“What was that for?” Broussard asked, trying to catch his breath.
Carol stood back and stared at him, stars in her eyes. “I needed to stop you from hurting yourself.”
He gave her a confused look, slowly shaking his head. “I don’t…I don’t understand.”
She smiled up at him and pulled him close for another kiss. “You friend over there would have beat you black and blue if you went up against him.” She smiled at him and squeezed his chin in her hand. “I kind of like you in one piece.”
Broussard’s mouth opened and closed a few times as he tried to form words. Fortunately for him, none could escape.
“Stop, Andre. You look like a fish out of water.” She giggled as she slid her arm into his and spun him away from the guard. “Come. Let’s explore the city.”
Broussard nodded absently as he fell into step with her. “Please forgive me. I’m confused.”
“For a brilliant geneticist, you aren’t the brightest, are you?”
“I suppose not.”
She walked slowly along the dock with him. “I’ve liked you since you first came aboard the ship.” She glanced up at him and saw his cheeks flush. “I thought you were all about work. That you didn’t have time for…well, for anything else.”
He nodded absently. “Why didn’t you simply say something?”
“When? While we were on the run?” She shook her head. “You already felt the need to protect me. I didn’t want to add to that burden.”
“Add to the burden?” He gave her another confused stare. “Caring about you isn’t a burden.”
She slowed her walk and pulled him close. “You had already risked everything to protect me from my imaginary and insane notions.” She lowered her face and chewed at her lower lip. “I couldn’t add more to your shoulders by letting you know how I felt.”
Broussard nodded slowly, not truly understanding. “I would have taken that burden with joy.”
She looked at him and smiled. “I know that now.”
He nodded as began to understand.
“Are you two ready for that room now?” the guard asked.
They spun on him and Broussard barked “No!” at the same time that Carol shouted, “Yes!”
The guard smiled as Broussard seemed to trip over his himself. “W-what did you—”
“I said yes.” Carol grinned at him. “We have months of lost time to make up for, don’t you think?”
Broussard made his fish impression again and was lost in a myriad of thoughts as the guard grabbed his shoulder. “I know just the place.”
“Wait.” Simon sat up in the seat and pointed out the window. “Stop.”
Lana slowed the car. “We’re nowhere near the courthouse.”
Simon turned and smiled at her. “We may not need to go after all. Look.” He pointed to a house on the corner, a thick wall surrounding it with wrought ironwork along the top. Foliage grew dense inside the walls and the treetops covered most of the house from view. “That looks promising.”
She leaned forward in the seat and squinted in the bright sunlight. “What makes you think so?”
“The metal spikes along the top of the wall. The house being blocked from view…I could see living there.”
Lana shrugged and turned the car towards the house. “How do we get in? The gate is closed.”
“The harder it is for us to get in, the harder it will be for anybody else.” He opened the door to the car and climbed out, his eyes scanning the fortress. “If I were breaking into a place, I would pass this one up.”
“So that’s good, right?”
“That’s very good.” He walked along the front of the wall, trying to peer over. “This has got to be a good seven feet tall.”
Lana pushed on the sliding gate blocking the driveway. “It’s frozen.”
“Probably electric,” Simon stated as he continued down the sidewalk. “Give me a second.” He went to the end of the property and glanced down the boundary. “Perfect. It looks like the wall goes all the way around.”
Lana stood at the driveway, her hands on her hips. “I’m not seeing a way in.”
Simon grinned wider. “Perfect, isn’t it?” He walked past her and to the other border then waved her on. “Follow me.”
The pair walked along the outer boundary until they came to the rear of the property. “If there’s a back gate, maybe we can get through it.”
He high stepped over the tall, brown grass until he came to what he was looking for. A large wooden gate was built into the rear wall. He glanced at the other properties across from the wall and a slow smile formed. “These were prominent homes.”
“So how are we getting in?”
Simon tried the rear gate and it was solid. “Maybe I can boost you over the wall?” He gave her a knowing look. “You can open the gate from the inside.”
She gave him that look. “Are you serious?” There are big metal spikes at the top of that wall. You trying to get me killed?”
Simon pulled her close and kissed the tip of her nose. “You can do this. I’ll boost you up, you shimmy over the wall and open the gate. Just be extra careful at the top.”
“That’s a seven foot drop into the other side.” She gave him a cautious stare. “I don’t think I’m in good enough shape to handle a fall like that.”
Simon exhaled hard and stared back at the wall. “I hate to give up. This place looks so promising.”
Lana groaned and cocked her head to the side. “Fine. Boost me up. But if it looks too scary, I’m coming right back down on top of you.”
Simon smiled. “That sounds like a plan, too.”
“Stop it.”
He bent down and planted his knee into the soft earth. His other leg remained bent outward, giving her a step up. “Step onto my thigh, then my shoulder.”
She placed a hand on his shoulder and stepped onto the top of his leg. She shifted her hand to his head and placed her other foot on his shoulder. With a slight bounce she was up and had a
