She followed—and lost it.The sense of nausea drained away.“It’s gone.Maybe it was something else.”
Henderson was quiet.
“I’m sorry,” Del said; Cath gasped as if he’d sworn.His fingers were solid, warm and comforting.“I should have just let you do it.”
“It wasn’t you.Don’t pay any attention to me.”She tried to say it lightly, failed.“Maybe it’s nothing.”I’m jumping at shadows.And here I thought I was so competent.
“Not likely,” Henderson said finally, braking and pulling into a parking lot.“Let’s be circumspect tonight, ladies and gents.It’s 2100.Rendezvous by 2300, and everybody go with a buddy or two.Got it?”
Murmurs of assent.Brew pulled the door open; cold air sparkled into the van.Rowan stayed where she was.Zeke helped Cath out, Brew scanned the parking lot, and Yoshi exchanged a few words with Henderson.
They were all waiting, despite Henderson’s orders to rendezvous.It seemed that whatever Henderson’s Brigade did tonight, they would do it together.
“Ro?”Justin’s hand slid from the back of her neck.
“I’m here,” she said.At least he didn’t sound angry.
“You coming?”
“If I stay here, will you go?”
“No.”His faint, steely smile was almost audible.“I don’t want a beer that badly.But you’ll break Brew’s heart.”
“I guess I’d better go, then.”She moved across the seat and hopped out, catching her balance.Instinct made her glance around—the parking lot was on Eighth Street.She had a pretty good grasp of this part of the city by now, having come for shopping trips and supply runs with Cath and Justin so many times.
Justin unfolded himself from the black van, turning to close the side door.He paused just slightly, his awareness scanning the perimeter.“Looks clear.”
Cath slid her arm through Rowan’s.“Come on.Let’s go to the grocery store.If we get our junk food, we can all go to a bar.”
“You’re too young,” Brew shot back from Rowan’s other side.
“Saysyou.”
“Children, children.”Rowan was still trying for a light tone.She felt Justin behind her, suddenly thoughtful, a deep well of silence.
Rowan’s shadow.
“Okay, Mom.”Cath rolled her eyes.
“How did we ever get anything done without you?”Yoshi asked dryly.
“You just sort of blundered along.”Rowan rolled her eyes, in imitation of Cath.
The sudden burst of laughter—even Henderson made a sound of amusement—rewarded her.But in the middle of the laughter, a sudden uneasy feeling made Rowan almost stumble, as if a cold finger had traced up her spine.
She stopped dead, closed her eyes.Brew halted after realizing she’d halted, Justin stepped behind her.
“Row—” Cath began.
Delgado clapped his hand over her mouth.“Shhh.Gather up and give her some cover.”
Rowan’s eyes flew open.“We have to go back.”Her voice rang against pavement, fell flat into the gutter.The parking lot was deserted, the van crouching in a pool of shadow.“We have to go backnow.”
“Why?”Zeke asked.“Goddammit!You coulda said something before.”
“We’ve got to goback,” Rowan insisted, suddenly, absolutely certain.“Right this minute.Now.”
“Back?”Henderson asked.
