Chapter Sixty

No kissing necessary,” Rose said. “I believe, if I’m reading your memory correctly, we interlace our fingers, and you blow your human breath in my mouth.”

The idea of being so intimately connected to Rose had the hair all over my body standing on end. At the same time, I felt like I’d taken a one-two punch to the gut. “Isn’t there another way?”

Unless you want your police friends to stay in zombie mode longer than would be healthy for them, I suggest you follow my orders. Immediately.”

A look at Mayes and his fellow deputies frozen in time had me gulping. Rose had a way to help these people. Would I let a squeamish stomach and my pride get in the way? No. I was a bigger person than that.

Rose’s skin felt creepy cold on my hands. When our lips touched, I blew with all my might, filling her with my breath. I broke away to gasp in more air. “Again,” Rose said. Soldier for humanity that I am, I obeyed. Only this time, Rose breathed into me.

Fire burned down my throat, raged in my lungs, and sizzled in my blood. My knees gave way, and I sagged against her. She lowered me to the floor. The room spun, and I stared at her scowling face. It faded in and out of focus like a movie made by a toddler.

What did you do to me?” I asked.

I’ve marked you, inside and out.”

It hurt to draw in breath. It hurt to talk, but I had to know. “Why?”

You know the reason. Excuse me while I fix the mess Lizella made.” Rose strolled down the hall and faded from sight. The room faded too, as darkness overtook me.

* * *

Wake up, sleepyhead,” Mayes said.

His worried face hovered above me. The events of the morning rushed into my head in a terrifying montage. I didn’t recognize the place, couldn’t remember how I got here. “Where am I?”

At the rehab center. You fell asleep as soon as we started searching for Lizella Tice. Guess I’m working you too hard.”

I hadn’t fallen asleep. Rose knocked me out on purpose. After she’d marked me again. My mouth felt like it had been on a desert vacation. The chill of the floor seeped into my skin, but other than that, I seemed to be whole.

Is there water?” I asked.

You’d drink something here?”

Not the water I’m worried about,” I shot back. Loggins and Duncan peered over Mayes’ shoulder. They flashed me quick smiles, then their expressions hardened.

Mayes nodded toward the door. “Loggins, grab Powell a water bottle from my vehicle while Duncan writes a report.”

Loggins gave a terse nod and hurried away. I heard the door open and close.

No sign of her boss,” Duncan said. “We’ve been all over this place twice. No kid. No skinny old lady.”

That answered my next question. Rose took what she wanted and left us to whitewash what had happened here. Fluorescent lights hummed faintly overhead. The pillow cushioning my head and the cold floor beneath me were real. I was alive. That was real.

We have only a minute or two before Loggins returns,” Mayes said as he faced me. “Tell us what really happened.”

How’d he know? I tried to clear my dry throat. “You won’t find Lizella. My contact from beyond took her. That little kid was Lizella. With all the energy she’d tapped into here, she’d gone through a metamorphosis to a younger version of herself. She planned to spring Jonas from jail and start over elsewhere.”

Mayes squeezed my hand. “Figured the threat was gone because nothing else explained why you were out cold when I turned around.” He paused long enough to catch my eye. “At some point, I want the whole story.”

The pressure from his fingers caused my fingers to curl into his. How had I missed that he was holding my hand again? I shot him a quick glance, and he looked extra smug. At some point, I wanted to know how long he’d been awake and what he’d been doing.

How will this get spun?” I asked.

We’ll leave that for the health professionals to figure out. From a law enforcement perspective, our person of interest is missing. Except for four dead people, everyone else is sleeping.” He shot me a sharp look. “Since the threat has been removed, the rest of these people aren’t our problem.”

I shrugged. “Not like I could share energy with anyone right now. I could sleep until morning.”

The door opened. Loggins returned with four bottles of water. I sipped only a little bit at first, wary of my reaction. I didn’t know what Rose-breath had done to me, but I didn’t fancy throwing up in front of three men either.

The men drank their water quickly. My body tolerated and made quick work of the water I’d swallowed. The slight headache I had eased, and I felt worlds better with something in my stomach. With everyone looking down on me, I felt at a disadvantage. I struggled to get free of Mayes, but he didn’t budge. “Take it easy,” he said. “Just a little while longer.”

My hand was warm and so was my arm. Was he giving me a boost of his energy now? “I need to sit up.”

Mayes nodded and Duncan lifted one side of me while he lifted the other, still keeping our hands connected. “Better?” he asked.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. What did the other deputies think of me, of us? Had Mayes given them the impression we were a couple? Did I need his energy more than I needed to worry about saving face?

A sigh escaped my lips. I saw a muscle twitch in Mayes’ cheek. My mood flashed from hopeful to cautious. Was he reading my thoughts?

Duncan, put out an APB on Tice,” he said, probably for Loggins’ benefit. “She’s a person of interest in the same crimes we nailed Jonas Canyon for. She’s no innocent, but the degree of her guilt is yet to be determined.”

What would these cops think if they knew Lizella Tice was a mythical sea creature run amok? Surely they would dismiss that notion as fantasy even though it was the truth. I’d seen some crazy things in this job, but this case was in a league of its own.

Your color is coming back, Powell,” Mayes said. “Bet you’re glad this case is wrapping up.”

I tried for the same light and breezy tone. “You have no idea. I’m going to need a vacation after this vacation.”

You and me both.”

Sirens approached. Mayes ordered everyone to put the cloth masks in place, and he finally allowed me to stand. “You all right?” he asked in a tender voice.

I nodded.

It’s about to get crazy in here. Once we get this sorted out, I’ll have Duncan run you back to the campsite.” He lifted my chin. “We’re going paddleboarding in the morning, right?”

My last day,” I said ruefully. “I promised my daughter.”

I’ll get you there. That’s a promise you can take to the bank.”