by KJ Dahlen
Inez whispered, “Shay.”
The man’s eyes snapped in her direction and when he found her, he opened his arms and she ran toward him. He gathered her to him and just held her tight for a moment. When he let her go, he studied her carefully. “Are you okay, baby girl?”
Inez nodded. “I’m better now. Gypsy saved me the other night when Dino caught up to me.”
He hugged her again, then released her. He walked her over to the table to nod at Pappy and Dewey. Then he looked at the men sitting there. He acknowledged Gunner with a nod. “Hello gentlemen. I am Shay Montross. I work for the military. I’ve worked with Pappy and Dewey and his bunch for more years than I care to remember.”
Gunner got to his feet and held out his hand. “I heard you were coming and why. Inez told us her story last night. We were more than happy to help her.”
Shay shook hands with him then looked over at Inez and smiled. “And I am very happy that you took her in. What she carried all this way is very important to the safety of our nation and we are trying to hunt these people down.”
Inez hung her head and tears rolled down her cheeks. Then she looked up at him. “That bastard Dino shot my dad. Then before he took off, he set our house on fire. I tried Shay, I really tried to get him out, but I couldn’t. He told me to run to get his reports to you, or to John. He died in my arms and I couldn’t get his body out of the fire.”
Shay held her close for a moment, then told her, “I got him out, sweetheart. We must have just missed each other that night. I was already on my way. Your dad called me earlier and he said, Dino was coming. He told me what he planned to ask you to do if I didn’t make it there in time to stop it. I arrived and ran in the fire to get him out. I called for you but you didn’t answer.”
Tears ran down her face. “Did you bury him next to my mom?”
Shay shook his head. “No, I didn’t. I had him cremated and I thought, maybe you and I could do that when the time was better. I couldn’t just bury him without you.”
Inez nodded. “Ok, thank you.” She looked around the room for a moment then she found Gypsy’s eyes.
She had a plea in her eyes and he could see it. Gypsy got up and walked over to them. He gently drew her into his arms and held her while he looked at the other man. She sobbed her heart out in his embrace.
Shay read the situation and nodded. He turned to face Pappy.
Pappy narrowed his eyes at him. “I know you have your reasons, but you need to tell them.”
Shay paused to glance at Inez then he turned back to Pappy.
Inez cried harder as she broke away from Gypsy’s arms and ran down the hall to his bedroom, then slammed the door behind her.
Gypsy glared at the man called Shay and growled at him.
“Because of my job, we felt it was essential to keep our relationship a secret,” Shay attempted to explain. “For her safety and for mine. Her mother Mallory was my younger sister. Inez is my niece.”
Gypsy sneered at him. “What the hell kind of uncle are you then? Do you know what you put her through? Do you have any idea?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Shay frowned.
“You had her number! You called her the other day.” Gypsy glared at him. “Why didn’t you have her meet you somewhere and take her under your wing months ago?”
“It wasn’t possible, it was never safe,” Shay argued.
“You fucking bastard,” Gypsy swore. “You left her out there on her own, thinking her dad was burned in the fire. She had no one to talk to, no one to ask for help and on top of all that, she was being chased by the man who killed her father. You call her Mallory to remember your sister but did you ever stop to think how that was hurting her? She knows you loved her mother but did you ever show her you loved her for who she is?” He let out an exasperated breath. “My god man, she was alone, scared shitless for four months, trying to stay alive so she could turn over her dad’s work to you when you could have stopped it anytime you wanted. You should have given her John’s phone number and he would have met her anywhere and gotten her to safety.”
“He’s right and you know it,” Grizzly agreed as he too glared at Shay. “I know you have to keep your life a secret but she’s your family. Fuck man, you were all she had left.”
Shay looked unmovable though there was empathy in his eyes as he let out a heavy sigh, but he stared right back at Grizzly.
Disgusted, Gypsy turned and walked away. He followed her footsteps down the hall and disappeared into his bedroom. He found her huddled up in a fetal position on the bed, sobbing. He went over to her and gathered her into his arms and when he sat down, she was in his lap.
He just held her for the longest time.
When she stopped crying, neither of them said a word.
Then she whispered, “Shay is my mom’s brother.”
“I know, he told us.”
“Did he also tell you that he hated my dad? He believes it’s because of my dad that my mom died. Dad used to take mom and me all over the world with him when he would go to investigate new biologics. When he was in Africa she caught what we thought was the flu. Turns out, it wasn’t just the flu. It was a slow kind of cancer that was fatal and there was no cure for it. My dad worked day and night to understand what the disease was, so he could find a cure but it didn’t help mom. She died too quickly. Dad found a cure for it just a few months after she died. I don’t think Shay ever forgave him. So when he says we would bury my dad together, I have to question that.”
Gypsy tightened his hold on her but didn’t say anything. Finally, he asked her, “Why didn’t he come for you and get you to safety sooner?”
She shrugged. “The other day was only the second time he’s called me since before dad died.”
“When was the first time?” Gypsy frowned.
