I raised my head, saw that all three of them were staring at me, everything from surprise to admiration on their faces. Jake smiled. "Some impressive driving there, Finch." With a groan, he laid his head back against the seat.
Sam leaned over him. "We need to get you some help."
"No doctor, Sam." Jake met his eyes. "I can't risk--"
"What about Misty's sister, Candace?" I interrupted before Jake could finish his sentence. Katie had been traumatized enough. "She's doing a surgical rotation for school." Sam stared at me like I was speaking another language. "What? She told me."
After an endless second, he nodded. "Call her."
He checked Jake's bandages, tightening the one that had come loose during our escape. Katie watched him, her small hands twisting around each other. I understood why she was protective of Jake. He saved her life. Hero worship ran fast and deep in young kids. I had been on the receiving end more than once with my young dance students.
"Katie." She looked at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Buckle up, sweetheart. We're going to get Jake to someone who can help him."
Nodding, she fastened her seat belt, turning to keep one hand on Jake's arm. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and tapped in Misty's number. I really didn't want her involved, but we had no choice.
"Alex! Where are you?"
"Misty--we found Jake." I heard her gasp. "He needs medical--"
"I'll call Candace," she said. "Where do we meet you?"
I looked up, met Sam's eyes in the rearview mirror. "My house," I said. "We'll meet you at my house." I turned to the window, lowered my voice to keep Katie from hearing. "Have Candace bring everything. He's bleeding, a lot."
"Okay. We'll be there as soon as we can."
I ended the call, and buckled my own seat belt, maneuvering around the storage shed. A narrow dirt road led up to the main path. I turned on to it, driving at a much slower pace, and took the path out to the parking lot.
Traffic was light, so I could snake around the slower cars without much effort. Which was a good thing; I most likely used up all my daredevil driving mojo in the access tunnel.
I glanced in the rearview mirror. Jake had his eyes closed, and his slack face told me he was unconscious, or close to it. Letting out my breath, I turned into my neighborhood. I didn't want Jake anywhere near my family. But I was the idiot who wanted to be part of this.
I just hoped my parents didn't pay the price for it.
14
Misty and Candace were standing in front of the garage as we pulled up. They helped us carry Jake into my house, using the blanket Sam kept in the back of the SUV as a makeshift stretcher. Blood started dripping by the time we got him into the old solarium Mom converted to an office. I picked it because it had a leather sofa, and she hardly ever used it.
Candace took over as soon as we maneuvered him into the room. "Set him on the couch, and then get out of my way unless I tell you otherwise."
Relief left me shaky. I helped lower Jake to the sofa and stepped back, watching her examine him with quick, efficient movements.
Misty tiptoed over to me. "Sorry about her," she whispered. "She does get nasty when I wake her up after a thirty-six hour shift at the hospital."
I stared up at her. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I would have come, no matter what," Candace said. "Now shut up, so I can focus here. And some coffee would be delightful."
I took the hint, limping out and to the kitchen. I didn't think, just set up the coffee maker, like I'd done hundreds of times for Dad during marathon drafting sessions. Once I sat down everything crashed in on me.
Tears stung my eyes. With a sigh, I let go of the control and lowered my head.
"Alex?" Katie's quiet voice had me wiping my eyes.
"Hey, sweetheart." I held out my hand. "We need to call your parents."
She shook her head. "Not until I know Jake's okay. They won't even know I'm gone." Anger flashed in her eyes, too much anger for someone so young.
"Katie--what is your last name?"
"I want to stay, Alex. Can't I just stay here, a little longer?"
"As soon as you answer my question."
She let out a sigh. "Hyatt."
I jerked, and gripped the edge of the table. This was not a coincidence. It couldn't be. And she was awfully composed for a what--eight year old?--who had just seen a monster crawl out of the sewer.
"Katie." I tried to keep my voice even. "What were you doing out alone?"
She stared at the floor. "Exploring." Her hands twisted around each other. "My parents are gone on business most of the time, and my nanny won't do anything with me. So I snuck out."
I pressed her. "Why the public garden?"
