Rescue Mission: Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force, #3

By L. A. McGarvey

The Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force is on a mission to rescue one of their own.

 

Agent Camphor Buckley is still being held by a rogue wizard against his will. Retired Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force Agent Dave Whatsun is in jail with a Court date fast approaching.

 

The rest of the Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force Agents are working to stop the warlock with unexpected help, prove Dave's innocence and get Agent Buckley back.

 

Will they stop the warlock before he unleashes hell on Port Metro?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trouble Twins Publishing
• Release date: Mar 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201759100

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

Rescue Mission

Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force #3

L. A. McGarvey

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Trouble Twins Publishing

Copyright © 2022 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 Artist: https://selfpubbookcovers.com/Viergacht

Contents

Prologue

1. Sparkle

2. Veronica 

3. Dave

4.  Unster

5.  Off-Duty Police Officer

6.  Quill

7. Buckley 

8. Dave

9. Pier Docklund

10.  CSI Miami

11. Janice

12.  Detective Boz 

13. Waving Fronds

14. Detective Boz

15. CSI Hershey

16. The Transplant Queen 

17. Storky

18.  CSI Hershey at the Garage

19.  Quill has a Kitten

20. CSI Hershey 

21. Dave Lawyers Up

22. Detective Boz 

23. Quill

24. Buckley

25. Storky and Unster

26. Pier 

27. Serena

28. Jimini Interviews Alone

29. Mervert

30.  Buckley

31. Mervert and Jimini

32. Miami Jones Meets his Partner

33. Techno-b-boy and the GateKeeper 

34. Quill 

35. Agent Orange

36. Tushie Springs

37. Dina

38. Dave

39. Buckley

40. Jackson

41. Court

42.  Techno-b-boy Goes to the Freezer

43.  Quill

44. Wolf and the Junk Man

45. Buckley

46. CSI Miami Calls Homes

47. Dave

48. Homes

49. Quill

50.  Waving Fronds

51. Buckley

52. Quill

53. Dave

54. Janice and Wolf

55. CSI Miami and Dina

56. Wolf and Janice

57. Pier

58. Quill

59.  Wolf and Janice

60. Techno-b-boy

61. Dave

62. Pier

63. Agent Jimini

64.  Wolf and Janice

65.  CSI Miami

66. Jerome and Dave

67.  Quill 

68.  Bella

69. Marge

70. Quill

71.  Buckley

72.  Miami 

73. Agent Jimini

74. Jerome Conducts Tests

75. Homes

76. Miami 

77.  Homes 

78.  Veronica and Coco

79.  Gran

80.  Jimini 

81. Dave 

82. Dave and Fronds

83. HQ

84. Dave and Bill

85. Unster Meets Gran

86. Jerome

87. Werewolf Lessons 

88.  Janice and Unster 

89.  Dave Gets More Shifting Lessons

90.  Techno-b-boy and Storky in the Vault

91. Binding Practice 

92.  Quill 

93. Whisk 

94. Agent Orange Update

95. Buckley 

96. Jerome 

97. Buckley 

98. Quill

99. Buckley and Quill Together Again 

100. Buckley

101. Quill 

102. Enroute to the Dry Cleaners

103. Quill

104. Buckley

105. Agent Orange 

106. The Feed Store 

107. Dave’s Team 

108. Dr. Marten

109. Buckley and Quill

110. Quill

111. Dave and Team

112. Whisk 

113. Remus

114. Homes and Ned at the Dry Cleaners

115. Quill 

116. Dave and Team 

117. Buckley 

118.  Dave and Team

119. Agent Homes

120. Quill Prepares

121. Buckley 

122. Quill

123.  Buckley 

124. Dave

125. Quill Has Success 

126. Dave Sees Pantzeroff

127. Quill Attacks 

128. Buckley

129. Quill 

130. Dave

131. Quill 

132. Janice

133. Quill 

134. Unster 

135. Dave 

136.  Ned 

137. Pier

138. Agent Orange

139. Amanda Stone 

140. Techno-b-boy and Grace 

141. Quill

142.  Buckley

143. Agent Orange

144. Wolf and Janice

145. Agent Homes 

146. Agent Dave 

147. Storky and Unster 

148. Agent Jimini 

149. Bubbles

150. Sasha

COMING SOON: THE HONEYMOON

Dave and Vivian 

Mitten Strings

Ranger Station

Also By L. A. McGarvey

About Author

Prologue

I object to the ban.

