It was them. A tight knot released the hold it had on his stomach and he breathed easier than he had in a long time. He’d found them. The writing was as familiar to him as his own hand. It was the Sintazian words for “please forgive.”
“It says they are sorry,” Ice said. “My brothers are not thieves. They would not have wanted you to suffer a loss at their hands.”
The pharmacist took a deep breath, glanced around, and then slid the envelope under a small rectangular opening cut in the glass. “I can see you’re worried. Insurance paid for the loss. I’m not sure where they got this much cash, but I can imagine whoever they took it from would be looking for it. I’ve never taken a strange envelope of cash in return for medicine and, after seeing what my son went through, I don’t plan on starting now. I’m going to pretend that I never saw it.”
Ice nodded. “Thank you.” He looked around, wishing for a sign as to where to go next. He felt so close, and yet so far from finding Snow and Frost.
“I don’t know if this is anything, but there are some abandoned buildings about three blocks north.” He pointed toward the far end of the store. “You can’t miss them. They’re the tall red-brick ones. I know several squatters live up in that area. If they’re staying around here, that’s where I looked first.”
“Thank you.” Ice placed his hand on the glass and nodded before hurrying out of the store.
“Good luck,” the man called, the words almost lost as the door shut behind him.
Ice ran toward the abandoned buildings. He didn’t pause as he crossed the streets and alleyways. A couple of times, cars screeched to a halt as he cut in front of them, but he didn’t care. Every passing second felt like an eternity. The fear he’d felt since watching his brothers run off into the trees culminated in this moment. If he didn’t find them now, he might never get the chance.
Or, worse, if he could track them, then the humans who’d imprisoned him might be able to as well. They had already shown up in Denver.
A flash of the last moment he’d seen Elle filtered through his mind. Her eyes had been open, but she didn’t see. Her limbs had remained lifeless as she lay on the small metal table. The stunned veterinary physician’s mouth had opened, and he stuttered something Ice didn’t understand.
“Please fix her,” Ice whispered to himself, as he had to that man. “Please fix her. Please fix her.”
The buildings were right where the pharmacist had said they’d be. Fires glowed from trashcans as he passed several gatherings of people. Laughter rang out as did shouts of anger and warning. Ice hugged his clothing tighter to him, trying not to be noticed. No one stopped him or even seemed to care who he was or what he was doing.
He studied each face he passed, eyed the builds of the men hidden in the shadows. Desperation filled him each time a group proved to be only humans. He walked faster, intent on moving through each and every building if he had to. If his brothers were here, he’d find them.
“I said I’d pay,” a man yelled. The loud crash that followed sent several members of the gathering scurrying away from the noise.
Figures fought in the distance, and Ice angled his fast walk away from them. Well, actually, only one figure seemed to be fighting. The other one flailed in the air as he was held over the man’s head.
Just as he was about to rush past, he watched the larger man bend at the knees before throwing his opponent onto an old mattress on the concrete. The man bounced, groaning on impact.
Ice stopped. He ignored the man on the ground as he stared at the winner of the battle.
“Snow?” Ice said, the word not forceful. He knew that fighting stance. He’d taught his brothers that fighting stance.
At the sound, his brother turned. The man on the mattress took the opportunity to run. Snow let him go. “Ice?”
The word propelled him into action. He rushed to his brother, lifting his hands to press his fingers to Snow’s. They gripped each other’s hands tight, leaning their foreheads together in a long greeting.
Words, neither Earthling, nor Venimice, nor Sintazian, couldn’t explain the relief he felt in finding his brother alive on a strange, dangerous planet.
Snow pulled away first. “How did you escape? Did they let you go? Did the Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides crewmen find you?”
Ice answered the question with his own questions. “Is Frost with you? Is he safe? Have you heard from those alien bastards who left us here? Does that man you were fighting have something to do with our being here?”
“That man is a job. I must get money from him to give to the person he owes. It is an easy way to survive. I am not sure why more humans do not do it.” Snow took Ice by the arm and led him toward a building. “Frost is here. He does not come out of our home because his body has not been processing the aspirin skin changer. It made him sick and turned him green. We found it easier to hide him from view as we waited for word of your whereabouts.”
“Word from who? I was held prisoner in Utah. Scientist wanted to examine me and test me. I have seen them in this city. They are looking for you. We cannot stay here. Humans cannot be trusted.” Ice thought of Elle. “Most humans cannot be trusted.”
“Galaxy Brides has been looking for you since your capture. They contacted us with that device they stuck in that travel pack they gave Snow to carry, but we refused to get on their ship without you. We would not risk them flying us away from here. Frost convinced them that we had connections and if they didn’t undo their mistake, we’d have the entire Federation Alliance coming after them.”
“And they believed him?” Ice asked in surprise. Sintazians had nothing to do with the Federation.
“He was very convincing.” Snow led the way into one of the abandoned buildings and down a narrow set of concrete stairs. The passageway was dark, and Ice kept his eyes on his brother’s back. “Help me with this.”
Snow leaned over and pushed at a large rock. Ice helped him slide it away from a small door. Once it was clear, Snow opened the door and went inside. Large pipes ran along the ceiling and walls of the stone room. Old material hung from various pipes, somewhat creating a room. Blankets lined the floor, mussed up from having been laid on. It was not their Sintazian home, but the enclosure felt safe.
“Frost! I found him. Ice is here,” Snow called.
