“Yeah,” Porter says. “They were pretty happy to pull him back. But . . . there’s not much brain activity. It’s probably only a matter of time. But we can hope, right? Be there in a few.”
When I hang up the phone, Deo says, “How did that happen?”
“I don’t know. He was flatlining when I touched him. Maybe . . . if we go back in and I touch him again . . .”
Maybe.
You don’t sound very excited.
Because I’m pretty damn sure I’m dead. Or brain-dead. Either way, nothing to get excited about. And any tests you may have in mind will need to wait until things cool down a bit.
“But you can’t try it now,” Deo says. “Security will be looking for you.”
“Yeah. I know.”
Porter shows up maybe five minutes later. He’s driving an oversized white Ford pickup. We toss our bags into the back and climb into the cab. Deo takes the backseat, stretches out as best he can, and immediately closes his eyes.
“I don’t know who’s cursing your name the loudest right now,” Porter says as he follows the signs toward the garage exit. “Hospital security, that house parent who came to fetch you and wound up getting an earful from your doctor, or Taylor and Michele.”
“But . . .”
“Oh, Taylor and Michele are just for show. Complaining at security for letting you get away is a distraction, gives us a little smoke screen.”
“Where are we going?”
“Walmart outside Laurel.” He catches my expression. “Not to buy anything. That’s where I parked the camper. Sam’s gonna meet us there with Aaron and Taylor in an hour or so. We’ll get the truck hitched up. Then Sam can take me home and head back up to be with Michele.”
“You’re not coming with us?”
“Not yet. I’m actually not supposed to be driving yet, but I’ve never been one to listen to doctors. I’m thinkin’ I may quit the job in DC and see if Sam needs my help, with Aaron gone and . . . well, we don’t know what’s gonna happen with Daniel.”
He navigates us onto the street. Even though he doesn’t tell me to slump down, I do. I’ve been in trouble with the police before, but always for running away. Oh, and once for swiping bread and peanut butter from a convenience store when Deo and I hadn’t eaten in two days. But this is different. The look in that medic’s eyes terrified me, so I’m happy to stay down until we’re well away from the hospital.
Porter and I both relax a little once we’re on the interstate. I glance into the back and see that Deo is already asleep. I’m pretty close to nodding off myself when Porter says, “She’s gone, isn’t she?”
“Yeah. A few nights back.”
“Did she know they had the evidence to nail Lucas?”
“Yes. Well . . . actually, no. But she trusted Taylor’s gift enough to know the evidence was there. That they would find it. She didn’t want to go back to that place . . . and she said it was time. I’ll be the first to admit that Molly drove me crazy sometimes, but I miss her now that she’s gone.”
“Did she say anything about . . .” He looks a little embarrassed. “Seein’ any angels? That kind of stuff?”
“No. But she was happy. Peaceful. There was music, and colors, and I can’t really explain it, but . . . it was . . . beautiful, and I was grateful for that tiny glimpse of what Molly’s heaven would be like.”
He sniffs and looks out at the highway for a few minutes. “How about you? You handlin’ things okay?”
I shrug. “I’ve barely slept in the past few days. The dreams are bad when they come, but everything else we’ve been through recently has kind of put bad dreams into perspective. You wake up and after a minute or two, you realize the dream is over. This?” I wave my hand. “Real life? It just keeps piling on more. You get out of a crazy man’s underground bunker, and a few hours later, you’re on the run because it looks like you might have killed the guy whose life you were actually trying to save. And that’s leaving out what Daniel called the psycho mumbo jumbo.”
I’m pretty sure I said psychic mumbo jumbo.
You said psycho.
“Been a rough week, huh?”
“Been a rough day.”
“But you got your . . .” Porter nods toward the backseat. “What exactly is he to you?”
“Yes. Deo’s back. That’s the upside. And, let’s just say brother.”
“Well, on the one hand, that’s a relief. I don’t think Aaron’s ever even looked at a girl before, and I hated thinkin’ he finally took an interest and it might be one-sided. On the other hand, now I’m wonderin’ if you might need a chaperone after all.”
“Taylor will be chaperoning.”
“So will Deo.” That one comes from the backseat. Okay, not asleep after all.
And Daniel.
Jaden’s voice chimes in next.
Hey, definitely not me. I don’t care what the two of you do. I might even . . . well, maybe not, given that he’s a guy, and I’m really not into guys. Never mind on that.
“Aaron’s an adult. I will be too, in a little over a month. After that, it’s nobody’s business.”
Porter chuckles. “So it’s definitely not one-sided then.”