Page 31 of Double Shot
“Major General, and you’ve been demoted to potato peeler.” I laughed.
“That’s what I need. I need you to be you, and Sadie to be herself.” He leaned back.
“What if we’ve both changed? What if we’ve all changed?” I asked.
“That might be the most introspective thing I’ve heard you say.” He sounded thoughtful.
“Easy, I’m still who I am.” I held up my hands in a defensive gesture. “We’re not going down to the town for manicures and to go blouse shopping.”
“Mate,” he said softly. “You do get manicures, I’ve seen the receipts.”
“And you’ll take that secret to your grave.” I pointed a finger at him.
“Probably not, Sadie knew before everything. The pedicures too.” He smiled.
“You bastard.” I gave a laugh that was louder than I intended.
“So, we need to plan what’s next.”
“First thing, we need to rest. As far as I know,Pax Sicariis still in place, so we’re safe here,” I said. No one would try anything here in Monaco. This was a safe space, a reservation of peace. “Get you a new prosthetic, get some clean clothes, and spend a day or two without a high-speed car chase, gun battle, or assault on a defended location.”
“Those are good ideas…” he said. “The leg especially. I’m no good hobbling on a cane, and if I do too much damage to the stump, there could be a chance for a blood clot.”
“We don’t need you stroking out,” I said. “Sadie hasn’t forgiven you for dying at Bootlegger Head.”
“If I hadn’t slammed the door, they would have had all of us,” he defended.
“That’s true, but you promised her that we would all be okay, and she’s had six months to be mad at you about that. I’m sure it’s all in your laptop, that’s the one she’s used this whole time.”
“Fair enough,” he said.
“I’m glad your back with me,” I said. “I don’t think I said that earlier. I’ve been… just making this up this whole time.”
“All I’ve done is just endured whatever that sadistic bitch could throw at me because I knew you’d come and find me.” He pushed the chair back and stood hesitantly. He was off-balance, exhausted, and probably more than a little buzzed.
I hugged him.
“You’re more than a brother to me,” I said. I looked up and saw her standing in the hallway. The only thing missing from her messy hair, slack nightgown, and sleep-marked face was a stuffed animal being carried by a leg.
“I love you,” he said softly. “Brother.”
“We’re being watched, and yes,” I spoke. I could feel those doors inside me closing, what emotion I had retreated. “What are you doing up?” I asked as she walked over to join our hug.
Chapter Nine
Sadie…
“Do you know what the most powerful piece on the board is?” Hal Jefferson asked me.
I looked up from where I trailed light fingertips over the stone pieces in his most prized possession – a chess set from before he was homeless. The timing clock was in his hands, worn and tired, a bit of duct tape at the corner, but it still worked.
I looked back down to the stone table with the chess board etched in it. Hal could be found all day every day at Winthrop Park in central Indigo City under the row of maple trees at the chess tables.
“I’ll give you a hint,” he said. “It ain’t that big fat tower you’re eying.”
I smiled. “You can’t fault me for thinking that the biggest piece would also be the most powerful,” I said, lifting the ivory tower piece from the shabby blue felt.
“The bigger they are, the harder they fall,” Hal said with a laugh. He was a light skinned black man. His skin tone was the color of good strong tea with a hint of milk, darker freckles in a smattering over his nose and cheeks which were etched with deep smile lines. His light gray eyes smiled too when they looked up at me, roving my face as I returned his smile and put the tower piece back down in its place.
