David and Neds - The Right Guide 6
Jul. 18th, 2005 07:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dimity_bluePart 6
"Edwards." Jim glanced up from his paperwork and acknowledged his second in command, then paused as the other Sentinel shifted from one foot to the other. "Something wrong?"
He waited as Edwards took a breath, seemed about to speak, then shut his mouth. Finally, "Nothing. Sorry to have disturbed you." He turned to leave.
"Wait up." Jim got up. "I need a break anyway. Let's take this to the break room."
Seated in the corner in the deserted break room, it took Jim a few minutes to get Edwards to talk.
In the end, the other Sentinel admitted, "David wants me to talk to you."
That was a surprise. Jim's eyebrows rose as he blew on his coffee. "About what?"
There was a sigh, "I've been having dreams."
"Dream dreams or vision dreams?"
"Vision...nightmares." Edwards shook his head, clearly uneasy with the subject. "David...."
Jim nodded. For some reason, the majority of Sentinels hated visions while Guides found them fascinating and could, and would, talk endlessly about them. Jim really didn't know why the spirit world had to be so obscure. Visions were comprised of symbolism upon symbolism, with all the players involved appearing as their own spirit guide - which was rather annoying if you needed to identify which animal was which human. "What happens in them?"
Edwards ground his teeth. "It starts with the hawk. It's always the hawk."
"Is David the hawk?" If that were true, it would surprise Jim. David had never struck him as being particularly hawk-like.
"No. The hawk is Pierson."
Jim rubbed his forehead. This was why he hated visions. "Who's Pierson?"
"That Guide I told you about, the one in Guide School."
"Oh, him! Okay, so you're dreaming of Pierson?"
"Every time I see him, he's...leading something to David."
Jim considered asking what David's spirit guide was, then dismissed it. It wasn't important. "Leading what?"
"I don't know. It's as if whatever's behind the hawk is hidden, out of view. But each night... each vision, he's getting closer to David." Edwards shook his head. "David's safe - Sentinel Pais and Karl are looking after him right now. I don't let him go anywhere alone. I don't care if the threat's to me - I can take care of myself. But I won't let him threaten my Guide!"
"No one's going to get to David, Edwards," Jim put in, calmly. "He's the Guide Prime. There's no Sentinel in the Clan who'd see harm come to him."
The smell of Edwards' anger lessened slightly. "I know."
Jim thought it over. "Pierson's the link - whatever this threat is, it's coming from him, or is connected to him. It's simple then." He waited until Edwards looked up, the haggard look in his eyes betraying the strain he was under. "We have Pierson watched and find out who the real threat is."
Edwards sat back and closed his eyes for a moment. "I...didn't think of that."
"You look tired." Jim collected the cups and got up. "My advice? Collect your Guide and go home. Until we know who's behind this, we can have a Sentinel and Guide keep watch on you both. And if you're really worried, go stay at the Sentinel Suite. There's no way anyone can get in there."
"I'd sooner go home," Edwards admitted.
"I don't blame you." Jim didn't. He knew how attached he was to his own territory, and he didn't have a Guide to defend. Refusing to allow the thought to distract him, he added, "Lisa and Karl can take the first watch. I'll draw up a roster and phone you to let you know who'll be taking their place."
"All right." He stood up, then paused. "Ellison, thanks."
"We'll find out who's behind it. Now go get some rest; you look like you haven't slept for a week."
As soon as Edwards was gone, Jim returned to his desk and moved his police paperwork to one side. While his work was important, a threat to the Sentinel and Guide Prime took precedence.
~'~
Smedley put the phone down and smiled. What Pierson lacked in intelligence, he made up for in natural animalistic cunning. He knew what he wanted, and now he was willing to work with Smedley to get what he wanted.
His smile widened as he considered the players in his little game. Clement was such an honourable fool - he'd never be able to bring himself to flatline a Guide, even one like Pierson. Smedley really thought that this plan had a chance of working. Not that Pierson knew what he was letting himself in for, of course.
With David gone, the bond broken, and Clement's mind fuzzy with sedative, Clement would reach for his Guide, or the one he believed to be his Guide, and bond with him. Once the initial shock had cleared and Clement found that he'd bonded to the wrong Guide, it would be too late.
