HAYWIRE: A Pandemic Thriller (The F.A.S.T. Series Book 2) Read online

  Amy yanked the door shut in her path.

  She wasn’t fast enough.

  Shelley ran straight into the edge of the swinging door.

  Whack!

  Her face collided squarely with the narrow edge. She careened back onto the tiles.

  Amy stared in shock at the door.

  Two of Shelley’s teeth were embedded in the wood!

  That impact would send most people to the emergency room, but Shelley didn’t even pause as blood began pouring from her ruined lips and nose. She scrambled across the tiles like a giant wet spider, trying to tackle Amy.

  Without thinking, Amy snatched the big bottle of bath salts from the vanity.

  She swung the bottle like a tennis racket.

  Smash!

  The bottle exploded against Shelley’s jaw. She fell sideways toward the toilet in a cloud of colorful bath salt crystals. She missed the toilet, but her head struck the tiled wall with neck-breaking force.

  Amy backed away, feeling bath salts crunch under her bare feet.

  She tried to close the door, but Shelley’s foot blocked it.

  Across the cabin, Kim pushed herself up on one elbow. ‘What was all that about? Can we go back to sleep now?’

  Amy shook her head, pointing into the bathroom.

  She wasn’t pointing at her dead friend in the shower enclosure.

  She wasn’t pointing at the blood-smeared tiles or the teeth embedded in the door.

  She pointed at Shelley.

  Because Shelley began getting up again.

  Ted held his sick wife’s convulsing limbs to the bed.

  They’d been married fifty-nine years this month. This cruise was an anniversary present from their children.

  Where is that doctor?

  The doctor knew Vera was the oldest woman on the cruise! If she fell and broke a bone, well, the last time had nearly killed her.

  Ted didn’t know how he’d cope without Vera. She was the reason he woke up in the morning.

  Food poisoning, he’d heard a steward say.

  Apparently half the ship had it.

  That’s absurd....

  Ted knew it couldn’t be food poisoning. He and Vera shared the same lamb curry last night. He’d eaten most of it.

  Whatever the cause, the windowless cabins and ducted air conditioning had turned the ship into a giant frothing petri dish of disease.

  Vera violently arched her back again, becoming so rigid that only her heels and shoulders touched the bed.

  Her thin, seventy-pound frame flopped down.

  Her body hit the bed and didn’t move.

  She lay deathly still.

  Oh, God - she’s dead.

  Ted checked her pulse with desperate, shaking fingers.

  Her heart was pumping so quickly he could barely tell one beat from the next.

  And she was hot! So burning hot!

  He stumbled over to the cordless phone and pushed the emergency button.

  The phone rang out again.

  Still no answer! This is appalling!

  In the bathroom he folded a wet face cloth so the little cruise ship emblem wouldn’t irritate Vera’s skin. At their age, even the slightest abrasion could take weeks to heal.

  She would be in enough pain when she woke up.

  He frowned over the phone. Perhaps he should go and find the doctor himself?

  But I can’t leave Vera alone.

  ‘I’ll look after you, old girl,’ he muttered to himself, setting the phone back on the wall. She had looked after him long enough. Practically every day for the last fifty-nine years. They’d planned to do the cruise next year on their diamond wedding anniversary, but with Vera’s health diminishing, they brought the trip forward.

  Ted glanced at the bed.

  Vera was gone.

  Where is she?

  She hadn’t left the cabin. He’d have heard her.

  He found Vera standing at the writing table.

  She’s up. She’s standing!

  ‘Vera,’ Ted said. ‘You shouldn’t be up. I’ve called the doctor. What are you doing?’

  Vera didn’t answer.

  Instead, she turned around just enough to place Ted in her peripheral vision.

  Her left eye twitched oddly.

  Ted approached his wife slowly. She looked out of sorts.

  He stopped.

  Vera looked different.

  She looked taller.

  Her back is straight! Vera hadn’t stood with a straight back in more than fifteen years.

