<strong>June 1, 2012 – 8:41 p.m. - Jackals and Shots (hunting store) – Mall, downtown, New Angeles</strong><br/>A loud sob escaped Rebecca’s lips when people began talking about Mercy Hospital.  Tony was there in an instant, hushing and consoling her.  Todd had been watching the others.  The strangers seemed to be on the up and up, two police officers, a nurse, and a priest.  Normally, he would have felt like he was surrounded by upstanding citizens and would’ve been happy to be considered part of their group.  These weren’t normal times.  He’d lost his wife just minutes ago.  While he noted that others had lost loved ones as well, Todd wasn’t about to be sympathetic just now.  He had to focus on the mission, and the mission was getting his son and Rebecca to safety.  When Rebecca sobbed, Todd had stepped between her and the strangers.  It was a small and subtle thing, but he wasn’t going to allow anyone’s fear of being found hurt those he was protecting.<br/><br/>“Todd Burkhart, my son Tony, Rebecca Lawson.  She lost her mom at Mercy, she was a nurse too,” his eyes fell on Caitlin for a moment before shifting to Chris.<br/><br/>If he could play on their sympathies it was more likely they’d understand, and possibly help if someone went after Rebecca.<br/><br/>“We just lost my wife and her brother getting here,” he took a deep breath to fight back the overwhelming anger that had boiled up inside him.  “I’m going to protect my son and Rebecca, and we’re going to get out of the city.  There’s an old hiking path that leads to a decent hunting ground.  We already tried the highway and the Army seems hell bent to box us in.  I figure the only way out is by way of something that isn’t on any map.  Something only the locals would know about.  That hiking trail fits the criteria.  As far as finding a safe house for tonight, the mall has been safe so far.  I say we find one of these shops that have a chained gate that lowers and protects the entire entrance, one with no windows to break through to enter, close it up and wait out the night.”<br/><br/>He glanced at the priest and spoke softly, “maybe praying for those we’ve lost can set some people’s minds right.”<br/>