Read Online The Dead Series (Book 2): Dead Is All You Get by Steven Ramirez - Free Book Online

compound, eventually to be joined by Warnick, Chavez and the other soldiers. And how we’d left that place with Greta, the only guard dog left alive.
    In a way, it was freeing to get it all out. To talk about how the Red Militia had tried to use Griffin and her brother Kyle against us. And how they’d destroyed our compound. How Holly and Griffin had escaped an ambush and I’d been taken prisoner with Warnick and the others, forced by Chavez and his men to compete in a death match with draggers in a dilapidated ice rink.
    We told them about the civilians we’d saved and how I was later taken prisoner by the Red Militia when I’d gone out searching for Holly and Griffin, who eventually made it to safety. And how we’d defeated the nailheads and together made our way back to our new compound—the Arkon Building.
    Finally, we told them how we’d attacked the Red Militia at the high school and rescued Griffin. How Ormand Ferry had died at the hands of draggers.
    “How many would you say you killed?” Walt said to me. “Like-uh-said, we’re simply fact finding.”
    “No idea. But most were no longer human.”
    “Holly?”
    “Same. They attack in hordes, you know.”
    “Yeah. Well, I think we pretty much have everything we need. Appreciate your cooperation.”
    Walt began putting the papers back into the storage box as Becky slipped her laptop into a black leather case. Everyone got up. I stood directly in front of him. He was slightly shorter than me, and I could smell a mixture of cologne and sweaty shoe leather. “Where is this information going?” I said.
    “Good question. It will be placed in an archive, along with everything else we’re collecting—papers, audio recordings, video, so on and so forth. If any government agency needs access, we can provide it. Nice meeting you both.”
    He and the assistant left the room quickly. I realized I was exhausted.
    “You both did great,” Pederman said. “Let’s break for lunch. We’ll finish up with HR after.”
    “Sounds good,” I said. My head hurt. I desperately wanted a drink.

    After lunch, Holly and I returned to the principal’s office. Pederman chatted with a woman who appeared to be in her fifties and who I assumed he had brought down from San Francisco. She wore a grey suit and black high-heel shoes, her brown hair pulled back in a short ponytail.
    “Ah, here they are,” Pederman said. “Miriam, this is Dave and Holly Pulaski.”
    “Hi,” the woman said, extending her hand. “I’m Miriam Cantrell. Let’s go to the conference room so I can go over everything with you and answer any questions you may have. Are you excited?”
    “Are you kidding?” Holly said, smiling.
    “Hmm,” Miriam said, looking Holly over as we walked. “Honestly, Kelly.”
    Pederman looked surprised. “What did I do?”
    “You gave this poor girl a man’s shirt. Oh, my gosh, and the pants!” Then to Holly, “Don’t worry. I anticipated this and brought along a half a dozen women’s uniforms. Size zero, right?”
    “Right.” Holly turned red from the attention.
    It took a little over two hours to complete the paperwork and go through all of the salary and benefits information. When we were finished, Miriam thanked us and excused herself, explaining that she needed to return to San Francisco. I wondered how people like Pederman and Miriam came and went, since the quarantine was still in place.
    “How are things up there?” I said. “I mean, is it safe?”
    She examined her own shoes and smiled at us. “We haven’t seen any signs of the virus. The quarantine is working. Now, who’s taking me back?”
    “One of my guys will drive you,” Pederman said. “Let me walk you out.”
    Miriam extended her hand to Holly and me. “Nice meeting you both. I’ll leave the uniforms in Kelly’s office.”
    “Wow, did you see how she was dressed?” Holly said when we were alone.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Burberry suit. Manolo Blahnik shoes.”
    “I have no