He'd be faced with the choice of flatlining the Guide, flatlining himself, accepting the bond or killing himself to escape. And while Clement would, naturally, be so self-sacrificingly heroic as to flatline himself, doctors were very reluctant to do so as it was extremely dangerous for a Sentinel. Therefore, he'd have to accept the bond or die trying to escape it.
Smedley smiled. Either of those options were very acceptable to him.
For a second, the thought flickered through his mind that Clement would be sure to kill himself if he believed that David was dead...but then he shook it off. There was no need to complicate things, and Clement would probably kill himself anyway trying to break his bond with Dexter.
Feeling very much pleased with himself, he picked up the phone and dialled Miranda's number. Once he was bonded with David, he'd never be able to take his Guide anywhere near her family as that would be sure to drive Clement to reclaim his Guide, no matter what the cost. And, while Miranda was very suitable in every way to be Smedley's wife, she'd be far easier to replace than his Guide.
~'~
"Damn!"
Dexter looked up, surprised at Smedley's sudden bad mood. He'd thought Smedley would be pleased at seeing him to make arrangements for ambushing Edwards and Sutherland.
A shiver of excitement ran down his spine at the thought. This was a test, that's what it was. A test to see if he was strong enough to fight for his place as Guide Prime. And he was.
"Dexter."
"Huh?"
"I've found out that I need to leave town tomorrow afternoon." Smedley smiled at him. "Would you care to come with me?"
"Huh?" he repeated. Leave town? What about Edwards and Sutherland?
"It'll just be for a few days - a little vacation for you. I have a private plane I like to fly. If you like, I'll have my chauffeur pick you up just after lunch."
"Uh...okay."
"Good. Well, I must fly, if you'll pardon the pun. See you tomorrow, Dexter. Don't forget now!"
Dexter frowned as Smedley strolled away, then shrugged. Geeze, he was a weirdo.
~'~
"Cunningham!"
David watched as Neds paced up and down, his fury driving him.
"I might have guessed that rat-faced -" He stopped and pointed at David. "He's after my Guide, Ellison. I don't know what he's doing, but he's after David!"
"He's not going to get David." In a stark contrast, Sentinel Ellison's voice was calm. "He'll have to go through the whole Clan to get to him - you know that."
"Why doesn't he challenge me himself then?" Neds demanded. "If he's so interested in claiming my Guide, why hasn't he challenged me?"
David rolled his eyes. Even he knew the answer to that one.
"Because there wouldn't be enough left of him for your cousin to bury," Sentinel Ellison retorted.
"And that's another thing!" Neds stalked towards the phone. "Why didn't Miranda tell me he was in Cascade?" He grabbed the receiver and started dialling.
"Neds!" David lunged towards the phone and put his hand down on the cradle. "You can't phone Miranda and go accusing her - she would have told you if she'd known!" From the look on Neds' face, he was longing to move David in order to make his phone call and relieve some of his tension by lambasting Miranda.
Finally, Neds sighed, and put the phone down, moving David's hand to do so, before wrapping his arms around David and holding him tightly. "I know."
"Phone Aunt Tally," David suggested. "If anyone knows anything, she will."
The arms tightened slightly as Neds spoke over his head to the Senior Sentinel Prime. "Now you know why I bonded with him."
"Well, one of you had to have the brains in the partnership," Sentinel Ellison replied.
David hid his smile against Neds' shoulder.
~'~
Smedley glanced at his watch again, and paced up and down. Where the hell was that wretched boy? If Pierson screwed this up for him, he'd flatline him himself.
Reaching the antique bureau that stood by the window, he paused to look out into the street. He couldn't see any Sentinels, but he was aware that they were watching him. When he'd realised that Pierson was being followed, he'd had to think quickly, but the plan he'd come up with depended on Pierson turning up.
He didn't know how the Sentinel Clan had figured out that Pierson was meeting him, and it didn't really matter now, but he knew that they suspected something, although he was positive they couldn't know anything for sure. What was it to them if he was meeting Pierson? He was a Sentinel, Pierson was a Guide; it was entirely possible that he had decided to bond with the boy. Not that he would waste his time on bonding with a weak empath like Pierson, of course - but they didn't know that.
For a few moments, he considered a delay in putting his plan into action, then he shook his head. He needed Pierson to make this work - and who knew if Pierson would continue to be interested...continue to believe that it was possible? No, far better to act now, before Pierson had time to think things over. Not that the boy would get very far in thinking.
