“Get in.” Logan opened the back door for me. I did as he said and he climbed in right behind me.
“Did you get it?” Nolan asked, turning in the driver’s seat.
I nodded, still panting.
“We got it. Cops are here though,” Logan said. “They must have had a silent alarm we triggered.”
“Do you think they have a tracker on the painting?” I asked, mostly because I’d seen The Da Vinci Code and one could never be certain.
“Shit,” Marcus said.
“You better check that before we take it to The Lab,” Nolan added. I slid the rolled up painting out of my shirt and handed it to him.
“Drive,” Logan roared as the clear sound of sirens neared.
Nolan floored it. The car accelerated so fast, my back hit the seat. I pulled my seatbelt on as he took the first turn. Logan did the same thing beside me. We drove a couple of blocks. We were driving by Hailey’s coffee shop and bar when Nolan’s phone rang. He picked it up, his gaze flicking to me on the rearview as he spoke in what seemed like codes—yes, no, maybe, yes, tomorrow. When he hung up, he announced he was dropping me off at home.
“Thank you.” I let out a relieved breath.
“Tomorrow night, Logan will take you to The Lab.”
“And then I can ask questions?” My knee bounced.
“That’s how it works,” Logan said. “After we give you the rundown on things. How we started, why, all that fun stuff.”
“For now, you get some rest,” Marcus added. “You look like you need it.”
“Thanks. I am painfully aware of the fact that I look like shit.” I stared at him. “Are you on the hockey team too? Because I can make it a point to take pictures from your worst angles.”
They all laughed. I found myself smiling a little at my joke. Marcus looked over his shoulder at me.
“Thankfully for myself and the team, you won’t find me on the ice.” He winked.
“Marcus used to play soccer, but he got injured,” Logan said.
“I’m sorry.”
“No biggie.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I didn’t have professional ambitions. I’m perfectly content being an accountant like my dad.”
“Well, everyone needs an accountant,” I said.
“That’s right.” He smiled and turned around.
The car slowed down and came to a stop in front of my building. Logan got out of the car first. We both said bye and watched the car drive off for a beat before turning and walking into the building.
“I’m surprised you didn’t go with them.”
“I need a shower and I’m tired. I have to be up early tomorrow.”
“Oh.” I waved at Gary before turning my attention back to Logan. “To work out?”
“Yeah. I have family coming into town and want to get it over with.”
“Seeing them?” I pushed the button to the elevator.
“Yeah. Seeing them, hanging out and pretending I’m okay with their existence. Shit like that.”
“Sounds torturous.” We stepped into the elevator.
“It is.”
“Well, if you need moral support, I’m not doing anything tomorrow morning and I’m willing to sacrifice myself for the sake of saving you during that terrible time.”
“Why would you subject yourself to that?” He side-eyed me as we stepped out of the elevator on our floor.
“I know what it’s like to deal with a dysfunctional family in the morning.” I shrugged as we idled in the hall, between both our apartments.
“Yeah, I’ve heard horror stories about your Thanksgiving dinners.”
“From Lincoln?” I frowned. “Horror stories?”
“I was being sarcastic. The fact that you all choose to get together for any kind of dinner kind of means you’re not as bad as you think.”
“Dysfunctional doesn’t necessarily mean bad.”
“What does it mean then?”
“Not normal.”
“Ah.” His lip turned up slightly. “Well, my family isn’t dysfunctional. It’s practically non-existent.”
“Is that why you joined this thing?” I frowned. “What is it called anyway?”
“You’ll find out tomorrow, and yes, that’s part of the reason I joined.”
“Well, I better go get some rest. Marcus said I look like shit.” I smiled weakly.
“Marcus is an asshole. You look fine, but you should get some rest.”
“Good night then.” I started walking toward my apartment.
He gave a salute and started walking toward his. He didn’t invite me to tag along in the morning and I honestly hadn’t expected him to. A part of me wished he would have though. It was the same part of me that wanted to get to know him better, for reasons I didn’t quite understand. He left a lot to the imagination. Maybe that was it. He gave just enough to pique interest, but not enough to satisfy.
Chapter 24
Unknown number: SHES STILL OUT THERE.
Unknown number: I KNOW WHO TRIED TO KILL YOUR BROTHER.
I blinked as I read the text messages. Normally they were at least accompanied by one from my mother letting me know what Lincoln’s status was and another from either Hailey or Celia, trying to see when we could hang out. This time, it was those lone messages that greeted me first thing in the morning when I looked at my phone. I pressed my palms to my eyes and took a deep breath. What could I do? Go to the police? It was an unknown number from phones that were disconnected as soon as they were sent. I got out of bed, taking my phone with me to the bathroom.
As I brushed my teeth, I sent Hailey a text letting her know I’d be at the coffee shop in half an hour. I needed to talk to someone about this. Normally, Lincoln would be my someone, but he wasn’t here right now. Not really anyway. My chest squeezed at the thought. Two weeks were almost up. Soon he’ll be awake and able to tell us what happened. At least that was what I was hoping for. Mom wasn’t as hopeful. When she spoke to me yesterday, her voice only held grief and regret. She said the brain was a fragile thing and we weren’t sure how he’d be once he woke up. Hearing that broke my heart. I asked her who had been in the house, who had access to his room, and she called me crazy, said that he’d done this to himself, despite what I thought he said. What I thought he said. Meaning, she didn’t believe he’d shaken his head to tell me he hadn’t tried to kill himself.
By the time I left the apartment, I felt as gloomy as the sky above me. I kept my head down as I walked to the coffee shop. I was supposed to take pictures of football practice this afternoon and I had the initiation tonight. Not that anyone had bothered with telling me at what time or where that was. I also needed to go back to the rest of Lana’s notes on her computer and at some point, do actual school work. I was just so tired. So, so tired. Last night, I’d gone to bed as soon as I got home, but not even the exhaustion in my limbs helped me with the tossing and turning. I pulled open the door to the coffee shop and let out a shaky, cold, breath. Normally, it was busy in here. This morning, it seemed as though it was just me. Becca smiled at me as I approached.
“You look exhausted. How’s your brother?”