Back Before Dark (20 page)

H
iro sat at Frank’n Stein’s at their usual booth and watched the windows for a sign of Cooper. Or Lunk. She checked the time on her phone. It was nearly six o’clock. Almost two hours since she’d split up with the guys. And that policeman definitely was following them. What were they thinking?

She’d spent the first hour pacing along the windows. But somehow the energy seemed to drain out of her with every minute that passed. Either they were laying low, or they were at the police station answering a lot of questions.

Hiro wanted to check Joseph Stein’s house. She really did. But Coop and Lunk intended to break into the house. She knew it. She pictured them swinging their wiffle-ball bats through a window after dark. This whole thing was totally out of control. This was police work—and she wasn’t a cop. Yet. And she never would be one if she got arrested breaking into a house.

Coop and Lunk must have been caught—or at least one of them. And maybe it was for the best—especially if it was Coop. He needed to be stopped—for his own good. Maybe she should call Detective Hammer. Ask him to search Joseph Stein’s house.

Frank stepped through the door from the kitchen, the aroma
of Italian beef following him like an invisible shadow. “Can I refill your water, Hiro?”

“No, thanks. Still have half a cup.” She hoped her smile looked genuine.

He stopped at her table, wiped it with a rag, and sat across from her. “How’s Cooper?”

She looked at him, figuring how to answer.
He planted evidence. Tried dodging the police. He’s going off the deep end.
“Not real good.”

Frank nodded like he already knew. “Losing a friend can be torture, no matter how it happens.”

Was he talking about Gordy, or was he implying they were losing Coop somehow? Hiro couldn’t stand the thought. “Anybody talking about the reward you’re offering?”

He shrugged and gave a weak smile. “Lots of people talk about
wanting
it. But not many are out there trying to actually
find
him.”

She totally understood. And the truth was, if Gordy wasn’t at Joseph Stein’s, continuing to search for him was beginning to seem pointless. He might never be found. “I’m not so sure it even makes sense to keep looking.” She glanced up at him. “Do you think he’s still … alive?”

Frank hesitated. “With God around, nothing is impossible. Right?”

Hiro nodded. In other words, it would be a miracle if Gordy was alive. “But what do you feel—down there.” She pointed to his stomach. “In your gut.”

“I’m not giving up hope.”

Hiro studied his eyes. “Exactly the type of thing I’d expect you to say—if Coop was here. But it’s just me, and I’m a big girl. What do you really think?”

Frank glanced out the window as if making sure Cooper wasn’t walking in. “I think a lot of time has passed.”

“Too much time?”

Frank sighed. A tired sigh. “Maybe so. But I’m still praying I get to hand deliver that check for $30,000.”

Hiro could picture that. Mr. Stein beaming, giving a check to whoever found Gordy. “I’d give anything to see that happen.”

“Well …” Frank smiled. “I’ll be sure you’re with me when I do.”

What a guy. Always trying to encourage. But he’d said enough for her to know what he really thought.

“Cooper still out there looking?”

Hiro nodded. “But he’s getting reckless. Taking chances.”

“I’m not surprised. He’s hurting bad.”

“We all are. But I’m afraid he’s going to get himself hurt worse if he keeps going like this.”

Now it was his turn to study
her
eyes. “Is he in some kind of danger?”

She chipped off the edge of her Styrofoam cup. “I don’t know. Maybe. He’s late, but he was with Lunk too.”

Frank’s face relaxed a bit. “At least they’re together.”

Probably sharing a jail cell at RMPD. But the thought of them checking Stein’s house scared her even more.

“I just have this feeling he isn’t going to stop looking—and that’s going to get him into trouble.”

Frank had a distant look in his eyes. Like he was imagining some scenario. His eyelid twitched. Whatever he was picturing couldn’t have been good. “He won’t give up on a friend. That’s just the kind of guy Coop is.”

She looked down at the table, the pile of styro chips growing as her cup shrunk. “I just want him to stay safe.” She whispered the words to herself, really. But when she looked up, she saw Frank’s eyes glistening. Apparently, she’d said it a little louder than she meant to.

He turned away and looked out the window. Probably didn’t want her to know he’d teared up.

“There.” Frank pointed and stood. “That Coop?”

Hiro was on her feet in an instant. Somebody riding their way, about Coop’s size, but definitely not Coop. “Jake Michel. He’s from Plum Grove.” She slumped down on the padded bench.

“Maybe I should call the police. Ask them to keep an eye out for him,” Frank said. He was still looking out the window.

“I don’t think you need to do that,” Hiro said. He was probably in the station right now.

The beeper on the fryer went off.

“That’s for me,” Frank said. “Call me if you change your mind.” He opened the door to the kitchen. “And let me know when he shows up.” He took one more look out the front windows and disappeared through the doorway.

