say.
“Oh, Celes.” Another groan. “What happened?”
I explain about the cars swapping in and out behind me, despite all the things I’ve been doing to try to lose them. Jack doesn’t seem surprised by it.
“It’s the professional way to tail someone. The idea is that people will spot one car that’s behind them for miles, but different cars just look like normal traffic. You did well to spot them at all.”
There’s a faint note of approval there that reminds me of the way Jack sounded after his ‘test’ with the gun at the diner. Like I’ve done better than he expected me to. That’s why it’s such a shame that I have to tell him the rest of it.
“I only spotted them because the sedan looked just like the one they used when they tried to attack me and Grayson.”
“They spotted you with him?” Jack asks. “How many were there?”
“Just two at the time. I knocked one out, and the other… well, he probably won’t be in great shape for a while either.”
“Do I want to know how you did that?” Jack asks, and then pauses. “No, there’s no time. Your ex-boyfriend is in a lot of danger now, Celes.”
“I know,” I say. “I’m sorry.”
I can just picture Jack shaking his head. “It’s too late to start worrying about that now. Tell me where he is, and I’ll send a team around to keep an eye on him.”
I hesitate just a fraction. “Grayson is with me, Jack.”
“Okay.” It’s a shade of the word that doesn’t mean it at all. “Where are you now? I’ve been able to take a general direction off the scanners, but I need something more specific.”
“I…” I look up and read the next sign I see to Jack. “Jack, I’m not sure how long I can keep this up.”
“You’re doing fine,” Jack reassures me. “You just need to keep driving, Celes. Whatever else happens, you keep driving. Don’t even stop for the police. The Others obviously know that you’ve spotted them, but from the sounds of it, they probably won’t make a move to try to stop you until I’m there.”
“Probably?” Probably isn’t a reassuring word. Probably is only a step up from maybe.
“Celes.” Jack’s voice is suddenly firm. “I’m going to get there. You just need to hold on until I do. Do you understand?”
I bite my lip. “Yes.”
He hangs up, and Grayson and I are alone again. Grayson is looking more alarmed by the second.
“Celes, I know you said to trust you, and I do, but don’t you think you should tell me more of what’s going on? Who was that on the phone?”
“That was…” I suddenly find that I don’t want to try to explain who Jack is to Grayson. I don’t know if he’ll understand. I don’t know what I can say to make him understand. “…a friend. He’s going to try to help us, but from the sounds of it, it’s going to take a little while.”
“What about the rest of it?” Grayson asks. “Why do you look like this, Celes?”
I knew he’d ask it at some point, but how much of an answer can I give him? I don’t want to tell him all the stuff about my possibly being some kind of freak, but I owe Grayson something at least.
“Grayson,” I say, “I have a new identity, because my old one was in danger from men like the ones who attacked us. I can’t explain everything about why, but I found out some stuff recently that means I’m suddenly very interesting to a lot of people. A group called the Underground is trying to keep me out of danger.”
“What kind of stuff?” Grayson presses.
I smile tightly. “Well, it turns out that I’m adopted, for one thing. For the rest… like I said, you’re going to have to trust me Grayson.”
Grayson stares out ahead of him for a moment. Finally, he seems to come to some kind of decision. “Celes, whatever kind of trouble you’re in, I’ll be there. You can count on me. We’re a team, you and I.” He reaches over then to touch my face. “You’ve always been gorgeous to me, but now I’m seeing how
“Oh, Celes.” Another groan. “What happened?”
I explain about the cars swapping in and out behind me, despite all the things I’ve been doing to try to lose them. Jack doesn’t seem surprised by it.
“It’s the professional way to tail someone. The idea is that people will spot one car that’s behind them for miles, but different cars just look like normal traffic. You did well to spot them at all.”
There’s a faint note of approval there that reminds me of the way Jack sounded after his ‘test’ with the gun at the diner. Like I’ve done better than he expected me to. That’s why it’s such a shame that I have to tell him the rest of it.
“I only spotted them because the sedan looked just like the one they used when they tried to attack me and Grayson.”
“They spotted you with him?” Jack asks. “How many were there?”
“Just two at the time. I knocked one out, and the other… well, he probably won’t be in great shape for a while either.”
“Do I want to know how you did that?” Jack asks, and then pauses. “No, there’s no time. Your ex-boyfriend is in a lot of danger now, Celes.”
“I know,” I say. “I’m sorry.”
I can just picture Jack shaking his head. “It’s too late to start worrying about that now. Tell me where he is, and I’ll send a team around to keep an eye on him.”
I hesitate just a fraction. “Grayson is with me, Jack.”
“Okay.” It’s a shade of the word that doesn’t mean it at all. “Where are you now? I’ve been able to take a general direction off the scanners, but I need something more specific.”
“I…” I look up and read the next sign I see to Jack. “Jack, I’m not sure how long I can keep this up.”
“You’re doing fine,” Jack reassures me. “You just need to keep driving, Celes. Whatever else happens, you keep driving. Don’t even stop for the police. The Others obviously know that you’ve spotted them, but from the sounds of it, they probably won’t make a move to try to stop you until I’m there.”
“Probably?” Probably isn’t a reassuring word. Probably is only a step up from maybe.
“Celes.” Jack’s voice is suddenly firm. “I’m going to get there. You just need to hold on until I do. Do you understand?”
I bite my lip. “Yes.”
He hangs up, and Grayson and I are alone again. Grayson is looking more alarmed by the second.
“Celes, I know you said to trust you, and I do, but don’t you think you should tell me more of what’s going on? Who was that on the phone?”
“That was…” I suddenly find that I don’t want to try to explain who Jack is to Grayson. I don’t know if he’ll understand. I don’t know what I can say to make him understand. “…a friend. He’s going to try to help us, but from the sounds of it, it’s going to take a little while.”
“What about the rest of it?” Grayson asks. “Why do you look like this, Celes?”
I knew he’d ask it at some point, but how much of an answer can I give him? I don’t want to tell him all the stuff about my possibly being some kind of freak, but I owe Grayson something at least.
“Grayson,” I say, “I have a new identity, because my old one was in danger from men like the ones who attacked us. I can’t explain everything about why, but I found out some stuff recently that means I’m suddenly very interesting to a lot of people. A group called the Underground is trying to keep me out of danger.”
“What kind of stuff?” Grayson presses.
I smile tightly. “Well, it turns out that I’m adopted, for one thing. For the rest… like I said, you’re going to have to trust me Grayson.”
Grayson stares out ahead of him for a moment. Finally, he seems to come to some kind of decision. “Celes, whatever kind of trouble you’re in, I’ll be there. You can count on me. We’re a team, you and I.” He reaches over then to touch my face. “You’ve always been gorgeous to me, but now I’m seeing how
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