Inner Workings

Inner Workings - Part 53

Will ran out of the lobby like it was the Death Star about to explode and fell into Reese's arms when his foot caught the bottom of the doorjamb.

Reese staggered from Will's weight. "Whoa! What's wrong?"

"Found the bomb," said Will, jittery. "It's attached to the elevator."

Reese turned them about-face and marched towards the end of the block, away from the Watch van. "Then I suggest we move in the opposite direction and let Watch One do their jobs. I've seen the Youtube video, I don't need firsthand experience."

"But Agent Cowls' team-" started Will.

Reese plucked the borrowed com from Will's ear and held it in front of him. "I believe they know."

Thunder rolled overhead. Weighed down with the chest plate and a long day, Will wanted to collapse. Preferably on a mattress, but he'd take a bench. He looked back. Sandra Perl, lashed to a stretcher, was pushed into the Watch van like a loaf of bread. The last he'd see of her, he hoped.

"How are you feeling?" asked Reese.

"Fine," said Will. "What about Paro?"

"Escorted to her family. She's fine."

Will rubbed his hands over his arms, wishing he had thought twice before giving Paro his jacket. The jacket...

Damn, thought Will. His SkySprecht was still in his jacket. Would he get it back? If he didn't would it come out of his paycheck? The keys to what was left of the Devi's SUV were also in his jacket.

"We're not returning Watch One's things?" said Will, touching the chest plate and the flashlight.

"We can send them a package and make a surprise of it." Reese moved them around a puddle, his long stride making Will feel like a doll being dragged along. A ribbon of yellow police tape still sectioned off the block containing the apartment building. Reese approached it like a finish line.

A black SUV pulled up alongside them and stopped.

"Going so soon?"

Reese froze with a groan. "Holy Spirit of Pepto-abysmal ass."

Justin and another person beside stepped out of the car's backseat. A massively tall, broad shouldered black woman with shorn hair and wearing a black jacket stood by Justin. Silent and still, she looked like Amazonian photonegative of Reese. The agent that gave him a ride into Everett, Will realized.

"Agent Rowe, this is my partner Agent Quinn," said Justin. "Quinn, this is Agent William Rowe, the new ball and chain to my former partner, and Agent Carmichael."

Quinn nodded and turned towards the van down the street.

"I'll coordinate with bomb removal." Her voice a rumbled, lower than Will had expected.

Justin held the car door open and gestured to Will. "Join me? You do have a few things that belong to us."

Reese's grip on Will's arm tightened. Gently, Will peeled him off. "I'll be fine. Just be a moment."

"Yeah, we'll see about that," muttered Reese, handing over the earpiece. "I'll be right outside."

Will got in the SUV and Justin followed after him. The doors locked but the car didn't move. At least it was dry. Leather seating and a silent driver that didn't look back when the two men got in. Little rivers furrowed on the windows. Will lay the flashlight and earpiece on the middle seat. He pulled at the breastplate's Velcro straps with arms refusing to bend properly.