Demon Girl (Keeley Thomson Book One) (22 page)

   Hally, as Keeley had suspected, didn't really need math help.

   They drilled, sitting in the back of the library, for half an hour before they even saw another person, an older man that Hally waved to.

   “That's George. He lives here. During the day I mean. I think he has a house, but this is where he is most of the time. He's nice. He used to let me sit on his lap and read to me.” She raised her eyebrows and frowned a little in Keeley's direction, daring her to say something about it.

   “It wasn't creepy. Everyone always tries to make out like it was bad, but he's just lonely. His wife died about ten years ago and he doesn't have anyone in his life. We should visit with him some time.” She sounded pleased by the idea.

   Keeley smiled.

   “Alright, first we need to finish prepping you for the test. But you know all this stuff. Let's just go over it a few more times so that you know you know it and we can debate the merits of you doing the extra credit problems. You should, since you're going to get a hundred percent anyway, it will help bring up the rest of your grade.”

   “You think so? I mean really? I always feel so scared during tests and this is a big one...”

   “No problem. Scared won't make the knowledge go away. We'll just keep practicing until even terror won't make you freeze up.”

   For all that Hally's parents were staunchly against drugs, they didn't mind their daughter carrying around a cell phone, drug dealing icon or not, which made a soft vibrating noise at just after eight. They were getting ready to leave, so it wasn't a big problem. George smiled at them and Hally waved for a second, as Keeley watched her answer the phone.

   “What?” The girl yelped into the phone, making everyone else jump. The library wasn't huge, but it had three rooms filled with books and the Librarian came from the front to scowl at them a few moments later.

   “God, yes, right away. We're coming, I'm with Keels.” She ran for the door without saying anything.

   It didn't take a genius to get that something had gone very, very wrong. At the front door Hally turned suddenly and jumped when she realized that Keeley had followed, carrying all the books and papers, a little less than neatly.

   “Oh... It's Rob... He's, there's been an accident, or, well, Eve didn't know, but they're all at the hospital. General, I said we were going, is...”

   Keeley ran.

   The red-head panted up behind her after a moment, getting that they were going. Not that Keeley knew how to get there, but the other girl did. So with only a small handful of traffic violations they got to the emergency entrance of the place and parked next to Darla's little red sports car. Then they ran again.

   It was Gary that they saw first, and who saw them. He fairly tackled Hally and held on as if trying not to drown.

   “It's...”

   He had bandages on, and a black eye, but didn't seem out of it, but he couldn't explain anything. The boy couldn't make himself speak it seemed. Eve just stood and after a second walked over and hugged her. Darla talked on her own cell phone.

   “Gay-bashers. This time we know for a fact it was some guys from Wilson. They... really hurt Rob. They beat up Gary, knocked him out before he saw anything, but Rob, the only thing he managed to say was “devils”, Wilson high, the blue devils... Yeah, we need to get them for this.” She sounded more than angry. Violence simmered just under her skin, which looked hot and flushed.

   The room was too warm for her clothing, even Keeley felt it, a bit of burning that wasn't natural, a response to the emergency and the fact that the hospital was just kept too warm. Why they did that she didn't know. Maybe for patient comfort?

   Eve was dressed in blue jeans and a black button up shirt with no sleeves. It didn't look rich, but she pulled it off alright. It looked like she was ready to go and throw down with the entire Wilson High football team if she had to. The evidence seemed pretty damning, at least if you didn't know a giant lesser demon that really did look like a devil was out wondering the streets, trying to hurt anyone too close to Darla.

   It was a good plan, Keeley understood, after a few moment's thought, Eve still clinging to her. Attack everyone around the demoness until she just left town to protect them. Except she wouldn't leave would she? No, she'd hunt the thing down and make it pay. If she didn't Keeley would.

   It would probably be Darla though.

   Which was good, because, Keeley reminded herself, the lesser demon was just out of her league at the moment.

   The blond got off the phone and passed out her own hugs, except that for some reason Eve wouldn't let go of her, so Darla had to join in with them. It was a bit strange, but Keeley could deal. It was just a hug and there was no new information in it really. The girl was upset, but that was so clear the contact didn't make a difference at all. That Eve had a crush on Rob, that was something she hadn't understood before, the data was there, it just hadn't been important.

   Hally had to get home before nine, and as Darla pointed out, sitting in the waiting room wouldn't help anything. The others stayed, but Hally's parents wouldn't have taken Hally being in the hospital as a good enough excuse to be late she said, which got a real nod from Darla.

