Read Online Thirteen Roses Book Four: Alone: A Paranormal Zombie Saga by Michael Cairns - Free Book Online Page A

her hand, and he watched her go again. He could watch her go all day. He needed to get ready and collect some devices. He would head down the tunnel, recharge, and speak to Az, then head out somewhere new. Just him and thirty of the hottest women he’d ever met.  
    He pushed the door open and froze. Bayleigh and Alex stood in the corridor, chatting in hushed voices. He needed to get out of here without them seeing him. Then Alex looked up and raised a hand.  
    ‘Hey, Jackson, where’ve you been? The device is missing from reception. Can we talk to you for a minute?’

Bayleigh

    Jackson strolled towards them. He looked casual enough, but his eyes remained fixed on the floor. She was always inclined to believe the best of people, but she struggled with Jackson. She struggled to believe anything good about him at all. The way he looked up, like a kid waiting for his parents to spank him, made it even harder.  
    How he could look like a little kid when he stood head and shoulders above her she didn’t know. But he was up to something. Fortunately, perhaps, Alex spoke first.  
    ‘The device has gone from reception and we think the soldiers took it.’
    ‘That’s weird. I just checked and it was there.’
    ‘Just? When’s just?’
    ‘Like, five minutes ago.’
    Bayleigh almost set off down the corridor to check herself. ‘You’re sure it was there?’
    ‘It was there, alright? I’m not blind.’
    Bayleigh held her hands up. ‘Hey, easy, it’s fine.’ What the hell was happening? ‘Could Harriet have put it back?’
    Alex shrugged. ‘Maybe. What was the point of it all though?’
    ‘To get you killed?’
    Alex turned pale and put his hand on the wall. ‘I don’t think so. We’re been getting on pretty good. I mean…’ He trailed off, blushing, and she did a u-turn in her mind. He was supposed to be the good one, but with one look he’d become just another guy. Nothing unexpected really, but it still hurt. She went to ask about the device again but found different words coming out of her mouth. ‘Is she really all that?’
    ‘Uh, well, I mean—’
    ‘She’s all that. Trust me, she’s fine.’ Jackson nodded and smiled as he spoke. Bayleigh could imagine the crude gestures he’d be making with his hands if he thought he’d get away with it. Alex’s blush deepened and spread to his forehead. It was half cute and half really annoying.  
    ‘Fine, whatever. She wasn’t trying to get you killed. So what was the point in stealing it then putting it back?’
    ‘I don’t know. I don’t think it was her. I know you don’t like her, but she wouldn’t do that.’ Alex sounded like he was pleading. Bayleigh sighed. ‘God help me. Being pretty doesn’t make you a nice person.’
    ‘Hey, I’m not saying she’s a shining example. I’m just saying, I don’t think it’s in her nature to do something that could get someone else killed.’
    Bayleigh harrumphed, but he was quite possibly right. She didn’t know Harriet except as an annoyingly pretty woman with an unhealthy interest in God, but she hadn’t displayed signs of wanting to kill any of them.  
    ‘You’re sure it’s back in the drawer?’
    Jackson curled his upper lip and snarled at her.  
    ‘Fine, fine, okay. How about the other four, when did we last check them?’ Shrugs all round. ‘Right, we check them and meet straight back here. Watch for any zombies that might have come in.’
    ‘There were four dead downstairs, who was that?’ Jackson asked. Like it mattered.
    Alex raised a hand. ‘I did one and Dave did the other three.’
    ‘Dave bagged three zombies? Not bad at all. And you got one. About time.’ Jackson patted Alex on the arm and strolled away, smiling broadly. Bayleigh leant close to Alex.  
    ‘You know how you feel about him? That’s how I feel about Harriet.’
    She stalked away before he could reply. Stupid bloody woman with her perfect skin and boobs and every other bloody thing. It didn’t matter how