The Dream Thief, Kari Kilgore [reading well TXT] 📗

He stared at her for several seconds, eyes wide.

"He came calling," he said. "A few days after you were here. While I was at the Ministry, while Roma was here. Alone. She came downstairs and found him sitting on the couch. When she screamed, he told her if I didn't do exactly what he said, she'd...spend the rest of her days screaming like that. He said she'd scream until she liked it or he died trying."

Loretta felt cold settle into her guts at Rhysto talking to Roma Norwood like that. Sick taste in curios or not, she was not a woman to even know such games existed, much less to have enjoyed playing.

Letting the pilot continue to draw breath might no longer be possible.

"What did he want, Mr. Norwood?" she said.

"He said there were other shaws," he said. "Pilots who didn't follow him. He told me I had to find out if they were behind your trade, that I had to figure out who was. He said if I didn't, he would keep his promises to my wife. The things he said..."

"I know what kinds of things he said, Mr. Norwood," Loretta said. "I'm telling you those are the things he does, and worse." She didn't flinch when the older man did. "What else?"

"He gave me names," Mr. Norwood said. "One man in every rebellious camp, he said. Told me I gave him the idea. He told me if I managed to persuade each of them to work with us, he'd leave my wife alone. And I did that! Your brother wasn't the only one, sir, he wasn't. None of them knew a damned thing."

Mr. Norwood straightened up, wiping his face.

"That's when he visited me at the Ministry, right in my own office. He said you left with another pilot, that you had disappeared. Rhysto thought, I'm sure he still thinks, that we worked out a deal together to cut him out. He told me in person exactly what would happen to Roma on his next visit if I didn't tell him the truth. He told me I'd have to watch."

Loretta closed her eyes, trying to stop images of what Rhysto would do to Roma Norwood if he ever returned. And what he'd do to Gemma if he ever caught her alone. She stood.

"Mr. Norwood, listen to me," she said. "I swear to you I have no suppliers among the shaws. None. I am sorry you've run afoul of Rhysto. I'm also disappointed you tried to interfere with me. Your wife doesn't deserve to suffer for your bad judgment. I suggest you get back inside, lock your doors, and do not answer no matter who knocks until morning. Take Roma with you when you leave. I don't care what your excuse is. Do not leave her here. We'll try to clean up this mess you've created."

She turned and walked toward the steps.

Mr. Norwood scrambled onto his knees, eyes wide and staring.

"Wait! You can't leave this boy here!"

"I'll take my brother, you coward," Bill said. "For your sake, I pray you never show your face at my camp again, or at the camps of the other independent shaws. We would all regret that."

When Mr. Norwood started to say something else, Karl spoke for the first time.

"That's enough. Go back inside, lock the door, and go upstairs." He held out the letter and envelope, and Mr. Norwood jerked away again. "You're taking this. You need to remember your actions have consequences. Now go."

Olsen Norwood got slowly to his feet and took the letter, holding it between his fingertips as if it would burn him. He turned without another word and went back inside the house.

No one moved until they heard the door lock and saw the lamp going back up the stairs. Bill hit the sidewalk at a run to fetch the wagon.

"You okay?" Loretta said, standing beside Karl. He stood with his hands on his hips, looking down at Rullin.

"No, not really," he said. "We have to stop him, and I don't even know how that begins. But I can't let him hurt anyone else. Least of all you or Gemma."

"Myself I can take care of," Loretta said. "Right now Gemma's safe with Bess. We'll make whatever arrangements we have to keep her safe."

Karl grunted as he picked Rullin up, and Loretta saw the boy beginning to stir. The last thing any of them needed was to deal with him conscious and raving. She stepped forward with a numbing hypodermic already in hand.

"Leave him, Loretta," Bill said, jumping out of the wagon. "I'll drop you two off, but I'm taking him with me. If Rhysto suspects I'm wrapped up in this, my airship isn't safe. Neither are my men."

"Bill, it's harmless. He won't even feel—"

"I said leave him." Bill helped Karl lift Rullin into the wagon, then climbed up to the seat. He never looked at Loretta. "Let's go. I need to get back."

When they stopped in front of Loretta's house, all was calm. Bill grasped Karl's hand before the larger man climbed down. Loretta stayed where she was, waiting until he looked at her.

"I don't know what this business of yours is," he said. "The one I'm supposedly mixed up in. I do know it's pulled me, my brother, that boy Morgan, and who knows who else into a terrible mess. Take care of your grandmother, Loretta. Let Karl take care of both of you. Leave my family out of it."

She touched his arm, desperate not to leave on such terms.

"I hope to see you again, Bill. I don't want to leave things like this, my old friend. I am sorry."

He finally looked at her, the crooked grin she knew so well on his face.

"Perhaps in time, my lady. Go now. Take care."

Bill clicked his tongue at the horses and disappeared into the night. Karl was already on the porch. When she walked up, Bess appeared beside them.

"No, Karl, no one has been here this