Hidden Shifts: Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force, #2

By L. A. McGarvey

Agent Camphor Buckley, family man, Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force Agent, target. Agent Buckley is ambushed and shot during a routine zombie hunt. Buckley's son Jonah disappears from where he's visiting his grandmother in the Gray Hills. Buckley's wife, Dappled Waters, is kidnapped the night of the ambush as well. To make matters worse, Buckley's long-kept secrets are revealed.

 

The Director of the Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force, Agent Bill Orange has kicked him off the case and pushed him to the sidelines.

 

Buckley calls his friend retired Agent Dave Whatsun to help him after his family's been kidnapped. But Dave soon becomes embroiled in serious problems with his own life. Can he stop his enemies and save his family?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trouble Twins Publishing
• Release date: Feb 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201765309

L. A. McGarvey

L. A. McGarvey is a goat wrestling, loader driving, horseback riding author with a unique sense of humour. Find her on Facebook @LAmcgarveyauthor  Email: [e-mail] 

Book preview

Hidden Shifts

Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force #2

L. A. McGarvey

Trouble Twins Publishing

Copyright © 2021 by L. A. McGarvey

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Cover art by: https://selfpubbookcovers.com/Viergacht

Contents

Prologue

1. Buckley

2. Bryant

3. Buckley

4. Dave

5. Bryant

6. Team 

7. Agent Homes

8. Dave

9. Storky

10. Dave

11.  Storky

12. Storky and Unster’s Phone Call

13.  Pier Goes Back to the Mall

14. Agent Homes

15. Buckley

16. CSI

17. Agent Orange

18. Bryant

19. Buckley

20. Agents Jimini and McFled Interview Quill

21. Buckley Watching Agent Quill’s Interview with Jimini

22. Agent Buckley calls Dave

23. Dappled Waters Wakes up in a Tank

24. Bryant and Sergeant Sparkle get a Ride

25. Jackson gets Interviewed 

26. Bryant and Sparkle at the Boarding House

27. Braul Bumfinger’s Diary

28. Storky and Techno-b-boy

29. Sparkle Robs a Store

30. Dave takes the Sub

31. Sparkle meets a Woman 

32. After the Gas Station

33. Bryant and Sparkle in Flattop

34. Dappled Waters

35. Dave Arrives at Buckley’s 

36. Bryant Checks in with B team

37. Dappled Waters and Jonah Reunited

38. Dave Talks to Harry

39. Harry Reads Bumfinger’s Journal

40. Jonah Shifts

41. Bad Guys

42. Techno-b-boy 

43. Agents Jimini and McFled Interview Commissioner Amanda Stone

44. Agent Orange

45.  Quill

46. Quill Escapes 

47. Mervert

48. Agent Orange 

49. Agent Homes

50. Quill Driving the Zamboni

51. Pier Docklund

52. Buckley Gets Messages 

53.  Sasha

54. Dave Talks about Vivian

55. Quill arrives at the Hideout 

56. Buckley

57. Agent Orange 

58. Sasha

59. Dave Discovers Buckley’s Gone 

60. Agent Homes Calls the Transplant Queen

61. Waving Fronds 

62. Buckley

63. Quill Interrogates Jonah 

64. The Transplant Queen Gets Stuck

65. Jonah

66.  Bryant Colours Sparkle’s Hair 

67. Clock Tower Park

68. Queen gets Unstuck

69. Agent Homes goes to Buckley’s

70. Buckley Escapes Stone Country

71. Sparkle Rents a Car

72. Sparkle goes Shopping

73. Dave gets to Waterfall

74. Buckley at the Junkyard

75. Junk Man

76. Sparkle Goes to the Circus

77. Quill 

78. Boo Boo’s Boutique for Men Calls the Police

79. Buckley gets a Kitten

80. Waving Fronds gets to Waterfall

81. Quill Threatens Jonah

82. Stuffed

83. Sparkle Robs a Bank

84. Veronica

85. Dappled Waters Sings

86. Veronica Gets Questioned

87. Stella Calls the Cops

88. Techno-b-boy and Storky Intercept the 911 call

89. Team

90.  Quill leaves the Denture Museum

