Chaos (9 page)

“Shut up, McKade. Just tell me, which gangs?”

“One was the one you worked with and before you ask, yes,
the Kid was there. But he’s fine for now. He was supposed to provide a
distraction by propositioning the first non-uniformed cop he saw, which
happened to be me.”

“And? Did you lock him up?”

“No. I did ask if he wanted me to though.”

“What? Why?”

“We both knew what he was doing and I chose to let him act
out his appointed task. He knew who I was and that I wasn’t going to take him
up on his offer. He was about to run when I didn’t cuff him instantly but I
stopped him. I told him you were worried about him and got him to stay and talk
to me for a minute instead of joining the rest of his group.”

“So you kept him from getting killed.”

“This time, yes. He said he missed hanging out with you and
wanted to know if you were still going off on your wacky tornado chase. I
offered to bring him along home so he could talk to you but I guess he doesn’t
trust me.”

“Would you really have brought him here?” She sounded
unsure.

“In a flash,” he assured her. “I tried to tell him that he
can still walk away if he wants to.”

“What did he say?”

“That it was too late. That’s when the shooting started up
again and he took off.”

“Why didn’t you stop him?”

“He’s not ready for Shane’s help yet, Alyssa,” Jesse spoke
up. “He might be someday but not now. If Shane had taken him in, he’d end up in
a detention center and it could do him more harm than good at this point.”

“You’re saying it’s better to leave him out there so he can
kill other kids or become a hustler or sell drugs to Penny and her friends?”

“No, of course not. Think about it for a minute. The kid was
willing to stand there and speak to a guy he knows is a cop. He cared enough to
ask about you. He knows now that Shane will help him and all he has to do is
ask. I’m going to take a wild guess and assume that you offered to help him
too. It’s up to him now. If Shane took him in, he’d be stuck in the system
before he has the chance to weigh his options on his own, now that he knows he
has options. He might be one of the few who gets out alive.”

“I hate that you’re right about this. Thanks for trying,
McKade. I do understand why you have to wait. I wish I’d never taken that
assignment.”

“You can’t say that, Campini. If you hadn’t spent all that
time with him, talking to him, he might have never even thought to consider
getting out. Most of these kids believe they’ve reached the end of the line and
that there’s nowhere else for them to go. This one might see past it, thanks to
you.” Shane dragged himself out of the chair. “I don’t want to chase you off
here but I really need a shower. You’re welcome to stay and go back to enjoying
yourselves like you were before I got home.”

Jesse stood as Brett grabbed Shane and hugged him again.
“Nope, we’re out of here. We’re going to Jordan’s tomorrow so Jesse can see
what he needs for the security system Jordan wants. Alyssa is dropping off her
car and some other stuff. You should come with us. You can take a few things to
put in the gatehouse too. It’ll make Kiley think you’re planning on visiting
and she’ll be happy.”

“Yeah, sure. As long as you’re not leaving at the crack of
dawn I guess I’m in. You guys really don’t have to go.”

“Yes, we do. You can barely stand up.” Jesse noticed that he
started leaning on the wall. “We’re leaving fairly early but there’s no need
for you two to go then. We’ll be either at Jordan’s or the station so I’m sure
you’ll find us, no problem. Just try to be there by lunch and we’ll explore the
town and find someplace to eat. See you tomorrow. Alyssa, don’t keep the man up
tonight. He needs to sleep.”

“You’re staying?” Shane asked.

“I thought I would unless you don’t want me to. I’ll warm up
some dinner for you while you shower.”

“Okay, thanks. That would be nice of you. Thanks again,
guys. For everything.”

“Hey, no problem. It was a real hardship hanging out with a
sexy, funny woman for a few hours. Make sure you take care of yourself, Shane.”
Jesse gave him a knowing look.

“Absolutely. I wouldn’t want you to have to turn in a bad
report to my brother when he gets back. Don’t look so shocked, Jesse. I know
you’re our friend but I’m also sure that Jordan asked you to check up on us
while he was away. It’s kind of nice in a weird way now that I’m over freaking
out about the idea that my kid brother hired me a babysitter.”

