by L. S. O'Dea
“We can use him to capture Hugh.”
“That’s what I was thinking. Once we know his routine we can...intercept him and persuade him to help us.”
“She’ll turn herself in for Hugh, no question about that.” The words were bitter, but they were the truth. She loved Hugh, but she’d loved him before too. Once he had her, they could talk. He could explain that he’d never been going to turn her over to the authorities. He’d make her understand.
They followed Bruno down the busy street, making sure to stay at least a carriage or two behind them. Bruno didn’t seem to notice them, probably not expecting to be followed. The Guard stopped outside a school and waited. The bell rang and hordes of small children raced out of the building.
“Poor Bruno.” Indy stared at the swarm of children like they had the plague. “Promise me, you won’t make me baby sit your kids.”
“I promise.” He loved kids but wasn’t looking forward to creating them with Stella.
A small boy walked over to the Guard, taking his hand. The two of them headed back toward their home, stopping at a store for some candy. The Guard seemed to enjoy his charge, his perpetual frown tipping up at the corners when the boy wasn’t looking. The kid was around ten years old, with brown hair and white skin. He moved fluidly, gracefully.
Jethro leaned his head out the window, inhaling. He couldn’t smell a thing except the odors of the city, but there was something not right about the boy. “Indy, get closer if you can.”
“Why?” The Guard moved the carriage a little closer.
“Can you catch the boy’s scent? There’s something about the way he moves, carries himself.” Too bad his senses were still dulled from taking his shot.
Indy gave him a queer look but he stuck his head out the window and inhaled before pulling himself back inside. “There are too many odors here. I’m confusing some of them.”
“I’m telling you, there’s something off about that kid.” His eyes met Indy’s. “I think we need to visit our good friend Bruno and meet his young master.”
CHAPTER 39: JETHRO
JETHRO AND INDY went to the Remore warehouse and collected five more Guards before returning to Bruno’s house. He left all of them but Indy waiting nearby as he rang the doorbell. Bruno opened the door.
“May I come in?” asked Jethro.
“The master’s not home.” Bruno started to close the door.
“That’s all right. We can talk to you.” He tried to shove past the Guard, but Bruno blocked him.
“You’ll have to come back when the master’s home.”
“I don’t think so.” He patted Bruno’s cheek. “I’m in the Protective Services which means I can investigate any place I like, especially when the Almighty isn’t home.” He pointed over his shoulder. “My other Guards will wait right outside for when your master comes back.”
He moved forward. Bruno snarled but didn’t stop him, as he entered the house, Indy right behind him. Bruno closed the door, his lips still curled, showing his fangs.
“Who’s here?” A female House Servant stepped out of the kitchen. “You need to leave. The master’s not home.”
“You don’t give orders to an Almighty.”
Indy shot him a disgusted look.
He didn’t enjoy playing the Almighty ass, but he didn’t have a choice. That boy was not an Almighty. He didn’t move right. Jethro strolled around the house as if he lived there. The female pushed in front of him, blocking the hallway.
“Hiding something?” He tried to step past her, but she clung to his arm. “Don’t make me bring in the other Guards.” He leaned closer. “This can go easy or hard on the boy. Your decision.”
She bared her teeth and hissed at him.
“Are you sure you want to do it this way? The more who know your secret the less likely it’ll stay hidden. Indy and I know how to keep quiet. The others...” He shrugged.
“What do you want?” Her small body trembled with fear and anger.
He stepped closer, towering over her. “I want to see the boy.”
“Why?” she asked.
“That doesn’t matter. You can either have him come out on his own, or I’ll send my Guards to retrieve him.”
“He’s only a child.” Her eyes were pleading but her claws were out, ready to attack. She must be the boy’s mother.
He wasn’t a child. He was a Servant, but there was no reason to argue semantics. “I promise you. I have no plans to notify the authorities that he’s getting an Almighty’s education.” He didn’t want to be responsible for the little male’s death.
“Swear on your life you won’t turn him over.”
