“Why didn’t you tell them you let me go?”
“I did tell them, but for some reason they got the impression that the 311 Boys had you.”
I gasp. If I were a fainting woman, I’d keel over. “You… the 311 Boys. Jesus Christ!”
Eight grabs my arm and heads to the door. “He’s feeding us bullshit, Selkie. Oscar and Henri wouldn’t have gone there on their own.”
“Then where the hell are they?!” I say to Kozlov.
Kozlov yawns. “You are the ones who lost your little criminal children. Don’t put this on me.”
On the way down the elevator, Eight says, “He’s lyin’. Baiting us.”
“Then where are they?”
“We’ll find them,” he says grimly.
Chapter Thirty
Oscar
The walk to the 311 Boys clubhouse is mostly made in silence because we’re looking over our shoulders all the way. Not only are we worried about being followed by Kozlov’s men, but also because we’re wandering around one of the worst areas of town.
“We’re almost there,” I say as we near the 311 Boys’ clubhouse
“This is probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever done,” Henri whispers.
I think about it. Definitely the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, but then again, I don’t do that many stupid things.
“Are you very tired?” I say softly. I’m not. The adrenaline is pumping through me like crazy.
“No,” she replies. “I’m wide awake. Like I’m coked out.”
I stop in my tracks as my mind goes into overdrive. “How the hell do you know what cocaine feels like?”
Henri rolls her eyes. “I’m not a junkie, just do a few lines now and again.”
I know she’s egging me on, but that doesn’t settle me down. “You’re messing with me.”
“Duh. I wasn’t talking about the drug. I was talking about the beverage.”
My heart slows down. “Not funny, you stupid?—”
“I didn’t think you cared,” she comes back at me.
“I don’t,” I say tersely. But I’m lying. The idea of Henri on drugs makes me afraid. It would ruin her life and for some reason I can’t stand the thought of that.
We lapse into silence again until we’re about a half block from the hangout.
“How’re we gonna do this?” Henri whispers as we hide in the shadows.
I debate the options. Should we call Hangman for help or should we try to rescue Selkie and dad ourselves?
Henri reads my thoughts. “We should call Hangman.”
Saying it out loud like that makes me decide it’s the wrong plan. “I think he was the reason my dad got all hinky. Because he thought Hangman had a hand in your mom getting kidnapped.”
“Maybe,” she murmurs.