And, as an added bonus, if Clement were having him watched due to his overly-suspicious mind, pretending to leave town, especially with Pierson in tow, would lull him into a false sense of security.
Smedley smiled at the thought. Perhaps this had worked out for the best after all.
~'~
Dexter slouched as he sat in the back of Smedley's limousine. Christ, this guy was weird. One minute he was intent on what they were going to do to get Sutherland out of Edwards' way, and the next he was planning a 'little vacation'. Dexter sighed. Maybe getting involved with Smedley wasn't such a good idea.
His thoughts turned back to the Sentinel Prime. He was made to be the Guide Prime - so much more than that pathetic Sutherland. God, that guy couldn't even go to a mixer without making a fool of himself! And now he was Guide Prime? Not if Dexter could help it.
He looked up as the car door opened and Smedley got in.
"There you are, Dexter. I was beginning to think you weren't coming."
"Where are we going?" Dexter had realised on the way to Smedley's house that he had no idea where they were supposed to be flying to.
"Just to the airfield, then for a quick flight." Smedley patted him on the shoulder. "Relax, Dexter. Everything's under control."
~'~
Seated in the back of Sentinel Ellison's truck, his Sentinel beside him, David could feel his stomach churning with the tension in the air. He was praying that Cunningham really would leave Cascade...maybe then Neds would calm down slightly.
"Neds!" David waited until his Sentinel was looking at him, the hint of a glare in his eyes. He knew it wasn't aimed at him - Neds was wound up over Cunningham, that was all. "Relax. I'm here, I'm safe. If Cunningham's leaving Cascade, that's good, isn't it? Even if he is taking Dexter with him."
Neds' arm tightened around him. "I don't understand what he's up to. If he's going to bond with Pierson, why break off his engagement to Miranda?"
"Aunt Tally said that he'd said it was because Miranda sided with your family over that dinner."
"I know that, David. But then why didn't he break up with her that night or the next day?"
David shook his head. He didn't understand it either. But the fact remained that Cunningham was leaving Cascade, so surely that meant the threat from him would soon be gone? Didn't it? He sighed and leaned against Neds. He could tell that neither of the two Sentinels believed that Cunningham was actually leaving town.
~'~
Smedley's limousine reached the airfield quickly, and they were in the air within twenty minutes, Dexter complaining every step of the way. He really wasn't impressed by the size of the plane. When Smedley had said he had a private plane, Dexter had assumed it was a jet but nothing could have been further from the truth. He had no idea people owned planes this small. And, to make it worse, there were no stewardesses on board - although Dexter thought that was probably because there was no room for them.
Lost in thought, it seemed to him that they'd only been flying for a few moments when he realised that the ground was getting closer. "Hey, we're going down!"
"We certainly are, Dexter. That's because we're landing."
Dexter peered out of the window. "But there's nothing here!"
"I know."
The smug tone in Smedley's voice got Dexter worried, and he peered at the Sentinel nervously.
"There's no one to see us land, and there's no one to see my plane take off again."
"Huh?" Dexter wished Smedley would speak plainly. He couldn't understand the guy half the time.
"We'll be going back to Cascade in my limousine, Dexter, while my pilot flies the plane on."
Okay, Dexter understood that, but he didn't understand why. And Smedley didn't seem to be in the mood to explain it.
~'~
As the plane disappeared into the distance, followed by more than one pair of Sentinel eyes, Edwards sighed. Cunningham was gone. He didn't know how long he was gone for, but at least, for now, he was out of Cascade and away from his Guide.
"We'll find out his flight plan," Ellison said. "Make sure that we know where he is and what he's doing."
Edwards nodded, tightening his arm around David's shoulders. It was all they could do. At least if they knew where he was, they'd know when he was coming back to Cascade. Edwards managed to stop himself from growling. Even when he was a Marine, he'd hated playing the waiting game and, now that his Guide was on the line, so to speak, he liked it even less. His fury rose. If Cunningham wasn't such a snivelling coward, he'd challenge Edwards outright, instead of sneaking around in the background.
Looking down at his Guide, Edwards promised himself that if this didn't end soon, he'd go after Cunningham and put an end to the bastard himself. Challenge or no challenge.
~'~
By the time they'd collected his car from the PD and got back to their apartment building, Edwards had a smile on his face. With Cunningham out of the city, there was no need for a guard, no need to be on the alert. They could, for a little while anyway, relax.
