The Pandora Principle

“I’m fine,” she said. “It wasn’t anything less than I deserve for being so stupid.”

 

 

I grabbed her shoulders and held her gaze. “Don’t ever think that. This wasn’t your fault.”

 

Her face crumpled, and she wobbled on her feet. I pulled her in a hug as the sobs broke free from her again. She pressed her head on my shoulder and cried until there was nothing left but the occasional sniveling breath.

 

“How about you stay here tonight?” I asked. “You can take a hot bath and borrow my bed.”

 

She looked up at me with her chin trembling. “I don’t know.”

 

“Please?” I asked. “It would make me feel better.”

 

She swallowed and nodded. “All right.”

 

Fifteen minutes later, I sat on the couch with Serenity, listening to the shower run. I rubbed my wrist as I chewed my bottom lip. My whole plan had been tossed out the window, though thanks to Serenity, I had a better grasp in figuring out Mercer. For now, I had much bigger issues.

 

“You sure this is a good idea?” Serenity asked. “Shouldn’t we push for the hospital?”

 

“I think she might leave if we do. And I don’t want her being alone.”

 

She needed to be somewhere I could watch her. In those last few moments, she had a ghost of a look I’d seen on James’s face the day before he killed himself.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 20

 

 

 

Sheridan stared at the cup of coffee in front of her with blank eyes and hugged my oversized t-shirt around her. I sat down across the table and pushed a bagel in her direction. She pressed her lips together and shook her head.

 

“You need to eat something,” I said.

 

“I’ve never been much of a breakfast person,” she murmured.

 

Serenity flipped her chair around, rested one arm on the back, and grabbed half of the bagel. “Morning.”

 

I cut my eyes at her before returning my gaze to Sheridan. “Do you want to go to the doctor today?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

I sighed. “Well, you should probably take the day off. Maybe we could relax, go to a spa?”

 

“No.” She stood. “It’s no use. I just need to get on with my life. I have too much work to do right now.”

 

“Sheridan.” Serenity touched to sleeve of her shirt. “If you want to talk, we’re here.”

 

“I said I’m fine.” She snapped a glare at Serenity before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. “Look I really appreciate last night, but I’m not a child.

 

She headed into my room and shut the door behind her. I rested my chin on my hands and pressed my lips together. No matter what she said, that look from last night still lingered in her eyes. Weaker, but still existing.

 

“This isn’t good,” Serenity said.

 

“It’s worse,” I said. “Whatever had James has its claws in her.”

 

Serenity stood, knocking her chair over. “We shouldn’t leave her alone.”

 

“She’s not there yet.” I slammed my fist on the table. “Damnit. I need to figure this thing out, and fast. You’re sure it’s not Mercer?”

 

“Positive,” she said. “What reason does he have to hurt Sheridan?”

 

“Who knows what gods think?” I glanced at her and frowned. “Sorry. All right. We’ll need to go a different route with this.”

 

“Will this involve a fight?” she asked.

 

“Eventually. First I need to talk to Marty to see what he learned about Tessa’s death. Can you watch over Sheridan?”

 

She stared at the door with a grimace and nodded. “She’s going to hate it, but I can be her shadow.”

 

“Okay.” I rose to my feet and stopped after taking two steps to my room. “Right. She’s using my bed. I guess I’ll get a shower.”

 

An hour later, I walked into the university newspaper office fresh, dressed, and ready to poke my nose where it belonged for once. The newspaper had gone paperless a few years back like everywhere else, but that didn’t stop the stacks from piling up the six desks that sat in the room. A round conference table with six chairs stood in the back. A low buzz of chatter and clacking on keyboards filled the air. Marty squinted at his computer from behind his horn-rimmed glasses. A small beat blasted from the oversized headphones covering his ears. I tapped his shoulder, and he jumped.

 

“Oh, hey, Cassi,” he said. “Long time no see.”

 

“Yeah, I’ve been pretty busy covering the Proprius Project.”

 

“How’s that coming?”

 

I shrugged. “A few problems.”

 

He nodded, and his voice grew softer. “Because of James?”

 

I stiffened as my stomach tightened. “Among other things.”

 

“Hey, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” He cleared his throat and pushed his glassed up his nose. “We’d thought you’d be the one to cover James since you’re on Proprius and, well, you were on the roof, but you haven’t.”

 

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry.” I pushed my hand through my hair. “I didn’t even think of that.”

 

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