The Reckoning

Thirty-seven

“SO,” SIMON SAID. “LOOKS like you and Derek are getting along again. What happened? Did he give you the look?”

“Look?”

“You know. The one that makes him look like a whipped puppy, and makes you feel like a jerk for doing the whipping.”

“Ah, that one. So it works on you, too?”

He snorted. “It even works on Dad. We give in, we tell him it’s okay, and the next thing you know, he’s chewing up slippers again.”

I laughed.

Simon slumped into a chair. “The problem is, you know he’s trying to do the right thing. So what if he doesn’t think about himself enough? Would we rather he was a self-centered “jerk?” He shook his head, then said, “You wanted to talk?”

“There’s something I need to suggest, but…Derek’s not going to like it.”

“Spill.”

I told him what I had in mind. When I finished, he swore.

“Bad idea?” I said.

“No, good idea. But you’re right-he’ll never go for it. If you even suggest it, he’ll think it’s a test and either get mad or do it to humor you, which won’t help, because if he’s just humoring us, he won’t stay there.”

“Stay where?” a voice asked.

We looked over as Tori walked in.

“I thought I heard Derek calling me,” she said. “What’s up?”

I told her my idea.

“We should have done that the minute we knew they were gu

“It does,” I said. “You’re part of this. We need to start acting like you are.”

I looked at Simon.

He shrugged. “I guess so.”

“Gosh, I’ve never felt so wanted,” Tori said.

“I trust you not to stab me in the back for fun,” he said. “But if it’s in your best interests? I’m not turning around. Just in case.”

“So I’ve gone from evil incarnate to ordinary bitch. I can live with that.” She stretched out her legs. “So who’s telling Derek?”

“No one,” I said. “That’s the problem. He won’t do it and even by suggesting-”

“You want me to lie low?” The deep rumble from the doorway had us all look up. Derek stepped in. “Pretend I took off?” He turned to Simon. “Is that what you want?”

“It is,” Simon said.

“Chloe?”

“It’s not about what we want,” I said. “Who was the one Andrew knocked out last night? Who’s the one they’re all watching? They want you gone, Derek, and I honestly don’t think they’ll make a move until you are.”

He met my gaze, searching it, like he was looking for something there. He must have seen it, because he nodded. “Okay. You’re right. We need them to relax, and they won’t do that with me around.”

Not exactly the rationale I hoped for, but I took it.

We decided the best place for Derek was the attic. There were windows that Derek could jump out of easily, so it was safer than the basement. Dirtier, but safer.

While Simon helped Derek gather food and blankets, I went outside and called Liz.

“I need to know if you can get in the attic,” I said.

“I’m one step ahead of you. I can get on the roof, in the attic, and kind of in the basement, but not so well.”

I told her about our plans for Derek.

“You want me to keep him company?” She gri

“I’m worried about him. He’s not very good at looking after himself.”

“And he could use a poltergeist bodyguard?”

I nodded. “Take care of him for me. Please.”

“I will.”

Next we released Andrew. We told him that Derek had decided it was safer for everyone if he left. We’d tried to stop him, but he’d snuck off into the woods, where he was presumably going to hide until he found a way to get off the property.

We didn’t tell Andrew that we pla

Margaret showed up while we were having breakfast, and we discovered another advantage to Derek’s disappearance-it gave us an excuse for being anxious and quiet.

As we were finishing, the doorbell rang. All three of us jumped, Simon dropping his spoon into the bowl with a clatter.

“I guess Derek wouldn’t be ringing the bell, huh?” I said.

“He might.” Simon pushed back his chair. “I’ll answer.”

I knew what he was thinking-hoping. That it was his dad. The chances of Mr. Bae ringing a bell at a house where his sons might be captives seemed pretty remote, but I followed, if only as an excuse to get away from Andrew and Margaret.

I got to the door as Simon was swinging it open. There stood Gwen.

“Hey, guys,” she said with a strained smile. She held up a box. “No donuts this time-I learned my lesson-but I brought some amazing muffins. You can eat those, right?”

“Uh, sure,” Simon said.

Simon backed up to let her in. He shot a glance at me, a clear What’s she doing here?

“Andrew’s b-been trying to get in touch with you,” I said.

“I know. Work. You know how it is.” A forced laugh. “No, I guess you don’t, lucky kids. Enjoy it while you can because the truth is”-she leaned over and whispered-“grown-up life sucks. But I’m here now and ready for action. Andrew’s message said we’re leaving for Buffalo today.”

I nodded.

“Great. I’m just in time, then. Come on in and let’s chow down on these muffins. They are amazing.”

When we showed Gwen into the kitchen, I tried to gauge Andrew’s and Margaret’s reaction. Both seemed surprised. For Andrew, it was pleasant surprise. For Margaret, not so much. She didn’t seem angry, just a

They adjourned to the living room. The three of us made excuses and took off.

“She’s lying,” Tori said. “I don’t care how ditzy she is, no one ignores a half dozen urgent calls, then sails in with blueberry muffins.”

“Russell sent her to spy,” Simon said. “He’s up to something.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “Whatever their scheme, we’ll be gone soon enough. Just keep an eye on her until then. I’m going to send Liz out looking for escape routes.”

Thirty-eight

I WAS NEARING THE stairs when Simon hailed me.

“Can you give something to Derek?” he whispered.

“It’s in my room.”

We went up. He pulled his bag from its hiding place, took out his sketch pad, folded a page in quarters, and handed it to me.

“Give him that. And tell him it’s okay.”

“Okay?”

Simon’s gaze dropped and he shrugged. “He’ll understand.” After a moment’s pause, he looked up again and forced a smile. “Now let’s do this and get out of here.”

Simon walked me to the stairs leading to the attic and roof.

“Chloe? Simon?” It was Margaret, downstairs.

Simon swore. He glanced at me.

“Can you go?” I said. “I really need to send Liz out or we’ll never get away.”

He nodded. I slid into the nearest room and shut the door as he called, “Right here!”

“I need to speak to you two.”

Margaret’s pumps clicked up the stairs underscored by the thump of Simon’s feet, ru

“Have you seen Chloe?” she asked.

“Mmm, no,” Simon said. “She was trying to find a quiet place to do some writing. Did you check the sunroom, around back? She likes-”

“I’ll look. I need you to go to the basement and help Tori bring up extra chairs for lunch.”

“Lunch? We just had breakfast. And we have plenty of chairs-”

“No, we don’t. The rest of the group is arriving to make final preparations. Andrew’s gone to the airport to pick them up, so I need you kids to help with the chairs.”