Roth: Protector(Shapeling Trilogy #1) (2nd edition)

Chapter 14: Confessions

Endesha entered his living room carrying two cups of coffee. Handing one to Roth, he sat across from him.

Roth stared into the black brew. "I believe the best course of action is to take Rainey back to Cairo where we can disappear until I can get some answers."

"I agree, and I'll continue working on translating the hieroglyphs."

Roth sipped his coffee. "But I'm reluctant to leave because it appears someone knows about you."

"Don't worry about the hieroglyphs falling into the wrong hands. I'll keep the flash drive locked in my hidden vault."

"That's not my main concern. I fear for your safety."

"Roth, do not dishonor me with fear. I have lived a full and exceptional life. Before choosing to remain human I lived almost five thousand years as a shapeling and during that time I was blessed to mentor and guide you like a son. After that, I met a woman who chose to become human with me and we lived a wonderful life in the country we love. What more could I ask? No, Roth, do not dishonor me."

"As you wish. I will say no more."

Endesha nodded toward the window. "The sun is cresting. You should be on your way."

"I agree."

Roth rose and walked toward the guest bedroom to wake Rainey and retrieve his backpack.

***

Rainey opened her eyes to a rosy glow peeking through a gap in the curtains. She stretched and then realized she was still in her clothes. She heard a light tap on her door.

"Yes?" she asked in a sleepy voice.

The door cracked open and Roth peeked around it. "May I come in?"

"Ah, okay."

He chuckled. "You're still in your clothes. When I came in to retrieve my backpack last night you were asleep. I didn't realize you wouldn't wake up to change for bed."

"Me either. I just wanted to rest for a few minutes."

Roth sat on the foot of the bed. "I have some news to break to you."

"What?" she asked warily, and sat up.

"Someone knows we're here. Endesha woke me before daylight and said he'd spotted a car parked down the street. We zoomed in with his surveillance camera and discovered a figure watching the house with binoculars."

"How could anyone know we're here?"

"That's what I'd like to know."

"What are we going to do now?"

"I've decided we should return to Cairo. It's a big city where we can easily hide. We'll find a nondescript hotel to stay at. Can you be ready in half an hour?"

"Okay."

Roth patted Rainey's leg as if to reassure her, then left the room.

Rainey lay back down and stared at the ceiling. She wasn't thinking about danger to her person, she was thinking about Roth and Fawn. Were they romantically involved?

***

Roth returned to the living room where Endesha sat at his computer desk scribbling on a pad. He tore the page off and held it out to Roth. "Set up an email account with that name and I'll convey the interpretation of the hieroglyphs there in a coded message." He pointed below the scrawled email account information. "This is how to decipher the message."

Roth accepted the paper and studied it for several seconds. He nodded his understanding and handed the page back.

Endesha pulled out a desk drawer and removed a box of matches. Striking the flint, he lit the page on fire and walked to the coffee table to drop it into a small dish, which he carried to the kitchen.