Fatal Outbreak: The Fatal Series, #4

By Bob Moats

Zombies are running amok in Brinnon, Washington. Sheriff Dave Chandler and his new wife, Sarah, are trying to head up the investigation of the outbreak of the mysterious virus that is turning peaceful citizens into ravenous killing machines. The Center for Disease Control has moved in and is putting everyone in quarantine, and the FBI, led by Special Agent Warren Stevens, is hot on the trail of the terrorists who are spreading the virus. Will Dave and Sarah be able to stop the spread of the virus before it is let loose on the Pacific North West, taking out Seattle and surrounding areas. This is the fourth of the Fatal Series books by Bob Moats.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bob Moats
• Release date: Jul 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781501483110

Bob Moats

Detroit area resident, Bob Moats, has been writing short stories and plays for as long as he can remember. He has lost most of his original stories, typed or handwritten, in the numerous moves he has made from his hometown of Fraser, Michigan to Northern Michigan, to Las Vegas and back to Fraser, where he now lives. Moats became one of the causalities of unemployment a year ago, and had time on his hands to finally pursue a life long dream of writing a full blown crime novel. Thus was born the first book, "Classmate Murders".What followed was a series of seven books starting with "The Classmate Murders" which introduces the main character, Jim Richards, who has to admit he has become a senior citizen, reluctantly. Richards, one day, receives an email from a childhood sweetheart asking for his help, but by the time he reaches her, she has been murdered. His life turns around and he is pulled into numerous murders of women from his high school who he hasn't seen in forty years. Along with a friend of his, Buck, a big, mustached biker, they go off to track down the killer before he can get to one former classmate, Penny Wickens, a TV talk show host who Jim has just fallen for while protecting her. The killer is also murdering the women right out from under police protection, driving homicide detective Will Trapper crazy, and he slowly depends on Jim to help. There's humor, suspense, wild chases across suburban Detroit with cops, classic cars and motorcycle clubs; murder, mayhem, a good amount of romance and a twist ending.Jim and his crime fighters, continue in the other books, traveling to Las Vegas twice, back to Detroit and out to New York to solve murders involving dominatrix; mistresses; Bridezillas; magic and strip clubs.Book titles: Classmate Murders; Vegas Showgirl Murders; Dominatrix Murders; Mistress Murders; Bridezilla Murders; Magic Murders; Strip Club Murders and Made-for-TV Murders.

Book preview

Fatal

Outbreak

By Bob Moats

Copyright © 2014 by Bob Moats.

All rights reserved.

Rev. 0708141105

THIS BOOK IS LICENSED for your personal use only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

This is a work of pure fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

For information and address:

Magic 1 Productions

P.O. Box 524, Fraser MI 48026-0524

Website: http://murdernovels.com

Cover by Bob Moats

MY THANKS TO:

To Jan Kimball for editing my story. She checked my first couple books way back in 2009, and it took all this time to get her back. She is the comma queen.

TO ALL THE BETA READERS, especially Al Norris, who hates all of my books but he still reads them, and makes sure he points out all the mistakes he finds.

A SPECIAL THANKS to all the faithful readers of my books, without you this wouldn’t be fun anymore, thanks!

THE AUTHOR

Bob Moats is the author of 32 novels about a senior citizen sleuth named Jim Richards, starting with the first book of the series, Classmate Murders. He wrote the short fantasy novella Crystal Prison of Kyr and is a published playwright with his three act comedy Happily Ever After. This 4th book continues the story of Sarah and Sheriff Dave Chandler from the first book, Fatal Rejection.

Chapter 1

IDA MCINTOSH HAD TROUBLE sleeping. She usually slept well through the night since her life had changed. The farm she owned had many animals that she and her late husband Oren, had maintained for over thirty years. She had gotten used to the sound of farm animals and it didn't bother her, but after Oren had died in a tragic accident with a tractor, she sold off all the livestock. The silence from the lack of animals helped her to sleep better now, even though she still awoke by five in the morning. It was habit.

She was having trouble sleeping tonight because of the sounds she hadn't heard in years. It was the growl and howl of the coyote that must have come back for a chicken or a small lamb. But there were no animals now, so what was the beast after?

