Scarlet (20 page)

Takeo and Demery were sparring as they took turns playing an unknown. Demery's body moved smoothly in the white protective suit as Takeo came at him. All fire and grace, Takeo's chimera rippled beneath his skin as he feigned another attack. Demery pivoted, using a backhanded punch. He'd aimed where Takeo's head should've been, but was too slow, despite his blurring speed.

"I'm going to get you one of these times," Demery said, laughing.

Takeo grinned and his golden eyes glittered with anticipation. Red cleared her throat and the men straightened like naughty children caught playing ball in the house. "I'm going to step out to the food dispensing station for some lunch. Can I get you guys anything?"

The men shook their heads. "It's hard to fight on a full stomach." Takeo said, letting her know they planned to get right back to it after she left.

Red snorted. "Finish watching the apprehension vids first," she said, turning to leave. "Oh, and try not to break anything."

She heard laughter behind her and couldn't help but smile. The grin faded when her gaze landed on Maggie. Not that she had to report to the woman, but Red thought it best she let her know where she'd be if there was a problem. She was still trying to work up the nerve to have that talk with her.

Okay, so she'd been putting it off. Red really wasn't looking forward to the upcoming screaming match she knew would ensue. Maybe once her stomach was full she'd feel different.

"I'm going for lunch. If there's a problem, give me a call on my navcom."

Maggie stared at her. "Meeting anyone in particular?"

"No," Red said, facing her. "Are you?"

Maggie blushed and looked away.

Red set out toward the food dispensing station. The day was warm, as usual. The air shimmered over the protective tarp road in watery waves. She could see Pine Street ahead, and was already scanning the mental menu in her mind. Synth-chicken or beef? She was so preoccupied she didn't see the man come out of the alley until he was upon her.

"Please," he said. "You have to help me." He tugged at her arm.

Red jerked out of his grasp, stunned that he'd gotten so close without her being aware of his presence. "What's wrong?" she asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

Tall and evenly built, the man wore traditional boundary clothing, tan fatigues. His tawny hair was styled neatly, a sharp contrast to his rough, work-hewn hands. Sunshades covered his eyes. He seemed fine other than being a little agitated.

"We must hurry," he said, attempting to grab her again. She stayed out of reach.

"What seems to be the problem?" Red asked, glancing around.

A few people passed by, giving her and the stranger curious looks. The last thing she wanted was more speculation. Red stepped off the walkway into the mouth of the alley. Lead pipes were stacked along the side, narrowing an already small space. Barrels that at one time held fuel gaped openmouthed, long dried out from the sun. Tattered clothes had been tossed haphazardly onto the heap, turning it into a refuge for trash. Nothing moved. Not even the wind.

Red lowered her voice. "Are you hurt?" She gave him a once-over, but detected no visible injury.

He shook his head, sending strands of tawny hair onto his forehead. "No, but my friend is."

"I'll call it in." she said, feeling the familiar adrenaline rush she got anytime she was on active duty.

"No, please." He stilled her hand. "There's no time. He won't make it unless we move him now and get him to the emergency care center." The man pointed down the alley, but Red didn't immediately spot anyone else.

She looked again. "Where is he?"

“He's behind those pipes. I propped him up against the wall. I think his leg is broken and he might have a head injury."

Red's gaze narrowed and her hand moved to her pistol. "How did it happen?"

"I'll explain on the way. Can we please hurry?" The man seemed on the verge of panic.

"Sure, right after I call it in." Red pressed a button on her navcom and sent the code for medical emergency. Maggie would receive the message and send backup.

She looked down the road and spotted the top of the care center roof. It wasn't far away. A couple of blocks, tops. If all the man had was a broken leg and a possible head injury, then it might be quicker for them to haul him there. Maybe if she was seen helping the stranger when backup arrived, Maggie and the people of Nuria would think better of her.

"Okay," Red said, stepping deeper into the alley. "Show me where he is."

The man smiled. "Thank you. I really appreciate this. You have no idea what it means to me."

He led her down the alley toward the unoccupied buildings at the back. Neatly painted siding gave way to broken windows and pockmarked walls. They neared the stack of pipes.

"A little farther," the man said. "He's just on the other side."

Red picked up her pace. Something about the alley made her decidedly uncomfortable. She'd avoided these spaces since arriving in Nuria. They reminded her that despite the polish on the main road, the town continued to decay. It was only a matter of time before the rest of Nuria followed suit and became a notation in the history books, like the city of Phoenix.

Red rounded the corner, expecting to see someone propped against the wall, but there was no one there. "Where is he?" she asked, looking around. From this far down the alley, she didn't have a clear view of the main street, which meant her backup wouldn't be able to see her. Red stepped back. "What's going on?"

The man gave her a sad smile. "Sorry about this," he said. "But I have no choice."

"Sorry about what?" She rounded on him, thinking he was about to attack. Her limbs loosened and she widened her legs until she was in a fighting stance. She'd only shoot him as a last resort.