The Council has spoken, Warlock Tussin. The ban will stand,

There’s no reason for it, and you know it.

No reason for it? Are you insane? Need I remind you what happened to Greg Buckley and your son?

That type of occurrence is rare. You know it as well as I do. He pointed to a Warlock and werewolf standing by a window. Accidents happen. Someone as weak as Warlock Noodle Noggin should not have been able to bind a werewolf.

That’s not my-

His familiar touched his arm, cutting him off, shaking his head. 

It is far too risky, The Council Alpha said.

Everything is risky! Do we ask women to stop bearing children because it’s risky? No! Life is risk, Alpha Frost.

Bearing children is hardly on par with-

We should be allowed to bind werewolves if we like. If they choose.

As I already said, the Gray Council has spoken and we are banning the practice. Forever. Alpha Frost slapped a hand on the long polished hardwood desk, the loud crack signalling the finality of the decision. And as you, he pointed at Tussin, are well aware, the Gray Council has an equal membership of Werewolves and Warlocks. This matter has been unanimously decided by both parties affected by the ban. 

You’re going to stand firm on this? Robie Tussin stood in the centre of the Council chamber, clenched hands hidden inside the sleeves of his formal ceremonial robes. 

The Council chamber rustled as all those in attendance agreed. Warlock Tussin looked around the room, confirming the abandonment, the betrayal of tradition. 

I see. he glared at every Council member present for the ruling. He shifted his robes as he met Alpha Frost’s eye again. Then you leave me no choice.

What do you mean? Council Alpha Frost asked him. 

Robie withdrew a parchment from a pocket inside his robes. Striding across the floor, he laid it on the desk in front of the senior council members.

The Tussin family is withdrawing from the Commitment, He met Frost’s eye, The entire Tussin Clan.

A murmur of surprise rippled through the chamber. The Tussin Clan was a sizable portion of the Gray Hills Warlock community.

You can’t do that,

We certainly can. Our Clan is breaking off. We will no longer be a part of this community.

The Council members passed the document along the table, whispering amongst themselves as they read it.

No need to sign it, Tussin said. All you need to do is agree to honour it.

I cannot agree to that, Council Alpha Frost said.

A Warlock near the end of the table spoke up, It states here that you intend to continue the practice of binding werewolves as familiars, despite what we’ve discussed here and how we voted.

I see no reason why not, Robie turned to address the Warlock, a junior Councillor denoted by the seat he occupied. Emancipated from you, your rules will no longer apply to us.

They will. Werewolves will not be permitted to join you.

Have it your way, Warlock Tussin bowed, Gentlemen, our business here is done. He said as he straightened, I bid you good day, Robes swirling, he turned on his heel and strode from the room. 

The Council chamber doors slammed shut behind him with a thunderous boom. A roaring cacophony swiftly replaced stunned silence. Everyone spoke at once.

Can he really do that?

Obviously, since he just did it,

I cannot believe he called me Noodle Noggin, Jerome, Warlock Spike Lancen complained to his familiar. 

Jerome’s lips twisted in a sour grimace as he looked around the Council Chamber. I have a feeling name-calling is going to be the least of our problems.

Chapter one

Sparkle

Y ou never killed anyone, Bryant said as he reached for the gun.

Yes, I did. I shot that little boy. I need to turn myself in. Sparkle held the gun out of Bryant’s reach, pushing Bryant away, hand in his face.

I’m telling you, you did not kill a kid. Bryant staggered half a step back, shoving Sparkle’s hand away.

Yes, I did. 

Bryant lunged for Sparkle, reaching for the gun. He was stronger than expected. Much stronger. Since he’d been maturing, he’d obviously been increasing in strength as well. They struggled for the gun again.

Bryant was no slouch in the physical department, but he definitely hadn’t expected Sparkle to be this strong already. It had taken the other clones a year or more to reach this level. Whatever changes had been made to the new batch was good, unless you were grappling for the gun with one of them.

It went off.

Oh, wow, that stings a bit, Bryant said, dropping to his knees on the gravel, clutching his chest. He keeled over onto his face.

Oh my god, Sparkle said, dropping to his knees beside Bryant. Oh, my god. Bryant, are you okay? Bryant? Sparkle rolled him over. Bryant’s arms flopped to the side. There was a gaping hole in his chest.

