A Touch of Life

21

Seamus met Emmie and Fleur at the bakery that night, after Kai had said his goodbyes and hurried off into the cold night. They all sat at the counter in the kitchen, Emmie and Fleur side by side opposite Seamus.

Emmie made sure to check that they weren't too close. That had earned a remorseful look and a sigh from Fleur, and so Emmie pulled a pair of gloves from his pocket, handing one to Fleur as he put on the other. They clutched onto each others hands as Seamus spoke, and Emmie was smiling absently, because he could feel Fleur's fingers pressing into his knuckles and drawing patterns onto the back of his hand.

"Are you even listening to me, Kelly?" Seamus said loudly, making Emmie jump to attention at the use of his last name. He could hear Fleur sniggering quietly as he squeezed her hand.

"Totally," Emmie replied, nodding enthusiastically.

Seamus glowered, looking skeptical, but he carried on anyway, and Emmie made more of an effort to at least try and act like he was paying attention.

"Okay, so this guy. We think it was a revenge act of sorts. He's a bit of a mess," Seamus drifted off and grimaced slightly.

"Define 'a bit of a mess'?" Emmie asked suspiciously.

"Well...the person who killed him beat him with a blunt instrument, and then they beat him with a sharp instrument, and then they set them on fire."

Emmie and Fleur both stared open mouthed, and Emmie wondered when the things he saw when he was working with Seamus would stop shocking him.

"So he's a bit pommeled, and there's a few bits of him missing, and he also kind of resembles a lump of coal," said Seamus, scratching the back of his head.

Emmie let his head drop to the table.

"Will he even be able to speak?" asked Fleur.

"Not sure. But he's the only lead we have, so we need to try. You guys ready?"

Emmie sat back up and jumped off of his chair, keeping a tight hold on Fleur's hand.

"As I'll ever be," Emmie said with a sigh.