Red-Line: The Shift (Volume One) (24 page)

“Where’s Sherlock and Hannah?”

Declan put down his sandwich. Lines of fatigue were etched in his face. “They’re in the master with Sarah. Hannah got her into some dry clothes and into bed. John won’t leave her side.” Declan’s worried look told Leroy a lot. “I told them to take a break and get something to eat. Neither of them has had a solid meal since yesterday.”

“And?” asked Leroy.

“Hannah said she’d be out soon.”

“And Sherlock?”

“Completely ignored me.”

Leroy sighed. “Damn, he’s stubborn.”

Declan agreed. “You don’t have to tell me. I grew up with him.”

As if hearing her name mentioned, Hannah emerged from the bedroom. She looked almost as pale as Sarah. Dark circles were showing under her eyes.

“Any food left?” she asked.

“Sit down,” said Leroy. “I’ll get you something.”

She did exactly that. The effects of the last hours were catching up to her and she looked like she could curl up on the chair and go to sleep. Her stomach growled and Leroy heard it.

She perused Leroy. “Glad to see you’re up and around.”

“I’m good as new, thanks.” Leroy walked over to the kitchen counter. He saw the jars and bread still sitting there. “What are you eating, Declan?”

“Peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” Declan answered, taking another bite.

“Really?” asked Leroy. “A fully stocked kitchen, and you’re eating that?”

“I’ll take it,” said Hannah.

“It’s easy and it’s fast,” replied Declan, “which are the only two major components I require right now.”

“I hear you,” said Hannah, resting her head on her arm.

“All right,” said Leroy, “one peanut butter and jelly sandwich coming up.”

Declan observed Hannah as she rested her head with her eyes closed. “Don’t fall asleep yet. You’ve got a gourmet sandwich coming up.”

She opened her eyes and sat up, stifling a yawn. She looked back at him with a serious expression. “So,” she said, “are we safe for now?”

Declan stopped chewing, and Leroy stopped making the sandwich. They both looked at Hannah and then glanced at each other.

“You heard what he said, didn’t you?” she asked, referring to X’s last words.

Declan went back to chewing as Leroy resumed and completed the sandwich preparation. He cut the sandwich in half and brought it over and placed it in front of Hannah.

“Here. Start eating. You want some water?” Leroy asked her.

“Please,” replied Hannah, still waiting for an answer to her question. Leroy came back with her water and a sandwich he’d made for himself. He sat down and took a bite as Declan finished his own.

Declan finally answered her as she took a bite of her food. “For now, I think we’re safe.”

Hannah’s face looked like she’d just bitten into a gourmet dinner after years of eating microwave meals. “What does that mean?” she asked through a mouthful.

Declan thought about it. “Whoever we’re dealing with here will have to regroup. I doubt very seriously that whoever is behind this was prepared to lose today.”

“He may not even realize yet that his plan failed,” Leroy interjected, taking a bite of his own food.

“He’ll realize it soon enough,” replied Declan.

“How do we know there’s someone else? Maybe these guys were the ringleaders,” said Hannah.

Declan took a moment to answer, unsure how to respond. Leroy waited to hear too.

“That’s unlikely.” Declan knew that was not the answer they’d hoped to hear.

Hannah’s expression turned somber. “So what happens next?”

Declan considered lying to her but decided against it. “Since we have no idea who we’re dealing with, I can’t answer that.” He paused and watched Hannah take another bite. “But if he’s anything like the other two, then I think we can anticipate a significant response.”

She stopped chewing after Declan’s answer and put down the rest of her sandwich. “I don’t think I’m hungry anymore.”

Declan tried to put her at ease. “I don’t expect an immediate reaction. Our adversary needs to consider a few things before attacking again.”

“Such as?” asked Leroy.

“Well, Sarah put on quite a show. She turned out to be much more effective than I think he bargained for.”

“Really?” asked Leroy.

“Yes.” Declan realized Leroy and Hannah had missed the Sarah show from earlier. “She took those two out with no difficulty at all. She’s not one to mess around with.”

“Well, at the moment, she’s not much of a threat,” replied Hannah.

“Yes, but I doubt he knows that. Right now, I’m guessing he’s questioning his assumptions, wondering how to proceed next.”

“Great,” said Hannah.

“So we need to figure out who he is,” said Leroy, “and fast.”

