Jasmine scratched the back of her neck. “Well, thank you both. I know that Pine and Barb were due to take it from here, but I’m fine covering a shift for a little while if you guys want to head on down?”

  They thanked her, not hiding the fact they were glad to be relieved from duty. When they were gone, Jasmine entered the quiet room and sat beside Eddy. His eyes were closed as he rested peacefully on the bed.

  “It’s okay, now. They’re gone,” she announced.

  Eddy cautiously opened one eye. “You promise?”

  “I promise.” Jasmine shook her head. “You know, you’re going to have to face them at some point. They’re good people once you get to know them. Different, but good. You saw them at the wedding. They’re a lot of fun to be around.”

  “Yeah, when you’re drunk,” Eddy shot back.

  Jasmine rolled her eyes. “Everything’s fun when you’re drunk.”

  “How would you know?” Eddy quipped. Reading Jasmine’s reaction, he took it back. “Sorry, my bad.”

  Jasmine waved it off. “Don’t mention it.” She looked around the room. “Must be real fun spending your days in here under the protection of Weres as you watch the sun rise, then set. Oh, wait. No, you don’t. You just pretend to be asleep, don’t you?”

  Eddy smirked. “I’m resting. Let me recover in my own way.”

  Jasmine placed a hand on his arm. “Fine. Just this once, though. Okay?”

  “Deal.” Eddy settled back into his pillow with a smile on his face as he fell into conversation with Jasmine.

  Time passed quickly, and Jasmine enjoyed the downtime she got to spend with Eddy. He seemed bright, and recovery looked as though it would be a simple affair. There were times as they spoke that it seemed almost like nothing had ever happened to him, that they were back at the Nest falling into easy chatter about the day’s events. It was only when Eddy laughed too hard or attempted to sit up that the pain presented itself, but even that was quickly waylaid.

  Jasmine asked Eddy how he managed to occupy his time while pretending to be asleep. He explained that the painkillers helped, making time feel like taffy, stretching and warping and making the day go faster. He tried to eavesdrop on the Weres but didn’t get very far, given that their voices didn’t make it through the glass windows.

  “I made up my own game,” Eddy shared, staring out the window to the city. “I’d watch their mouths and pretend I could lip read, but I’d make up stupid stories about them through squinting eyes. Did you know Travis and Gloria have an illegitimate baby?”

  “I didn’t,” Jasmine replied, faking surprise.

  “They do!” Eddy informed her. “She lives in Massachusetts. Was adopted by a Vietnamese couple who had no luck trying to have a baby. She’s ten now and is already helping her mama around the house, and occasionally writes to her real parents.”

  “Sounds like quite the life,” Jasmine approved.

  Eddy grinned. “Oh, it is.”

  He asked Jasmine how her investigation was going, and she filled him in on the details, this time leaving nothing out of her story. He had already seen the strange insectoid creature, so there was no reason to spare him the truth. She told him about Tommy and Rhonda, of the state of their aunt’s house. She let him know Rhonda had taken a spot at the Nest and was being watched over by Ivan, and that she had managed to secure a date and time for a meeting Tommy was supposed to have with the mystery figure.

  “That’s really gotta suck,” Eddy stated, sadness in his eyes.

  “Which part?” Jasmine asked.

  “All of it,” Eddy replied. “Tommy, especially. It sucks that he’s not an isolated case. He’s one of many kids who find themselves in desperate situations after diving too deep into things they shouldn’t. Kids just want to grow up too fast, take responsibility, but then they get taken advantage of.” He chuckled to himself. “Believe it or not, I feel sorry for the kid who shot me.”

  “That’s just the morphine talking,” Jasmine guessed. “You’re delirious.”

  Eddy shook his head. “No. I’ve seen it. I’ve been there. Hell, you rescued me when I got in too deep. If it wasn’t for you, I’d be slush in Jemaine’s compacter right now.” A faraway look took his eyes. “I wonder how Jemaine is doing these days.”

