Page 48 of Night of the Living Manny
“Moose, come.” He caught Moose’s leash with his right hand, taking Peter’s hand with his left.
“Brenden, I don’t need to hold hands….”
“Please, Peter. For me.” God, he’d never been so scared.
“Okay,” Peter said quietly.
They made their way into the library, Susanna covering their back trail like an Avenger or something.
“Get what you need, Brenden. Whatever you need.” Liam handed Britt to him and headed for the nonfiction.
“Come on, guys. Let’s get some books and videos.” He hurried but tried not to freak the kids out any more than he had to.
“Any kinds?”
“Yeah. Any kinds.”
Peter went right to the games. He would have to gently encourage books and maybe some board games, which the library had hanging in bags behind the desk. Susanna moved to watch Peter, so he took Britt to the kids’ section.
“It’s so quiet,” she said.
“I know, honey. Books. Focus.” He started grabbing handsful—Percy Jackson and Nancy Drew,Keeper of the Lost CitiesandTwilight. Oh, the Humphrey books.
“Books.” She nodded and grabbed an armful. “You should get some too.”
“Well, come with me and I will.” He needed a damn tote bag. Surely they had some behind the desk.
They did, and he grabbed a bunch before he and Britt headed back to the children’s section. He grabbed entire series; then he went to YA and just took them all.
Somehow he didn’t think anyone would care.
The only sound in the whole building was the buzz of a bad fluorescent bulb.
He grabbed himself a bunch from the mysteries and then went to the camping books, first aid. If the grid went out, they would need reference material. He was pretty good, but he relied heavily on Google.
“Bag,” Liam said, tossing him one.
“Britt, can you hold it open?” He still had Moose on a leash, which was chafing his arm and chafing Moose too. The big guy was used to free roaming, and he was well trained, but this was an infectious disease. He couldn’t chance Moose biting someone and getting sick or passing it to them. NoCujosituation.
“Sure. Sure, Brenden.” There was a sound in the back of the library, a weird scratching.
Britt peeped, but Brenden shushed her. He looked at Liam, who moved swift and quiet, gathering Susanna and Peter to move them to the front door. “Run to the car. Don’t stop. Get in and we get moving.”
Liam took his bags so Brenden could handle Moose. Brenden took a deep breath when they put Peter and Britt between them, Susanna following with the shotgun. She looked like something out ofResident Evil, a kickass heroine.
“I don’t want to go outside, Daddy,” Britt whimpered. “Please.”
“Go with Susanna, baby. Brenden, you’re in front; I’ll take up the rear.”
“Got it. Moose, close.” He short-leashed his dog before peering outside. “Go!”
“Come on, Britt! Run!” Susanna and Peter dragged the crying little girl, not giving her the chance to stall.
Moose herded him, feeling his stress, but as soon as he unlocked the car and shoved Moose in, the big guy was snuggling with Britt. She held on to Moose, crying, and he barely let the doors shut before he peeled out.
“Grocery store?” he asked.
“Duckett’s is down the way. We’ll get everything we need. Stay in two groups. Peter, you’re with me. Susanna, you stay with Britt and Brenden.”