As they made their way to their apartment, he endured his Guide's incessant teasing for a while before finally caving. "All right, David, I admit it, I do feel better about the whole thing now that we know that Cunningham's left Cascade."
"See? I told you you'd feel better!"
Edwards was quite sure that David did not mean for his tone to be so triumphant, but it was worth it just to hear how much more confidence the kid had in himself. The Guide Edwards had first met would never have dared to insist on anything.
Out of habit, he scanned the apartment before putting his key in the door, and the phrase 'quiet as the grave' flickered through his mind. Even the traffic outside had stopped for once - although that was undoubtedly only temporary.
"Okay, you were right - and you told me so." As he pushed open the door, Edwards grinned at David over his shoulder. "Happy now?"
He got a wide grin in return. "Ecstatic!"
David's grin was the last thing Edwards saw as the lights went out.
~'~
As Neds crumpled and fell, David automatically followed him down, grabbing desperately at Neds' jacket to save him from hitting the floor too hard. "Neds!" Polished black shoes got his attention and he stared up to find a Sentinel standing over him. "Cunningham!"
"Hello, David."
Guide instincts forced him out of his shock and David surged to his feet, shoving the enemy Sentinel back. "Get away from him!"
Taken by surprise, Cunningham stepped back but then came forward, grabbing for David's arms. "Stop it, David. I don't want to hurt you." As Cunningham managed to wrap his arms tightly around him, he added, "Pierson! Pull Clement in and shut the door."
David stared for a second as he saw the other Guide with a half-scared, half-triumphant look on his face, then he resumed his struggling. He didn't know what they were planning on doing, but he had to protect Neds.
Dexter hurried past and David heard him grunt a few times, then, "He's too heavy."
"Hell!" Cunningham's face contorted with fury as David continued fighting. "David, stop it!"
With his arms trapped, David's options were limited, but he remembered a few things Ned had told him, and suddenly jammed his foot down on the Sentinel's instep.
The screech of pain told him that he'd hit home, and he twisted free. For a second, hope surged in his heart - if he could get away, get to the phone, smash Cunningham over the head with something - then a hand yanked him back, spinning him to face the Sentinel, and a fist flew towards his face.
Part 7.
"Edwards." Jim glanced up from his paperwork and acknowledged his second in command, then paused as the other Sentinel shifted from one foot to the other. "Something wrong?"
He waited as Edwards took a breath, seemed about to speak, then shut his mouth. Finally, "Nothing. Sorry to have disturbed you." He turned to leave.
"Wait up." Jim got up. "I need a break anyway. Let's take this to the break room."
Seated in the corner in the deserted break room, it took Jim a few minutes to get Edwards to talk.
In the end, the other Sentinel admitted, "David wants me to talk to you."
That was a surprise. Jim's eyebrows rose as he blew on his coffee. "About what?"
There was a sigh, "I've been having dreams."
"Dream dreams or vision dreams?"
"Vision...nightmares." Edwards shook his head, clearly uneasy with the subject. "David...."
Jim nodded. For some reason, the majority of Sentinels hated visions while Guides found them fascinating and could, and would, talk endlessly about them. Jim really didn't know why the spirit world had to be so obscure. Visions were comprised of symbolism upon symbolism, with all the players involved appearing as their own spirit guide - which was rather annoying if you needed to identify which animal was which human. "What happens in them?"
Edwards ground his teeth. "It starts with the hawk. It's always the hawk."
"Is David the hawk?" If that were true, it would surprise Jim. David had never struck him as being particularly hawk-like.
"No. The hawk is Pierson."
Jim rubbed his forehead. This was why he hated visions. "Who's Pierson?"
"That Guide I told you about, the one in Guide School."
"Oh, him! Okay, so you're dreaming of Pierson?"
"Every time I see him, he's...leading something to David."
Jim considered asking what David's spirit guide was, then dismissed it. It wasn't important. "Leading what?"
"I don't know. It's as if whatever's behind the hawk is hidden, out of view. But each night... each vision, he's getting closer to David." Edwards shook his head. "David's safe - Sentinel Pais and Karl are looking after him right now. I don't let him go anywhere alone. I don't care if the threat's to me - I can take care of myself. But I won't let him threaten my Guide!"
"No one's going to get to David, Edwards," Jim put in, calmly. "He's the Guide Prime. There's no Sentinel in the Clan who'd see harm come to him."
