Back Before Dark (19 page)

C
ooper gulped in some fresh air, afraid he’d puke if he didn’t. He made a dash for the bikes. It was obvious that Hiro no longer looked at this as a rescue mission. She didn’t expect to find Gordy alive. To her, this was a
recovery
mission. It was about finding a body. Sure, she’d hinted at the possibility of Gordy being gone. Like she wanted to prepare Cooper for it somehow. But when he saw her smelling the air like that? She didn’t have any hope of finding him alive.

He mounted on the run and pedaled down the drive.
She thinks Gordy is dead. She thinks Gordy is dead.
The thought pounded in his head, keeping rhythm with the turning pedals.

That would change everything, wouldn’t it? All Cooper wanted to do was find his cousin. But not if he was dead. He
couldn’t
be dead.

The thing that scared Cooper was the fact that Hiro
though
t Gordy was dead. Did she have a feeling? A sense about it? If she did, why didn’t she tell him?

“Coop!” Hiro’s voice. “Wait up.”

He didn’t want to wait, slow down, or stop. Not until they found Gordy.
Alive.

Cooper passed four houses before Hiro pulled alongside, giving him a questioning look.

“Do you know how guilty we must have looked to that neighbor, taking off like that? What’s
wrong
?”

Maybe she was trying to read his thoughts. If so, she definitely wasn’t going to like what she found there.

“Coop?” Again, the alternating visual checks between the path in front of her and friend beside her. “Why the sudden rush?”

“Trying to avoid the police. Remember?” Okay, it came out a little sharper than he’d intended. He probably should explain—and apologize for the way he said it. She picked up on the edge too. Her face looked like he’d just cut her.

Lunk joined them, riding hard and huffing. “Think we should split up?”

“Maybe.” Right now Cooper wanted to be alone. He glanced at Hiro. It still looked like she was trying to figure him out. Or maybe she was waiting for an explanation. Actually, he could use an explanation from
her.
What made her so sure Gordy was dead—so positive that she’d go sniffing around for his body?

But then again, he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear her logic. Her reasoning was usually pretty solid. The last thing he needed was another valid reason why Gordy was more likely dead than alive.

Hiro rode beside him for a minute or so. Probably waiting for Cooper to smooth things over. But when she dropped back a couple bike lengths, he knew she was feeling the pain. Okay, time to fix this before it got even harder to do it.

He eased up on the speed and waited for her to catch up. When she didn’t come up beside him, he looked over his shoulder. A police car was trailing them.

Great.
He faced forward, but his mind went in reverse. Was this about the description the cops likely got from Tonya Aiello—or did it have to do with what the neighbor saw at Stein’s? Either way this wasn’t good. They should have split up sooner.

“We’ve got a tail,” Hiro said.

“Cops?” Lunk didn’t look back, but kept his pace steady.

“Oh yeah,” Hiro said. “Hanging back a half-block. Matching our speed.”

The officer must be watching them, trying to decide what to do. Cooper wasn’t about to wait and find out. If the police stopped them for questioning, they’d never get back to check Stein’s house.

“Okay,” Cooper said, loud enough for Hiro and Lunk to hear, without turning to face either of them. “At the corner Lunk and I will turn right. Hiro, you keep going. If he follows us, it has to do with the 9-1-1 call—or the nosey neighbor by Stein’s.” Either way, Lunk’s camo shorts and black T-shirt were a dead giveaway.

“And then what?” Hiro said. “You going to run if he sticks with you?”

Cooper glanced toward Lunk. He nodded slightly.

Hiro must have seen the nod too. “I want to be a police officer someday. You know that. Why is it, when I’m with you, we end up running from the cops?”

Cooper didn’t have time to deal with that now. “At the corner, smile and wave to us. We don’t want him thinking we’re on to him.”

“Right. Act natural. Like we’re out taking a casual bike ride in the rain.” Hiro gave a frustrated growl. “You two are making me crazy. Where should we meet if—”

She didn’t finish her question. Didn’t need to. Cooper knew what she was going to say.
Where should we meet if we actually get away?

Meeting at
The Getaway
would be his first choice, but no way did he want to chance leading the cop to his house. “Frank’n Stein’s. But go home and change first. We all should wear something different.” Cooper glanced at Lunk. They were all soaked from the rain anyway.