"For this," he said, running full tilt toward the old brick wall.

Red watched in shock as the man didn't put a hand up to prevent the collision. He hit the wall so hard she actually heard something crack inside of him, then he bounced back, blood running down his forehead and out his broken nose. His sunshades were shattered, hanging loosely from one ear.

He cried out in pain, then repeated his actions, this time hitting the wall with his shoulder. Something crunched and he crumpled a little under the agony.

Red cringed. "Stop it! What's wrong with you?"

"Help! Help! Someone help me!" he shouted.

She stopped, concerned it might not be smart to get too close. He was obviously insane, despite his earlier lucidity. What if he was sick? That thought led to a more disturbing one. Was he contagious? Red couldn't seem to move as she watched his bizarre behavior play out like a training vid identifying what to look for in the mentally ill. She'd never seen a crazy person before. Normally once an abnormality was detected in pregnancy it was "corrected" before the baby was born.

The man continued to scream like he was surrounded by wolves, until several people on the main drag heard him. They rushed into the alley, swarming in response.

"You need help," Red said. "The kind of help that the emergency care center cannot provide." She looked at the people, heading down the alley toward them. The group had grown in number. None appeared to be from the sheriff's station.

"Keep her away from me. Please keep her away." He cowered, holding up one hand in defense. The one that was attached to the shoulder he'd hit lay limp at his side.

Red turned to the crowd. "He did this to himself. I think there's something wrong with him. We need to contact the emergency care center and have him sedated."

"She's lying," he countered, stepping forward, only to shrink, back again when Red looked at him. "Someone please take me to the sheriff's station. I need to file a complaint. She's out of control. She tried to kill me."

Her eyes widened. "I did no such thing," Red said.

"Look at me," the man turned to the crowd. "Who are you going to believe? If you all hadn't arrived when you did, she would've finished the job."

Red gaped, then quickly recovered. "You lying son of a bitch."

"Stay away from him," a man said, putting his body between Red and the injured man.

"I told you I didn't touch him," she said. "He asked me to come down here. He said his friend was injured. I called for backup."

'Then where are they?" he asked.

That was a good question. Red planned to find out. "They should've been here by now," she said.

"You said he had a friend. Where is he?"

"I didn't say he had a friend," she ground out. "He did." Red pointed at the injured man.

"There's no one here now but the two of you," another man said.

"That's my point," Red said. "He lied about having a friend."

"Seems like there's a lot of that going around these days," someone in the crowd said. "Didn't you say that other fella was lying, too?"

"I heard tell she threatened to shoot the man at the food dispensing station," said a woman. "And look what happened to him."

Red met their wary gazes. Most looked away, but several stared back, her guilt clearly written in their eyes. "Look," she said. "There's not a mark on me. Don't you think if I'd beaten him this badly my knuckles would be bruised?"

"Not if you used a pipe," the injured man said.

"I didn't touch him," Red said.

"Then you'll have no problem coming to the sheriff's station with us."

chapter fourteen

Horrified, Red turned on the injured man. The reason for his apology suddenly became clear. He was setting her up so formal charges could be brought against her. She watched the Nurian help the injured man off the pile of pipes.

"It's okay," he said. "We'll take you to the sheriff's station right away."

The condemnation Red saw around her scalded her insides, leaving her raw. She'd done nothing but try to look out for these people. Yet they were so quick to judge her guilty. And now she'd have to fight formal charges because she'd tried to help a stranger in need. Red's head slumped. This was getting ridiculous. She was thwarted at every turn.

The crowd filed out of the alley. Some of the people were shocked by her supposed actions. Most seemed unsurprised. Red wasn't sure which hurt more. The people walked the man down the street. A blood trail followed their progress. What would her grandfather think when he received the charges? Would he believe them? Would he have her arrested? Would he even have a choice? She had no doubt he'd be humiliated. She was embarrassed to have fallen for such a weak ploy.

Bloodied and bruised, the man who'd set her up looked over his shoulders. For a moment, Red saw genuine remorse in his green eyes. It was gone so quickly she convinced herself that she'd been mistaken.

He moaned and allowed his legs to give out. The man beside him caught him under the arm and hoisted him back up. "We're almost there," he said. "One of the deputies will lake your statement."

"Please don't let her hurt me anymore," the man pleaded. His voice cracked as he put on the performance of his life.

They entered the sheriff's station a couple of minutes later. Maggie gasped when the man came into view. "What happened?"

"He'd like to file assault charges against Red," the man holding him up said.

Maggie's gaze widened even further as she sought Red out. "What have you done?" she cried, rushing forward to pull a chair over for the man to sit on.

"I didn't do anything other than send in a call for backup." Red said.

Maggie flushed. "It must have gotten lost. I have no record of receiving such a call." She busied herself, refusing to meet Red's gaze.