Chicken FA 20

“What do you mean, we need more data?” Dr. Brady asked Charlie.

Charlie put his warm mug down and said, “All we know is that there are some supposedly zombie chickens and ghost chickens haunting Bellport Poultry and attacking the workers.”

“Allegedly,” Dr. Brady said scornfully.

“Allegedly,” Charlie agreed, “and we have your reports of people, Bellport employees, sprouting feathers, and now we have Sheriff Hanson’s statement that there are eight people dead.”

“From zombie chicken attacks,” Matt interjected.

“Allegedly,” Dr. Brady said and to her consternation, Matt echoed her while grinning impishly.

Charlie picked up his mug and frowned at Matt for trying to bait Dr. Brady and continued, “Ma’am, we just don’t have enough information. I need Matt to go out and gather data. He needs to visit the places where the attacks took place, talk with your patients who are sprouting feathers, and have another conversation with Simon Belford.”

“Yes,” Matt agreed, “it appears good old Simon has left out some very important information.” Matt looked toward Hanson and said, “It looks like tomorrow will be a very busy day for me and Chuck, what with us visiting the areas where the zombie chickens have appeared and all.”

“Uh, Matt,” Charlie said.

“What?” he answered.

“I won’t be going with you,” Charlie said.

Matt turned to Charlie and asked, “Why not?”

Charlie started talking and noticeably refused to meet Matt’s stare, “I have research that I have to do, you know, visit libraries and such, work my internet magic, find out everything I can about zombie ghost chickens and people growing feathers for no known reason.”

Matt sat and said nothing, his frown sucking up all sound, making Charlie squirm uncomfortably in his seat. Charlie broke first and added, “You know, I’d just get in the way and your expertise is in handling the physical evidence gathering.”

“You didn’t mind helping in the physical evidence gathering when we were hired by the DragonCon people,” Matt said.

“That was different,” Charlie said.

“How?” Matt responded.

“Come on, Matt,” Charlie pleaded, “it was DragonCon.”

“And it was inside in an air conditioned building not outside surrounded in the hot muggy heat surrounded by chicken-shit or inside a damp, nearly freezing factory wading through dead chickens and their assorted parts,” Matt said.

“Wooo,” Charlie sighed with relief, “I’m so happy you understand. I really don’t work very well in those rustic settings. That really is more your bailiwick.”

Matt looked hard at Charlie and said, “You know, I didn’t get my college degrees by being unable to do “book” research.”

Startled, Charlie quickly said, “I’ll owe you one.”

“Done,” Matt said with his trademark grin.

“Why don’t you take Dr. Brady with you, Matt?” Sheriff Hanson asked.

Matt shrugged and said, “Don’t need her.”

Dr. Brady quickly retorted, “Why not, are you afraid I’ll show you to be the snake-oil salesman that you are?”

Matt smiled evilly at her and replied, “Uuuuuuewwww, looks like you’ve talked yourself into assisting me.”