Read Online Dead Team Alpha: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller by Jake Bible - Free Book Online

Marsh sighs. “Let’s go see the old fucker.”
    Bone thin with shoulders almost as wide as he is tall, Sheriff Marsh looks to many like a scarecrow that’s lost its stuffing, right down to the worn jeans and patched work shirts he wears. He twirls the key ring on one of his long fingers and whistles a random tune as he leads Val and Stanford back to the holding cells. A town, built on military systems and discipline, the holding cells rarely have anyone in them, leaving plenty of space for the few repeat offenders like Collin Baptiste.
    “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Ward!” Val snaps. “Why the hell is he naked? Couldn’t you give him a jumpsuit or something?”
    “I did,” Marsh says as he unlocks the holding cell and steps to the side. “He pissed in it. Didn’t feel he derived a second chance.”
    “What the fuck are you doing here?” Collin growls. “I don’t need you here.”
    “Good to see you too, Dad,” Val says. “Get up. We’re taking you home.”
    “Don’t wanna go,” Collin says, folding his arms across his chest. “I like it right here.”
    “You’re going home to get showered and dressed,” Val states. “That way, you’ll be presentable when we try to find you a job.”
    “A what?” Collin asks.
    “A what?” Marsh echoes.
    “A what?” Stanford adds, not wanting to be left out.
    “A job,” Val says. “Doesn’t matter what it is. Probably only thing I can find you is working the septic crew, but at least that’ll get the ration tickets Juney Belle and Harmon will need.”
    “You’ve lost your mind, girl,” Collin chuckles. “I ain’t workin’ no fucking shitter job. And what’s this about Juney Belle? That cunt can go fuck herself.”
    The space between Val and her father disappears in a blink. She’s in his face, her eyes boring into his, her finger jammed against his chest.
    “Ow, Val, stop it,” Collin says, sounding more like a wounded kid than a father.
    “Does that hurt?” Val asks as she jabs him again. “Good. Think of it as a taste of what’s possible. You will get a job, you will hand over your ration tickets to Juney Belle, and you will stay off the hooch. Or I will fuck you up so bad that Hamish has to hook you to a tube and bag so you can piss. You understand me, old man?”
    Plenty of responses cross Collin’s mind, but for once, he does the smart thing and just nods. Anyone else and he would have laughed, but the look in his daughter’s eyes is too much to fight. His late wife would get the same look, and despite the rage fueling that look, he can’t help but miss it.
    “Ward? Can we get another jumpsuit, please?” Val asks without taking her eyes from her father. “I’ll make sure it’s washed and brought back tomorrow morning. Won’t I, Dad?”
    “It’ll be here tomorrow morning,” Collin agrees.
    “Be right back,” Marsh says.
    “Your daughter made DTA, Uncle Collin,” Stanford says. “I’m the new TL for DTB Two.”
    “Good for you, son,” Collin says, his attention still taken up by his daughter that refuses to remove herself from his face. “And you too, Val. Proud of you both.”
    Val snorts and shakes her head.
    “ What?” Collin asks, his breath rank and reminiscent of week old corn and vomit. “A father can’t be proud?”
    “A father has to be a father first,” Val says.
    “Yeah, well... Oh, thanks, Ward.”
    “ Don’t thank me, Baptiste,” Marsh says as he tosses a faded orange jumpsuit at Collin.  “Thank Juney Belle for not pressing charges. You got lucky, got it? Lifelong friends or not, dipshit, next time, I’ll have to put you before the tribunal. That happens and you won’t be walking out of here again for a long time.”
    “No need for threats, Ward,” Collin says. “It was all a misunderstanding.”
    “A ninety-two stitch misunderstanding,” Marsh says. “No more, Collin Baptiste. No more.”
    “I’ll make sure of that,” Val says. “Come on, Dad , time to look for work.”
    Sheriff Marsh