Free Spore by Tamara Jones Page B

shivered.
    “Gonna get you out of here,” he said, drawing her toward the bank. “Get you dried off, covered up.” Her knees buckled and she collapsed in the creek again as she blinked dumbly up at him. The brilliant purples in her eyes had already faded. She smiled, but it was mindless, like a child’s doll. Whatever she was, she was no threat. It was like looking into the eyes of a newborn. “Aaah gah?”
    “Yep, ah gah. C’mon,” he said. “You can do it. On your feet, now.”
    The deputy returned and, reaching for the radio at his shoulder, barked, “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “Helping this poor woman stand.” Sean draped one of her arms over his shoulder and got his strength beneath her. “I could use a hand here, or didn’t they teach you to help people back in Deputy Academy or whatever the hell it’s called?”
    The young deputy’s cheeks turned red. He stammered then said, “You’re under arrest for interfering—“
    “Fine. Arrest me,” Sean said, struggling not to slip on the remaining mucus. “But help her . She’s freezing out here!”
    Together they managed to drag the young woman, stumbling, out of the creek and down the hill. A row of teenagers lay face down on the ground near the police cars, their hands secured behind them and a deputy standing guard. The third deputy carried a blanket toward Sean and the young deputy, huffing as he dragged his heft up the hill.
    “Great, just great,” Todd muttered as he approached. “You were supposed to call for backup.”
    “He was trying to help her,” the young deputy replied, voice sounding whiny. “And he didn’t seem—“
    “Didn’t seem could get your ass killed,” Todd said. He stopped and sighed at Sean. “What are you doing here?”
    Sean smiled. “Guess I’m a bad penny.”
    Todd wrapped the woman in the blanket and sent her down the hill with the young deputy. He glared at Sean. “Bad, no. Too damn curious for your own good, yes.” He sighed and looked Sean over. “I saw flashes. Where’s your camera?”
    “Dropped it in the chase,” Sean lied.
    “Uh huh. A cheapskate like you? I don’t believe that.”
    Sean held his arms wide. “You can pat me down. Check my pockets…”
    Todd’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t have time for your crap. Not after the day I’ve had.” He grabbed Sean’s upper arm and turned him toward the northwest. “Go home. Forget whatever you saw.”
    “You know I can’t—“
    “Yes, you damn well can,” Todd snapped. “We have backup on the way, but, for right now, I’ve got two rookies down there who will keep their yaps shut if I tell them to. I’m already in enough shit without having to drag your sorry ass in for a bullshit charge of trespassing on public property just so you can show up in arraignment and spill your guts to the judge and a hundred cameras tomorrow morning. No. Those kids are bad enough but they didn’t see anything. You… You’ll get me fired for starting a media shitstorm.”
    “What happened?” Sean asked as Todd pushed him toward the hole in the fence. “Why are these people—“
    “Shut up and go home or you’re going to jail. And those pictures had better not show up on the internet.” Todd glared at Sean. “We’re friends, remember? I’ve always trusted you. Don’t fuck me over now.”
    Todd turned and walked away, huffing back down the hill. A million questions dancing in his mind, Sean watched him go.

Part Two
    Growth

Chapter Eight
    Rain pattered against the window. Mindy sat on her saggy borrowed bed, rocking herself with her arms wrapped around her legs. Her mind raced over the same few worries: Jeff, her family, being dead, having no provable identity or money, and being taken in by strangers.
    I’m stuck, right and proper, she thought, face pressed against her knees as another peal of thunder rumbled outside. What can I do?
    Sighing, she raised her head and looked out to her room. It was small, with scuffed mint green