Page 35 of Scout’s Honor

Her front door was open slightly. She went outside and saw Dallas talking to a man and a woman near a muscle car. The man was tall, red-haired, broad-shouldered, with a trimmed beard. The woman was about 5’8’’, with a thick, shoulder-length bob. She wore black boots with a low heel, tight jeans, and a leather jacket. A beautiful silver ring on her ring finger caught Bonhi’s eye. Bonhi pegged her as a cop, but then she noticed the resemblance and remembered what Dallas had said last night. She was Dallas’ sister, and… a witch? She looked totally normal. Bonhi shook her head. The whole thing seemed ridiculous in the daylight. Maybe she’d dreamed it, even the big black cat in her living room.

Dallas motioned for her to come over. “Bonhi, you know Aven, and this is Dakota, my sister.”

Bonhi waved and nodded hello.

Aven shrugged. “She doesn’t glow.”

“Maybe she’s not ‘switched on’,” Dallas said.

Both Dakota and Aven looked at Dallas with wide eyes, like that made sense or something.

Bonhi didn’t have time for this mysterious witch talk. “I, ah-I need to get to work. I can call a cab,” she said.

Dallas stepped closer to her, seeming to want to put an arm around her, but the intimacy they’d shared the night before was gone, and he didn’t.

“I’d take you,” Dallas said, “But I have to meet Jameson. Aven and Dakota said they’d drive you, and stay with you, too, keep you safe.”

Bonhi thought for a moment, then nodded. “Okay, I appreciate the ride… and the company.”

19— Not Another One

Dallas made it to Shady Pines hospital as quickly as he could. He drove onto the manicured grounds slowly, with most of his mind still on Bonhi. He wanted to get this done quickly and get back to her.

Dallas parked and walked up to the entrance, spotting Jameson right away. The guy wore his Dudley Do-Right outfit with no shame whatsoever, his big arms crossed over his chest. He stared Dallas down, saying nothing.

Dallas reached him, also saying nothing.

Jameson scowled. “I read the police report. It says you saved Bonhi from an abduction.”

Dallas nodded tightly. “I did. The guy left bruises in her side with the gun.”

Jameson shook his head and his expression hardened first, then softened toward Dallas. “That’s fucked up. It’s good you were there.”

Dallas nodded once.

“You know why we’re here?” Jameson asked.

Dallas shook his head.

“Did you hear about the woman who fell from the sky out at Cove Springs last week?”

Dallas nodded. Aven and Dakota had investigated the incident, thinking it was related to switches in some way.

“This is her. She was taken to the hospital and they put her here, because she doesn’t remember her name, but she also thinks she’s some sort of royalty, demanding people give her their clothing and feed her.” He lowered his voice. “I think she’s a switch.”

“Switches falling from the sky,” Dallas snorted. “That’ll make finding them easier.”

Jameson gave him a sour look and took off toward the door. Dallas followed. Inside was a nurse’s station. Jameson waved at the nurse behind the desk, and the nurse buzzed them through locked double doors into a small waiting area with chairs lining the wall. Beyond it was another door that Jameson pushed silently through. They were in a hallway with doors leading to multiple numbered rooms. A man at the end of the hall was wearing a doctor’s white coat and talking to a nurse. The doctor turned toward them and held up his hand in greeting.

He was blurry.

“Shit,” Dallas muttered.

The guy had dark hair and a trimmed beard, looking blurry as hell, but the nurse next to him looked perfectly normal and clear. Dallas slowed his steps and took the opportunity to study the blur under the fluorescent lights. It was almost hazy, sticking to the doctor’s entire body, like he’d been dipped in gray gel.

Jameson slowed in the hallway and gave him a what-the-fuck look. Dallas shook his head. Jameson looked exasperated. He turned back and spoke to the doctor, then introduced him to Dallas.

“This is Dr. Momeyer.”