Page 110 of Concluded
The cop was an older man who had clearly Seen Some Shit during his tenure.But he took a half step backward.“Just don’t take off, Mr.Grimes.We still got a lot of questions for you.”
“Of course.”Charles pivoted and headed toward Dee.
“Do you know what I have in mind?”Achilles demanded, hurrying to keep up.“Did you know the whole time?’Cause it would have been nice if you’d shared that info.”
When Charles replied, he sounded young.And British.“We were confident you’d think of something, but we didn’t know details.Your thoughts and actions are your own.Free will and all that rot.”
Achilles might have shared his opinion of this, but Santiago shushed him, and anyway by then they’d reached Dee, Keaton, and Owen.Dee was sitting up, and although he looked awful, he looked considerably less awful than he had fifteen minutes before.
Achilles immediately sat next to him, arm around his back.“Let’s not waste time.I’m going to do my best to give Dee an energy boost.Then I’m going to wish that Keaton’s reverse empathy is temporarily magnified.Chief, you’re going to get the whole gang radiating as much hope, joy, love… you know the drill… as much of that as they can.Then Keaton, you’re going to blast Spurling and the rest of those fuckers with all your might.”
Keaton blinked.“I’ve never done that when the, um, target wasn’t present.I don’t even know where these people are.”
“That’s where Dee’s wish is going to help.What if you could target them from a distance?Like… heat-sensing missiles.”
“Um….”More blinking.
Owen nudged him.“You can do it, Kay.I know you can.”
Maybe Owen shared a magical connection with his partner, or maybe it was just a confidence boost from a loved one—which was magical in its own way, really.In any case, Keaton shrugged and nodded.“Worth a try.”
Achilles did his part next, kissing Dee long and hard.The kiss tasted of ashes and plaster and blood, but that was of no concern.Dee was warm and alive.He was in Achilles’ arms, kissing him back.And that was a glorious thing.Achilles forgot that they had an audience, and even forgot that the kiss was supposed to be accomplishing something besides making him desperately, achingly hard.He might very well have laid Dee down and screwed him after all, Trader Joe’s parking lot be damned, but Charles made a loud throat-clearing noise.
“We should get on with it,” Charles said in his own voice.“Give me a few minutes to get orders out.”
He trotted away, leaving the four of them—six if you counted the ibburs—in a somewhat awkward silence.Owen broke it first.“You two got the angel out of that place.Thank you.”
“You found him,” Achilles pointed out.
“He saved Keaton and me.When we were really stuck, he gave us a way out.”
“I get it!”Dee looked considerably more animated than before the kiss.“It’s more than synergy.Doing what we can to help others, that’s part of the point, isn’t it?It helps tip the balance.”
“Big time,” Achilles agreed.
They waited.There were still sirens and helicopters around and over them.HQ continued to burn.The world still seethed with hatred, fear, greed, and other poisons.But the fight wasn’t over.
Charles came back at a full run, flanked by Tenrael and Ish, and all three of them looking like that ancient image of the devil and angel on someone’s shoulders.Achilles glanced around and saw that every agent in the parking lot was looking their way.Even the injured ones.And damned if they weren’t smiling and giving thumbs ups.
“Do it,” Dee said, and added more softly, “Master.”
Achilles looked around for something to use as a charm.A rosemary bush grew at the nearby edge of the parking lot.It was covered in tiny purple flowers, and when he broke off a sprig, the scent reminded him of the roasted lamb his mother used to make on special occasions.It had been his birthday meal every year.
Smiling, he handed the herb to Dee, whose face flushed, pupils dilated, and breathing became quick and shallow as he worked.He was grinning when he handed it back.
Deep breath.“I wish,” Achilles said.His voice broke and he had to start again.“I wish that, for as long as needed, Keaton can extend his reverse empathy to Spurling and all his compatriots, wherever they may be.”
The rosemary disintegrated and Dee wilted against him, trickles of blood coming from his nose and ears.Achilles wanted to sob and scream, but now was not the time for that.Grief could come later.
Owen stood behind Keaton, steadying his shoulders, and Keaton closed his eyes.
“Now!”Charles shouted, three voices combined into one.
Holding Dee tight, Achilles thought about how remarkable Dee was and how much Achilles loved him.He thought about everything he hoped they’d do together: A comfortable little home to share.Hours spent cooking meals, reading, watching TV, socializing with friends, making love.Vacations.Maybe even couples therapy.
He laughed at the last thought, which made the good feeling in his gut intensify.
He remembered that his sister was willing to reconnect with him, that she had kids she wanted him to meet.
