Touch (Denazen #1)(59)

He sank down along the wall and settled in the grass. Rolling the wheel along the edge of the mausoleum, he said, “He didn’t like what you were doing with that Kale guy. It worried him. Said he knew you’d never back down.”

What would Brandt have said if he’d seen me almost give it all up two days ago at Alex’s apartment? “He told you about that?”

“We were pretty tight.” He picked up a blade of grass and twirled it between his thumb and index finger. “I know he loved you.”

“I loved him, too.” Guilt gnawed at my insides. “It’s my fault. I asked him to do me a favor.”

“Probably,” he said. He didn’t say it in an accusing way, just matter-of-fact. Still, it hit like a brick to the face. He reminded me a lot of Brandt. His in-your-face answers were blunt but not cruel.

“My dad had something to do with his death. I know it.” I don’t know why I said it—Sheltie was a total stranger—but something about him was comforting. I trusted him…which was pretty stupid considering the amount of betrayal bouncing around my world.

“I agree.” He got to his feet. “There’s one other thing. Something he asked me to tell you. He said you’d be wondering, and he knew how you hated unanswered questions.”

“Okay…”

“Brandt was a Six. He told me he tried to tell you a few days ago…” He shrugged. “But too late, I guess.”

I couldn’t be mad at him for keeping it from me. I’d done exactly the same thing. And now I wouldn’t get the chance to make it right. “Are you a Six?”

He gave me a sly smile. “I still say you should get the hell out of Dodge.”

I froze. “What?”

Silence.

“What did you say?”

He tried to play it cool, but failed. There was a look of horror in his eyes.

“You said, I still say you should get the hell out of Dodge.”

“So?”

“That’s what Brandt said to me the last time I saw him.”

“I told you, we thought a lot alike.” Sheltie stood, brushing the dirt from his faded black jeans. He pocketed the skateboard wheel and took several steps back.

“You can’t still say something to someone you’ve never met before.”

He shrugged. “I just did.”

With nothing further to say, Sheltie turned on his heel and strode away without looking back. I got to my feet to follow, but Dad’s voice stopped me.

“Deznee?”

I stepped out from around the Mausoleum. “Here, Dad.”

“It’s over. Everyone is leaving.” He stepped forward and looked over my shoulder—like he expected to see someone hiding there. “I’ll be in the car.”

I nodded and watched him go. Once he and everyone else was out of sight, I made my way back to the burial site.

The wind had picked up, knocking some of the flower arrangements to the ground. The top of the tent whipped back and forth, snapping like mad in the breeze. I bent down and pulled a white rose from one of the arrangements.

“What the hell were you thinking?” I asked the silent brown box. “Why would you do something so stupid? I told you to back off…”

Of course, I got no reply.

If wishes were horses…well, then I’d probably get trampled.

I stood there for a few moments more, just watching the wind whip the fake green grass-like cover at the base of the casket back and forth. I pulled the small green wrapped box from my pocket and brought it to my lips. Tickets to XtreamScream, our local version of the X games. Now he’d never go.

I dropped it into the open grave along with the single white rose.

“Happy Birthday, Brandt.





23


On the way back to the car, I overheard Dad and one of the men who’d carried the casket from the church talking. Dad spoke much louder than normal, so I could only guess he wanted me to hear. They’d made the decision to terminate Kale. Tainted, Dad said to the man. Ruined. They planned to bleed him dry and be done with it. Apparently, a suitable synthetic substitute for his blood had finally been found. They didn’t need him anymore.

I had to act fast, but had no idea what I could do. There was no way for me to get past security and up to the ninth floor where he was being held.

“I have a few things to take care of at work,” Dad said on our way back to the house. “I’m dropping you home to change. A car will be by in forty minutes to take you to Denazen. Mercy will be waiting to do another round of questioning. A car will return you home after she’s finished.”

“More questions?”

Dad nodded. “Yes. Tomorrow, you head into the field.”

§

“How have you been, Dez?”

Today, dressed in an unflattering, tailored pantsuit the exact same revolting shade as pea soup, Mercy sat across from me sipping tea from a small china cup. “Have you found the rules here at Denazen hard to follow?”

I shrugged. “I’ve never been a stickler for the rules.”

“So I’ve heard.” She nodded and gave me a knowing grin. “You think you have it all figured out then?”

“I’m sure I have plenty to learn.”