Back Before Dark (26 page)

L
unk wasn’t sure how to react to that. Could Hiro be right?

He followed her out of
The Getaway
cabin. Coop was already gone. “What now?”

Hiro scampered over the dripping railing and down the ladder leaning on the transom. She jogged through the backyard—every step a soggy splash. She passed through the gate in the cedar fence, the hood of her sweatshirt pulled up against the rain.

Was she leaving?

“Hiro?” He slogged through standing water to catch up. The ground had more water than it could absorb. Hiro didn’t slow down. She was determined. No doubt about that. “You just going to go home? What about Coop?”

She glanced over her shoulder, as if she couldn’t believe he didn’t understand what she was doing. She kept up the double-time pace around the house, past the garage and right to the front door. She pressed the doorbell, seemed to rest all her weight on one leg, and folded her arms across her chest.

Okay. So she was going after him. That was more like it. Exactly what Lunk figured he’d do after Hiro went home. But this was better. They’d double-team him.

Mrs. MacKinnon opened the door. Even in the dim porch light,
he could see the red rimming her nose and eyes. She worked a wadded up napkin with her hands.

“Hiro. Lunk.” She smiled. A very tired smile. And underneath it fear and worry. Lunk had seen the same look on his mom’s face whenever his dad showed up at their door.

“Can we talk to Coop?” Hiro took a step forward, like she hoped Mrs. MacKinnon would invite her in.

Coop’s mom smiled apologetically. “He just flew in and said he was going to his room.”

“Can we speak with him?”

Mrs. MacKinnon looked at her. “Is something wrong between you two?”

Hiro shrugged. “Not really. I mean, yes, maybe. But there shouldn’t be.” She picked at her braid. “He knows I don’t think Gordy is coming back. I think I hurt him.”

Coop’s mom stayed in the doorway but reached out and drew Hiro into her arms. “It doesn’t look good, Hiro. It doesn’t look good for our dear, sweet Gordy.”

Lunk took a step back. He felt out of place. Like he shouldn’t be there.

“But Coop doesn’t want to hear that,” Hiro said. “I think he’s planning something—but he’s shut us out.”

“Let’s give him some time,” Mrs. MacKinnon said. “See how he is in the morning, after a good night’s sleep. I’m hoping to talk to him a bit before I spend the night with Gordy’s mom.”

Hiro’s disappointment was obvious.

“We all need rest,” Mrs. MacKinnon said, letting Hiro go. “That news of the memorial service hit him hard. Hit Gordy’s dad pretty solid too. Cooper’s dad is spending the night with him—more driving the neighborhood—just in case.”

Just in case? Just in case
what
? Just in case Gordy’s dad did something drastic?
But who will keep an eye on Cooper
? Lunk wanted to ask it. Wanted to get it out there. But seeing Mrs. MacKinnon’s
face stopped him. How could he add one more thing on this poor woman’s plate?

“Okay,” Hiro said. “See you tomorrow.”

Cooper’s mom gave Hiro one more squeeze, kissed her on the top of her head, and closed the door.

Lunk led the way off the front porch, sorting out his thoughts.

Hiro didn’t say another word until they picked up their bikes on the driveway. She texted Coop and waited. No response. “C’mon, Coop.”

Lunk straddled his bike. Watched her. She wasn’t mad at Coop. Hiro was
scared
for him.

“What do you think he’s going to do?”

She shook her head. “Even
I
couldn’t guess. Something I won’t like, I’m sure of that.”

Hiro swung a leg over her bike and pushed off. She glanced up at Cooper’s bedroom window. Lunk followed her gaze. The light was on. Not very bright. Maybe a flashlight?

She pushed off and kept checking Coop’s window as they wheeled down the driveway and headed toward Hiro’s house. Maybe she was hoping to see him step to the window and motion her back.

“What’s the plan now, Hiro?”

She pedaled in silence for a while. “Try to figure out what Coop plans to do—and get one step ahead of him.”

Lunk thought about riding back after he made sure Hiro got home safe. He could camp out on the front porch, out of the rain—in case Coop planned to start checking garages tonight. But he’d have to stop home first. Check on his mom.

