Hot Zone (26 page)

Neither of us said anything. I finally chanced a look at him, hoping that the vague look would be gone. It was. He cleared his throat. “I suppose I should thank you for stopping,” he said a little formally.

I waved a hand at him. “It was a freaking miracle I was able to.”

He smiled a little. “We have to stop doing that.”

I was so sorry to hear him say that. I hoped my face didn’t show how very much that bothered me.

He continued, “Maybe it is for the best that you don’t work with me right now.”

That hurt too, no matter how much I wanted to stay in Catfish. I just nodded. I don’t know what he saw in my face, but he looked composed and closed somehow. Maybe he blamed me for making him kiss me.

He said, “If you’re not going to work with me here, would you consider taking on some responsibility while staying in Catfish? At times I just need someone who isn’t afraid to make a decision. As we grow, I can’t make every tough decision 24/7.”

I nodded slowly. I could do that. “Okay.”

“And although I know you’re going to scowl at me and possibly stomp your foot in anger, I’m keeping two bodyguards at your house at all times. I heard that Nick was left behind when you left with Jacob, so he can be one of them. Is he acceptable?”

“I don’t need guards, but sure, he’s fine.”

“Humor me. The other one you know, and is waiting in the other room.” Gabriel stood and went to the door. When he returned, Luis was with him.

“Luis! How are you?” I went towards him, but then remembered how he’d hit me. I stayed partially behind Gabriel, who slanted me a mocking look.

Luis smiled tentatively at me. “Madde, I’m so sorry I hit you. I don’t know what came over me.” He looked perplexed.

I glanced at Gabriel, then back at Luis. “So, what have you been doing the last week or so?”

“I have had a chance to see how things are done here, and I had a brain scan and some other tests.” I looked over at Gabriel as I said that, remembering I had wanted to grill him about that. Too many questions for the time we had. I let that one go and focused on Gabriel, asking a different question instead.

“Can I trust him?” I didn’t want to ask it, but I also didn’t want to watch every little thing I said or get clocked again.

Gabriel said, “Ask him whatever you want. I want you to feel comfortable.”

“Um, well, Luis. What if I said I didn’t like Gabriel?”

Luis shrugged. “You’re entitled to your opinion.”

“And what if I said I wanted to smack him a good one?” I couldn’t help but move a little closer to Gabriel and his protection as I asked this question.

Luis said, “Again, your opinion.”

“What if I actually did
smack him?” I was almost behind Gabriel now, and I heard him chuckle.

Luis took a deep breath. “If you were intent on hurting Gabriel, I would have to stop you. But I would do so in such a way as to cause you no harm.”

I came out from behind Gabriel and said dryly, “Nice. Are those your words or his?”

Gabriel said softly, “Luis and I did talk, but I haven’t told him what responses he should make. So, will you feel safe if he returns with you?”

I addressed Luis again. “What if someone else in the house truly seems to hate Gabriel? Maybe even says something in anger about hurting him?”

Gabriel looked at me. “This is what things sound like at your house? Maybe I should pay a visit after all.”

Luis said, “I wouldn’t do anything unless Gabriel was in immediate danger. Even then, I would simply report it.”

I turned to Gabriel. “Okay. I think we’re good.”

Gabriel said to Luis, “Please wait out in the other room. We’ll be out shortly.”

Luis shut the door behind him, and Gabriel turned to look at me. “You’re not going to like this, but I still don’t want anyone to touch you.”

“That’s insane! I’m a huggy kind of girl.” I considered asking him if he was jealous, then decided I wouldn’t bring up jealousy after what I’d admitted.

“How about if I make it no males or strangers touch you? I’m willing to go that far.”

I didn’t know what to say. “Gabriel—” I began, but he cut me off.

He dipped his head and spoke in my ear; his warm breath causing delicious shivers to run down my spine. “You aren’t the only one who gets jealous.”

I wanted to say that I was the only one who had reason to be jealous, but instead I gave a little nod, trying to get my libido under control.

He glanced at his watch and then took my hand and led me to the door. Before he opened it, he suddenly turned to face me. He took my chin in his hand, and slowly kissed me softly. He smiled. “I think I’m getting resistant. This time it didn’t bother me.”