“Well, if he’s as powerful as those two were, then we’re in for a battle.” Declan leaned forward in his chair and rested his forearms on the table. “Which begs the question, who are these guys? How did they slip under the Council’s radar?”

“Are they Red-Lines?” asked Hannah.

“No,” replied Declan, “but they did have an unusual energy. Nothing I’ve ever felt before, and they were extremely well trained. Probably been trained since they were children in order to wield that kind of power.”

“But trained by who?” asked Leroy, taking another bite.

Pushing back his plate, Declan answered, “I don’t know. Maybe that’s who ‘Y’ is.”

“Y?” asked both Leroy and Hannah together.

“Yes, Y,” said Declan. “Our two visitors called themselves ‘X’ and ‘Z.’ We have to assume there’s a ‘Y’ somewhere.”

“And he’s the one who wants Sarah?’ Hannah asked.

Declan answered as best he could. “I don’t know, Hannah. I wish I did.”

“Well,” Leroy cut in earnestly, “if we can’t get Sarah to pull through this, then there’s nothing left for him to fight for.”

“That’s not going to happen.” Ramsey’s tempered voice responded resolutely from the hallway. “Not if I can help it.”

The gazes of all three moved in his direction as Ramsey leaned against the wall nearby. He seemed to have shrunk over the past two days. Stubble covered his jaw, and his skin was taut and drawn. His whole body tensed, as if ready to spring into action at the slightest unexpected movement.

“What?” said Declan, “If she lives, you want this mysterious Y to come for her?”

Ramsey furrowed his brow. “You know what I mean, Declan. She’ll survive this. And if this ‘Y’ wants to come get her, he’ll have to go through me first.”

His fuse shortened by weariness, Declan bit back. “In case you hadn’t noticed, we got our butts kicked by those two. You are not much of a threat to him.”

Ramsey’s anger quickly flared. “What are you saying, Declan, that I can’t protect her?”

Declan responded in kind. “Look at yourself, John. I doubt you could protect a stray dog from a cat at this point. You’re getting too close.”

Ramsey’s emotional balance, already precarious, completely dissolved at Declan’s remarks. Furious, he rushed forward in Declan’s direction as Declan got up from his chair, ready to defend himself. “Don’t you tell me how to do my job, Declan,” Ramsey spat. “I don’t want your advice or your help. I didn’t want you here in the first place.”

Declan didn’t back down. “You can’t do this all by yourself, John. Stop acting like a spoiled child.”

Ramsey stood mere inches from Declan. “Spoiled? If anyone knows anything about being spoiled, Declan, it would be you.”

“That’s enough out of both of you!” Leroy’s booming voice sounded through the room, and Hannah jumped. Leroy watched the two brothers glare at each other, neither backing down. “As I see it,” he continued, “forget spoiled. You’re both a couple of idiots.” He continued his scolding, trying his best to distract the both of them from the matter at hand. They were both overwrought and exhausted, and were using this as an outlet of repressed tension. “Now both of you sit down and shut up. We’ve got better things to do than fight amongst ourselves.”

His shouting seemed to pierce their defenses, and they both relaxed their postures a bit. Ramsey broke the stare first and took a step back, looking at Leroy. “You’re right, Leroy.” He took a breath, as if to calm himself. “I’ve got better things to do.” He shot another angry look at Declan and then turned to leave the room.

“Sherlock!” Leroy yelled, but Ramsey kept walking and disappeared back into the bedroom. Leroy let him go.

Declan took a deep breath and tried to relax. He knew he’d baited his brother, but damn if John couldn’t rile him faster than anyone else he knew. He sat back down, but still angry, he banged his fist onto the table, startling Hannah again.

She regarded him with aggravation. “The two of you could benefit from some serious psychoanalysis,” she said.

Declan looked at her, unamused.

“I agree,” stated Leroy, taking the last bite of his sandwich. Swallowing it, he looked over at a disgruntled Declan. “So, idiot number one,” he said, unaffected by Declan’s mood, “what’s our next move?”

Silently steaming, Declan seriously considered returning Leroy to his deathbed one more time.

**

RAMSEY SAT IN the darkened room, the last vestiges of light gone as the day had turned to night. He’d left the others in the kitchen a while ago and had remained in the bedroom. Fatigue burned his eyes, and his stomach demanded food, but he ignored both. He knew he needed sleep, but his restlessness prevented it. He continued to watch the still form in the bed, barely visible in the mound of covers. Only her eyes and forehead peered out, but she showed no signs of life, save the occasional movement from the rise and fall from her breathing.