  When the nurse came in to check on Eddy at midday, Jasmine rose to make more room for the examination. She stayed long enough to confirm that Eddy was still doing okay, thanking the nurse as she left the room. When it was just Jasmine and Eddy again, she made her goodbyes. “I’m afraid I should probably get back onto the case. This mystery isn’t going to solve itself.”

  Eddy nodded. “Please hurry up. I’d like to be able to sleep without fear of bugs crawling up my nose and operating my brain controls.”

  Jasmine smiled. “I’ll do what I can. Rest up, buttercup.”

  “Okay…” Eddy contemplated his next word. “Short-ay?”

  Jasmine laughed and left the room. The next two Were guards were in the waiting room, so Jasmine informed them they could jump on shift. “By the way, he’s only pretending to be asleep,” she divulged. “If you want to have a little fun, do something that gets his attention. Get making out, or flip him the bird. See what happens.”

  The Weres laughed and took their post. Outside the hospital, Jasmine found a few Weres lingering outside in the sunshine. She was reassured to discover Tommy and Gloria had stationed sentries around the hospital to alert those watching Eddy if anyone looked suspicious coming in. Conversely, the guards inside knew they could contact those outside if something happened, so they could stop the attackers from getting away.

  Jasmine thanked them all and left. Back in her SUV, she took a moment to rest her head on the back of the seat, eyes closed. The engine rumbled idly, urban music playing through the stereo as the A/C blew cool air in her face. She had to admit she was a little nervous about the meeting later. After the last few encounters with those creatures, she didn’t want to know what would happen if her guard slipped and they took her hostage.

  Jasmine was about to put the vehicle in gear when she noticed a sleek black car pull up alongside her. The tinted rear window wound down to reveal a face Jasmine hadn’t expected to see.

  Her hands clenched into fists, and she lowered her own window. “Mr. Hughes.”

  “Miss Vironsis,” Mr. Hughes replied with an arrogant smirk on his face.

  Jasmine waited for Mr. Hughes to make his move. He looked different in the daylight. He had a sickly gray hue to his skin, and she wondered if he was ill, and what kind of condition he might have. Maybe that was why he was at the hospital.

  He met her gaze, holding it for a long moment.

  Finally, he broke the silence. “Miss Vironsis, excuse our sudden interruption. I’ve been thinking since our last meeting, and I’d like to work a little harder to keep things civil between us. I know we could both benefit from each other’s…skills, so here’s me extending an olive branch.”

  “You’ve been following me,” Jasmine stated. There was no question in her words.

  Mr. Hughes remained quiet, again holding her stare.

  Jasmine relented. “You’re a strange one, Mr. Hughes. Although I’m doing my best to see an end to this situation—much of which seems to have been coordinated, if accidentally, by you—it seems we’re destined to bump into each other until this is over.” She took a long breath. “What have you got to offer?”

  Mr. Hughes smirked. “An introduction.”

  “I’ve met you,” Jasmine replied. “Is your memory as questionable as your morality?”

  “May I remind you that I’ve done you no direct harm?” Mr. Hughes pointed out.

  Jasmine scoffed. “May I remind you that most people don’t have to specify ‘direct’ when they talk of harm?”

  Mr. Hughes laughed, his features softening.

  “An introduction to who?” Jasmine asked, curiosity getting the best of her.

  “The very person you’re looking for,” Mr. Hughes promised. “I can take you to that which you seek.”

  Jasmine’s interest was piqued.

  “On one condition,” Mr. Hughes added.

  “Let me guess,” Jasmine replied. “The condition being that I give you the information you want?”

  Mr. Hughes nodded, white teeth flashing dangerously in the sunlight.

  “Wow…” Jasmine laughed. “You really must be desperate. You track me down and offer me the very thing I’m after in exchange for the very thing I turned you down for because you weren’t happy with my initial answer? I thought you were stronger than that.”

  Mr. Hughes’ face betrayed no sign of emotion.

  “Say I do say ‘yes,’” Jasmine continued. “Say I accept your deal… You say you’ll lead me to the person I desire? So you’ve known where they are the whole time?”

  Mr. Hughes’ lips remained closed as if waiting for Jasmine to talk herself around to his way of thinking.

