Assassins: Slow Agony Part 24

Griffin's mother met us at the door. She looked as if she hadn't slept. There were dark circles under her bloodshot eyes. But that didn't stop her from hugging both of us tightly. "Oh, Leigh, I didn't know you were coming, but I'm so glad to see you."

Last Christmas, when I'd come to see Griffin's family, she'd made me feel right at home, like I belonged. I hugged her back. "I'm so sorry, Beverly. We're going to get Christa back."

She ushered us into her kitchen, which was immaculate. Perhaps she'd been cleaning to ward off her worry. Or maybe she simply hadn't bothered to come inside this room.

"Ma, you gotta tell me what happened," said Griffin. "Everything."

"Sit down," she said, pointing to the cherry-wood table. "Are you two hungry?"

"Never mind that," said Griffin. "Christa's been taken by a crazed man. How can you think about food?"

Beverly looked hurt. "I'm doing what I can. I don't know where your sister is. I'm losing my mind here. But if you were hungry, I could fix you something to eat. That's something I could do."

I put my hand on her arm. "It's okay. Griffin's only worried."

"We're not hungry," said Griffin.

She patted my hand. "And you, sweetie?"

I shook my head.

"What happened?" said Griffin again.

Beverly sat down at the table. She took a deep breath. "Well, I told you most of it. Christa went out last night. She's practically graduated from high school at this point. Only two more weeks. So I haven't been paying as much attention to where she goes or what she does. She's eighteen for goodness' sake. Lord knows, I'm not going to give an eighteen-year-old a curfew."

"It's okay," I said. "This isn't your fault."

"So she went out last night?" he said.

She nodded, biting her lip. "And I don't know where she was going." She burst into tears.

"Ma..." He put his arm around her. "Don't cry. It's going to be okay. It probably doesn't matter where she was last night. She's probably not there now."

"Oh, Lord," she said. "Where is she, then?"

"If I knew that," he said, "I'd be there getting her back, now, wouldn't I?"

"Oh, Griffin," she said. "I don't want you hurt. I thought I lost you once, and I couldn't take it if I lost you again."

Op Wraith had told Griffin's family that he was dead, even though they had given him the serum and were training him to be an a.s.sa.s.sin. Beverly had been certain that her son was gone for years. When Griffin found her again, he told her that he'd been in a coma and that there had been a mix up in the hospital about his ident.i.ty. He couldn't find her until after he woke up. Of course, that was a lie. But Griffin didn't want his mother knowing about Op Wraith. He didn't want her put in danger because of it.

"I won't get hurt," he said. "I'm tough, Ma. So, when did you get the call?"

"Last night," she said. "Around midnight."

"Did the caller identify himself?"

"No." She shook her head. "All he said was that he had Christa, and he was going to hurt her unless I got you to come home."

"Nothing else?"

"Only not to tell the police."

Griffin swore under his breath.

"You watch your mouth, young man." She glared at him.

"Sorry," he said.

"Did he call again?" I asked.

"No," she said. "I spent all last night and this morning calling every number I've ever had for you, Griffin, and none of them worked."

"I've been having to lay low 'cause of this guy," he said. "Sorry, but I thought if you were in touch with me, it would put you in danger."

"Not being in touch with you almost killed your sister. If you hadn't called me, she'd be dead."

"I don't get it," Griffin muttered. "He wants me home? I'm home. Now what?"

I wasn't sure. Marcel hadn't dealt fair with us so far. And between him and Wolfman, they were proving to be careless with other people who were involved. Naomi and the girl from the bar were both dead because they'd been too close to us.

"He didn't leave you anyway to contact him?" I said.

"No, or I would have told him that I couldn't get a hold of Griffin."

I thought of Marcel with the gun to Naomi's head. It was like a cold hand had grabbed my spine. "He wouldn't have cared."

Abruptly, there was the sound of the front door opening.

We all froze.

"Who is that, Ma?" Griffin murmured.

"I don't..."

"You two stay back," he said. He took out the gun he carried and crept out of the kitchen.

It was quiet.

Beverly and I looked at each other. Her face was full of terror. My heart was in my throat.

What if something happened to Griffin? Would I be able to protect his mother?

"Jesus, Griffin, you scared me," said a young female voice.

