“He just left but won’t be gone long,” I answer. I’m sure he’s actually watching us from one of the windows on the other side of the courtyard.
The same car Tyler picked us up in is idling near the double wooden doors.
He gets out of the car and opens the backseat.
He and Ethan stare at each other for a long moment before Ethan finally slides into the car.
“You have to duck down like before. I’m willing to help you, but I can’t let you find this place again.”
Teeny and I follow behind him.
Once Ethan gets in a somewhat comfortable position, Tyler opens the wooden doors and we drive away from the house.
Rules for disappearing
by Witness Protection prisoner #18A7R04M:
Educate yourself on what you plan to lie about….
New rule by Anna Boyd:
Sometimes you just gotta wing it.
been driving for about five minutes, all twists and turns, before Tyler says, “You can sit up now.”
We’re at a stop sign near the busiest section of Bourbon Street. If memory serves me, the club where Will is waiting is a couple of blocks away.
Tyler doesn’t get out, just watches us exit from the rearview mirror.
Just before Ethan shuts the door, he knocks Tyler in the back of his head and says in a quiet voice, “If you come around Anna again, I will kill you.”
Tyler doesn’t say anything, just pulls away from the curb the second the back door slams shut.
“Let’s get moving,” Ethan says as we join the flow of traffic down the street.
It’s so much more crowded tonight than it was last night and I can’t help but wonder if there is someone out there taking pictures of us and sending them back to Thomas. I’m taking a huge risk that he won’t swoop in and take all of us, including Will, back to the house, but I try to remember—this is not about me. This is a power struggle between very ruthless people. He needs bait and I’m willing. Hopefully that will be enough.
“Do you think it’s the weekend?” Teeny asks. “I can’t believe how many people are walking around.”
“Who knows? I’m not sure what month it is anymore,” Ethan answers.
I can see the Barely Legal doorway up ahead and the girls are back outside. One by one, these girls are plucking men off the street and shoving them through the smoky doorway.
Ethan stops when we reach the door to the Blues Club.
“We’re not going to be able to walk in; we don’t have IDs,” Ethan says. “And they’re sure as hell not going to let Teeny inside.”
“How’s Will in there then?” Teeny asks.
“Last year, we had fake IDs, but Will’s eighteen now so he’s in there legally. Here, you only have to be eighteen to get in but you can’t drink until you’re twenty-one.”
All three of us look through the front door but all we see is a set of stairs going up to the second floor.
“Hold on, let me see if I can’t get in long enough to look around,” I say, then move Ethan and Teeny to an empty doorway next to the club. “Y’all need to get out of sight for a minute.”
Ethan backs Teeny into the corner then stands in front of her, blocking her from sight. “Just hurry. If he’s in there, y’all come out here.”
I jog up the steps to where a bouncer is guarding the entrance.
