I manage to smile and tell her that’s good. That it will be nice to get home. But all I can think is, here we go again. The exit sign over the door—nice to be back in a building that actually has exit signs—is practically shouting my name, and my mind starts whirring as I try to map out the details. I still have the keys to the Grapemobile in my back pocket. There’s no way I would keep it, but it will get us to Kelsey’s beach house. I still have the code to get in. I’m guessing Kelsey’s car is still there, but maybe we should take the bus.
In fact, maybe I should start back at square one, since driving is now on my verboten-list.
The other officer seems to have finished with Deo. Kelsey demanded to sit with him while they talked, claiming in loco parentis status. Which they accepted, probably because she actually is a formal member of his “team,” but I’m guessing the fact that they didn’t want to wait on a Bart House employee to arrive also played a pretty big role in their decision-making.
The police move on to Aaron and Taylor. Deo sits there for a moment, leaning forward, head in his hands. Then he shakes it off and heads down the hall, away from the waiting room.
I start after him, but Kelsey holds me back.
“Give him some space, Anna.”
She’s right. And this is a public place, police coming in and out on a regular basis. No one is likely to snatch him away in a busy hospital. But it’s going to be a while before I’m comfortable letting him out of my sight.
I grab a drink from the Au Bon Pain bag. Then I drop down into one of the sage-green chairs next to Kelsey. The entire building, or at least what I’ve seen of it, is decorated in muted natural tones—beige, pale greens, wood floors. While calm colors are probably a good call for a shock-and-trauma waiting room, they’re also the decorating equivalent of Ambien for the sleep deprived. And personally, I don’t find them calming. The colors are a constant reminder that I saw this place in my mind an hour before I walked in the door.
“Deo stuck to the script, if that’s what you’re wondering. But anyone could see something’s bothering him. I pointed out that he was held captive for several days and recently witnessed a shooting. That he’s in shock. And I think that’s true.”
“Did he tell you they injected him?”
“Yes, but he made light of it. Said he only mentioned it because it was worrying you. Do you think it’s the same compound they were using on the girls who were trafficked?”
“I don’t know. I hope not. But Molly said Dacia was injected numerous times, so . . . even if it is, maybe one dose won’t be a problem. Hopefully Sam will know someone who can analyze the vial I took from the lab. Or maybe take a blood sample from Deo to see if there are any markers or whatever. Not sure what we can do about it, but it would be nice to know.”
“Okay. Enough about Deo. How are you?”
I’m not sure where to start. We could spend weeks unpacking the past few days, and I’d still have more to say. So I settle for a very general overview.
“And that’s why Cregg was after you? Because you can absorb their gifts, too?”
“Yeah. I’m just glad the other three left. I . . . I don’t think I was in control. Although . . .”
I flash back to the lab, when I was standing with a fire extinguisher cocked like a bat, hurling words I didn’t understand at Deo. The Furies would have bashed Deo’s head in without thinking twice, but I managed to shove them back. To redirect their anger at Lucas, which is really what they wanted anyway.
And did they do anything to Cregg and Lucas that I wouldn’t have done if I’d known I had the ability? I don’t think so.
“Maybe I wasn’t entirely out of control, but it was close. The remaining hitcher, Jaden, isn’t so bad, although his visions aren’t exactly convenient.”
“And the dreams from Molly?”
“I’m handling them.”
Kelsey’s arched eyebrow suggests she’s not entirely buying it, but she drops the subject. “Aaron seems nice. Are you having sex?”
I nearly choke on my orange juice. “For a psychoanalyst, you have an appalling lack of subtlety. Where did you even get that idea?”
“Something Aaron’s sister said earlier. He turned fifty shades of red and told her to mind her own business. And your eyes strayed in his direction when I mentioned the dream. Plus, it’s obvious you’re attracted to him.”
I’ve talked to Kelsey about sex before, but that was in her office. I mean, when you’re six and you pick up the memories of an adult, some general discussion of sex is going to come up. But there’s no way I’m discussing my feelings for Aaron when he’s right across the room.
“I’m attracted to him. But . . . so was Molly. We have a lot of things to sort out.” Kelsey seems like she’s about to say something else, so I quickly switch topics. “Porter looks much better.”
“Yes, thank heaven.” She sighs. “Two shootings in less than a week. I hope Daniel is as lucky.”
“Me, too.” I try to keep the doubt out of my voice, but I remember the blood soaking through my sweater from Daniel’s wound. How much I rinsed off in the sink at the rest area.
Kelsey squeezes my hand. “Daniel is about forty years younger than Porter. And this hospital is one of the best in the nation. He’ll pull through.”
“I hope so.” I stare down at the floor, screwing up my courage. “The thing is, I knew, Kelsey.”