Mind Slide (32 page)

“
What do you want?”

“
I called to tell you that, once again, you're in trouble. Some of Suit's men are coming in through the front door right now, waving their little badges around. Not exactly brilliant to go to the one place they'd expect to find you. And I don't see a pool outside to jump into.”

Mason secured his Bluetooth over his ear and clipped his phone to his shorts. He gave Brian's hand one more squeeze, then peered out the door. The hallway was empty.

“
You call him Suit, too?”

“
Yeah. I stole that from Doctor Albert.”

Mason was conflicted at the thought of receiving help from the man that killed Doc.

“
I thought they wouldn't try anything here,” Mason said. “It's a damn public hospital. They've got my best friend's wife. I thought they'd leave me alone, call to setup a trade.”

“
If you get out of this, I'm sure they still will. If it makes a difference, your cop friend put up a hell of a fight.”

Mason left Brian behind and walked down the hall. He forced himself to stay calm and walk slow. Kelly still sat in the corner at the end of the hall, reading with her legs crossed. She saw him, and stood up to greet him. She stopped when she saw the expression on his face.

“
You were there? At the house?”

“
Yeah. I got there a few minutes after they did. The assholes read my mind. I figured the best way to get to you would be to lean on your buddies. They beat me to it.”

Kelly went to say something, but Mason grabbed her hand and pulled her along, walking down the hall to the elevator.

“
You son of a bitch,” he said.

“
Hey, don't be mad at me. I'm just doing what I gotta do. I don't
like
any of this bullshit, you know. In a way, this is all your fault. You're the freak of nature. You started all of this. Wait! Don't go that way. They're halfway up the stairs now.”

He stopped and turned down another hall, away from the elevator. They passed a nurse pushing a man in a wheelchair.

“
Mason, what's wrong?” Kelly whispered.

He squeezed her hand and touched her shoulder. He couldn't talk to her, but hoped to comfort her.

“
Why are you helping us now?” he asked.

“
You've got the flash drive, and I need it. So guess what? We're friends right now.”

“
You don't know anything about friendship.”

“
Oh shit. I missed those two. Duck into the room next to you. Right now!”

Mason saw a leg start to round the corner as he pulled Kelly into the empty examination room. He shut the door, leaving it open only a crack. He went to turn out the light, but Kelly grabbed his hand. He nodded, knowing she was right. If anyone in the hall saw a light go out, they might stop to investigate.

He moved Kelly to the corner. Gabriel spoke as Mason watched the agent move down the hall through the gap in the door.

“
Just shut your mouth, kid. You don't know what I'm doing. You're just a puppet. So be a good little puppet, and do what I say.”

Mason said nothing. He watched the agent meet up with three more as they got off the elevator. They went in different directions.

He opened the door and took a single step into the hall.

Right into the fist of another agent Gabriel missed.

Mason fell backwards into the room. Kelly let out a small scream. The young agent pounced on Mason, hitting him two more times in the face.

He fished in Mason's pocket for the flash drive.

Kelly jumped on his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. She squeezed as hard as she could. The agent stood up and tossed her off. She landed on her back on the examination table.

Her eyes fell on the computer setup next to her. Next to the examination table was a tiny cart, holding a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Mason tried to look through the stars around him. His face hurt from the punches. The back of his head hurt from the fall. He looked up to see Kelly laying awkwardly on the examination table. The agent stood over him, clutching the flash drive in his hand.

Mason shot to his feet and grabbed the agent's wrist. The agent held tight, and clutched Mason's throat with his free hand. He forced Mason back into the wall. He struggled to breathe, but wouldn't let go of the agent's wrist. Mason gouged at the agent's face, and caught his left eye with a thumb. He released his grip and backed up a step.

The sudden movement threw off Kelly's aim, but she still hit what she was aiming for.

She swung the keyboard as hard as she could. She connected with the side of the agent's head, sending shattered plastic and keys everywhere. He reeled back into the corner and slid halfway down to the floor.

Kelly wasn't done.

She grabbed the monitor and smacked him over the head. He landed in an awkward position, his eyes closed.

