“All well and fine,” Eb said, “you wanna say we’re safe. What then? You’re saying the rest of the world or almost all the world is dead? Are we sure? I mean, we’re Griffin, we’re cut off. We wouldn’t know one way or another. No cable, no news, no internet, no cells. How did we know? We may be the isolated case.”
“That’s easy,” Kat, who had been quiet, spoke up. “We wait the twenty-four hours and we go find out.”
Out of the mind and mouth of the youth came a logical suggestion. Go out and see. The thing was, Cass wasn’t sure she wanted to know. Because to her, those in Griffin were what mattered and if the buck stopped at Griffin, it wasn’t going to be all that different to her.
For as long as Kit could remember the position of mayor of Griffin was always held by a Wilson. Mark being the latest Wilson to carry that honor. All of them were homegrown and had Griffin’s best interest at heart. Although, there really wasn’t much ‘politically’ that needed to be done, nor was there ever a crisis… until that moment.
Kit hated to do it, he hated to call Mark, but he had to. There was a chance Mark wouldn’t believe it, and Kit would have to take him to Brian’s to show him the body, but Mark was calm and rational, only asking, “Are we sure it’s everywhere?”
“No.” That’s all Kit could say. He was curious himself. He went on the computer, typed in a news site, and allowed the page to load.
When he left to meet Mark at Mrs. Sanders’ home, it had barely made it to three percent loaded.
Kit went in alone, while Mark stayed outside. He wore a face mask and gloves, and carried a pocket black light.
He hoped it wouldn’t come to that. But when Mrs. Sanders didn’t open the door, Kit went in.
It was the same feel; the smell was a little worse, but like Brian and Patty, Mrs. Sanders had passed. She bore the bleeding rash on her face and legs. Only difference between her and Brian was that she had died in her reclining chair, feet propped up, a can of soda next to her. Brian had been on the floor, looking as if he’d tried desperately to crawl for help.
He ran the black light over her. He jumped nearly a foot in the air when the ringing telephone broke the silence.
He looked to his left and to the older phone.
It rang and rang.
Finally, Kit walked over and answered it. He would just say Mrs. Sanders wasn’t available. That wasn’t lying. “Hello, Sanders Residence, Officer Modine, Griffin PD speaking.”
“Oh, Kit,” Cass said. “I’m glad I caught you.”
“Cass… Cass, what are you doing calling Mrs. Sanders’ house?”
“I can’t reach your cell phone. I’ve been trying for fifteen minutes to reach you there. No one answered.”
“She’s not gonna answer, Cass. Is there an emergency?”
“No, but we have an idea and we need to talk to you immediately.”
Kit reluctantly agreed to listen but only for a minute, then he hung up and left the house.
Mark was outside waiting. He leaned against the squad car. Not his own which was parked directly in front of the police car. He was average in height, but thicker, or as Cass called him ‘jolly’ with a bald head, still sporting the grandpa hair on the sides.
He liked Mark Wilson. He was a good guy and Kit never had any problems with him professionally or personally. Although Mark was ten years older so Kit really never got to know him well until he became mayor… and Cass’ husband.
“Well?” Mark asked.
Kit shook his head. “She’s gone.”
“What about this fungus?”
“I honestly didn’t see it, but that could be me. I’m no expert,” Kit replied.
“What do we do?” Mark asked.
“Art said not to touch the body for twenty-four hours, then I suppose we can call Fillman’s and have them come and get her. Brian and Patty too.”
“And just bury them like nothing happened?”
“Yeah, I suppose. I mean, these are our people, Mark. This town is small enough to do that. Fillman’s has been taking care of that since before our time.”
“Jesus, Kit.” Mark shook his head. “Are we sure? I mean, I am not questioning these deaths. I mean this crisis. This is Griffin. “
“And we’re all thinking the same thing,” Kit said. “We don’t know. Just because we can’t hear or read anything doesn’t mean that’s all gone. Hell, remember last October when we were down for four days?”
Mark released a fast, sharp breath. “Yeah, everyone was convinced there was some sort of alien invasion. No one wanted to leave town to find out.”
“No one did.”
“You wanted to,” Mark said.
“And you wouldn’t allow it. Even though you knew it wasn’t real and it drove me nuts.”
“Yes,” Mark said. “However, it was the most excitement we had in a while.”
“Where in the hell did that come from anyhow?”
“The damn Times. Cass and her stories. I mean, yes, it was just a ‘what if’ piece, but still, sent everyone into a frenzy.”
“I don’t think this is the same thing,” Kit said. “And I will go out and see.”
Mark nodded. “We’re gonna have to. We have physical proof that something is happening and a scientist claiming it’s the end of the world.”
“Two nights ago, Brad got in that accident,” Kit said. “Cass and Brian along with Eb said a sick deer went nuts and caused it.”
“But that was before the massive extermination attempt.”
“It was, but the government has been dropping in small doses and areas the last three days. Harrison’s Nectarine farm got sprayed Sunday afternoon.”
“How do you know?”
“County called, said they were blocking off Miller Run Road sixteen miles up.”
“So that would make sense with the deer.”
“Could,” Kit said. “Small amounts—probably a kill radius a lot smaller than we’re dealing with now. And before you ask, I tried to call Harrison. Nothing.”
“Damn it.” Mark paced a few circles and then grabbed a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one. “Where is our scientist now?”
“With Cass at Ada’s.”
“His father, the man that came with him?”
“At the motel. They’re gonna set up a few rooms for testing and patients if we have anyone. Listen, Cass called.”
Immediately and excitedly, Mark grabbed for his cell phone. “Are the phones working?”
Kit cringed. “No, she called me in there.”
“What in Christ name is wrong with that woman? I get it she needed to reach you, but goddamn, get in the truck and drive to you. What did she want?”
“Her, Ada, and this scientist think we should go into a lockdown. Stay at home. Twenty-four hours. By then the danger will have passed. Tell folks there is a county medical crisis, to report any symptoms to the police department. Do not leave, help will come to them. And to shelter where they are for twenty-four hours. Give them an opportunity to go home, or stay put.”
“Well, that does make sense. I guess. Easier to drive around making that announcement over and over than go door to door, right?”
“Exactly.”
Mark reached out and gave a swat to Kit’s arm. “I’ll man the phones at the station, while you do just that.”
“What? Ride around using the PA to make the announcement?”
“That’s the only way. Check in with me,” Mark said. “I’m sure the radio works.” Mark walked to his own car.
“Hey, Mark, don’t you think as Mayor, you ought to be the one doing this?”
Mark opened his driver’s door. “People like me, Kit. I doubt they’ll even notice they have to stay in if I do it. If they’re gonna get angry about the order, I’d rather have you do it, since they already have a stick up their ass about you,” he said with a smile, just as he got in his own car.