Jason grinned.“Well, that’s a story.Except…swear you won’t tell anyone about it.Pinky promise.”
“Fine.”
They shook pinkies, and for the rest of the walk, Jason told Raven everything he needed to know about horse people.Everything.And more than he had ever wanted to know.
Chapter 31
AfterleavingHeathandtaking Gordon and the detective downstairs to bid them farewell, Maxim stopped at Bryan’s desk.
“Bryan,” he said.It smelled faintly of tangerines, and unless Maxim was mistaken, there’d been a good deal more of them in the bowl earlier.
The Lar looked up.“Yes?Anything you need me to change downstairs?”
“No.”Maxim couldn’t keep his voice from going icy, didn’t care that it did.“I just wanted to chat.We haven’t chatted in a long while, have we?”
Bryan cocked his head.“We chat all the time, although you’re one of those people who never talks to himself.”Bryan blushed.“When residents talk to themselves, I accidentally listen.Sometimes.It’s hard to know whether they’re talking to me or not, you know?At least for the first few minutes.”
“That’s not anything to worry over.Everyone knows what good care you take of our house and hearth, and everyone loves you for it.”
“Hmm.”Bryan’s face got a faraway look.Maxim was not as oblivious as other people he could name and was related to, and he was quite sure he knew what Bryan was thinking about, or rather, who.
Yet, as much as he wanted to help, being too direct would likely hinder any further development.The thought of said further development was enough to take his mind off the case and his captives in the basement, at least a little.
“Say, are you making sure Heath gets enough rest?His office, that entire floor, seems as if it were made to suck the energy out of people.It worries me.”
Bryan took one of the tangerines from the bowl and began to peel it, further saturating the air with the scent of citrus.
“This thing with you capturing Highgate and bringing him here has been keeping him up.And compiling a list of therapists.Ever since Detective Adler called you in on that ripper case, he’s been more restless than usual.”Bryan pushed a piece of the tangerine into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully before looking up.“Although the movie night was fun.Doing more things like that could be good.”
Maxim nodded.It hadn’t been about fun, of course, but he was glad it had had that effect, at least for someone.Perhaps…
“If Raven feels up to it, we should do that again.”
Bryan straightened, the remainder of the tangerine forgotten.
“We should!”He frowned.“He went out with the dog and with Jason, and he’s resting now.”
Maxim glanced at the window wall.A fledge who went outside in this light would be exhausted.
“I see.I’ll talk to him about it.Maybe it is something that we can do on the morrow?Or later.”
Bryan nodded.“I have a list.Not a very long list, but…if no one else wants to watch anything specific, you know.”He forced his expression to be more blank than it normally was.“Maybe Clement can watch the door for me.”
Maxim smiled.“Dear Bryan, I believe there are other things he’d rather watch.I’ll head upstairs, see how Raven is feeling.”
Bryan nodded, eating the last of his tangerine while picking out another one.
The elevator took Maxim to the penthouse.It was quiet but for Ume’s breathing.Maxim found the Shiba and Raven on the couch, Raven asleep on his side while Ume had curled up behind his knees.The dog looked up with marked disinterest, though considerable watchfulness, then let his eyes fall closed again when he saw that it was just Maxim.
Despite his senses having sharpened, Raven hadn’t noticed Maxim.That was likely due to exhaustion from the walk as much as to trauma.Maxim stood there, watching over Raven, an uneasy feeling settling within him.
Was I like this back then?Did Brea stand by my bedside when I slept and watch me to make sure no bad dreams were haunting me?
Maxim didn’t even know whether that was what he was doing.He did know it was creepy, just standing here and watching someone like this without their permission.It wasn’t right.He sped upstairs to fetch a soft blanket from the closet, the one he would get out whenever Heath came here during winter days that didn’t keep him too busy, to read and talk and complain about the cold.
Back downstairs, he unfolded it and draped it over Raven and the dog, who could move if he was bothered but didn’t.Raven didn’t stir either.
If there are no dreams, at least he’s safe in sleep.It’s good.Rest will help him.