“Libby, don’t.” Bruno shoved Indy into the wall. “I’ll get rid of these two.”
He faced the Guard. “I am an Almighty. You can’t touch me and you know it.”
“If I kill you, no one will know I touched you.” Bruno stomped toward him.
“You can try.” He pulled his knife. It wouldn’t be easy this soon after his shot, but he could take the large Guard.
Indy scurried to the door, his hand on the knob. “Bruno, think about this. As soon as I yell, those other Guards are coming inside. You can’t kill us all.”
“You sure about that?” Bruno stopped, but his eyes never left Jethro’s.
The Servant grasped Jethro’s arm, her claws sinking through his sleeve. “Promise no one will get hurt.”
“I promise.” As long as Bruno agreed to help him capture Hugh, otherwise...
“Come with me.” She tugged on his sleeve.
He followed her down the hallway. She opened one of the doors and two kids huddled on the bed. The girl was definitely Servant, with her tiny features and large, vibrant eyes. The boy didn’t look like a Servant, but Jethro wasn’t wrong about this. He inhaled deeply—Almighty, Servant, fear and something else he couldn’t name. He sniffed again but nothing.
They were all staring at him. Almightys didn’t come into a room and sniff. He smiled. “Hello, my name’s Jethro. Will the two of you go into the kitchen?” He needed Indy to smell them.
They looked at Libby.
“Come on. I’ll make you a snack” she said.
They hurried to her. She wrapped an arm around each of them and led them out of the room. He followed behind. The odd smell wasn’t unique to the male and it was faint. If he hadn’t been suspicious, he wouldn’t have noticed it.
The kids sat at the table as Libby began making sandwiches. Jethro replaced Indy at the door. He tipped his head at the kids and tapped his nose. Indy nodded slightly and walked into the kitchen.
He leaned against the wall, facing Bruno. “We followed you from the bar the other night. We saw your companion.”
“So what. I helped a fellow Guard. Served with him.” Bruno’s eyes bore into Indy’s back. “He’s a friend unlike others who I’ve served with.”
“Nice try, but Guards don’t smell like Almightys no matter how much fake hair there is on their faces.” He held up his hand, stopping Bruno from answering. “Before you lie again, let me tell you that I know it was Hugh Truent. I followed him too.”
“I heard.” Bruno glanced at the Servant and the kids. “They have nothing to do with this. It was all me.”
Indy was sitting at the table chatting. The Guard may not like kids, but he could charm them like he charmed everyone. The two were leaning toward him as he showed them some simple magic tricks.
“I have no interest in seeing them punished.”
“Let’s go somewhere to talk,” said Bruno.
“We can talk here.” There was no way he was leaving until he got to the bottom of what was up with the boy.
“What do you want?” Bruno crossed his arms over his chest.
“Hugh.” It was that simple.
“That’s all?”
He nodded.
The door opened and an Almighty walked in, a false smile on his face. “I see we have company.”
“Sorry. I couldn’t k
eep them out.” Bruno glanced downward.
The man, who had to be Townsend, patted Bruno’s shoulder as his eyes met the female Servant’s and she nodded almost imperceptibly.
“Daddy.” The little male jumped off the chair. He raced over and hugged Townsend. “This Guard knows magic.”
The little female sat at the table, her lips trembling and her eyes wet with unshed tears. The female Servant’s hands were on the kid’s shoulders, keeping her in place.
“Go back and finish your snack.” Townsend hugged the little male. “I have business to take care of.”
The kid frowned but went back into the kitchen.
“We can talk in my study.” Townsend pointed to a room off the dining room.
“Indy, wait here. Keep the kids amused.” If they both followed the reporter, he had no doubt the offspring would disappear.
Townsend’s eyes hardened but he didn’t say a word.
When they were both seated in the study, Townsend asked, “So, what do I owe the honor of a visit by Jethro Remore.”
“Good. You know who I am.”
“I’ve followed your career.”
He wouldn’t have a career soon. “I assume you know what your Guard has been up to.”
