Theorem was going in it, including all of the genetic experiments they had in process worldwide, even videos of some of it, along with proof of their presence within the world of human trafficking, aka the Fourth Dimension, that she and Charlie had helped take down.
She was in the process of writing up a dossier about herself, telling how she was created, how many failures they had before her and what they did to her mother. How she cured herself of cancer, how they hounded her then, wanting her back. She was including names of all the men they’d hired to tail her, then stalk her. And then she named Cyrus Parks as the man who’d hired Darrell Boyington to kill her, which also pointed a finger at Parks as the person who took Boyington out when he failed. It would be up to the law to prove it, but it would also give Cyrus Parks way more to think about besides her.
And the more she worked on this, the more she understood Cyrus’s desire to kill her. She was living proof of every illegal thing they’d ever done, and once they lost control of her, she became a threat. Outing UT would end the privacy she enjoyed, but if she didn’t, they were going to end her life. It was going to be one hell of a trade-off, but there was no longer a way to hide behind it in safety.
Thirteen
The moment Charlie Dodge crossed the state line from Oklahoma into Texas, it felt right. Shit or no shit, he belonged here. He stopped at Gainesville to refuel, and grabbed a cold drink and some chips before leaving the mini-mart, then ate as he drove, licking salt from his fingers until the bag was empty, and the hollow feeling in his belly was gone.
When he finally reached the outskirts of Dallas, he merged onto the freeway and headed toward his apartment building. As he did, he thought of calling Wyrick, then didn’t. There wasn’t anything to say, and he’d text her later and let her know he was back.
He was almost home when he got a text from Baxter Dawson, letting him know that Tony was out of ICU and healing well. They thanked him again for giving them back their son.
As soon as he pulled up into the parking garage attached to his apartment building, he returned the text with well-wishes for all of them.
For Charlie, that case was over and done. He grabbed his bag and got out, then entered the building and headed for his apartment.
The modern amenities of his home were a stark contrast to the old rock cabin he’d been staying in, and it felt good to be back in familiar territory. Maybe getting away hadn’t been a bad idea after all. He might be missing that wood-burning fireplace a little, but his gas fireplace took a chill off a room just as well, and with less fuss and mess.
As soon as he flipped the On switch and got instant flames, he took his bag to the bedroom. As always, the first thing that came off when he got home were his shoes. After that, he changed into sweats and went to the kitchen in his sock feet to check out the contents of his fridge. Unwilling to settle for half a stick of butter and three bottles of beer for dinner, he picked up his phone and ordered in.
Today he’d make a shopping list.
Tomorrow he’d fill it.
But for now, he was having pizza.
* * *
Merlin had a doctor’s appointment and was dressed and ready to leave. But he was starting to realize he wasn’t strong enough to drive himself there. It was the first time this had happened, and it made him a little sad. As much as he thought he had faced his truth, this was unsettling.
He thought about asking Wyrick, but this was short notice. And the longer he sat, the worse he felt. Even if someone else took him, he wasn’t certain he’d be able to get through the appointment and home without a wheelchair. So, he made an executive decision on his behalf, called the doctor’s office and told them what was happening. Within minutes, he was on the phone with the doctor’s nurse.
“Mr. Merlin, Dr. Willis will need to examine you to see what we need to do next.”
“Then I’ll need an ambulance to get me there. I will not spend my last days in hospital. I have