December Frost (A Southern Romance Monthly) (8 page)

"No. Even one as weird as this." He paused and she heard him talking to someone. "Mayor's going to do a public service announcement and tell everyone to get home. But don't take MARTA trains, take the buses. Where are you heading?"
 

Good question. Where was she heading? Her apartment was behind her as she passed the Turner building. She could still the logos for Cartoon Network, TCM, and others. Their lights were still on. Where to go. "Captain, I can call Lex and see if he's still got his cabin. It's in Red Top Mountain."
 

"That's a bit remote, isn't it?"
 

"I don't think the Phantom will find us there. He was shooting at us, which means he was above us and he was stationery. I bugged out of there fast."
 

"All right. Text me the address once you're there. And keep Thomas safe. He's our witness this asshole shot Maddox."
 

"How's he doing?"

"He's still unconscious. I'll let you know."
 

She disconnected and glanced at Thomas. "You okay over there?"
 

He leaned his head back and looked over at her. "Would you think less of me as a man if I said…I was in some serious pain?"

"Oh shit…I'm sorry."
 

"No…it wasn't you. The meds were wearing off before we got to the parking lot. I think I slept through a lot of it before I woke up and met your friend. You think we can swing by and get more?"
 

Cecelia shook her head. "No. She's down at her office at the GBI. But…" she smiled. "We're going to see my brother. He's the ME in Roswell and he can proscribe something I'm sure." She hefted her phone back up and hit her speaker. "Call Lex."
 

A few rings and then, "Inzmann."
 

"Hey bro. You busy?"
 

"God Cece. You seeing this crazy ass weather?"

"Yeah I'm driving in it. You at your office?"
 

"Uh huh. For a bit. Waiting on Nana to get here then we're heading home."
 

"You still have that cabin?"

He paused. "Cecelia, what's up?"
 

She gave him a quick review of the pertinent information and mentioned Deb's name 'cause he was friends with her too. "So can we swing by, you look at Thomas and then we grab the keys?"
 

"Sure, sure. I'll be here." He laughed. "Wow…your life is never boring."
 

"You got that right. See you in a few." She hung up and set the phone on the middle console. A glance over at Thomas alarmed her. He was slumped over against the door, his eyes closed. Damn. She didn't dare go faster, not in this weather. She just hoped Lex could help him when they got there.
 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Thomas sort of remembered getting out of the Hummer. But he was shaky and weak. Cecelia was beside him again and he leaned into her. She was warm in the cold and he realized he wasn't wearing his coat anymore. Where was his coat?
 

There were more faces and voices, and then a male voice. He was guided to a metal table and recognized it. "That's a morgue table."
 

"Yeah. I know. Lay down." Cecelia grabbed his arm pulled him to it.
 

"Mr. Carr," the male voice said again as he laid down. His vision blurred but he looked up into a male version of Cecelia. It was really…disconcerting. But it was there. The resemblance was unmistakeable. "I'm Dr. Lex Inzmann, Cecelia's brother. I'm going to have a look at your wound, but I'm going to give you a small sedative, okay?"

He nodded and closed his eyes. He had no idea how long he'd been sort of dozing before he opened his eyes again because he was cold. He shivered and realized he was shirtless.
 

"Oh good grief you two." It was another female voice. This one belonged to a mass of brown hair that looked down at him. A pair of crystal green eyes smiled. "Hi Thomas. I'm Nana, Lex's girlfriend. I've got a blanket, okay?"
 

He nodded up at her. "I think I died and went to heaven."
 

Nana smiled and the male version of Cecelia showed up again. "Hey…that's
my
girl. Get your own."
 

Thomas cleared his throat and half smiled. "I want your sister." Wow. What the hell? Who had control of his mouth?
 

The doc arched an eyebrow. It looked so much like Cecelia. "Well Mr. Carr, I'm sure you'll have to take that up with her. Luckily she's not in the room right now."

"Oh?" He started to push himself up on his elbows and waved Nana and Lex away when they tried to stop him. "I'm fine."
 