“I’ve never been your babysitter but I get what you’re
saying. I like you guys so I would be here anyway but I won’t lie and try to
convince you Jordan didn’t mention it to me. Just so you don’t feel left out,
Alyssa, they asked me to check on you too. I should thank you for hanging out
together and making it so easy for me. Let’s go, Brett, before he falls asleep
where he’s leaning.”

* * * * *

Shane stretched out on top of the covers and watched Alyssa
prowl around the room. “Please, I’m begging you, hold still. You pacing like
that is making me jumpy.”

“Oops, sorry, I didn’t realize…” Alyssa propped up a pillow
next to him.

“You seem nervous. Are you all right? You’re acting weird.”
He caressed her cheek lightly.

“Well, um,” she hesitated.

“Just spit it out, Campini. I admit there’s a lot about you
I don’t know yet but I can tell you’ve got something on your mind. I’m not at
my sharpest at the moment so you’re going to have to give me some sort of
clue.”

“It’s just that I don’t know how to handle this. I told you
that I don’t do relationships and normally I would have run for the hills by
now.”

“Give me a minute to get dressed and I’ll drive you home.”
He started to get up.

She grabbed his arm to stop him. “Wait, that’s not what I
meant. Earlier, when you were talking, I don’t know, it was weird. I didn’t
think you would want to be alone tonight and I felt like I should stay. I
wanted to stay and, well, just be here.”

“Thanks. You’re right. I was hoping you’d stay but I wasn’t
going to ask you to. I know I said some pretty un-fun things when I got home
and that tonight was more than you bargained for. I’m glad you’re here, Pix. It
means more to me than you know. I especially appreciate the tea you made for
me. Imagine, Ms. Campini, Pixie Queen and photographer extraordinaire, making
herbal tea with real tea not in a bag. You are full of surprises.”

“I thought you could use it since it says it’s supposed to
relax you.”

“It was a perfect idea. Thanks for not tuning me out. This
is a little weird for me too. I’m not really used to having someone try to take
care of me.”

“Yeah, well, don’t expect it all the time because you’ve now
seen the extent of my abilities.”

“No problem.” Shane decided the tone was right and it was as
good an opportunity as any he was going to get to say what he wanted to say. “I
have a present for you, for your trip.”

“What kind of present?” She was suddenly suspicious. “I
don’t want anything.”

“Sh, it’s not a big deal. I shouldn’t even call it a present
since it’s very practical.” He pulled something out of his nightstand and handed
it to her.

Inside the small box, Alyssa found two flat disks, one on a
clip and one on a chain and a similar but larger object, along with a tiny
case. “I don’t get it.”

Shane squeezed one of the disks. It instantly lit up,
illuminating the room with bright, white light. “I thought you might need
these.”

“What the hell for?” She shifted away from him and dropped
the box.

“Campini, I did some soul-baring tonight so you don’t have
to be afraid to do some too. You’re a little uncomfortable in the dark…”

“I am not! That’s ridiculous! Why would you say such a
stupid thing?”

“Because you are. The first night, I figured we left a light
on so we could see each other. The second night I thought it was because you
were in an unfamiliar place and wanted to be able to find your way around if
you needed to get up. I didn’t really think much of it last Friday but on
Saturday we stayed at your place. I’ve noticed you have the habit of turning on
every light you can find, here and at home and leaving them on when you’re in a
different room. It’s not worth you getting defensive about. I admit I didn’t
really understand how you could manage to work in a darkroom but that was
before I realized most everything you do is digital. What I truly don’t get is
how you’re going to be able to stand it after a storm rips through an area and
you’re stuck in the dark for hours. Can’t you let me try to help?” Shane waited
for her to say something, anything but she didn’t. “This is where you smile and
play with the lights and say thanks to me for being so perceptive and
thoughtful. You also say you know you can trust me not to mention this again
unless you bring it up. I’d never make fun of you. Not about something that
scares you. Don’t you know me well enough by now to know that?”

“I guess,” she murmured quietly as she finally met his eyes.
“No one else ever noticed, not even Kiley.” She reached for the box.

“There’s no reason to tell her either. I thought you could
wear this around your neck and clip the other on your camera bag. The bigger
one is for your motel room. If anyone asks, you can brag about how well
prepared you are, since I’m sure you’ll be somewhere without electricity at
some point in the next few months. There are extra batteries in the case.”

