“Um… no…” I hold up both hands. “I just need to get into this apartment.”
“Why?” She squints even harder. “Is there a cat in there?”
I’m not sure how to answer this question, so I’m careful. “If I say yes, will you let me in?”
“No.” She shakes her frizzy gray head. “I don’t have a key.”
My shoulders drop, and I collapse against the door. “What am I going to do?” It’s a whispered sigh to myself, but the old lady holds up a finger.
“The fire escape is in the alley. If he leaves his windows unlocked.” Her small arms cross. “Would he be that irresponsible?”
“Only one way to find out!” I push off the door, running down the hall.
“Remember to feed the cat!” She calls after me, and I don’t bother to argue.
Slamming into the stairwell, I fly down the stairs. Outside, I skip quickly along the sidewalk, looking for any break in the buildings to access the alley.
Finally, half a block down, I spot a narrow passage almost obscured by ivy. Pushing through it, I jump back and yelp when a dog barks loudly right at my head.
“Holy shit!” A window is between us, but he paws at the glass. “Good doggy!”
I dash farther down the passage, tracing the buildings with my eyes, trying to count the windows so I can figure out which is his.
At last I locate a metal stairwell covered in flaking white paint I’m sure leads to JR’s building, but I’m stumped. The ladder is pulled all the way up, and it’s too high for me to reach.
“Shit.” I look all around the tiny, square area.
Boxes and crates are tossed around. A dumpster is against one wall, and it’s clear nobody comes back here except for garbage. Shoving both my hands into the sides of my hair, I try to think. If only I had something to stand on… Or something to reach up and catch the bottom rung so I can pull down the ladder.
If only I had a mop and a step ladder! I jump up and down then take off running back to Metallicar. Jamming the key into the trunk, I open it quickly and pull out the supplies.
“Is this some kind of miracle or what?” I’m breathless as I run back to the fire escape.
I’m sure I look like a deranged maid in a paper mask running down the sidewalk with a mop and a step ladder. If I weren’t so desperate, I’d probably stop and take a picture to send to Yarnell. As it is, I’m in the alley, looking up to where the metal fire escape ladder is all the way up.
“You’re coming down!” I’m not sure why I’ve decided that ladder is my enemy, but here we go.
Carefully, I climb to the top of the step ladder and reach with the mop as far overhead as I can. It’s super awkward, and I nearly lose my balance twice. Still, I manage to catch the bottom rung with the hair of the dry mop and pull it down to the ground. It’s spring-loaded, so as soon as I step onto it, the ladder starts to rise.
Not losing time, I climb with it, reaching the second floor quickly. Sure enough, JR’s window is unlocked. I want to yell to Crazy Lady across the hall he is that irresponsible, but there’s no time.
I dive into the one-room apartment, and quickly begin my search. Spare and very clean, JR’s bed is neatly made in one corner of the room. A brown wood dresser is beside it with a framed picture of him and Jesse sitting on it.
Picking it up, I smile at the two of them. Jesse looks about three. He’s on his dad’s hip with an arm around his neck, and they smile with matching cheek dimples. Jesse does resemble his uncle, but he’s clearly JR’s son. I think about having them both in my life, and my chest shimmers. Jesse wasn’t a fan of my football skills, but maybe I could win him over with some pancakes. It’s such a happy dream. I want it so much.
Returning the picture to the dresser, I continue searching for the phone. Scout didn’t tell me where it would be. I go to the kitchen, which is clean with only a few circulars on the bar.
A bottle of whiskey is on the counter, but it’s barely been touched. My mind flickers to the night Scout bought whiskey for us. JR and I danced in the headlights, he kissed me for the first time…
I could get lost in that delicious memory, but I don’t have time for distractions.
I go quickly into the small living area, and when I step around a chair, my eyes land on the black device lying on the floor.
“Oh, God, no.” I fall to my knees beside it, desperation tightening my throat.
It’s not just shattered. It’s demolished. The face is splintered into a million pieces, and it looks like something heavy was dropped on it for good measure. Picking it up carefully, I grab a bit of paper towel off the end table and wrap it around the device, doing my best to preserve every bit.
I’m scared now. JR said this was his only chance at a reversal. Slipping it into my pocket, I go to the door and open it.
Crazy Old Lady is still there waiting. “Did you feed the cat?”
“Oh!” I jump back with a squeal. “Yes… It’s all good. Thank you, Miss…”
“Ronnie. Short for Veronica.” She turns and goes back inside her apartment, slamming the door.
Shaking my head, I run to Metallicar. I’ll have to come back for my supplies. I’ve got to get to the nearest phone repair shop and pray they can work a miracle.
“Try ten, four, twenty fifteen.” I quickly repeat the numbers to the guy behind the counter.
When I pulled out JR’s demolished phone, the repairman’s face drained of color, but I wouldn’t let him discourage me. We’ve come too far.
He attached a bunch of wires to the dead device. Then he needed the passcode to unlock it. Thankfully, Scout was on a layover.
“That did it.” The tech winces at me. I think he meant to smile, but he’s been pretty bleak since I pulled out the phone.
“You’re a genius.” I tell Scout.
“When my brother gets out, I want you to be sure and tell him that.”
I have to hand it to him, even in the face of this dire situation, Scout still manages to try and keep things light. Of course, he hasn’t seen this phone.
“What were the numbers?”
“Jesse’s birthday.”
“Got it.” I make a mental note, October fourth. “How much longer until you get here?”
“I’m supposed to be there at seven.”
Glancing at the clock, I see it’s two more hours. “I’ll be glad to see you.”
“Same here, girl. You know, we were only together a few days, but it felt like the three of us could face anything after that road trip. Didn’t it?”
A surge of warmth fills my stomach. “It did.”
It really did.
“Here’s your receipt.” The guy hands me a long piece of paper, and he shakes his head. “Nothing is guaranteed, and we’re not promising we can fix it.”
Taking the sheet, I give him a pleading look. “Please, please do everything you can. You have no idea how important the information on that phone is.”
“You just need something off it?” His brow furrows.
“A video. It was made two days ago, and it’s vitally important.”
He nods. “Usually it only takes a day, but it might take a little longer in this case.”