Chapter Seventeen
"Have you got a mobile phone and a bit of paper?" Curtis asked as he rounded a corner.
"I've got both," Ash replied, wondering where this was going.
"Get your phone out and put this number in it." He waited for Ash to comply before reciting a number by memory. "Got it? That's Blake's mobile number. I gave her the phone earlier today so she should still have it. Call her on it and tell her what's happening so that she knows. Now, have you got the paper?"
Ash fumbled in his pocket and pulled out an old receipt. "Yeah, but I don't have a pen."
"Look in the dash pocket," Curtis replied. "These are the directions for Hunter's apartment and where Blake's been held." He told Ash slowly, so that he could get it down correctly. "I'll drop you guys off a block from the apartment then I'll go up and get Hunter and the others out of it. After I leave, you guys go in and get them out."
Ash nodded. "I take it we're picking the locks, not that I have a problem with that."
Curtis grinned and glanced over at him. "Still the pro in that department hey Ash?"
Ash smiled. "Some things you never forget."
"You won't have to worry about that. I'll give you the key because picking the locks will take a while." He glanced in his rear view mirror at James. "Is this guy going to be alright?" he frowned. "He looks a bit…unstable."
Ash turned around in his seat to look at James, who was biting his fingernails down to the quick and looking out the window. "He'll be alright," he promised.
"He'd better be because I've got a lot riding on this. You both have to promise me that my name won't be mentioned at all. Not to Blake, not to anyone. Clear?"
Ash nodded solemnly. He knew that Curtis was putting his neck out for them, or more likely for Blake. He turned around at James who had finally tuned into the conversation. "I'll promise you anything as long as we get Poppy out," he said forcefully, his voice full of conviction.
Curtis didn't reply. He pulled into the curb and took the keys from the ignition then pulled one off the set to give to Ash. "Make it look like you picked the lock and leave the key at reception so I can pick it up when we go back in." He looked at Ash closely. "Don't think I don't know how tempting it would be to keep the key or make a copy," he said. "But I'm trusting you here, Ash."
Ash nodded and took the key. "I give you my word, you'll get the key back," he said.
Curtis looked at him a moment longer then nodded. "Good. God, what am I doing?" he muttered to himself. He sighed. "Just look after her for me? Please? I need to know that she's going to be okay."
Ash didn't miss the note of pleading in Curtis' voice. Again he nodded. "She'll be okay, she always is. I just don't understand why I can't tell her you helped us."
Curtis shook his head vehemently. "You promised, Ash," he warned.
"And I'm going to keep the promise. I just want to know why I had to make it in the first place."
Curtis hesitated. Then he took a breath and spoke, his voice unsteady. "Because we don't have a future together. We can't have a future together." He paused. "We're from two different worlds. Two different circles if you want to put it that way. I can't see her again."
Ash didn't reply. He had a vague feeling of understanding but he didn't know what to say. Instead, he placed a hand on Curtis' shoulder. "Fine, I'll play it your way." He agreed. "And thanks. For helping us I mean, when you didn't have to. And for not killing me back there."
Curtis smiled and shrugged. "If you ever want to come back Ash…" he trailed off meaningfully.
Ash saw the invitation and paused. An image of Mary-Lynette filled his mind and his promise to her of coming clean. He smiled ruefully and shook his head. "Sorry. I'm with Daybreak for good."
"And for bad?" Curtis asked. "You know you're backing the wrong team don't you?"
Ash shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. I could be backing the right one considering we've got three of the Wild Powers. Speaking of which," he added, a thought coming to him. "Care to divulge any info on the fourth?"
Curtis laughed, throwing his head back. "You haven't changed much, you know. And no, don't push your luck."
Ash shrugged. He tucked the paper containing the directions of Hunter's apartment into his back pocket. "Worth a shot," he grinned. "Ever considered joining us?"
Curtis tilted his head to one side. "No." he answered firmly. "At least, not at the moment."
It was a better answer than Ash had hoped for and he nodded in understanding. Curtis' words left room to hope that maybe his mind could be changed. Ash doubted it would be him to change it though but he knew Blake might hold the key.
He opened the car door and stepped out, waiting for James to follow suit. Curtis took a deep breath. "Keep an eye out for me okay?" he said. Then as Ash nodded and closed his door, he pulled away and drove down a few blocks to park in front of Hunter's building.
Ash watched and turned to lean against the wall of a building. Meeting Curtis again had made him realize that he didn't miss the life he had once led, but he did miss some of the people that had been in it.
For all their evil doings, some of them had been a lot of fun.
He smiled and reassured himself that a reunion with Curtis might not look like such a farfetched thing.