Chapter 42: Leave the CDC?
CDC, cafeteria.
It was getting late. Lori and another woman were washing dishes at the sink.
Everyone else had already slipped away to who knows what corner to play.
Ever since learning the CDC had abundant food and no real danger, plus vaccine development was nowhere in sight, everyone had become idle.
No need to worry about where tomorrow's food would come from—just consider what to eat tomorrow.
No need to worry about where walkers might emerge—just consider where to play. Read a book? Play games? Sleep?
It was like they'd suddenly entered retirement.
Rick couldn't settle down. With his gun holstered at his waist, he patrolled the CDC up and down without stopping.
He thought about this morning at breakfast when Jenner hadn't appeared. Tate hadn't appeared either.
So Rick walked to Jenner's room door and knocked gently.
As the knocking echoed, Rick stood in the corridor, frowning deeply.
Then he continued knocking, the sound gradually growing louder.
Rick sensed something was wrong. He turned the doorknob—unexpectedly, it was loose. He pushed the door open gently.
He saw numerous bottles scattered messily across the floor. The carpet gave off a faint smell of alcohol and a sour stench—clearly Jenner had drunk quite a bit yesterday.
The bedding was disheveled, with traces of someone having slept there.
Rick observed from the doorway for a while, then walked into the bathroom and looked carefully.
In the CDC, as far as he knew, there were only Jenner and his own group.
But his group had absolutely no reason to kidnap Jenner. Jenner had given them food and a place to sleep. There was no conflict of interest whatsoever.
They were already on the same side.
Wait! There was one person who wasn't on his side.
Only Tate. Caesar had arranged for her to join his team to come to the CDC together.
After a brainstorm, Rick decisively identified the suspect. Then he couldn't help but think further.
Had Caesar arranged for Tate to join his team from the start just for the CDC's supplies?
Thinking this, Rick's spine couldn't help but turn cold.
That's it. Caesar understood the CDC far better than he did. Having designs on the CDC's food and supplies was normal.
After all, he had to feed so many people. Obtaining food and supplies was perfectly natural.
But Jenner wouldn't necessarily agree.
Could it be that Caesar and his people wanted to force Jenner to open the CDC doors, then come in and loot the entire facility?
Rick thought it over and over. This was the only possibility.
Soon, he reached Tate's room door. After thinking for a moment, Rick still stepped forward and knocked.
Rick's right hand rested on the holster at his waist. He unclasped the holster and stepped back two paces to maintain a clear field of vision.
After waiting a while, Rick heard footsteps approaching from inside. Rick's heartbeat grew heavier. Sweat beaded in his palms.
Creak—
The door opened. Tate's uncombed pink hair covered her face, but Rick could still sense the thick resentment beneath the hair.
"What is it?"
Rick's gaze moved past Tate to look into her bedroom. The bedroom wasn't large. The door opened wide enough that Rick could see the entire room at a glance.
No trace of Jenner.
Rick forced a smile onto his face and asked, "I saw Jenner's room is empty. Have you seen Jenner today?"
As he asked, Rick's gaze fixed directly on Tate's face, trying to read something from it.
"Oh, Jenner!" Tate showed no hint of concealment and pointed toward the cafeteria. "He went to eat breakfast."
Rick froze, then heard Tate ask, "Anything else?"
"Nothing. Bye!"
Tate quickly ended the conversation. As the door closed, Tate dove back under her covers.
Only Rick remained standing in the corridor, silently chastising himself for making a fuss over nothing. He looked down at his hand resting on his holster and laughed at himself twice.
At the same time, in the CDC cafeteria.
"Jenner?" After washing all the dishes, Lori looked up and saw Jenner's figure. "Hey, what's wrong with you?"
The bags under Jenner's eyes looked very large and dark. His entire face looked haggard. His sparse hair was extremely disheveled. He waved his hand. "Lori, is there anything to eat?"
"Oh, yes, yes there is!" Although Lori didn't understand the situation, she decided she'd tell Rick about this later.
She turned off the oven's warming mode, took out the breakfast she'd made earlier, and placed it in front of Jenner at the table.
"Thank you."
Jenner buried his head and ate hard, looking like he'd been hungry for a long time.
As Jenner ate, Lori noticed the clothes on Jenner's body were yesterday's outfit, and there were rope creases on them.
It looked very much like he'd been tied up for a long time.
Jenner's body was filthy, as if... as if Jenner had been rubbed into the ground.
Lori buried her speculation deep in her heart. The polite smile on her face remained as she asked, "Should I make you some more?"
"Whew~" Jenner let out a long breath and declined. "No need. I'm full."
Jenner stood up and looked at Lori. "Lori, there are some things I need to tell all of you. I've concealed some information from you."
Lori's smile froze instantly. Alarm bells rang in her mind. She immediately abandoned politeness. "What information have you concealed?"
"Let's wait until everyone's gathered. I'll tell you all together."
Jenner didn't explain. He only asked Lori to notify the others to meet in the central control room.
Watching Jenner's departing figure, Lori felt an empty sensation, just like when they'd been forced to leave King County, just like when they'd been forced to leave the quarry camp.
Lori supported herself against the island counter behind her, took several deep breaths, then removed her apron and hurriedly left the cafeteria.
She needed to find Rick and explain the situation.
CDC, underground level two, central control room.
Jenner looked at the bright red countdown on the wall, his eyes full of memories of past days—especially the days when Candace was still alive.
The days he'd survived alone could only be called existing.
At that moment, footsteps approached from behind.
They're here.
"Jenner, what have you been hiding from us?" Lori pushed past Rick and asked impatiently.
Her sense of insecurity exploded instantly. Lori urgently needed Jenner's explanation.
Jenner turned around, glanced at Lori and the others, and finally settled on Rick.
Tate wasn't among the group.
"Rick, the CDC actually isn't some utopia. It can't support you all for very long." Jenner got straight to the point.
"What does that mean?" Lori stood in front of Rick. At this moment, she couldn't care about her husband's emotions. She only cared whether her child could have a chance to grow up healthy.
"Are you telling us to leave the CDC?"