Jake wheeled up and dropped his bike outside the entrance. He pushed open the door and met Hiro’s gaze. Smiling, he walked over.

Jake was a really nice guy, but right now Hiro didn’t feel very chatty.

“Hey, Hiro. Where’s Coop?”

“He’s still out looking for Gordy,” she said, picking at the rim of the cup again.

Jake gave her a puzzled look. “And you’re not with him?”

“We were together,” she said. “But we got separated and were to meet here.” She looked past him out the window.

Jake looked serious for a moment. “Gordy and I weren’t the closest, you know, but he was a really great guy.” He turned and headed toward the ordering counter.

Was
a great guy.
Was.
That’s what Jake said. Even
he
thought Gordy wasn’t coming back.

She stacked the broken chips of Styrofoam into a neat tower, letting the thought sink in a little. It seemed the only one who thought Gordy was still alive was Coop. And he was fooling himself.

The front door opened again, but this time it was Lunk. The black T-shirt had been replaced with a white one. Just plain white. And he’d switched out his camo cargo shorts with jeans. The different clothes weren’t much of a disguise. He still looked like Lunk to her. She jumped to her feet and looked past him—but he was alone. “Where’s Coop?”

Lunk shrugged. “Dunno. We split up. I went home to change. I was hoping he’d be here by now.” He looked out the window.

“I was sure the police must have caught you.”

Lunk kept watching the road. “He did. Coop got away clean, and I handed the bikes over the fence to him. I was almost over myself, but the cop had me before I could get my other leg over.”

Hiro stared at him, waiting for him to finish. “He let you go?”

Lunk shook his head. “The moment he loosened his grip, Coop grabbed me and pulled me over the fence.”

“He
what
?”

“Coop didn’t run when the cop grabbed me—which I totally don’t get. He had the perfect chance.” Lunk stared out the window, a sense of wonder on his face. “He actually
stuck
with me.”

It was one thing to run from the cops. It was another thing altogether to help Lunk escape. This situation was escalating—or going downhill, depending on how you looked at it. Which was exactly what Hiro was afraid of. “So where is he now?”

“Laying low, I hope. Trying to get back here.” Lunk slid in the booth.

Hiro sat across from him and leaned close. “Tell me everything that happened.”

Lunk angled himself so he could watch the front window. “What can I say?” he whispered. “Coop pulled my fat out of the fire.”

She checked the time. “We should have heard from him by now.”

Hiro’s phone rang, as if on cue. She looked at the display screen.

“Coop!”

Hands shaking, Hiro connected and swung the phone to her ear. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Cooper said. “I’m safe, if that’s what you mean.”

“Lunk told me what happened.”

“He’s there?”

Hiro glanced up at Lunk. “The police are looking for you two now. They won’t let this go.”

“Which is why I think we need to stall looking for Gordy until dark,” Coop said.

Hiro couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “No more, Coop. You’ve done enough. There’s nothing more you can do.”

Lunk watched her face and leaned closer, as if trying to hear.

Coop was silent on the other end. She hadn’t meant it to come out quite that blunt, but he had to accept the truth. “Coop?”

“I’m still here.”

Hiro had to get this right. Had to calm down and talk some sense into Coop before he got himself in more trouble—or worse. “I want to find Gordy as bad as you do. You know that, right?”

“Then help me. Tonight.”

Hiro’s stomach twisted. “Help you do what? What can we do?”

“I’ve got to check Stein’s house. I could use you and Lunk.”

She banged her palm on the table, and the pile of styro chips scattered—just like all her neat little attempts to talk Coop out of doing something risky. “This is insane, you know that?”

“Look,” Cooper said. “Proctor wasn’t our guy. VanHorton is in police custody—so we can be sure his place got searched. We just need to be sure about Stein. Don’t tell me you’re not thinking he’s the one.”

She absolutely thought he was the kidnapper. But now she almost wished she’d never even said anything to Coop about it. “So why not call the police?”

“I’m practically on the RMPD ‘most wanted’ list right now. Besides, it was like you said about VanHorton. What evidence do we really have?”

Hiro let those words sink in. He was right.

“So let’s go back tonight. Find some evidence,” Coop said. “Then you can call the police.”

“We didn’t see anything the first time,” Hiro said. Maybe she could talk to Detective Hammer herself. Explain her theory. She could leave Coop out of it completely. “What evidence do you
expect to find by peeking in the windows?” She knew he wouldn’t settle for that, but she wanted to hear him admit it.

“We’re too close to quit, Hiro.” Coop paused. “And I have a plan. One more try. It’s the last house on our list.”

She tried picking up the white pieces of styro, but some floated to the floor. “This is crazy.”

“One more try.”

Hiro picked at her braid. “And that’s it?”

