Page 82 of Sundowners
“La Mente did it too. One of the women I interviewed told me about the days of torture they were all put through. It wasn’t meant as a teaching tool, it was how these sick bastards fed themselves, grew stronger.”
Anger poured off of Roman, and I siphoned it.
He turned to face me, his eyes wide. “You’re doing it now.”
“Your pulse rate has slowed, your blood pressure is back to normal. You can measure it.”
The captain snorted. “Okay, whatever, this woo woo bullshit is a waste of time. We need to find Donna Hicks and we need to catch these bastards. What can you tell us that will help?”
“I’ve spent the last three weeks trying to track them but I kept missing them. I finally tracked them to the house off seventeen this afternoon. I spotted the Mercedes G-Class near the Boardwalk and followed them. I kept my distance—we can sense each other and I knew The Source would feel my presence. They were carrying boxes out of the house like maybe they’re closing up shop. I didn’t recognize anyone other than Stephen. And there was some guy named Timothy who showed up who was carrying a woman over his shoulder. She was tied up, but I didn’t see her face. Perhaps it was the woman you were looking for. There were too many people there, including The Source, for me to confront them, so I was coming back to town to see you, but they spotted me and when I tried to evade them, I crashed my motorcycle.” I shrugged, and Roman grabbed my leg.
“You what?Jesus, Creed.” His worry was bittersweet. It fed me, but I didn’t want it. I hated putting him through this.
“I’m okay.” I really wasn’t. Without my frequent energy infusions from the patients at work, I was growing weak. The road rash on my side where my jacket and shirt were pulled up by the impact wasn’t healing as fast as usual, and my hip ached, plus my back had been scratched to hell by the bushes down the embankment. Thankfully I’d been wearing a helmet.
I placed my hand over his and tried to give him a reassuring smile.
“We’ll send officers out to the house, just to be sure they’re really gone,” the captain said. “Do you have any ideas where else they might be? Anything at all?”
I shook my head. “I’ve been racking my brains. The only thing I thought of, and this is a stretch, but…Samhain is coming up. At the commune, we celebrated the eight Pagan festivals. I remember the Leaders teaching us that The Source drew strength from ley lines, and there’s one that runs through the Santa Cruz Mountains and up to Mt. Tamalpais. Our commune was near Loch Lomond. I thought maybe they might return to that area for the ceremony?”
The officers looked at each other.
“We don’t have anything else to go on at this point. Look, it’s late. We’ve got an APB out on the Mercedes and Stephen Adams and his crew. We’re monitoring all activity at BioBourne, which has been dormant since Donna went missing.” The captain was frustrated. “All of you go and get some rest. Mr. Lowell, we appreciate your cooperation.”
I stood up with everyone else, and I reached across the table to shake his hand. He glanced down at it and back up at me.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”
He reached for my hand, realizing he was being silly. “I’d appreciate it if you’d stick around. Maybe you’ll think of something else, or we will.”
“Not ready to escort me to the city limits yet?” I winked as I released his hand, and he rolled his eyes.
“Surrounded by comedians.” He shook his head as he left the room but I could tell he wasn’t really upset.
Roman, on the other hand…his mind was spinning, and I knew he had a ton of questions for me.
“Let me take you two home,” Rey said, putting on his jacket.
“If you could just drop me at a motel, I don’t want to impose—”
“Shut up,” Roman said. He handed me Rhonda’s leash and put a hand between my shoulder blades, guiding me out. Truthfully, I needed his strength. My legs were ready to give out, my side ached, and I probably needed to sleep for about a week. I needed an Exchange, too, but that wasn’t going to happen.
They walked me out to Rey’s F150 and I stood by while Rhonda found a discreet piece of grass to do her business. I petted her neck and tried to give her some energy, but I swayed and Roman caught me.
“Come on, let me help you in.”
I wanted to protest but I was not at my best. I accepted his boost into the backseat of the crew cab, and then he lifted Rhonda up to sit next to me. He didn’t even strain under her weight.
“Rey, wait up.”
Agent Barringer and Vanessa walked up to the truck.
“I know you all need some-shut eye, but I was hoping I could come by tomorrow? I have some things to discuss with you both, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure. Bring coffee and donuts,” Rey said.
Barringer laughed and waved, leaving Vanessa to give me a death stare.