91. Agent Homes calls the Queen Again

92.  Buckley finds Dappled Waters 

93. Agent Homes goes to the Sewage Treatment Plant

94. Homes and Janice at Kitten Sweaters Industries

95. Sparkle is Horrified

96. Dave gets to Stodgy

97. Veronica at the Grocery Store 

98. Police at the Store

99.  News About Dave

100. Meeting with Director Orange

101. Jimini Questions the Police

102. Agents at the Truck Stop

103. Buckley

104. Stuffed Gator

105. The Team finds Water

106. More News About Dave

107.  Buckley gets to Giant Mountain Reserve

108. Quill at the Top

109. Buckley 

110. Quill

111. Buckley’s Flashback

112. Fire Truck at the Denture Museum

113. Jonah 

114. Buckley Captured 

115. Jonah Sees his Dad

116. Change Rendezvous

117. Quill

118. Buckley

119. Jonah

120. Trigger 

121.  Quill

122. Clone

123. Jonah Runs

124. Agent Homes and the Team get to the Mountain

125. Buckley

126. Recovering from the Backlash 

127. Quill

128.  Team

129. Agent Orange

130.  Homes

131. Janice

132. Jonah

133. Dave

134. Storky and Techno-b-boy

READ NEXT: RESCUE MISSION

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Prologue 

Sparkle

Veronica 

Dave

Unster

Off-Duty Police Officer

Also By L. A. McGarvey

About Author

Prologue

The boy sat in the dark, sweltering attic, dust motes swirling in the moonbeams. He lit the candles arrayed in a circle around him.  Arranging his gawky teenage body cross-legged in the centre, he opened the book his grandfather left with him years before.

He sounded out the words in his head before trying to say them aloud. They were long, complicated, and foreign. He couldn’t afford to make a mistake. Not with this. He knew what he wanted to accomplish, but he wasn’t sure he was strong enough to do it.

After speaking the words, he sat silently with his eyes closed, meditating as instructed. Tensely, he waited for something to happen. He could hear the flames sizzling on the candle wicks, and smell the burning wax. He felt the slight vibrations of the floorboards.

The bullies from the orphanage were sneaking up the stairs behind him. His eyes snapped open.

Well, well, well, look at this, boys. It’s that loser, Cedric. You and your little Toadie enjoying some romantic time alone with your scented candles?

Gritting his teeth, he looked up at the bully, who had been making his life hell ever since he’d arrived at the orphanage a few years before.

You didn’t bring us your money today, Cedric. The gang leader said threateningly.

I haven’t gotten paid yet, Cedric said, getting to his feet.

You get paid every Friday. We know you’re good for the money.

Spend it all on your scented candles? One of the other boys asked him snidely, causing the rest of the boys to snigger.

They’re not scented candles, Cedric said, fists clenched at his sides.

One of the other boys who had circled behind him, stepped through the candles, kicking him hard in the back. Cedric went sprawling on his face. His toad chirped in warning at them.

The gang leader had his baseball bat with him, as he always did. You know what happens when you don’t pay up. You remember, don’t you?

Remembering that beating vividly, Cedric pushed himself back up, wincing at the pain in his back. He would have a giant bruise there tomorrow.

I told you, I didn’t get paid. I didn’t work last week, remember? How would I get paid when I don’t work? No one could drive me to the hospital, remember that?

Then where did you go?

Cedric kept his mouth shut. The other two boys came up behind him, herding him closer to their leader.

The bully cuffed the side of his head, I said, smack, then, smack, where, smack, did you go? Smack, smack, smack.

Just to the woods. To be alone. He said, cowering, hating himself for telling them that much.

