The Chemist

He looked up at her with his wide, clear hazel eyes while Kevin spluttered in inarticulate fury.

“The keys are in the left front pocket of my jeans. I’d hand them to you, but if I loosen my hands, I’ll fall.”

“Be careful, she’ll stab you!”

Daniel didn’t even seem to have heard his brother’s warning. When he climbed onto the chair, his head was actually higher up than hers. He had to stoop, his head pressed against the foam roof. He put one hand under her back, supporting some of her weight, while he fished gently in her pocket for the key.

“I’m sorry my brother is so socially inept,” he whispered. “He’s always been that way.”

“Don’t you apologize for me, you moron!” Kevin yelled.

Daniel smiled at her, then took the key and stepped down. She was actually in agreement with Kevin. How could Daniel be like this with her? Where was the totally natural resentment? Where was the human desire for retribution?

“I’ve got the keys, Kev. Do you have a lead for the dog?”

“A lead? Einstein doesn’t need a leash!”

“What’s your suggestion, then?”

Kevin glared at him balefully. “Fine. I’d rather kill her myself anyway.” He whistled at the dog. “At ease, Einstein.”

The dog, who had followed Daniel anxiously as he approached Alex, now went calmly to its master’s head and sat down, his tongue lolling out in what appeared to be a smile. A very toothy smile.

“Let me out.”

“Ladies first.” Daniel climbed up on the chair again and offered her his hand. “Need some help?”

“Er, I think I’ve got it.” She dropped her legs toward the desk, her arms extending as she tried to touch down with her toes. How had she gotten up here? Her tired hands started to slip.

“Here you go.” Daniel caught her by the waist as she fell and set her carefully on her feet, one on the desk, the other with a clang in the middle of the prop tray. His blanket skirt loosened; he quickly grabbed the fabric and tightened it.

“I can’t believe this,” Kevin muttered.

Alex stood cautiously, watching the dog.

“If he tries anything,” Daniel murmured to her, “I’ll distract him. Dogs love me.”

“Einstein isn’t stupid,” Kevin growled.

“Let’s not find out. Now your turn.” He climbed down from the chair and crouched beside Kevin.

Alex slithered off the desk as quietly as she could, one hand reaching out for the keyboard. The dog didn’t respond; it was watching Daniel release its master. She opened the system preferences. Screen saver wasn’t the only way to release the sleeping gas, and she still had both masks.

But she knew that would just make things difficult. She would have to trust that Daniel could handle Kevin for now. She eased herself into the chair.

Daniel had started with the ankle and it was going slowly – he was keeping one hand on his blanket.

“Just give it to me, I’ll do it,” Kevin said.

“Be patient.”

Kevin huffed loudly.

The key turned and Kevin was immediately on his feet, crouching beside his tethered arm. He snatched the key from Daniel’s hand and had his wrist free in less than a second. He stood tall, stretching his neck and rolling his back muscles. The torso pieces of his Batsuit hung down like an avant-garde skirt. The dog kept still at his feet. Kevin turned to Alex.

“Where are my guns?”

“Backseat of the car.”

Kevin stalked out of the tent without another word, the dog at his heels.

“Don’t open any doors or windows!” she called after him. “Everything’s armed again.”

“Is the car booby-trapped?” he called back.

“No.”

A second later. “Where are the magazines? Hey, where are the firing pins?!”

“Pins in the fridge, bullets in the toilet.”

“Oh, come on!”

“Sorry.”

“I want my SIG Sauer back.”

She frowned and didn’t answer. She got up stiffly. She might as well disarm the traps. It was time to go.

Daniel was standing in the middle of the tent, staring down at the silver table; he had one hand wrapped around the IV pole as if for support. He seemed to be in a daze. She went hesitantly to stand beside him.

“Are you going to be okay?” she asked.

“I have no idea. I can’t understand what I’m supposed to do next.”

“Your brother will have a plan. He’s been living somewhere, he’ll have a place for you.”

He looked down at her. “Is it hard?”

“What?”

“Running? Hiding?”

She opened her mouth to say something soothing, then thought better of it. “Yeah, it’s pretty hard. You get used to it. The worst part is the loneliness, and you won’t have to deal with that. So that’s one minor plus.” She kept to herself the thought that loneliness might be a better companion than Kevin Beach.

“Are you lonely a lot?”

She tried to laugh it off. “Only when I’m not scared. So, no, not too often.”

“Have you decided yet what you’re going to do next?”

“No… The face is a problem. I can’t walk around like this. People will remember me, and that’s not safe. I’ll have to hide somewhere until the swelling goes down and the bruises fade enough to cover with makeup.”