The Devil's Breath

by A. Nybo

  “There’s what looks like a master bedroom suite, which is probably our best bet.” Nate’s voice trailed off as he entered and saw Henri leaning into Birch’s embrace.

  “Is there someplace we can set these sensors?” Jason’s tone demanded Nate’s attention, and Birch caught the slight shake of Jason’s head that communicated for Nate to leave it alone.

  “The room has two doors, one into the passage, the other to the outside. No windows other than the glass-panelled patio doors,” said Nate.

  “Okay. Do you want to get these sorted?” Jason handed him several groupings of electronics. “We’ll organize the rest.”

  Nate raised questioning eyebrows but accepted the gadgetry and left.

  “Can you two get some food organized? Something we can have in the room.”

  Birch tapped Henri’s shoulder. “C’mon.” Henri pulled away but sat staring at the floor. Birch tilted his head at Jason who, taking the hint, grabbed up the remaining electronics and took them back to the cupboard where they kept them stashed.

  “Henri?” Birch took hold of Henri’s hand and kept his voice low to maintain a semblance of privacy.

  “I don’t think I can do this again.” Henri’s voice was barely more than a whisper.

  “You don’t have to do it by yourself.” Birch lifted Henri’s chin so their eyes met. The sparkle that had inhabited Henri last night had gone completely. Birch cupped his cheek and brushed his thumb beneath his eye. “Stay with me, Hen. Just focus on one thing at a time.”

  Henri nodded, and Birch kissed his forehead.

  “Let’s get this food together,” said Birch.

  As they moved about the kitchen preparing lunch, Henri skimmed so close as he passed Birch that they touched. Since Henri’s hyperawareness didn’t allow him to accidentally touch, Birch recognized his need for reassurance, so he offered small moments of contact in return, even if it was nothing more than a brush of skin when reaching for a tomato.

  Although Jason remained in the room, he had moved off to the other side. Henri didn’t seem to care one way or the other, and despite Jason feigning disinterest, Birch was acutely aware he was watching them. The knowledge caused Birch to wonder who else might be watching. Maybe Henri’s apparent apathy to having eyes on him was a ruse. After all, Henri could be considered a professional in this particular scenario. The whole thing caused a shiver of apprehension to course through him.

  By the time they had the sandwiches made and the ensuing cleanup was complete, Birch had managed to draw a smile from Henri. Although still more of a sputter than a glow, the aura that Henri exuded, to which Birch was becoming so attached, was beginning to return.

  They secluded themselves in the bedroom Nate had cordoned off with sensors. Calling it a bedroom was like calling the Titanic a dinghy. The room was something Birch imagined a penthouse suite at a luxury hotel would be.

  While Jason and Nate bustled around ensuring the patio doors were covered over and weren’t easily breached, Birch and Henri explored the suite. It consisted of the standard three rooms most of the suites had—the bedroom, bathroom, and walk-in closet—but this one had some luxurious additions.

  The bedroom had a fake “open fire,” something Birch had never understood. To his way of thinking, the beauty of watching flames was that they were each unique, burning the wood in creative and spectacular ways. Watching repetitive manufactured flame didn’t interest him. The bathroom had its own Jacuzzi, and the walk-in closet had full-length mirrors surrounded by thin fluorescent lights.

  Quickly losing interest in the exploration, Birch lay across the bed with booted feet hanging over the edge. He picked up the remote and, with the sound off, flicked through channels on the oversized TV hanging on the opposite wall.

  When Jason and Nate had finished securing the room, Jason drew the phone from his pocket and punched in a number. It must have been answered on the first ring, given how soon he spoke.

  “This phone has been compromised. Need immediate evac.” He went silent for a moment. “Affirmative,” he said and hung up.

  “Do we have an ETA?” asked Nate.

  “Not yet.”

  Sometime later, when Birch overheard Jason and Nate mention their boss, Mike, he paid more attention.

  “I give no fucks whether he’s happy or not,” said Jason. “If Sayer can’t keep a few phone numbers quiet, then what hope is there? Mike can ramp up all he wants, but what I care about is that the four of us remain alive and well.”

