That we are perfect for each other? Pur-lease!’
OK: that didn’t sound hopeful but I recognized a snit when I saw one and knew better than to try to advance his case when she was in this mood. I slipped into the passenger seat. She turned the ignition and the car took several tries to catch.
‘Jeez. Sounds bad. It was working fine this morning.’ She thrust into reverse. ‘Heap of junk.’
‘So I take it favourite brother is demoted?’
‘You bet.’
We puttered back into town with the unnerving sensation that the car was about to stal on us every time she slowed for a junction.
‘Ready to get out and push?’ she joked darkly.
We got as far as Main Street when the electrics gave up on us.
‘Tina, I think you’d best take this to the garage.’
‘Yeah, I’m getting that message too.’ She swung onto the forecourt of the Wrickenridge gas station.
Only the pumps were open; the workshops closed for the weekend. Kingsley the mechanic was on duty at the til and came out when hearing an engine in distress.
‘Pop the lid, honey,’ he told Tina. He peered inside and scratched his head. ‘Sounds like the alternator’s gone.’
That made it much clearer—not.
He must have noticed our blank expressions. ‘It charges the battery. Without it, the power drains and you get this.’ He gestured to the car.
‘A dead car.’ Tina kicked the tyre.
‘Temporarily dead car—it’s not fatal. I’l fix it for you tomorrow.’
‘Thanks, Kingsley.’
‘I’l push it into the workshop. It’l be safe enough to leave your gear in the trunk.’
Passing over the car into Kingsley’s capable hands, we were left without a ride.
‘Wel , that blows,’ huffed Tina.
I knew the cure for that. ‘Buy you a triple chocolate chip muffin?’
She perked up immediately. ‘Just what I need.
You’re a good friend, Sky.’
We had a quick bite in the café. I managed to talk her out of her indignation against Nelson, pointing out that he was only over-eager, not malicious, in his attempts to gain her attention.
‘I suppose, but sometimes he acts like a big baby,’ she grumbled. ‘Why can’t he just grow up?’
‘Maybe he’s just on a steep learning curve.’
She smirked. ‘Hey, who’s Yoda now?’
I assumed my best wrinkled old man expression.
‘Nelson, kind he is; chance you must give him.’
She burst into laughter. ‘Get out of here. Yoda so does not have an English accent!’
I raised an eyebrow. ‘Other than that you’re saying I’m a dead ringer?’
‘If the shoe fits.’
‘Sheesh, I hate tal girls.’
Outside the café we had to go our separate ways.
It was getting dark. Streetlights on Main stuttered on, making it seem even darker in the shadows.
‘Thanks for the lesson and sorry about your car.’ I zipped up my jacket.
‘These things happen. I’l have to see if I can put some extra hours in at the store to pay for the repairs. See you later.’
I dug in my pocket for my mobile to tel Sal y and Simon I was heading home.
‘Hi, Sal y? Tina’s had car trouble. I’m walking from Main Street.’
I could hear the sound of tinny music in the background as Sal y’s voice came through. ‘Not on your own?’
‘Yes, I know. Not ideal. Can you come and meet me halfway? I don’t want to walk home alone.’
‘I’m leaving now. I’l see you by the shop. Stay where there are other people around.’
‘Fine. I’l wait inside.’
I slipped the phone in my back pocket. There was about five hundred yards between the café and the shop, and I had to cross an intersection with traffic lights. I felt happy walking it as it was wel lit and there were always lots of people mil ing about.
Setting off up the hil , I wondered how Zed was getting on. He must have stopped boarding now it was dark. Would his dad tel him I’d been over hoping to see him?
I’d almost reached the intersection when a man jogged up behind me. I took a quick glance. Big.
Heavy stubble. He had almost completely shaved his head, apart from a long tail of curly hair at the back. I moved to one side to let him pass.
‘Hey, I think you dropped this.’ He held out a brown leather purse.
‘No, no, it’s not mine.’ I clutched my bag closer to me, knowing ful wel that my red wal et was tucked deep inside it.
He gave me an ‘aw shucks’ grin. ‘That’s kinda strange—because it has your photo in it.’
‘That’s not possible.’ Perplexed I took the purse from him and flipped open the front section. My face stared back at me. A recent candid shot of me with Zed in the school yard. The note pocket was crammed with dol ar bil s, far more money than I ever had. ‘I don’t understand.’ I glanced up at ponytail guy.
There was something off about him. I backed away, thrusting it in his hands. ‘It’s not mine.’
‘Sure it is, Sky.’
How did he know my name? ‘No, it’s real y not.’ I broke into a run.
‘Hey, don’t you want the money?’ he cal ed, chasing after me.
I reached the corner but the traffic was going so fast I couldn’t risk crossing without causing an accident. My moment’s hesitation al owed him to catch up. He moved in and I felt something dig into my ribs.
‘Then let me explain things more clearly, cupcake.
You’re going to get in the car with me now without drawing attention to yourself.’
I took a breath to scream, pul ing away from his hand.
‘Do that and I’l shoot.’ He jabbed what I now realized was a gun in my side.
A black SUV with darkened windows screeched to a halt alongside.
‘Get in.’
It happened so quickly, so smoothly, I didn’t have a chance to formulate a plan of escape. He pushed me into the back seat, forcing my head down as he closed the door. The car accelerated away.
Zed! I screamed in my mind.
‘She’s using telepathy,’ said the man in the front seat, sitting next to the driver. In his late twenties, he had short red hair and a mass of freckles.
Sky? What’s wrong? Zed replied instantly.
‘That’s good. Let him know we’ve got you, darlin’.
Tel him to come get you.’ The passenger in the front had a strong Irish accent.
Immediately I shut off my link to Zed. They were using me to draw the Benedicts out.
‘She’s blocked him out,’ said the red-haired man.
The thug in the back seat pul ed me up by the scruff of the neck. I got a brief glimpse of my mum waiting outside the store, pul ing out her mobile. The one in my back pocket rang.
‘Is that him now?’ the thug asked. ‘Go on, answer it.’
He might not let me speak if I said it was my mother. I slid it from my ski suit but he grabbed it off me and pressed connect.
‘We’ve got her. You know what we want. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, two Benedicts for the two of ours.’ He cut the cal then chucked the phone out of the window. ‘Who needs telepathy? That should do it.’
‘It wasn’t them—it … it was my mum.’ I was beginning to shake. The few dul moments of shock were passing into bone-deep fear.
‘Same difference.’ He shrugged. ‘Let her tel the Benedicts.’
I could hear the buzz of voices trying to reach me
—not just Zed but the rest of the family too.
I couldn’t stop myself answering. Help me!
Please!
But then the noise deadened and faded out to nothing.
‘I let her get one heart wrenching plea through.’
The red-haired man rubbed his forehead. ‘But those Benedicts are battering away at the shield. Let’s get wel away from here.’
So he was the savant.
‘That’s harsh, O’Hal oran. You let them hear the little girl’s final words and then stopped?’ The thug was laughing.