Fragments - Book One of the Missing

Chapter 16 - Taniel

It took a few days to warm Scooter up to the idea of Rowan going on one of the raids. And then a few more for him to plan the perfect location. He wanted it to be perfect. Taniel couldn't argue with the logic, he wanted the plan to be foolproof for her safety, too.

As soon as the final detail was in place the breaking-and-entering connoisseur had them up and out early the following morning. The streets were abandoned, but the one or two passerby they did see were too groggy to notice they didn't belong. At least that was what Taniel hoped. Still half asleep, he tagged along without giving it too much thought.

Outside, the world was gray. The first rays of sun tried but failed to break apart the mist. As his mind started to clear, he had to admit the conditions were ideal for Rowan's first raid. Scooter led them west across town to another recently abandoned neighborhood. Newspapers and Missing posters swirled around his feet. He pulled his parka tighter. The weather was starting to take a turn for the worse and before he knew it, Fenesmere would be in the thick of autumn.

Their motley crew stopped outside a building seemingly constructed of only dark blue glass. And this close to the East Emolo River it looked like a large wave crashing onto Fenesmere. The artist in him loved it. But the boy who lived on the streets gawked at the extravagance. Living there must have been a dream, at least until the building stood as an island in a sea of increasing danger. Maybe a family in Fenesmere could still afford to heat an apartment with walls of glass, but they certainly couldn't afford their own disappearance.

"Scooter, are you sure about this? Someone could look in and see exactly what we are doing."

"That is why we are going to the top floor—the penthouse will be secure and a gold mine. Have a little faith in me, will you?"

Point taken.

Rowan silently watched the exchange, rubbing her hands together to bring warmth back to her fingers.

They followed Scooter around the side of the building and stopped to watch him finagle the lock of the service entrance. Taniel threw a worried look over his shoulder, but Rowan was impressed.

"You have to show me how to do that," she said to Taniel's chagrin.

The elevator was dead, no surprise there. Climbing the stairs left Taniel leading Scooter out of breath. Taniel looked behind him to see Rowan smirking.

"Scooter, you might want to worry a little bit more about what kind of shape you are in the next time we done one of these. You going to let me outrun you?" Rowan asked him.

Taniel could hear Scooter's heavy breathing behind him. He took the bait. "I could outfight you."

She just shrugged. "Maybe." She turned to wink at Taniel, and he couldn't help but smile. Stars, she was a piece of work. He liked the sass that snuck out every now and then.

"Well, we all know that if Rowan and I teamed up we would definitely beat you."

"In your dreams, Gills. Life doesn't play by your rules, so I'll just take you down by the knees and leave you in the dust." He stuck his tongue out.

Beyond the door to the apartment, Taniel was floored by what he saw. The place was pristine, and all white—the couches, the hardwood floors, the walls. The white of the apartment reflected off the blue of the glass, giving the room an eery light blue glow. Who had wealth like this? It didn't seem real with so many people living in squalor and barely able to rub two pennies together.

Taniel jumped at a shadow in the corner, proving only to be a human sized white marble statue. He stared at the woman, scantily clad and gorgeous, but so angry. A hand on his shoulder made him jump again.