“Can we help you?” I asked.
“I hope so. I need two more women?” he replied.
“Two women for what?” Dana asked.
“To meet my quota.”
I sensed movement behind us, but before I could alert Dana, a needle stuck me in the neck and I screamed.
16
Kevin
My crazy sister waved her hands in the air. How could she embarrass me like that? Didn’t she remember how our mom used to be? Evidently not.
I slowed my speed to make her wait longer.
As I pedaled toward her, the summer sun I missed in San Fran was hot as fuck.
A black SUV entered the parking lot. The cages shiny exterior nearly blinded me all the way over here.
In the meantime, my sister didn’t notice the SUV. Big surprise there. Her and her friend, Dana, were gabbing as chick usually did. Whatever. I knew my sister was the typical woman. Had known her, barely, when she was a tomboy and I was three. But I saw the pictures of her when she was in middle school. She was a cool girl but not the kind dudes wanted to date, unlike now.
What was happening? The SUV stopped and blocked my view of my sister and Dana. I rode faster for some strange reason, but something had me pushing harder on my pedals.
I could be overreacting. Making something out of nothing. Maybe the heat was getting to me, but why would it? I was used to NorCal summers.
My gaze was glued on that G Wagon as I stopped at the intersection and waited for the light to turn green.
Then I heard a faint scream.
Kelly!
At the first break in traffic, I sped across, focusing on my sister. The SUV drove off and I could see her.
“Kelly!” I shouted, but of course she wouldn’t be able to hear me. I made it where my sister had been but there wasn’t anything to show there’d been a struggle. Maybe she’d gone inside and I only imagined her scream.
No. She said she would wait for me in the parking lot.
I took out my phone and called GQ.
“My man, Kevin. How’s it go?”
“Kelly’s been taken! A black G Wagon just left the hospital parking lot with her. I heard her scream!” I yelled.
“Slow down, Kevin. Are you sure it was Kelly?” His truck roared to life in the background, and I could tell I was on speaker now.
“Yes, it’s her.” I saw something sparkling on the ground. I flew off my bike and picked it up. “It’s her. I found her lucky dime on the ground.” I reached into my pocket and took out the one I carried with a purple heart painted on it. Kelly made them for us to each carry so we would know our mom was with us every day. I’d thought it was corny at the time, but I never left home without it and neither did Kelly.
“Did you see which way they went. Give me all the details.”
Tears blurred my vision as I stared at the two times. She’d dropped it on purpose, leaving a clue for me to find.
“Kevin,” GQ said in firm voice. “You gotta stick with me here. Which way did they go? Give me all the details.”
I inhaled a deep breath. “East on Greenwood Street. I heard her scream. Her friend Dana might be with her. I assume she isbecause she was in the parking lot, too.” I tried to recall if there was anything else.
“What about Corcoran? He was supposed to be there.”
