Oscar elbows me. “Stop it.”
Mr. Kozlov approaches us. “Listen to your boyfriend, Henri. Given my reputation, you should be very respectful.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I say quickly.
At the same time Oscar says, “No way is she my girlfriend.”
I shouldn’t be hurt by that because I just said the same thing, but for some reason I want to kick Oscar in the shin. No, I want to kick him in his balls. That’s what mom would do. Not to Oscar but you know. Other people. “Where’d she go?” I say.
He stares at us like he’s deciding how much to share. Then he grins like the Joker – not Heath Ledger, but Jared Leto in Suicide Squad. “She left with your grandpa, who was mad at her because apparently she picked up Reese Toper, who is a member of the 311 Boys.”
“My grandpa!” I exclaim. I’ve never met him, but mom sees him sometimes. She says he’d be a bad influence on me. I doubt it. He can’t be worse than mom and gramma. I kinda feel thrilled that I might get to meet him.
“I told her it was stupid,” Oscar mutters. “She doesn’t listen to anyone. That’s why she gets in so much trouble.”
That pops me out of my excited vibe. I feel the need to defend my mom, but I don’t, because Oscar’s right. She always seems like she’s in trouble. “You think my grandpa took her to their leader?”
He nods. “Maybe. Your grandpa suggested she apologize.” To Oscar, he says.
He tilts his head towards the phone. “Maybe you should call her.”
Oscar pushes me towards the phone. “Call her, Henri. See where she’s at.”
I shove him back. “I don’t know her number. It’s in my cell phone.”
Kozlov says, “I know it.” He leaves the room, then returns with his phone.
I pick up the landline as he rattles off the number. It rings a long time then goes to voicemail. A chill goes up my back. My mom always answers her phone. “She’s not picking up,” I say to Oscar in a hoarse whisper.
“I’ll call dad,” Oscar announces. He dials Eight’s number, which makes me feel bad that I don’t know mom’s number.
A few seconds pass, then Oscar says, “He’s not answering either.”
Kozlov raises his caterpillar eyebrows. “That’s not good news. Maybe your dad went too. The 311 Boys might have both your parents.”
Tears start trickling down my face and this time I don’t care if Oscar sees. “We gotta get them back, Oscar. I need mom back.”
Oscar rubs my shoulder. “Do you know where the 311 Boys clubhouse?”
“Oh, indeed I do,” Kozlov says, then tells us.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Selkie
It’s the middle of the night, we’re in Eight’s truck and driving aimlessly around Sagebrush looking for our idiot escapees.
“What the hell is wrong with those kids?” I say. “Taking off like that in the middle of the night.”
“I told them to stay put,” Eight says.
“I mean, Henri, I get. But Oscar? She must’ve coerced him.”
“Red said he’d look after them, but I guess sleep is more important than the safety of my kid.”
“Henri has a curfew. She’s not supposed to be out after 10. Just because I’m not around doesn’t mean the rules don’t apply.”
“I’m gonna be talking to Red. Fuck. No, I’m not. This is my fault. I should’ve taken them to the clubhouse.”
