“Why don’t you come on in?” I said picking up Ned’s lie. “We’d love to have you. Bumblebug has been reading scripture and talked my ear off.” I rolled my eyes and smiled. “I’m sure he’d love new people to share his devotions with. Especially if any of you have leanings toward House Violet.”
Neds walked up next to me and slipped his arm around my waist, tucking his hand over my pocket and expertly avoiding even the briefest contact with my skin. Like I said, he did not enjoy touching me.
“I surely would enjoy the company,” he said. “There’s so much of God’s love to share with you.”
The taller woman glanced at her palm and then at Neds.
I held my smile and breath. Please let it read three humans. Please.
“Thank you,” she said. “We can’t stay. If you see a stranger in this area, do not engage with him. Please call Medical immediately.”
“We’ll do that,” I said.
The two women started back to the cars, and I resisted the urge to run into the house, bolt the door, and grab my gun.
“Why do you want him?” Left Ned asked. “Is he dangerous?”
I could have kicked him in the shins for that. That last thing we needed was for them to linger.
The tall woman stopped, one hand on the car door, which was open so I could see the stripe of black down the side of it.
Black and White?
“He is very dangerous,” she said, answering only one of his questions.
I casually stepped on Neds’ foot, putting a little weight on it so he would shut the hell up. Black meant Defense. Black meant weapons and security. Black was the color of the men who had killed my dad and mom.
He didn’t know that because I’d never told him. I didn’t talk much about my parents to anyone.
“We’ll keep the door locked and our eyes open,” I said. “If we see him, we’ll call.”
I tugged on Neds’ tool loop so he would turn with me toward the house. Left Ned opened his mouth to ask another question. Probably one that would tip her off. Probably one that would get us searched, jailed, and killed; my property seized, claimed, burned; my grandmother locked away; and vital communication for House Brown shut down.
So I did what any woman half-scared and half-fuming out of her mind would do to shut him up: I wrapped my arms around him and kissed the man.
5
One mad man, the scientist Alveré Remi Case, began building his tower. It would take him two years to construct the laboratory beneath it. Two years before the great machine he dubbed Wings of Mercury was poised to alter time.—1908
—from the journal of L.U.C.
It wasn’t a long kiss, just a peck on Right Ned’s cheek. Still, contact wasn’t a thing between us except in emergencies.
I counted this as an emergency.
The kiss had the desired effect. Left Ned shut his mouth in surprise.
Luckily, Right Ned was a quick thinker.
“Uh . . .” he said, the word coming out a little strangled. Then, louder for the medicals, “If you’ll excuse us, please. Do have a nice day.”
He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and walked me into the living room.
“Well,” Right Ned said. “Well.”
“What in the devil’s blue was that?” Left Ned demanded.
I crossed over to the window to see if our company was moving on yet.
