Slowly, N8 nodded. “Something happened back there at the camp, but don’t ask me what or how. All I remember is being so filled with hate and rage, I kept yelling at him that I’d kill him. I was inside that guard, and all I could see was Coxwell acting like Cydney’s life didn’t matter, and I’d never felt as much hate for another human being as I did at that moment. And then…then it was like the guard could read my mind. That, or I was able to take over his body. I felt…something. It was like a switch had been thrown. I can’t explain it.”
“So it was you who turned the gun on Coxwell and fired it?” T8 stated.
Again, N8 gave a nod. “I think so. I don’t know if it’s part of my ability I didn’t know I had, or it’s something new that just kicked in at that moment.”
“Intense emotion has a way of causing the body to overreact,” P8 noted. “It’s possible you triggered a new ability.”
G8 grunted. “Whatever it is, Coxwell is headed for six feet under.” He snorted. “He called check and mate, but you gambled and kinged him good.”
The sound of approaching footsteps made them sit up. Sheriff Biggs walked into the waiting room and came over to where they were gathered.
“Any word yet about Miss Huddleston?”
“Not yet,” N8 replied.
“Well, you’re not going to have to worry about the institute coming after you anymore,” the sheriff informed them. “Now that word’s gotten out, the news is spreading like wildfire about how the labs were using humans as guinea pigs. Come morning, I’m calling a press conference and spilling the beans on that whole sordid outfit. We’ll have every news media outlet there.” He pointed to T8 and K8. “I’d appreciate it if you two would be there to demonstrate what you can do. It would certainly help bolster my case.”
“You honestly believe the scientists won’t try to capture us once we go public?” P8 queried, not hiding his skepticism.
“I believe those people were counting on you remaining cowed. They’d brainwashed you for so long, they never considered you’d reveal yourselves for fear of retaliation.” Biggs looked directly at N8. “You did the right thing, coming to me and asking for help. Right now, there’s a group of townspeople who’ve volunteered to help you renovate the Trautman place so you can live there. They’re also taking up a collection to help you get by until you’re able to get on your own feet. Plus, a couple of shopkeepers have contacted me, offering you jobs if you’re interested.”
F8 brightened. “For real?”
Biggs chuckled. “People are going to be drawn here. You’ll be town celebrities for a while, until the newness wears off. But don’t worry. I’ll make sure you remain safe and well-guarded.”
F8 nudged K8. “Now’s your chance to try to get a job at the newspaper. You can write about what we’ve gone through. What they did to us.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Biggs interjected. He gestured to G8. “I noticed that right uppercut of yours. All of you are pretty good at defending yourselves. Have you thought about going into law enforcement?”
“Will I have to learn to shoot a gun?”
“Among other things.” The sheriff peered closely at them. “Offer’s open to every one of you. I’m short-staffed, and most of the people who go through the academy end up in Vista Ridge or Yaegerton where the pay is better. I was kind of hoping, since you folks are tightknit, you’d join my force. From what I’ve witnessed, you’re already pretty well-versed in how to physically defend yourselves.”
“We’ll definitely think on it,” G8 promised.
“Sheriff?” T8 scratched his beard. “What we haven’t figured out yet is how they were able to find us. We’d taken extra care to remove all the tracking devices we were aware of. Was there something we missed?”
A darkness seemed to cover the sheriff’s face. “It was more like somethingImissed. I missed noticing a deputy having serious family problems, who saw the APB as a way to help alleviate some of her financial troubles. But don’t worry. She’s been dealt with.”
P8 drew their attention to the hallway. A surgeon still in his scrubs approached them.
“Sheriff Biggs?”
“Dr. Shaw?”
They all stood as the doctor came closer.
“How is she, Doctor?” N8 asked, his voice shaking.
“She’s very lucky. The bullet didn’t enter the brain, but it traveled under the hairline and exited through the top of her scalp.” He drew a line over his head with his finger to illustrate. “We’ve stitched her up. She lost a lot of blood, and she’ll have a scar once she heals, but there shouldn’t be any serious damage, thank goodness.” The man gave them a big smile. “She’s in recovery right now. She’ll be moved to a room shortly.”
“When can we see her?” F8 asked.
“Tomorrow. I gave her a sedative. She’ll be out for the rest of the night.”
They took turns shaking the man’s hand and thanking him. After he left, Sheriff Biggs crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s late. If you want, I can drive you back to the camp and drop you off. Come morning, I’ll make arrangements to have one of my deputies pick you up and bring you here to visit. Unless you’d rather drive up later.”
“We don’t know how to drive,” T8 told him.
