“It’s okay. He’s one of us.” Bryan’s whisper warmed my neck. I relaxed my shoulders and leaned against him.
The bagpiper’s green-and-blue tartan was frayed at the edges, fading in spots. Good thing the giant bagpipes covered most of his outfit.
“It’s my family kilt,” he responded to my silent question. “The blue stripes mean that we’re Highlanders.”
“Yeah, right. You made that up.” Tony mumbled under his breath. “He’s probably just a fan of the TV show.”
“Shush.” Brooke shot him the evil-eye and turned to the bagpiper. “Will you play us a song?”
“Of course, lassie, if you’ll do me a favor first.” Still with the Scottish accent? Not fooling anyone, buddy, except maybe Brooke.
“Okay, anything.” Her sandy head bobbed like an anxious puppy.
“Me throat’s parched from playing all night. You mind going into the Marriott here and getting me a glass of water?”
“Of course not. Anything for the bagpipe maestro.” She trotted off toward the hotel.
“Now.” Mr. Bagpipes licked his lips at each of us. “What shall I play for you? I do show-tunes, standards, or a traditional bagpipe lullaby, if you prefer.”
“No thanks.” Laura’s scowl wrinkled up her face.
“How about ‘Fly Me to the Moon?’” Bryan’s arm slid around my waist, pulling me closer.
“Good choice, lad,” the bagpiper beamed. “One of me favorites.” His accent landed on Irish this time. Unless my Alton High drama teacher had it all wrong.
“Let me work out some kinks.” He touched the pipes tenderly and twisted the tuning pins.
“Wait for me.” Brooke jogged up to us. “Here’s your water, sir.”
“Thanks, lassie.” He sipped it and poured the rest into a tasseled leather pouch at his hip. He handed the cup back to Brooke. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all. So what will you play tonight?”
“Your strapping young friend requested ‘Fly Me to the Moon.’” He blew into the pipes, horrible screeches tearing through the chilly night air.
“Strapping friend?” Laura giggled under her breath. I elbowed her in the side, if only to suppress my own laughter.
The bagpipes wheezed out in a somber key, filling the space between us with its slightly off-kilter melody.
Laura jerked on my arm. “Get a load of that. He’s trying to do a jig.” Sure enough, the burly man bent one knee then kicked out his foot, switching legs to do it all over again.
I couldn’t hold back and suddenly busted out laughing. Laura cracked up too, whether at me or the bagpiper I couldn’t tell. Her high-pitched giggle rang out like a siren, louder than the Times Square noises around us.
“Hey, what is this? I don’t play for no cynics.” The bagpiper’s face grew redder by the minute. Then he waddled close to Bryan and whispered, “The clean-up crew just reported in. The Watchers are here. Not sure why they’re being so persistent. They’ve never wanted to risk exposing themselves before now.”
The sense of peace left me as goosebumps rippled all over my body.
Bryan’s eyes landed on me, his fingers encircling my singed wrist. I winced.
“Oh, I see,” the piper’s eyes widened. “You’ll have to hide out in the Marriott until the coast is clear. Get back to Montrose before they catch you. It’s the only safe place left.”
Bryan nodded at him and grabbed my arm.
“Get out of here, or I’ll clobber you with my pipes.” He hoisted up his bag, make a big show of it.
“Funny, no accent now,” I whispered to Bryan as we walked away. The boys and Brooke straggled behind.
“Heard that.” He picked up the pace and ran after us. In an instant it turned into a foot race. Six teenagers versus one kilted man, with bagpipes flailing on his back. Probably looked like a comic book scene to anyone else on the street, hopefully even the Watchers.
“Quick, in here.” Tony pulled Brooke into the revolving door of the Marriott.
Bryan and I smushed into the next section, Laura and Lenny right behind us.
“Man, that guy sure knows how to waddle.” Lenny did a jig around the room like a puppet trying to dance.
Laura let out her siren giggle, and I couldn’t help totally cracking up. Our laughter hit the marble-encased foyer and bounced right back at us. A few guests stopped and stared.
“Shush.” Laura sucked in air to stifle her giggles.
“You started it.” I gasped. “Man, that was loud. Everything echoes off of marble.”
“Hey, guys, I’ve got an idea.” Lenny’s face perked up for the first time tonight.
“Great, not another one of his ideas.” I followed the twins over to the bank of elevators. When I turned to Lenny, the smile on his face said it all.
“I’ve got a plan to pass the time and make sure our girl here gets properly initiated. Who’s in?”
Chapter 18
Soft music trilled through the otherwise silent lobby. Laura’s neck craned up and down the glass-encased elevators as she eyed Lenny. “Elevator tag, really?”
Walkie talkie static crackled outside as a black-clad team raced past the hotel lobby.
He lowered his voice. “It’s only a matter of time before the Watchers search this place. What better way to lie low and pretend like we’re normal teenagers, right? Might as well have some fun. We’ll do brother-sister teams, Tony and Lucy can team up.”
“You’re so immature.” But Laura smiled back at her brother, not fooling anybody. “You’re on, but let’s make it interesting.”
He scratched his unmarred chin. “Losers have to buy the winners’ subway ride back to school.”
“Not interesting enough.” Tony’s sneakers squeaked across the marble. “How about the subway ride, plus loser buys the water bottle to throw at the bagpipe guy?”
“Water bottle? Huh?” I turned to Bryan for answers.
He leaned in close. “It’s an all clear signal. If he throws it back, we’re all clear.”
“Weird.” I mumbled under my breath.
“You better get used to stuff like this if you’re going to join the Guardians.” Brooke tilted her head at me, her blonde