  She held the hair dryer. Last night when Ted had taken too long in the small bathroom, Vera had used the hair dryer at the writing desk.

  ‘Put that down, Vera. You’re sick. You need to–’

  Ted didn’t finish his sentence because Vera smashed the hair dryer into his face.

  Vera swung the appliance with enough force to collapse Ted’s left eye socket.

  Too surprised to dodge, Ted took the full force of the blow. Plastic and bone shattered with almost the same sound. He hit the floor face down, barely conscious, but with faculties enough to crawl for the door.

  He needed to escape the cabin. He needed to reach the hallway.

  He glimpsed Vera walking barefoot on the carpet behind him.

  Pacing him.

  Stalking him.

  Halfway to the door she landed on his back. Her boney knees slammed into his spine. Her full weight drove him flat against the carpet.

  ‘Vera, please stop. It’s me, Vera. It’s Teddy.’

  Ted barely recognized his own croaking cries.

  Vera looped the hair dryer cord around his neck.

  As she pulled the cord tight, Ted heard two things.

  He heard Vera grunting, and he heard screaming coming from the cabin next door.

  Coleman studied his photo of David again.

  His son turned ten next month.

  He looks more like his mother every year, thought Coleman.

  Especially his eyes.

  Coleman’s one fear had been that David would be permanently scarred by his experiences last year, but David seemed to have bounced back.

  He looks like his mother, but inside he’s like me.

  Coleman slipped the photo back into his vest.

  He could hardly wait to get home.

  Deployment was good, but time with David was better.

  Exercise Talisman Sabre was the biannual joint military exercise with the Australians. Coleman’s team had arrived on the heels of the operation.

  For the first time in Coleman’s military career, he’d been assigned the responsibility of field-testing new weapons.

  Australia’s harsh environment proved the perfect testing ground. His team had put the weapons through hell.

  Overall, Coleman was impressed, but there would never be any replacement for the world’s third precious metal: brass.

  ‘Captain.’

  The Black Hawk helicopter’s co-pilot passed a set of headgear back to Coleman.

  Coleman glanced at the pilot. The Australian pilot tapped the rank insignia on his shoulder, indicating a senior officer was calling.

  The pilot also raised an eyebrow at Coleman.

  A very senior officer then, Coleman realized as he fitted the headset.

  He signaled the co-pilot the go-ahead.

  ‘Captain Coleman is ready, sir,’ said the co-pilot. ‘We can both hear you now.’

  ‘Confirm that,’ reported Coleman into the microphone. ‘This is Captain Alexander Coleman, Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team.’

  ‘Captain Coleman, this is Admiral Broadwater.’

  The Admiral paused, as though giving Coleman a moment.

  Admiral Broadwater was the supreme military U.S. authority in the Pacific Ocean area. Admiral Broadwater commanded the U.S. Army Pacific, Marine Forces Pacific, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and the Pacific Air Forces. He answered directly to the Secretary of Defense and the President.

  The Admiral wasn’t known for contact
ing officers in the field.

  ‘Yes, sir. How can my team assist, sir?’

  ‘I’m changing your orders, Captain. We have a civilian emergency on board an American cruise ship. It seems there’s a riot on board.’

  Coleman pressed his headset closer to his ears.

  ‘Could you repeat that, sir? Did you say a riot?’

  ‘Yes, Captain. Many of the passengers are sick. We have reports of multiple fatalities and violence. Hundreds of passengers have called their families and the media to confirm the reports of mob violence. The ship’s bridge is currently in lockdown.’

  A riot?

  Coleman’s team had managed security on hundreds of civilian assets, but never to protect it from the civilians already inside.

  ‘What are your orders, sir?’

  ‘Our closest friendly asset is the Australian Navy Frigate Pegasus. It’s on route to intercept, but we need you there first.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  The Admiral continued, ‘I’m sending you floor plans. Board the ship and secure the bridge so the Pegasus can rendezvous without delay. Understood?’