"You're really not fine." Lex said as he put his hands on his hips. Sitting up like this, Thomas got a much better look at the doc and the resemblance was even more obvious. "Your stitches came lose in the back. Deb did an excellent job, but your ducking bullets undid all her work. I've restitched you, but you need to take it easy for at least twenty four hours."
 

Thomas nodded. "Got it. So…where is Cecelia?"
 

"Getting you some clothing and supplies for the cabin." Nana stepped up and offered him a steaming cup. "How do you like coffee?"
 

Oh…sweet angel of mercy! He managed to sit all the way up, gather the blanket she'd placed on him, and take the coffee in both of his hands. "Black. Oh you are so awesome, Nana."
 

"Thanks, Thomas. Is it okay if I call you that?"
 

He sipped the hot liquid, but flavor was so strong it over rode his scalded taste buds. "Oh…you keep bringing me that and you can call me anything you want."
 

"Thomas, when was the last time you ate?"
 

He had to think about that. "Yesterday?"
 

"Oh hell." Lex turned to Nana. "That Subway is still in the refrigerator from lunch. Would you get that for him? And some water?"
 

She put her hand on her hips. "You didn't eat it?"
 

Thomas had to snicker when Lex looked guilty. "Sorry babe, but I was busy."
 

Nana huffed and left the morgue.
 

The lights flickered. Lex looked up. "That is not a good sign." He looked at Thomas. "A few things you need to know. You need antibiotics. I have a friend bringing a prescription. Hopefully he'll get here before Cecelia gets back. The cabin you're going to has its own generator, so if the main grid goes down, you'll be able to keep warm. There's also a stone fireplace that'll keep you warm as well, and a week's worth of firewood behind the house. There's canned goods there and Cecelia's getting perishables and clothing from my house. There is also a .38 in the safe, of which Cecelia knows about and there is a shot gun in the bedroom closet. The ammo is on the top shelf. If the asshole comes after you, blow his ass away. Got it?"
 

Thomas couldn't help but grin at the man. "You got it Doc. But can I ask you a question about your sister?"

"No you may not screw her," Lex said as he started cleaning up a roll away table.
 

Thomas wasn't sure what to say. He lowered the cup. "That's… not what I was going to ask."
 

"Doesn't matter. That's how I feel." He turned to Thomas. "Cecelia was hurt a few years ago. Betrayed. And the guy tried to kill her. She has a scar that'll never go away. You hurt her, or you push yourself on her in any way—"
 

"I know. You'll kill me."

"No." Lex smiled. "She will. Cecelia's more than capable of taking care of herself. You screw her, and you'll be back on my table in a different condition." He offered Thomas his hand.
 

Thomas got off the table without spilling the coffee just as two sets of doors opened. Nana came through the left with a Subway bag and Cecelia came through the other with a duffle bag. Cecelia set the duffle on the table as Nana handed him the Subway.
 

"Oh…that smells good." Cecelia took the bag from Thomas and fished the sandwich out. "Oh you heated it."
 

"I did." Nana said and grabbed the bag back. "I did it for Thomas. Look at him. He hasn't eaten since yesterday!"
 

Thomas took the bag back and looked at Cecelia. She looked embarrassed. "Oh I didn't even think about food. You were in the lock up all night."
 

He took the sandwich out. "Wanna split it?"
 

"Sure. And then I'll make you a real clam and linguine dinner tonight in the cabin."
 

Lex groaned. "She learned it from Nana."
 

The front buzzed and Lex moved to the intercom by the door to his office. "Inzmann."
 

"Hey doc. It's Pearson. I got your order."
 

Lex buzzed the front door.
 

Cecelia put her hand on her gun tucked behind
 
her. "Lex, what if someone is with Richard?"
 

He pointed to the tiny display screen mounted to the wall in the corner. "I can see the whole building. It's fine."
 

The door opened and Thomas met Richard Pearson, the local Pharmacist. That surprised him. The guy looked like he was twenty.
 

