Part 46 (2/2)
”So where are Simpson and Baker now?” she asked. ”I'm a.s.suming you know where their camp is.”
David shook his head. ”They don't need to check in with me, unfortunately, so I don't know where they are. All they have to do is let me know what they're up to and that's about it. They really have free reign of the place.”
”Must be nice,” Joey said. ”All that power. Not having to answer for any crimes. Must be very nice.”
David eyed him. ”You driving at something, Joey?”
Joey shrugged. ”Nope. Just saying that no one is untouchable. Even those who think they've got the best position can sometimes be unseated unexpectedly.”
David held up a finger. ”Joey, I'm going to have to tell you not to disturb those guys. They aren't going to fool around with you. You know what they can do if they're provoked.”
”How would I provoke them?”
”I know some of what you're capable of.”
Joey sighed. ”It's not my fault if the laws of nature decide to move against them. I can't be held responsible for that.”
”You can be if you're the tool of their justice. You know I'd have to arrest you. And even though you're still a juvenile, you'd still get into a lot of trouble for interfering. I have no doubt that these guys can make your life pretty miserable. They might even be able to make you disappear.”
”I'm not a magic trick,” Joey said.
”Nope, you're not. But you are a fourteen-year-old boy who can do things most adults can't do. Surely your grandfather has taught you that with power comes great responsibility. And that responsibility is yours to ignore or abide by.”
”He might have said something like that.”
”Then I hope you'll honor his wise words by following them. To ignore them would be foolish and dangerous.”
Joey lapsed into silence as the trees flew past the windows. David's headlights cut through the night, and the road in front of them was reduced to two beams of yellow that just enabled him to navigate the twists and turns.
”Where do you live, David?” Annja asked.
”We're almost there,” he said. ”Just another half mile. Then there's the turnoff and a steep grade to climb, but we'll be at the house.”
”You live alone?”
”Except for Missy.”
Jenny tensed up. ”Who is Missy?”
”A calico cat who keeps me company. I've had her for about ten years now. Mostly she sleeps, gets up to eat and then finds another place to sleep. She's got quite the busy schedule.”
Jenny relaxed and went back to looking out the window. Annja watched her and sighed. Jenny needed to get over whatever it was she felt for David. Annja still wasn't sure how much she even trusted him.
”We're here.”
David turned the steering wheel and abruptly the truck seemed to rear back on its wheels as the front treads bit into the steep incline and churned to gain purchase. They eased up the driveway and then leveled off.
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