Page 37 of Night of the Living Manny
“Yeah. Get them all.”
He cleaned out the garage of any heavy or hard implement, including a couple of croquet mallets. He piled them in the other side of Susanna’s seat, because the back was totally full. Liam came in with the coolers, squeezing in those along with his computer, then nodded.
“Time to go, guys.”
“We’re ready.” He checked: Britt, Peter, Susanna, Moose. Then Brenden slid into the passenger seat in front.
Liam pulled the door shut and hit the garage door opener as he started the engine. A dark shape stood at the opening of the door, and Liam looked at him. “Kids, close your eyes.”
“Dad—”
“Do what I say!” Liam snapped.
Brenden wanted to close his eyes when Liam hit the gas, but he couldn’t. They zoomed out of the garage, and the crunch as they hit… whatever that was… sounded huge. It couldn’t be anything but a human shape.
“Oh my God!”
Liam didn’t say a word, just muttered, “Hit the garage door opener, Brenden.”
He hit it, but that door wouldn’t hold up to too much pounding. What a good idea to get away from that—thing. That had to be what had left the bloody scratches. God, it could have attacked Brittany.
“Daddy?” Britt whispered.
“Keep your eyes closed, baby girl. Hold on to Moose.” Liam sounded livid. Just furious beyond belief.
“He’s real strong.”
“He is. Susanna, keep an eye on our back trail.”
“Yes, sir.” Susanna’s voice whipped out like a soldier’s.
Brenden wanted to scream, but he just held the oh-shit handle and hoped he didn’t have to shoot anyone. “What the fuck is going on, Liam?”
“You said a cuss, Brenden,” Britt pointed out.
“I know, kiddo, but this is an extreme situation.” He glanced at Liam, whose mouth was set in a hard line.
“Please, Brenden. I need you to trust me. I need to get us out of town.” Liam’s hands were white-knuckled on the wheel, but it was hard not to keep poking and asking.
“I do trust you.” Oddly enough, he did, but he needed more information. “Where are we going?”
“We have a cabin up by Ouray. That ought to give us enough space for me to figure out what to do.”
“Fair enough.” What was he supposed to say? He was scared, the kids were very, very quiet, and Liam seemed… furious. Really freakin’ mad. Something awful had to have happened, and it had to be with the lab.
“I’m sorry. I know this is unexpected.”
“It’s—” He stopped himself from saying frightening. “An adventure, for sure.”
“You have no idea.” Liam gave him a sideways glance, blue eyes burning with emotion.
No, he didn’t. He had to focus on the kids. That was his job. He could wait to grill Liam. He turned in his seat. “Britt, you got Moose? He might get nervous.”
“I have him. I won’t let…. Daddy! Daddy, there’s a man in the road!”
“I see, baby. Close your eyes.” Liam bore down on the guy but didn’t hit him. He swerved around the man at the last minute instead. “Just don’t know,” Liam murmured.
Don’t know what? What the fuck?That was a person.