  “Remember that when you start complaining during the lecture he’s going to give us about political allies,” said Nate.

  “And while I’m complaining about it, you just remember how good it feels to be alive to hear those complaints.”

  The phone in Jason’s pocket vibrated. “Mike,” he told Nate as he looked at the screen.

  “Tell him to bring burgers.” Nate grinned.

  Jason answered and, after a one-word greeting, went into a lengthy silence before he spoke again. “Affirmative,” he said and then killed the call.

  “No burgers, then?” asked Nate.

  “Russell is circling us. He’s killed one of the police detail.” Jason stalked to one side of the patio door and cleared his gun from its holster.

  Birch immediately went on high alert.

  “What the hell? When did they find the cop?” asked Nate as he flanked the opposite side of the patio door.

  “They think he died about an hour ago.”

  “How?” All eyes turned to Henri, who stood in the bathroom doorway.

  “Does it matter?” Jason turned back to peek through the curtains.

  “How!” Henri moved from the doorway into the room.

  “Slit throat,” Jason said.

  Henri paced like a caged animal that had been habituated to the slow but constant impatience for freedom. He stopped and trained venomous eyes at Birch. “How the hell can you just sit there?”

  Not about to enter an argument, Birch watched him but didn’t acknowledge he had spoken. With Henri so agitated, it wouldn’t matter what he said—fault would be found with it. Besides, he’d already told Henri he wasn’t going to bear the brunt of his temper. And he fucking meant it.

  IT WAS dark when Jason’s phone vibrated again. After a quick conversation, he rang off. “Get yourselves organized, we’re moving in twenty minutes.”

  Too nervy to remain lying on the bed, but still with time to spare, Birch rose and went through a series of stretches. He took his time using the bathroom, and when he came back out he saw an opportunity to casually brush past Henri. The moment they touched, Henri spun so quickly Birch wondered whether he was about to be hugged or hit. Henri wrapped him in his arms, and Birch didn’t hesitate to return his affection.

  He regretted not having tried earlier as it might have eased some of Henri’s restlessness. Holding Henri to him, he put his mouth by his ear and caressed his back. “If you ever need this, Hen, just take it.”

  “But what if we’re being watched?” His quiet tone did nothing to hide his trepidation.

  Birch drew back enough so meeting Henri’s gaze didn’t make him go cross-eyed. The light cast Henri’s eyes as a deep grey, but as changeable as the colour might have been, the anxiety had been a constant throughout the day. “What difference does it make?” He cupped Henri’s unshaven jaw and ran his thumb across the stubble. “He seemed to think we were together even before we were.”

  “I don’t want him to know anything. Especially about us.”

  The shattering of glass caused them to spin towards the patio door. A can emitting smoke lay on the floor.

  “Tear gas! Out!” Jason ran from the window past the can. Already at the door, Nate threw it open and ran into the passage, gun first. Birch and Henri followed and moved along the hall when the room door slammed. Birch looked back and saw Jason put his hand to the wall, using it as a guide. He was coughing so hard, he was bent forward, gasping for breath. Birch hurried to him and, taking his arm
, moved him out from the wall so they could go faster.

  “Can’t see a bloody thing.” Jason’s voice sounded nasal.

  The gloom probably wasn’t helping Jason’s vision, but Birch could see well enough to lead them trotting down the hall.

  Henri waited for them at a passage intersection. “We’re to wait here for Nate.”

  With a bottle of water in hand, Nate reappeared. “Head back, eyes open,” he said to Jason. Without hesitation Nate allowed a slow stream of water to fall on the bridge of Jason’s nose. Jason moved his face slightly to ensure both eyes were washed out. Nate handed him the bottle, and he rinsed his mouth, then spit the water onto the carpet.

  Nate peeked around the corner before turning back to Jason. “Rendezvous?”

  “Eastside, by the greenhouse.”

  “Someone take this.” Jason thrust his gun out. “It’s useless to me.”