Oh, my god. I’ve killed him now too.

Panicking, he popped the trunk on the rental car. Heaving Bryant up, he wrestled him into the trunk, slamming the lid down.

Blood soaked the front of his clothes. Bryant already had their stuff packed in the SUV, ready to move on to Whisk. Sparkle quickly changed his clothes behind the old garage. He stuffed the bloody clothes and the gun in the trash bin.

The keys weren’t in the SUV. He groaned, he’d have to search Bryant.

Luckily, when he opened the trunk, the pocket with the keys was on top and he didn’t have to root around too much. Squeamish about having to reach into Bryant’s pocket for the keys, he slid his hand in. Grabbing hold of them, he withdrew his hand quickly, slamming the lid down again. It bounced, not catching, popping open, clipping him in the chin. Blood dripped down his front. He had to slam it a couple of times, one hand on his chin to stop the bleeding, before it stayed closed.

He got in the SUV, found a sock to hold against the cut and drove away, never noticing that Bryant’s shirttail was sticking out of the trunk.

Chapter two

Veronica 

Keys jangled in the officer’s hand as he unlocked the door to Stodgy’s small jail.

Do I really need to go in there? See him? Veronica asked.

Well, yes. That’s how these things work, Mrs. Hershey. I wish we had a separate area for viewing, but we don’t. Sorry. He held the door open, allowing her to pass into the cell area ahead of him.

Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to stand ramrod straight. Marching through the door, she prepared to confront the man who murdered her sister. Lips pressed together, she faltered, her resolve nearly deserting her. Drawing her shoulders back, mentally chastising herself, she marched to the second cell in the holding area.

Is that the man, ma’am?

It certainly is. She said.

Thank you.

Hello again, Ronnie, Dave said from where he was sitting on the wooden bunk in the tiny cell of Stodgy’s jail.

Dave. She spat, I know it was you who robbed the bank.

Dave sighed. I never robbed a bank. I never threatened anyone.

You murdered my sister.

He rubbed his face in his hands. No, I didn’t.

To think she married you, wanted to have lots of kids with you.

Dave snorted a harsh laugh. Funny how things work out.

What are you talking about?

He shook his head. Someday, maybe I’ll explain it to you. But now, he said, looking at her, and seeing the way she glared at him, is not the time.

There’s never going to be time for me to talk with you, Dave. She crossed her arms. I know it was you who robbed the bank. You stood right in front of me and pretended you didn’t even know me.

That’s because it wasn’t me. Dave sighed.

Ma’am, I think you should go now.

Ronnie, I think you should listen to that officer.

Fine, she said as she flounced out of the room.

Chapter three

Dave

This sucks, Dave thought. Being locked up yet again. It was bad enough that Organ Gronation had gotten hold of him, locking him in a zombie-proof cell on his last assignment. Now that he was back to being a civilian, getting locked in jail for a robbery he didn’t commit was completely unfair.

He sat on the uncomfortable little bed, contemplating his future. Retirement so far was not looking like the best deal for himself. Definitely not all it was cracked up to be, that was for sure.

He’d been arrested for crimes he didn’t commit. His ex-sister-in-law was determined to see him locked up for life. His best friend, Cam Buckley had disappeared in search of his wife who’d been kidnapped, his son had also disappeared. Dave hadn’t had news on either front there, so he had no idea what was going on. His own daughter and grandsons were back at the sub alone, not knowing what happened to him. 

He hadn’t been allowed to make a phone call to get word to anyone.

This whole thing was just a load of crap.

He got up and started inspecting the cell, looking for weak spots. He tried prying the bars apart, not really expecting anything. None of these amazing werewolf abilities he’d heard about seemed to be manifesting themselves.

He’d recently found out his mother, his birth mother, was a werewolf. She'd told him his father was a warlock of some type and he was dead. He’d been adopted from the Wayne Angels Home for Wayward Chickens Orphanage when he was a toddler. Those were the people he thought of as his real parents. Dora and Earnie Whatsun. They were both long dead now, and they’d never talked to him about why he’d been at the orphanage. When he went to the orphanage to enquire about his adoption records, it had been burnt to the ground years before. An office and apartment building was being constructed on the site. That building had also burnt down and an empty mall was there now.

He went to the window and looked out. He was on the ground floor. So he had that going for him, whatever that was worth. Again, the bars on the window didn’t budge when he tested them. Besides, the window was too tiny for him to squeeze through anyway, even if he had been able to change into a werewolf.

