“You’re testy. That’s an indication that you could have neurological problems.”
“My only problem is that you keep annoying me. You think Darkness is rude? I just want to know where my best friend is.”
“I don’t know. He probably drove her to the front gates.”
“Shit.” She shoved at the blankets over her lap and reached over the side bar to release it. “Move.”
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“I have to find Missy. She’ll be freaking out.” My emergency kit is in the trunk. I have enough clothes for both of us. We’ll need to get a hotel room and figure out our next move.
She got the side rail down and slid out of bed. The doctor tried to stop her but Kat pushed him back. She felt stronger as she stood there. No dizziness.
“Get back in that bed, young lady.”
“I need something to wear. I’m not going to exit your gates with my ass exposed.” I’ll sweet-talk the taxi driver into taking us home. I can pay him after I bust into my trunk. I’m sure he’ll do it if I promise him a fifty-dollar tip.
“Get back in that bed or I’m calling a nurse.”
“You do that. Maybe he or she will find me some scrubs or something else to wear.”
Dr. Treadmont muttered a curse and turned toward the door. Kat made it to the bathroom and stared at her reflection. She was still unusually pale but splashing water on her face helped. She found a toothbrush in the cabinet, unsealed it, brushed her teeth and used her fingers to comb her hair. Voices in the other room assured her the doctor had made good on his threat. She walked out, prepared to do verbal battle.
Darkness and Dr. Treadmont faced off against each other. Field, the New Species she’d spoken to before, hovered by the door. She paused, taking in the scene.
“You don’t threaten Kat,” Darkness growled.
“She’s not released from my care,” Treadmont shot back. “Field? Make him leave this room.”
Field’s eyes widened and he backed up closer to the hallway. “No way.”
“Hey,” Kat interrupted. “Darkness, where is Missy? You didn’t just leave her outside the front gates, did you?”
He turned to look at her. “No. She’s safe.”
Kat leaned against the door. “Thank you. I was imagining her out there with those protestors.”
He frowned. “You believe I’d put her at risk?”
“Dr. Treadmont implied you might have. You left, I took a nap and woke up to him trying to play twenty questions. I’m not in the best mood. Then I wanted to see Missy and he said you’d taken her away. You weren’t exactly thrilled with what I did to protect her from Mason.” Suspicion hit. “She’s not locked up or something, is she?”He growled. “No. She’s with her pets. Some female Species are looking out for her.”
Kat blew out a relieved breath. “I’d like to be taken to her.” She looked at Field. “Can you find me something to wear? Scrubs, whatever. Just something that isn’t open along the back.”
He nodded and fled out the door. Dr. Treadmont threw up his arms and spun, following him out of the room.
“Nobody listens to me. I’m just the damn doctor who stayed up all night and most of the day to look after my patient.”
“Thank you,” Kat called out after him. She lowered her voice, stared up at Darkness. “He’s kind of pushy.”
“He’s good at what he does.”
“Obviously. I’m still here and you told me I was in bad shape. I just didn’t like the bright lights he tried to flash in my eyes and his attitude. What paperwork do I have to sign to get released? I need to get Missy and myself home. Well, to what is left of our house. To my car. It should have survived. I have to get the suitcase out of the trunk and check us into a hotel.”
Darkness blinked but said nothing. Kat inched around him, walked to the door and peered down the hallway. Field carried a small stack of folded clothing. He paused in front of her.
“I hope these fit. I went to the doctor’s lounge where Trisha and Alli keep spare leggings and T-shirts. You’re all about the same size. The pants might be a little short on you since you’re taller than them.”
“Thank you.” She accepted them and backed up, closing the door.
Darkness remained by the bathroom as she dumped the clothes on the bed and reached behind her, feeling for the ties of the gown. “A little help?”
He brushed her fingers aside to do it. “That’s your plan? Check into a hotel?”
