Theodore (Xavier's Hatchlings #2) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,22

the boys up because he’d told them to leave the room. Amos was telling him, in greater detail, what had happened. Pem asked if they could go and see to her uncle and aunt.

There was wailing going on as soon as the elevator doors opened. Theo heard it as soon as they stepped into the elevator, but he’d not mentioned it. Both Caroline and Austin were being held back from touching either of the boys, which wasn’t going well. One of the many officers still there said if they didn’t behave, he was going to jail them until the forensic officers were done with their job. That didn’t shut them up, but it did have them standing back.

“What should we do?” He told Pem he didn’t know that any of them could do anything. Not yet, anyway. “They’re just little boys, Theo. What would have made them do such a thing as fire on officers?”

Theo, honey, I have them both here with me. Your cousins have found their way to me and are here demanding answers. He asked his mom if she was all right. Yes, dear, I’m all right. Shaken, as you can well imagine. How are Pem and her lovely grandmother? They’re not hurt, are they?

No. They’re taking it as hard as you can imagine. Austin and his wife are throwing around lawsuit threats, but nothing that I’d not expect. What are they saying? If you can tell me. She told him she wanted to speak to Pem as well. All right. But be gentle with her, Mom. She’s hurt by this too.

Theo held onto Pem as his mom asked her if she was all right. After telling her that she was more worried about her grandma, she told her what she’d told him. That Stanley and David were with her.

Stanley is pissed that he’d not been able to kill his grandma when he had the gun. I’m telling you what they’re saying to me. I want you to know I’m not one to sugar coat things. Is that all right? Pem said she’d not have it any other way. Good girl. I’d not tell your grandmother much of what I relay to you. Please don’t. I think it would break her heart more.

It would, I think. Tell me why he wanted to kill my grandma. Mom told them both what Stanley had told her. I don’t understand. What was his problem with having her around when he rarely saw her?

He said she was a drain on society. I believe they might well have heard that from their parents. David is talking to me now. He said it’s unfair that Stanley got to kill more people than he did. Their plan was to trade off the gun for each of them to have the same amount of kills. Pem looked up at Theo as his mom continued. They thought they’d not be killed because people would underestimate them and fob them off. Well, Stanley is saying that they bet no one does that again.

Do they know they’re dead? Theo told Pem when she asked him what he meant by that. Sometimes the dead just think they’re hurt or that nothing happened to them. When that happens, they have to figure out what happened to them before Mom or Dad can help them.

I don’t believe Stanley is aware yet. However, David is. Or he’s figuring it out on his own. I don’t know if you’ve seen the bodies yet, but David was shot several times in the chest, one of them in the heart, and Stanley was shot three times. One of the bullets hit him in the head. He was dead before he fell over. Pem started crying softly. I’m so sorry, Pem. I should have thought about that before speaking.

No. It’s all right. I need to know before I see them. Not that knowing it will make it any better, but this will help.

Theo held onto both women as they cried softly. Caroline was finally able to hold her boys, and she pulled them into her arms, sobbing loudly. He was sure he might well have been doing the same had they been his children. They planned this, didn’t they? They planned to come here and make a name for themselves at great cost to a lot of people?

Yes. Mom told him that they’d be landing soon, and the jet was going back for his dad and the rest of the family. They’d be there until the