Night Of The Zombie Chapter 4

Night Of The Zombie

Chapter 4

I sat down at the table and looked at Dad. Is this about Chief Rose and Canning?

How did you—? Oh, look who I’m asking, he added.

I already know about Canning’s transfer.

Dad nodded. It’s not official yet. I had a meeting with Chief Rose this morning. He’s willing to let Canning stay if—and this is a big if—you will “curtail” your interfering with the police and investigating crimes on your own or with your friends.

What! I exclaimed. You’re kidding. Oh, you’re not kidding. This is crazy. Of course I want Paul to stay here, but how can I give up investigating. I don’t go looking for trouble. It just seems to find me. I’m only trying to help. I don't want to interfere with the police.

I know, Justin, Dad said with a slight grin. I told Chief Rose that, but he was not swayed. If he hears of you interfering with an investigation then we will have a meeting to discuss further disciplinary action. Frankly I don’t know why he’s so vehemently opposed to outside help. I’ve always had a good relationship with the department here in town and elsewhere, and when I was a cop myself we had a good relationship with the local investigators. We’re all out for the same thing, to bring criminals to justice. It doesn’t make sense, but he’s the Chief.

Well, I guess I can’t help Zach find out who’s trying to harm him and his movie?

The specifications are pretty wide, Dad said. Chief Rose was more concerned about the interference with the police. There’s not much he can do if a local citizen is curious about something and does some research. Look, just keep doing what you’re doing and if it interferes with Canning or any other officer, just try to stay out of their way, OK? You can still help Zach out. You're in the movie after all, so it's not like you're on the set without a reason.

I nodded. What else could I do?

I headed upstairs to rest as I was still a little woozy from the carbon monoxide. I flopped on my bed and lay there for a bit, head propped up on a pillow thinking about the days events. My head was spinning. How could I help Zach and Lee and not get accused of interfering with the police. The police were investigating the notes and the fire—and now the carbon monoxide incident. They were involved. I was involved and wanted to help the movie succeed. I really liked Zach and thought he was an awesome director. Someone in town was extremely against zombie movies—or against Zach and—or Lee.

I must have dozed off as I woke with a start much later. It was dark outside. My bedside clock said it was nearing midnight.

I was feeling much better after that sleep so I got up and went into the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. Mom, Dad and my sister Kimmy had all gone to bed, the house was quiet.

I tiptoed down the hall and padded downstairs in my sock feet. Mom and Dad had let me sleep through dinner, I wondered if they had tried to wake me up. Probably. I found some leftover pizza in the fridge and pulled out the box and sat down at the table. My cell phone beeped with an incoming message a few minutes later. It was Van.

<you up?>

Yeah, I texted back. What’s up?

<something really freaky I’ll be over to your place in a minute get dressed if yr in yr batman jammies yr gonna wanna see this>

OK, I texted back. I grinned. I didn't have Batman jammies—it was Superman jammies, get it right, Van—sheesh!

I scribbled a note and put it on the kitchen table. I grabbed another pizza slice and pulled on my  high-tops and headed outside, closing and locking the door behind me.

Van’s beater of a car pulled up to the curb a minute later. He only lived a few blocks away. I got in the passenger side. What’s up?

He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and accessed his photos. Take a look at this, he said handing me the phone.

There was a short video of a zombie in full gear walking up a street with a backdrop of a town. Who’s this—your date?

Van ignored the jibe. No, I just took this, half hour ago. Downtown. Come on, there’s more.

He pulled away from the curb. This was downtown—Port Salser? Why were you down there? I asked.

Getting a late night snack. I fell asleep once I got home and missed dinner. Anyway, I went through drive-thru at the Burger Barn downtown and caught this dude walking up Main St. I saw another one on the way here.

Did you call the police?

Van turned to me. Are you nuts? I’m not involving them. If Chief Rose found out I made the call, he’d trace it to your being involved—somehow, and then the crap would hit the fan.

You're right once again. Thanks, buddy, I said and he nodded.

A few moments later we were in the downtown core. It was eerily quiet. A few cars went up and down Main Street—all the businesses save for the aforementioned Burger Barn and a coffee shop, were closed.

Look! I cried out a moment later. A figure was stumbling along the street, tattered clothing hanging off their frame. Grey peeling skin and bloodshot eyes completed the disguise—it was a disguise after all?

Van pulled over and parked about half a block from the “zombie”. The zombie saw this and turned up an alley, suddenly moving at a faster clip. Was that a coincidence? I didn't think so.

Our friend noticed us, I said with a grin. Come on, let’s find out what’s going on. I got out of the car and stood on the sidewalk. Van joined me a few seconds later.

Suddenly the sound of breaking glass shattered the night air. It came from about a block away, around the corner.

That sounded like the City Hall building, Van muttered.

Yeah, it did, I remarked. Let's go check it out.