"Because!" Her fist shot out. I caught it on instinct, but she managed to glance off my left cheek before I did. "It's none of your business! I can go wherever I want--"
"Stop." She stilled, looking surprised. My guess was she never had anyone telling her no. "I need to know, Katie. Let me finish." She closed her mouth. "A lot of people can be in danger, if what hurt Jake isn't stopped. Now," I let go of her fist, closed both hands over her shoulders. "Answer the question. Why did you go there?"
"I found a map, in my daddy's office, in this." She pulled a small book out of her pocket and handed it to me. A tightly folded piece of paper slipped out when I opened it, landing on the table. "It looked funny, like it was under the ground, but I recognized the garden. I wanted to see where it went. When I got there, I saw some other kids. I thought maybe we could play together." Now she sounded like a little girl. A lonely little girl. "I caught up with them, and I showed them the map. We just started down the path when their parents called them, so I went on alone--"
She hid her face in her hands, shoulders shaking. I shoved the small book in my front pocket and pulled her into my arms, rubbing her back. I wanted her to feel safe when I asked the next question. "The devil came after you, didn't he?"
With a sob, she nodded against my shoulder. I looked up, and saw Sam standing in the kitchen doorway. By the frown I figured he heard most of her story.
Katie lifted her head. "Jake came out of nowhere and jumped it before it could grab me. But it took him down the sewer . . ." She shook her head. "I got knocked down after them. Jake got hurt because of me."
"Don't blame yourself, sweetheart. It was the monster that hurt Jake, not you."
I glanced over at Sam. He moved forward, touched Katie's shoulder. "He'll be okay, Katie. He's tougher than he looks." She let out a watery laugh. He moved his attention to me. "Can I see the map?"
I handed the map to him, watched as he spread it out on the kitchen table. I knew what it was immediately, having an architect in the house. Sam caught on a second after. "The sewer system," he said. "I might have a shot with this . . ." He looked up, met my eyes, and shook his head. "No way, Alex."
"Can you read it?"
"Yes." He leaned over the map again, stabbed his finger on a spot near the edge. "This is where we were at the garden."
I smiled at him. "Wrong answer."
"You are out. I don't want you hurt again."
His concern had me flushing. I tried to cover by crossing my arms, and staring him down. "I keep trying, but I get sucked back in."
"I didn't--"
"It's not your fault, Sam. That thing came after me, all on its own. I was terrified, but you know what--now I'm pissed. I don't want it getting near anyone again. So you're not pushing me out, not until I know it's gone, and my family is safe. Until we're all safe."
He got in my face. "I'm not letting you near it. Look what it did to Jake--"
"Because he fought it head on! I'm not going to--"
"You're not going to anything. Period."
The temper I hardly let out pushed at me, begging to take him on. I gave in to it. Shocking both of us, I pushed Sam against the wall and stood on tiptoe to get as close to his face as possible. "Listen up, Mr. High and Mighty Emmett. Your famil
y might own this town, but you are not the boss of me. I can do whatever the hell I want and you have no--"
"Stop fighting." Katie 's voice cut me off. I looked over at her, and her white face had me moving to her. Panic flashed in her brown eyes. More than when we faced a monster in the darkness.
I touched her shoulder. "It's okay, we're just discussing--"
"No--you're fighting. I know fighting when I hear it." Tears filled her eyes, crept into her voice. "Now you have to stop, before it ruins what's between you."
"What's between. . ." I was so startled I lost my train of thought. She thinks we're a couple. Oh my God.
Before I could stop myself I looked at Sam. He refused to meet my eyes. "Katie," he said. "We're not--we're just--" He let out his breath. Was he--oh, sweet heaven above. Sam Emmett was blushing.
I got so distracted I didn't hear the warning sounds until it was too late.
"Margaret!"
I froze at the sound of Mom's voice. Sam had the nerve to raise his eyebrows. "Margaret?"
