Page 15 of Broken Wheels

“What do you mean?” Gary asked.

Doc didn’t reply, but turned his head and peered at Dix, as if he was seeking a source of strength.

No way was Dix gonna leave him hanging. He put a hand on Doc’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. I’m here for you, okay?

Then Doc straightened once more. “Never mind maybe—the more I think about it, the more certain I am that someone else is pulling the strings. We know Porter was acting on behalf of person or persons unknown, right? What if they got hold of some of the same files I have? Maybe that’s what Cliff found out, and he was trying to warn me. He said the others stopped answering his mails. Was it because they thought he was nuts, or was there more to it than that? I mean, Porter was willing to kill us, so why wouldn’t whoever is pulling the strings?”

The room was quiet for a moment, and then a flurry of voices filled the air, Gary and Michael talking over each other.

“Is Tanner working with them?”

“Why do it in the mall? Why not wait until you were in the open?”

“Is the government doing some black ops shit?”

Each question added to the stack of unanswered ones, and Dix didn’t like not having answers.

In fact, it pissed him the hell off.

Then he noted Doc’s pallor, the air of exhaustion that clung to him like a shroud.

“That’s enough for one night,” he said in as firm a tone as he could manage.

Doc gave him a grateful glance before addressing Gary. “I think some rest is a good idea.”

“I’ll take you up to your lab,” Dix offered.

Doc’s expression tightened again. “No, I’d rather go home. I—I can’t be here right now.”

Alarm bells went off in Dix’s head. If Doc had been the target, he needed to be somewhere safe.

Home definitely wasn’t it.

“It would be better if you stayed here.” Michael’s voice held a touch of steel.

“He can stay in my room,” Dix offered. “I have to work tonight, so he’ll have time to rest.”

Lies. You’re doing this because you couldn’t protect him. You want to make sure he’s still okay.

Yeah, fine. That was nearer the truth.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Gary remarked.

Dix rose. “Come on. Let’s get you in my bed.” Then he realized how that sounded. “I mean?—”

Michael smirked, but it was obvious Dix’s words had flown right over Doc’s head.

Dix glanced at Gary. “I’ll be right back down, once I’ve got him settled.” He followed Doc out of the office, directing him to the elevators. When they reached Dix’s floor, he took hold of Doc’s elbow and led him to the room. As soon as they entered, Doc’s knees buckled, and Dix grabbed hold of him.

“Oh my God,” Doc wailed. “I killed that little boy.”

Dix turned him roughly to face him. “No, you didn’t. Whoever blew the mall up did. We talked about this, remember? We don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there. Maybe they would have done it in anger. Even if it had been about you, they’re the ones who did it. It was not your fault. Just like what happened to Richie, Hank, and Benny wasn’t Gary or Michael’s fault. This isn’t on you, I swear. It’s whoever blew the place up. Only on them, okay?”

Doc stared at him, but at last he nodded. “I just want this day to be over.”

Dix had heard enough. He lifted Doc from the floor and cradled him to his body, carrying him to his bedroom.

Why does this feel so right? Why is having Doc in my arms like coming home?