I didn’t know what to say.

He opened the door and took me out. I was surprised to see TV cameras set up in the office. I blinked in the bright lights and turned to Gabriel to see if he was as surprised as I was. He didn’t look at all surprised. He looked gorgeous and calm and sure. “Hello. I wanted to introduce you to a person who is going to be acting as my right hand. This is Madde Moreton, and I have confidence everyone will welcome her and treat her with the same respect I have been receiving. I have authorized her to speak for me in certain matters, so in a way, talking to Madde is like talking to me. I am so pleased that Madde has agreed to do this, and hope no one gives her any cause to regret that decision.”

I stood, probably staring at nothing like an idiot, listening to him completely change my life. That sneaky bastard had told everyone that I was like his mouthpiece, and that if I said it, it had to be done. Good Lord, why was he doing this to me? Other than letting me stay in Catfish, he had gotten everything he wanted. I was now working for him.

The reporters asked questions, but they were respectful and orderly. He told them that my exact duties would be announced at a later time. He also said that we would be working closely together, and that I would be guarded in case anyone had anything but the purest motives. He even managed to say, although he used many more words, that if anyone hurt me he would be extremely ‘concerned.’

He answered a few more questions, then bid the reporters good-bye. They immediately stopped the questions and packed up their equipment. I turned to stare at Gabriel. He was smiling a little, and he looked pleased. I said softly, “That wasn’t very nice, boss
.”

He smiled wider at my word. “Luis, I’m sure Madde would like to go and see Fred and Jacob. Arrange to take her there and report in on the baby’s condition.” He said in a soft voice to me, “Relieve Fred so he can get some sleep. He will most likely want to stay at the hospital, and I’m sure a room can be found for him. I feel certain Jacob will still be in the hospital tonight, so I’ll expect you to come back here and sleep.”

“You expect many things,” I said sweetly while glaring at him.

He grinned and turned to Luis. “Bring her back here no later than eight tonight. I’m counting on you.” He turned back to me. “See you later.”

I nodded, a grudging look on my face.

Luis and I went to use one of the fleet of SUVs when I remembered the dog. I ran back inside and begged some food from one of the many black-shirted people about. I brought it back out, and looked for the dog. She was lying near the bench where I’d first seen her, and when she noticed me, she ran over, tail wagging. She waited patiently in front of me while I unwrapped the food and set it in front of her. She bolted it down quickly, and looked up at me with what I swear was gratitude on her little doggie face. Luis had the car now, so I got in as the dog ran back off towards the gardens. We headed to the hospital.

Chapter 16: Answers, a Surprise, and Home

Fred had been exhausted, but I still had to bully him to get him to leave Jake. The little guy was in an adult sized bed, a crib not available or in fact, needed. Someone was with him every minute. Usually a nurse and possibly a doctor as well. If he didn’t survive, it certainly wasn’t from lack of trying. Other doctors came and went, examining him and discussing it among themselves. Now that it was daytime, the little ER/medical center began to have a few patients come by. Most of the injuries were minor, but near dinnertime a man wearing a black “Gabriel” t-shirt came in with a huge gash in his leg where something had hit him while he was working. The doctors took care of him efficiently, but it got me thinking.

Right now everything was free—goods and services were simply given away. How long until people began to resent that they were working while others didn’t? Or maybe some, like the doctors here, would want to have more than someone who washed windows at Gabriel’s place. What would happen then? And money—it was relatively useless right now, but if Gabriel was right and this was a long-term situation, then it would still be useful in the rest of the country, or maybe here as well. There would have to be inflation, though, since the money was still around, only more than half the people were gone. In fact, the last estimate I’d heard, and I had no idea how accurate this was, stated that 75 percent of the population here in the Hot Zone had perished or disappeared.

I assumed Gabriel had some kind of plan for this. The real question was how much he’d share with me on that. Hopefully he would just use me for the simplest things. Not that there were a lot of those. It made me distinctly nervous. I’d wanted less responsibility, not more.

I also decided that he couldn’t tell the guards I was not to be touched by anyone male. That was ridiculous. And, if I was being honest with myself, not at all fair. If he called me on the whole jealousy thing, I’d pretend that I’d forgotten or kiss him and make him forget about it. That was an interesting proposition.

