With Luis's hand on his stomach, Matthias grew calmer and more agreeable. He pulled Luis up against his side and kissed the top of his head. “You have nothing to worry about. Nothing will happen to you or Jase with me around. I always know exactly what I'm doing at all times.”

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* * *

Chapter Eleven

“I think I'd rather just stay here and relax,” Jase said. “You guys go on ahead without me. I'll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” Luis asked. It was almost seven in the evening on Monday night and the rain had begun to fall in heavy sheets again. They'd all spent the afternoon in the cabin, including Beth Anne and Blaze, playing cards and taking naps. The rain had let up for a couple of hours and Matthias had gone out alone for a long hike because he said he wasn't tired. When he'd returned from his hike, he'd climbed in bed with Luis and Jase and put his arm around Luis in an affectionate way.

They didn't have sex. Luis told Matthias he wasn't in the mood, so they just slept. Now they were going back into town to have dinner at the cafe, and Luis wasn't comfortable about leaving Jase alone. They'd lost electricity sometime around five that afternoon and the only light in the cabin came from the fireplace.

But Jase didn't seem to mind. “I have a slight headache,” he said. “And to be honest, I'd really like to just be alone and concentrate on remembering things.” He hugged Luis tightly and kissed him on the lips. “I need some time to just be alone and think.”

Luis glanced at Matthias. “Do you think it's safe for him to be alone?” Matthias was the doctor. Luis trusted his opinion.

Matthias looked Jase over. “Are the headaches severe? If they are, I want you to tell me.”

“No, they aren't severe,” Jase said. “It's nothing like that. I feel okay physically. I just need to be alone with my own thoughts. I have to remember.”

Matthias looked into his eyes for a moment, then turned to Luis. “I think he'll be fine. I'll leave the keys to my car on the table near the door so he has a car while we're gone.” He turned to Jase. “If you change your mind and you want to join us, please take my car.”

“Thanks for the offer,” Jase said as Matthias walked outside to start the car. “If I change my mind, I will. But I really just want some peace and quiet right now.”

Luis kissed him. “You're sure? I can stay here with you.”

“No,” Jase said, “you go with the others. I'll be fine. Did I bring more comfortable clothes, Luis?” He was wearing the tight low-rise jeans he'd always said were uncomfortable.

Luis always packed for Jase. Even if Jase's memory had returned, Jase wouldn't have known what was in his own suitcase. “Yes. I packed a couple of pairs of sweatpants for you. They are in your suitcase, the black suitcase that looks like a doctor's bag. It's near the bathroom door.” He figured Jase might not remember his own suitcase. Luis felt Beth Anne's eyes on his back. He knew she was starved and pushing to leave.

“I'll bring you back a burger,” Luis said. “Do you want anything else?”

“A burger will be fine,” Jase said. “I'm not that hungry.”

“We'll be back in a couple of hours,” Luis said. Then he kissed him goodbye.

When they closed the car doors and Matthias put on his seatbelt, Luis felt a tug in his stomach. “I'm not sure about leaving him alone.”

Matthias said, “If Jase had serious head trauma he would have shown signs much earlier than this. I honestly think he wants to be alone and have a little peace and quiet. The guy's been through a traumatic event and he's very confused.”

Luis clicked his seatbelt and sighed. “I suppose you're right.”

“At least no one has to sit on the pumpkins in the back,” Beth Anne said in her thin nasal voice. Then she leaned forward and rubbed Luis's shoulder. “He'll be okay. He's a tough guy. Let's go. I'm starved.”

Luis reached around and placed his hand on top of hers. “Thanks, Beth Anne. I mean that. I just wish there was something I could do to get us out of here. If Jase could remember who he was I'm sure he'd know what to do. I've never felt so helpless in my life.”

“This rain can't go on forever,” Hood said. “We'll all be out of here before Thanksgiving and we'll be laughing about it before we know it.”

Luis smiled. “I want to thank you all. If I'd been here alone with Jase I would have totally freaked out by now. I'm glad you all showed up the same time we did.” He rested his palm on Matthias's arm. “I'm especially glad you were here.”

“When we get back tonight, I'll give Jase a scalp massage,” Blaze said. “I learned how to do them in beauty school and they are very relaxing. Maybe he's so stressed out it's keeping him from remembering things.”

Luis turned and smiled at her. “I think that's a wonderful idea, Blaze. I might ask you for one myself. All this is really starting to get to me.” Luis had been through a lot in his life, but he'd always been able to analyze a situation, come to a conclusion, and move forward with a plan. Now he was stuck in limbo, not knowing when or how he'd get out of this place. If only Jase could remember, he'd know what to do.

When they arrived at the cafe, it was completely empty except for the Sheltenfester brothers, Micky and Macky. Luis didn't even see the woman from the church, or the older couple. After they ate, Matthias paid and they headed back out to the Tahoe. When Hood asked Beth Anne why she wasn't spending the night again with the Sheltenfester brothers again, she told everyone she'd had enough of them. “Big dicks are great, especially two at a time, but when there's nothing upstairs but marbles, it gets tired fast,” she said.

On the way to the Tahoe, Luis noticed the pickup truck with the two guys they'd seen earlier that day. The guys were parked at the curb, only a few feet in front of the Tahoe. Matthias grabbed Luis by the sleeve and said, “Look over there. Those are the guys the little girl said knew where the Glatenfrissle compound was. I'm going over to ask them.”

Luis couldn't understand Matthias's obsession with the compound. At that point, Luis could have lived without seeing it. He just wanted to get back to Jase and feed him something.

Beth Anne heard this. She walked over to Luis and Matthias and said, “I'll ask them. I've been dying to meet those two since I saw them this morning. Leave it to me.”

Before Matthias had a chance to stop her, she squared her back, flung her purse over her shoulder, and marched up to the driver's side of the pickup truck. Luis and the rest of them couldn't hear exactly what she was saying. They could hear her voice and they could see what she was doing, but it was hard to make out a cohesive sentence.




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