Hiro pulled up closer just before they reached the corner. “Good luck.”

Her eyes didn’t look all that confident, and honestly Cooper wasn’t feeling so lucky either. “You too.”

“It’s you guys that I’m worried about.”

He had a feeling she was right. “Here we go.”

Hiro pulled ahead, looked both ways, and sped across the street, waving as she did.

Cooper returned a casual wave as he made the turn and chanced a corner-of-the-eye check for the cop. Still there, but closer. He fought back an urge to stand on the pedals and tear out of there. There was no way he’d outrun a cop. Not on the street. If they got stopped and hauled in for questioning, their search for Gordy was over. Maybe forever.

“Second driveway,” Lunk said. “Turn in like it’s your house. I’ll follow.”

“All these homes have fenced back yards. We’ll be trapped if he pulls in the drive.”

“That’s what he’ll think too,” Lunk said. “He won’t feel a need to rush.”

Lunk’s voice sounded steady. Like he knew what he was talking about. Maybe he’d done this before. Cooper eyed the concrete driveway leading alongside the single-story home to the detached garage, set twenty feet farther back.

“As soon as we get past the house, cut around the garage to the back fence and hike your bike over it.”

By the time the cop realized it wasn’t their home—they’d be over the fence. That was the plan, anyway.

Cooper made the turn into the driveway, fighting the instinct to bolt. The cop took the corner, choosing to let Hiro ride away. No surprise there.

Lunk rode next to Coop, alternating coasting and pedaling. “Nice and easy,” Lunk said. “Like we’re in no rush at all.” They slowed even more as they reached the garage. Cooper didn’t look back, but the cop couldn’t have been more than a house away.

“Here we go,” Cooper said, angling around the side of the garage like they intended to drop their bikes behind it and go into the house. The moment they were out of the cop’s line of sight they both stood on the pedals and sped for the cedar fence. Cooper groaned. A six-footer.

“Just get over,” Lunk said. “I’ll hand you the bikes.”

Cooper dumped his bike and scrambled over the fence, dropping to the ground on the other side, on all fours, like a cat.

Lunk had Cooper’s bike over the top already, and Coop grabbed it and leaned it against the cedar. Lunk’s bike followed, and Cooper propped it next to his own. He caught a glimpse through the slats. The cop stepped into view.

His face registered an instant of surprise. “Hold it,” the cop shouted—breaking into an all-out sprint.

“Hurry!” Cooper yelled.

Lunk’s hands gripped the top of the slats—his upper body appeared an instant later as he hoisted himself up and swung a leg to the crown of the fence.

“Down!” The cop’s voice.

Lunk seemed to freeze in place like his T-shirt was caught on something. His eyes went wide and he gave Cooper a look that said it all. The cop had a fistful of Lunk’s shirt—pulling so hard that the collar jerked tight against his throat.

“Okay, okay—don’t rip it.” Lunk held one hand over his head and kept it there. There was no chance for him now. He had no leverage to get over the fence and was doing his best to stay balanced.

Cooper took a step toward the fence—wanting to help in some way.

Run. Lunk mouthed the word, still locked in place on the peak of the fence. He was stalling, clearly giving Coop a chance to escape before a backup converged from another direction. Lunk was right—it was over for him, but Cooper could keep up the search with Hiro.

“Let go of the shirt.” Lunk’s voice sounded choked. “I can get down myself.” He gave Cooper a confused look—like he couldn’t figure out why Cooper wasn’t a half-block away by now.

Just grab your bike, and don’t look back.
The voice in Cooper’s head was a familiar one. The voice that always looked out for him—for
his
best interests.

But here was another friend in trouble.
What kind of a friend runs
? A crazy idea popped into his head—and his body tensed.

“All right. Nice and easy.” The cop’s voice again.

Cooper watched for the right moment. His timing had to be perfect.

“Step back,” Lunk said over his shoulder to the cop, his arm still up in the air. “I don’t want to land on you.”

Cooper saw Lunk’s black T-shirt relax—and Cooper lunged. He grabbed a fistful of Lunk’s T-shirt by the collar and gripped his belt with the other. Cooper jerked backward with enough force to pull Lunk over the fence. They both tumbled to the ground—but instantly they were on their feet, snatching their bikes.

