Curiosity Killed Shaney(72)
Maximus stepped away from the table. “If my informants are correct, Silas has a security detail of only two. That may sound like a small detail, but these are highly trained mercenaries with years of combat experience. They aren’t mall rent-a-cops. Luckily, my experience is as comparable and possibly exceeds theirs, but they will anticipate any move I make to neutralize any threats with a minimum amount of force. I plan to head out after dark and complete recon of the area, look for points of entry. The best way to diffuse a hostage situation is to take the hostage out of the situation.”
Shaney’s heart jumped. “You aren’t going to shoot Hudson in the leg or something stupid like that, are you?”
Maximus narrowed his eyes. “Seriously?”
“Well, that’s what they do in the movies sometimes right after they talk about the hostage.”
Todd sat next to Shaney. “No one’s going to shoot Hudson.” He patted Shaney’s leg. Unfortunately, bullets harming Hudson shouldn't even have registered on the danger scale in this situation.
Caleb rose and turned dramatically to address them all. “Hudson is one of our primary concerns, but taking Hudson out of the equation doesn’t address the real issue. Silas has knowledge no human should possess, and that makes him more dangerous than an atomic bomb. His weapon is his knowledge.”
How did you disarm that? Shit, not like you could reach in and pull the knowledge out of him like the prize in a Cracker Jack box.
Maximus cleared his throat. Was he actually nervous? That wouldn’t fare well for any of them. “Tonight, if I can get into the cabin and get Hudson out, Silas loses his leverage over you, Shaney, but that doesn’t mitigate the danger. A well-placed bullet has eliminated many threats to the world, but—”
Caleb interrupted. “But with his powers, Silas will have access to protection a bullet can’t penetrate.”
Todd gasped. “You mean he’s bulletproof?”
“He will create energy fields around himself. It’s what I would do with access to that kind of power,” Caleb said bluntly.
“Is there anything Silas can’t do? It’s like he’s indestructible. Maybe we should be calling in the Marines or something,” Todd said. Doubt crept into Todd’s face. Shaney was ready to sign his membership card to that club as well.
Caleb shook his head. “Think more along the lines of Superman. An army would be ineffective against him, but bring in General Zod and the other Kryptonian criminals, and you have a fair fight.”
“Good movie.” Shaney nodded.
“Hey, Shaney, you’re Superman!” Todd proclaimed.
Shaney laughed morosely at being called Superman. Underdog maybe. “I am eons away from Superman,” Shaney grumbled.
“You will be what you need to be, and you will do what you need to do,” Caleb said, forthright and unwavering in his declaration.
Shaney focused on the small man, who was quickly becoming one of the bravest men he’d ever met. A silent communication passed between them in that moment. There was little choice. In the end, Silas had to be eliminated, and Shaney was the only one with the ability to accomplish the dark task.
Shaney nodded as a cold sweat broke out across his skin. He wanted Hudson—now. Hudson would calm the internal chaos, soothe the doubts, convince Shaney he could do anything he set his mind to, and remind him he wasn’t such a fuck up.
Todd rubbed his hand over his chin. “You were using that staff to neutralize Shaney’s powers. Maybe Shaney could use something like that. We need a way to neutralize the energy thrown at Shaney.”
Caleb seemed to mull over the idea. “The specific knowledge Silas has is unclear. The information on this form of black magic has been diluted, muddled, and twisted for fifteen hundred years. Like I said, it’s been highly speculated that this type of magic ever truly existed, but was merely a tale fashioned long ago as a moral, a fabled Aesop-type of caution. A “what if...?” What if one group acquired too much power and then used that power for their own agenda? What if they couldn’t be stopped without being destroyed? I wish I had something more...” Caleb’s brown eyes suddenly brightened behind his glasses and he jumped up, grabbing the book Silas had given him. “Wait, I read something...” Immediately, he was absorbed in the book’s contents and failed to complete the rest of his sentence.
Maximus waved Todd and Shaney over as he gazed at Caleb. The softness on the harsh craggy face spoke of his love. Todd stared at the declaration on the man’s face with a sad longing. When he noticed Shaney watching, he quickly schooled his features, returning to the familiar, confident Todd.