  “How about this?” Jasmine proposed. “You give me the address, and if it all works out, and they are where you say they are, I’ll come and find you and tell you what it is you want to know?”

  “No need to worry about all of that,” Mr. Hughes claimed.

  “What do you mean?” Jasmine demanded, taken aback.

  Mr. Hughes’ smile returned. He handed Jasmine a white piece of paper with an address written on the front. Jasmine was surprised to see the address matched the one Rhonda had given her.

  “We’ll find you,” Mr. Hughes stated. “I’ll be waiting for you at that address. Strength in numbers and all that. After all, that’s the way true power deals with difficulties, is it not?”

  Something suggestive seemed to linger in his words, but Jasmine couldn’t put her finger on it. She looked down at the card, then back to the ashen skin of Mr. Hughes. Part of her wondered if he was something other than human, given that the only times she’d seen skin of that color was when zombies attacked the Meat Shack. For the first time since she’d met him, she grew sincerely nervous. The thought popped into her head that maybe this man was looking for the circle. If he was anything like her, perhaps he was looking for a way to fix his condition. As the sun beat down on him, she noticed the bags beneath his eyes and the slight sheen of sweat on his skin. Was Mr. Hughes unwell, perhaps terminally ill?

  She shifted in her seat, unsettled at the prospect of involving the circle in her endeavors again. Trying to gauge how much of her gut instinct was correct and how much was paranoia, she remarked, “I’m truly sorry, you know.”

  “Why is that?” Mr. Hughes asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

  “That a bunch of the folks who could have helped you are dead.” Jasmine studied each micro-expression on Mr. Hughes’ face. “Worse than that, all of their deaths were at the hands of yours truly.”

  Jasmine gleaned nothing from Mr. Hughes’ reply. If her words had resonated, he showed no sign that Jasmine could see. “Forgive me, Miss Vironsis, but it’s time we depart. We have much to do ahead of our meet-up.” As the window rolled itself up, he added, “See you tonight.”

  Jasmine watched the car slowly drive out of the hospital parking lot. She sat for a long moment, thinking over the conversation as she played with the card in her hand. She studied the address, written in neat cursive, then put the car into drive. She turned the radio off and drove back to the Nest, wondering if Ivan would be able to add any insights to what had just happened.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Night had fallen, and the neighborhood was exactly as Jasmine imagined it would be. Bags of trash lined the streets, and the walls and buildings were a uniform gray covered in cracks with signs of dilapidation all around. The only colors to the landscape were the red fire hydrants and the dark greens of the ivy trailing up the building.

  Jasmine rolled by in her SUV, passing a line of small stores that had once provided goods and services to the people of this neighborhood but were now shuttered and boarded. Graffiti covered the corrugated iron, and where there had been windows, they were all smashed and broken. The remaining shards grinned at Jasmine like teeth.

  She rumbled past the address she had been given by two separate sources, surprised to find her target was an abandoned gym. A crooked sign hung from above, and it looked as though the doors hadn’t been opened in years.

  Jasmine rounded the corner, keen to find a place out of sight to park and prepare. After the next left, a group of men in hoodies turned her way. She could make out the bulge of firearms strapped to their hips, and their faces were shadowed. Some had cigarettes or joints glowing in their mouths.

  She decided to go around another corner, away from the group with malice in their every step, before parking on a quiet street.

  She waited in her car, weighing what she had observed. From what she could make out, there was no sign of ambush ahead. Ivan had offered to accompany Jasmine, but she had made him stay home with Rhonda to keep her safe. The pair had stayed at the bar. When Jasmine had left, Ivan was serving a drink to a loyal patron, and Rhonda was munching on yet another burger and fries—something Jasmine would have to talk to Ivan about later. The young girl couldn’t live on fatty, greasy foods all her life.

  Now, she sat in the darkness, waiting for the clock to tick and the meeting to begin. She typed a message into her cellphone, shooting off a request for the pack to check in and let her know how Eddy was doing. Not a moment later, a response came to reassure Jasmine that all was quiet where they were.

  She wondered how long it would stay quiet here.

  She checked the time. Twenty minutes to wait. Great.

