Walking Dead: Unexpected Return
Chapter 22 of my Walking Dead story, enjoy.
Reviews
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks, yeah, it's not gonna be easy though, considering who they are dealing with.
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Walking Dead or its characters.
Chapter 22
Rick sighed heavily as he drove down the dirt road to his destination. He had spoken to the other police at the station, had made sure the word got out about the Claimers and the group members, they had circulated the composite sketches of the members and the police were on alert. They'd also spread similar notices and photos of Ed as well. But Rick felt that they needed more information about this group, hence why he was on this dirt road, seeking the aid of some informants he had, people who had criminal pasts but were turning their lives around.
Rick of course knew. 'They still have their connections, that might help us find out more.'
He could only hope that would be the case, the fact that such a criminal group had been operating for so long, had never been found and were still apparently active made him concerned about what might happen, especially to Sophia, if they weren't stopped. Finally reaching his destination, he parked and got out, sighing to himself as he prepared to go in he made his way onwards, to the front door of the auto shop. Entering he was greeted almost at once, with surprise, by a tall built man with unkempt shoulder length brown hair, brown eyes and stubble.
"Rick...wasn't expecting you to visit?" He remarked, surprised.
Rick just nodded.
Rick knew however that he was here on business, so no time for pleasantries.
"Police business, Daryl, we need to talk about something." He explained. "It's to do with a big case, one you may have heard about?"
Daryl Dixon sighed. "I think so, Sophia Peletier's disappearance right? Well, reappearance now."
Rick nodded. "Yes, she's back and she's finally managed to talk to me about what happened to her-"
"Daryl, who the hell are you talking to?" A gravelly voice cut in. "We got work to do and-"
The speaker emerged into the room and stopped upon seeing Rick. He was older, taller and bulkier than Daryl, he had shorter brown greying hair and grey eyes, fair skin and a rather dangerous air about him.
"Well I'll be darned." He said at last. "Officer Friendly, who'd have thought?"
"Merle, good, you're here too." Rick replied. "Now I can ask you both about this."
Merle quirked and eyebrow and Daryl quickly brought him up to speed on things before Rick prepared to ask the all important question, the reason why he was here.
"So...the reason why I'm here, she's revealed who was helping her father keep her captive. I was hoping you'd be able to help us with more information."
Daryl shrugged. "Well, that depends, we'll need to know more than that."
"Yeah." Merle confirmed. "C'mon, who are these guys?"
"The Claimers."
It was like he flipped a switch, at once both brothers stiffened, eyes going wide and Rick was immediately on edge.
Finally, Merle let out a slow hiss of breath.
"Boy, bastard's sure got some nasty friends." He remarked. "You've got your work cut out for you."
Daryl nodded. "Yeah, we've heard of these guys, they're crazy...dangerous beyond belief. The things they've done-"
Rick sighed. "We've heard, Sophia told us about things she's witnessed."
"Damn, still can't believe that little girl's been through all that, sick bastard that he is her dad probably saved her life." Daryl remarked.
"Yeah, the things they did, it's unlikely they'd leave any witnesses that weren't part of their group. But that bastard Ed claiming her, marked her as his own. That probably kept her alive, they wouldn't touch her, only he could." Merle confirmed. "Only he could decide if she died or not."
Rick grimaced, thinking about that, but was glad of the warning, he now had a better idea how these men operated. But while he wasn't going to get any more information here, he still had one more informant to talk to, hopefully they'd give him more details that could help. So he returned to his car and began driving away, heading for the new destination, in the meantime he sent word of the details he had gathered back to the station so those searching for the Claimers would know what sort of people they were dealing with.
Reaching the next location, a simple house, some distance out in the countryside, where the occupant could live a simple life, their own choice as penance, to live away from other people. Considering what he knew so far, Rick hoped that this would truly help. Still, readying himself, he knocked on the door and waited. Soon it opened and the occupant was revealed. A tall strong fair skinned man with short black greying hair with a completely grey beard and brown eyes.
"Rick, what the hell are you doing here?"
Rick barely reacted, he expected this kind of reaction. "Hello Negan, I have a few questions I need to ask you."
"Well, well, is that so?" Negan replied. "So, what's got you out and about hassling law abiding ex-cons?"
"I need information, about the Claimers." Rick told him, getting straight to the point.
Negan laughed. "Wow, going after big fish huh. You know...they're closer than you think."
"Wait, they're here, in town?"
"Somewhere yeah." Negan replied with a shrug. "They knew of my past and well, they approached me, trying to find some place to use as a base or have me help them out. I turned them down flat, I'm done with that shit."
"You also know the things they do." Rick remarked.
Negan laughed. "Yeah, crazy bastards. Well, if you're going after them Rick, be careful. They stop at nothing to get what they want and if anyone gets in their way, they're not afraid to go after who or what they care about to force them to back down, to make their point."
Rick grimaced and later, passing that information on, he began to wonder just what he was getting himself into.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.