"No, it's okay." Adam adjusted his sunglasses. "Michael's cell is in one big room that has a bunch of other cells, too."
Isabel assumed that Michael had been kept in a cell or a cage or something. But hearing Adam say it sucked all the air out of her lungs.
"Are any of the other cells occupied?" Alex asked.
"Only one. There's this girl, Cameron," Adam answered.
"A girl?" Maria asked. "Who is she? Why is she there?"
"I don't know. She got there right after Michael. Da-Sheriff Valenti brought her in. The doctor made her do stuff with us."
"What kind of stuff?" Isabel demanded.
"Like breaking things without touching them," Adam answered. "Or saying what number card the doctor was holding."
"Do you think she could have been one of us? From a different planet, I mean?" Max asked.
"I don't know," Adam answered, his voice strained. "I don't know anything."
"That's not your fault," Alex said.
"This crack in the ground leads to the cave," Max explained to Adam. "You can just swing yourself down. There's a big rock pretty much right below the opening that you can feel with your toes."
Adam scrambled down with ease. Isabel followed him. It felt so strange to be in the cave without Michael. It had always been more his place than anyone's. He'd spent a lot of nights out here when he couldn't deal with one of his assorted foster homes.
"What else can you tell us about the compound?" Max asked Adam after they were all settled. "How many guards are there?"
"There are always two guards outside the cells. There are always guards in the lab, too. And guards escorted me, and Michael, and Cameron everywhere. We were never alone."
"Do you know how many exits there are?" Alex asked.
"I think maybe I could find the one I came out of, but that's all I know," Adam answered, starting to sound angry at himself again.
"We can stake out the area around the compound and see if we can find any other entrances," Isabel said.
"Maybe we should check out Valenti's house," Alex said. "Maybe he has something on his computer or some paperwork that would give us info about the guards' schedules and maybe even some more details about the architecture of the compound."
"Before we launch into a major planning session, I have to go outside for a minute," Max said.
"We just got here," Isabel protested.
"I bet he has to feed the dog some cheese," Alex joked. He stood up. "I'm going, too. I have to take advantage of the lack of toilet seats."
Maria rolled her eyes. "Guys," she muttered.
Talking about the compound was making Isabel tense. She stood up and wandered around the cave, trying to work out a little nervous energy. She stopped dead when she spotted Michael's jacket lying on top of his sleeping bag.
She knelt down and lifted the jacket up to her face, pulling in a deep breath. It still smelled like him. She slid the jacket on and wrapped her arms around herself. For just one moment she wanted to pretend that they were Michael's arms around her, making her feel safe the way nothing else could.
Isabel heard a scuffling sound behind her. She turned around and saw Maria.
"I-" Maria shifted her weight from foot to foot. "I heard about you and Alex, and I just wanted to say I'm sorry. You guys seemed like a good couple."
"Thanks," Isabel murmured. She didn't want to talk right now. She wanted to hold on to the fantasy that Michael was really there with her.
"Was it…" Maria hesitated. "Is it something you think you'll be able to fix?"
Isabel shook her head. She shoved her hands in the pockets of the jacket. Maria just kept standing there.
She's thinking about that dream of Michael's we both saw, Isabel finally realized. She's wondering if I broke up with Alex because I want to be with Michael.
Isabel wasn't really used to having girlfriends yet. But she was pretty sure that when you knew one of your girlfriends had a crush-a life-threatening crush like the one Maria had on Michael-you weren't supposed to go after the guy yourself.
Maria's friendship was important to her. More important than she could have imagined a few months ago. But Michael. Isabel had to at least find out what would happen if they kissed each other. She thought it might change her life forever. And if that change meant she couldn't be friends with Maria anymore, well…
"All right. I'm going to draw something on this pad," Dr. Doyle said. "Then both of you will try to draw the same thing." He started sketching, his Magic Marker squeaking as he worked.
"All right, but no more dirty pictures, Doc," Michael said.
Cameron closed her eyes and tried to look like she was picking up some ESP vibe. It was hard not to smile. It was kind of sick how much she was actually enjoying being locked away down here.
With Michael. That was the key phrase-underlined and italicized.
Cameron heard the lab door swing open, and her eyes popped open. A guard walked in, bringing the room's guard total to three. "Sheriff Valenti wants to see you," the new guard told Cameron.
"Oooh. Someone's in trouble," Michael singsonged, trying to conceal his concern.
"Watch out for the doctor," she mouthed before she left the room, escorted by the guard. In silence, she followed him down the corridor.
The guard stopped in front of Valenti's office and knocked once. "Enter," Valenti answered. The guard opened the door for Cameron, and she stepped inside. The guard shut the door behind her.
Cameron sat down in one of the chairs in front of the sheriff's desk without waiting for an invitation.
"The security camera showed you with a machine gun," Valenti said.
She kept silent for a few more seconds. "That's right," she finally replied. "You want Michael to trust me. Do you think he would trust someone who didn't back him up during the escape attempt?"
"So the machine gun was just for realism," Valenti said. Cameron couldn't tell if he was buying her story or not.
"Michael knows I'm not stupid," Cameron answered. "It would look pretty suspicious if I left a weapon on the floor when we were supposed to be fighting our way out of this place."
"I see your point," Valenti agreed, "but I also see that you're getting pretty tight with our buddy Michael. I see the looks you flash him. You're having a little too much fun. It's all right to have fun, gypsy girl, but you better come up with some info soon. And I expect advance warning if Michael comes up with another escape plan. All you have to do is pretend you're sick, and one of the guards will bring you to me."
"Whatever," Cameron said. "So is that it?"
"Pretty much," Valenti answered. "Has there been any problems with the parapsychological abilities cover story?"
"No, all the little tricks have been working fine."
"And you remember that if he touches you, he will learn a great deal about you, possibly including the fact that you have been sent to spy on him," Valenti said.
"Yeah, I remember." Cameron stood up and turned toward the door.
"Don't leave yet. I thought you might be interested in this," Valenti said.
Cameron turned around. Valenti was holding out a sheet of paper. Reluctantly she moved toward him, took it out of his hand, and flipped it over. Her hand was shaking.