The smell of Edwards' anger lessened slightly. "I know."
Jim thought it over. "Pierson's the link - whatever this threat is, it's coming from him, or is connected to him. It's simple then." He waited until Edwards looked up, the haggard look in his eyes betraying the strain he was under. "We have Pierson watched and find out who the real threat is."
Edwards sat back and closed his eyes for a moment. "I...didn't think of that."
"You look tired." Jim collected the cups and got up. "My advice? Collect your Guide and go home. Until we know who's behind this, we can have a Sentinel and Guide keep watch on you both. And if you're really worried, go stay at the Sentinel Suite. There's no way anyone can get in there."
"I'd sooner go home," Edwards admitted.
"I don't blame you." Jim didn't. He knew how attached he was to his own territory, and he didn't have a Guide to defend. Refusing to allow the thought to distract him, he added, "Lisa and Karl can take the first watch. I'll draw up a roster and phone you to let you know who'll be taking their place."
"All right." He stood up, then paused. "Ellison, thanks."
"We'll find out who's behind it. Now go get some rest; you look like you haven't slept for a week."
As soon as Edwards was gone, Jim returned to his desk and moved his police paperwork to one side. While his work was important, a threat to the Sentinel and Guide Prime took precedence.
~'~
Smedley put the phone down and smiled. What Pierson lacked in intelligence, he made up for in natural animalistic cunning. He knew what he wanted, and now he was willing to work with Smedley to get what he wanted.
His smile widened as he considered the players in his little game. Clement was such an honourable fool - he'd never be able to bring himself to flatline a Guide, even one like Pierson. Smedley really thought that this plan had a chance of working. Not that Pierson knew what he was letting himself in for, of course.
With David gone, the bond broken, and Clement's mind fuzzy with sedative, Clement would reach for his Guide, or the one he believed to be his Guide, and bond with him. Once the initial shock had cleared and Clement found that he'd bonded to the wrong Guide, it would be too late.
He'd be faced with the choice of flatlining the Guide, flatlining himself, accepting the bond or killing himself to escape. And while Clement would, naturally, be so self-sacrificingly heroic as to flatline himself, doctors were very reluctant to do so as it was extremely dangerous for a Sentinel. Therefore, he'd have to accept the bond or die trying to escape it.
Smedley smiled. Either of those options were very acceptable to him.
For a second, the thought flickered through his mind that Clement would be sure to kill himself if he believed that David was dead...but then he shook it off. There was no need to complicate things, and Clement would probably kill himself anyway trying to break his bond with Dexter.
Feeling very much pleased with himself, he picked up the phone and dialled Miranda's number. Once he was bonded with David, he'd never be able to take his Guide anywhere near her family as that would be sure to drive Clement to reclaim his Guide, no matter what the cost. And, while Miranda was very suitable in every way to be Smedley's wife, she'd be far easier to replace than his Guide.
~'~
"Damn!"
Dexter looked up, surprised at Smedley's sudden bad mood. He'd thought Smedley would be pleased at seeing him to make arrangements for ambushing Edwards and Sutherland.
A shiver of excitement ran down his spine at the thought. This was a test, that's what it was. A test to see if he was strong enough to fight for his place as Guide Prime. And he was.
"Dexter."
"Huh?"
"I've found out that I need to leave town tomorrow afternoon." Smedley smiled at him. "Would you care to come with me?"
"Huh?" he repeated. Leave town? What about Edwards and Sutherland?
"It'll just be for a few days - a little vacation for you. I have a private plane I like to fly. If you like, I'll have my chauffeur pick you up just after lunch."
"Uh...okay."
"Good. Well, I must fly, if you'll pardon the pun. See you tomorrow, Dexter. Don't forget now!"
Dexter frowned as Smedley strolled away, then shrugged. Geeze, he was a weirdo.
~'~
"Cunningham!"
David watched as Neds paced up and down, his fury driving him.
"I might have guessed that rat-faced -" He stopped and pointed at David. "He's after my Guide, Ellison. I don't know what he's doing, but he's after David!"
"He's not going to get David." In a stark contrast, Sentinel Ellison's voice was calm. "He'll have to go through the whole Clan to get to him - you know that."
"Why doesn't he challenge me himself then?" Neds demanded. "If he's so interested in claiming my Guide, why hasn't he challenged me?"