She threw on her robe and grabbed the shotgun she had by her bedroom door for just such emergencies. She plodded down the stairs and to the back door in the kitchen that opened to the yard. It was dark in the kitchen, she didn't turn on the light, afraid she'd scare the animal away. She wanted to make a trophy out of it. She reached over to the door window and slowly pulled back the curtain to peek out.

The yard light was on, illuminating the back. She scanned around the yard but saw no coyote, nothing was out there. A face suddenly jumped up at the window scaring Ida back from the door. She screamed at seeing the face, it was rotting away, blood flowing down the neck from lesions covering the now shaking head. The creature howled and smashed at the door, trying to get in. It was acting crazy and was staring at Ida now, with a blood lust that chilled her even more.

She quickly raised the shotgun and fired through the glass, blasting the creature, causing it to fall back. Ida stood, frozen in place. She listened but heard nothing. She moved slowly to the door and looked through the shattered opening. She saw no one else, just the body on the ground, but then she heard a noise that caused to her to shiver. It was another growl behind her in the kitchen. She spun around with the gun and fired. It struck the second creature square in the chest and it went down.

Ida ran around the body and locked herself in the small library where she used to do her farm business, and grabbed the phone. She dialed 911 and waited. She could hear no more howls or moving about.

Finally a voice came over the phone, Sheriff's office, Sheriff Dave Chandler speaking. May I help you?

Dave! It's Ida McIntosh, I need you. I just shot two zombies!!

AN HOUR LATER, DAVE had Ida seated in his patrol car as he and the coroner were examining the remains of the two bodies. They were put together out in the yard on the ground by the EMT's who arrived with the coroner.

What the hell are they Mark? Dave asked the new Jefferson County coroner, Mark Mitchell.

Well, I'd say they aren't zombies, as Ida claims. They were alive when Ida blasted them with her shotgun. Luckily, this wasn't a prank by some crazy kids in masks. These two have some disease that caused their skin to blister and pus open. I'm not qualified to diagnose such a disease; I'll call the CDC in Seattle, and ask them to check them out. Two people with the same condition, this is not normal. They got this from something and I hope this isn't going to be an epidemic.

You think we're safe? Dave asked.

Dave, right now, I wish I could say. Did you touch the bodies?

Hell no. They looked so bad I didn't want to even get near them. Call CDC and get someone to check this quickly. We don't need an outbreak in Brinnon. Can you see if they have wallets or some ID?

Sure, help me turn them, after you put on the gloves.

Dave slipped his hands into the rubber gloves and helped Mark to turn the bodies. They searched the pockets of the jeans the men wore and pulled out everything they could find. Dave took a plastic bag from the EMT's vehicle and put the contents in. He opened the wallet he found on one body and read the driver's license.

Ken Gorlick, from Los Angeles. He must be a tourist, Dave said as Mark pulled another wallet from the other body, handing it to Dave. He opened it and read the info.

This guy was from Colorado. This is not good. Two men, from two different places, getting the same disease turning them to melting men. Dave looked to the other contents of the search and found a ticket for a camping space at the local camp ground.

I think I better get over to the camp ground to see if any other zombies are wandering around. Get these two back to the morgue and in the freezer until CDC can examine them.

Mark signaled to the EMT's who were standing as far away as deemed safe. They reluctantly came over and helped Mark put them into the body bags. Dave stood back, wondering what was going on. Is this an invasion of body snatchers, or some horrible disease that could take over in his town? All he could do is wait for CDC and investigate the campground where the one man came from. He had a feeling that the other man was also from the same campground.

Dave went to Ida, still shaking in the patrol car. He leaned in and said, You did good Ida. We don't know what they would have done to you. Now I want you to keep cool about this. If you go telling people that there are zombies running around, there could be panic. Can you just say you shot two intruders on your property for now? At least until we find out who these men are and what is wrong with them. You didn't touch either of the men?

Are you insane, you saw them. I would never touch them in a million years.

Okay, good, but I still want to take you to the clinic and have Doc Morgan check you out. Just in case, but don't worry. Dave stood as Virgil, his deputy drove up. Dave went to the man and said, Virg, take Ida to Doc Morgan and have her checked out. Talk to Mark about the reason for checking her. We could have an epidemic, but keep that to yourself. Understand? I have to go to the Brinnon campground and check something out.

Is this about the zombies? Virgil asked.

Dave pulled the young man aside and said, Don't even say that in jest. I don't want people to panic and do stupid things, like shoot each other. Got it?

