She couldnt disagree with that. The guys who took over the van
Shanes father, Richard interrupted. We already know all that. Where is he now?
I dont know, she said. I swear! He let me out in the storm drain and told me to climb the ladder and talk to your father. Thats why Im here.
Leave the kid alone, Richard. Mayor Morrell stalked in, slamming the office door behind him, and paused to glare at the two extra police officers standing guard. You. Out. If my son cant handle some sixteen-year-old stick of a girl, he deserves what he gets.
They left, fast. Claire put the Coke can aside on a table as the mayor sank into his big, plush leather chair. He no longer looked quite as smug as he had back at Founders Square, and he definitely looked angry.
You, he snapped. Talk. Now.
She did, spilling it out in a tumbling stream of words. Shanes father hijacking the van and pitching Gina and Jennifer out. Destroying the cell phones. Threatening Monica and sending Claire as his messenger of doom. Hes serious, she finished. I mean, Ive seen him do things. Hes seriously not afraid to hurt people, and he definitely doesnt like Monica.
Oh, and suddenly youre her bestest little friend? Please. You hate her guts, and youve probably got reason, Richard said. He got up to pace the room. Dad, look, let me do this. I can find these guys. If we put every available man and vampire on the streets
We did that last night, son. Wherever these guys go, theyre going someplace we cant follow. The mayors red-rimmed eyes fastened back on hers. He cracked his knuckles. He had big hands, like his son. Hard hands. Oliver wants this over. He wants to move up the timetable, burn the kid tonight and get them out in the open. Its not a bad plan. Call their bluff.
You think Frank Collins is bluffing? Richard asked.
No, the mayor said. I think hell do exactly what he said hed do, only a whole lot worse than we can imagine. But what Oliver wants
Youre just going to let him do it? What about Monica?
Oliver doesnt know theyve got her. Once I tell him
Dad, Richard said. Its Oliver. Hes not going to give a crap and you know it. Acceptable losses. But its not acceptable to me, and it shouldnt be to you, either.
Father and son exchanged looks, and Richard shook his head and continued to pace. We need to find a way to get her back. Somehow.
You. The mayor pointed a thick finger at Claire. Tell me the whole thing again. Everything. Every detail, I dont care how minor. Start from the first time you saw these men.
Claire opened her mouth to answer, and caught herself just in time. No, you idiot! You cant tell them the truth! The truth gets Shane fried for sure. She wasnt a good liar, she knew that, and there was too much time slipping by while she was scrambling around in her head, trying to pick up the threads of where to start the story.
I guessI saw some of them when they broke into the house, she said tentatively. You know, when we called the cops about the home invasion? And then I saw
She froze and closed her eyes. Shed seen something important. Very important. What was it? Something to do with Shanes dad
Start with the van, Richard said, and short-circuited her attempt at catching the memory. She dutifully recounted it all again, and then again, answering specific questions as fast as she could. Her head ached, and despite the cold Coke, her throat did, too. She needed sleep, and she wanted to roll up in blankets and cry herself into a coma. Oliver wants to move up the timetable, burn the kid tonight. No. No, they couldnt let it happen, they couldnt.
But they could. Without question.
Lets start over, Richard said. From the beginning.
She burst into despairing tears.
It took hours before they were done with her. Nobody offered to drive her home.
Claire walked, feeling like she was drifting half out of her body, and made it all the way home without a single incident. It was still daylight, which helped, but the streets seemed unnaturally quiet and deserted. Word was out, she guessed. Humans were keeping their heads down, hoping the storm would pass.
As Claire slammed the door, Eve came bolting down the stairs, raced to her, and wrapped her in a breathless full-body hug. Bitch! she said. I cant believe you scared the crap out of me like that. Oh my God, Claire. Can you believe those jerks at the police station wouldnt even take my statement? I even had a wound! A real wound with blood and everything! Howd you get away? Did Monica hurt you?
Eve didnt know. Nobody had told her at the police station.
Shanes dad stopped the van, Claire said. He took Monica as a hostage.
For a second, neither one of them moved, and then Eve whooped and held up her hand for a high five. Claire just stared at her, and Eve compensated by clapping both hands over her head. Yesssss! she said, and did a totally geeky victory dance. Couldnt happen to a nicer psycho!
Hey! Claire yelled, and Eve froze in midcelebration. It was stupid, but Claire was angry; she knew Eve was right, knew she had no reason at all to think Monica was ever going to be anything but a gigantic pain in the ass, butShanes dads going to burn her if they go through with the execution. He has a blowtorch.
The glee dropped out of Eves expression. Oh, she said. Wellstill. Not like she didnt ask for it. Karmas a bitch, and so am I.
Olivers trying to get them to kill Shane tonight. Were out of time, Eve. I dont know what to do anymore.
That knocked the last of Eves smugness right out from under her. She didnt seem to know, either. She licked her lips and said, Theres still time. Let me make some phone calls. And you need to get some food. And some sleep.
I cant sleep.
Well, you can eat, right?
She could, as it turned outand she needed to. The world had taken on a gray color, and her head was aching. A hot dogplain except for mustardchips, and a bottle of water solved some of that, though not the ache in her heart, or the sick feeling that had nothing to do with hunger.