Gem Stone (21 page)

He looked them up and down, "And maybe a square meal?"

Gem's stomach rumbled hopefully. She warned it to be quiet. She wasn't into bribes – at least not easily.

"We have a ride coming."

"Yep, I heard that too, but that ride is not going to be here any time soon. Gonna take a couple of hours at least."

"Maybe, but we'll wait here all the same."

"I don't think the library is the best place for you. Now apparently you have some good reasons for not wanting to trust every law enforcement officer that you meet and I can try to convince you, until I'm blue in the face, that I'm not here to hurt you. However, maybe we could go down to the Happy End Café and get a meal. Then you three can tell me what kind of trouble you're in."

"The Happy End?" Hardly a positive endorsement for a restaurant.

The sheriff laughed. "It's okay. It's a gem of a restaurant. Only the locals know about it. So how about a cup of coffee or a bite to eat?"

The three of them exchanged glances.

Mark turned back to him. "Is it within walking distance, this restaurant of yours?"

The sheriff studied their faces then nodded. "It can be. If it needs to be. I guess getting into my cruiser isn't high on your list of things you'd like to do right now?"

"Nope. Walking toward a cup of java sounds decent though." Gem stepped forward, aware that her appearance wasn't exactly restaurant attire, but if the place were just a hole in the wall, then people wouldn't notice or care what she wore.

"Let's go." The sheriff nodded to the librarian. "Nice day out there, isn't it, Cindy?"

She nodded at the bedraggled group. "A charming day. Sure hope you're gonna take care of these kids. They're in a spot all right."

"Yup, I'm a trying." He doffed his hat to her.

"Good." She smiled approvingly. "Make sure they get fed. They look like they could use it."

"If anyone comes looking for these three, tell them we'll be back in about an hour or so. And call me on my cell." He nodded at her, put his hat back on and led the way.

Gemma walked between the two guys and several steps behind the tall lawman. It would be a long day before she'd be comfortable going anywhere alone with a stranger.

***

Mark couldn't imagine any hangover that matched what he felt right now. Just walking in the sun hurt. He hadn't mentioned that to the others as they didn't appear to be suffering the same effects. This lawman might be on the 'up and up.' Then again, he was law, and he might know those assholes and believe he was doing the right thing by handing them over to the bad guys. Mark wasn't going to be kidnapped again. This last time sucked.

And the one before that hadn't been a picnic either. The last twenty-four hours had taken their toll, as had the drugs that still clogged his system. His body was on overload. His stomach wanted to revolt, had actually tried to when Reid and Gem were dumpster diving, but he'd managed to keep it down. He'd have been better off if he did hurl. It might have moved some of the drugs out of his system. Food might help too.

He knew Gem needed caffeine. Days before, he'd told her she was addicted but she'd tossed it off. He could tell from looking at her she was heading into caffeine withdrawal.

They were attracting a lot of attention. Gem had been a trooper through this whole mess. She deserved a bath and nice clothes and a decent meal – and that was just during the next hour.

Then there was that kiss she'd landed on his lips. He'd kind of liked it. Liked it a lot in fact. He'd been sweet on Misty and now all he could think about was Gem's grit over these last couple of days, but also her svelte body really appealed in that tiny cami she wore.

She was a keeper and he was no fool.

Reid had surprised him too. He looked at his bedraggled friend in his sleep pants and oversized t-shirt. Reid was bookish and geekish but he'd been a huge help so far. It was nice to know your friends had your back. They could have gone and left him locked in that room. He might have left them if things were turned around. Sure, he'd have gotten help – like he knew they would have.

But he was so glad he hadn't woken up alone.

***

What was the chance things would finish off smoothly now?

Fixer didn't hold much hope. He'd been forced to bring his uncle back to figure a way around the problem. And together, the two of them had stolen the kids in the night. They were safely held in an empty house just outside of Portland. He knew it was empty because his nephew and his girlfriend lived there and they were out of town.

Creepers was supposed to receive an anonymous call then travel to the house and haul them back to the center. They'd stay there for at least a week, forever if he had any say in the matter, while this all blew over. No one was going to listen to anything they had to say.

Fixer hadn't wanted to leave his uncle making the final arrangements, but he had to get home to help cement his alibi…just in case.

He'd almost cancelled the plan last night, but his crook uncle had convinced him otherwise.

This morning he was overwhelmed with doubt all over again. He should have left the kids alone from the beginning. If they'd showed symptoms, something might have been done then.

Although, he was damn sure it would be too late by then.

Still, he'd done what he had to do.

What he always did.

His cousins might talk if they got caught but as they were supposed to hightail it to the other side of the country yesterday, that shouldn't happen. They should be lying low at least long enough for him to consider his options.

He just hoped they'd done what they were told.

Things were tight with new expenditures for his future, and he didn't want the money to dry up. He just wanted a couple more payouts.

Then he'd get the hell out of here.

So how to salvage it? How to put a final end to this crap?

"H
ere we go."

The sheriff held the door open for Gem as she entered the small restaurant. It looked like a typical mom and pop operation found all across the country. Usually the food was hot and there would be tons of it in a place like this.

"Grab a seat," the sheriff said, nodding toward the back wall benches. "I'll get some coffee before we order food."