  Birch looked at the gun and then at Henri. “Do you know how to use one of those?”

  Henri took it, and Birch was surprised at how confidently he handled it. At least he wouldn’t have to fear Henri’s lack of knowledge and anxiety causing one of them to be accidentally shot.

  Nate led them through a series of rooms. Jason was so trusting it enabled them to move quite quickly, as Birch guided him around furniture, down halls, and through doorways. With gun in hand, Henri followed up in the rear.

  Nate stepped into a room and waited for them all to enter before closing the door. Without light from the hallway, it was difficult to see the room’s layout. “This is probably the closest exit to the greenhouse. Stay back from the windows until I tell you.” Not waiting for a response, Nate crossed over the expanse of floor space and looked out into the darkness.

  There was a soft click when he opened the door leading outside, and then he was gone for a few seconds before he called for them in a stage whisper. It took so long for Birch to navigate the furniture with Jason that Henri had made it to the glass doors first and was waiting for them, looking around for any hint of movement.

  “Keep low,” whispered Nate. “Stay in the shadows where you can, but don’t follow them if it’s going to lead you away from the greenhouse.” He pointed to a dark structure. “There are two shallow steps off the porch, then it’s reasonably level ground.”

  Birch led Jason down the stairs. “Stay low, now,” he whispered.

  Nate and Henri were already meters in front of them and barely visible. Although the ground was reasonably level, the smallest dip threw Jason off balance. Each time it happened, it cost another fraction of a second.

  Leading them into shadow, Birch moved deep enough so Jason wasn’t accidentally left in the moonlight. A cloud of dust blew into their faces, and Birch took several deep breaths as he tried to hold the cough that was threatening. Just ahead, he saw a lighter patch before they delved back into the shadow.

  Whether hidden by the darkness or too far ahead, Birch couldn’t see Nate and Henri. They stepped into a deeper shadow, and Jason stumbled off balance. A solid body crashed into Birch, sending him to the ground. A bony body part hit his head so hard he lost orientation and had to lie still for a moment.

  Jason grunted heavily and went into a coughing fit. He yelled between coughs.

  Birch was hefted from the ground and slung over a muscular shoulder, and the jogging motion caused the air to be pushed from him.

  Other voices joined a fading cacophony as Birch’s limbs grew heavy.

  “WHERE ARE they?” Henri knew the direction Jason’s yell had come from, but he couldn’t see anything.

  “Lights!” barked Nate.

  A jingle of keys was followed by the sudden flood of light cutting through the darkness.

  “Stay with Mike,” Nate said.

  Henri squinted into the night and thought he saw what looked like someone crawling. He wanted to go with Nate but was all too aware that he was the target, and everything that happened was to draw him out. He went to the side of the vehicle so he wasn’t illuminated by the headlights.

  Almost out of range of the headlights, Nate bent to someone before turning and motioning for the lights to be killed.

  Seconds dragged by like minutes as Henri waited for Nate to return to them. He kept watch all around in case they were approached from behind. Like so many times in the past, the darkness seemed magnified, and his eyes were incapable of taking in the needed information.

  Finally, they were close enough for him to see Nate tucked under Jason’s shoulder as he almost carried him, and he could wait no longer. He hurried forward, looking for Birch. “Henri!” Nate snapped as he drew next to him.

  “Where is he?” But his dread-filled whisper needed no answer. No, no, no, no! This can’t be happening! Fingers interlaced behind his head, Henri’s lower arms pressed hard on his skull as if he could keep the knowledge from entering his brain. He paced in circles.

  After almost three years, Henri had found something, someone, that could infuse him with the essence of life, something worth living for, and Russell had taken him. If it was him or Birch, then it should be him. Birch had a life worth living, but without Birch, Henri had nothing.

  “I’m here!” Henri bellowed. “Come and get me, arsehole. You can have me!”

  Someone grabbed his arm and tried to drag him to the SUV, but madness overtook him, and Henri struck out repeatedly.

  “Where are you? I’ll come to you!” he yelled as he struggled to free himself.