I think you should go to work from now on, don’t you? You owe us our money. For now, we’re going to take it out of your hide. He pushed his ugly face nose to nose with Cedric. His garlic breath was tinged with the smell of rot from a bad tooth. To help you remember your obligations.

Cedric turned away from the bully’s rotten breath, bracing himself for the beating he knew was coming. He hated this place. It hadn’t been the same since his best friend Tony got adopted. He couldn’t wait to get out of here. He was glad he had the job at the hospital. He’d been hiding money from the gang in a jar he kept buried in the woods. Soon, he would have enough money to escape this place. He’d long since given up hope his family was coming to get him out of here.

The bully raised the baseball bat, preparing to hit him. Cedric, fed up, ducked as the bat swung at his head, then he punched someone in the face. The pain nearly made him puke. He was sure he broke his hand.

The other two boys jumped in, bearing him down to the floor from behind. Punching, slamming him with the bat, kicking him. He fought back this time. His toad hissed, spitting venom at one of the boys when he tried stomping him. He staggered back, screaming, clawing at his face.

Ahh! My eyes! It burns! 

The leader hit Cedric hard with the bat. The boy who got sprayed with venom tripped, falling, knocking the candles over as he rolled around on the floor, sending them flying. Ignoring the candles, the other boys tussled in a heap on the rough, dusty wooden floor, intent on beating Cedric into submission.

Suddenly one boy let go of Cedric yelling, Fire! Let’s get out of here.

With a final, vicious kick to Cedric’s gut, the bully said, You better have my money tomorrow or you’re going to regret it.

Cedric lay on the floor, gasping before painfully getting to his feet as the gang fled down the stairs. He scooped up his toad. The entire attic was engulfed in flames now. They’d left him for dead.

Keeping low to the floor, trying not to inhale too much of the smoke, he tried to reach the stairs. The entire floor was on fire now. There was an awful lot of old furniture and paper stored up here. The old adoption files made for interesting reading when he hid up here, but now, they were perfect fuel for a firestorm. His grandfather’s book was smouldering. He grabbed it, patting the cover, extinguishing a small flame.

He stuffed the toad into his shirt, keeping him as safe from the flames as possible. With the route to the stairs blocked, he turned around and made his way to the window. Smashing it out, the flames raged when he let the fresh air in to feed them.

He pulled the toad from his shirt, locking eyes with him. I’m sorry. I’m going to have to throw you out the window. I’ll be right behind you, I promise. He would’ve kissed the toad if it wasn’t instant death to do so.

Reaching through the window, he tossed the toad to the ground. Over the noise of the flames, he couldn’t hear how he landed, or see where he went. He could see the other orphans being herded out of the orphanage by the caretaker and across the lawn to the edge of the wooded park on the other side of the street.

One of the other children spotted him, pointed up to the window. Look! Look, it’s Cedric! Mark, he’s trapped in the attic.

The housekeeper yelled, Cedric! What are you doing in the attic? Try to get to the stairs! Get out of there!

He shouted down to him, The stairs are on fire! I’m going to have to jump.

We can get a ladder! Someone get a ladder!

We don’t have time to wait for a ladder!

Is the fire department on the way?

The other orphans were herded further away from the burning orphanage as the flames behind him grew. Cedric climbed out of the window, sitting on the sill for a moment. His ribs were in agony, blood dripped from his broken nose and split lip. The hand he’d punched the bully with was useless, and he stared down at the ground in dismay. It was an awfully long drop. 

You can do it, Cedric! One of the little kids shouted at him.

Cedric could only use one hand. He stuffed the book into his shirt, tucking his injured hand in his waistband.

His options were limited. He could either jump straight to the ground and hope the fall didn’t kill him, or he could try to make it to the lower roof, then down to the ground from there.

The lower roof was at a strange angle from the window and it would be difficult, if not impossible, even if he was in prime condition, which certainly was not the case after the beating he’d just received. The heavy book would throw him off as well, but there was no way he would leave that behind. It was the only thing he had left from his family.