  Jasmine was about to turn the radio back on when her cell vibrated. She didn’t recognize the number but took the call, wondering if Mr. Hughes or one of his associates was trying to contact her. A crackle at the end of the line preceded an irritated voice. “Where is she?”

  “Hello?” Jasmine answered. “Who’s this?”

  “Don’t fuck with me. Where is she?” the woman’s voice demanded. “You think I don’t know what you’re doing? You’ve taken her, and I want her back.”

  “Ms. Boyd?” Jasmine asked.

  “It’s Sandra,” Sandra Boyd replied. “And yes. Who else would it be? How many other children have you stolen?”

  “I don’t understand,” Jasmine returned. “What are you talking about?”

  “You’ve stolen Rhonda,” Sandra shouted. “Don’t think I don’t know your game. You turn up here, acting all innocent. I invite you into my home thinking that you’re maybe here to help, and then Rhonda goes AWOL. Doesn’t show up. Not in her bed in the morning. You’ve taken her. I know it. It’s no coincidence.”

  “Calm down,” Jasmine soothed. “Let’s talk about what you think is going on.”

  “Going on?” Sandra laughed loudly, followed by a rasping cough. “First I lose Tommy to the slammer, then you steal Rhonda from under my feet. It’s disgusting. It’s people like you who are fucking up this world, making it difficult to—”

  “I haven’t stolen Rhonda,” Jasmine broke in, about to explain to Sandra what was happening when Sandra cut her off.

  “Bullshit!” Sandra’s voice reached screeching levels. “If you don’t bring her back now, they’re going to start questioning my abilities. They’re going to start digging again. I can’t have that, you little shit. They’re my ticket out of this dump. A few more years of saving, and I might actually be able to flee this hovel and move on with my life.”

  “Excuse me?” Jasmine asked.

  “Oh, don’t act like you’re innocent,” Sandra spat. “Don’t act like you wouldn’t do the same. They’re lost causes, both of them. But it’s okay, because soon I’ll be out, and there’s nothing they can do to stop me!”

  Sandra’s words slurred, and Jasmine wondered how much alcohol Sandra had consumed.

  “That’s all these kids are to you?” Jasmine asked. “A means to an end? A ticket to a better life?”

  “Not if I don’t get them back,” Sandra shot back, anger slipping into fear and sadness. “So do the right thing. Bring her here. Else, I can’t say I’ll be held responsible for my actions.”

  Sandra hung up before Jasmine could get another word in. She spent a moment staring at her phone, perplexed. Maybe she’d read Sandra all wrong. What was the story there? After that call, Jasmine wanted to do the opposite of what Sandra had demanded, that maternal glow flaring up again as she thought of protecting Rhonda from harm.

  “Interesting…” she muttered, dialing the Nest. “Hey, Ivan. Is Rhonda still there? Is she okay?”

  “She is,” Ivan replied stoically.

  “And she’s unharmed?” Jasmine pressed.

  “I haven’t touched her,” Ivan stated.

  Jasmine chewed her lip.

  “Although…” Ivan lowered his voice. “I hate to say, but when Rhonda went back to room, I couldn’t help but notice bruises on lower back and upper arm. Some black. Some yellow. It don’t look good. Is she okay?”

  Jasmine’s grip tightened on the phone, her nostrils flaring. “For now, Ivan. Let’s make sure it stays that way, shall we?”

  She checked the time on the dashboard and said a quick goodbye. She wondered if her suspicions were right. How badly had Sandra been mistreating Tommy and Rhonda?

  Shaking her head as she entered the cool night air, Jasmine was about to head off to the meeting place when another call alerted her.

  “Jesus Christ,” Jasmine complained, seeing Dimitri’s name flash up on the screen. “What is this, let’s-all-check-in-on-Jasmine night?” She thought about ignoring the call but remembered that she had asked for their help on her mission, and it would be rude not to take the answers they returned to her.

  “Hi,” Jasmine answered.

  “You need to look after our merchandise,” Dimitri announced.

  “Excuse me?” Jasmine replied.

  “Perry,” Dimitri elaborated. “He does a job for you and arrives back looking like he’s done a round with Tyson.”