  He connected with flesh and ran towards the darkness, but a hand grabbed his leg and tripped him. He kicked, once, twice, and his foot glanced off the person. He scrambled to his feet and took a few strides before he was taken in a running tackle and hurled to the ground. The hefty weight that landed on him pinned him to the grass, and despite his struggles, he couldn’t budge it.

  “We can do this one of several ways,” hissed Mike, his mouth by Henri’s ear. “You settle, or I temporarily disable you.”

  Henri tried to wriggle free, but Mike pulled his arms up behind him and jabbed him sharply in the middle of the back with an elbow.

  “You even have your choice in how I do that—by fist or drugs. Your choice, Henri. But exchanging yourself for Birch isn’t an option. Do you understand?”

  He remained silent.

  The elbow returned to rest on his back. “I need to hear you say the words, Henri.” The pressure just kept increasing.

  The pain was becoming unbearable, and he feared a rib was about to snap. “Yes!”

  The pressure eased instantly. “I’m going to let you up, but trust that if you fuck around, I’m going straight for the heavy artillery next time. Got it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.”

  Mike’s weight lifted from Henri’s back, and feeling like his shoulders had been torn from their sockets, he eased his arms from behind him to his sides.

  Between the time the car lights had gone on and the time Henri finally got to his feet, night had been transformed into day by artificial light. The house was lit up like a bus, and flashing police lights could be seen both at the house and at various points through the trees.

  The distance between the house and the greenhouse had been distorted by both fear and darkness. Looking back towards the lights of the house, it appeared to be about half a kilometre.

  Mike gave him a gentle push towards the SUV, the engine already running. “C’mon. We need to get Jason back to the house so he can shower and get a change of clothes.”

  They trudged to the vehicle. With Mike’s presence heavy at his back, Henri felt like a prisoner being marched to execution. Every step he took towards the car was a step away from Birch. Even though he knew it was pointless, he just wanted to turn and run to where Birch had last been, as if he would find him still there.

  Henri opened the back door to get in, and a blast of warm air hit his face. Jason sat on the other side wearing nothing but trunks, his clothes packed into a plastic bag he held on his lap. Trying to minimize the cold
air he allowed into the car, he got in quickly and shut the door.

  Jason shivered as Mike shut the front passenger door and the interior lights went out. Nate steered the car across the pasture towards the track that would lead them back to the house.

  “Do you want my jacket?” Henri asked Jason.

  “Thanks, but it’d just get this shit on it, and it would have to be thrown out.” Jason patted the bag holding his clothes. “I can wait.”

  Mike swivelled in his seat to look at Henri. “When we get to the house, you need to go and pack up your things.”

  “What about Birch’s stuff?”

  “We’ll take care of that.”

  Despite the hubbub and chaos that had appeared to be occurring due to all the lights, only two police vehicles were parked in the driveway.

  As they approached the front door, an officer came out. “Sergeant Mathews is in the kitchen,” he told Mike.

  “Thanks.”

  The four of them went in, but Mike cut off towards the kitchen while Henri followed Jason and Nate up the stairs to the second floor. When they went into their respective rooms to pack their gear, Henri slipped into Birch’s room.

  Since the only things Birch had were clothes, he picked up a T-shirt that still carried Birch’s scent and hid it beneath his jacket while he went to his room to pack his things. He was well aware how weird others might think the theft of the T-shirt, but having something of Birch close gave him comfort, even if it was nothing more than a fading scent.

  With his things packed, he hoisted his rucksack over his shoulder and went downstairs. He followed the voices and ended in the kitchen with Nate, Mike, and Sergeant Mathews. Jason was obviously still upstairs showering.

  Sergeant Mathews terminated the phone conversation she was having and set her phone on the bench. “The biohazard team will be coming to clean up the tear-gas spill tomorrow, so the house will be closed down. Anything you want from here will need to be taken tonight.” She directed her words at Mike.

  He nodded. “Have you heard back from Sergeant Sayer regarding the phones yet?”