Gideon's Spear (24 page)

He finished his business, pulled on a clean T-shirt and cargo shorts, and headed barefooted downstairs. Midmorning sun already streamed through the living room windows. He idly glanced at his master's desk. The lump of iron pyrite was gone. Something about it niggled at him. He paused, trying to figure it out, then shrugged.

After pouring a bowl of cold cereal, he carried it out to the front porch. Lowering himself by inches, he took a seat on the middle step, munching contentedly and saving the green marshmallow clovers to enjoy last. The sun's warmth soothed his face, and the wooden tread under his bare feet had just the right amount of scratchiness. He smiled as he looked over at the Steels' house.
What an insane night. Wonder if Rafe is up yet?

A police car turned the corner of the street, followed by another car. He lifted another spoonful to his mouth as both vehicles drove closer. He froze as they stopped in front of his house. A man, dressed in an “I mean business” business suit, climbed out of the sedan, followed by a woman similarly attired.

Ms. Ubarri.

Son of a goat
. The image of his battered face in the mirror flashed through his mind.

“Hello, Finn.” Ms. Ubarri walked around the front of the car and over to the gate. Unlatching it, she strode toward him. The man followed behind, a folder in one hand. Identification badges dangled from their suit lapels. “Do you remember me? I'm Ms. Ubarri. We spoke a few weeks ago.”

Thirty-Three

“What do you want?” Finn set his bowl to one side. The cereal became a sugar bomb in his gut, threatening to go off at the slightest provocation. He glanced past them at the policewoman waiting by her squad car; she was speaking quietly into her radio. Wrenching his attention back to Ms. Ubarri, he stood up.

“We came by to check on…” Ms. Ubarri's voice trailed off when she caught sight of the condition of his face. “Oh, my goodness!”

The man behind her cleared his throat. “You were right to do an unannounced visit—the evidence is clear. I'm just sorry we got here too late.” He opened the folder, pulled out a pen from his pocket, and wrote something. “We'll need to remove him immediately from this environment.” He stopped writing and looked up. “Is your guardian home?”

“No.”
Oh crap, I should have said yes
. Finn took a step back on the porch. “But I'm not going anywhere with you.” His voice sounded distant over a thundering pulse.

“I know this seems frightening at the moment, Finn, but we're here to help you.” Ms. Ubarri motioned at him. “Don't worry about your clothes or things. We'll collect them for you later, but you'll need to come with us now.”

“Why?”

“Because living here is too dangerous for you. I know a nice family that will be happy for you to come stay with them. They'll take good care of you and you'll be safe with them.”

I'm safe with Gideon – he's a
Knight,
for Danu's sake
, Finn wanted to shout at them. For some reason, the thought of his master's nightly ritual of
codladh sumh
, the one that always embarrassed him and pleased him at the same time, flashed through his mind.
And he takes care of me. In his own way
.

Shaking his head, he inched backward, the tread creaking underfoot. Wild thoughts of how he was going to make a break for it ping-ponged inside his skull.

“This is a normal reaction,” the man said to Ms. Ubarri. “They usually resist at first. It's alarming to go from a familiar environment to an unknown one, even if the familiar environment is a living nightmare for them. Here, hold this.” The man handed the folder to Ms. Ubarri and started up the steps.

* * *

Sitting on his bed, Rafe finished tying his shoes. He jerked at the sound of Finn's scream of rage coming through the open window. Leaping to his feet, he rushed over and peered out.

Across the street, Finn clung to the iron gate with one hand while a man in a suit tugged on his other arm, trying to coax him loose. Nearby, a woman was speaking loudly, gesturing toward a car while a police officer hovered at the curb. As Rafe watched, Finn yelled again and shook his head, then glanced up at Rafe's window, desperation in his face. Their eyes met.

Rafe whirled around and bolted from his room. “Dad!” He pounded down the stairs. “Dad, hurry!”

Rufus Steel tore out of the kitchen. “What?”

“Some people are taking Finn!” Rafe pulled up in surprise when Rufus Steel said a word he didn't think his dad even
knew
. Father and son sped down the hallway and out the front door.