“You’ll have to be more specific.” Townsend leaned back in his seat. “I send Bruno on many errands, always with his papers, of course.”
“The other night, Bruno met with and transported Hugh Truent.”
“Are you sure? That doesn’t sound like something Bruno would do.”
“I’m very sure. I’d know Hugh even when disguised as a Guard.”
“Hmm. He must not have known who it was. Bruno would never assist a traitor.” Townsend’s face betrayed no emotion, but he was afraid. The scent of the other man’s fear was filling the room.
“If you say so.” He stood. “I need to speak with Bruno.”
“Sit. I’ll call him in here. I’m his guardian after all.” Townsend went to the door and called for Bruno and then returned to his desk.
Bruno entered, closing the door behind him.
“Bruno,” said Townsend. “Mr. Remore claims you met with Hugh Truent the other evening.”
“He’s mistaken. I met with a Guard, but he thinks it was Hugh Truent.”
“You couldn’t smell the Almighty on him?” He wasn’t in the mood for this.
“Not much of a scent guy.” Bruno tapped his nose. “Punched in the face too many times.”
“Bruno was in the Protective Services before he came to me. He’d been in some brawls,” said Townsend.
“Listen, I don’t want to do this, but I will.” Jethro held Townsend’s gaze. “Bad sense of smell or not, I can report him for associating with a known traitor and he’ll be executed.”
Townsend leaned forward, his eyes hard. “Not without proof.”
“Indy saw him too.” The reporter was right. Townsend wouldn’t hesitate taking this story to the papers, and Jason wouldn’t risk any more public censure.
“You’re going to use your Guard as a witness.” Townsend smiled. “That’s not much proof.”
“Look, I don’t want to cause you any trouble. I just want Hugh.”
“I’m sorry but I can’t help you with that. I have no idea where he is.”
“I’m sure it’ll come to you.” He stood. “Give me a minute.” He walked into the kitchen. “Indy.” The Guard followed him to the front door. “What did you discover about the boy?”
“I...I’m not sure.” Indy’s face was pale. “I mean...I’d heard rumors about Guards and Servants but never Almightys.” He glanced at the kids. “I wouldn’t have thought anything about them, but...”
“What are you trying to say?” Dread filled his gut. Indy was never nervous. “What’s wrong with them?”
The young female was teasing the little male with a piece of candy. His arm flashed out snatching it from her before she could move.
“See that. The boy’s definitely Servant. There’s no way an Almighty could steal candy from a House Servant.” He turned back to Indy, whose eyes were wide. “It’s like we thought. Townsend is, for some reason, passing this Servant off as an Almighty.”
“I...I don’t think so. Their scent is different. It’s subtle. I wouldn’t have even sniffed twice except you told me to.”
“What do you smell?” He really wished his senses were stronger.
“There is House Servant but Almighty too.” Indy’s eyes were wide, unbelieving.
“That’s impossible.” His heart started to race. Hugh’s claims couldn’t be true. Conguise had shown him the evidence, the science.
“I know.” Indy glanced back at the kids. “But that’s what I smell.”
“There’s one sure way to find out if the boy is a Servant.” He strode across the room and grabbed the little male’s hand.
“Hey.” The kid struggled in his grasp.
“Let him go.” Libby launched herself at him.
He shifted so she hit his back, wincing as her claws dug into his shoulders. Indy grabbed her, twisting her arms behind her and holding her to his side, so she couldn’t scratch at his privates like Trinity had.
“Smart.” Jethro couldn’t help smirking at his Guard as he pushed on the kid’s hand.
“I’m a fast learner,” said Indy.
“Stop it,” screamed the boy, almost in tears. “Leave my mom alone.”
Jethro froze. No, it was a ruse. All of it. It had to be.
Townsend and Bruno rushed into the room, coming to a complete halt as Jethro ran his palm across the tips of the boy’s fingers.
“You file them down.” His voice was soft as his eyes met Townsend’s. He let the boy go and the child ran toward his mom.
