“Got it. Happy Birthday song.”
I went back into the bathroom. Karina’s chinlooked like it would need stitches, and a bruise was blossoming onher cheek. I moved in close. Had Jericho caused that cut or someoneelse? Did S-Dub hit her, too? I felt my eyes narrow, and I wantedblood. I hated that I couldn’t get it. The least I could do washelp this girl.
“We have our diversion.” I looked at Gina.“Now, Gina, we need to get her up and nearer the door. When we hearthe Happy Birthday song, it’s time to move. We’ll go out the doorsby the punch table.”
She nodded.
I consulted my watch. Two more minutes. Wemoved Karina nearer the door. When the song broke out, we helpedKarina walk out. The entire student body and all the teachers wereat the opposite side of the gym singing to the principal. How hadCarson known? Maybe they’d announced it at the beginning of schoolbefore I got there. Karina was light, and I could have helped herto the door on my own, but once at the door, I handed her over toGina and took a bobby pin and opened the door in a few secondsflat. The students and faculty were still singing when we slippedthrough the door.
As we approached my clunker car, whichJeremy had dropped off for me, I said, “I know it’s a beauty, butdon’t worry, you can’t hurt it.” I chuckled just a little when Isaw the piece of paper that read, Belgian Waffles or Bustunder the windshield wiper. There was no question it was the rightcar.
“At least you have a car.” Gina sighed.
The two girls climbed into the backseattogether. I guessed I’d be the chauffeur to the hospital. That’swhen I remembered Laron. What would he do when he showed up at theschool and they weren’t there?
I pulled out my cell phone. “You guys wantto call someone?” They shook their heads an adamant refusal.
I parked in front of the emergency roomdoors and turned the car off.
“Oh, you don’t need to come inside with us.We’ll be just fine.” Gina reached for the door and opened it.
“No. It’s okay. I’ll stay. I want to.” Iopened my door. “And don’t worry about getting back to the dance tosign out. Carson is taking care of that.”
“Really? Thanks for that. But, seriously,we’ll feel bad if you stay. Go.” She started to climb out. “And wedo need to get back. My uncle is picking us up outside the school,and he’ll kill us if we don’t show.”
“But how will you get back in time? I’llwait.”
She didn’t miss a beat. “There’s a hole justaround the corner, and we’ll hurry and make it back. We couldn’timpose. Besides, we don’t know how long we’ll be here. Go.Really.”
“Emergency rooms take forever. You mightwant to call your uncle.” I held out my phone.
She pulled one out of a little purse andwaved it. “I’ve got it covered, and if it looks like they are goingto take forever, I’ll call him.”
“I don’t know.” I pictured the subwayentrance they were talking about. It was safe enough, I guessed. Ihad helped Karina get the care she needed, but had I also made thedeeper connection with the girls that I’d hoped for? Would stayingwith them create a greater bond or weaken it? That was thequestion.
She gave me a look that said stay putas she helped Karina out of the car and said, “Thanks. We reallyappreciate it. Drive safe.”
Her look told me it all. They didn’t want meto go with them. I hoped they wouldn’t just leave and not getmedical attention. It was out of my hands, and I’d done my best.What would Laron say? They’d never make it back to the school intime. Emergency care was anything but quick. Anxious to find outwhat really had happened to the girls after they drove away in thestolen car, I sped away to the brownstone. It occurred to me as Idrove home that I could no longer hear anything the girls said. Hadthe bug somehow been damaged or had it been turned off?
Chapter 9
Jeremy and Ace were waiting for me in thekitchen when I got back to the brownstone. Ace had his laptop outand was typing away, but Jeremy was just sitting there, staringthoughtfully out the window.
“So what did you find out? What happened?” Iasked, taking a seat.
Jeremy turned to me slowly, seemingreluctant to let go of whatever he had been thinking about. Hecleared his throat. “They drove the cars to two differentlocations,” he said. “Just on the street—right out there for anyoneto see. Of course, no one but our agents was around. A couple ofprofessionals were there to meet them, and once the kids jumped outand headed for the subway, the guys whipped through the cars,swapping out the VIN numbers and license plates and, I’m assuming,putting fake documents in the glove box. And searching fortrackers. They found the one Halluis put on the Camry and removedit. I stuck around the girls, listening to their feed. Would youlike to listen to it?”
“Of course,” I said.
“We got a conversation between Jericho andwhoever is calling the shots. It wasn’t S-Dub. We didn’t get an IDon the guy, but we need to get to him,” Jeremy continued.
“Let’s hear it,” I said.
Jeremy looked at Ace, who had angled hiseyes up to the team leader for direction. Jeremy nodded at him, andAce started the playback.
“Yes, sir. We did all the cars, but we had aproblem with the girls. I’m not sure they’re going to cut it. Doyou want me to continue with them?”
“I don’t have time to worry about newrecruits. If you have to spend all day with them to get themproperly trained, you do that. It’s your responsibility. Make ithappen.”
“Yes, sir.”
The man hung up, and Jericho did too. Heswore colorfully.
“Let’s listen from the beginning now.”Jeremy’s hands briefly clenched as he uncrossed his arms and puthis fingers on the edge of the table. Ace started the recordingfrom the time the girls couldn’t get the cars started, and we alllistened.
I flinched, listening
