“Andrew said they’re going back to the station, but that he’s close if you need something. Make sure you fix that light in the morning,” said Luke. “The police are going back to Real Tech with warrants tomorrow for the other prisoners.”
I nodded. “I couldn’t have done this alone. What do I owe you?”
“We’ll send the bill in a few days,” said Ella. “You were brilliant tonight.”
She gave me a hug and took Luke’s hand as they walked back to their car. I’d like to get to know them better. Maybe we could have them over for dinner once things were back to normal. I didn’t always like strangers, but I liked them. We’d been a job, but they treated me like we were friends.
I set the alarm, took a deep breath, and went to look for Christopher.
I’d readied the antidote but hadn’t dared to carry it with me, thinking it should remain refrigerated. The needle was loaded and ready in a Tupperware container.
I couldn’t find Christopher at first. He wasn’t in the kitchen, living room, or his office. I went down the hall to our bedroom. He stood in the middle of the room.
“Is this your house too?” he said.
His brow was wrinkled, and he wrung his hands while he spoke. It was disconcerting to see him confused and without a smile. He was still gorgeous, but he seemed muted, less vibrant.
“It is.” I erected the brick wall in my mind to keep my thoughts from intruding on his recovering brain. “There’s another bit of medicine to help you feel better. It should help your memory. Can I give it to you?”
He nodded. “I don’t like not knowing anything. I’d like to remember someone as beautiful as you are.”
His sad smile tugged at my heart.
“You smell nice too,” he said as I took his hand and led him to the kitchen.
He sat on the bar stool at the counter where I showed. I injected the antidote into Christopher’s shoulder and hoped for the best. There was no immediate reaction. Maybe it took several hours to be effective. Serum A could take up to three days.
“I’m tired.” Christopher rubbed his eyes and his face split in an enormous yawn. “Can I go to my room and sleep? Maybe I’ll remember you in the morning.”
His smile was slight, but genuine.
I nodded, too disappointed to speak. Alone, tears filled my eyes. I tried not to let them fall, to look at the bright side. Christopher was out of the lab and home, which is what mattered right now. I wanted to kiss him and for him to wrap me in his arms, but he would only be bewildered. I hated the wall in my mind that was necessary not to hurt him. Deep down, I’d hoped the antidote would fix everything.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” I said as he shuffled down the hall toward our room.
As much as I wanted to, I shouldn’t sleep with him tonight. That would be more confusing. The little-used upstairs consisted of two bedrooms, a bathroom, and the stairs to the attic. I made up a bed in my choice of spare room. I’d only been up here a few times. Ember followed me upstairs, curious at the change in our usual location. She jumped on a cushioned chair by the window and kneaded the fuzzy blanket folded over the back and seat before settling in a tight ball. Before bed, I went downstairs and checked the doors, windows, and the alarm. Everything looked secure.
The room was cold, but I took comfort that growing up, this had been Christopher’s room. Some of his old books sat on the shelf above his desk and there was a box of his childhood treasures in the closet. In my exploration, I discovered a much-loved brown teddy bear with one eye. I set it on the bed next to the second pillow. His threadbare bear could sleep with me.
I sent a text to Andrew.“Injection went well. Christopher has gone to sleep. No way to tell if it worked. Talk in the morning.”
“Squad car posted on your street in case the Real Tech goons show up.”
“Thanks.”It eased my mind to know that the authorities were watching the house. I didn’t know if I’d be able to sleep, but that wasn’t Andrew’s problem.
For a long time, I lay sleepless in the cold, unfamiliar bed, hoping the antidote worked and that Christopher would be himself tomorrow. The emotional week caught up to me and I fell into an exhausted slumber.
Chapter 24
A creak of the wooden floor awakened me. The room was pitch black, and I’d left my phone downstairs in the kitchen charging. What time was it?
“Christopher?” I whispered, wondering if he’d woken on his own. Perhaps he’d come looking for me.
A weight settled at the end of the bed and I sat up, my eyes straining at the darkness, willing my night vision to work.
“It’s me, Baby Doll,” said Eric.
My blood ran cold and my heart pounded against my ribs so loud I feared he would hear and know that I was terrified. Despite the chill in the air, I broke out in a sweat. How could he be here?