He looked up again. He could see the bullies behind the rest of the orphans looking smug. The ringleader still had his baseball bat, smacking his hand with it, staring at Cedric through the light of the full moon, smiling. He looked down again. He couldn’t see any sign of his toad. He hoped he was okay.

Standing up on the ledge, taking a deep breath, he calculated the distance. Steeling himself, he jumped towards the lower roof. Landing awkwardly, sliding off the steep pitch, he felt fingernails rip off. The blood made his hand slippery. Automatically, he used his broken hand, almost letting go anyway from the pain. Somehow, he got a handhold on the eaves trough. He dangled there precariously. The eavestrough groaned and shook, ripping away from the roof from his weight on it. There was an explosion from somewhere in the rear of the orphanage. He assumed it was from the propane tanks used for the stove and the furnace.

You’re going to have to jump, Cedric!

He tried to pull himself up onto the lower roof, but he didn’t have the strength to do it. The old book in his shirt didn’t help either. It kept catching on the edge of the roof, making it impossible to pull himself up. He looked down at the ground, hand throbbing. He got his legs around the eaves trough’s downspout. It pulled away from the house, getting him closer to the ground.

You can do it, Cedric! One of the little kids shouted up at him.

Cedric let go of the eaves trough, allowing himself to fall to the ground. The burning building collapsed in a fireball behind him. 

Chapter one

Buckley

A gent McFled, you need to put Bubbles down so he can do his job. Agent Jimini said to his junior Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force partner.

Agent Ned McFled set the Jackalope on the ground, complaining, He isn’t picking up anything.

Doesn’t mean anything, really, said Agent Homes. Techno-b-boy said he fed him right before we took him out. Sometimes, when he’s not hungry, he doesn’t hunt zombies. We’ve been here for over an hour and haven’t found anything. Think it’s time to pack it up, Agent Buckley?

I’m not finding anything either. He said, coming back to the group. I agree with Agent Homes. I don’t think there was ever a zombie here. Seems this was just a hoax call.

Alright then, everybody load up. Agent Homes said, taking her night-vision goggles off.

The team started gathering their equipment, loading it into various vehicles parked close by.

Fwoop!

Ahh! Agent Buckley cried out as he was thrown to the ground. Everyone was instantly on high alert.

What just happened? Agent Janice Bowers asked.

Buckley’s been shot! Agent Jimini said.

With an arrow, I think. Agent McFled said.

Buckley doesn’t look so good. Agent Docklund said, hooking an arm under Buckley’s good one, pulling him out of the line of fire behind a tank. 

It is an arrow. He said, Looks like it’s silver. Weird.

Silver? Buckley panted, holding onto his arm. That explains a lot.

Explains what? Agent Docklund asked.

Why I feel like I’m being poisoned.

You sure it’s not just a poisoned arrow?

If it’s silver, that’s poison enough for someone like me. Buckley gritted his teeth and hissed, shifting his weight trying to ease the pain.

The team gathered around him defensively, searching for danger.

Did anybody see where that arrow came from? Agent Homes asked as she peered cautiously around the tank. She’d put her night vision goggles back on.

Ned pointed to a tall office building across the street from the mall. I think from over there. From the roof.

All right, Agent McFled, you and Agent Jimini, go check it out. Take Bubbles. We have to get Buckley back to Headquarters to get him taken care of.

Buckley shook his head. No. You don’t understand. You need to take me to Harry Porter’s. Now. He was wheezing, he’d lost all feeling in the injured arm. He struggled to sit up. His face was pale. Sweat streamed down his face and soaked through his uniform.

What are you talking about? Agent Homes asked. We need to get you back to the Task Force HQ Medical Bay. That arrow needs to come out. Especially if it’s poisoned. We’ll need to find the antidote. The sooner Tammy from Toxicology gets a sample, the better.

Agent Janice Bowers returned with the first-aid kit she’d retrieved from a tank. I can do it. She volunteered. I have removed arrows before.