Not now. Oh, please, let a sinkhole open in the kitchen floor. When that didn't happen I limped forward, hoping to head her off before she--
Too late. Mom sailed in through the doorway, her frown already in place. "Whose car is blocking my . . . oh." She smiled when she spotted Sam. And I had a horrifying, clear picture of exactly what ran through her mind. All of it wrong. Setting her paisley printed work bag on the table, she converged on him. "Hello, Sam. We meet again. I see my daughter's in one piece, so this must be more--social." He nodded, glancing at me. I didn't have time to shake my head before Mom turned to me. "Sweetheart, why didn't you tell me you and Sam were," she gave me that smile--the "I know what's really going on" smile. "Friends?"
Acute embarrassment shot heat over every inch of my body. I must have looked like a bruised beet. "Mom--"
"We're working on a project together," Sam said. He flashed me his heart stomping smile--the one that I never thought I would see directed at me. Me--the geek. If my body hadn't been throbbing already from the various bruises and scrapes, I would have pinched myself to check for awake status. "I'm sorry we invaded you like this, without warning."
He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm, and charmed her as he led her away from the office. Away from Jake. It would have worked, if Mom hadn't spotted Katie.
"Is that--Katie Hyatt?" Mom pulled out of Sam's grip and circled the table, trapping Katie in the corner, next to the refrigerator, where she tucked herself when Mom came in. "What are you doing here, honey? I didn't know you were acquainted with my daughter, who is just full of surprises today."
Uh oh. I recognized that tone. I was terrified of that tone. It was Mom's prelude to using my full name. I had to cut her off--Sam hearing her call me Margaret was damaging enough.
"Mrs. Finch." Katie gave her a brilliant smile. "Alex teaches my dance class. We just met each other, in the public garden. I was thirsty, so Alex invited me for a drink. I told her," she glanced at me, the hand behind her back pointing at Mom. "You were redoing my dad's library. Small world, isn't it?"
"Indeed." Mom raised her eyebrows at me. I smiled, trying to look like it was a normal day, and I didn't have a bloody, half monster in the office just behind her. "Would you all like to stay for dinner?"
Startled, my gaze jumped to the clock. How did I lose track of time like that? I missed all of my afternoon classes, and--if I hadn't lost track of the days as well--my weekly private dance lesson with Madame Chloe, who would happily rip into me when I dared to show my face to her again. Not that I could do much of anything on my throbbing ankle. My life was unraveling, and I couldn't seem to stop it.
"Alex already invited me." I stared at Sam, positive I'd heard things. When he smiled at me, nodding his head, I figured I had a concussion from last night. "Why don't I help you with that, Mrs. Finch." He picked up the work bag just as she reached for it, and headed out of the kitchen. "I haven't seen much of your home. Would you mind giving me a tour? I've always loved this neighborhood."
He said the two things Mom could never resist--home tour and bragging about our historic neighborhood. This house was her baby, and her three-dimensional calling card.
I took the hint, and the second they were out of sight I limped to the office. "We have to get him out of here. My mom's home."
Candace didn't even bother looking up. "Not until I'm done."
Misty stood in the farthest corner, trying not to look sick. I understood--Jake was a bloody mess. And that mess spread over the sheet draped on the sofa. A sheet Candace must have brought with her. I hoped. Mom would kill me slowly if it was from her 400 thread count sets.
Candace pressed together the top edge of the nasty gash on Jake's leg and added a final stitch, closing the wound.
He let out a low groan. "What are you doing?"
"Saving your life, you big lug." She leaned over Jake's leg, using her teeth to snap the thread just above his stitches. I flinched watching him flinch. "Are you going to help, Finch, or simply admire the view?"
"Um--help?"
"Then move that little butt over here and keep his arm still. The faster I get this thug stitched up, the sooner we leave."
I moved. Kneeling next to him, I grabbed his wrist, startled by how much blood stained his clothes.
"So many pet names," Jake said, his voice raw, but amused. "I think she likes me."
Candace snorted, but I saw a smile tug at the corner of her mouth. "Wiseass."
"Years of practice, sweetheart. God--" He sucked in his breath when she slid a needle into his arm. "Some--warning next time."
This time Candace smiled. She didn't have the best bedside manner, but she was fast, and efficient. And she'd keep whatever she found to herself. Honestly--who would believe her?