“Stay near your phone, okay?”

Hiro’s request took him a little off guard. It almost sounded like she
needed
him. This was a first. And she wouldn’t be saying that if she weren’t scared.

He didn’t have a mobile phone. Neither did his mom. Which meant he’d have to stay home. By the land line. “Okay. I’ll keep
the phone in my room,” Lunk said. “And if you come up with anything—call. No matter how late.”

She pedaled ahead of him in silence. He liked it that way. It allowed him to try to read her. Help her if he could. She was obviously trying to fit things together. Trying to figure out what Coop planned to do. Whatever it was, it was something Coop didn’t even want him to know about.
What could he be planning that I would try to talk him out of
?

“You don’t think he’s going to check garages himself?”

“Tonight?” Hiro shook her head. “He would have taken you up on your offer to go with him.”

Lunk hoped that was true.

She coasted, turned her face up into the rain, and closed her eyes for a moment. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“Start …” Lunk stopped. Maybe he shouldn’t go there.

“Start where?”

He looked at Hiro. “With whatever scenario scares you most.”

I
n his bed, Cooper stared at the ceiling, listening ever since he’d heard the doorbell—hoping Mom wouldn’t come to get him. Every passing minute made him more sure Mom wouldn’t call him down to talk.

Hiro knew something was up, and if she had a chance to question him, Cooper was afraid she just might figure it out.
Did he really want to go through with this?

He was playing a mental game of hide and seek. Searching for truth. His deepest thoughts.

Gordy’s abduction wasn’t Cooper’s fault. He knew that. Sort of. It’s just that he hadn’t been able to stop it either. He should have gone with Gordy—and maybe, with the two of them, the kidnapper wouldn’t have tried anything.

It wasn’t hard to find reasons to beat himself up. He’d started out too slow. Failed to see the danger in time. Forgotten the license number. But the guilt belonged to the kidnapper. Gordy was gone because a
monster
was loose. Like something right out of Hollywood—only worse. Because this monster was real.

Kicking himself wasn’t going to help Gordy any more than lying awake in bed thinking about it. He needed to
do
something.
The thing he’d been thinking about all afternoon. He needed to commit to it in a no-turning-back way.

What kind of animal kidnapped kids anyway? Had this been the first person the man had kidnapped? Or was this a pattern? Was he some kind of freaky serial kidnapper? The guy had taken a real chance grabbing Gordy with others around. Was he stupid—or just that arrogant and sure of himself?

Sure of himself.
Cooper knew the answer immediately. The guy was confident because he’d probably done it before. Which meant he’d do it again. What if the man was out there right now? Cruising the park. Looking for anybody stupid enough to be out alone at this time of the night.

The guy was playing his own game of hide and seek. Seek easy prey. Grab him and hide. Watch everybody look for him. And just when everybody would feel safe, feel he’s gone—he would come out and kidnap again. Hide and seek. Hide and seek.

His phone rang. Cooper jumped—but didn’t answer it.

Thoughts as dark as the night sky crept into his mind. Whether the monster was out prowling right now or not, he would definitely come out at
some
point. At night. The guy was a predator, looking for prey. Like a vampire, lurking in the shadows. Bloodthirsty.

Sometimes rescuing your friend from darkness means going in after them.
It was true, wasn’t it? Gordy couldn’t break free, wherever he was. His hope rested in somebody finding him. Like Cooper. His best friend.

Cooper’s pulse rose, and his breathing became shallow and quickened. Everybody had been trying to find Gordy or
hunt
the monster. But nobody had tried to
bait
him.

But it was crazy. Insanely dangerous.

But did that make it right to stay in the safety of his room?

No. If you wanted to catch a vampire, you had to be willing to stick your neck out. Cooper sat up—ignoring the warning alarms in his head. There were details to work out—and not much time.

His phone chimed. A new text message—and no doubt from Hiro.

He wanted to pray. Needed to. But he wasn’t exactly sure
what
he should be praying. “God, if this is your plan, help me. Give me strength. If it isn’t … forgive me.” Cooper figured that would just about cover everything. It had to.