No. You’re not listening. This is silver. I need to go to Harry Porter’s, the priest of the Arcane Arts. The sooner the better. Agent Buckley groaned again and fell over on his side.

Why? Agent Docklund asked. He’s a bit dodgy, isn’t he? Don’t think I’d trust him to do surgery on me.

Agent Buckley looked pained. It wasn’t just from the effects of the arrow. Harry Porter was odd, but he wasn’t dodgy. He didn’t like people saying disparaging things about his friends.

Yeah. Agent Homes said. What’s up?

The only thing I know that can be killed by or poisoned by silver is a werewolf. Agent Bowers laughed nervously. But they don’t exist. It’s all just a story, a myth.

Buckley sighed. Yeah, they exist. I am one. He looked around at the incredulous faces of his coworkers. Yes. I’m a werewolf.

Agent Homes and Docklund looked at each other.

What? Agent Homes asked, staring at Buckley.

It’s not like it’s a bad thing. I can’t shift into a werewolf. I never have. And we’re not like movie werewolves. He hissed with pain again, then threw up. We don’t eat people. He said, wiping his mouth.

Well. Agent Homes said, that’s interesting. So what does Harry Porter know about werewolves that makes him qualified to treat you?

Harry’s like me. He knows how to deal with silver.

Chapter two

Bryant

Y ou know, I had everything I needed to be happy before I had to escape from Agent stupid Dave.

Oh? The clone said as he flew the helicopter.

Yeah, Bryant said. I had a nice place to live, a beautiful apartment. Owned the whole building, in fact. My lovely wife is a talented artist. Maybe you’ve heard of her? Serena Otta?

The clone shook his head. I never got off the ship until now, he said.

Yeah, I forgot, right. I can’t keep track of you guys. You all look the same to me. Bryant said. Anyway, I’ve decided I had everything I needed to be happy. I should have been happy. I’m not sure how I got messed up with Bumfinger, anyway. Money, I guess. I don’t know. I should have just stayed with the mercenary unit, I would’ve been better off.

The clone said nothing, he just concentrated on flying the helicopter. Bryant had given him the coordinates, and he was doing his best to comply. He’d seen firsthand what Bryant did to people who didn’t comply. He shuddered.

The helicopter flew over Lake Sub Vectus, occasionally jostled by turbulence and incompetent flying. The clone wiped his sweaty palms on his pants. It was the first time he’d actually piloted the thing. All his training had been on the old video game console in the rec room on the ship.

Bryant looked at him as the helicopter shook again. What’s your name again? He snapped.

Sparkle, Sir. Sargent Sparkle.

That is the stupidest name ever.

I’m kind of used to my name, sir. It doesn’t bother me.

Well it bothers me, Bryant said. Who was in charge of naming you, anyway?

I believe that was Agent Quill. The clone said hesitantly, surreptitiously rubbing his hand on his pants to dry the sweat off again.

I might’ve known, Bryant said. Did you know he has a secret addiction to teenage vampire romances? I bet he was rereading his favourite series again when he named you.

Bryant settled back into the copilot seat, scrutinizing what the clone was doing. It did nothing to help his nervousness, and Sparkle wiped his hands on his pants again.

When we get close to a town, we need to ditch the chopper. Then, I want to send a postcard to my wife. Let her know I’m alright and I miss her. I obviously can’t phone her or message again. Agent Stupid Dave will have his Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force cronies tapping it I’m sure.

And what will I do, sir? Sargent Sparkle asked, looking sidelong at Bryant.

Bryant shrugged. I don’t know. If you go with me, I suppose we’d have to dye your hair or cut it off. One or the other. Maybe both. I can’t have somebody with pink hair with me. Too obvious. Or, you can go your own way. Bryant grinned at him. Take your chances.

Sargent Sparkle didn’t like the look of that grin. Or the way Bryant looked at him. He had a bad feeling about it. He swallowed nervously and said, I’ll try my luck going with you, sir.

Good choice, Bryant said, settling back in the seat and turning to look out the window again.