   “They're a little intense, afraid that their daughter is going to become a crack-whore if she gets even a fraction of a chance. Which is silly. Hally is an incredible daughter.”

   One that still needed to get home.

   Well, Keeley could do that.

   “I feel so awful just leaving like that, Rob's my friend and I can't even be there for him.” The tears fell, thick and heavy. Keeley had never done well with tears. What was she supposed to do now? When she parked the cream colored van and stopped the engine she reached over and patted the girl's hand, which turned into a tight hug. A desperate one that caused the red-heads breasts to push up against her a bit. Not sexual, thank god, just warm.

   She patted her back for a bit and asked if she wanted her to walk her in. Hally clearly did, but shook her head.

   “My parents, they'll just pester you about drugs and stuff and nothing you say will be right. It's probably better if I just go in alone...”

   That wasn't going to work though, because both the Yorks walked out just then, half smiling, half looking ready to search Freida for contraband. Sighing Keeley just got out and walked over to them. She held out her right hand to shake, first with Mr. York, whose name was Devon, only it wasn't really, and then with Ginger, Hally's mom. It was a made up name as well, to match her hair. That made sense, the made up names, since both of them were fugitives wanted for murder.

   They hadn't done it, but the state thought they were guilty and the only man that could save them was the actual murderer, a man named Monroe, who had no reason to at all. That was the real reason for their extreme care about Hally's friends. They didn't do drugs, true, but that was all about legal issues, keeping a low profile. Everything they did got filtered through that. The need to hide.

   “Hello, I don't think we've met...” Mr. York spoke smoothly, but then a con man would have had to be smooth, wouldn't he? That's what they used to be. Now he sold insurance, which was still close to the same thing.

   “I'm Keeley.” She looked at both the parents and shrugged, realizing that even though she didn't know the reason, Hally had the right of it, nothing she said would have been right for them. Not the truth at least and she didn't have time to sell them on anything else that would have worked.

   “Um, Rob, one of Hally's friends, and his boyfriend Gary, they were jumped earlier, a hate crime we think, because they're gay.” She kept going before they could ask any questions.

   “Hally was with me at the library. We were going over her math test for this Friday, which she should do really well on. But we stopped by the hospital on the way here, we don't know anything about how bad Rob is hurt he's still in surgery. I'm going to get some food and take it back with me.”

   The Yorks looked worried, vastly worried, suddenly.

   “You were at the library?” Ginger said, looking at Hally hard, as if not believing her.

   “Yes. Eve called. I, this is so horrible. Rob's so nice and Gary was hurt too, why would anyone do this?” She cried, which got her father to hug her as Ginger moved on Keeley, ready to question her about potential police involvement.

   “Are you on the cheer leading team as well Keeley? I don't recognize you from...” She paused, as Hally gave her an exasperated look.

   “No mom, she's just a friend. Plus she's really smart and is tutoring me in math. We went to the library instead of here because every time I bring a friend over you give them the eighty-seventh degree and make everyone all uncomfortable.” She didn't stamp her foot or let go of her father though, so uncomfortable parenting style, conmen or not, they were close. Keeley nodded at the woman though.

   “But in answer to your question, you don't recognize me from anything, because I'm new to Raintree. My dad got a job at Coretechs and we moved from Washington this last summer.”

   “Oh?” Ginger said, her own hair shoulder length, compared to Hally's which was about half again longer.

   “And is this your van? It looks pretty nice for something a teenager would have.”

   Keeley blinked. “Wow, you really do go in for the whole questioning thing don't you? Well, it's on loan, from Hally's friend Darla? Her grandmother is her caretaker while her dad's in Japan and she's given her several vehicles. It's so I could get to the tutoring tonight. I also don't do drugs, don't smuggle illegal aliens across the border, have never killed anyone or even been accused of that and haven't even jaywalked within the statute of limitations. Not in this state at least. I doubt the officials from my home town will insist on extradition.” Keeley smiled as their expressions both got tense.

   “Sorry to dump everything on you and snap like this, but I really need to get back to the hospital and honestly I want to take Hally with me. I don't know my way back, but we needed to let you meet me first. I promise, I'm not normally this much of a pain. Honest.” She held up her right hand.

   “Do you all want to come? We may need to stop for something to eat first...”

   “Well, Hally has school in the morning...” Devon spoke quietly, but Ginger sighed and shook her head.