“Go to your room,” said Townsend.
The boy stopped, glanced at his mother and then fled down the hallway, crying.
Jethro dropped onto one of the kitchen chairs. There was a hiss and then claws sunk into his leg. “Son-of-a...” He shoved away from the table, almost tipping over his chair. The little female was on all fours, her cheeks wet with tears, but her eyes fierce. “Go to your brother.”
The little girl scurried out from under the table and down the hallway.
“Let their mother go,” he ordered Indy. “Her offspring need her.”
As soon as Libby was free she looked at Townsend, her face pale and her hands trembling at her sides.
“It’s okay, Libby. I promise. It’ll be okay.” Townsend sat down across from him. “I’ll do whatever he wants.” It seemed he’d aged twenty years in the last two minutes.
Libby raced down the hallway.
“The children are yours.” His mind was spinning. This couldn’t be happening. There had to be some other explanation.
“Yes.” Townsend’s voice was soft.
“I thought breeding between the classes was impossible.” He met the other Almighty’s eyes, hoping to see a lie, but there was only fear and defeat.
“That’s what they want us to think.”
“How did you find out?”
Townsend snorted. “It was kind of easy. Libby and I were...in a relationship and she ended up pregnant. I’d heard rumors about the possibility, but I never believed it.” He shook his head. “Then it happened to me and... at first I was sure she’d cheated on me, but when Doma was born.” He shrugged. “There was no doubt he was ours. Mine.”
“The girl?”
“She takes after her mother a little more, but she’s mine too.”
It was all a lie. Everything. Conguise. Jason. Everyone was lying.
“Please don’t report us.” Townsend leaned forward. “They’ll kill us. They’ll kill my kids.”
“We want Hugh,” said Indy. “That’s all.”
Townsend’s face took on an ashen quality. “And if I do this, you’ll leave us alone. Let my children live?”
“Yes.” Indy put his hand on Jethro’s shoulder. “Right?”
He nodded. He couldn’t think a
bout any of that right now. Nothing made sense. Why would they lie about this? What purpose did it serve?
“I’ll set up a meeting with Hugh.” Townsend bowed his head.
“Let me know when.” He stood. He had to get out of there.
Indy stopped him by the door. “We should wait here.”
The Guard was right. As soon as they left, Townsend could flee with his family.
“You don’t have to do that,” said Townsend. “I give you my word we won’t run.” His eyes were haunted. “Where would we go?”
“To Hugh.” Exhaustion swept through him. Everything he’d ever been told, everything he’d ever believed had been a lie.
“You can’t stay here. Hugh’s not stupid. He won’t meet if he thinks it’s a trap,” argued Townsend.
“A few of us will stay with you.” He was going to be an unwelcome guest.
“No.” Libby came down the hallway. “I won’t have you in my home.”
He looked at her furious eyes. He didn’t want to force them to help him, but he would. “Then the children will be guests at my place.”
“Never,” she spat.
“Your choice.” He was done arguing. He wanted to drink, pass out and maybe when he woke, his world would be right side up again.
“It’ll only be for a few days.” Townsend moved to her side, wrapping his arms around her. “I promise.”
With a snarl on her lips, Libby nodded.
“I’ll send the other Guards away.” He stepped outside, the crisp air greeting him in a cleansing embrace. He wanted to leave all of this behind him. Go to the forest, to the water and swim until his body was as exhausted as his spirit. He called one of the Guards over. “I want all of you to take the next couple of days off.”
“Thank you, sir.” The Guard glanced at the house and then back to Jethro. “Are you sure you want to send all of us?”
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” It may be a mistake. Hugh probably wouldn’t come alone, but even though his Guards were loyal, the bounty on Hugh’s head was too tempting, and he wanted to decide what happened to Hugh, not a greedy Guard.
Indy came out of the house and headed toward them.
“Indy’s going to stay with me.” He patted the other Guard on his shoulder. “So, go and enjoy your time off.”
