Apocalypsis 04 - Haven

to fight fair right now.”
    He leaned towards me and kissed my cheek. “This is a bad day, but it will get better. All you need is a little Buster and Fuzzybeans cuddle therapy and you’ll be as right as rain in the morning.”
    “I wish it were that simple.”
    “It is, trust me. You have friends and family who love you and a whole new world to plan and execute. You are going to be too busy to have a broken heart.”
    I put my arm around his tiny waist. “That sounds good to me. Come on. Let’s go see if we can negotiate for some drugs.”
    “Oh, we’re going to do drugs now too? I’d better add that to my list.”
    “Go ahead. It’s probably the only thing not on there right now.”
    Peter pinched my butt but didn’t break his stride.
    Kirsten was coming out of the door as we arrived at the front of the building.
    “There you are. I was starting to think you’d run away. Did you find Bodo?”
    “Yes, I did, and he was full of information for me.” I tried not to, but I knew I sounded bitter. I took a deep breath and started over. “We’ll begin the meeting without him. Where do you want to talk?”
    She shrugged. “Right here is fine. I’m getting ready to leave. One of my girls is getting your gift.”
    “I like presents.” I tried to smile, but it probably came out like a grimace. All I could think about was how pretty Kirsten is and tall - like a friggin’ Barbie Doll. No wonder Bodo fell for her. And she’s uber smart and powerful, too. Add the fact that she has a whole tribe of sexy women doing whatever she tells them to do, and I came up very, very short in comparison.
    When I thought of it like that, I realized it was kind of stupid for me to think that Bodo wouldn’t have fallen under her charms. He is a man after all. I couldn’t imagine many resisting. Except maybe Paci . I laughed bitterly to myself. Maybe I should test all future boyfriends by sending them to the Amazon’s lair for a week.
    “Good, I’m glad you like gifts. Who doesn’t, right? So anyway, you know about the EWS and you want to be a contact point. That’s great because we want you to be one too. All we need is you guys and another in the Keys and we’ll be all set for a good portion of the state.”
    “It’s really that extensive?” asked Peter.
    “Yes. And it’s going to get better, too. I just need to know who your code reader is going to be.”
    Bodo chose to walk up at just that moment. “I’ll be da one.”
    I clenched my teeth for three full seconds before I could trust myself to speak. “No, it won’t be Bodo. I’ll get someone else for you.” I took Peter by the shoulder and turned him with me so that we could talk in private.
    “Who can we trust to communicate with the outside world? Someone with a good memory and not a target for the canners.”
    “Everyone’s a target for them.”
    “Not everyone. Find me someone skinny and invisible.”
    “Like me.” His voice had gone extra soft.
    “Yes, but not you. You already have too much going on.”
    “What about Jenny? She’s skinny, smart, and kind of like a ghost sometimes. And she’s healthy enough now. I think she needs something to do.”
    “Go ask her.”
    Peter took off without another word.
    When I turned around, I faced an angry Bodo.
    “Why not me?” he asked, his face red.
    “I need someone I can trust for this job. Someone who doesn’t hide things. You don’t qualify.”
    His nostrils flared. “Dat’s not fair.”
    “Oh, it isn’t?” My voice was sweet, but my intentions were not. I turned to Kirsten. “Kirsten, Bodo had some interesting things to say to me about his stay at your place. But I was wondering if you could fill in some of the blanks for me.”
    She looked from Bodo to me and then back again. When she finally settled her gaze on me once more, she stood straighter and her chin went up. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
    “Did you sleep with Bodo?”
    “I told you we didt not have sex!” Bodo shouted.
    “No, he’s telling the truth. We didn’t go that far.”
    Her choice of wording nearly stopped my heart.
    “How far did you go?” I almost couldn’t get the sentence out. My throat had nearly closed up.
    The door to the front of the prison opened up and Ronald stuck his head out. “We all okay out here?”
    I waved him away. “We’re fine, thanks!” I couldn’t smile, though. That would have been impossible at this point. My heart was too busy breaking into a bunch of