Page 50 (1/2)

Chapter Twenty-Six - Ja deeply, completely exhausted

I’ht now What aday How does all this shit happen in one day? That kidnapping was thisI still don’t knohat that was about One thing is clear about that--it wasn’t us It wasn’t us as in the job the Adoing with Merc And it wasn’t us as in the job I have keeping Harper safe

So Jesus Christ, Ja?

It’s a good question

You knoould be cool? If fking Tet would take over when those blackouts occurred Right? That’d be awesome, even if it meant I was certifiable Because at least I’d have answers

But reality, James, I tell myself Stick to reality Who else is involved?

Sasha, obviously A lot of this shit today was about Sasha And just what the fk? It’s like this kid was dropped in my lap to…

No That can’t be it

I laugh toperfect would it be to send her? Especially after thatwith the Admiral Eli?

I h She’s good, for a kid But not good enough Not even close Harper is pretty good too But she can’t shoot Hell, she can’t even drive

I sit up in bed and look over at her Sleeping so soundly, oblivious to all that’s happening behind the scenes Must be nice

I get up out of bed and pull out a clean pair of jeans and t-shirt I brought in froo looking for et

I’m barefoot, so I stalk down the hallway and out into the living rooh to see, but not much more than that There are way too many shadows in here for my comfort level Any one of them could be the kid I stalk down the hallway and check the first roo The door is closed to the second room at the end of the hall I walk quietly up to the door, lean in to listen, then knock softly "Sasha?" I turn the handle and peek in "Sasha?"

There’s a strong breeze co in from somewhere, like the ide open, but all the s in this house are long and skinny, up near the ceiling Or skylights I look up, and for half a second I think this is it, the little fking S like some Company version of Spiderht up there And it’s open That’s where the breeze is coainst the wall, slanted at a severe angle I stand underneath the skylight and call up "Sasha! You up there?"