewAinsley.com.”

Andrew was grateful for the plug. Deadzone ran his website, but he got fifteen percent of the profits. It was pretty generous, considering they did everything and the only thing they required him to do was slap his name on the stuff. “Any more questions pertinent to the race?” Jason asked. The questions erupted around them, and Andrew had to clamp down on his anxiety. He felt like everyone was pressing in around him. He took a deep breath.

He remembered the sound of their screams most clearly. His mother and father pushed him farther ahead of the crowd, urging him to run.

His daddy’s booming voice rang out clearly above the other sounds of fear and pain. “Go! Run, Andrew! Faster, baby boy, faster than you’ve ever run in your life.”

Andrew pumped his short arms faster. He was only nine, but he was already a good runner, the fastest in his class. He pulled ahead of the throng just as his mama cried out. Something evil grabbed her and pulled her back into the swarm of screaming people. He ran on, faster, faster. He had to outrun the monsters, had to outrun what his Uncle Tommy had brought with him when he’d come to visit.

He blinked coming back to himself.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I have to stop thinking about this
. He’d freak himself out if he didn’t. He’d been raised by the sector’s orphanage after his parents died, and he’d had a good life, a zombie-free, Necro-free life. The few that he’d encountered on the way had been cause for anxiety, but the days of total meltdown were behind them. Last year had been a rare occurrence and one that wasn’t likely to repeat anytime soon.

Oddly enough, it wasn’t the zombies he had issues with. It was the crowds. The human beings in the panicked crowd had been the real danger in the situation. They’d trampled people, dragged them down in an effort to distract the hoards of infected that had been trailing behind them. It was a situation that Andrew never wanted to be in again.
A message flashed on his PDA from Marcel.

Marcel had been with him on every run since he was a teenager and knew all about his anxiety problems. He was a good friend and had held him tightly on one occasion after a six-hour signing had led to a mini-meltdown. It was one of the reasons that Jim and Jason never scheduled him for longer signings anymore. He’d thought Marcel would ask him out after, but he never had. He might’ve read a little bit more into the situation than was actually warranted.

Not too bad. We’re almost done
.
Nod at me if you need out
.
Okay
.

They answered a few more questions, and then Jim called an end to the press conference. A couple more pictures were taken, and then he was being ushered by his field team toward the waiting transport that would take him to the start line for the race. He shook Jim and Jason’s hands before climbing into the waiting transport.

Marcel sat beside him as the driver started the engine. “This is going to be pretty intense, Andrew.”
“So I’ve been told. I’ve studied the map, though. It’s a great trail.”
“I’ve been keeping up with the z movements through the area,” Marcel said, pulling up the migration patterns on his screen. “They have a Necro King controlling a mob just south of the trail. I know the higher-ups think this is a good idea, but I’m not so sure.”
“It’ll be fine, Marcel. I know the risks. Plus you know the UMF will pull the race if the situation gets hot.” He reached over and patted the other man’s tanned arm. “Don’t worry so much. I trust you guys to have my back.”
Marcel sighed. His chocolate-brown hair was getting longer. It was in his eyes now. He really needed a haircut. “You know I think of you as a kid brother. It’s impossible not to worry about you, Andy.”
Andrew rolled his eyes. “I will be just fine, Marcel. Seriously.” A change of subject was in order. “How do you feel about taking the team out after the race for some pizza at Mac’s?” Mac’s was a private little pizza joint right down from his condo. They’d done it before after a particularly trying race, and Andrew could afford the carbs after the intensity of this jaunt.
Marcel raised his deep brown eyes and met Andrew’s. “I’m going to need more than a slice of pizza at the conclusion of this race. A pint of beer might do it.”
“You know Mac’s serves beer and wine,” Andrew said. “Don’t borrow trouble, Marcel. Nothing is going to go wrong with this race.”

Andrew kicked out with his feet, dislodging the zombie that was trying to take a bite out of his calf. He fell to the ground as his shoe came loose in the infected’s hands. He kicked off the other one and stumbled to his feet to keep on running. He’d rested too long that time. He’d set his watch for three hours instead of two and hadn’t taken the proper cover.

He threw himself toward the river, knowing that safe haven existed there. Zombies avoided water like it was an acid bath or something. Deep water especially disturbed them. It was one of the reasons that most modern cities were built with deep water trenches around them. It had been a godsend to find a fast-running river through the sector after he’d gotten separated from his field unit on the third day of the races.

As the river took him further downstream and further from the finish line, he wondered if he was ever going to get home. He’d scavenged food, but he was still losing weight. Being constantly on the run didn’t help. He’d starve to death before they found him, or worse, he’d be picked off by one of the monsters running around.

They’d been idiots to try the run to begin with. The Necro King that had been in the south when the race began rearranged the hunting grounds effectively, slowly separating the runners and field teams until they were easier to take down. The kind of predatory thinking was unheard of even in Necros. It was the scariest thing Andrew had ever witnessed.
At least the scientists will have something to think over from the experience
. It gave him little comfort. If Deadzone or the UMF didn’t find him soon, he was a dead man.

“We know he’s sticking close to the river. We need to move
now
,” Marcel said, slamming his hand down on the tabletop where the maps of the area were laid out in neat rows for everyone to look at. Matthew Gibson watched as the table erupted into loud debate about the worth of sending a rescue team after a runner who may or may not be turned already.

“If his field team had done their jobs, we wouldn’t be here,” one of his fellow SCAB officers, Kris, said. “The United Military Force won’t get involved at this point.”

“Fuck you. I was on his field team,” Marcel snapped. “I know for a fact that we did everything in our power to protect him. We lost four men in the attempt.”

“Whose fault it is, is a moot point,” Brooklyn interrupted. The new head of the Deadzone field units was holding his own against the SCAB and UMF operatives. Matthew had practically grown up with him, and he was impressed. “The man is a national hero and a treasured employee at our company. My fathers called you here to ask for volunteers. We can’t get approval for a helicopter landing and a government-sanctioned field unit, but Deadzone is willing to do an air drop into the area with instructions on how to walk out to the boundary line for a pickup.”