David rolled his eyes. Even he knew the answer to that one.
"Because there wouldn't be enough left of him for your cousin to bury," Sentinel Ellison retorted.
"And that's another thing!" Neds stalked towards the phone. "Why didn't Miranda tell me he was in Cascade?" He grabbed the receiver and started dialling.
"Neds!" David lunged towards the phone and put his hand down on the cradle. "You can't phone Miranda and go accusing her - she would have told you if she'd known!" From the look on Neds' face, he was longing to move David in order to make his phone call and relieve some of his tension by lambasting Miranda.
Finally, Neds sighed, and put the phone down, moving David's hand to do so, before wrapping his arms around David and holding him tightly. "I know."
"Phone Aunt Tally," David suggested. "If anyone knows anything, she will."
The arms tightened slightly as Neds spoke over his head to the Senior Sentinel Prime. "Now you know why I bonded with him."
"Well, one of you had to have the brains in the partnership," Sentinel Ellison replied.
David hid his smile against Neds' shoulder.
~'~
Smedley glanced at his watch again, and paced up and down. Where the hell was that wretched boy? If Pierson screwed this up for him, he'd flatline him himself.
Reaching the antique bureau that stood by the window, he paused to look out into the street. He couldn't see any Sentinels, but he was aware that they were watching him. When he'd realised that Pierson was being followed, he'd had to think quickly, but the plan he'd come up with depended on Pierson turning up.
He didn't know how the Sentinel Clan had figured out that Pierson was meeting him, and it didn't really matter now, but he knew that they suspected something, although he was positive they couldn't know anything for sure. What was it to them if he was meeting Pierson? He was a Sentinel, Pierson was a Guide; it was entirely possible that he had decided to bond with the boy. Not that he would waste his time on bonding with a weak empath like Pierson, of course - but they didn't know that.
For a few moments, he considered a delay in putting his plan into action, then he shook his head. He needed Pierson to make this work - and who knew if Pierson would continue to be interested...continue to believe that it was possible? No, far better to act now, before Pierson had time to think things over. Not that the boy would get very far in thinking.
And, as an added bonus, if Clement were having him watched due to his overly-suspicious mind, pretending to leave town, especially with Pierson in tow, would lull him into a false sense of security.
Smedley smiled at the thought. Perhaps this had worked out for the best after all.
~'~
Dexter slouched as he sat in the back of Smedley's limousine. Christ, this guy was weird. One minute he was intent on what they were going to do to get Sutherland out of Edwards' way, and the next he was planning a 'little vacation'. Dexter sighed. Maybe getting involved with Smedley wasn't such a good idea.
His thoughts turned back to the Sentinel Prime. He was made to be the Guide Prime - so much more than that pathetic Sutherland. God, that guy couldn't even go to a mixer without making a fool of himself! And now he was Guide Prime? Not if Dexter could help it.
He looked up as the car door opened and Smedley got in.
"There you are, Dexter. I was beginning to think you weren't coming."
"Where are we going?" Dexter had realised on the way to Smedley's house that he had no idea where they were supposed to be flying to.
"Just to the airfield, then for a quick flight." Smedley patted him on the shoulder. "Relax, Dexter. Everything's under control."
~'~
Seated in the back of Sentinel Ellison's truck, his Sentinel beside him, David could feel his stomach churning with the tension in the air. He was praying that Cunningham really would leave Cascade...maybe then Neds would calm down slightly.
"Neds!" David waited until his Sentinel was looking at him, the hint of a glare in his eyes. He knew it wasn't aimed at him - Neds was wound up over Cunningham, that was all. "Relax. I'm here, I'm safe. If Cunningham's leaving Cascade, that's good, isn't it? Even if he is taking Dexter with him."
Neds' arm tightened around him. "I don't understand what he's up to. If he's going to bond with Pierson, why break off his engagement to Miranda?"
"Aunt Tally said that he'd said it was because Miranda sided with your family over that dinner."
"I know that, David. But then why didn't he break up with her that night or the next day?"
David shook his head. He didn't understand it either. But the fact remained that Cunningham was leaving Cascade, so surely that meant the threat from him would soon be gone? Didn't it? He sighed and leaned against Neds. He could tell that neither of the two Sentinels believed that Cunningham was actually leaving town.