"Hey, Jed. How're doing? Brought us some customers, I see." The buxom woman came toward him. "Go sit down. I've got the pot." She smiled at everyone. "Now who'd like a coffee?"

Gem smiled gratefully at the hot cup placed in front of her. She loved it black, straight up and strong. Didn't like all the sugar and caramel and junk she watched others load into theirs. Coffee should be drunk pure.

"Now that's out of the way, what do you younguns want to eat?" She pointed up to the chalkboard behind the till. "It ain't fancy but it's all good."

The sheriff beamed at her. "It is that. I'll have a double stack with sausages on the side. What about you guys? Order up. Appears you've missed a meal or two."

They all ordered heavy meals, with their waitress promising to bring toasted homemade bread as soon as it popped.

Gem sipped her coffee and studied the sheriff. He'd made no move to ask questions or to try and ferret out any information. She appreciated that. She was about done with talking anyway. She glanced at the clock. She'd didn't know how long it would take John to get here but one hour had already passed.

The food arrived and that cut off any conversation as everyone dug in. The waitress came back time and again, refilling the coffee mugs and bringing second rounds of toast.

"Well, are you three about filled up now? I can go and bake another dozen loaves if required?"

Mark grinned. "I'm good, thanks."

"And you, little one?"

Little one?
That was a new one. Gemma didn't think she looked so little, though the oversized clothes probably gave her a waif-like appearance. "Thanks," Gem said softly. "The food was delicious. And I am full."

"Good. That's the way it should be." The woman busied herself cleaning off the table. "I'll bring the coffee pot back in a minute."

Gem slumped back against her seat. "I could sleep now…"

"I may never sleep again," Mark said. His sour bitterness reached out to her. She patted his hand that rested on the table beside hers.

"Yes you will." Catching his disgusted look, she added, "Eventually."

"Not."

Reid rested his head back and closed his eyes. "Maybe I'll get a career in security. Design a top of the line system that people can't break."

"You'd do well in that field. But we can't blame John for this," Mark said. "He has a good security system. It's only three zones, so just not complete enough. It's selective. Not on all doors and windows. The limitations probably had to do with Creepers and budgets. Besides, no one expected this." Mark shook his head and took another sip of coffee.

"No," Gem whispered softly. "I certainly didn't – and I should have."

"What?" Reid opened his eyes and leaned forward. "How do you figure that?"

"Misty," said Mark glancing over at her for confirmation.

She nodded. "That's how they got her. She'd been asleep and they took her out her bedroom window."

"Yeah, but I'm not exactly a lightweight," protested Mark. "How the hell did they manage to lift me?"

"With enough drugs to knock out a horse, they could pretty much drop you."

Mark's gaze widened. "That just might explain some of the sore spots I've got that I shouldn't have. I even wondered if they'd just plain tied me to the bumper and dragged me to this damn town… I'm so sore."

"Told you that you shouldn't have had that second bowl of Wheaties every morning. Got to make sure you're light enough to get carried. Just on the off chance you're kidnapped."

The three grinned.

And finally heard the silence from the other member of the table.

And it dawned on them they weren't alone.

The sheriff whispered furiously, disbelief and horror twisting his features, "Did you say you were kidnapped?" He leaned forward, half across the table. "From Oxford? And you ended up here – in my town?"

Gem exchanged worried glances with the others. She didn't know what to say.

"Damn it. Talk to me." He glared at them. "If that's what happened, I need to know about it. And now."

"Really? Are you sure?" Mark sneered. "I bet you wouldn't want to hear about it if the kidnappers claimed they were government men. Not that we believe they were. Too thuggish for that."

The sheriff slumped back and stared, narrow-eyed, at Mark. "Are they?"

"They say they are part of an EPA Criminal Division out of Portland." Gem shrugged. "At least that's what the boss man's card said."

Reid piped up. "Apparently our sheriff checked them out and they were legit. But anyone can get a false ID."

Gem tossed her head. "Those men are bad news. That's all there is to it."

"Who are they?" asked the sheriff.

The door to the restaurant opened, causing the bells to tinkle in the background. Only this time, maybe it was the turn in conversation that made her pay attention. The doomsday song dancing down Gem's spine had her checking out the newcomers…

Shit.
She sank lower and hit Mark in the side. Hard.

"
Ow
. What was that for?"

She'd tilted her head toward the strangers walking in. "Hide, it's Humpty and Dumpty," she hissed, kicking out at Reid, motioning to him from the corner she'd slunk down into.

Reid's eyes widened and he bent his head over his cup.

The sheriff stared in confusion before understanding dawned in his eyes. He picked up his coffee cup and turned around slowly as if to find the waitress for a refill. Smoothly, he studied the newcomers.

Gem didn't want to watch them, but couldn't stand the waiting in the dark.
What were they doing?
She snuck a look. The two men had seated themselves at the front counter and ordered coffees. Their backs were turned to them.

She nudged Reid and Mark. "Let's leave when the table beside us does."

They nodded and waited until the group of construction workers rose in a bustling chaos of noise. Mark slid out, helped Gemma out, then stepping behind her. They walked casually between the construction workers and made for the door.

At the doorway, Gem turned back to make sure Reid was coming. The sheriff was at the cash paying so Reid slipped around him and headed for Gem.