The cop appeared at the top of the fence—angry determination all over his face.

Cooper ran his bike halfway through the back yard, hopped on it and swung a leg over. Lunk did the same, right alongside him.

The cop vaulted the fence and hit the ground running. “Stop!”

Cooper stood on the pedals, straining every muscle to build speed across the turf.

“Stop!”

The cop was gaining.

Cooper bounced onto the concrete driveway and felt the bike surge ahead. Lunk hunkered down, matching his pace.

Even with the wind howling in his ears, Cooper could hear the cop’s footsteps pounding the pavement behind him. Cooper didn’t turn at the sidewalk, but flew right out into the street and headed up the block. Lunk swung wide beside him.

Chancing a glance over his shoulder, he locked eyes with the cop, now stopping at the end of the driveway. He was speaking into his mike clipped on his shirt, pointing at Cooper as he did. Calling for backup and telling the dispatcher exactly where the bikes were headed, no doubt.

“We’ve got to change our route as soon as we’re out of his sight,” Cooper said.

Lunk nodded. “And separate.”

He was right. Two guys riding together would be a dead giveaway.

Cooper checked the cop again. He was jogging now but away from them. Apparently, he was going back for the police car.

“They’ll be here fast,” Lunk said. “Ditch your bike and hide if you need to.”

Cooper looked down the block. They got lucky getting away from the cop back there. But when the backup arrived, they wouldn’t have the legs to get away a second time. Hiding sounded like a good thing. “See you at Frank’n Stein’s. I hope you make it.”

Lunk grinned. “Oh, yeah. I’ll get home.”

Cooper wished he had a little of Lunk’s confidence right now.

“And Coop”—Lunk looked at him with his head tilted a little—“thanks for sticking with me back there.”

“That’s what friends do.”

Lunk checked over his shoulder. “Be safe. See you at Frank’s.” He peeled off and headed in the direction they’d just come—obviously choosing the riskier route.

Cooper kept scanning ahead and behind him, quickly figuring a course home—and places to hide en route. It would be a good eight blocks by the most direct route—which he didn’t dare use. He veered off the street and onto the sidewalk, ready to turn up a driveway and try the back fence stunt if another police car showed up.
Be safe.
Right. And exactly how was he supposed to do that?

T
he basement was flooding. How high was the water now? In the darkness Gordy had no way of knowing—unless he climbed down off the wash machine and checked the water level. No thanks. He shivered. He was completely soaked.

Gordy felt the makeshift knife in his cargo pants pocket. What a joke. A knife made out of a broken piece of the ceramic toilet tank cover. He wouldn’t even have the strength to use it.

How long had it been since he ate last? He couldn’t be sure. All he knew was that he ate the last Twinkie while his flashlight still had juice. Now that was dead. Soon he would be too.

He huddled on top of the washer, rocking to fight off the cold and the cramping in his stomach. He couldn’t get dry or warm no matter what he did. The shivering came in spasms, each one leaving him a little more spent than the last. The chill crept into the basement with the water. It was like he was trapped in a flooding cave. Was it sixty degrees? Fifty? Could a guy die of hypothermia even when the temperature was above freezing?

Nobody was coming for him. Nobody would find him. How could they? He was stuck in the basement of an abandoned house somewhere.

The flooding ended his pacing to stay warm. And the chain
shackled to his raw, swollen ankle had grown thicker somehow. Heavier. He didn’t think he’d have the strength to drag it behind him even if the water did disappear.

The guy who kidnapped him hadn’t been back. What if he got arrested and refused to talk? He had heard about things like that happening before. A sick-o who kidnapped somebody and buried them alive with only enough oxygen to survive for a few days. Or maybe the guy ran from the police and got killed in a car chase—or a shoot-out. If the kidnapper was dead—so was Gordy.

The thought brought him back to the same hopeless place. Alone.

“God, please,” Gordy said, his voice weak. Hoarse. “Show them where I am. Help them find me.”

He listened. What—was he figuring God was going to answer him in an audible voice? God could. He could do anything. But Gordy didn’t hear a thing. Just the silence ringing in his ears.

But somehow he felt better every time he said that prayer.

He was going to be found. Gordy was sure of it. He just hoped he’d still be alive to see it.