“No. I’ll get Ella to give us her Accord. We’ll leave the truck here. She can bring it home later.”
“She’ll give you her car?”
“I’ve become a minor celebrity. I got this.” She reaches out and takes the key ring Clint offers.
I glance over at our intensely focused son. “Reid’s not going to be happy.”
“I’ll get Reid. I know the other coaches.” Clint glances across the gym.
“And I’ll stash my phone in one of the school’s robotics bins. We can at least try not to be tracked. But what about all our stuff?”
“Candy just walked in. She’s still on her phone.” Clint keeps his gaze on her. “Let’s leave the stuff in the truck. One of her guys didn’t come in with her.”
“Maybe watching the front or coming around back,” Erika murmurs.
“Okay, have Ella go alone and bring her car to the exit by the bathrooms. Leave the Accord running, but don’t have her take the truck. Keep it parked here. I don’t want her followed. You both head to that side entrance.” He points to the exit signs. “I’ll meet you there with Reid.”
Erika turns and sprints toward Ella.
Clint opens his mouth to call out, but then only mutters, “I’ll get the keys later.”
Candace, or Candy—hard to think of her by any other name—is still on the phone. I haven’t even seen her look up. Her goon is standing behind her. They haven’t moved from the entrance, but in moments they could be across the gymnasium.
Clint is now talking to Reid’s coach, his back to the observers. Good man. One of the assistants is dispatched to talk to Reid. He’s going to be so upset. Poor guy. At least he’s got his programming done. He nods and then grabs one of the guys on his team and talks urgently before being led away. Suddenly I realize I haven’t moved. Candace is off the phone and moving in my direction. I slip behind some of the motivational banners, careful not to trip over any of the power cords.
Clint and Reid are already at the mouth of the restrooms. Clint takes a brief glance behind him and double-takes when he sees me still making my way.
I’m sorry,I mouth.Just go.
Clint pushes Reid toward Erika, but I lose them as they run down the hallway. My husband’s eyes widen as he looks behind me.
I run. As I make it to him, I spy a fire alarm on the wall. I flip up the plastic protector and yank on the red lever. The gym roars with a blaring alarm and flashing lights. I barely lose stride as Clint presses me toward the exit.
We round the side of the building behind a line of dumpsters.
Just as I am throwing my body into the old sedan, Clint freezes on his side of the car.
46
“WHAT IS HE DOING?”I yell to no one in particular.
“Pop the trunk, Mom.” Erika shoves at my shoulder from the back seat. “Ella brought our bags from the truck.”
Throwing myself across the front seat, I fumble around at the door and then along the floor. I have no idea where the button for the trunk is. I growl in frustration. I don’t care about our bags. I just want to get out of here. Candace is not someone I want to trifle with, especially not with my family here. They represent a lot of leverage to get me to cooperate.
“RIP me, I have the keys.” Erika taps my back. “It’s okay—I’ve popped the trunk, Mom. Dad’s got it.”
As soon as I sit up, Clint slides in and starts the car.
I take one quick look around. All I see is Ella and the other friend nonchalantly joining the crowd of people leaving the gym. These girls are good at evasion and camouflaging in plain sight. I park the concern of how they’ve learned these protective skills.
As Clint pulls out of the campus, I reach back between the seats and squeeze both Erika’s and Reid’s knees.
Reid smiles, but his tawny eyes are huge behind his flurry of lashes. Women would pay big money for those.
“How are you, buddy?” I ask.
“Who died?” Reid’s voice is quiet and teary.
