The Upside of Death

Flint Gets Helpful. Part 19

Keera heard a car arriving, doors slamming, the front door closing. Then nothing.

"Where are you, Flint?" she asked. "I need to know stuff."

"Someone mention my name?" Flint was back in the room, grinning like a little kid. More of his body visible. Most of it in fact, apart from his left leg. From his thigh to his foot-fresh air.

"You look happy," she said. "I am so pleased something nice is happening in your life."

"I thought it'd be tough, you know, moving the glass. But it wasn't." He beamed with satisfaction. "I concentrated and then I didn't, kinda at the same time, and it moved right across the table."

"You moved a glass?" Great, he was a loose cannon already. "Who saw this? You move anything else?"

"Vronsky, when he was by himself. After the other two came back they put a whole mess of food on the table. No room to slide the glass and freak them out. So I tried to move the packages."

"How did it go?"

"Not great. All that moved was the receipt. Damn thing slipped off the table and under the sofa. Nobody noticed. What a waste."

What a relief. If he kept this up, the Russians could decide it was her doing. If they decided she was psychic, they might figure she knew too much. No chance of her survival after that. Flint had to be restrained until they had a plan.

She said, "You have unusual levels of energy, I see that."

He shrugged. "That's what made me. Lots of drive, lots of energy."

"It also made you dead."

"Shit happens. Made a mistake."

He was irrepressible. Somebody who would always bounce back from any defeat. She asked, "What was the reaction to the glass?"

"Vronsky." He tapped his temple. "It fooled with his head big time."

"What did the others say?"

"The big guy didn't believe him but the other one did. Like I said, I tried to do it again, just for them, but ..." Flint contemplated her for a second or two. "You've been part of this longer than me. I bet you can move stuff and do other shit. Why don't you show me how?"

"Actually, I can't move stuff, or do other shit as you put it. It takes all my energy to stay in your world whenever I enter it."

"I sense you don't like me."

The guy had no idea of the trouble he'd brought her. "Why would I not like you?" she retorted. "You have me snatched by killers and rapists, you cause my boyfriend to be beaten and you plan to destroy my father. Apart from those factors, I really enjoy your company."

"Okay, okay. So nobody's perfect. Every friendship has its sharp moments, right? But listen here, sister: you need me. You don't know what they plan for you, but I do."

"What are they planning?"

"They're going to use you to get money from your father."

"I knew that already."

"Then they'll kill you, maybe have sex play first."

It was a straight-armed punch that rocked her silent. She'd pushed this possibility to the back of her mind, but he'd brought it crashing home again. "You have a plan to stop this?" she asked.

"Nope. I only just found out. Give a guy a chance to think of a counter. I'm good, but not that good." Flint looked around. "Aren't you supposed to have a guide or something? I don't see no wise person nearby."