She raised the monitor over her head to strike again. For a moment, all she saw was Neil Grainger, whistling
Amazing Grace
in that dark, dirty basement.

Mason wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her away. He grabbed the monitor and set it on the examination table.

“
Kell, stop!”

She was breathing hard. Tears streamed from her eyes. She let Mason take her in his arms. She shook and cried against his shoulder.

Mason held onto her for a moment. He noticed the flash drive, still in the agent's hand. He grabbed it and shoved it back in his pocket.

Gabriel spoke in his ear.

“
Shit, man, why aren't you moving? Where are you...holy shit.”

Mason could almost picture Gabriel, standing right in the room with them, walking through walls and anything else in the way.

“
You're not very good at this, are you?” Mason said.

“
Hey, give me a break. You know how this works. I can't be everywhere. I'm watching the path ahead. Now get moving. Take a right, then a left at the end of the hall. Use the stairs.”

Mason took Kelly by the hand. She squeezed it and forced herself to stop shaking. She gasped and gently touched Mason on the cheek. He winced and pulled away slightly. He already had the beginning of a bruise forming.

They left the room, turning out the light and closing the door behind them. They followed Gabriel's directions and found the stairs.

“
Okay, you're almost home free. They're not watching your Jeep. Just get in and drive away.”

“
What about Brian? They're in there with him.”

Mason and Kelly left the hospital and crossed the parking lot. Kelly tried to run to the Jeep, but Mason held her next to him.

“
I wouldn't worry about your cop buddy too much.”

“
What do you mean?”

“
A nurse just found your handiwork, and is calling the police. Those bastards will scatter like roaches now.”

They climbed in the Jeep and left the hospital.

“
Actually not my handiwork. That was Kelly.”

“
No shit. She's a little spitfire.”

He smirked. “You have no idea. Uh, thank you, I guess.”

“
Hey, us freaks have to stay together, right? Find somewhere to lay low. I'll call later. Keep that damn flash drive safe.”

Gabriel hung up.

Mason removed his Bluetooth and stole a glance at Kelly. She rubbed her knees nervously, staring straight ahead.

“
Hey,” he said, putting a hand over hers. “Are you okay?”

She gave a small smile and nodded.

“
You saved me back there,” he said.

“
We'll be even one day.”

He returned her smile. “We have to find somewhere to stay.”

“
Yeah,” she said. “We shouldn't use credit cards. I've got money. Just find a hotel, hide the Jeep, and we should be okay.”

He gave her a look.

“
What?” she said, her face turning red.

He shook his head. He wished she wasn't with him. He wished she was safe, back at her home.

But if he had to pick anyone to watch out for him, it would be her.

Kelly stepped into the hotel room first. She collapsed on the queen-sized bed and covered her face with her hands. She didn't even bother to turn on the light. The night was catching up to her. She was exhausted, afraid, nervous, angry. For two days, when she was sixteen, she wondered if she'd ever see the outside again.

She no longer knew what was worse. Being chained in that basement, or running for her life.

At least this time, the company was far better.

She caught a glimpse of Mason staring out the window at the parking garage across the street, where they hid the Jeep.

She laughed shortly on the bed. Mason gave her a look.

She thought the day would end with them in a hotel room together. But the circumstances were far different.

Mason left the light off. He sat on the edge of the bed next to Kelly.

“
We should be okay here,” he said.

She turned toward him on her side. “So, we just wait?”

He nodded. “Yeah. They won't hurt Lisa. I hate it, but we're not in control.”

Kelly glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was close to one o'clock in the morning. Her body was tired, but she knew she wouldn't sleep anytime soon.

She grabbed him by the back of his shirt and pulled him down next to her. They kicked their shoes off and got comfortable on the bed. She needed to be close to him, to feel him. She knew if Mason wasn't with her she wouldn't be as calm. He somehow kept her together.

She kissed him softly as she pressed more into him. She hooked his leg with her foot and pulled him closer. They wrapped their arms and legs around each other. He slipped an arm under her neck and held her close.

She could feel him shaking.

“
Are you okay?”

He turned on his back. She inched closer still, laying on his arm and throwing a leg over his waist. She leaned over and kissed his cheek.