“About two months ago. I was in Ohio and I begged him for help but he told me I should do what my dad asked me to do. He said he didn’t have much time but that he wanted to know how close I was till I could get to John. Then before I could answer, the call got cut off.”
“Why didn’t you just call the US Marshals office and have them get in touch with Grizzly?”
“I didn’t know who I could trust and who I couldn’t. My dad told me to only give the serum to John Crowly.”
“I think your uncle has a lot of explaining to do, not only to us but to you as well,” Gypsy growled in her ear.
Chapter Nine
Inez got up and walked over to the window. She wrapped her arms around her tummy and stared out at the back yard. “You know as long as my dad was alive, I never wanted to admit it, but you could be right about Shay. I mean I know he’s one of the good guys and in that respect, I do trust him. He would never betray this country. But I remember how I used to watch him when we got together as a family. The way he acted around my dad. I think he hated him. I never knew why and never crossed my mind to ask, but they were never close. Then after we lost mom, he didn’t come around again for many years.”
Gypsy sat and watched her as he listened.
She paused for the longest time then said, “I don’t think Shay actually knows what this is all about. He thinks this stuff dad helped to create will just make some people sick but it won’t. It will actually kill thousands of people before it's done.”
Gypsy stared at her. “Why would your dad agree to make something like that?”
Inez shook her head. “That’s just it, my dad didn’t make the supersized red tide. When he got it, it had already been altered. My dad only made the antidote. He tried to tell Shay... he did try, but Shay didn’t want to hear it. He went off on my dad about how if he did this... he would be a serial killer, murdering thousands like he murdered my mom.” She shook her head. “That was the biggest fight I ever heard. I kind of felt caught in the middle of two superpowers. I love them both but in the end, I guess I sided with my dad. Shay was blinded to the fact that no matter what dad did to try and save my mom in the end it
didn’t matter. She was gone but my dad finished his work and found a cure. At least, it will help others. He did that, so no more people would lose their loved ones to that disease. I don’t believe Shay ever forgave him for that. I think that’s why he didn’t bury my dad with my mom. But I know something about my parents that Shay never understood, not really.”
“And what would that be?” He wanted to know.
“They loved each other with a passion I can only hope to find one day.” She gazed out the window. “Dad was almost broken after she died. I think the only thing that kept him from following her then was the fact that she asked him to promise he would finish his work. She told him he had so much to offer the world but he had to be there to see it through.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I hope wherever they are, they are finally together again. And when this is over, I will bury him next to her... whether Shay likes it or not.”
Gypsy got up and walked over to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her for the longest time.
Then she broke away and wiped her tears. “Come on I want to get this done, so we can move forward. I still have to turn over the vials and my dad’s research.”
Before she could walk away from him, Gypsy grabbed her and hauled her into his arms again. This time when she looked up at him, he did something so out of character it surprised them both. He crushed her mouth with his own and when their lips touched...sparks flew.
Inez groaned and wrapped her arms around his neck drawing him in closer. The kiss deepened when his tongue breached her lips and they began kissing in earnest. They finally broke away and both were panting for air. She hadn’t noticed but during the kiss, Gypsy had backed her up against the wall and when the kiss ended, her knees felt weak. She leaned against the wall and looked up at him in awe. “Wow. I never knew...”
Gypsy took a step away and the look in his eyes suggested he was stunned. He just stared at her. His eyes fastened on her lips which were swollen just then. He never felt anything close to what he’d just felt when he kissed her.
He shook his head as if to clear it then whispered, “What the fuck are you doing to me woman?”
Pain cut through her at his thinly veiled question. She pushed him away and went to the door. Without a word, she walked through it and joined the others. She went outside and over to Gypsy’s bike.
She didn’t see Gunner, Boone, and Grizzly follow her to the door. They all frowned as they watched her.
She knelt down beside his bike and reached behind the saddlebag to collect something she’d put there the night Dino shot at her. It was a small container. She stood up and took off her belt. Taking the small blue flash drive from a special pouch in the back of the belt, she then put the belt back around her waist. Then she turned and walked back to the clubhouse. She handed both items to the man they called Grizzly. “This is what those people murdered my father for. He never supersized the red tide but he did make the antidote. This is only a sample of what they sent to him. My dad considered this a major threat.”
She handed the items over to him and was about to walk away when Grizzly asked, “Shouldn’t you be giving this stuff to your uncle?”
“My dad wanted me to give it to you. What you do with it is up to you.” She glanced over at Gunner, “My dad and Shay had a love/hate relationship, mostly hate but that was between them. Shay never thought my dad was good enough for his sister. Especially since, he found a cure shortly after she died of the disease that killed her. I never understood his reasoning and I suppose now, it doesn’t matter at all.”
Gunner nodded. “We figured that out. I’m just sorry he left you out there on your own for four months when he didn’t have to.”
Inez shrugged. “He did what he did, can’t change any of that now. We can only move on with life.” She closed her eyes and then opened them again. “I’m hoping I can unite them again, in the afterlife but I doubt he’ll allow that. That will hurt but it won’t kill me. I’ve always known how he felt.” She turned to see her uncle standing there watching her.