“I’ve never seen lights like these. Where’d you find them?”

“Jesse got them for me from Wyatt. I told him I wanted to
give you a little trinket to make you think about me while you’re away and how
I was afraid you’d reject something personal. I asked if Wyatt had some sort of
high-powered, long-lasting light that was entirely too practical for you to
refuse.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.” Shane watched her click the lights on and off.
“Not that it would matter. I honestly believe you could trust Jesse with
anything.”

“Me too. How long are these things supposed to last? I’ve
never seen batteries quite like these either.”

“I suspect that they are one of Wyatt’s inventions. Jesse
says you can leave one on for a solid month before it goes out completely. With
the extra batteries, you could last a year without turning them off.” Shane
slid out of bed. “Let me show you how bright they are.” As he turned off the
lights in both the room and the bathroom she clicked on all three of hers. The
room was brighter than it would be at noon on a sunny day. “Why don’t you turn
one off and see how much difference each makes?” he suggested as he crawled
under the covers. “Okay, now the second one.”

“These are amazing.” She sounded awed. “Thanks. I guess it’s
not so bad that you noticed.”

“You’re welcome and I hope you don’t need them.” He watched
her as she continued to turn two of them on and off. “Will you do something for
me, Pixie Queen?”

“I thought you were tired,” she laughed when he slid his arm
around her.

“I am and that’s not what I was talking about. Let me show
you that you have absolutely nothing to be afraid of when you’re here, with me,
even in the dark.”

“McKade.” She was shaking her head as she clutched a light.

“Just for a few minutes. Please. I really need to do
something useful tonight. I promise to hold you the whole time and, as soon as
you tell me to, I’ll turn the light back on for the night. Or you can hang on
to one of these so you control it.” Shane could feel her pulling into herself
and backing away from him emotionally. “Forget it, Campini, I’m sorry. I didn’t
mean to push you. I was just trying to help.”

Instead of responding, Alyssa turned off the light and
handed him the box. “You better not do something stupid like try to scare me on
purpose.” She moved against him and clutched him tightly. “Don’t let go, okay?
I really do know there’s nothing to worry about, at least not with you here.”

“That’s right. I won’t let anything happen to you.” When he
was quiet he could hear her breathing getting shallower. “Any idea why you’re
scared? Sorry. Don’t answer that. I shouldn’t pry but I thought talking might
distract you.”

“I was real little, not in school yet. We moved around a
lot, since Dad was some sort of trainer at the time. We got to a base early and
our house wasn’t ready, so we stayed in a barracks. I had to go to the bathroom
and my parents were sleeping so I thought I’d just go on my own. I walked to
where I thought it was but, just before I got there, someone turned off the
lights. I tried to feel my way along the wall but I didn’t know if I’d passed
any doors. I was afraid I’d go in the wrong room and I just knew if I woke up
the wrong person, I’d get killed. I knew Marines were trained to fight and I
thought they could see in the dark. I was sure they’d think I was there to hurt
them and they’d make sure they got me first. I backed into a corner and got
ready to sit there all night. One of the guys came in and saw me somehow, I
guess it wasn’t totally dark but I was too scared by then to notice. When he
came toward me and asked what I was doing there, I started to scream and that
made him yell and then everyone was yelling.” Alyssa tried to get closer and
felt Shane tighten his arms.

“When they turned the lights on, I was curled into as small
a ball as I could and wouldn’t take my arms off my head. One of them realized
who I was and picked me up to take me back to my parents but I thought I was
about to be killed so I started fighting to get loose. I must have startled him
because he dropped me and almost fell over me. I kept waiting for him to kick
me and I didn’t know it was my dad who tried to pick me up the second time. I
was out of control and wouldn’t stop. It took two of them, trying not to hurt
me, to hold me still long enough for me to see my mom in front of me. When I
tried to tell them what happened, the guys laughed because I was a silly little
girl with a big imagination and my dad told me I shouldn’t have acted the way I
did. I was his daughter so I had to be braver than that or what were the men he
was training going to think? My mom told me that that was what happened when
children wandered off on their own, even though they were taught better.”