Read Online Undead Much by Stacey Jay - Free Book Online Page A

tears come from. Tear ducts, I guess? “Kitty and Barker and Elder Thomas think I did it.”
      “They’re insane. Of course you didn’t,” he said, leaning down to give me the softest little kiss. He closed the door and ran around to the driver’s side, while I smiled and tried even harder not to cry. I really did have the best boyfriend in the world. “But like I said.” He slid into the driver’s seat and started the car. “I figured we should do some investigating of our own to help prove what we already know.”
      “Won’t that get you in trouble at work?” I asked, as Ethan pulled into the line of cars heading out of the parking lot.
      “Protocol got kicked off the case last night around midnight by the Enforcement team. Apparently they don’t want a bunch of small-town losers screwing up their investigation. So it’s not a direct conflict of interest.”
      “But I thought you said you weren’t supposed to-”
      “The Elders haven’t said anything outright, but Kitty called and strongly advised me to stay away from you until you’re cleared of suspicion.” He pulled forward, taking a left out of the parking lot. “She made it sound like a request, but I got the order vibe loud and clear. I have a feeling I won’t be invited back to training if I get caught helping you.”
      “Then take me back to school.” I grabbed my backpack and pointed to a good place to turn around. “I don’t want you to ruin your chances to do something you love.”
      “I love you , Schmeg,” he said, using the old nickname that used to drive me absolutely insane. Now it seemed kind of sweet and made me want to cry again. But then, what didn’t? “It’s just work. You’re my girlfriend.”
      I finally lost the tear battle and started sobbing. Ethan loved me, he really loved me. It was wonderful. I was so lucky! So why was it making me have a major, snotty come-apart?
      “Meg, you okay?” Ethan asked, looking a little green to be trapped in a car with a sobbing girl, even one he loved. I nodded, but the tears didn’t seem to want to stop. “I think there are some napkins left over from Sonic in the glove compartment.”
      Sonic! The site of our first pretend date months ago! Remembering how I’d been crushing on Ethan that night, and how I’d been certain he’d never think of me as anything but an annoying little-sister type, helped me pull myself together.
      The impossible had happened. The proof was sitting in the driver’s seat, telling me he loved me. And proving my innocence wasn’t impossible either-it just felt like it because I didn’t know what was going on. Hopefully, by the time Ethan and I were done today, that would no longer be the case.
      “I’m better.” I dabbed at my nose and eyes and took a deep breath. “Where are we starting this investigating?”
      “I drove by Kroger on my way. Looks like the Enforcement team finally pulled out of the woods behind the parking lot. I figure it’s as good a place to start as any.”
      “Right, sounds good,” I said, but it didn’t, not really. I didn’t want to go back into those woods. Still, what choice did I have? Leads were few, and Ethan was right, the best place to start was at the scene of the crime… whatever that crime was. “Did Protocol get any information on why these zombies were so different? I mean, I know using black magic is a felony charge, but there’s got to be some reason the Enforcers think I’m the only one who could have done this. I’m guessing it has something to do with having more power than the average Settler, but that’s about as far as I’ve gotten.”
      “That’s what I figured too. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
      “Right. But maybe if we can find out what’s so special about the RCs-”
      “They could be Settler-Resistant Undead,” Ethan said, his tone making it clear he’d rather not share this information with me if he could have