Even more interesting.
I couldn’t help thinking Mr. Holland was a portrait of Cole in twenty years. Both guys had dark hair and strong, chiseled features. Only difference was, Cole’s eyes were that amazing violet and Mr. Holland’s were an electric-blue.
“Miss Bell,” Mr. Ankh acknowledged.
Did he ever go to work? I settled in the only available chair.
“Good. You’re here.” Mr. Holland massaged the back of his neck. “The three of us are due to have a discussion.”
“Your newest blood work came in,” Mr. Ankh said, “and the results have me confused.”
I shifted uncomfortably.
“The toxin you and Justin shared, the one that is harmful to the zombies,” he continued. “It disappeared in Justin, but it’s now stronger in you. Also, your iron is lower than before, and your white blood cell count is higher.”
I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. My human side was fighting, but my zombie side wasn’t backing down. “What about the zombie toxin that is harmful to humans? Did I have any traces of that?”
He frowned. “No.”
“Why would you ask that?” Mr. Holland said.
I wanted to tell him, I really did. But he’d killed his own wife when she’d turned zombie. No telling what he’d do to me, his son’s unstable ex.
If these men left me alive, Mr. Ankh would for sure toss me out. Where I went, Nana went. I would not allow her to be homeless.
Then, of course, Mr. Holland would tell the others. How would Cole look at me then? He wouldn’t worry about feeding me anymore, I knew that much.
“Curiosity,” I hedged. In a way, it was the truth.
Mr. Holland sighed and twisted his chair to face mine. “Well, I’m curious about something, too. I know you and my son broke up. What I don’t know is why. He won’t talk to me.”
Instant downer. “And I won’t, either,” I said hollowly.
He began massaging the back of his neck again, a gesture of irritation or distress he and Cole shared. “He’s been sneaking out, talking to people he shouldn’t, making bad decisions, and I’m worried about him. Something’s going on with him, but I don’t know how to help.”
“Who’s he talking to?” I asked.
Silent, he ran his tongue over his teeth.
He wasn’t going to share the information. Got it.
“Will you check on him?” Mr. Holland asked.
“Trina and Mackenzie noticed his odd behavior, too, and asked the same thing. I agreed to talk to him,” I said. “I’m meeting him at five.”
Mr. Holland pushed out a relieved breath. “Thank you.”
I nodded, saying, “By the way, I saw a rabbit cloud today.”
The two men shared an uneasy look.
I could guess what they were thinking. The zombies usually rested a week between feedings. Only once before had the creatures come out night after night, and that was to hunt me with the goal of turning me.
Were they focused on someone else now?
“I’ll be called into action,” I said. And I would find out, one way or another, if the other night had been an anomaly or not. If the zombies would once again ignore me. If I would hear crazed whispers. If I would black out and end up at my old home.
Mr. Holland replied, “I’ll put everyone on patrol tonight and make sure you have a partner who will whisk you to safety if you have another...episode.”
“Thanks,” I muttered. I left the office and shut myself inside my bedroom. Then I dialed Dr. Bendari. Again, a recording told me the carrier wasn’t available. Dang it. Would he ever again activate it?
I thought about the journal, my other source of info. Light chased away darkness. Fire burned away evil. The words snagged me. I just couldn’t let them go.