"Twenty four," the young man said a he opened the bag in his hand. He was medium height, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was dressed warmly, in a thick jacket, jeans and boots. He wore a small stud in his left ear. "Now, this bottle is the antibiotic. Take it with food at breakfast and then again with dinner. And the small bottle has painkillers. It's just a generic brand, low dose. Lex said you shouldn't be unconscious."
 

Thomas took the bag and looked inside. "Oh you're right. I shouldn't. How much do I owe
 
you." He reached into his back pocket—where was his wallet?
 

"Oh no. The doc's got it." Richard waved at everyone. "Nice to see you again, Cecelia. By Lex, Nana. Might wanna get home. The stuff's really coming down out there." He left.
 

"Nice kid." Thomas eyed the sandwich. "Anyone got a knife?"
 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

It'd been years since Cecelia had been to Lex and Veronda's cabin. Since her death, Lex hadn't used it much and offered it to Cecelia on several occasions. She wasn't sure if her brother had taken Nana there yet.
 

Cecelia visits were always in the summer, in the daylight and with no snow. Driving in these conditions was a whole new experience.
 

And she took her brother's truck and left the Hummer in Lex's garage. The Hummer was too conspicuous.
 

It wasn't very late when she left Lex's office, but the overcast sky and the continuously falling snow made it look dark outside. Snow blanketed the trees, the sides of the streets, the roof tops of houses—the whole area of Roswell looked like a winter wonderland.
 

She took the service roads to 75 North. It wasn't really the smartest route to go, especially if they broke down or the roads iced over, but she wanted to avoid traffic as much as possible. Or…from what the local stations were reporting, traffic jams.
 

"You handle a truck pretty well."
 

Cecelia glanced to her right at Thomas. He looked better, but he was still pale. The circles under his eyes looked darker. He needed sleep—deep, interrupted, healing sleep. They both needed food. The sandwich hadn't been enough, and it sort of felt lodged in her chest. She swallowed it whole. "I grew up in the south. Everyone owns a truck."
 

"And a Hummer?"

"Not much different, in my opinion." Though, that'd been the first time she'd driven one of them. "Where are you from?" She stopped at a four-way and turned right. Two more miles and they would hit the interstate. She silently prayed it was a straight shot to Red Top with no freaked out drivers.
 

Or, drivers trying to paint a target on their backs, especially Thomas's.
 

"I was born in Tallahassee, Florida. I have two brothers I haven't seen in several years. My father worked at grocery stores all his life, finally landing a managerial position when I left for the service. My mom's been a secretary as long as she's been alive."

"Are your parents still alive?"
 

"Yes. They're retired. My mom's mom passed away a year ago. I got a card in the mail, six months after the service. I'd been in Budapest, chasing the Phantom."
 

"Service…you were in what branch?"

"I went into the army—but I was recruited out to do…" he shrugged. "Other things. So I spent five years in Government work—"
 

"Is this were the thief part comes in?"
 

Thomas didn't answer right away and Cecelia wondered if she'd stepped on a land mine. Finally he said, "Yes. I didn't know if that was still classified. I don't suppose telling you is problem. We're on the same team."
 

"You stole things for the US government."

He laughed. "Don't sound so surprised, detective. The government has many questionable programs running. The one I belonged too is still there. I retired out after having a slight—shift of conscience. Once that happens, and it happens more often than not, I was given an honorable discharge, signed my life's secrets away, and struck out on my own. I traveled for a while and met with a guy who went by the name Professor."
 

"Odd."
 

"I found out he once belonged to the same group I had, but now ran a small business for who ever could afford it to steal back priceless things that were stolen from them."
 

The exit came into view and Cecelia took a look over the edge. No traffic. Not one car. Sweet! She took the ramp and once she hit the pavement, gunned the motor north. "Sounds fishy."

"Not so much fishy as squirrely." Thomas shifted in his seat. "There are a lot of stolen items out there. Some of them are priceless, and some are only priceless to the former owner. But, they want them back just as bad as the owners of the priceless stuff."