Chapter three

Buckley

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Hold your horses! Harry shouted, I’m coming.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I said, hold your horses! He shouted again as he flung the door open. Agent Homes stood there with her fist raised, about to pound on the door again. Harry grabbed her fist before she accidentally brought it down on his face.

What’s the meaning of this, Agent Homes? Harry asked her.

Harry, it’s Buckley! He’s been shot.

Okay, but why didn’t you take him back to the Task Force Headquarters? Why bring him here?

Agent Homes moved aside. Harry could see Buckley slung between the shoulders of two other Agents, being supported by them. He didn’t look very good. He was sweating, pale and trembling. Harry could see what looked like the shaft of an arrow sticking out from behind him.

Before Harry could ask, Agent Homes said, It’s a silver arrow, Harry.

Harry threw the door open all the way. Bring him in. Quickly! Right through to the kitchen and put him on the table.

Agent Homes motioned for Agents Bowers and Docklund to bring Buckley in.

I’m going to get my kit, Harry said. I’ll be back in a minute. Hiking his robe around his knees, he ran through the house.

Agent Homes led the other two Agents through Harry’s house to the kitchen. She’d been here a few times with Buckley and knew the way.

The kitchen table was immense, and they had no trouble laying Buckley face down on top of it. There was plenty of room, even for someone Buckley’s size.

Harry came bustling back into the room, carrying a leather tool bag. He pulled a massage pillow and some ratchet straps out of the kit. We’re going to need these. He said.

What for? Agent Docklund asked, picking up a ratchet strap.

We’ll need them to hold him down, Harry said, sliding the pillow under Buckley’s face. That arrow has to come out. The sooner, the better. How long has it been since he was shot?

Not long. Agent Homes replied, helping with the ratchet straps to restrain Buckley.

Swiftly, Harry attached the straps to the table and across Buckley, restraining him firmly. He cranked them down as tight as they would go. Buckley wheezed. 

Do they need to be that tight? He can barely breathe. Homes said.

Trust me. You’ll still have to help me hold him too. He said as he withdrew a syringe and needle from his kit. He leaned over, ready to inject Buckley with it. I’m sorry, Buckley, but this is going to hurt.

What is that? Agent Homes asked, grabbing Harry by the arm, stopping him.

Harry met her eyes. Nitric acid, it will dissolve the silver that’s in his system. He needs it immediately. There’s no time to lose. We still need to get the arrow out, but this will help with the poisoning.

Agent Homes released his arm, nodding for him to continue. Harry jammed the needle into Buckley. Buckley, even though he was nearly unconscious, roared with pain.

Isn’t that kind of dangerous? Agent Bowers asked, Injecting him with acid?

I assume if you brought him here, he’s told you what he is.

Sort of. Agent Homes said, he didn’t exactly have a lot of time to elaborate.

Harry nodded, then explained as he worked, True to mythology, silver is deadly to werewolves. However, since Buckley can’t shift, he is somewhat protected from the fatal effects of silver.

Are you sure about that? Agent Docklund asked. He doesn’t look so good.

I said, somewhat protected. Harry glanced up at Agent Docklund, frowning. Eventually, the poison will kill him. It doesn’t take long. If he was a full werewolf shifter, he would’ve been dead almost instantly.

What are you doing Harry? A gruff voice sounded in the room. Everyone but Harry looked up at the newcomer.

Sasha, Agent Buckley’s been shot.

The tall, grey-haired woman raised an eyebrow, said nothing, but waited for Harry to continue.

Harry said while working on the arrow, With a silver arrow.

How does that give you leave to tell our secrets to these strangers?

They work with Buckley. They’re Agents from the Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force.

I can help with that. Agent Bowers said, noticing Harry was having difficulty. I’ve had lots of experience removing arrows.

Harry nodded, moved her hands to where he needed them.

"He heals almost as fast as I cut. Be ready to pull it out as quickly as possible. The instant you feel it loosen, yank.