Serial Saturday: Road Trip, Part 13
“How the fuck are they following us?” JT snarled. She glanced in the rearview mirror. Still nothing there, no matter what her skin was telling her.
“Who? Bryce or the Old Ones?”
“Either. Both, for fuck’s sake.”
Israel seemed to consider. “Well, I suppose Bryce is getting the Old Ones to do the following, and they’re filling him in on what they find.”
JT shook her head. “This is bad shit, you know that.”
“I know that.”
“Bad shit. Anyone fucking around that closely with Old Ones that long. How long have they been following you?”
“Since Hot Springs, anyway.”
“Where’s that?”
Israel gave her a funny look. “Cripes, JT, haven’t you ever visited your mother? It’s in South Dakota, just across the border. Four hours away from Kaycee, maybe.”
“Goddammit, Israel, this isn’t about whether I’m a good fucking daughter. They’ve been on your ass since South Dakota? How the fuck did he knew you’d left so quickly? How did you even leave?”
Israel let out a long breath. “That’s a good question, now that you mention it. I mean, as far as getting out, well, it isn’t so hard for someone who’s gotten better, like I have. But it is strange that Bryce knew I’d left so quickly. I think something is riding him.”
“Riding him?”
“You know what I mean. He got a little too deep. I think something he was trying to get hold of got hold of him. Happens all the time to Badgers.”
JT forced herself to relax her grip on the steering wheel and glanced in the rear view again. “I am the stupidest fucking woman in the country,” she muttered. “This is going to blow up, has to.”
“We’re almost to Vermont,” Israel said soothingly. A few more hours, we’ll be there. Then I just have to get myself straightened out and remember how to get to where I left the flute.”
“You don’t even know where it is?”
“Basically. It’s near Walden. It may just take me a little time to pinpoint it.”
“And where’s Walden?”
“A little south of South Walden.”
JT looked over at him for a moment. “Of course it is. You gonna be able to track this thing down before it gets dark?”
“Probably not,” Israel said after a moment.
“Better and better,” JT muttered. “Any hotels in Walden? I assume you have enough in that wad of money you keep dipping into to pay for a room?”
“Better stop in Cabot, I guess,” Israel replied. He brightened. “We can get some cheese while we’re there.”
JT looked at the rear view mirror again. Nothing there, and it was driving her crazy, the way her spine was telling her there should be.
“You told me that the Old Ones were after you because of what you are,” she said. “Whatever you did with that flute.”
“Mm hm,” Israel said, fiddling with the hat in his lap. He glanced over at the mirror on his side of the car. He was feeling it too, at least somewhat. Maybe he was picking it up from her.
“So you’re telling me that this Bryce fucker is just a puppet, they’re using him to get at you?”
“Yes.”
“And after you take care of whatever you need to take care of , they’ll cut it out? What happens to Bryce then?”
“I’m not sure, but I doubt it will go well for him.”
JT turned for a moment to eye him, before flicking her gaze back to the mirror, then the road in front of them.
“Look, if Bryce was really in control, if he was after me for a good reason, don’t you think he’d have more help than two idiots?” Israel said. “Come to that, don’t you think the Blue Candles themselves would be more involved?”
“What aren’t you telling me, Israel?”
“From what your mother told me, I didn’t think you’d be so trusting of Badgers.”
“My mother didn’t tell you shit about how I feel about Badgers.”
“And how do you know that?”
“Fuck you.”
Israel glanced in his mirror again. “Don’t worry. You’re trying to help her now.”
Copyright © 2011 SM Williams