Page 14 of Wolf Bane
Justin huffed.“Someone I went to med school with in Boston.They’re in the area for some conference and asked if I wanted to go to lunch.I… I said yeah.It’s been such a fucktangular year, and Tyler keeps saying I’ve gotta get out more and stop hiding and that the… the people who did this to me are locked up.”He held up his hands, half-curled, like weak paws.“Nessa was always super nice to me in school, you know?Even when I would freak out and have one of my attacks.”
Both of us ignored Tyler slipping back into the room.He hadn’t showered but he’d brushed his teeth, the strong mint smell of the paste and mouthwash sharp enough even someone without were senses could pick up on it.
“Where’d y’all meet up?”I asked, slipping my hand into my pocket, fingering the flash drive.“Who all was there?What did you do, exactly?Like excruciating detail, Justin.”
Justin’s pale cheeks flushed deep pink.He ducked his chin, lifting one thin shoulder in a shrug.“Me, her, some guy she works with.I think they’re dating.I don’t know.We met at the hotel she was staying at in Dallas.They wanted to grab some lunch, but um…” He trailed off, flushing deeply.“I didn’t have money with me.Haven’t been working, you know?So, I said I was good.I think she knew, though, because she insisted on paying.”
Tyler was frowning at that, jaw tight like he wanted to say something, but he just sat back, arms tight across his middle as Justin sighed, pressing on.
“We got some lunch, the three of us.I ordered soup since it was cheap and I felt bad, her payin’.Not because she’s a woman or something,” he hastened to add.“Because I don’t like askin’ others for help.It was alright, we caught up a bit.Her friend was kinda quiet and acted like I was cockblockin’ him.Maybe I was.After lunch, my head started actin’ up like it does—that part wasn’t new,” he added before I could ask.“I get headaches time to time, ever since.”
Ever since last year, I filled in silently.
“Anyway.They walked me back to the truck, she popped into the Walgreens for some painkiller when I said my head hurt, got me a bottle of water too, which was super embarrassing.I didn’t even get my own water.”He paused, expression shuttering.“Then I came home.”
“That’s everything?”
Justin nodded curtly, shutting down.Curled in on himself on the sofa, it was like he was willing himself to stop existing, to just nope right on out of the mess his life felt like.
I changed the subject slightly, got a list of what Justin had tried and not tried since getting sick.Had anything helped?No.Did the itching start first or the chest cold symptoms?The itchy feeling.How soon after getting back from Dallas did it start?Just a few hours.
I nodded, made appropriate doctor noises, then said I had to go look something up.
“Some other people have come down with something similar,” I half-truthed.“Tyler, can I borrow your laptop?My phone’s almost dead.”
Tyler blinked to attention.“Uh.Sure.Which one?I’ve got like… ten.What do you need it for?”
“Medical data search.”I stared hard at him, willing him to suddenly manifest mind-reading powers.
Something must’ve worked or maybe it was the crazy eyed stare scaring him because he nodded slowly and motioned for me to come with him.“You can use the one in my office.It’s still charging.Come on.”
Justin slid back down to lay on his side while I followed Tyler down the hall to what had once been his bedroom but was now his office.
And by office, I meanweird computer cave.He had some sort of mesh strung up on the walls, what looked like two or three server racks in the open closet, and a general explosion of computer parts and energy drink cans on the desks and tabletops lining the room.
“What is it?”he demanded as soon as the door closed behind us.“You’re being squirrelly.Is he really dying?AmIdying?Why do you keep shoving your hand in your pocket?Is this some sort of weird turn on for you?Oh my God, Ethan is right, I don’t want to know anything about your private life.”
“One, speaking as a doctor, it’s my professional opinion you’re drinking way too many Monsters.Two,” I produced the flash drive with a little flourish, “I need help.”
* * *
“It’s mostly trash,”Tyler assured me as he grabbed parts off the shelves around his office to assemble his emergency file opening laptop.“Bits and pieces I salvaged from other projects.If this thing toasts it, no big loss.”He paused mid-geekery and glanced up at me.“Am I about to see something that’ll scar me for life, Landry?I’m secured to the eye teeth so nothing’s gonna ping the feds, but I don’t want to give myself more nightmares.”
“I have no idea.I don’t think so.Cullen gave it to me.”
“He seems like a freaky little shit,” Tyler muttered, fussing with his set up.“But not the sort to give you nightmare fuel.”He paused, then shrugged.“Well, not the kind I’m thinking of anyway.Let’s see what we’ve got here.”
Tyler in full on geek mode was kind of impressive, and a lot intimidating.“I remember you taking apart your dad’s computer your sophomore year of high school,” I mused behind a yawn, watching his fingers fly over keys.
“I remember him beating my ass after that.”Tyler darted a mirthless glance my way.“This is gonna take a few minutes.Cullen’s got a mess in here.Looks like he tried to layer in some encryption or something.”
Taking the hint, I slipped back out to ostensibly check on Justin.After a cursory check to find him sleeping once more and fever low, I ducked into the kitchen to try and call Ethan again.
Still no answer.Direct to voicemail again.
This time, I waited for the beep.“Hey.It’s me.Again.Look, I need to talk to you likeyesterday, okay?I don’t know what you’re doing, and I get that it’s super important, but right now I’m kind of on the edge of a crisis and I need your help.Or advice.Or something.”I closed my eyes, swallowing down the tired babble threatening to keep spilling out.“Call me.Love you.”
“Doctor Babin?”Justin called softly, voice rough.“Or am I hearing things again?”
