Chapter 17

Even as my eyes stayed glued to the closed door, I knew that I needed to move.  It was wrong of me to think that Gabe had all the answers to my questions.  He had told me I needed to find those answers on my own, that I needed to stop looking at my world through foggy glasses.  Gabe was right.  It was time that I stopped sitting back and letting things happen.  It was time that I took a stand, even if it was a small stand.

Pushing off the bed, I reached towards my bag.  As my hand curled around my phone, I could feel my nerves fluttering in the pit of my stomach.  This was it.  I was about to question the one person that I thought I could always trust.  I flipped the phone open, but the shaking in my finger made me type the wrong number.  Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath to settle my nerves.  Why was I so nervous?  The answer was simple.  With this one phone call, my life would be changed forever.  With this phone call, I wouldn’t be able to hide from Gabe any longer; I wouldn’t be able to hide from the truth.

My grip tightened on the phone, but when it vibrated in my hand, my eyes snapped open.  Mitch’s name popped onto the screen, making me freeze.  Should I answer it?  A small laugh escaped my mouth.  Just moments ago, I was going to call him.  Now, I’m afraid to answer his call.  Hitting the green button, I pressed the phone to my ear. 

“Hello,” I breathed, almost afraid to hear him answer.

“What’s wrong, Sweetie?”

His voice flowed through me, but whereas I usually heard the caring side of him, this time all I heard was panic.  What could have happened in the past day that made Mitch, out of all people, sound worried?

“Nothing,” I said, trying to keep my voice normal.  “I was just about to call.  I feel asleep last night before I could call in.”

A sigh reached my ears.  “I was worried that you were hurt.  I thought sending you in by yourself would be okay, but I’m beginning to think I should add another person in there for you.”

“No,” I snapped, wincing when I realized that my voice had been to sharp.  “This is the biggest job of my career.  I don’t want someone stepping on my toes.”

Holding my breath, I waited to see if he would believe me.  It sounded like me, it sounded like something I would say, and I hoped that he would buy the excuse.  When a laugh echoed over the line, I knew he believed my adamancy was because I wanted the credit for the job.

“I forgot how fierce you can be when you are on the job.”  He paused for a moment before letting out a sigh.  “With Hodge gone though, I just don’t feel right with you being alone.”

“Hodge is gone?”

“You sound disappointed,” he said in an empty tone. 

Closing my eyes, I pinched the bridge of my nose.  “I’m only disappointed that you did not tell me sooner.  How would I look if I called for Hodge when the man already quit?”

“That was why I called, to warn you.”

My grip tightened on the phone.  He was lying.  I don’t know how I knew, but I could hear it in his voice.  He was lying to me.  “Someone is coming,” I whispered.  “I have to go.”

I snapped the phone shut before he could protest.  Chunking it across the room, I sank into my bed as it busted against the wall.  What did Mitch get out of sending Hodge away?  How did that benefit anyone?

“Dee,” a small voice called out.  A timid knock followed, and even without the voice, I knew it was Kyle on the other side.

“One minute!” I called out while jumping to my feet.  Grabbing the closest piece of clothing I could find, I slipped it over my bare legs before sitting back on the bed.  “Come on in!”

The door opened slowly, and when Kyle popped his head in the door, I couldn’t help but smile.  Even with all the chaos and lies swirling around me, he could still make me happy.  I patted the bed beside me, and without more instigation, Kyle bound across the room and threw himself on the bed.  With a small smile, he looked up at me.  “You sleep too long.”

Reaching out, I mussed his hair.  “You would sleep too long if you were me too.”

A frown creased between his brows, making me frown along with him.  “If I ask you something, will you be honest?”

“Of course.”

His eyes darted away from mine, a sign that I was used to seeing in abused children.  “Are you going to leave?”

I reached forward, ignoring when he drew back from my touch.  “Look at me,” I cajoled with a caring voice.  He glanced up at me with tears clear in his eyes.  “I am.  Wait,” I whispered when he tried turning away once more, “do you still have the earring I gave you?”

Reaching into his pocket, he held the earring up to the light.  “I keep it with me always.”

“Good.”  Smiling at him, I curled his hand back over the jewelry.  “Every time I come to visit you, I want to see that earring, do you understand?”

Just like that, the tears fled from his eyes and hope filled them.  “You’ll visit?”

I tapped his closed fist.  “Always, and remember what else I said?”

“That all I have to do is talk to you through here, and you’d always hear me.”

“Exactly.”  I didn’t tell him that I didn’t have the audio feed for that particular bug yet, but I would.  As soon as I found Hodge, found out what really happened to him, I would make sure to pick up the audio feed.  That way, I could keep my promise.  I could make sure that Kyle was always listened too.

“Dee?”

“Yeah, buddy?”

He glanced up at me before wiggling closer to me.  “I wish you were my sister.”

Smoothing his curly hair, I sighed.  “Me too, Kyle.”  I sat there for a few more minutes, reveling in the normality of the situation.  Sometimes, I wish my life could be like this, could be normal.  Shaking my head, I edged off the bed.  Holding my hand out, I waited for Kyle to take it.  “Come on, let’s go get some breakfast.”  And after that, I was getting some answers, no matter who they came from.