to call, the grief, the pain, the longing, the love enough to raise the dead. Surely it must have some effect on one not yet gone.
"He moved," Henry said suddenly. "I saw his nostrils twitch."
"He's got the scent," Stuart said, and he and Colin both shifted uncomfortably.
Then it happened. Slowly enough this time that Vicki always after swore she'd seen the exact moment of change.
Peter tossed his head and moaned, his skin gray and clammy, left foot horribly cut by the steel jaws of the trap.
Rose pressed kisses on his lips, his throat, his eyes, until her uncle moved her bodily off the table and shook her, hard. She burst into tears and buried her face on Peter's chest, both hands tightly wrapped around one of his.
"His heartbeat is stronger." Henry listened to it struggling, forcing the sluggish blood to flow. "His life has a better hold. I think it's safe to move him now."
"In a minute." Vicki took a deep breath. It felt like the first in some time and even the dusty, kerosene scented air of the barn smelled sweet. Jesus Christ, how the hell are we going to explain this to the police ? "Here's what we're going to do... "
"Excuse me."
She started and for a moment didn't recognize the old man who crept forward into the lamplight, Barry Wu trailing behind like an anxious shadow.
Carl Biehn reached out a trembling hand and lightly brushed the silver spray of Rose's hair. She rubbed her nose on the back of her wrist and looked up, eyes narrowing when she saw who it was.
"I know it won't be enough," he said, speaking only to her, the words rough-edged with pain, "but I realize now I was wrong. In spite of all I'd done to you and yours, even in the midst of your grief, you saved my life at the risk of your own. That is the way of the Lord." He had to pause to clear his throat. "I wanted to thank you, and say I'm sorry even though I know I have no right to your forgiveness."
He turned away then, and Vicki met his eyes.
They were red rimmed with weeping but surprisingly clear. Although pain had become a part of them, no doubt lingered. This was a man who had made his peace with himself. Vicki heard the voice of memory say, "He's a decent human being and they're rare." She nodded, once. He echoed it and moved past, bowed but somehow still possessing a quiet dignity.
"Okay people, we're going to keep this as uncomplicated as possible." She blinked rapidly to clear her eyes and shoved at her glasses. "This is what happened. The police already know someone has been taking potshots at the Heerkens dogs - and the Heerkens - and that I'm looking into it. Obviously Peter found something out... "
"He spoke with Mark Williams this afternoon," Celluci told her, wondering how far he was going to let this vaguely surreal explanation go on.
"Great. Suspicious, he headed over here. Meanwhile, I found out the same information, called, discovered that Peter was missing, pulled Colin off shift, and started out here. Meanwhile, you," she pointed at Celluci, "and you," the finger moved to Stuart, "raced to the rescue. We stick to the truth as far as we can. Now then, Henry, you weren't here."
Henry nodded. Staying clear of police investigations had always been one of his tenets of survival.
"Colin, you and Barry, get Peter into the back of your car. Rose, stay with him. Don't let him change again. And Rose, you weren't here either. The boys picked you up on their way back into town as you were running along the road, trying to get here, furious that Stuart and Celluci wouldn't take you with them. Got that?"
Rose sniffed again and nodded, letting go of her twin only long enough to pull on the T-shirt Stuart stripped off and gave her. It fell to mid-thigh and would do as clothing until they reached the doctor's where the entire family kept something to wear.
Gently Colin lifted his brother and, with Peter's head lolling in the hollow of his throat, made for the door, Rose close at his side, her hands chasing each other up and down her twin's body.
"Wait by the car," Vicki called, sending Barry after them. "There're a few more things you'll have to know."
"Like what you're planning to do about the corpse," Celluci snapped, running both hands up through his hair, his patience