“I won’t ask you to do anything more than that.”

Something bothered her. Not what he said, but what he
didn’t
say. He didn’t say
he
was going to quit looking. He just said he wouldn’t ask her to help. “Coop, listen. You have to face the facts, here. We can’t keep going this way.”

“Understood,” Coop said. “Does that mean you’re in?”

“Tell me about your plan.”

“No time. Are you in?”

Hiro sighed. She wanted this to end. She didn’t want to continue to support his irrational thinking. Bailing on him now wouldn’t change his plans. She just wouldn’t know what they were. If she didn’t at least hear him out, she’d lose her chance to talk him out of it. “I’ll listen. That’s all I can promise.”

“I’ll take it,” Coop said. “The
Getaway.
Seven o’clock tonight. And tell Lunk.”

She sensed an urgency in his voice. “Where are you?”

“Someone’s coming.”

She could barely hear him. “Coop?”

“If he catches me, I’m dead.”

“Who? If who catches you?” She stood, scattering the rest of the styro chips off the table. “Coop?”

“What happened?” Lunk looked concerned. “What did he say?”

Hiro stared at her phone. “The line went dead.” She closed her eyes and prayed Coop wouldn’t end up dead too.

C
ooper watched the police car cruise slowly down the block. As soon as it disappeared around the corner he scooted out from his hiding spot and mounted his bike.

Now came the tricky part: getting the rest of the way home without being spotted.

Cooper zigzagged his way home without seeing another police car. Finally he was catching a break. And he hoped they kept coming.

He slipped in the back door and changed out of his wet clothes. The house was as empty as his stomach, and a note on the kitchen table said Mom and Mattie were still at his aunt’s house. Dad was with Uncle Jim. Did she even know about the fiasco at VanHorton’s?

What if the police arrested Uncle Jim? That would really mess things up. But Detective Hammer was there. Surely, he’d sort things out and keep Uncle Jim from being put in a jail cell. Cooper tried to push that out of his mind. He needed to concentrate. Focus.

Actually, he was relieved nobody was home. If the police stopped by they’d come up empty-handed. Maybe they’d forget all about the incident. Right. Cooper kept the lights off just in case.

He whipped out his phone and texted Mom, right on schedule.
Let her know he was home. Safe. Going to eat dinner. That would set her mind at ease—and hopefully keep her from reining him in.

Even with everything going on, Mom managed to leave him a plate of spaghetti in the fridge, wrapped in foil. She was amazing. He twirled a forkful and downed it cold before putting the plate in the microwave. He poured a tall glass of chocolate milk and drained half of it in three gulps.

The laptop sat on the kitchen table. He fired it up and punched in the website for the realty company selling Stein’s house. Minutes later he had finished checking out photos of Stein’s house. The layout was simple enough, and seeing pictures of each room helped him know what to expect when he got inside. He printed several pages of interior shots, folded them, and stuffed them in his back pocket. He’d check them out again later.

Fudge nuzzled up next to him.

“Hey, girl.” He scratched her under her collar. She leaned into his leg.

His phone chirped with a text. Hiro.

You OK?

Was he okay? No. Not at all. Not until Gordy was found. Alive. He sent back a reply.
Just got home. Safe. See you @ 7.

The spaghetti filled the hole in his stomach but didn’t do a thing for the void in his heart. After rinsing the plate and the glass, he stacked them in the dishwasher. He took the stairs to his bedroom two at a time. Fudge kept pace and tore ahead of him into his room.

Cooper reached under his bed and pulled out Dad’s dive knife. He stretched the rubber ring holding the knife in the sheath and slid the blade out halfway. Light glinted off the stainless steel, highlighting the wicked razor’s edge. He replaced the knife in the sheath and strapped it to his calf, under his jeans—and hoped he wouldn’t need it.

At his desk, he removed his waterproof camping flashlight from a drawer and pocketed it. He would have taken his Louisville
Slugger if it weren’t for the concrete-filled wiffle-ball bat already strapped to his bike frame. He gave the room one last check to be sure he hadn’t forgotten anything, then bounded back down the stairs. Fudge treated the run like a game. If she only knew.

Detective Hammer would surely suspect Cooper was behind the 9-1-1 call. It was only a matter of time before the police checked his house. Cooper didn’t want to be around when that happened. He had to get out. Hole up in
The Getaway
until seven o’clock when Hiro and Lunk got there.

“Guard the house, girl.” He scooted out the back door and jogged to
The Getaway.
The old cabin cruiser looked ghostly coated in white primer. He and Gordy planned to do the final painting at the end of the school year. He prayed they still would.

Cooper climbed the ladder propped against the transom, swung over the rail, and hustled down into the cabin. Plenty of light still filtered in from the oval windows on the side. He sat at the table and studied the satellite photos taped together to make a detailed map of the abduction area.

