A Merciful Promise (Mercy Kilpatrick #6)(42)

Men pushed forward to congratulate Jason. More back slapping and handshakes. The women stayed back, occasionally glancing at the men and shuffling their feet. Three of the women drew together in a small huddle, their heads together as they spoke, their breath rising in the cold air.

“That was sick,” Mercy stated softly.

“It’s a big honor.”

“Only inside this compound. Outside, the burn means nothing—no, it means you’re a militant radical.”

“Keep your voice down,” Chad whispered. “And try to look impressed instead of looking like you’re observing a fraternity rite.”

“Apt description.”

“Pete’s sending me to Portland this afternoon,” he said with a grimace. “Jason’s going with me, and we won’t be back until tomorrow. He has some orders that need to be picked up.”

“All the way to Portland? Do you know what you’ll be bringing back?”

Chad frowned. “He says it’s machinery. He wouldn’t go into more detail than that.”

“It could be anything. Is it normal to send you?”

“This is the first overnight. I’ve only done short trips during the day.”

Mercy studied his face. “You’re worried.”

“Feels a bit off. But everything has felt off for the past week. There’s a sense of urgency that’s permeating the compound, and I don’t know why it’s happening.” His brows came together as he held her gaze. “I won’t be able to show you where the phone is before I leave, and that bothers me.”

That makes two of us.

“Maybe you can convince Jason to ask Pete again for Noah to see a doctor. Perhaps his new status will help him get care for his son.”

“I doubt it. And I expect Jason will be more fervent in following Pete’s belief of no medications.”

Mercy knew he was right.

“I need to go congratulate Jason,” Chad whispered. “I’ll see you before we take off. I’ll try to make a sketch of where I buried the phone, but I don’t know if it will be detailed enough in case of an emergency.”

“We better hope there’s no emergency while you’re gone.” She glanced past him and saw Sean watching them closely.

“I don’t care for the way Sean looks at me,” she said softly, sharing a fraction of her concern about the lieutenant.

“Sean’s okay.” Chad absently patted her shoulder and strode to the group around Jason.

Sean watched Chad walk away and then moved his gaze back to Mercy. He smiled, all of his teeth showing.

Did he request Chad be sent out of town?

If Sean thought she was vulnerable without Chad around, he was in for a surprise.

Bring it on.



Mercy had been assigned to wash the pots and pans from lunch. She suspected she’d been given the duty to enhance the misery of her norations punishment. Nothing like being around food and unable to eat it. Two other women helped to dry the dishes and clean up the mess hall.

Mercy plunged a sticky pot into the tepid water. Her drying partner had criticized her for using too much soap and demonstrated how a single drop of liquid detergent was to be used for a huge pot. Clearly the bottle of detergent had already been watered down.

Mercy was almost glad for her punishment. The level of kitchen cleanliness did not meet her standards, and the duty gave her a chance to tackle it. But she was hungry. Lunch had been peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with lentil soup. Her mouth still watered from the smell of the soup. She’d be grateful when she could eat breakfast tomorrow morning.

Chad and Jason had left for their trip. He’d hugged her goodbye. “Stay out of trouble,” he’d whispered. Now that he was gone, she felt at sea, abandoned. All too aware that she couldn’t contact anyone.

She handed her partner the last pot to dry and let the water drain from the huge sink.

“Jessica!”

Eden appeared in the kitchen doorway, panic on her face. “It’s Noah. He’s bad off.”

Mercy hung her washrag on the edge of the sink. “What happened?”

Eden grabbed her hand and towed her out of the kitchen. “His fever’s back. He won’t open his eyes.”

Shit.

She followed the girl, who ran off at full speed, and she was besieged by memories of that sick little boy long ago whom her mother couldn’t help.

Not on my watch.

“When was his last dose?” she huffed as she pursued the teen.

“Last night.”

“You didn’t give him more?”

“Beckett wouldn’t give me any. He said Pete said no more.”

I’m going to kill both of them.

They reached the children’s cabin. Mercy took the stairs in one leap and pulled open the door. Her heart stopped. It smelled like her memories.

Pork. Cabbage.

Noah was motionless on the floor. Sadie looked up as she dabbed Noah’s forehead with a wet rag. “I don’t know what to do,” she choked out. “He’s so hot.”

Mercy knelt beside the pallet on the floor, her heart in her throat. I will not be too late. “Noah.” She gently shook his shoulder as she felt his forehead and temples. “Noah. Look at me.” His hairline was wet, but she didn’t know if it was sweat or water from Sadie’s cloth. She repeated her command, and the boy’s eyes opened into slits.