“The guys are on a job,” Haley says. “The only one left behind is Hash to hold down the fort.” She glances around. “Don’t know where he went.”
“And Henri and Oscar?” Selkie says. “King and Coyote dropped them off here last night.”
Haley shrugs. “I don’t know. When I got here all the kids were here, then I went outside to check on the horse. When I got back they were gone.”
“I wanna change my name, mom.” Henry interrupts. “It’s a girl’s name.”
“You talked to them?” I ask Henry. Henry, a shithead, doesn’t listen to anyone, leads his brother astray, but he’s all I got right now.
“Yeah,” Henry says. “That girl’s name is Henri and she’s gross. I don’t want the same name as her.”
Haley sighs. “We’ll talk about that later, Hen—big guy. Right now, I think Eight wants to know where Henri and Oscar are.”
Henry tilts his head like he’s thinking or maybe he wants a bribe before he gives up the info.
“They all went out together. Hash and Max and Brielle and Ash and Sean and Oscar and that girl.”
“Did they say where they were going?”
Zack nods. “On a boat.”
Selkie furrows her forehead. “What’re you talking about, kid? Where’re they going to find a boat in Sagebrush?”
Henry says, “They said they were going to find a sailor to take them on a boat.”
I rub my face. “Could you be a little more specific?”
“They said they were going to find a sailor.” He enunciates slowly like we’re stupid adults.
Then I realize I am a stupid adult. “Hash’s taken them to Sailor Jerry’s.”
Selkie narrows her eyes. “Who is Sailor Jerry?”
Haley giggles. “Not who. What. It’s a tattoo place. Hash manages it.”
Selkie looks confused. “Why would he take them there?”
I feel dread in my bones. “Hangman was talking about getting the kids inked so anyone who tried to mess with them would realize they’re with the Jury and back off.”
“No,” Selkie says in disbelief. “He wouldn’t do that, would he?”
Haley and I exchange uneasy glances. “Probably not,” she hedges. “At least not without getting permission from the parents.” She glances at me for reassurance. I have none.
“Aren’t three of them his?” Selkie exclaims.
“I wanna tattoo,” Henry pipes up.
“So do I,” Zack says.
I look at them, then Haley.
“You better go,” Haley says, the same panic in her voice that I’m feeling.
Chapter Forty-Two
Henri
Sailor Jerry’s is awesome. Brielle is as amazed as I am as we wander around the place, looking at all the pictures on the walls. They’re of real customers with tattoos Hash did and they’re so good.