He looked at the last place where he’d seen the van and then the spot on School Drive where Cooper had made the bend and realized he’d lost it for good. The van couldn’t have been out of his sight for more than a minute before he’d dialed 9-1-1. And even though they had the wrong plate number, he wasn’t all that far off. Any cop seeing a silver minivan would have stopped it.

Cooper reviewed what he knew. It was possible the guy slipped out and stayed just ahead of the Amber Alert.

But Gordy hadn’t been tied. Which meant the kidnapper would have to keep tasering him, or he’d have to stop to tie him up. Stopping wasn’t likely. It would have been too risky.

Which is why Cooper was convinced the minivan stayed in town. In that case, he would have most likely kept going north on School or headed east on Campbell. Cooper traced the routes on the map.

The kidnapper couldn’t have driven far without switching vehicles. And he still had to stop to tie up Gordy. Then of course there
was the little problem that the van had disappeared completely. So the van exchange was close but couldn’t be found. Terrific. Back to square one.

Kirchoff Road worked as a dividing line cutting through Rolling Meadows. Cooper had lost sight of the minivan on the north side of town. And the more Cooper looked at the map, the more convinced he was that the kidnapper was keeping Gordy close to where Cooper had last seen him. Why would the guy risk going across a busy road like Kirchoff? What if he caught a red light?

The kidnapper had to stay to the north of Kirchoff. It made sense. He couldn’t be positive, but that was an assumption Cooper was willing to make. He had to narrow the search area somehow.

And if the kidnapper had stayed north of Kirchoff, that meant Michael VanHorton’s home was out of the question as well—but they’d already figured out he wasn’t involved.

But Joseph Stein’s was in a perfect spot. The house was located on a several block stretch of homes that backed up to Salt Creek. Lots of privacy. Fewer neighbors to notice anything suspicious. Raymond Proctor’s house was in the same area—but they’d ruled his house out as well. Stein’s house was looking better and better.

A sound outside ripped him from his thoughts. Cooper didn’t move. It couldn’t be later than 6:30. He held his breath.

Moments later, a light knock sounded on the hatch.

“Cooper? It’s Hiro.”

Cooper opened the door for her. “You’re early.”

She smiled. “Guess I had to be sure you were okay.”

Her eyes locked on the satellite photos behind him. “Figure anything out?”

“Maybe,” he said. Cooper went through his theories.

Hiro listened intently, nodding in agreement.

Cooper took that as a good sign. “So you think Stein is our man, and that he stayed in the area too?”

Hiro hesitated. “Personally, my thinking has shifted. I think
Joseph Stein left the area. But if he didn’t, your theory works. He would have stayed north of Kirchoff Road.”

In Cooper’s mind, half a victory was no victory at all. If she really didn’t think Stein was in the area, there was no way she’d be up for doing what he needed her to do.

“What makes you so sure he isn’t in the area?”

“Nobody has found the minivan. I really expected to see it in Joseph Stein’s garage.” Hiro shrugged. “He must have left the area.” She reached for her necklace and rubbed the star shield.

“Unless—”

“Unless
what
?”

Hiro didn’t answer for a moment. Like she was processing something. Her face clouded over.

“Hiro?”

“Nothing. It was stupid. I’m not even going to say it.” She smiled, but the cloud was still there.

“Coop?” Lunk called from the yard.

Cooper checked the window. “In here,” he said.

Lunk headed for the ladder, and seconds later tromped on board.

“Glad to see you in one piece,” Lunk said, grinning. “Looks like I owe you again.”

Cooper waved it off. “You’d have done the same for me.”

Lunk’s face went dead serious. “Got that right. So what’s your plan?”

Cooper stood. “Let’s just call it Plan Z.”

Hiro folded her arms across her chest. “Plan Z?”

“Yeah—because it’s about the last thing you’ll want to do.”

“Terrific,” Hiro said. “So tell me about Plan Z.”

“I’ll tell you when we get there.” He moved toward the hatch.

“Let’s go.”

Hiro did a quick sidestep, blocking his path. “I’d like you to tell me about it
now.”

Cooper looked at Lunk to see where he stood, hoping Lunk would come up with something to say.

“Want me to move her out of the way?” Lunk asked.

Not exactly what Cooper had in mind.

Hiro glared at Lunk. “Where are you going to get ten men in a hurry?”

Lunk lifted both hands in mock surrender. “Kidding, Hiro.”

Hiro nodded and turned her attention back to Cooper. “Tell me your plan.”

It was obvious she wasn’t going to budge. “Okay.” Cooper sighed. “We bust a window in the back of Stein’s home. You stand guard in front. Lunk in back. I go in and search the house.”