CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE.

The old man glanced up when Windows and Cindy entered his quarters. "I'm glad to see you. I was getting worried."

Windows forced a pleasant att.i.tude. "I'm sorry I missed breakfast."

"That's not what I meant. When you didn't show up, I thought something bad had happened to you."

This time, the smile was genuine. "Thanks. You're the only one around here who cares."

Cindy scurried into the corner and curled into a ball, hiding in the shadows. Windows knelt beside the old man and began feeding him.

After swallowing the second mouthful, he asked, "What happened this morning?"

"Nothing much."

The old man held up a crippled hand and placed it on her forearm, preventing her from continuing. "Please tell me."

Windows sighed. "Three guys tried to a.s.sault me and Cindy, but Meat broke it up. He killed one of them and threw boiling water on another."

"What about the third?"

"I kicked him in the nuts."

The old man laughed and spit out his food. Windows used the spoon to scoop the excess off of his chin.

"Sorry." He snorted. "Good girl, though."

"Thanks. It could have been worse. Price showed up and put an end to it."

The old man's humor evaporated. "Don't trust him."

"I don't."

"I'm serious. Price is dangerous. He didn't get to lead this group of murderers by winning a popularity contest."

"I know that."

"I don't think you do." The old man's eyes pleaded for her to listen. "Has anyone told you about Price?"

Windows shook her head.

"Price was an inmate at the state prison down in Concord when the outbreak began. He had a history of violent a.s.sault, and had even hospitalized several people. The kid had been in and out of jail several times. One night he came home to find another man in bed with his wife. He threw the guy out a second-story window, paralyzing him, and beat his wife so badly she went into a coma and died three months later. The courts sentenced him to ten years for manslaughter. He had served half that when the dead began to rise. Unfortunately, prison made him even more violent. When the virus reached New England, he orchestrated a riot. Most of the prisoners used the chance to escape, but Price, Carter, Kingston, and several others stayed behind to get revenge on the guards."

"You mean they murdered them?"

"That would have been humane. They beat the guards and warden senseless, then dragged them outside and handcuffed them to the perimeter fence so the dead could get them. After cleaning out the prison armory, they made their way north, causing as much destruction as the outbreak. They kidnapped families and forced the husbands to watch their wives and kids be molested and murdered before being tied up and left for the deaders. Others were killed just for the fun of it. When they ran across people like themselves, they were given the opportunity to join the group under Price's leadership or were gunned down."

"Didn't the police try to stop them?"

"By then all the police had been overwhelmed by the living dead. Price's gang executed the few police or stray military units they came across. They eventually found this place and turned it into an armed camp. Unfortunately, a lot of innocent people also stumbled across it and sought shelter. Price allowed them in and let them think they had found a safe haven, lulling them into a false sense of security until it was too late. He ordered the men shot or put on the Line, and allowed his gang to do whatever they wanted to the women and children. The lucky ones were kept inside to serve as camp followers. The rest joined the others outside."

Windows shivered, recalling her first two days.

The old man nodded. "Then you know what I'm talking about. You experienced the same thing?"

"Pretty much. The day I arrived, Price made sure no one touched me and a.s.sured me everything would be fine."

"And on the second day you were gang raped."

"But not before being taken hunting and used as bait to lure rotters."

"How do you get here?"

"They raided the compound where I lived, killed everyone, and torched the place. I survived because Meat took a liking to me."

"Lucky you," the old man said sarcastically. "But that's typical. From what I hear, they've raided up to half a dozen places where people have been holed up, and slaughtered everyone. I doubt there's anyone left alive within a twenty-mile radius."

"I guess it was just bad luck that Price decided to settle down here."

"Luck had nothing to do with it. He came here purposefully."

"Why?"

The old man's eyes locked on her. "No one told you?"

"Told me what?"

"Who I am."

"No."

The old man broke eye contact and averted his gaze. "I'm Price's father."

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO.

Windows could only stare at the old man for several seconds, dumbstruck. "Price is your son?"

The old man nodded. "My name is Lee. And I know what you're thinking. What type of a.s.shole am I to raise a son like that?"

"Not at all," she responded much too quickly.

"I don't blame you for thinking that way. In most cases it's true. G.o.d knows I wasn't the best father. I never hit him, and I tried to raise him right. His mother loved him, too. If anything, she was overprotective. He was a good kid until he reached high school, and then the fighting and bullying started. We tried to discipline him, but it never worked. The harder we tried, the more violent he became. Some kids are just bad, I guess."

"You don't have to explain yourself to me."

Lee glanced up and mouthed "Thank you."

"So why did Price come back?"

"To check on Judith, his mother. Despite the way he treated her, he really loved her."

"What happened?"

"I killed my wife about a week into the apocalypse. She...." Lee paused, overwhelmed by grief. His face grimaced and tears welled up in his eyes. After a minute, he regained control. "Sorry about that."

