Read Online DEAD (Book 12): End by TW Brown - Free Book Online Page B

execute Elliott. Had that really been necessary?
    Yes , she told herself, the man wanted to have some of his people sneak in and contaminate the water or food or whatever and then give those who showed immunity the option of joining him .
    Despite her own actions these past few days, she did not believe that her sins equaled those of the deceased lunatic. Yet, did any despot truly believe that the acts they were committing to be evil? Her only true regret in regards to having Elliott assassinated was that the two children, Kalisha and Caleb had disappeared and that the people all believed she had something to do with it.
    “Well, well, Missus Dreon,” a familiar voice called down, snapping her back to the business at hand.
    “Dean, nice of you to come and speak with me,” Catie called up. She had to shield her eyes a bit from the sun; she also could not actually see the man’s face. That had to change. “How about you come on down and we can speak civil. I believe things can be handled in such a way that benefits us both.”
    “I find that unlikely, Missus Dreon. However, I will come down and hear you out. I am bringing ten men with me. You are welcome to do the same.”
    “And we meet inside the ruins of that old gas station,” Catie said, pointing to the collapsed and charred ruins a few hundred yards to her left.
    “I don’t believe so. We can meet right where you stand or not at all.”
    Catie considered his offer. It did make sense. If she was setting him up, then surely she would want to meet him someplace where she could ambush him. She did not like the fact that they were in range of the guards up in the guard towers and catwalks, but she knew this might be the best offer she would be given.
    “Deal.”
    There was a long wait. In that time, Catie had the Wonder Twins bring up eight more people they felt would put up a good fight if it came to that. She was actually a little surprised when Denise DeCarlo strolled up.
    “I want to hear what he says with my own ears,” the woman said. Her tone was flat, and Catie told herself that she would keep an eye on the woman. Later, she would make it a point to confront Marty and Melvin. She would ask them what the hell they were thinking bringing this woman up as one of her ten, although she would have her suspicions. Denise had been just a bit off since this mission began.
    At last, the gates opened and Dean Stockton emerged with his entourage. They were wearing a lot of protective gear and every one of them except for the administrator of Montague Village was bristling with a variety of weapons.
    “You sure about this?” Marty said out of the corner of his mouth.
    “I haven’t been sure of anything in a long time,” Catie answered.
    “You do a lousy job of instilling confidence,” Melvin whispered.
    “So, Missus Dreon, I see that you have jumped ship. I take it my man Clarence won’t be returning?” Dean stopped about five feet away, his security detail pulling up just a few feet behind him.
    “Clarence went down like a soldier, but I had nothing to do with how that occurred.”
    Dean studied her face; he was obviously looking for any signs of deception. Catie had no problem looking the man in the eye; after all, she was telling the truth. And this was actually the opening she was hoping for.
    “Elliott is gone as well.” Catie let that hang in the air for a moment. Of course, if Marty and Melvin had come here, then it was probable that Dean already knew that much. “He was going to try and infect your entire community and then come in and scoop up all those who did not die. He wanted the immune to be free.”
    “Free?” Dean scoffed. “Free is a myth. None of us are free.”
    “That is easy to say when you are running the show,” Catie said. “You have made your community open to the immune, but they are not really welcome, are they? You keep them under your thumb and relegate them to a lower caste than the unknown.”
    “I have done what