RecruitZ (Afterworld Series) (9 page)

I narrowed my eyes at Preston. “How can you be so sure that I’ll be an asset to you?”

“Your husband went to the university,” Preston stated.

“How did you know that?” I asked, my blood curdled.

“He had a notebook,” he continued, “that gave you lots of information that is impossible to decipher.”

My pulse started escalating as I watched his eyes darken. He looked around the bar and then at me. “My sister was in the same department at the university as your husband and she had a folder.”

“I haven’t told anyone about that folder,” I said, my mouth completely dry.

“It was only a hunch. I’m full of them,” he assured me.

I didn’t believe him.

“You already knew my husband was dead, didn’t you?” I accused. The table of customers next to us glanced over at me, and I lowered my voice. “Didn’t you?”

Preston shook his head. “I wouldn’t play that kind of game with you. I’m not that cruel. Since my sister died, my world has been full of nothing but observations, gut feelings, and finding reason where it doesn’t exist. But I promise you, I didn’t know. I only guessed.”

“So tell me about Marcus,” I said, sitting back in the booth.

“He’s as crooked as they come. He’s got a network established for underground fighting all across the country. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was global. He’s got his hands in many pots. The private security company he founded is filled with retired Special-Ops. It’s one of the three top private security companies that our government uses.”

“So you think he’s involved with your sister’s disappearance?” I asked.

Preston shook his head. “I think it goes further than just Marcus, but I don’t know what makes me think that.”

He drained the last of his drink.

“Do you hear that?” he asked.

A loud diesel vehicle was driving past the building, vibrating the old structure as it passed. It wasn’t unusual for supply trucks and military vehicles to be on the streets at night so I wasn’t sure where he was going with it.

“Have you noticed an unusual amount of buses with blacked out windows driving around in the early morning and evening?”

“Can’t say that I have,” I confessed. “I might need to get out of my basement a bit more.”

“You know the towers I wanted you to notice on the way here?” he asked, his voice lowering.

I nodded and scooted toward him.

“I’ve followed the busses there. It’s heavily guarded with TRAC units so I’ve never been able to see anything past the first set of barriers.”

“It sounds like a field trip is in order,” I said, smiling as the spike of adrenaline hit.

“Not so fast,” he said, putting his hand up. “I haven’t worked this long putting the pieces together to jeopardize everything by rushing into something.”

“How did you know about my husband attending the university and what department he was in?” I asked, hoping my abruptness would throw him off. I was never one to accept the first answer I was given for things and certainly wouldn’t start now.

“The pendant around your neck is the same one my sister wore.”

Relief crept in as I touched my pendant. Of course! I forgot I was wearing it. It was the department’s logo.

“Like I said, it was just a hunch. And those hunches are based on observations. The problem is that I’m coming up with lots of observations and no way to connect them all,” he said.

“We will,” I told him, reaching my hand across to his. “And we’ll make everyone involved pay for what they’ve done.”

Preston nodded and a hint of a smile shattered the stern look on his face.

“Now let’s come up with a way to make my friends remember the old Rebekah,” I said, motioning for Baily to come over.

“Why don’t you tell me about her so I can help?” he asked, his eyes lighting up.

Baily walked over to take our order. Before she left the table her eyes connected with mine, asking for permission. I knew what she wanted, and he was sitting right in front of me. I smiled and laughed, nodding at Baily, as I glanced at Preston. Poor guy. He didn’t have the slightest clue. He was definitely attractive and quite attentive if the situation called for it, and his strength was very impressive. His lip curled up slightly as he watched my gaze wash over him, and I turned beet red.

“So let me hear about the old Rebekah,” he started again.

I shook off my embarrassment and tried to reach in for the old me. It seemed so long ago. I thought about who I’d been pre-outbreak—even during the outbreak—and realized that was the same person. I didn’t actually change until Gavin…

“I was an art history major,” I began. “I wanted to work at a gallery when I grew up.” I curled my fingers in quotes around the last phrase and smiled. “I didn’t have a care in the world beyond getting through school and talking my way into bringing Gavin to every family function and vacation we had. We met in junior high,” I stopped myself as Gavin’s last words slammed into me, “loved you since my sixteenth birthday…”

“Going down memory lane isn’t really working for me,” I said, locking my gaze on Preston’s. “I’d like to hear about the old you...”

“My brother and father were killed during the outbreak. I was able to keep my mother and sister alive, only to have them stolen from me after the outbreak,” he stopped himself and sighed, realizing he wasn’t able to separate yesteryear from the present year either.

“Not so easy to talk about the other life is it?” I asked softly, twisting my lips.

He shook his head, “Seems almost impossible.”

We both sat quietly, each wondering how to start a new friendship based on an unidentifiable history. I wasn’t even sure it was possible. If the only thing uniting two people was something as horrendous as what was behind us, was it even worth it?

“I used to love peppermint ice cream. I could outdrink any guy in college. Halloween used to be my favorite holiday. I loved twinkle lights. I hated to cook, but I loved to bake. I used to love to read. I used to spend my afternoons daydreaming. I loved taking long walks on the beach,” I teased, as I glanced at Baily who was bringing over our food.

