Gabriel (19 page)

“
You believed your friend was dead,” Gabriel said.

“
Yes, but she was my best friend’s wife. Having an affair with her
was wrong. It never felt right, but it eased the pain of loss. I couldn’t look
Charles in the eye when he returned,” Robert said.

“
So you left.”

“
Yes.”

“
I will not tell Calla, but I think you should. She loves you and
already considers you to be part of her family,” Gabriel said.

“
No! She won’t forgive me, and I will lose the last member of my
family. I would rather be
almost family
than to be excluded from her life.”

“
You should have more faith in your granddaughter,” Gabriel said.

“
I’ll think about it, but if she hears this, then it will come from
me. Understand?”

“
Yes.”

They watched boats race
across the lake in silence.

“
Have you told Maree?” Gabriel asked.

“
Yeah, she agrees with you that I should tell Calla. I’ll think
about it.”

“
Good.”

“
We should head back downstairs. I’m not in a hurry to give Calla
the injection, but I don’t want to keep her asleep any longer than we have to.”

“
Yes.”

Robert and Gabriel walked
down the stairs and into the basement. Maree was sitting on the floor with Tre.
Magazines and books were sprawled across the floor. Tre flipped through them,
eyes bright with interest, frowning at the antics of the people he saw.

“
Did a library throw up on the floor?” Robert asked.

Maree smiled. “No. I was just
trying to help Tre bridge the information gap. He’s like a sponge. I’ve never
seen anyone take in so much information and actually comprehend all of it.”

Robert glanced over at
Gabriel.

“
What?” Gabriel asked.

“
Do you have something to do with this?” Maree asked.

“
I may have assisted his ability to understand the world he woke up
in,” Gabriel said.

“
How much help did you give him?” Robert asked.

“
His willingness to learn has nothing to do with me,” Gabriel said.

 
“
Oh you’re
back.” Tre stood. “Robert, I owe you an apology. I didn’t know about Calla. I’m
sorry.”

Robert extended his hand, and
Tre grasped it.

“
You know what a handshake is?” Maree asked.

“
In my time it was an offering of peace and to show that I don’t
bear any weapons. Is that not the case now?” Tre asked.

“
Close enough,” Robert said.

Gabriel strode over to the
room where Calla slept. He sat down on the edge of the bed. Maree entered
holding a syringe.

“
We can wait before we try this on Calla,” Maree said.

“
No.”

Tre remained in the doorway.

Robert walked in and sat on
the other side of the bed. He brushed the stray hairs from her face.

“
How long will it take for a response, once you give this to her?”
Robert asked.

“
I don’t know. We figured the other formula took about seven hours
to work on Tre. I would guess the same amount of time,” Maree said.

“
Go ahead,” Robert said.

“
Are you sure?” Maree asked.

“
Yes,” Gabriel said.

Maree gave her the injection
then stepped away.

Gabriel pulled her hand to his
lips.
Calla, if you can hear me, fight
for your future—for our future. I cannot imagine living a single moment without
you. If I could take your place and wage this internal war for you I would, but
I cannot. You have my strength. Just reach for it and it is yours to have. I
love you.
He placed her arm across her chest.
Father, assist her in her time of need.

“
We’ll just have to wait now,” Robert said.

Gabriel brushed a kiss on her
forehead and wiped away the tears as he left the room. He walked over to the
computer, sat down, and started typing.

Robert stood behind him.
“What are you looking for?”

“
I am Kematian hunting,” Gabriel said.

“
How are you…” Robert’s voice trailed off as images of recent
deaths popped up on the monitor. “You are tracking them.”

“
Yes.”

“
Are you looking for more than one this time?”

“
Yes.”

“
How do you plan on administering the medication to several when we
barely were able to capture just one?” Robert asked.

Gabriel stopped typing and
turned toward Robert. “I had not thought that far ahead. I was trying to locate
them first and then figure out how we would give them the drug,” Gabriel said.

“
Good thing you have me then. My military friends sent a few
surprises that will help.”

“
Surprises?” Gabriel asked.

“
Yup,” Robert said as he pulled out a dart gun.

“
You are a good man, Robert,” Gabriel said with a grin.

Tre stepped next to Robert.
“Count me in, too,” Tre said.

“
Do you know how to use one these?” Robert asked handing the empty
weapon to Tre.

“
No, but I’m willing to learn.”

“
Now we just need to fill the darts with the formula,” Robert said.

“
I’ll do that, while you teach Tre how to use that thing,” Maree
said.

“
How long will it take, Maree?” Gabriel asked.

“
A few hours, maybe less,” Maree said.

“
I know where we are going. When you are done, come and get me.
I’ll be in with Calla,” Gabriel said.

Gabriel heard Robert and Tre
come back into the basement. The gunshots echoed in the basement, where they
must’ve spent a hundred rounds. They passed the room where Gabriel’s head
rested on Calla’s chest. They headed toward the lab, but Maree met them before
they reached it.

