Page 81 of Protecting his Secrets

“So, Darius, tell me about you.”

And that was how Malachi came to know the entire Darius and Jason story, plus more information than Darius probably had intended to share, but it was his grandma. She’d be good at interrogations.

Malachi would be the first to admit that when the new guard turned up and it wasn’t Nick, he was disappointed, but he couldn’t keep expecting him to drop everything and run to him when there was a problem. He had his own job to do.

His brain was rebelling, though. So much had happened in such a short amount of time that he was clutching at so many balloon strings, trying to keep them from floating away. By the time his mother returned and they’d talked a little, Malachi was done.

“I have to go, but I’ll be back again soon. Now I’m working for myself, I can choose my hours.” He grinned, half-hearted as it might’ve been.

As they drove away, Darius said, “I’d like to try something if you agree.”

“What?”

“I’m trying to figure out if this person knows where you are. I want to take you to a place you would never dream of visiting yourself. Can you think of somewhere?”

“The river boats. I hate the idea and avoid them where possible. Even watching them freaks me out.”

“Okay. Try not to freak out on me while we’re there, though, yeah?”

Malachi chuckled. “I’ll do my best. Are you going to tell anyone?”

Darius sighed. “I’ll admit to being reluctant to because any communication with them could be intercepted. I know Felix found they were hearing our radios and he stopped it, but they could have others. But I also know, you must be running out of people you deem safe and secure. If you’d prefer me to tell someone, I can.”

“No, it’s okay. If Brett trusts you, I trust you.”

Darius sent him a smile, and they dropped into silence. He parked the car, and Malachi shivered as the cool breeze, wafting from the river, reached him.

“What made you not like boats?” Darius asked as they settled on a bench near to, but not close enough to view, the edge of the water.

Malachi shook his head and rubbed his hands together, not enjoying recalling the event. “I fell off one when I was younger and almost drowned.”

“Holy shit, that would do it.” Darius whistled. “I completely understand that.”

Malachi filled his lungs with salty air and closed his eyes. “It’s funny because I’m fine at the beach. But there’s something about rivers. A sense of claustrophobia, maybe. I don’t know.”

“Phobias are weird things.”

“How will you know if they’ve found us?”

Darius sighed. “They already have. Have you had any technical issues recently where you’ve had to get your laptop fixed, or your tablet, or your phone? Anything like that?”

Malachi frowned, thinking back. “How recently are you thinking?”

Darius shrugged. “Just the most recent.”

“Well, my phone had issues around four months ago, I think it was. I had to get a replacement through my insurance.”

“Do you have all your phone data saved somewhere else as well as on your phone? Phone numbers and whatnot?”

“I think so. Why?”

“Can I have your phone, please?”

Malachi gave it over without a second thought, and when Darius threw it in the river, he certainly didn’t feel the need to check if it was okay by going closer. He just watched it sail over the edge and disappear. He sighed. “I guess I need to contact my insurance again,” he muttered.

“Sorry. Can you think of another place where you might not usually visit to test my theory?”

Malachi blew out a breath. “The cemetery? I find it rather creepy.”

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