The Waiting Room
~ Chapter One Hundred-Three
Someone's in the Kitchen With Sheldon
“Obvious
your kind of “whacked” isn’t my kind of “whack”,” Sands
said, as he waved his weapon.
“Please, Agent Sands,”
Barrie asked quietly, “Could ye please put it away. Guns make me
quite nervous.”
Sands shook his head as he returned the gun
to his holster. “Bunch of freaks,” he mumbled. He then rose from
his chair; maneuvering to the kitchen in search of something to eat,
preferably pork. He hadn’t had any decent pork since Sam left. He
had to admit it…he missed that boy.
He stumbled past the
kitchen door, letting it swing back, smacking him in the butt as it
closed. When the door stopped the agent bent his head, listening.
Someone, or something was in the room with him.
He
could hear shuffling. Whatever it was crossed the room towards the
stove.
Whatever it was -- was not aware he was in the room.
Slowly he withdrew his weapon keeping audible tabs on the
noise. He could tell it was too large for the rats. He then heard a
chair being pushed from the stove to the sink.
The chair
creaked beneath the weight of someone crawling upon it.
A
child? He thought. There’s a freaking kid in here. Despite his
badass reputation he did not want to level his gun at a child. The
thought reminded him of Chicle, the little Mexican boy who sold him
gum. He had proven himself over and over again; helping him get his
bearing…seeing that he got what he needed until he learned to do
things on his own. He missed Chicle.
Jesus, getting
sentimental Sands, he complained to himself. First Sam, now Chicle.
Get a grip.
Slowly he put his gun back into the holster. He
could feel the heat of the room as whomever it was begun to cook. A
smell drifted to him. A sweet, familiar smell.
“Excuse me?”
he called out.
“Uh?” The sound came from the direction of
the sink. It sounded male…it sounded shocked and surprised.
Sands
held up both hands, to show the young intruder he had no weapon.
“It’s okay son. I’m not going to hurt you.”
He
heard the boy scramble off the chair. The chair legs squeaked across
the floor.
“Wait a minute,” Sands tried to remain calm.
Even though it was a child, there was no telling what he would do if
cornered or frightened. But despite the defense thought, Sands still
remembered it was a child.
“Look buddy. Don’t know how
you got in here without coming through the front door, but the thing
is you’re here.”
Sands moved a bit to his left, listening
to the shoes muffled across the tiled floor. They were working their
way around the prep island, back to the stove. The agent stiffened
when he heard the cooking pot being removed from the burner.
“Don’t
be doing something stupid now, kid,” Sands warned, fearing the
contents of the pot would be thrown at him. “I just want to talk
with you. Get to know you. Find out why the hell you’re here.”
Footsteps moved to the far side of the island. Sands knew now
that the child was between the island and the banana cupboard.
“What are you doing?” Sands began to grow nervous. “Don’t
you want to tell me your name? Not much of a talker, are you?” Sands
had positioned himself before the sink, the prep island was now
between the two of them.
“Whatcha cooking, Chief? Smells
good. Love to try it. Always looking for new recipes, so to speak.”
The agent’s ears tuned in to the sound of the cupboard
door. They gave the smallest squeak as it was opened.
“Need
something from the cupboard, Sport?” He moved towards the end of
the island, keeping his ears focused on the moving boy. “Something
on a high shelf. Maybe I can help, what do you say?”
Sands
heard a new sound, as if another door was opening. Cautiously he
reached a gloved hand out and made contact with the cupboard door. He
pulled it wider so he would be able to step closer to the boy. The
sound of the second door repeated and Sands tried to listen for the
youngster.
He held his breath, concentrating, but could not
locate him.
“Where’d you go, Tiger?” Sands asked and
took a chance, waving his hand through the empty space before him.
There was no one there. He took another step, still waving, but could
not find the boy.
He turned towards the opened shelves of the
cupboard and ran his hands over each shelf, not really sure what he
would find. But he only made contact with bananas, potatoes, and
various spice bottles.
Then he came across a new item.
Something he knew had not been there before. He picked it up, feeling
the rectangle shape. Grabbing one finger of his glove in his teeth,
he yanked off the black leather accessory and used his fingers to get
a better feel of the item.
It was wrapped in paper and gave
off the same sweet smell he had encountered when he had entered the
kitchen. Quickly he unwrapped the item and held it close to his nose.
Yes, he thought as he took a cautionary bite. It was what he
thought and he let the rich, creamy texture melt in his mouth.
Man,
he thought…this was the best damn chocolate he had ever tasted.