S.W. Tanpepper's GAMELAND: Season Two Omnibus (Episodes 9-11) by Saul Tanpepper Page B

were,” Eric pressed, which elicited another tired frown from Captain Harrick.
    The shift foreman tried to force his way in front of Eric again, but Eric grabbed the handrail to block him. There was a twitch of movement at his feet, and he knew the vic was starting to revive. He took the Link off speaker and pressed it against his ear. “About that other thing,” he said.
    â€œThe trace?” the captain asked. “I’m afraid my hands are tied. You know I can’t legally track a Link without evidence of a crime. And as far as I know, an identifier code matching your mother hasn’t come up on any of the Lifeguard lists Arc sends us.”
    Assuming those lists are accurate , Eric thought.
    â€œAt least you know she’s alive. Maybe she’s just taking a break after what happened. I mean, look at the Evanses.”
    Eric sighed and nodded. Ashley’s parents had left town in a hurry once they found out their daughter had died on the island.
    He was about to thank the captain for trying, even though he was disappointed by the news, when the shift supervisor tugged on his sleeve and gestured toward the far wall.
    â€œUm, Cap, looks like they’re here with the S-and-R unit,” Eric said. “I have to go.”
    â€œSee me when you get back.”
    Lurching toward Eric was a zombie in a full bodysuit and helmet. Eric raised a questioning eyebrow at the shift supervisor, who explained, “The suit is for our convenience. It makes cleanup easier.”
    Eric pulled his Link away from his ear and checked the screen, but the captain had already disconnected.
    â€œAnd the helmet?” he asked, slipping the device back into his pocket.
    â€œSo they don’t swallow any sewage.”
    â€œWhat difference does it make if they do?”
    â€œThe stuff leaks out for weeks afterward. Makes a huge mess.”
    â€¡ ‡ ‡

Chapter 6
    â€œReg? It’s Jessie. You in there?”
    Most of the value held by the old arcade games Mister Casey had collected in their garage over the years was sentimental. Still, he insisted that the building be locked at all times unless someone was inside. Jessie knocked and the door swung slightly open. She peered into the darkness through the crack.
    â€œReg? Kel?” The key beneath the loose shingle by the door was gone, so it had to be one of them. “Hello?”
    She pushed the door open a little more and stuck her head in, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the gloom.
    Sixteen hours ago, the winds of her fury had blown her here, to Reggie instead of her own husband. Subconsciously, she had known that Reggie would somehow understand the difficulty she was having adjusting to life after Gameland, after the death of their friends. Kelly always tried too hard to fix things, and she didn’t need that right now. She just needed someone to share her pain.
    Now, after another tormented night of sleep, feeling embarrassed and guilty for the way she had behaved in front of Reggie, she was forced to return for a much more mundane reason: to retrieve the backpack she’d forgotten so she could head off to school for yet another day of hell.
    She quickly looked around outside. The Caseys were already off to work, and the line of sight to the street was empty of witnesses. Once inside the garage, she gently pushed the door partially shut behind her, allowing only a sliver of light to enter.
    The building was two-cars wide. Over the years Reggie’s dad had added to it, doubling the length and erecting a new wall to separate the back half from the front. The old part was stuffed with old cardboard boxes, the trappings of years of accumulated possessions: broken bicycles, garbage cans, garden and power tools that no longer served any function. The game room with all the antique machines was in the newer, air conditioned section.
    Jessie walked over to the ArcTech console. Reggie had set the controller up on a dusty side table.