Page 34 of Before the Bond
“That much I knew. Spooky. Secretive?—”
“No,” Elias said, shaking his head. “I’m talking aboutconflicts.”
I waited for him to continue.
Elias’s eyes wandered around town. He didn’t turn his head, but I could tell he was checking to see if anyone was listening.
“Let’s just say there are people who aren’t too happy with them.”
I ran through what I’d heard about the Ashwoods. The biggest complaint was always about them keeping scarce.
“What problem could people have with them?” I asked.
“Things that old come with problems,” Elias remarked.
Elias took a step forward and faced me properly. He placed his hands on his hips. I noticed him tapping his left foot.
“Look,” he said. “You’re someone who knows how to trust your instincts. I get that vibe from you.”
“And?”
Elias leaned in even closer. His voice remained low. “I’m telling you to trust those instincts,” he said. “Poking around doesn’t hurt.”
There was more sunlight now, but a chill ran down my spine.
I already did my share of poking around. I already asked the Ashwoods more questions than I ever needed to in any other assignment I took.
I knew there was no point in pressing.
“The Ashwoods have been good to me,” I told Elias. It sounded more convincing than it felt.
Elias’s smile tightened. “Of course.”
“And you’re their ‘neighbor’.” I crossed my arms. “Isn’t it bad form to be speaking ill of them?”
Elias’s laugh caught me off guard. It sounded different. It wasn’t airy. It felt… bitter.
“Trust me,” he said. “I am theleastproblematic of their ‘neighbors.’”
I started walking again. I didn’t need to hear this. At least not from him.
“I’m not trying to look for trouble,” I said. “What I do as their nurse is for me to decide.”
Elias followed. Even with his longer stride, he kept his footwork light. He shuffled alongside me. I ignored him.
“You can’t be serious,” he said.
“I really, really am.”
Elias scoffed. “I’m not trying to offend you,” he said. “I’m lookingoutfor you.”
“I can do that myself.”
This time, Elias’s smile fully disappeared. “At least take what I said into consideration.”
“Bye,Elias,” I said loudly.
My walk broke into a run.