“
Are they ready?” Robert asked.

“
Yeah,” Maree said holding a tray.

“
How many rounds do we have?” Tre asked.

“
There are one hundred. I will work on more after we find out if
this works,” Maree said.

“
We better let Gabriel know,” Robert said.

He turned and ran right into
Gabriel.

“
Ready?” Gabriel asked.

“
Yeah, we are,” Robert said.

“
Call me if anything changes with her,” Gabriel said to Maree.

 
“I’ll be
back before you have a chance to miss me.” Robert wrapped his arms around Maree
and kissed her cheek.

“
Be safe. I love you,” Maree said.

“
I love you, too.” Robert released Maree from his arms.

“
Aren’t we supposed to say something before we go, like they did on
the pictures on the television?” Tre asked.

“
What do you mean?” Gabriel asked.

“
I’ll be back?” Tre asked.

Gabriel and Robert looked at
each other and laughed.

“
Let’s go hunting,” Robert said.

“
Oh, that’s a good one,” Tre said as the front door shut.

Chapter Thirteen

Robert pulled the van into
the parking lot. They had left his car at a friend’s house. There wasn’t any
way they could fit several Kematians in his trunk. He turned off the engine and
put the key in a cup holder. They all got out and walked around to the rear
doors and opened them.

Robert grabbed a black duffle
bag and pulled out the dart guns. He loaded all six, and divided the remaining
ammunition amongst the three of them. He pulled out two trench coats and handed
one to Tre.

“
What’s this for?” Tre asked.

“
To hide the weapons, and the pockets are big enough you can put
the extra darts in them,” Robert said.

“
Why doesn’t Gabriel have one?” Tre asked, as he turned towards
Gabriel who was now wearing a duster. “Never mind,” Tre said.

Gabriel pointed to the empty
warehouse across the street. “We are going in there.”

The streets were desolate.
This had once been a bustling section of Traverse City, but the collapsing
economy put several companies out of business. There wasn’t anyone around for
miles. The warehouse to which they were headed had six stories and took up the
whole city block. The windows were boarded, and a six foot chain link fence
surrounded the property.

Gabriel faced the men.
Robert’s face held more lines today than it had yesterday, but his eyes still
carried the spark of determination. Tre glanced around taking in his
surroundings, capturing every new sight, sound, and smell. He was a warrior
from days of old, but this would be the battle of his life. Gabriel felt
confident in both of the men’s abilities, but he was placing all of their lives
on the hope of an untested drug.

“
I will only say this once, and this has nothing to do with my
faith in either of you,” Gabriel said.

“
Not exactly a great way to start a pep talk,” Robert said.

“
This is not a ‘pep’ talk. This is a ‘if you want to live’ talk,”
Gabriel said. Both men gave him them their complete attention. “If the drug
doesn’t drop them right away, you are to run back to the van and head home. Do
you understand?” Gabriel asked.

“
I understand what you are saying, but I’m not leaving you
here—alone,” Tre said.

“
Me either,” Robert said.

“
If you cannot agree then you both need to get back into the van
and go now,” Gabriel said.

“
Not going to happen, Gabriel,” Robert said. “We are in this
together, and you need to know we will have your back no matter how bad things
get.”

“
If something happens to you, Robert.” Gabriel paused.

“
Then you will wave your hands and make me feel like a spring
chicken again,” Robert said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “We only
have about an hour of daylight left, and we’re wasting time. Let’s go.”

Tre and Robert started to
cross the street. Gabriel bent his head for a moment and said a silent prayer.
These men are brave, and I am humbled to be
in their presence. Please protect them on this dangerous journey. I ask you to
lend me your strength and conviction where mine is failing. Thank you, Father.
Amen.

Gabriel felt love and light
wash through him. They wouldn’t be alone in this battle.

He joined the other two outside
the fence.

“
Were you planning on climbing this?” Tre asked Robert.

“
With these hips? No,” Robert said, pulling a pair of wire cutters
out of his pocket. “I plan on walking through the fence.” He grinned.

Robert snipped a line all the
way down the fence. When he was done they walked through it.

“
I will take the lead. Tre, you bring up the rear,” Gabriel said.

Both men nodded.

They strode up to the front
door. Gabriel grasped the plywood covering it and gave it a yank. The door was
free of the wood, but remained locked. Robert stepped forward with a brick he
found laying on the ground.

“
What are you going to do with that?” Gabriel asked.

“
Did you bring a key?” Robert asked.

Gabriel shook his head.

“
I did,” Robert said as he threw the brick through the glass, then
reached his hand inside and unlocked the bolt.

“
Are you crazy? They’re going to know we’re here,” Tre said.

“
From what I have learned, they already know we’re here. Right,
Gabriel?” Robert asked.

“
Yes.”

“
Then let’s go find the welcoming party,” Robert said.