Smoked (The Invincibles 5)

“Tell me.”

She took a deep breath and looked out the window. “Decker asked what you were going to do.”

“About what?”

“Me.”

“And what did I say?”

“That as soon as my memory came back, you’d make sure no one ever teamed you up with me again.”

“There was more to it than that.”

“That was the only part that mattered.”

“And what did I say next?”

Siren was looking out the window; her head was cocked.

“What?” I asked.

“Uncle Gene is here. He looks upset.” She raced to the front door, and again, as much as I wanted to follow, I didn’t have the strength.

“Come inside and sit down,” I heard her say. When he came through the door, his face was ashen. I moved the chair with my foot and motioned for him to sit.

“Tell me what’s happened,” said Siren, sitting on the other side of him.

“I went to see Jimmy.”

She reached out and took his hand. “How is he?”

“Not well. He asked me to go to the shop and find the safe. When I got there, it was gone. When I told him, he went nuts, said they were going to kill him. He left the hospital, and no one knows where he is. This is all my fault.”

I looked up and saw Casper, Hughes, and Decker standing just inside the front door.

“Why would someone kill him over a safe?” Gene asked, looking between Siren and me.

“It’s what’s in it,” she murmured, and her eyes met mine. “Something tells me it isn’t the Irish Crown Jewels.”

I had to agree.

She stood. “We need to find him.”

“But where would he go?” Gene asked.

I looked over at Decker, who was already searching his computer.

“I can’t just sit here. I need to do something,” Siren muttered.

“Let’s craft a plan before anyone does anything.” Deck was looking at something on the laptop he pulled out of a bag. “There are some other things I need.” He got up, went out the front door, and motioned to Hughes, who followed.

Siren looked up at the clock hang

ing on the kitchen wall. “You need a pain pill, and I have to change your bandages.”

“Give me the pill. The other can wait.”

Siren shook her head. “You’ll get an infection.”