Page 102 of Homebound
Uncle Drexel issued a wheezing moan.
Herise gasped. “Dr. Delano, you can’t mean that. My husband hasn’t recovered!”
The doctor glanced at Herise dispassionately before eyeing Drexel’s bandaged arm. “Your niece is aiding and abetting a dangerous alien criminal who belongs in my lab. When Gemma produces Simon, I will continue working with your husband. That’s where things stand.”
Aghast at the turn of the events, Gemma stood rooted to the spot. A small part of her hoped Dr. Delano was bluffing. He was a doctor, for god’s sake! He didn’t mean it!
She was afraid he did.
“But we paid in advance for five procedures!” Aunt Herise rose from her chair, her face chalky, her hands folded in supplication.
“You have to honor the contract,” Gemma forced the words through her teeth. “Uncle Drexel has two more visits.”
“There is no contract. And there will be no more visits,” his tone was sharp enough to cut glass. “And before you ask, no other doctor can help him. The treatments he’s been receiving are alternative methods that I developed in my lab.”
Aunt Herise rushed over to Gemma and grabbed her hand. “Gemma, tell him where to find this alien! Dr. Delano, she will tell you everything! And we have a little money left, just say the word and we will make another payment.”
Dr. Delano continued his intense regard of her.
“Where is Simon?” he asked quietly, menacing and cultured at the same time.
“I don’t know,” Gemma whispered back feeling the first prickle of tears.
She truly had no idea. But as tears of helplessness and despair slid down her cheeks, she knew with absolute certainty that had she known, she wouldn't have told.
She looked around taking in Uncle Drexel’s anguished expression, noting how Aunt Herise seemed to have aged in a span of a few minutes, and the children… Desh’s wide-eyed uncomprehending look…
As if reading her mind, Dr. Delano stepped closer. “Yes, Gemma. Look at them. This family’s fate hinges on Drexel’s ability to work. Without treatments, he’ll lose his arm. Is one errant Rix worth their destruction?”
Gemma’s tears flowed harder. She didn’t answer, for there was nothing to say.
Seeing that his threats were gaining him no ground, Dr. Delano motioned for the orderlies to go. One walked ahead and held the door open.
“I’ll get Simon, with or without your help,” he threw over his shoulder. “He has nowhere to go.”
The door shut in his wake.
No one spoke for a long time. No one moved. Aunt Herise was the first to rouse herself. Face twisted in a mask of hatred, she went after Gemma, claws at the ready. Taking her unawares, she sank her nails into her niece’s cheeks.
“You bitch!” Herise screeched, “You filthy, sniveling beggar! Where is your stupid alien?Where is he?”
Gemma went on the defensive frightened by Herise’s intensity and attempts to do her physical harm. She kneed the woman in the abdomen forcing her to let go of her face and stumble back. Her cheeks stung where Herise’s nails broke the skin, the salty tears making the sting sharper.
“I don’t know where he is!”
“Find him! You let him escape. It’s all your fault.”
“How am I supposed to find him? Post an ad in Lost and Found?”
Herise slapped her. “You think this is funny? Ungrateful brat! Is that how you paid us back for our kindness?”
Gemma’s endurance reached its limits and something inside her broke. She pointed an unsteady finger at Aunt Herise. “You touch me again, I swear to God, I’ll smear my blood all over your face, and who knows what’s inside me from touching the aliens. I kissed Simon. On the mouth. You wanna risk it?”
Herise gasped and fell back a step. “A filthy alien whore… in my house!” She turned to her daughter. “Leena! Empty her drawers. Throw everything to the street.”
Leena, eyes swollen from crying and the upper lip liberally smeared with snot, ran into Gemma’s room.
“No, don’t touch my things!” Outraged, Gemma tried to follow but Uncle Drexel jumped from his chair overturning it and rushed to block her path. He roughly shouldered Gemma with his good side and his superior weight almost made her lose her footing. She twisted her body catching the table to break her fall and kicked Drexel square in his injured arm.