No one else was about. The streetlights overhead buzzed as they cast a grey pallor over the surroundings. We decided to check out the smashing glass first and leave our zombie friend for the moment. I had a feeling he was long gone anyway.  Van followed me along Main St, turning on to Elm. At the corner of Elm and City Hall Dr, one short block over from Main St, we found the source of the smashing glass. The front window of City Hall—all glass and metal was strewn across the stone sidewalk out front of City Hall. No one was about.

Suddenly a siren filled the night air.

Come on, I hissed. We can't be caught here. There'll be questions and if Canning or Chief Rose find me here—.

Got ya, Van said, turning around and heading back to Main St where we had parked earlier.

About a block ahead I saw another one. A woman zombie heading north on Elm St, moving away from us. She was stumbling along, dress dirty and tattered. A car was heading south on Elm, stopped to watch the zombie. Suddenly the car jerked ahead and took off. I pulled Van into the shadows of a nearby store. I don't want anyone to see us, I hissed. Come on, let's get back to the car.

We moved out of the shadows and hurried towards Van's car. I stopped and Van nearly bumped into me.

Someone's looking at your car, I said pointing. A figure was at the driver's side of Van's car, peering inside. They moved back and I could see it was a police officer.

Nuts! I muttered. We can't be seen.

Van nodded and we moved back into the shadows once again. I didn't recognize the police officer—must have been someone new that Chief Rose had recently hired.

The officer scanned around but didn't see us hiding. He moved back away and headed up Main St towards the Salser River Bridge. About a block the other direction, on the other side of the street was Cityview Park. Let's hide out in the park, I whispered. See if we see any more of these zombies. And find out what the heck is going on.

We crept out of our hiding spot and checked for anyone about. It was quiet as it was nearing 1 am. We headed west towards the park. Checking down Elm St as we passed we saw flashing lights at City Hall. The police had arrived. We had to hurry as they would soon be patrolling the area looking for the culprits.

Who were the culprits? The zombies? What was their motive? Mischief or something more sinister. Someone really didn't want this movie to be made. Did they just really hate zombies or was it Zach—or Lee who was the target?

Zach had gotten two warnings—pretty serious ones at that. Someone was playing hardball.

We slipped into the darkened park without being seen—hopefully. If the cop had let anyone know they had seen Van's car, they would know we were down here—or at least that Van was down here.

If Chief Rose found out he would be suspicious and think I was involved in the City Hall window smashing. He would tie it to me somehow.

We had to find out what was going on.

Look! Van hissed pointing further into the park. The zombie woman we had seen earlier was heading away from us, albeit at a faster clip than before. We moved to follow her but she was soon out of sight behind some trees.

A police car roared past, sirens blaring, startling us momentarily. They're on the lookout for the window smashers, no doubt, I muttered as we walked along, glancing right and left for signs of anyone about. The park seemed darker than usual, but that was mostly my imagination. A chill had crept into the air. I was dressed only in cargo shorts and t-shirt but had on a denim jacket. Van was dressed similarly but had on a sweatshirt over his t-shirt with his hockey team logo for the Port Salser Porcupines. We were OK for now, but if the temperature dropped any more we might get a chill.

We soon located the path the zombie woman had taken and hurried along. I was glad Van and I were both wearing sneakers, my high tops not making a sound on the pavement. The path twisted and turned through the densely vegetated park, we were constantly looking around and listening for the slightest noise.

Were we being led into a trap?

The path wound around wooded areas and soon the trees thinned out up and revealed a large open area, dotted with picnic tables. At the far end of the large open area was a small ball diamond. Beyond that, the city continued, a car on Brock Rd could be seen moving along the road beyond.

It was a police car.

A sudden noise approached from behind us. It sounded like a low moaning noise, and shoes scraping on pavement. Another zombie?

The police car stopped at the edge of the park about 300 m away. There was not much cover, save the trees behind us and the few picnic tables. The noise behind us was getting louder. The person—zombie? Was almost upon us.

Quick, over here, I said moving along the tree line away from the approaching zombie. The cop had gotten out of his car and had a flashlight in his hand. He was heading into the park straight toward us.

I glanced down and cursed myself for wearing white high-tops and white sport socks which seemed to gleam in the moonlight which was bathing the park in its glow. Van had worn black shoes and socks which at that moment seemed a very intelligent move on his part. I really had to change my wardrobe if I was going to continue to slink around after midnight in the dark.

The moaning scraping noise had stopped. The zombie must have noticed the cop approaching, and wisely moved back into the trees.

We moved into the trees but the cracking of twigs was almost deafening in the night air.

I glanced around and froze. The cop had pulled out his walkie-talkie and had radioed in a message. His flashlight shone in our direction and swept the trees around us.

Suddenly the cop was on the move. Van and I tried to run but the dense undergrowth caught on our shoes. I hadn't thought this escape out very well. A minute later the cop was upon us.

Stop you two! He called out, shining the light on our backs. We obeyed. The cop, whose voice I didn't recognize—another new one—pulled out his walkie-talkie once more and uttered three words that gave me a chill.

I've got them!