~'~
Smedley's limousine reached the airfield quickly, and they were in the air within twenty minutes, Dexter complaining every step of the way. He really wasn't impressed by the size of the plane. When Smedley had said he had a private plane, Dexter had assumed it was a jet but nothing could have been further from the truth. He had no idea people owned planes this small. And, to make it worse, there were no stewardesses on board - although Dexter thought that was probably because there was no room for them.
Lost in thought, it seemed to him that they'd only been flying for a few moments when he realised that the ground was getting closer. "Hey, we're going down!"
"We certainly are, Dexter. That's because we're landing."
Dexter peered out of the window. "But there's nothing here!"
"I know."
The smug tone in Smedley's voice got Dexter worried, and he peered at the Sentinel nervously.
"There's no one to see us land, and there's no one to see my plane take off again."
"Huh?" Dexter wished Smedley would speak plainly. He couldn't understand the guy half the time.
"We'll be going back to Cascade in my limousine, Dexter, while my pilot flies the plane on."
Okay, Dexter understood that, but he didn't understand why. And Smedley didn't seem to be in the mood to explain it.
~'~
As the plane disappeared into the distance, followed by more than one pair of Sentinel eyes, Edwards sighed. Cunningham was gone. He didn't know how long he was gone for, but at least, for now, he was out of Cascade and away from his Guide.
"We'll find out his flight plan," Ellison said. "Make sure that we know where he is and what he's doing."
Edwards nodded, tightening his arm around David's shoulders. It was all they could do. At least if they knew where he was, they'd know when he was coming back to Cascade. Edwards managed to stop himself from growling. Even when he was a Marine, he'd hated playing the waiting game and, now that his Guide was on the line, so to speak, he liked it even less. His fury rose. If Cunningham wasn't such a snivelling coward, he'd challenge Edwards outright, instead of sneaking around in the background.
Looking down at his Guide, Edwards promised himself that if this didn't end soon, he'd go after Cunningham and put an end to the bastard himself. Challenge or no challenge.
~'~
By the time they'd collected his car from the PD and got back to their apartment building, Edwards had a smile on his face. With Cunningham out of the city, there was no need for a guard, no need to be on the alert. They could, for a little while anyway, relax.
As they made their way to their apartment, he endured his Guide's incessant teasing for a while before finally caving. "All right, David, I admit it, I do feel better about the whole thing now that we know that Cunningham's left Cascade."
"See? I told you you'd feel better!"
Edwards was quite sure that David did not mean for his tone to be so triumphant, but it was worth it just to hear how much more confidence the kid had in himself. The Guide Edwards had first met would never have dared to insist on anything.
Out of habit, he scanned the apartment before putting his key in the door, and the phrase 'quiet as the grave' flickered through his mind. Even the traffic outside had stopped for once - although that was undoubtedly only temporary.
"Okay, you were right - and you told me so." As he pushed open the door, Edwards grinned at David over his shoulder. "Happy now?"
He got a wide grin in return. "Ecstatic!"
David's grin was the last thing Edwards saw as the lights went out.
~'~
As Neds crumpled and fell, David automatically followed him down, grabbing desperately at Neds' jacket to save him from hitting the floor too hard. "Neds!" Polished black shoes got his attention and he stared up to find a Sentinel standing over him. "Cunningham!"
"Hello, David."
Guide instincts forced him out of his shock and David surged to his feet, shoving the enemy Sentinel back. "Get away from him!"
Taken by surprise, Cunningham stepped back but then came forward, grabbing for David's arms. "Stop it, David. I don't want to hurt you." As Cunningham managed to wrap his arms tightly around him, he added, "Pierson! Pull Clement in and shut the door."
David stared for a second as he saw the other Guide with a half-scared, half-triumphant look on his face, then he resumed his struggling. He didn't know what they were planning on doing, but he had to protect Neds.
Dexter hurried past and David heard him grunt a few times, then, "He's too heavy."
"Hell!" Cunningham's face contorted with fury as David continued fighting. "David, stop it!"
With his arms trapped, David's options were limited, but he remembered a few things Ned had told him, and suddenly jammed his foot down on the Sentinel's instep.
The screech of pain told him that he'd hit home, and he twisted free. For a second, hope surged in his heart - if he could get away, get to the phone, smash Cunningham over the head with something - then a hand yanked him back, spinning him to face the Sentinel, and a fist flew towards his face.
Part 7.