Chapter 26

 

JESSIE FOUND MISS Locks next to the door. She fought off a shiver and looked down at the makeshift bucket she’d concocted out of her hood. The dribbles of water from the roof above weren’t filling it up fast enough to keep Miss Locks’s temperature down. Jessie had torn her sleeve to use as a rag but it was looking too grimy. She couldn’t figure out if it was Miss Locks’s injuries that were making her so sick or something else. She did know that she needed to get them out of there . . . somehow.

A draft wrapped around her shoulders and made her shiver. It was so damp and cold. She coughed. The telltale tickle in her throat was a warning sign. Her inhaler wouldn’t last more than a couple of days. She’d hold it in. Try to use breathing control. Miss Locks needed her fit and healthy.

The draft wriggled up her back and she hugged herself. It was creepy inside the damp space: The grimy stone cried yucky goop from the river it held back; the ceiling dripped rain water that smelled of rust; yet, there were noises and feelings she couldn’t explain.

A scrape sounded behind her and Jessie turned ready to . . . to . . . do what? So Miss Locks had been kind and shown her how a real agent operated and Miss Samson had taught her to fight. How did you fight . . . well . . . spooks?

“I ain’t much for fightin’.”

Jessie heard the voice and searched for it. Miss Locks was sleeping. Since they’d hurt her, she’d not been able to keep awake for very long. Maybe it was just the wind.

“The wind talk to you often, kid?”

Jessie tensed. That was a voice. She knew she heard it. She rubbed her cracked lips on her top. Maybe it was dehydration?

“You sure look like you could use a drink an’ some feedin’ up. Samson didn’t go making you all fit to see you wither away.”

Samson? Miss Samson? Jessie scanned every inch of the space. Maybe it was a radio hidden somewhere or someone was overhead at the window?

“Or maybe Samson sent somebody to keep you company?”

Jessie smiled at that. Miss Samson was kinda weird. She did things that Jessie couldn’t wrap her brain around. Her best friend Miroslav had always said that maybe there were lots of things science couldn’t explain and that was a good thing. Whatever it was, it was nice to have someone to talk to.

“She’s sick and I don’t know what to do,” Jessie whispered, hoping she didn’t disturb Miss Locks.

“She been bit?”

Jessie ran her hands over Miss Locks’s legs, her body. There were burn marks, rips, but no blood. She felt for lumps and pulled up a pant leg. A bump but not a bite. Stings would leave marks too. “There’s nothing I can see.”

“You need to keep on feeding her water.” The breeze brushed past her and Jessie shuddered. “She’s burning up alright. Samson said she’s on her way.”

“But she doesn’t know where we are.” Her voice gave away how scared and miserable she felt. She tried to hold back the tears and be brave but it was all her fault.

“Here’s the thing ’bout my Shorty.” The breeze felt like it was sitting beside her. It felt . . . reassuring. “She knew when you were up that tower an’ sent Icy here to come and get you.”

Jessie nodded, smiling at the names . . . whatever it was . . . called Miss Samson and Miss Locks.

“She knew when that mean fella nearly took a tumble from the roof, right?”

Jessie frowned. Typical of Kevin. She was so over him.

“An’ she knew how to help your friend when she fell.”

Miss Samson was the coolest. Jessie knew that. Thinking back over all she, Miss Locks, and Miss Worthington had done to help them was amazing. She wanted to be just like them.

“Well . . . here’s your chance. I’m gonna loiter a while with Tiddles here.” Jessie frowned at the sound of a cat meowing. She knew there wasn’t a cat but it felt nice to hear one. She liked cats. She’d always wanted one. “Tiddles won’t get fluff up your nose an’ I’m gonna stick around should you need somebody to talk to. You gotta do somethin’ for me though.”

Jessie nodded, not caring that she was doing so to thin air.

“I want you to drink some of that water you’re giving to Icy. If you don’t, you ain’t gonna be able to help her when you need to.”

Jessie went to protest but she knew whoever was talking to her was right. Miss Samson had drilled it into them about hydration and how important it was. She sipped at the water, clamping her eyes shut at the relief.

“Do you have a name?” she whispered as Miss Locks stirred.

“Sure, you can call me Nan.”

Jessie dribbled some water onto Miss Locks’s lips and dipped the rag in the makeshift bowl to cool her brow. “It’s nice to meet you, Nan.”

Miss Locks opened her eyes. “Did you just say Nan?”

Jessie dabbed the rag gently, careful of the swelling. “Yes, Miss Samson sent Nan to keep me company.”

A smile touched Miss Locks’s lips. “Tell her I said hi. She’s worth listening to.”

Jessie felt warmth and comfort spread up that Miss Locks knew who Nan was. “She said you need to drink.”

Miss Locks smiled. “Ask her to bring me something stronger.”

“You can have your liquor when you get your skinny butt outta trouble.”

Jessie chuckled at the tone in Nan’s voice. Miss Locks did too. “Feels good to actually hear you. Now I know they aren’t crazy.”

“Oh they’re plenty crazy but then it helps.”

Seeing how much Miss Locks relaxed at the teasing, Jessie found herself relaxing a bit too. Relaxed, calm, and composed. That’s what agents were. That’s what she’d be. Just like Miss Locks.