Sure Dave, I was just kidding. I know there are no such thing as zombies.

Where did you hear this?

It's on the recording from when Ida called the station. I played it back to see what was going on.

Ida thinks they were zombies, but we may have something worse. Now take Ida to Doc Morgan and get her checked. Talk to Mark. Dave spun and helped Ida out of his car and to Virgil's. Then he went back to his car and drove out.

SARAH AWOKE FROM HER sleep for some strange reason. Van Gogh, her faithful dog looked up to her from his spot on the bed. Usually the dog wasn't allowed on the bed, but since her new husband Dave had to work the night shift, she let the pup up.

She laid there thinking about the trip out to New York they had returned from, and the adventure they went through with the Parkway killer. Sarah's best friend, Connie was a victim of the killer, luckily she was now safe. She smiled, thinking about when they were in Las Vegas, before New York, and Dave proposed to her. They got married that day and were now Mr. and Mrs. Dave Chandler.

Van Gogh shuffled around, stepping on Sarah's legs, she yelped causing the dog to jump. He moved away from her, for his own good. She put her head back down on the pillow and tried to sleep. It was not coming easily for some reason. She felt a chill run through her and it worried her.

She sat up and grabbed her cell phone from the bedstand and speed dialed Dave. The phone rang for far too long which started to worry her, then Dave finally answered.

Sarah, are you all right? Dave asked, as soon as he connected.

I'm fine, I just wanted to know if you were all right?

I'm good, just going to investigate something at the Brinnon campground. Are you having trouble sleeping, not bad dreams again? he asked referring to the dreams Sarah suffered through months back.

No, I haven't had bad dreams like that for months now. I just had some strange feelings that something was wrong and had to call. What's up?

Dave paused, but knew Sarah would find out anyway, Ida McIntosh had some visitors tonight. She insists they were zombies, don't repeat that, and shot both of the attackers. The men had some kind of disease that we are going to get the CDC to checkout. Now let's keep this to ourselves until I get a handle on it. Okay?

Zombies! I love it. Can I see the bodies? she said with glee.

No you can't, now stop and go back to bed, he said as he hung up.

Sarah knew she wouldn't sleep, she loved zombie stories and they were in her town now.

CHAPTER 2

Dave drove into the Brinnon campground and pulled up to the office. Dave could see through the window, the room was dark, but for a small lamp illuminating a desk on the side of the office. At the desk sat a smallish woman, reading a book. Dave entered the building, startling the woman, as she turned and saw the Sheriff.

Geez Dave, you scared me, The woman said, as she stood and turned on the room lights. I was reading a scary story and you pop in. She moved to the counter where people would sign in to the campground. Something I can do for you? she asked.

Dave opened his notepad, where he had written the information about the men who were killed earlier. Doris, I just need to know if you have two men checked into the place and where they are camping.

Give me the names and I'll tell you.

Dave looked down to the notes and said, Okay, first, Ken Gorlick from LA, then Greg Breton, from Denver, Colorado.

The girl looked to the register and scanned the names. She ran her finger down the entries and stopped at one. Yep, here's Ken Gorlick, he's in space 26. The register says they're a family of three. She moved down the list again and stopped. Here's the other, Breton, he's in space 52. No others in his list. Must be by himself.

Dave finished writing the info down and thanked the girl. He started to go out, when the girl asked, What's up?

Dave turned at the door and said, Just a minor problem with these men, nothing you need to worry about. I'm only investigating. Thanks Lynn. He went out and to his car.

He left the office and drove into the campground. It was dark, but there were street lamps every so often so the campers wouldn't get totally lost in the dark. He drove around the wide loop of road watching for the posts at each space, stating the site number. He found space 26 and pulled into the area. There was a small tent next to a larger tent, and there was a number of camping items lying around the picnic table. Sitting at the table was a woman; she turned to the patrol car and stood.

Dave exited the car and went to her; she looked scared in the headlights of the patrol car.

Is there a problem, officer? she asked Dave.

I'm Sheriff Chandler, ma'am. Do you know a Ken Gorlick?

She collapsed, sitting back on the picnic table and said, looking to Dave, Is he all right?

Dave really hated this part, I'm sorry but there was an incident, and Mr. Gorlick was killed.

She got a look on her face that bordered on shock and relief. She sat a moment and then asked, What happened?

"Well, before I get into that,