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“How are you feeling?” Nerit asked. She slowly stepped into the room, and Katie noticed that the she was favoring one leg again. She wasn’t sure if anyone else realized that the woman in her early sixties was moving more slowly than usual.

“I’m good. I just have a few more boxes to go through then I’ll have an updated list for you. ” Katie motioned to the last shelf of ammunition she had to count.

Nerit tilted her head slightly, looking at the battered boxes nearby. “Well, I’ll finish for you. Jenni just got back and she’s asking for you. I think it got bad out there. She’s down in the paddock getting scrubbed down and checked for bites by Charlotte. ”

“Ugh! She hates that. ” Katie handed over the clipboard.

“It can’t be helped. Jenni has closer contact with the zombies than most.

She punched one last week. ” Nerit shook her head. “She’s taking too many risks again. ”

“I’ll talk to her,” Katie assured the older woman.

“Thank you. I would, but she really doesn’t listen to anyone but you. ”

“That’s the curse of being her best friend. ” Katie winked and trudged out the door.

The hotel’s ground floor was packed with people as shifts finished. Weary groups were making their way toward the elevators while a few lounged on the plush couches chatting. A new group of people, looking shellshocked and tired, were being checked into the hotel by Ken.

“Got Muslims now,” Curtis said, startling her. She hadn’t realized he was next to her.

“What?”

Curtis nodded toward the older man and woman dressed in traditional Indian garb. “Muslims. ”

“I think they may be Hindu,” Katie answered.

“Still heathens,” Curtis said, shaking his head. “Don’t know if we should be taking in heathens. ”

Katie turned to gaze at Curtis, her disapproval clearly reflected in her expression. “Really?”

“Well, we’re a God-fearing group, Katie. Bringing in other kinds is gonna cause trouble,” Curtis answered, his boyish face flush with emotion. “It’s rough enough keeping things going as it is. ”

“Curtis, people are people. We can’t start picking and choosing or we’ll end up just like the Vigilante. Offing people because we don’t approve of them. ”

A look of horror washed over the younger person’s face and he stepped back from her. “I-I-I didn’t mean. . . ”

Feeling bad for the harshness in her tone, Katie hugged him. “It’s okay, Curtis. We’re all freaking out just a bit. ”

He clung to her for a second, then sheepishly stepped back. His face was so red, Katie felt embarrassed for him.

Jenni stomped in, hair damp, face flushed, dressed in a big bathrobe with a bag slung over one shoulder. She was holding her boots in one hand and wrinkled her nose at Katie.

“Charlotte declared my clothes totaled. I really liked those jeans!”

Katie grinned, snagging Jenni’s free hand. “Oh, c’mon. It’s just an excuse to go dig a new pair out of the inventory. ”

“Yeah, but still! They looked good! I looked five pounds smaller!”

“You are five pounds smaller,” Katie pointed out. The people in the fort were slimmer now. Food was carefully distributed at each meal. Though people ate their fill, they were not overeating. Also, the hard work that always had to be done was whittling the fat off of beer bellies and strengthening muscles.

Katie noted Curtis making his escape, but she let him go. The poor guy was so easily flustered. She felt bad for the young man. He was the youngest of the Ashley Oaks police force and its only survivor.

“I got stuff to show you!” Jenni patted the bag at her side. “I had fun out there until. . . ” She waved her hand, wiping away the pain that lingered in her eyes. “Enough of that. I’m back. Safe. Sound. Move on. ”

Katie knew better than to push Jenni. “When do I get to see?”

“In your room. It’s top secret stuff. ”