The door opened to the tiny cell block.

Detective Boz wants to talk to you again.

Dave stepped down from the bunk where he had been trying the window. 

Yeah, I’m ready, Dave said, brushing past the cop on his way across the hall. That was a jerk move, Tom.

What?

Making Veronica identify me in here, instead of the interview room.

Chapter four

 Unster

Unster sat in the sub, checking the clock yet again.

How long does it take somebody to buy groceries? Jacob asked. 

I have no idea, Unster said, but surely not a day and a half?

He must be in trouble, Swan said.

He told us to stay at the sub, though, Jacob complained. 

Yeah, well, we’re going to have to go out there and see what’s going on.

They’d been in and out of the sub a few times, gotten some french fries from the truck, walked up and down the dock, sat on the deck, got some sun, but they hadn’t gone any further than that.

All right. Unster said, deciding on a course of action, Jacob, you come with me. Swan, you stay here with the sub in case Dave comes back.

Aye, aye, captain, he said, saluting her and putting another pot of coffee on.

Jacob went up the ladder ahead of Unster opening the hatch. They climbed out onto the dock. They stood there uncertainly.

I’ve never really been off the ship before, Jacob said.

I haven’t been out too much on my own either, Unster replied. But I do know a few things.

She marched purposefully to the office at the end of the dock. Are you the Dock Master? she asked the guy sitting behind the desk.

Yeah.

Is there a phone around here somewhere?

That guy just asked me that yesterday.

What guy?

He pointed at Jacob.

No, that was my grandpa. He said, You seen him?

Yeah, he paid the dock fee. Then he went to use the phone. Haven’t seen him since.

Neither have we. Unster said, We need to find him. 

There’s a payphone down there. I don’t know if it works or not. he pointed in the general direction of the dilapidated car garage.

Unster nodded, Right. We’ll go check it out.

Do you know where he went? Jacob asked. 

No idea. Once he left my office, he wasn’t my problem.

Thanks for your help, Unster said as they left, heading towards the garage.

Reaching the phone booth, the condition of it disgusted Unster. Jacob, not having any experience, really didn’t understand her hesitation. 

What’s the matter?

It’s filthy. She said.

Whatever. Compared to what I had to do on the ship, it’s nothing. Tell me how to work it, if you don’t want to use it.

Unster shrugged, put the money in, telling Jacob the number to dial. Even though she was squeamish about it, she put the receiver up to her ear. 

Hello, Gatekeeper. Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force. How may I help you?

Gatekeeper. It’s Unster. Is Storky there?

Hello, Unster. Nice to hear your voice again. I’ll put you through.

Thanks. She said.

Storky picked up the phone after a couple of rings.

Hello? Zombie Horde Prevention Task Force Agent Steve Roberts.

Hey, Storky. I need to find Dave. He disappeared yesterday when we got to Stodgy. He left to get groceries, and we haven’t seen him since.

Oh, you don’t already know then?

Know what?

He’s been arrested.

What? Why wouldn’t he get word to us?

Not sure. Probably hasn’t been able to get a phone call or something. He hasn’t called here either. Agent Orange saw it on the news. We all saw it on the news. CSI Hershey’s on her way out there.

Who?

CSI Hershey?

I don’t think I know her.

Maybe I should come out there too.

That would be great. She said, We’re at the Marina in Stodgy and we have the Transplant Queen's submarine. Dave just disappeared yesterday. He’s been gone a day and a half now.

Well, according to the news report I received, he got picked up yesterday morning. Checking back on the report, he told her the time. 

Yeah, that wasn’t too long after he left.

All right. I’ll get there as soon as I can.

Thanks, Storky, it means a lot to me. She hung up.

So what’s going on?

Dave’s been arrested.

For what?

I don’t know, but help is on the way. We should go back to the sub and wait.

Chapter five

 Off-Duty Police Officer

The off-duty police officer at the garage watched the couple at the payphone.

That’s weird. He said, watching the guy. Pretty sure that guy’s in jail. They couldn’t have released him already. They were sure he robbed the bank.

He took a picture with his phone. He could send it to Detective Boz for follow-up later. Putting the phone in his pocket, he headed inside to pay for his car repairs.

