Page 61 of House of Pawns
It’s true. It’s difficult to tell what is directly at the center of the eye, but it does look like it might be the Conrath Estate.
“They’ve called,” Rath says. “I wouldn’t grant them access to the property.”
Luke nods. “Well, that’s probably good. The officials are recommending everyone get out of town until this clears out. It’s supposed to get a lot worse. They’re recommending people head up to Jackson or down to Biloxi.”
I nod, feeling something lift off my chest. “That’s good. Are people leaving?”
Luke shrugs. “Some. I suspect more will by morning when even more pipes break and the temperatures reach zero.”
“Are you going to be headed out of town soon?” I ask, looking over at him.
Luke meets my eyes and there’s complicated emotions there, it’s easy to tell. Luke and I have come to understand each other, but he doesn’t like what my presence here has done to his town. “I’m needed here to protect and serve.”
I nod, because I knew that would be his answer. “You going to be okay wherever you live? Enough water, heat?”
“Rath here had a pallet of water delivered to my place about an hour ago,” Luke says, nodding in his direction in gratitude. “And I’ve got a wood burner, so I’ll be okay.”
I nod. “I’d, of course, tell you you’re welcome to stay here if you need, but that might not be a wise idea considering the house guests I’m about to be entertaining.”
Luke gives a small, humorless chuckle. “I hope you’ve already dismissed your staff for a while?”
Rath nods. “They all left about two hours ago. They’ve been given paid leave and an extended vacation to San Diego until I tell them it’s time to come home.”
Luke laughs again. “San Diego. Now there’s a good idea. How about we all take a good long vacation until this blows over?”
And I chuckle, too. The idea of a vacation seems so ludicrous now. So human and mundane.
“I’m going to keep doing as much as I can to keep getting people out of here,” Luke says as he takes two steps back toward his cruiser. “You heard anything from Jasmine, yet?”
I shake my head. “She’s laying low. You heard of any more attacks?”
“Two teenagers,” he says, a hard edge to his voice. “And a construction worker. We’re up to six people from town now. I think that’s part of the reason people are leaving. They’re afraid.”
“They should be,” I say. And I hate the confession.
Luke opens the driver’s door. “Alivia?” I look back up at him. “I’ll be around, but I really hope I don’t have to talk to you much until all this is over, so if you don’t hear from me…”
“I understand,” I nod.
He gives me a thin-lipped smile. He climbs into his car, and pulls around the driveway and back toward the gate.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
IWALK DOWN THE STAIRS when a whooshing sing-sound grabs my attention. I turn into the foyer to see Raheem in the middle of the ballroom.
He wields a sword. He’s dressed in loose, linen pants that tighten around his ankles. A similar shirt and colored keffiyeh. He holds the single-edged sword, poised, his focus sharp. Suddenly, he slices it through the air, a metal hiss singing loudly. He pivots elegantly, twirling as he cuts through the air.
Raheem is graceful and controlled. The way he moves, it reminds me of a panther.
Suddenly, he catches sight of me and he stills instantly. Our eyes lock for a long moment, and I’m sad his beautiful dance has ended.
“Please don’t stop on account of me,” I breathe. I want to come closer, but for some reason I do not dare.
“Would you like to try it?” he asks. There’s a certain degree of hopefulness in his voice.
I swallow hard. I hesitate. But finally, I nod.
