Page 132 of Homebound
“Yes, we did meet.” Gemma wiped away the tears.
“I hope that alien can appreciate the precious treasure that you are.”
“Oh, Ruby, it’s such a disaster. Now that I’m here, Dr. Delano will use me as bait to catch him. I’m afraid Simon will do something reckless.”
Ruby threw her a loaded look. “Simon? He ain't reckless.”
Chapter 29
Gemma refused to go along with Ruby’s plan. She eyed a helper’s overcoat Ruby had thrown at her between the bars like it was a poisonous snake.
“You will lose your job.”
“We’ll see,” her friend evaded.
“Worse, they will prosecute you for aiding and abetting, and you’ll end up sharing this cell with me.”
“That they won’t. I’m a nobody worth the hassle. Will you hurry up and dress?”
“No.”
Frustrated and impatient, Ruby tapped her foot. “Dress up, I said. Ain’t that much time left.”
“Keep your voice down,” Gemma hissed, knowing every inmate within earshot was listening. And some, like Tarai, had hearing like bats.
“I am to take you downstairs, and now. He’ll be waiting.”
Gemma scrambled off the cot. Her head spun but she managed to keep herself upright. “Who will be waiting?”
“Got your attention, did it. Simon. Your exotic pet with long white hair and big black eyes. Remember him?”
Gemma pressed her body to the bars, so intent was she on what Ruby was saying. He wouldn't be so careless as to come here. Unlike her, Simon had common sense in spades. Ruby was jerking her chain, trying to get her moving.
“You aren’t funny.”
“I wasn’t going to be. Get dressed and let’s go.”
Still, Gemma didn’t believe her. “Wait, have you seen Simon? Talked to him?”
“Yes. Last night on my way home he ambushed me. Gave me a fright of my life, if you want the truth.” Her face wrinkled in memory. “He’s terrifying, Gemma. Especially in the dark.”
Yep, sounded like Simon. “He can’t come here! God, Ruby, guards are everywhere. If they don’t kill him, Dr. Delano’s men will capture him. He’s in mortal danger! I can’t go. I can’t jeopardize him.”
“He knows, honey. He won’t come unprepared.”
“How? What can he possibly prepare?”
Ruby placed her hand on the onyx scanner unlocking the barred door to her cell.
“That I don’t know. But we have to get out now. There’s no way to call it off. Simon asked me to tell you that if you resist.”
Without looking if Gemma was going to comply, Ruby turned and marched away. Only then Gemma noticed her holding another overcoat.
Galvanized by a mere thought that Simon might be near, scared that she was going to make matters worse by following Ruby’s plan, she shrugged on the gray starchy overcoat and stepped out.
Farther down the corridor, she heard a scanner beep and saw Ruby unlocking another cell door. A murmur of voices, one distinctly Ruby’s, reached her ears, but she couldn't discern the words or see who Ruby was talking to.
Prisoners in nearby cells were starting to make noise. Their escape plan had reached wider circulation.