“Yeah. I have savings. Tomorrow we’ll hunt for a rental. The pet deposit is going to be expensive but I can manage it. Missy is going to need a computer too. She goes a little nuts if she can’t write for a few days. I know she’s got online backup for all her work. That’s one less worry. She can do that anywhere as long as there’s internet and electricity. I have an extra debit card and credit card hidden in the lining of the suitcase. We’ll be fine. I just hope my insurance covers what happened to the house. I doubt it since I pretty much blew it up but the police reports will help. It was done under duress.”
She yanked off the gown and put on the shirt. The leggings were tougher to get on over the bandages but she managed it. Kat looked down. “I don’t suppose you could find me a bra in my size? I feel kind of weird without one. Shoes would be good too.” She turned to look up at Darkness.
“The police weren’t told the truth.”
Kat tilted her head. “What?”
“No one wanted the truth about Mason or what really happened leaked to the press. They would have twisted it into negative things about the FBI in general and the NSO.”
“They’ll think I blew up the house to defraud the insurance company. There will be an investigation on what caused the explosion.”
“It’s been handled. It will be deemed as an accident.”
“The NSO is going to cover it up?” That stunned her. “They can do that?”
“You can tell our legal department your concerns and they’ll help you deal with your out world and the insurance issues with the house. Don’t worry about that right now.”
Kat gaped at him. “Do you understand that I would be arrested if I filed a false claim? If they prove I turned on that gas and lit the curtains on fire? It’s a crime to destroy your own house and then collect insurance to cover what you still owe on the mortgage. I don’t want to go to prison. The press can kiss my ass. I’ll tell them the truth.”
Darkness sighed and bent, scooping her into his arms. “You talk too much.”
“Put me down.”
He ignored her, carried her to the door, and shifted her in his arms to grip the door handle. He used his foot to shove it all the way open and strode down the hallway. Kat wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I can walk. Are you taking me to Missy?”
“Eventually. We need to talk first.”
She studied his severe expression. He looked angry and determined. “Fine. Just don’t bitch at me again about putting my ass on the line for my best friend.”
“I don’t bitch.”
“No. You growl and snarl.”
His mouth tightened into a white line but he said nothing. The lobby was empty. The exit doors slid open automatically and he carried her outside. She glanced at the sky, realizing the day had almost passed. The sun was still up but it wouldn’t be for long. He stopped in front of a waiting Jeep and deposited her on the passenger seat.
“Thank you.”
He rounded the vehicle and climbed into the driver’s seat. “Stop that.”
“Sorry. That’s what people say when other people do something nice for them. It’s called being polite. You should try it sometime. Where are we going, if not to find Missy?”
“You’ll see.”
“Okay.” She put on her belt. “We’re playing the few-words game.”
He started the engine and threw it in gear. She gripped the seat with both hands, wondering what he was up to. She realized he wasn’t headed toward the front gates.
“Where are you taking me?”
“I didn’t want anyone eavesdropping on us. We have some things to discuss.”
“Fine. That still doesn’t answer my question.”
“I’m taking you to my house.”
They passed the men’s dorm. Kat turned her head, frowning at him. “Your house is back there.”
“I moved.”
“To where?”
“Someplace where no one can overhear if there is yelling.”
“Great.” That didn’t sound good. She knew he was furious that she’d risked her life and that he’d had to go to a lot of trouble to save it. She was grateful for all he’d done. He was probably due a little temper tantrum.
A small guard shack appeared on the left, with gates across the two-lane road he turned onto. He slowed and a New Species stepped out of the building. The officer reached inside as he waved them forward. The gates swung open slowly to allow them to enter an area of Homeland she hadn’t seen before.“What is this?”
“The Species living area. It’s similar to human guest housing but the cottages are bigger.”
“I didn’t know they were separated.”
“Now you do.”
She dug her fingernails into the seat. Darkness was really irritating her. He drove down one street of nice-looking homes, turned right and then made a left. He pulled into the driveway of a pretty, brown single-story home. He turned off the engine and set the parking brake.