Neither of them said anything then Inez walked the other way.
Inez found a spot that offered her shade and a place to think. Someone had formed an alcove or a bower in a small garden like area here. It looked new but right then she didn’t care, she just needed a place to think. She sat down on the bench. As early as it was in the day the weather was hot and the sky offered no natural remedy for the heat. But that was Texas. She just needed a place to stop and think. Just for a moment.
Shay turned to the men gathered nearby and began to say something.
All the men turned, heading back inside the clubhouse, without giving him a chance to explain himself.
Gypsy went in and joined the others, but he sat as far away from Shay as he could get. He looked around for Inez. Lunch came and went and still she didn’t return and Gypsy needed to find her.
When he didn’t see, her he looked over at Gunner.
Gunner caught his gaze and motioned his head toward the outside.
Gypsy nodded.
He slipped out the back door to search for her. Checking the most obvious areas and not finding her Gypsy began to get worried. He looked up at the Texas sun and wiped a bead of sweat off his face. He lived here. He was used to this sweltering heat but she was from Vermont. She’d been out here for a good couple of hours by this time... he had to find her.
He suddenly turned and rushed toward the only place he could think of she might have taken refuge. DeeDee and Winona’s little garden area. Gunner had just finished it not even two days ago. He prayed he would find her there.
He spotted the pergola garden and when he saw her sitting there, he exhaled in relief. Approaching slowly, he studied her carefully for heat exhaustion. When he didn’t find any, he still knew she had to be overheated.
He sat down next to her and asked softly, “Are you okay? You’ve been out here a long time.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just don’t know what I’m going to do now.”
“What do you mean, what you’re going to do now?” He frowned.
She turned to look at him. “I mean what do I do now? Dino burned my home to the ground, I got no family anymore. I don’t have a job, as I haven’t been there in over four months. I did what my dad asked me to do and now, it's all over.”
”No my sweet girl it’s not over.” He shook his head. “Dino is still out there looking for you. So you can’t go anywhere until we stop him and find out who is responsible for this travesty. Shay is still your uncle even if he doesn’t want to be. He’s still family.” He paused then added, “And for what’s it worth, you got me now.”
She half smiled at his statement but didn’t say anything.
“Come on, let’s get you out of this heat,” he insisted. “You missed breakfast and lunch and you have to eat something too.” Standing up, he reached his hand out and she slowly put her hand in his.
He led her back to the clubhouse and into the kitchen via the back door.
Winona and DeeDee were in there clearing away lunch and when they walked in DeeDee smiled.
“Can we make a sandwich or something?” Gypsy asked. “Inez missed lunch.”
“Sure thing,” DeeDee said. “Help yourselves to whatever you want.”
Inez spotted some bananas and asked, “Do you have any peanut butter?”
DeeDee grinned. “Sure do. Creamy or crunchy?”
“Creamy please.” Inez grabbed a couple slices of bread. She spread the peanut butter on thick and then placed a sliced banana on top and put on the second slice of peanut butter bread.
Gypsy shook his head as he scowled. “You are going to actually eat that?”
“Been eating it all my life. My mom loved it too.” She grabbed a bottle of water, sat down at the counter and devoured her sandwich.
Shay came into the kitchen as she picked up the second half of her sandwich and gasped when he saw her. When Inez looked up at him, she saw him swallow hard. She took another bite as
she watched him.
“I’m leaving soon and I wanted to give you this.” He stepped forward and put a small wooden box in front of her.
Inez laid her sandwich on the plate and stared at the box for a moment. She could see a silver plate on the side of the box with her dad’s name on it and she knew what it was. She lifted dry eyes and stared at her uncle. She nodded slowly at him and he turned to leave.
Gypsy growled. “That’s just cold, you fucking bastard.”
Shay looked up at him. “I have my reasons for hating her father. But I did my duty. I brought him to her and now, I’m done.”
“She is a person in her own right, not just her father’s daughter. She is your sister’s flesh and blood as well. She deserves better than you that’s for damn sure. You are one cold hearted sonofabitch.” Gypsy glared as he grabbed the other man by the arm.
“Let him go Gypsy. Please?” Inez called out. “We may share a bloodline but I don’t think he ever saw it that way, he’ll never see it. He could never see anything past my mom dying before my dad found a cure. He didn’t care that he worked twenty hours a day from the day she got sick until the day she died. He couldn’t see how hard he worked after she died so that no one would ever have to die from that horrible disease. No matter what he thinks, my dad loved my mom and she loved him back, right up until the day she died. That’s what burns him the most, my mother wouldn’t leave her husband and child because she loved us, she chose us over him and the rest of her family. Let him go, he’s the one missing out.”
Shay stiffened and then growled as he walked out of the kitchen.
Inez didn’t say anymore but instead, she picked up her sandwich and took another bite. She tried to chew and swallow it she really did but she couldn’t. She laid her sandwich on her plate, went over to the garbage can, spit out her food and dumped the rest. She put the plate in the sink. Then she picked up the box, her water and disappeared from the room.
“Oh Gypsy,” DeeDee called out softly. “That poor girl.”