  Coleman’s eyes went to the bags stowed under their seats.

  ‘Sir, are you aware of our current deployment?’

  ‘Yes, Captain. I assigned that task to you myself. You’re field-testing the new less-lethal weapon systems.’

  Coleman hadn’t been told why his team was chosen to test the new weapons. Field testing new equipment was a highly-coveted task.

  ‘The less-lethal weapons are all we have, sir. No actual firearms except my sidearm and the pilots’ weapons.’

  ‘You’re perfectly equipped,’ snapped the Admiral. ‘I want only less-lethal weapons deployed. Your options would be very limited with standard firearms. This is the perfect test for the new weapons, Captain.’

  ‘Understood, sir. We’re ready.’

  ‘Good. Let me speak with the pilot.’

  Coleman handed back the headset.

  His team stared at him.

  ‘Change of plans?’ asked Corporal Forest.

  Coleman didn’t need to answer.

  The Black Hawk helicopter answered for him.

  Putting on a burst of speed, the chopper tilted under their boots as it swung toward their new objective.

  Chapter Two

  Justin abandoned his search for sharks in the aquarium.

  He glanced around for the nearest restroom.

  Why do I drink so much orange juice?

  Every meal had become a personal challenge to Justin. He couldn’t break the habit of all-you-can-eat gorging. He’d never eaten so much bacon in his life. His mother said at the rate he was eating, the trip would pay for itself.

  He began walking back toward his cabin.

  Where is everyone? The ship feels deserted.

  One young couple hurried past him, arguing about food poisoning.

  Justin watched them over his shoulder. It sounded like lots of people were sick.

  His mother would know more.

  I wonder if Mom’s back in our cabin yet.

  She’d been called away around 3am. Justin was used to that with her job, but not on vacation.

  ‘It’s nothing to worry about,’ she reassured him on her way out. ‘It’s probably just influenza. They want me to take a look. I’ll be back in an hour. Go back to sleep.’

  Justin checked his watch. That was four hours ago.

  She should be relaxing on her vacation and completely avoiding germs and laboratories.

  Justin paused mid step.

  Was that a scream?

  He’d heard the sound of crashing plates. Then a scream. The scream had cut off quickly.

  Where did that come from?

  He couldn’t tell.

  Maybe a pile of plates broke in the food court and gave someone a fright.

  It certainly gave Justin a fright; his neck hairs still tingled.

  He shrugged.

  A sign pointed to nearby restrooms.

  His bladder redoubled its efforts.

  Jesus, I have to go. I’ll burst in a minute.

  He strode like a man on a mission.

  His mother insisted he avoid the public restrooms. She said hygiene posed the biggest risk on cruise ships. Infections spread rapidly in confined spaces. She warned him about touching restroom door handles or elevator buttons.

  Justin agreed to only use their cabin toilet.

  Well, this is an emergency. I can’t reach the cabin. Mission impossible. If I don’t go soon my bladder will burst.

  Justin pushed through the restroom door with his hip, avoiding the germy door handle. That same trick wouldn’t work on his way out, but he could use a paper towel to cover his fingers.

  Wow.

  It didn’t look germy at all.

  It looked like a sparkling white and gold paradise.

  All the stall doors stood slightly ajar.

  Justin rushed past the fancy sinks. They worked automatically. No need to touch them.

  I’ll have to tell Mom.

  He found what resembled a flowing, stone-lined stream. A huge LCD screen provided a peaceful forest background.

  This is cool. It’s like peeing in the woods.

  His mother bought him new clothes for the trip, including jeans with buttons instead of a zipper.

  Damn it - I hate these stupid jeans.

  Justin fumbled with the buttons, just undoing the bare minimum to get the job done.

  A wave of warm relief engulfed him.

  That felt better. Much better.

  Crack!

  A cubicle door slammed behind him.

  Justin was in a pee-trance. He barely kept his aim.

  Jesus! I thought I was alone.

