Kindred Spirit - Noah Harris Page 0,62
He landed face-first lifelessly, blood staining the back of his jacket from the hole Mr. James’ rifle had put in him.
Mr. James cleared his throat. “Alright, now that we got out of the way. Anyone else feelin’ froggy?”
The remaining members of 2218 looked at one another, and almost as one tossed their guns to the ground. As Jacob helped Levi to his feet, the fanatics knelt down, putting their hands onto the back of their heads. Some of the townspeople came forward, some with rope, others with clothesline, and as Levi watched, a couple of them brought out handcuffs, though he knew damn well there weren’t any cops in the town.
He was going to try very hard to forget he’d seen that.
Jacob looked around at the armed militia and the surrendering 2218. “Well, God bless the second amendment.”
Levi swatted him. “Why do you have to sound so happy?”
“Practically the whole town just showed up to defend you and stop 2218, armed with their own guns. I don’t give a shit who you are, that is the coolest fucking thing,” Jacob said gleefully.
He has a point. It was straight out of a movie.
Levi rolled his eyes to the sky. “It’s like having two teenage boys.”
Mr. James came toward them, hobbling in a show of stiff limbs. He still held that rifle with ease and pride, though, and Levi remembered the man had served in the second world war on the frontlines. And while that certainly explained his willingness to pull the trigger, it didn’t make it any less impressive, or Levi any less grateful.
“You alright?” Mr. James asked softly.
Levi’s shoulders sagged with relief. “Now I am. What the hell were you guys thinking?”
“Not in our town. Not one of our own,” Mr. James said easily. “That’s what we were thinking.”
Levi flapped his mouth uselessly, not sure what to even say. He’d only spent a year in Gilcreek, and he’d mostly kept to himself. How the hell could any of them consider him to be one of their own.
Mr. James clapped a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Get whatever thought you just had outta your head, boy. Ain’t none of us forgot what you’ve done for us. Bit anti-social, but your ours all the same.”
“Raymond Earl James!” Laura barked as she marched forward.
Mr. James straightened. “Laura?”
She stopped just short of Jacob, jabbing a finger at his leg. “This man’s been shot, and you’re standing around flapping your gums!”
“Aw, he’s standin’ just fine,” Mr. James said just as Jacob protested, “It’s not that bad, Laura.”
Laura turned to Levi, nostrils flaring. “You get your man to sit himself down while I get the first aid kit. The law’s comin’, and I hope they brought an ambulance for him too.”
Mr. James lit up. “Got yourself a fella, eh?”
“Oh god,” Levi groaned, grabbing Jacob’s arm and trying to drag him off. “C’mon, sit down before I have another awkward conversation about my love life. Like, hell, not happening.”
Jacob laughed, allowing himself to be dragged to a flimsy chair outside a nearby store. “Using my injury as an excuse to get out of socializing?”
“Damn right.”
I’m going to check to make sure there’s no strays that might catch us by surprise.
“Thank you, Lou,” Levi told him, knowing the spirit was giving him a chance to be alone with Jacob for a little while.
Jacob sat down, elevating his leg when Levi insisted. The wound really didn’t seem to be bleeding all that badly, but considering how much blood Jacob had already lost, Levi wasn’t willing to risk it.
“What now?” Levi asked, dropping onto the pavement beside Jacob.
“Now, we get to answer some really awkward questions from the cops. And I get to answer even more questions from my boss. And you…”
Levi looked up. “What about me?”
Jacob sighed, looking down at his lap. “You’ve got time. You and Lou, you can get out of here. By the time the DDI shows up, you guys can be hours away, in any direction.”
“Wouldn’t make you look very good,” Levi noted.
“I don’t think I’m going to end up looking good no matter what,” Jacob grunted.
“You managed to prove there’s something supernatural about me and managed to keep me safe. I’d say that it’ll look damn good on your record.”
“I’m not telling them about you.”
“No?”
“If you want to tell, that’s on you. But I’m not telling them anything.”
Levi smiled, trusting Jacob’s words immediately. He and Lou could very well take off, and no one would be able to stop them. He’d leave the