“Hey, what's going on?” Rufus Steel called as he ran across the street. “And leave him be,” he ordered the man. Rafe waited a few feet away, not sure what to do.

Ms. Ubarri whirled around. She pointed to a tag dangling from her label. “Sir, we're from the Department of Human Services. Please do not interfere with—”

“Let go of me, you jerk!” Finn thrashed side to side, scarlet with anger.

Rafe held his breath.
Don't lose it now, dude
, he said silently to his friend.
Last thing we need is a demonstration of the warp spasm
.

“Just take it easy.” The man spoke through gritted teeth as he pulled harder. “For your own good, you need to come with us.”

“Look, everyone calm down.” Rufus Steel patted the air. “I'm Rufus Steel. You must be Ms. Ubarri—we spoke on the phone about this situation. I was going to call you this morning. I wanted to explain that I was wrong. There's nothing going on here.” He looked past her at the man now trying to pry Finn's fingers loose from the gate. “I
said
, let him go.” Stepping closer, Rufus Steel crowded the man. “You're scaring him.” The man stopped pulling.

Shaking loose of the grip on his arm, Finn glared up at the man. “I'm not scared. I'm pissed off.”

“Mr. Steel, the proof of physical abuse is quite apparent.” Ms. Ubarri walked over, waving the folder. “We are required by law to remove any child we feel is in immediate danger. Judging by the cuts and bruises on this boy's face, we—”

“He got those injuries when their vehicle was involved in an accident yesterday.”

“Do you have proof of that?” the man asked.

“Well, not exactly.” Rufus Steel hesitated, then turned to Finn. “You and Rafe go back to our house. I'll straighten this out.”

Rafe grabbed Finn's arm. His eyes widened at the tension humming through his friend. “Take it easy,” he murmured, dragging Finn away. “Come on. Dad'll take care of this.” Rafe led the way across the street. He got Finn as far as the open front door before his friend dug in his heels.

“I'm not going with them,” Finn declared. He stood staring across the street. “I'll run away if I have to.”

“It'll be okay.” Not sure what to do, Rafe gestured toward the kitchen. “Want something to eat?”

Finn shook his head. His eyes were locked on the knot of adults waving their arms and arguing. With a sigh, Rafe took a stance beside his friend. His heart sank as his father ran a hand down his face in resignation, then glanced over at their house. “Rafe,” his dad called. “Wait inside. Finn, come here.”

* * *

On wooden legs, Finn walked back across the street, dimly aware of the sting of too-warm asphalt under his bare feet. Reaching the other side, he paused on the sidewalk by the front gate.

Rufus Steel waved Ms. Ubarri and the man away. “Give us a moment.” Finn tensed as the man turned his back on the pair. His black eyes filled with remorse as he put a hand on Finn's shoulder. “I'm sorry, son, but you'll need to go with them. Just for a little while, until we can get this all straightened out.”

“No,” Finn said through stiff lips. “I'm going to stay here until Gideon gets back.”

“That'll just make things worse.” Rufus Steel lowered his voice. “Gideon will be, well,
difficult
about it, and they'll look at his reaction in the very worst possible light. Do you understand what I am saying?”

“You mean, he'll fight them. To keep them from taking me,” he said hoarsely.

“You know he will.”

Finn swallowed a lump. “I don't want to go with them.”

“I know.”

“Can I…can I stay with you?” He kept his eyes fixed somewhere near Rufus Steel's elbow.

“Finn, I don't know if they'll allow that.”

“Please?” he whispered.

In desperation, Rufus Steel looked back over his shoulder. “Listen, what if Finn stayed with us instead of being placed in a foster home? My wife is a doctor, and I am a public school teacher. We would be thrilled to have him live with us. I'm home for the summer and can provide around-the-clock supervision. We'll do whatever it takes to make this happen.”

Ms. Ubarri and the man looked at one another. Then the man shrugged. “That might be a possibility, Mr. Steel,” she said. “But it may take a few days. In the meantime, Finn will still need to come with us.” She opened the back door of the car. “Let's go.”

Finn backed up a step, every nerve in his body screaming at him to run. Plans zigzagged through his head. “I am a wind on the sea,” he whispered in preparation.
I'll make for the empty lot, then head into the woods. Right. With no weapons and no shoes. Yeah. Good idea
.