  He twisted to scan the cubicle doors.

  None were shut. One door moved very slowly.

  As Justin watched, suddenly that door slammed against its frame again.

  Crack!

  Someone is kicking it.

  Justin had heard a shoe strike the door before the door hit the frame.

  It wasn’t just a kid being stupid. School holidays hadn’t begun. He’d only spotted two other teenagers on the ship, and no younger kids.

  Something came sailing over the cubicle door and landed on the tiles.

  Justin spotted a name tag.

  That’s a crew member’s shirt.

  Public restrooms always made Justin feel vulnerable, and this freak slamming the door and throwing his clothes around didn’t help one bit. Justin held his breath and listened. He heard labored breathing coming from the cubicle.

  That guy’s freaking out. He could be dangerous. I’m getting out of here.

  Justin paused as the ship-wide intercom sounded:

  ‘Attention, please. This is First Officer Benjamin Bryant. We are experiencing a medical emergency. As a precaution, all guests must return to their quarters immediately. No exceptions. Our medical staff is addressing this problem. I will provide an update in thirty minutes.’

  The message played again.

  Medical emergency? I hope Mom’s all right. She’s probably involved.

  Justin stared at the cubicle with the crazy guy inside.

  He might be sick!

  Justin ran to the restroom door and yanked it open.

  As he stepped into the corridor, a woman screamed.

  ‘Help! Somebody please help us!’

  The screaming came from the opposite direction Justin needed to go.

  He only hesitated a second.

  He dashed toward the cries for help, finding the woman just one corner away.

  He almost ran right into her.

  She stood in tiny pink frilly pajamas, with one hand over her mouth and the other pointing into her cabin.

  ‘Help her!’ she yelled at Justin.

  Justin looked in, not knowing what to expect. An old person having a heart attack? Someone having an epileptic fit?

  Neither.

  One woman was killing
another woman.

  The first sat astride the second, choking her to death.

  The one underneath looked down to her last gasps.

  Blood covered the woman on top. She grimaced with effort. Her front teeth were missing.

  ‘Help her!’ the woman yelled in his ear. ‘She’s killing her!’

  Justin stepped in and desperately scanned the cabin.

  He couldn’t risk touching the women. The one on top was clearly sick.

  I need to get her off.

  ‘Hurry!’

  ‘How?’ Justin yelled back in frustration.

  ‘Hit her with something. Anything!’

  There is nothing. Wait!

  Justin dodged around them and grabbed the chair from the writing desk.

  Spinning, he swung the chair two-handed.

  He expected the chair to shatter like in a cowboy movie.

  It didn’t.

  It hit the woman’s head with a resounding - thump.

  The crazy woman face-planted the carpet.

  The terrified victim kicked herself free and scrambled away, gulping breaths of air and clutching her throat. She began coughing and pointing at the same time.

  ‘I can’t understand you,’ said Justin, dropping the chair. ‘Just breathe.’

  ‘Tie her up!’ the woman managed to say after gasping a few breaths. ‘Before she wakes up again!’

  The woman in frilly pink pajamas finally began to help. ‘I’ve got something.’

  From a bag she pulled out a long spool of cord.

  ‘It’s for drying clothes,’ she explained.

  Justin helped tie the unconscious woman’s hands to the bedpost. He did his best to avoid touching her, but it was practically impossible to avoid contact.

  I can’t believe this is happening, Justin thought. I’m tying somebody up.

  Justin stood. The woman he’d saved hugged him.

  ‘Thank you...thank you...thank you,’ she repeated. ‘She was so strong. I couldn’t move her hands.’

  Justin felt awkward until the woman let him go.

  He looked down. She got blood all over me! It’s on my clothes! It’s on my arms! It’s everywhere!

  The woman grabbed Justin’s arm. ‘I’m Amy. This is Kim.’

  Justin wished Amy would just let him go.

  ‘Did you hear the announcement?’

  Both women shook their heads.