Sudden Independents - By Ted Hill Page 0,68

disgusting.”

“It still is.”

“Scout and I can start there,” she said. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and pick up his trail.”

“Why? I’m set up to meet him in the morning. You guys don’t have to risk yourselves tonight.”

Scout jumped from his chair. “Oh, yes we do. I can’t stay in this house a straight twenty-four. I’ll go crazy. Plus, every second counts. Right, Jimmy?”

“Cut the crap, Scouty,” Hunter said.

Jimmy broke out of his thoughts. “We’re close now. Let’s not get careless. We’re lucky Hunter and Ginger made it back tonight. I worry about you two just as much as I do for them when you’re out there.”

“Then why aren’t you waiting at the window when we get back?” Scout asked.

“That’s my job,” Molly said, reentering the room. “I promised your sister, remember? Why do you think I sleep on the couch?”

“Because Hunter snores.”

“Good point.” Molly touched Jimmy on the shoulder. “She wants to see you. Just take it slow with her. She’s under a lot of emotional strain right now.”

Kicking his chair back, Jimmy pushed off the table with a great deal of nervous energy. The chair clattered over. Molly gave him a funny look, but he walked into the dark hallway before she could evaluate his behavior further. A light shone under the door to the bedroom he and Ginger shared. The candlelight wavered when he opened the door, but the small flame quickly regained its brilliance.

Ginger sat on the bed staring at the flickering flame, her feet on the floor, hands folded in her lap. He never liked the idea of her coming on this rescue mission, but feared he wouldn’t make it back to see her before his birthday. Seeing her like this caused him to regret his selfishness. She was everything to him now.

Anger rose up in Jimmy again, but he buried the feeling deep and closed the lid. The time for anger had passed. Hunter settled the score, and Jimmy was confident his brother did it right. Ginger was here and Jimmy only wanted to be here for her. He sat down next to her, letting a quiet moment pass.

“I made candles today,” Ginger said.

He nodded. “That’s an important job.”

“I’m so sorry, Jimmy.” She brought her hands up and caught her tears before they fell. “I didn’t know what to do.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “What happened is not your fault. I’m just glad you’re back and you’re safe.”

“But it’s not safe. That boy is still out there. He put his hands on me in front of all those strangers. I don’t want to think about how terrible things could have gotten if it hadn’t been for Hunter. It’s just not safe here.” She shook in his arms.

Jimmy felt helpless, holding her close. He stared at the candlelight for so long that when he closed his eyes, the image of the flame had burned into his mind. Ginger’s tears lessened with time and she slowly sat back, holding his hand tightly while they gazed at the floor together.

“How many candles did you make today?” he asked.

“Fifty or so,” Ginger said. She sniffed and wiped her nose with a linen handkerchief. “I enjoyed making them.”

“You helped a lot of people today just by doing that one job.”

“I guess so.”

“You know what’s important about candlelight?”

She turned to face him, and he briefly lost where he’d been going with the whole candlelight thing. After everything she’d gone through, she was still so beautiful.

“When it’s dark, a tiny flame from a single candle can make so many people feel safe. Think of how many kids out there who may be afraid of the dark now has one of your candles helping them to feel safe tonight.”

Ginger smiled. “I love you.”

“And I love you.”

She fell asleep in his arms soon after. Jimmy counted the beats between each of her soft breaths as they brushed against his neck. He wished he could say he felt safe lying next to the girl he loved. But he couldn’t. His birthday was only a week away and they still hadn’t found Catherine.

Darkness covered the city like a heavy blanket without the warmth as the search for Catherine’s whereabouts continued with the nightshift. After a little subtle convincing, Scout got his way and was able to escape the stifling confines of their hideout. He and Raven ran swiftly away from the front yard, concealing their movements through the deep shadows of the surrounding neighborhood. Litter lay everywhere. Whole houses were gutted, contents spilling out front doors,