I had received a call from Tucker eventually. I was a little annoyed no one had called me earlier, but he said they’d slept so long they’d barely had time to make the town meeting. Everything had gone well. There had been some dissenting opinions, but in the end, the majority had voted to join up with Gabriel. Tucker had told me there were some people in Iowa, most notably the former Governor who had been so vocal right after the attacks and subsequent quarantine, who were questioning Gabriel’s motives. He didn’t mention anything about me working for Gabriel, so apparently that either wasn’t out yet, or he hadn’t seen it. I knew I should tell him, so he and the others weren’t surprised, but I was a coward and put it off.

Luis began to bug me when we had a half hour left before Gabriel wanted me back. I had wanted to let Fred sleep more and told Luis I would go when I was good and ready, but then Fred woke up on his own and came down to see Jacob. Poor little Jake was waking up occasionally, but he was still too sick to do much more than whimper. I wondered what changes were going on inside of him. Maybe when he woke up he’d be able to fly or breathe fire. Or maybe he’d just sleep through the night.

I reached Hill House right at eight o’clock. I had taken a little food that had been left from one of the doctors’ lunches for my doggie friend. I didn’t have to look long. I barely stepped out towards the bench and she came out of the darkness. I tossed her the food and got a small bark in return. I really did like that dog. I wondered if she would like to accompany me home.

I headed into the house. I wanted a shower and a change of clothes, and found a black-shirted person to help me out. I ended up with a t-shirt from the gift shop (having strenuously refused a ‘Gabriel’ shirt), and a pair of sweats from there as well. I went back to the room I’d been in this morning for my nap, although I’d had to look in several rooms to find the right one. Thankfully, all were unoccupied, although all but one looked lived in. I went in and fell on the bed for a few minutes, trying to relax my tense shoulder muscles. Finally I got up and found a bathroom. This had been hurriedly updated, and apparently still needed plumbing help since the water pressure was pathetic. I suppose for a house this old and authentic; I was lucky to get a shower at all. I used some shampoo and conditioner from little bottles that looked like they were taken from the Hilton.

I felt much more human when I finished. I pulled on the t-shirt, wondering if Gabriel would make me start wearing the black one. I quickly saw the t-shirt was too small across the chest and sighed. Great. I washed my underwear in the sink and put on the sweats without any underwear. Why was that only considered sexy if it was a man doing it? Going commando? Wasn’t that what it was called? I just felt partially naked.

I went back to my borrowed room, only to find Gabriel there already. He looked at my changed clothes with interest and tossed me a sandwich wrapped in plastic. “Have you eaten?”

I shook my head and perched on the end of the bed. He went and sat against the headboard. I was getting a sense of déjà vu. He said, “The doctors tell me that Jacob is doing better. I’m glad.”

I hadn’t actually thought he looked better by much, but what did I know? “Me too.”

“Are you still mad about this morning?” he asked, smiling.

“You could have told me about the cameras. You also might have mentioned that I’m now your ‘right hand man’ or girl, I suppose.”

“And miss the look on your face? I don’t think so.”

“Seriously, why did you do that? I might have just told you to go to hell, and how would that have looked on TV?”

He shook his head. “It wouldn’t have ever aired.”

“Ah, yes, your stranglehold on the media. So much for free press,” I said sarcastically.

“The press is free. It just turns out they like me. A lot. And they don’t want me mad. Unlike you.”

“Humph.”

He laughed. “I am going tomorrow to Des Moines, or what’s left of it, to meet with former Governor Christy McCarthy.”

I blinked in surprise. As I recovered, I said, “She’s the one who’s been rather vocal about you?”

He nodded. “I think she is one smart lady. It will be an interesting meeting. Want to come?”

I opened my mouth, but then shut it. “Jacob is here.”

“Yes. But he’ll still be here when we return. We’re going to Des Moines, not Mars.”

“Why do you want me to go?” I hedged.

“It will give us some time to talk in the car. I would fly but the airport here is almost as bad off as the one in Des Moines. Plus I haven’t pulled the whole airline thing together yet. Just one of the thousand things on my to-do list.”