A noise from the doorway broke his stare, and he looked up.

Leroy stood just inside the door, watching him. “You need to get some rest,” he said.

Ramsey paid no attention to him and returned his gaze to Sarah’s sleeping form. Sleeping was the wrong word, though. She had retreated somewhere, and he didn’t know how to bring her back.

Leroy entered the bedroom. He moved closer to his friend and, grabbing a chair, placed it next to Ramsey’s and sat. He stayed quiet for a moment as he also watched Sarah in the bed. Then he eyed his friend and tried to reach out again. “Sherlock, listen to me. There’s nothing else you can do. The rest is up to her.”

Ramsey said nothing at first, but then, shifting forward in his chair and putting his elbows on his knees, he looked down. He sat there for a moment and then turned his head toward Leroy, his eyes conveying the pain Leroy knew he felt. “She’s dying, Leroy.”

Leroy said nothing. No words came to mind. Ramsey turned his head back down and continued to look at the floor.

Leroy finally found his voice. “I sent Hannah and Declan to get some rest. They’re both exhausted.” He watched Ramsey, who had no reaction. “You need to do the same. I’ll stay with her.”

Ramsey sighed, still looking at the floor. “You need to go home to Olivia. You’ve been through hell yourself.”

“I already talked to Olivia. Told her that work required me to leave town for a few days. I’ll explain it all to her later.” When Ramsey said nothing, he continued. “And besides, after Sarah did her magic on me, I feel great. Whatever mojo she used, it’s got quite a kick to it. I’ve got more energy than the four of you combined, probably twice more, by the looks of you. Point is, get your butt out of that chair and go get some sleep. And,” he added, “there’s an outstanding peanut butter and jelly sandwich waiting for you, if you’re interested.”

Hoping he’d swayed his friend, Leroy waited.

Ramsey lifted his head again to look at Sarah, appearing to think about it. He brought his hand up to his face and rubbed his eyes. Putting his hand back down, he seemed to come to a decision. “What about another threat? How do we know we’re safe?”

“I talked to Declan about that. He did not perceive any threats for the time being. Whoever this is will need to regroup before coming at us again.”

Ramsey considered that before responding. “What you mean is, he won’t come for her now, if she’s going to die anyway.”

Leroy argued with that statement. “If that’s what I meant, then I would have said it.”

Ramsey remained quiet. Finally, he responded. “Okay, Leroy.” He swiveled his head toward his friend. “I’ll go get some rest. Just give me a few minutes with her. I’ll be out in a second.”

Leroy read his friend’s eyes and understood. He nodded his head. “You okay?” he asked.

Ramsey gave him a sad smile and stared back down at the carpet. “No,” he said.

Leroy didn’t answer. He sat for a moment with him and stood slowly. “I’ll wait in the living room.” He walked to the door and stopped. Looking back at Ramsey, he said, “I’ll come back if you’re not out of here in five minutes.”

Ramsey glanced up at him. “Stop worrying about me.” He sat taller in his seat. “I’ll be out soon.”

With a last look, Leroy left the room.

Ramsey watched him leave, then focused back on Sarah. He stood from his seat and approached the bed. She lay on her side, facing away from him. He thought about the preceding few days and all that had happened, about how much she’d been through and how she’d come to trust him. He realized how much he’d come to like her, how much she’d amazed him with her courage and willingness, how much he’d learned as she’d begun her Shift. He thought about all the potential she contained and the abilities she’d exhibited in such a short period of time. Knowing Leroy would hold him to his five minutes, he kicked off his shoes and lifted the covers. Sliding in beneath them, he moved up closer to her. He dropped the covers back down onto both of them. Ramsey shifted himself up next to her, his front to her back. Despite the covers and the clothes she wore, her body was still cold to the touch. He slid as close as he could, making as much contact with her as possible. His chest to her back and his legs tucked up behind hers, he wrapped his top arm around her, bringing it up to lie against her belly. He eased his other arm beneath her head and neck, ensuring her comfort as well as his own. Then he rested his head against the back of hers, his chin resting against the back of her head. He moved even closer wherever he could. The blankets covered them both, and his body heat began to escalate, warming him, but not her. Comfortable against her, he stilled his mind, thinking only about bringing her back. He knew this was dangerous, but if it worked, then it was worth the risk. He hoped Leroy would understand.