She set our plates down and handed Preston an extra napkin. I spotted her scribble on it and chuckled internally. Preston set the napkin aside. I wasn’t even sure if he noticed her number.

“Why don’t you try listing everything again and this time make it present tense,” he said quietly, as he stared at me intently.

I took a shaky breath in and began again, “ I love peppermint ice-cream. I can outdrink any guy in college. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love twinkle lights. I hate to cook, but I love to bake. I love to read. I spend my afternoons daydreaming. And I absolutely hate taking long walks on the beach.”

It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my chest, and I had no idea why.

“I think I would’ve liked the old Rebekah,” he said, smiling.

“Me too,” I replied.

His eyes flicked to mine. “So you are or aren’t into long walks on a beach?”

I smiled and laughed. “Not my thing, unless I’m chasing something.”

“Is that the new or old Rebekah talking?” he laughed.

“I think in that instance it’s one in the same.”

“Fair enough.” He smiled. “So I think you should work at Shackles. I think it would be a good cover.”

That completely took me off guard.

“Really?” I crossed my arms.

“I do. And I happen to be in charge of hiring so you’re hired.”

“I don’t know how to make any drinks,” I protested.

“It’s not rocket science,” he laughed. “Besides, it seems people will drink anything nowadays. Pour it heavy, slap it with a zombie name, and you’re in.” He pointed at his empty glass and I laughed. “I bet your friends would also be relieved to see you with an outside interest. It’s a twofer situation.”

I took a bite of my hamburger as I thought about his offer. It would get me around the people I wanted to find out about. And it would look somewhat normal to my friends, proving that I wasn’t turning into a complete hermit. But the thought of showing up at Shackles, especially if Preston wasn’t around freaked me out.

“What’s holding you back?” he asked.

I didn’t want to lead him on. I was in no place for any type of a relationship—platonic or otherwise—but I didn’t want to work there unless he was there on the same shifts as me.

“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way.” I set my burger down. “But I wouldn’t want to be there with any other bartender. I’d only want to work the shifts with you.”

“That can be arranged,” he agreed. Unfortunately, I also noticed a glimpse of satisfaction appear behind his eyes. I would have to set him straight. “So is it a deal?” he asked.

“I think it is,” I said, surprised.

“Good. Show up on Saturday at four o’clock and you’ve got yourself a job. I’ll teach you who’s who in the scene, and we’ll go from there. Another set of ears on the floor will be perfect.”

I nodded and debated about asking him one last thing. If I was going to persuade my friends that I was okay, like really okay, I could use Preston to my advantage.

“I’m meeting Abby for coffee on Friday. That’s the one who I’m—”

“Say no more,” he said, nodding.

“You’d do that for me?” I asked.

“Absolutely. If we act like you’re into me and the reason you’ve been avoiding all your friends is because you’ve been wracked with guilt…”

“Huh?” I interrupted, bewildered. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Well, what did you mean?”

“I just thought you could show up and talk me up or something.”

“I think my idea is more believable.”

I sighed and pushed my empty plate away. He was probably right, but just the thought of it made me feel like a traitor to Gavin.

“I won’t over do it,” he replied, grabbing the napkin with Baily’s number on it. I watched him wipe his mouth with it and started laughing.

“For someone who’s supposed to be observant…” I raised my brow and stared at the napkin he tossed on the plate.

He glanced at the napkin and leaned forward. “What makes you think I didn’t see it?”

I woke up to the sunlight spraying into my bedroom, which resulted in me tugging on the comforter to cover my head. I had no idea what time it was, but it felt far too early to be up. I didn’t have to meet Abby until noon and had hoped to sleep in until at least ten. Last night hadn’t been kind to me. Between waking up from nightmares and the neighbors playing their music too loud, it was a miserable night. My mind slowly escaped to the muted dream world that I so often craved. It was a place that only held pre-outbreak memories, and there were so many days where I wished I could stay there. Some days, I did. My breathing shifted as images of Gavin smiling and gliding from the tree swing outside his home drifted into my mind. I smelled crushed pine needles as I sat on the ground underneath the tree, peering up at him.

And then the phone rang.

I let out a sigh and pushed my comforter off my head. So much for going back to sleep.

I glanced at the screen and saw Preston’s name. I wanted to be annoyed, but I wasn’t.

“Hello?” I asked, in the best non-sleepy voice I could muster. I didn’t want him to think I slept all day.

“Shit. I woke you.”

“No, you didn’t,” I fibbed.

“Rebekah, I can tell. Your voice is all hoarse. I’ll call you back later.”

“Wait. It’s too late now. I won’t fall back asleep. It was actually the sun that woke me, not you.”

He laughed. “So I take it you’re not a get up and watch the sunrise kind of girl?”

“Definitely not. I’d much rather watch the sun be traded for the moon any day,” I laughed.

“I’ll make a note of it,” he teased. “Just wanted to make sure we were still on for today. Noon was it?”

“Yeah. Abby’s usually late so if you don’t get there on time it’s totally fine.”

“I was actually wondering if you wanted me to come pick you up?”

“Sure, that’d be fine.” I glanced at the clock, which read seven o’clock. “Do you usually get up this early?”