At that moment, Mac Roth's red Jeep appeared around the corner.

G
ideon leaned back in the passenger seat of Mac Roth's Jeep as they drove along, trying to find a comfortable position for still-tender ribs. “I'm surprised the constable was able to meet us there so quickly this morning to fill out the report.” He glanced down at the paper in his hand and sighed. “A pity it's a complete loss. Why, I've owned that vehicle for almost thirty years.”

“Twenty too many,” Mac Roth said. “But with yer newfound wealth, ye'll be able to buy another and still have a bit left over.” He chuckled. “I thought the assayer's eyes were going to roll out of his head when ye showed him that nugget.” He snorted in disbelief. “And we thought it was simply a lump of iron pyrite at first. Good thing Rufus Steel recognized it for what it was.”

Gideon shook his head. “The money from the gold belongs to Rafe, not us. He's the one who picked it up.”

“And gave it to young Finn, if I recall. From what I know of the Steels, they'll be happy for yer good fortune, and they'll be insisting ye keep it.”

“It would be grand to purchase a few things Finn desires. He does without too much,” Gideon said, almost to himself.

Mac Roth's face softened. “Ye've become right fond of the boyo in a short time.” He turned onto Gideon's street.

“Aye, that I have.” A corner of his mouth twitched. “Although at times he tries my patience with his shenanigans…” He stiffened, spying the group on the sidewalk in front of his house. With a curse, he scrabbled for the door handle.

Mac Roth reached over and clamped a hand on Gideon's arm before he could bolt from the vehicle. “Keep a tight rein on that temper, Lir,” he said in a low, clipped voice. “And use yer head, or they take the lad.” Letting go, he pulled into the vacant driveway and parked. “I'll wait here.” He slipped his knife free.

“And just what are you planning on do with
that
?”

“Why, I'll puncture their tires if the need arises.”

With a grateful nod, Gideon stepped out of the Jeep, the accident report still clutched in his hand. He fought to ignore the warp spasm

Thirty-Four

that was urging him to simply pull out his weapon and start swinging. Taking a deep breath, he walked over the group. “Good morning.” He gave a polite smile. “Is there a problem here? And where are your shoes, lad?” he asked Finn.

“In the house.”

He cocked his head toward the porch. “Why don't you go get them on?”
And stay in there
.

“Yes, sir.” Before anyone could protest, he bolted for the house and disappeared inside.

Gideon waited until the front door slammed shut before turning to Ms. Ubarri and the man. “This ends now. Either accuse me or cease your harassment of me and mine.”

“Care to explain to us about his injuries?” the man asked.

Gideon held out the report. “Our truck rolled off the high road yesterday.” He gestured to his own face. “As you can see.”

“Look, Mr. Lir, the law states…” Ms. Ubarri began.

“I know something about child abuse laws.” Rufus Steel interrupted. “You have no evidence, except my suspicion. And I know that, if I rescind my earlier statement and formally declare that I was wrong to accuse Mr. Lir, then the file is closed. I would be willing to testify to that in court. And, as I said earlier, my wife is a doctor. She examined both of them yesterday for any injuries. Thankfully, just cuts and bruises.”

As Ms. Ubarri and her co-worker, with the policewoman looking over their shoulders, studied the report, Gideon exchanged glances with Rufus. After a long minute, Ms. Ubarri looked up.

“We'll want a copy of this,” she said, handing it back grudgingly.

“Certainly.”

“Here's my card. You can mail it directly to me. Mr. Steel, our office will want to formally speak with you about closing this case.”

“Not a problem. I'll stop by tomorrow.”

Without another word, Ms. Ubarri and the man marched over to their car, the man sliding into the passenger side. The officer followed, after a final glance at Gideon. With a gun of their engines, the cars pulled away from the curb.

When they had disappeared around the corner, Gideon slumped against the stone wall and let out a long breath. “Ye gods, I've battled entire packs of Amandán with less tenacity than that woman.”

“Good thing you had that report.”

Mac Roth sauntered over, a knife still in one hand. “Will they be back?”