Bounty Hunters (Errand Runners 2) **NEW UPDATE 2018**

Chapter 4

Suri’s nasally wheezes filled the silence in the separate single room. A wadded clump of tissues lay beside the foot of the bed and the vaporizer’s steam created an ever-present fog. Although her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, strays had matted themselves against her sweaty forehead. In five days, her fever had gone from ninety-eight to one hundred and three.

A light tap on the door startled Nole from the bedside where he was intently watching his sister sleep. Olivia came in balancing a bedpan with soup, water, and medicine in one hand.

“Hey,” she whispered. “Any changes?” 

Nole took the bedpan and set it on the table. “No.” Suri mumbled something inscrutable and her bed sheets rose and fell slowly with each labored breath. “I’m worried,” Nole said. “I’m really worried.”

Despite her aloof exterior, Olivia greeted him with sympathetic eyes. “Valerie said her temperature should be stabilizing soon. In any case, we have more supplies than a hospital. Just give it time, Nole.”

“She should be here,” Nole murmured angrily. Tapping his foot against the carpeted floor, he withheld his urge to start ranting. “Betty.”

Olivia lowered her gaze and let Nole fume. No one had heard from Betty in the five days since she left, even Valerie. Whatever her excursion was, it wasn’t shaping up to be a short one. The thought that she wouldn’t come back crossed Nole’s mind, and he was sure it crossed everyone else’s minds too, they were just too afraid to share the idea aloud. It was as if saying it would make it true. The other option was that something had happened to Betty. Nole couldn’t help but wonder about her ability to handle herself, or lack thereof. He’d never seen her do anything but smoke cigarettes and boss them around.

I want her here to treat Suri, he thought bitterly. But, even if Suri wasn’t sick…

“I miss her too,” Olivia replied as if reading his thoughts. She placed a hand on Nole’s shoulder before making her way to the door. “You shouldn’t stay in here too long, or you’ll catch what she’s got,” she added before leaving the room. “Val’s words, not mine.” With that, she slid the door shut, leaving Nole alone with his sister.

***

“How’s she doing?" Taro asked. He lowered the volume of the television to a low buzz when Olivia entered the lobby. She slumped into the suede cushion beside him. His cheeks were red from his morning outing. “Same. What about your end?” Taro shook his head, the wavy blonde hairs shaking in unison. The two remained silent for a few minutes before he spoke up.

“Do you think he’s coming back, Liv?” When she didn’t respond, he went on. “I went back to the Hexes hideout from a few days ago, I looked around the backstreets, heck I even went to that breakfast cart. Graham was having a three-for-two sale on the sausage and biscuit sandwiches I like-”

“Taro,” Olivia groaned, urging him to focus.

“Sorry. I just, I never thought he’d just leave. I mean, I was so sure…”

“Don’t start getting all gloomy,” Olivia cut in. “Val doesn’t need to see us worrying about him too. That’ll just make her more upset.”

Stretching his arms behind his head, Taro let out a massive yawn. “Yeah,” he sighed. “You’re right. Man, I don’t know how you can stay calm during all of this.” There was an uncomfortable pause before he added: “I guess you were pretty calm about my disappearance a while back, huh?” Even though he turned his eyes back to the television, Olivia could tell he was waiting for her response. His blue eyes were between her and the screen, so she knew he was waiting for a reaction.