Forever

Are You Hiding Something?

"Dad, it's noon and you called me from...."

"Don't tell me it was that woman." Henry interrupted, struggling into one of his jackets. Abraham cast him a sideways look.

"Ugh, you're getting the seat all wet! That's gonna mildew, you know, and I hate to think where your-"

"Abraham! Please, the construction site."

Chuckling, he shook his head and drove to the site Henry had given him directions to.

"Wait, before you go; what was it this time?"

Henry sighed and unbuckled the seat belt. "Knife to the chest. That's the thirtieth worst way todie; don't get me wrong."

He got out of the car and peered around him, at the now seemingly abandoned construction site. Jo had been cornered down by the-

Abraham pulled the car back and leaned out the window. He held an iPhone out to Henry.

"Where did you-"

"Frenchman."

"But she specializes in-"

"Says it's for you, Dad, take it."

Henry put the small box to his ear, hating the feeling of ridiculousness it stirred in him. This was how-

"Hello."

"Adam? What is this about, now? You know I don't-"

Laughter blew into his ear and Henry pulled it away, staring at the black square. Was it the static that had overcome the radios back in the-

"Oh, come on, now. I'm laughing, you idiot; it's not static."

Oh. Right.

"What do you want? The Detective's in there and I can't wait around for Hugo to kill her!"

"Look to you right."

Henry did as he was told, glancing swiftly to the side. Abraham- still leaning out the window- commented on the movement like Henry wasn't on the phone with some (Almost) god.

"You look like a bird when you do that, kinds shift your eyes like you're being hinted down-"

He shushed him and listened to the instructions Adam was meticulously giving out.

"See the blue container?"

".... Yes...."

"Pick it up."

Henry hesitated. Adam wasn't exactly the most reliable person.... at least when it came to their reincarnations.

"Well? Pick it up."

Henry's eyes widened and he turned his head, sliding his eyes down the sidewalks on the tpstret across from him. If Adam knew he hadn't picked up the.... box... thing, then he was there. With him.

"Where are you?!"

"Just pick it up."

"I asked you a question; you're inclined to answer!" He spat the word as visupious as he could make it, awarding several stares from people. But he had an iPhone: Surely he was safe from their intrusive scrutiny.

A soft chuckle. "And I told to do something, and you damn well better do it before Jo gets her brains splattered on the concrete."

Oh, God, why were the women in his life always dragged into this? He immediately stopped the thoughts of Jo being anything more than his partner.

His work partner.

"You're behind that man's attack!"

"Pick up the damn box, Henry!" Adam barked. Abraham, from his position in the car, chuckled.

"What's this about, Dad? Is-"

"Fine, I'll do it." Henry whispered. He crouched by the small.... plastic?.... box and picked it up, careful to keep it away from his face. The material was cool and smooth to the touch. Yes, definitely plastic. Maybe even a toy.

"Open it."

"Are you-"

"Open it, do I have to repeat myself?"

Henry rolled his eyes slightly and gently pushed the top of the box open, and gaped at what was inside. There, in his hands was a sight he'd seen before, many, many times.....

In the box, in Henry's hand, lay a grisly, gray human heart.