The Maplethorn Initiative (Book 1, The Maplethorn Series)

Rise & Shine

Cam pulled the door shut and held the handle until the light turned from green to red. He took one last look through the narrow window before letting go.

"Bensen's not going anywhere, Drex," Keegan said with a smirk. "But now we've lost Sunderland."

"Tober!" Cam's shout rang in the confined space. "Are you out here?"

"Yeah," came Tober's faint reply.

"Where are you?" Keegan's eyes swept the corridor. "I want my sweatshirt back, man. This jacket is cutting off my circulation."

Tober reappeared on the opposite side of the hall, sitting on the tile with his back against Liam's door.

Keegan peeled off Tober's ill-fitting coat and gently dropped it on top of him. "I was just kidding about the sweatshirt, Sunderland. You can keep it if you're cold or whatever."

"No." Tober stood and unzipped Keegan's sweatshirt. "It's yours."

"Actually, Kinsler stole it," Cam said, trying to lighten the mood.

Tober just stuffed his arms back into the jacket without making a sound.

"So..." Cam turned to Keegan. "What happens now?"

Keegan tugged the sweatshirt's sleeves up to his elbows and produced the card he took from Dr. Bensen. "Now, we open these doors."

"Hold on." Cam had retrieved the tablet, and other than a small chip on one corner, it appeared to be as good as new. "I want to know more about these guys before we let them—" He looked up when he heard the lock beep. "Out."

"Hey," Liam Burke said from the open doorway of his cell.

"Hey," Keegan replied like they were just passing each other on the way to class. "How goes it?"

Liam scrunched his nose and pulled his mouth to one side. "Been better. What's up with you guys?"

"Um, we're rescuing you?" Tober answered deadpan.

"Shut up, Sunderland."

"You shut up!" Tober shot forward and landed a fist on the tip of Liam's breastbone. Bug-eyed and gasping for breath, Liam stumbled back into his cell as Tober yanked the door closed. Behind him, Cam and Keegan traded open-mouthed looks of astonishment.

"That was—" Cam began.

"Long overdue," Keegan finished.

"Are we just leaving him?" Cam asked, peering through Liam's window.

"No," Tober said, studying the tile around his feet. "You can let him out again."

"All right, man," Keegan agreed hesitantly. "I just want you to be okay with it."

"Don't use your powers on me!"

Keegan flipped his palms upward. "I'm just trying to be your friend."

"I know, I'm sorry," Tober sighed, letting his anger deflate. "You can let Liam out now."

Keegan waved the key card over the sensor. "Take two."

Liam opened the door just far enough to poke his face through. "Is it safe to come out now, or is Sunderland going to kick my ass again?"

"It's safe," Tober said with a hint of a smile. "And I'm sorry."

"Yeah, it's cool," Keegan added, nodding. "We're all friends now."

Cam suddenly felt a lot better about everything they'd been through and was just happy they were all together again. Then he realized why. "Stop it, Kinsler," he whispered.