Beverly's eyes widened. "Christa?" She scurried out of the kitchen.

I followed her.

I was just in time to see Griffin's sister being squeezed by both her brother and her mother.

She coughed. "You guys. I can't breathe."

Christa was drinking a soda. "So, I lost my purse. Everything. I didn't have money, my phone, my credit card, the keys to my car." She was so sleek and put together. Her dark hair was perfectly trimmed to fall past her shoulders. It was thick and shiny. It made me wonder what Griffin's hair would look like if he ever grew it out. Her makeup was artfully applied, her clothes stylish. It had only been six months since I'd seen her last, and she already seemed more grown up. "So, I wanted to call you, Ma, but I couldn't. And I was stuck in Kirby overnight. I couldn't get a ride until this morning."

"You weren't attacked?" said Griffin, glaring at her from across the kitchen. He and I were seated at the kitchen table.

"I told you, no, I wasn't." She set her soda on the counter. "Is that why you had a gun?"

Griffin ma.s.saged the bridge of his nose. "It's for protection, all right?"

"Sweetie," said Beverly, who was hovering behind Christa as if she wasn't convinced she was real, "I got a call from a man who claimed to have you hostage."

Christa whirled to face her mother. "What?"

"That's why I'm here," said Griffin.

"Why didn't you call the police?" she said.

"The man said not to," said her mother.

Christa rolled her eyes. "So? He's a criminal. Why would you listen to him?"

"He threatened to kill you if I did," said Beverly.

"Well, he can't do that, can he?" said Christa. "Because I'm here. So, we should call the police now."

Griffin stood up. "No."

"No?" said Christa.

"Why not?" said Beverly.

"These people..." He turned to me for help.

I shrugged at him. I didn't know what to say.

"The police wouldn't be able to handle them. They have certain... abilities."

Oh, he was referring to the serum. If the police got Marcel, they'd find out sooner or later that he could heal, and that would create all kinds of problems. There was an agreement amongst all of the ex-a.s.sa.s.sins from Op Wraith to keep the serum secret. They were afraid of being taken in by the government and sequestered or studied or forced into the army. I would have said they were paranoid two years ago. But two years ago, I didn't know about corrupt arms corporations either.

I spoke up. "The important thing is that Christa's okay."

"No," said Christa. "I still don't get why we aren't calling the police."

But Beverly shook her head. "Maybe we should listen to your brother. He knows who these people are."

Christa turned to him. "That true?"

He grimaced.

"Leigh's right," said Beverly. "The important thing is that Christa's okay. And now that you are, I realize that I'm starving. How about some sandwiches, everyone?"

I jumped up. "I'll help."

Christa narrowed her eyes, but she didn't say anything.

"Thank you, Leigh," said Beverly, opening the refrigerator. She handed me a head of lettuce. "Would you rinse this for me?"

"Sure," I said, taking it.

"Christa, can you slice a tomato?" Beverly held up the vegetable.

She took it from her mother and made her way over to me.

I was taking off the ring that Griffin had given me before I rinsed the lettuce.

"That's a pretty ring," said Christa. "Where'd you get it?"

"Umm..." I twisted to look at Griffin. We'd been going to tell his mother about our engagement, but we hadn't because of everything that had happened. Was it still a bad time?

Griffin smiled at me. "Actually, that was the reason I called, Ma."

"Hmm?" Beverly was taking lunch meat and cheese out of the refrigerator.

"Leigh and I are, um, engaged."

Beverly nearly dropped the cheese. "What?"

Christa squealed. "No way! That's awesome."

Beverly shut the refrigerator and set everything down on the counter. "I thought that the two of you had split up."

Oh. Of course Griffin had told his mother when we broke up. Had he told her about the abortion as well?

"Put the ring back on," said Christa. "I want to see it on your finger."

I obliged her.

"I think it's so cool that you didn't get a diamond. This is so much prettier."

Griffin rubbed the top of his head. "Well, we split up, but we're not split up anymore."

Beverly laughed. "Obviously not." She held out her arms to her son. "Get over here. You too, Leigh."

I set down the lettuce. The next thing I knew, I was being mashed into a hug. Beverly managed to hug both Griffin and me at the same time. Her embrace was strong.