Free Patient Darkness: Brooding City Series Book 2 by Tom Shutt Page A

exist.”
    “If we do not exist,” Benjamin said quietly, “then how do you explain my being here? How is it that I can sense your presence in my thoughts? Do you truly think that you and your father are alone in your gifts?”
    She lowered her eyebrow and slipped on a neutral mask. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “The man who did this carries a badge and a gun and pretends to uphold the law. However, he has hunted more men and women around the world as a Sleeper than he has ever caught for the police. He is a ruthless thug, no better than his father.”
    Alex watched him carefully for a long minute. “This man,” she said, pointing to the bed. “Who is he to you?”
    “Henry. He was my grandson. He is my grandson,” he amended. His voice sounded thick with remorse. “In his mind, Arthur Brennan holds me responsible for the death of his wife, and he chose to abandon our mission because of it. Henry was tasked with bringing Brennan in for debriefing.”
    “Debriefing?”
    “Yes. Despite peaceful intentions, an altercation occurred, one which left my grandson without any sense of reality.”
    “You said you wouldn’t wish this upon your worst enemy or Arthur Brennan. After what happened, this man isn’t your number one enemy?”
    His gaze landed heavily upon her. “No,” he said simply.
    “Okay,” Alex said. “This cop thinks you killed his wife, and you think he Fractured your grandson. Henry here clearly holds a grudge; it’s the only damn thing he’s been thinking since you got here. But what kind of life is this for him? Why is he holding on? Why are you holding on to him?”
    “He will not find rest in the next world until he makes peace with this one.”
    Alex rolled her eyes. “Right, because that isn’t cryptic and twisted.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “You seriously think that getting revenge will put his soul at ease?”
    Benjamin shook his head. “I do not seek vengeance upon Arthur Brennan.”
    It was Alex’s turn to be confused. “I’m sorry? I obviously didn’t hear you right, it sounded like you don’t want to murder the man who killed your grandson.”
    “Henry is not dead, nor do I wish death upon anyone, Miss Brüding.” Alex shivered as he said that. She had never given him her last name. Hell, she’d even given him a false first name. “The Great Spirit would not suffer those who needlessly cause harm to others. I suspect Arthur Brennan will receive his just desserts in the next life. No, I do not intend to hasten his departure from this earth. In fact, he is essential for stemming the tide of death that washes over this city.”
    Alex stared at him openly, mouth slightly agape. “So…you need his help ?”
    “Put simply, yes.”
    She gripped her jacket closer to herself as chills ran down her spine. Before her stood a man who, despite blindness and age, was clearly more dangerous than most men alive. He felt personally begrudged by one of his Sleepers—which in itself said a lot about him, if he considered the Sleepers to be “his”—and yet he needed this cop to be a temporary ally against…what, exactly?
    “The tide of death,” Alex said. “What are you talking about?”
    “We are being targeted.”
    “Sleepers?”
    Benjamin waved a hand. “Sleepers initially, yes, but the target list has since expanded.” He took off his dark glasses and met Alex’s eyes. His were milky white, all except for a thin ring of gold that circled where his pupils once were. It must have been a trick of the light, but they looked like they glowed faintly.
    “Expanded to who?” To whom , she corrected mentally. Damn you, Sam.
    “Anyone with a power,” Benjamin said somberly.
    She let those words sink in for a moment. “There can’t be that many of you, that many of us. Until now, I was under the impression that my father and I were unique in Odols.”
    “You were wrong. I do not intend to be rude, but I must be blunt in telling you that time is of