He went to the van and got in, propping his sword against the console. He silently thanked Hubert again; his gift had been perfect for “doing” Dutch. Decapitation made sure he wouldn’t be coming back yet again, and it was swift and silent and didn’t attract attention like a gunshot. Besides, it wasn’t nearly as conspicuous. He could hang it on the wall of his van in plain view with little worry, unlike the two Remington scatterguns Charlie had insisted he take. They were bundled in the back with his other guns and supplies, and he would have to devise hiding places for them all very soon. Until then, he would have to keep his speed well below the limit. He couldn’t afford to attract attention.

He sat there in the driver’s seat with the key in his hand and smiled without realizing it. He was thinking of Billie. It had been only two days, and yet he missed her and Del already. He wondered if they were still being detained in Isherwood, or if they would be waiting on him when he pulled into Ellettsville.

“Stop dreaming and put the key in. We don’t have all night.”

The voice actually took Stiles by surprise. He jolted in his seat and fumbled for his shoulder holster but by then the familiar monotone had sunk in. Alex was crouched in the back of the van, clothed in his normal wardrobe of shadow. “You know, Hoss, you were pretty good with the sword in there. I’m impressed. Now, can we get going before the cops come?”

Chris sighed with resignation. “I didn’t know you were coming this time. No premonition or anything.”

Alex came to the front of the van and climbed into the passenger seat. The lights of the storefront showed more of him than Chris had seen for some time. Thankfully it was his better side. “I didn’t know I was coming either. I just thought, what the hell, you know? We don’t talk much anymore.” He gestured to the ignition. “You know, if you turn the key, the motor will go vroom, vroom.”

“You could have at least given me time to rest, Alex,” Chris snapped, irritated. So the hunt was back on already, destination unknown. In his mind, he could see Billie and Del getting farther and farther away. He wondered what they would think when he didn’t show up at her parents.

Maybe it’s for the best.

He started the van. “So? Where’s the Enemy this time?” Alex shrugged. “The hell if I know.”

Chris looked at him suspiciously. “What? Are you saying you don’t have a job for me?”

“Not yet. The trail’s pretty cold at the moment. It might be a while till something turns up.”

“Then what are you doing here?”