"That's okay." Windows held his hand and didn't let go. "You don't have to go on."

"I do." Lee sniffed and wiped snot from his nose. "We had planned on heading north. I had gone to fill up the H3 while Judith went to the grocery store to stock up. When I got back, I found her sitting in the living room crying, with a huge bite mark on her arm. Someone in the store had turned and attacked Judith and several others. I stayed with her and comforted her until the end, and then used a shotgun to put her out of her misery. After that, I stayed just to be with her."

"Is that why your hands are broken? Did Price punish you for killing his mother?"

"No. While I don't think he ever forgave me it, he knew it had to be done, and would have shot her himself to prevent her from becoming one of those things." Lee held up his hands. "He did this because I challenged him. About two weeks after he set up camp here, he came up with the idea of the Line after one raid that netted him a lot of prisoners. He called a meeting to discuss implementing the plan. Afterwards, four of his people got together and decided to stage a coup. I don't know, maybe they thought the idea inhumane. Maybe they thought he had become uncontrollable. Maybe they thought they'd wind up on it someday. For whatever reason, they came up with a plan to kill off Price and Carter, and lead the group themselves. After that, they intended to look for more comfortable accommodations."

"How did you fit in?"

"They asked me if I would be a part of the plot to lend it legitimacy. I said no. I couldn't be involved in killing my own son, no matter what he had become."

"But you never warned him."

Once again, Lee averted his gaze. "No. Although I couldn't pull the trigger, I wanted to see him dead for what he had done to all those innocent people. Instead, I chickened out and made things worse."

"What happened?"

"One of the conspirators, a little p.r.i.c.k named Ross, went and told Price what the others planned. He figured by betraying his friends, he would get himself in good with my son. Dumb b.a.s.t.a.r.d had no idea who he was dealing with. Price beat the three other conspirators half to death. He then held a public meeting, gave the typical speech about how everything he did was to keep the group safe, and used them as examples of what would happen to the others if they disobeyed. Because Ross considered conspiring against him, Price made him the first person on the Line. Gave him just enough food and water to keep him alive. It took nearly six weeks before Ross died of exposure. When his point had been made, he had Carter drive the other three into Barnston and leave them in the center of town."

"And you?"

"Because I hadn't warned Price about the plot, I had to be punished. Since I was his father, he wouldn't kill me or put me on the Line. He broke my hands so I wouldn't be able to hurt him, and then isolated me in where I couldn't cause trouble." Lee shrugged. "I guess I got off lucky."

Windows stroked the old man's hair. "It's okay now. I'm here to take care of you."

"You may not be for long."

She stopped in mid-stroke. "Why do you say that?"

"Price eliminates anyone who is a threat to him or causes him trouble."

"How am I a threat?"

"You're not. You are trouble, though. He lost two of his men today because of you, and he won't forget that."

Windows lowered her hand. "What am I going to do?"

"There's nothing you can do. If you get a chance to go off the compound, take it and run. At least that way you have a chance of escape."

"What about her?"

Lee glanced over his shoulder at Cindy and sighed. "Be careful and keep your eyes open."

"I will. And thanks."

"Don't thank me. I didn't do anything to help you, only make you nervous."

Windows went back to feeding Lee. By trying to protect her, he had made her more paranoid than before. She knew Price would be trying to find a way to get rid of her, and probably Cindy as well. Rather than sit here complacent until the end, at least now she had a fighting chance. All she had to do was figure a way for her and Cindy to escape.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE.

The Angels gathered on the stern of the yacht to pay their final respects to Bethany. Emily and Ari stood below them on the transom's boarding platform, with the body of the young woman between them. They had placed Bethany in a funerary pose, wrapped the body in a blanket, and secured it with rope. To weigh the body down, they placed two twenty-pound barbells they had found in one of the closets inside the blanket.

Natalie moved closer to the boarding platform. "Dear Lord, we are about to commit our friend and comrade to the sea. Please take her in your loving arms and watch over her, and give her the peace and comfort she has rightfully earned. In your name we pray. Amen."

Natalie closed her eyes and nodded. Crouching down, Emily and Ari each grabbed one end of the burial shroud and lifted Bethany off the boarding platform. With as much respect and gentleness as possible, they tossed the body over the side and watched it disappear beneath the surface.

While Emily and Ari climbed back up to the main deck, Josephine looked at the others. "Shouldn't we say something?"

"Natalie just did," said Sandy.

"I mean a eulogy of some sort."

"What purpose would it serve?" Tiara asked.

"I don't know," said Josephine. "I just thought we should say something that would make her death have some meaning."

Natalie separated herself from the group and turned to face them. "You want Bethany's death to have meaning? Then use her as an example. Bethany is dead because she couldn't handle the pressure and got sloppy."