Page 36 of Shadow of Death
“Is my mom going to die?”
“Brian, I swear to you, I don’t think so. But we’ll check in at the hospital as soon as she’s gotten there and the doctors have had a chance to see her.”
The kid tried to smile. “I am going to read up on that Voltage guy.”
Hunter grinned at him. “Voltaire. Yeah. I saw a young reader book about him once at one of the bookstores. I’ll find it for you.”
“Really?”
“You bet.”
Hunter thought dryly that a “young reader” book would be best, one that would teach more about the man’s philosophy than his personal life since he’d had a married lover for years and years. Yeah. Young reader book—that was best.
They were nearing headquarters, and Hunter put a quick call through to Andy Mason so he could get the ball rolling with children’s services and maybe find Brian’s Aunt Violet. Being with the boy, he hadn’t yet called Amy at the hospital, and he was anxious to hear about the welfare of the girl who had nearly died up on the high cliff.
He was carefulnotto put the phone on speaker.
“I know one of the kindest people in children’s services,” Andy told him. “I will talk to her when we hang up. Crandon has given me a brief preliminary report. Your boy’s parents are Peggy and Bret Johnston. They belonged to a Unitarian church just outside Denver until recently. She’s a homemaker, he’s a banker.”
Hunter glanced quickly at Brian.
“And have we heard...”
“Nothing on the mother yet, I’m afraid. The ambulance has barely reached the hospital. Same hospital where the victim was taken by the way. I’m having agents posted there.”
“Good call. Thanks.”
“Be there in ten.”
He ended the call. Brian watched him, still anxious. He wiped his face with his sleeve. “My mom got shot trying to save me.”
“Your mom loves you,” Hunter said.
“But it’s my fault.”
“Don’t you ever say that and don’t you think it,” Hunter said firmly. “Brian, someone awful is out there causing a lot of really bad things. If you had been shot...your mom wouldn’t have wanted to live. But you’re okay, and I really believe she will be, too.”
Brian nodded. “If she is all right...will I be able to live with her again? And my dad?”
“I believe they will face charges. And if they help investigators...well, they may not do much time, or... Brian, I don’t know. The attorneys will sort it all out.”
Hunter wondered about that himself. Today, they had been part of a crowd that intended to watch a man stab a woman to death, dig out her heart, and share her blood and flesh like a group of vampiric cannibals. But if they cooperated and helped agents and police find out what was behind it all, there was a chance.
If they could realize just how badly they’d been brainwashed.
“What if there is an apocalypse?” Brian asked.
“An apocalypse can be many things to many people. We’ve always had things we fear—war, death, famine, plague. You name it—humanity has faced it. But here’s the thing, Brian, it doesn’t matter. It isn’t our right to decide someone isn’t living up to our moral code. It isn’t our right to take the life of another, to torture and kill them because we believe something bad is coming. Okay, think about this—do you believe in witches?”
“Like flying on brooms and cackling and stuff?” Brian asked.
“Witches—who can cast curses on cows.”
“I don’t have a cow.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Only on Halloween,” Brian said, and he almost smiled.
