“You guys keep me posted, okay?” Amy continues.
“I’ll be right here,” says the guy who opened the hangar. “You know I got your back. I’ll clear the path.”
“Thanks. Let Cripps know, too.”
“Sure.”
Amy shoots me a dirty look. “Time to hit the road.”
She whirls around, and I follow her back to the car, racking my brain to figure out what just happened back there. I need to know what the deal is. I want to know whether there’s a chance we’ll find my car, or whether… I needsomethingto hold on to.
“Are you tr—”
“You pull that shit one more time, we’re going straight back to Sycamore!” she blurts, backing up the car.
She’s jabbing at me with a finger, and it’s dangerously close to my eye. Damn, she reallyispissed.
“Listen up, you clown. When I tell you to sit your ass down and wait for me in the car, you do exactly that.” She snorts. “This isn’t a fucking road trip through rainbow land, okay? You’rethisclose to screwing up my plan.”
“Yeah, maybe if you’d share that plan, I wouldn’t screw it up!” I snap. “I’m on edge, okay? And you’ve left me hanging all morning.”
She sighs. “I’m gonna need you to be patient, Lewis. I let you come with me, but I never said I’d keep you in the loop.” She glances at me. “You’re going to see a lot more than I’d like you to see, trust me. Don’t make me regret this even more than I already do.”
I frown. “Are you scared I’ll tell someone? Is that it?”
Her eyes stay riveted on the steering wheel, and she opens her mouth like she’s about to fire off some smart-ass reply—then closes it.
Instead, she jerks on the wheel and peels off, tires screeching.
Okay, Amy, you win. You can deal with this alone for all I care.
I reach for my phone. It’s been a while since I last touched base, and the messages are flooding in.
LANE:So?
DON:??
ADAM:What’s happening?
I don’t even know what to say. There’s a determined glint in Firebird’s eyes, but I’m still none the wiser as to the game plan. I hate how she’s keeping me in the dark like this, but in a weird kind of way, I trust her all the same.
LEWIS:We’re in New York. I think she’s fact-finding.
LANE:Well, keep us posted, dude. It’s stressing me out, you being in this fucked-up situation.
ADAM:Relax. Seems like she’s got it under control.
LEWIS:Hope so.
DON:I told the coach what the deal was, all good there.
LEWIS:Thanks. Fingers crossed I’ll be back tomorrow.
LANE:With your car.
DON:We’re with you in spirit, buddy.
I am so,solucky to have friends like these guys. If my Dodge really is lost for good, I know they’ll have my back.Shit. I really need Amy to work some magic, here.
