SIXTEEN
Addian didn’t remember going back upstairs, never mind actually to sleep. He was abruptly awake, though his thoughts didn’t come online as quickly as the rest of him. They took a while to catch up. Once they did, his whole self, and his other self, were fully engaged.
For the first time that he could think of, he knew he was in transition, or fully shifted, and his thought process was clear. Fynn was standing over him, trying to wake him, hoarsely whispering, “Someone is watching the house.” He heard clearly.
Also for the first time he could remember, he was in control. Forcing himself to pull back before speaking, he waited until her face was not bathed orange before responding. “What makes you say that?” He muttered as soon as he could verbalize the question.
A sharp strike across his cheek had his attention, quickly. That, and the look on her face as she replied. “Seriously?”
“What was that for?”
“Because you deserved it for questioning me.
Think for just a second. I am a smart, savvy, single woman. Do you honestly believe that I would not have some type of security, or surveillance around my property? A motion detector tripped the alarm. I watched as someone walked the perimeter. They went back to sit in the car across the street and halfway up the block. They have not left. The angle is difficult, but not impossible.
I don’t know what to make of it since no one should know that you are here. But, as I have never had an issue, or anything like this before, I have to believe that it is because you are here.” She rationalized.
“Does your system record?”
“Generally speaking, no. But, if an alarm is triggered and the monitor is not on yet, it would have. So, there might be a quick shot before the monitor came on.”
“Show me.”
Fynn could feel Addian start to shake as they watched the brief replay. “Son of a gun! They must have Omen’s line tapped. They obviously would not know to tap yours, but they should not know about you at all.” He pointed to the image. “That is one of Prow’s stoolies. They will do anything he asks so he can sleep like a baby in his own bed every night.”
“So they know that you are here?” She asked, surprisingly calm.
“I don’t know. I really don’t think so. I think they know that someone here is communicating with Omen and they are shoring up the loose ends just in case. They are being cautious. If they knew I was here, I would expect them to try to come in, not just scout the property. And, with far more than one or two of them present.”
“What you want to do?” She asked, surprising him with the fierceness of her tone.
“I don’t know. Getting out might be tricky. But, until they have reason to believe that I am inside, they won’t do anything more than watch.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe what?” He asked, not following her thought process.
Her smile bloomed. “You said, ‘Getting out may be tricky.’ Maybe not. How much do you weigh?”
He eyed her curiously. “How much do I what?”
“Weight? In pounds please if you don’t mind.”
“You know, if our roles were reversed, you would tell me that was an incredibly personal question, or that it was inappropriate to ask.”
“But they aren’t. And, in this case, I need to know if you hope to get out of here and make your meeting on time. How much?”
“Three hundred, give or take. Why?”
“Do you trust me?” She smiled deviously.
“I might.”
“Leave it to me.”
“You really aren’t going to tell me?” He challenged, head tipping sideways to study her. “Do I need a tail for that too?”
“Nope. No tail required.”