Page 22 of Simon Says

CHAPTER FOUR

“What do youmean he was nowhere in sight?” Rosie demanded of the whister pilot.

“Just that, Mrs. Catch.”

“Ms. Storm.”

“Whatever.”

Rosie’s temper flared. The whister pilot would, no doubt, sleep better at night not knowing how close he came to being a turd in the grass. And a small one at that.

“I also tried his phone,” the pilot continued. “Goes straight to voicemail.”

Rosie wheeled away from the pilot and looked at Deliverance, who just shrugged. She ran her hand through her hair. “What do you think?”

Deliverance stood with arms crossed over his bare chest, which was, in his opinion, the ultimate fashion expression. His black eyes picked up the light and, to some degree, reflected whatever he looked at. Slowly he moved his gaze away from the pilot to his granddaughter.

“I think you gave him the key and he used it.”

“Way to make me feel better.”

Deliverance looked confused. “I didn’t know you felt bad. So how would I know I’m supposed to make you feel better?”

“HE’S PROBABLY DEAD!”

Deliverance shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“I’m going to be in so much trouble with the Jefferson Unit Sovereign. Not to mention that I liked Simon. He was okay for an… administrator type.”

“Your husband is an administrator type.”

She gave him a look that said she didn’t appreciate that comment. “Wait a minute. What don’t you know?”

“A few things. Not much.”

“No.” She was sounding exasperated, which never worked with Deliverance. She counted to five, calmed herself down, and said, “He’s human. The injection I gave him would only last a couple of hours. It would be wearing off in,” she looked at her watch, “soon.”

“An injection of your blood?”

“Yeah. What else?”

“To ride the passes with you?”

“Yes.” She drew the word out as if to say ‘duh’.

“You’re assuming it’s a portal to passes.”

Rosie stared at him for a few seconds, his meaning dawning. She turned to the whister pilot. “You can go.”

“You don’t have the authority to dismiss me, ma’am. The Director called me. I have to wait until he tells me to leave.”

“What is happening here is above your intel level. You don’t have clearance to stay.”

The pilot’s eyes flicked nervously between Rosie and Deliverance. He was clearly torn. “I’ll go, but it’s on you. Your responsibility. Right?”

“I take full responsibility. Want a blood pact?”

The pilot looked from Rosie to Deliverance as if trying to determine whether or not she was joking. Seeing that they both looked serious, he said, “No. Your word is okay.”

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