"Okay--he's good to go. Give me your hand, you big hunk. Let's see if you can sit." Jake grinned at her and held out his hand, the grin twisting as she hauled him up. "Help me get him on his feet, Misty. Misty." She jumped at Candace's sharp tone. "I need you, here, now. You promised."
Swallowing, Misty crossed the room. I moved out of the way so she could help Candace pull Jake to his feet.
"Alex?" We all froze when my dad stepped into the room. Swallowing past the giant panic lump in my throat, I turned to face him, and braced myself for his disappointment. That always hurt me more than any angry outburst. I froze again, this time in shock, when he closed the door, locked it, and strode over to Jake. "Are you all right, son?"
Jake nodded, staring at Dad like he had two heads. "Sorry about the blood, sir."
"It will wash. Alex," he turned to me, laid his hands on my shoulders. The concern on his face had tears stinging my eyes. "Was it the same--creature?" I nodded, afraid that if I tried to talk I'd just lose it, in front of everyone. Dad pulled me into a quick, hard hug. When he let me go, he rubbed his face, looking tired. "All right. Let's get your friends out of here before your mother sees them."
I didn't understand why Dad cared so much about Jake when he was the one who--
Mental head slap--Dad didn't know. I never told him Jake's name, just everything else.
I was glad now I left out that little detail. Dad took Jake from Candace, turning him toward the back door we hardly ever used. I limped forward and moved the tall bamboo screen Mom always stuck in front of it, so she could pretend it didn't ruin the aesthetics of her design.
That door led out to the far corner of the yard, conveniently close to the side of the house. Dad tightened his grip when Jake stumbled again, half-carried him around the side. "Check the front for me."
I did, giving the all clear thumbs up. Misty ran ahead of us, opening the back door and spreading the bloodstained sheet over the seat. "Let me help you, Mr. Finch."
"Go around to the other side," he said. "Help me guide him in." She bounded around the car and opened the door, kneeling on the seat. "You really need to see a doctor, son."
Jake met his eyes, obviously startled by Dad's concern. "Th
ank you, sir. I'll be okay--fast healer."
At the moment, he looked like walking death, but with his--extra genes, I figured he stood a better chance of healing than the average human.
I would not think about the possibility of Sam having those same genes. No--not thinking about it.
Dad helped him into the car, and I heard a noise that stopped my heart. The front door opening.
"Raleigh? Do we have more company?" Yeah--my dad's name is Raleigh. Didn't I mention that before now? It's British, a family name. Like mine. And he hates it. Like me.
"Friends of Alex's, dear. Just leaving." He slammed the back door. Candace had already taken stock and was in the driver's seat. She gunned the engine, gave me a look that told me we weren't done, and backed out of the driveway. Dad did a quick inspection of himself, then me, and took my arm. "Let's go rescue Sam."
~
Dad drove Katie home, after convincing Mom she couldn't stay for dinner.
And dinner? That was--odd.
First, having Sam Emmett eating dinner at my house. Second, having Mom interrogate Sam like he was my boyfriend. And finally, to top off the odd with embarrassing, Dad studied him the entire meal, like he was some kind of exotic specimen.
I didn't get a break until dessert, in the form of a call on Sam's cell. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the screen. I never saw anyone's face drain of color so fast.
"Excuse me," he said, standing. "I have to take this."
After exchanging glances with Dad, while Mom was busy cutting the carrot cake we wouldn't be having, I followed Sam out to the living room.
"Okay, Mom. I'm on my way." Sam ended the call, and stared at the phone. I figured he didn't see me come in, so I cleared my throat. His head snapped up. "Alex." He tried for a smile, and failed miserably. "I have to go."
"I heard. That's all I heard, Sam."
He nodded, looking relieved. "Thank your mom for me. Having dinner here was a nice--break."
"I will." The next words popped out before I could stop them. "Is everything okay, Sam?"
"Jake got home. And Mom wants me there. She said there was an--issue. That's all." Letting out a sigh, he ran one hand through his hair. "Which could mean anything with my family right now."