CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

SOMEHOW THE DAY had remained young, not even mid-morning. The entire battle had taken less than a half hour, but the physical and emotional toll felt equivalent to days. After the soldiers left, Jeb gave the all-clear for the citizens of Everlast to return via tube, the same way they’d left. All of his official duties cared for, he excused himself and plodded off to be alone.

Gwyn coped with grief differently, instead choosing to stay busy righting the diner and organizing citizens for cleanup as they arrived. At one point, Adel had approached her mother in a panic, mumbling something about a relic. That had sent Gwyn below ground for the remaining duration of the cleanup. I tucked the mystery away, one more question among the dozens of others I’d collected or remembered lately.

When she finally got around to us, Adel seemed apologetic. “Not exactly how I hoped the last twenty-four hours would play out.” She joined Evie and me in the street as we watched rain clouds form to the east. She placed her arm around Evie’s shoulder opposite of me, her hand coming to rest on the center of my back. “Nice shirt, by the way.”

Evie had found me a western-style shirt, a look I rather thought I could get used to, despite my love of lab coats. “Thanks. I think it makes me look rugged.”

“And it draws attention away from the eyebrows.” Adel and Evie both snickered.

Before they could team up on me, I changed the subject. “How did you know they were planning to attack the lab?”

“Didn’t.”

“How did you get to Evie first?”

“I’d been watching your house for months. Once I got word of the attack, I knew someone would come. I would have liked to pick you both up at once, but it didn’t make sense to leave Evie in the wind.”

I shook my head. “I thought for sure the THS was behind everything.”

Adel shrugged. “After being blamed for the Texarkana strike—”

“I knew that wasn’t THS.” Evie pinched me.

“You were right, again. Okay?”

Evie beamed. “Thank you. Anyway, sorry to interrupt, Miss Love.”

“I think you can call me Adel now. Anyway, I can see now how you would have thought us the bad guys. But Jim, sugar, you really should—”

“I know. Listen to the women in my life.”

“My, my.” She nudged Evie. “Just how many women are there?”

Evie rolled her eyes. “There’s been a lot.”

“Hush, girl.” I pinched her. “From now on, there’s just the one.” In the silence that followed I thought of Marisol, and how briefly I’d hoped she would make a second.

“So it’s an exclusive thing,” Adel said.

Evie and I winked at each other. “I suppose, if the right woman came along…” I started the sentence.

Evie finished it, “I’d be willing to share.”