On the way around the building, he saw the sports car tucked against the backside of the garage. He wished he could afford something like this. He ran a finger along the side, noticing a wet spot on the ground. Although, he wouldn’t want to pay for the repair bill. He smelled something coppery. His hackles rose.

Stepping away from the car, he walked around slowly. There was something sticking out of the trunk. There was a puddle under the car and behind it. It was blood. He made a call to Boz. So much for his day off.

Chapter six

 Quill

Quill needed to focus on driving. The Zomboni was capable of ludicrous speeds, which required his full attention. His primary focus was on escaping. He wasn’t sure where he was going to go, but he needed to get there quickly because he was pretty sure the Task Force was not far behind him.

So far, so good. He still had Buckley under his control, pinned in the seat next to him where he could see him.

So far, it seemed like the closer the bound familiar was, the better the bond worked.

The clone had been too far away to reactivate with the Sunshine clause after someone used the stop code coconut. He could still feel him there, but he had no control, couldn’t reach him. Oh, well. Maybe someday he’d get him back. He’d bound him by accident, anyway.

The Zomboni hit a bump. That wasn’t good. He jerked his concentration back to driving. 

For the moment, he was confident Buckley was under control. He let his concentration slip from him. Focusing on the road, easing his concentration from Buckley, he sped up.

Chapter seven

Buckley 

Buckley felt Quill’s concentration wavering between him and driving the Zomboni. He’d gone for a ride in it with Jimini when he’d first gotten it a few weeks ago. The thing was impressive. But it was an experimental vehicle best suited to a test track.

He felt Quill’s focus on him again.

The Zomboni wavered as they hit a bump, almost sending them off the mountain road.

Buckley smiled inside. Quill still had him under tight control. He couldn’t move a muscle, planted there like a log in the passenger seat.

Quill’s focus changed instantly back to the controls on the Zomboni.

Quill’s control slipped and Buckley saw his chance. Breaking free, he lunged for Quill.

The Zomboni swerved all over the road as they fought for control of the steering wheel. Buckley didn’t care if they went off the side of the mountain. He had to stop Quill, no matter what. They struggled for control of the Zomboni.

Quill’s concentration wavered back and forth between him and driving. Finally, Quill slammed the brakes on and they skidded to a stop, sliding in the loose gravel. One wheel teetering over the steep edge of the road.

He heard Crabbet in the back of the Zomboni cry out, voice wavering, What’s going on up there?

Jackson was still unconscious.

There’s no help for you from back there, Buckley said, growling.

He tried to shift again, partially managing it before Quill slammed his mental control back on him, stopping him. Gritting his teeth, Quill got the Zomboni in park. With the Zomboni stopped, he got Buckley back under his full control. 

I told you to sit there and be quiet.

Seems you can’t multitask, Buckley said, grinning before Quill slammed his face shut again.

He noticed Quill shaking as he reversed away from the drop-off. Quill put the Zomboni back into drive. He’d be on the lookout for Quill’s concentration to slip all the time now. He’d do what he could to make it happen.

Chapter eight

Dave

Detective Boz lounged in his chair, feet on the table, clicking his pen.

If Dave hadn’t been under arrest, he would admire his style more, but as it was, he found it annoying. Almost Agent Jimini level annoying.

Look, for the last time. I just got to Stodgy yesterday morning. I needed to get some groceries. If you don’t believe me, go check with the Dock Master. My family is there, waiting for me in a submarine.

Detective Boz laughed. That is quite a story. Nobody noodles around in a submarine.

It’s not a story. It’s the truth. Dave said, getting frustrated. And I wasn’t noodling around. I told you, I’ve been helping my friend try to find his family.

Right. I suppose you’re going to deny having anything to do with the body we found in the trunk of a sports car, across from the marina.

What are you talking about? What sports car? I prefer to drive a tank.

The one that you rented in your name. Back in Table.

I never rented any car. I took a cab downtown. I haven’t even been to Table in years.

Uh-huh. When’s the last time you were in Level?

The same time I was in Table, years and years ago. Look, I don’t know what your problem is, but I never robbed the bank here in Stodgy. I haven’t robbed the bank in Flattop, or a store in Table. I never stole any lingerie from any lingerie store for men. It is not my thing. And I’m definitely not an Elvis fan. He said, chucking the picture of the laundry in question back at the detective. 

So you’re going to deny you rented this car we found down by the Marina. Detective Boz slid a large photo across to Dave.

Picking it up, his hair