He slipped off his shoes. He needed to move fast without his Mom hearing and wondering why he was so busy. Fudge sat watching him like this was a game—and she wanted to play.

He grabbed the roll of duct tape out of his desk drawer and pulled a length free—the sound louder than he thought it would be. He paused to look at his bedroom door, half expecting the noise to cause Mom to check on him. Nothing.

Nine o’clock. He should have been out of the house before now. But Hiro and Lunk hung out in
The Getaway
longer than he’d figured. And Mom was still in the kitchen anyway. That would make slipping out a little tricky. But thankfully she hadn’t come up—and hopefully she wouldn’t. Maybe she figured he needed a little more time to himself.

He checked his phone. Plenty of juice. And sure enough, the calls and texts were from Hiro. He’d stall that off a little. She suspected something, and she’d try to do a little probing if he called her back. See what she could learn. “Sorry, Hiro. Not this time.” He slid the phone into his jeans pocket.

He’d scooped Mom’s phone off the charger in the kitchen before going to his room. Hopefully, Mom wouldn’t miss it. He dug it out of his pocket and checked the battery level. Slightly less than half. It would have to do.

Taking the length of duct tape, he taped Mom’s phone to his left calf, pressing the tape hard against his skin before doing a fast run in place to test it out. The phone stayed securely in place. So far, so good.

He rummaged through his desk drawer and found the disposable phone he got from Wal-mart last fall. Just looking at it brought
back a weird feeling. Creepy. Cooper ripped off another length of duct tape and secured it inside the hand-warming pocket of his sweatshirt.

Three phones. One of them would have to make it through.

Next he pulled out Dad’s old dive knife. He strapped the knife and sheath combo onto his right calf and pulled his pants leg over it. He marched in place for a moment, making sure the knife didn’t catch too much.

If somebody picked him up, he might check Cooper’s pockets, but who would think of looking for a diver’s knife strapped to his leg?

Of course, if the guy pulled out a taser the knife wouldn’t do him any good. Then again, wasn’t that the idea? Let the spider take you to its web. What better way to find Gordy? He might empty Cooper’s pockets, but he wouldn’t pat down Cooper’s legs. He’d miss the knife strapped to his calf. Yeah, he’d have the knife when he needed it.

His phone vibrated. Probably Hiro again. He ignored it. He had to.

Fudge looked at him with her ears plastered back. Like she figured out this wasn’t a game after all and didn’t approve any more than Hiro would.

“I gotta try this, Fudge,” he whispered. “It’s for Gordy.”

He added a palm-sized flashlight to one pocket and stuffed a jackknife beside it.

He clipped short pieces of duct tape and taped two spare utility razor blades to the inside of his belt. One above his right pocket, the other above his left. He did the same with the belt above his back pockets. Whether his hands were tied in front or in back of him, he’d have easy access to razors. He taped another set flat inside his shoes, right below his toes. He slipped the shoes back on, wiggled his toes to make sure the blade wouldn’t cut him, and laced them up tightly.

He pulled on his sweatshirt and slipped the canister of mace he borrowed from his Mom’s purse into the hand-warming pocket.
He added his waterproof camping flashlight. He figured he’d need it. The rain was slowing, but the damage was done. Half the town was flooding—especially the area along Salt Creek.

Six razors. Three phones. Two knives. Two flashlights. One spray canister of mace. They’d give him some kind of edge and hopefully get through undetected. He stood in the middle of his bedroom, going over a mental checklist—making sure he hadn’t missed anything. Leaving a note was out of the question. He couldn’t put what he felt into words.

He was ready. Or not.

He bent down and scratched Fudge behind the ears. Under her collar. “I gotta do this, girl.” She leaned into him. “Wish you could come with me, but you’d get hurt. Don’t tell anyone I’m gone.” He clipped her leash to her collar and tied the other end around the leg of his desk. “Sorry, girl.”

He tip-toed for the door.

Fudge strained at the leash. Whined softly.

“Shhhhh.” Cooper motioned. “Stay, girl. Stay.”

He felt weak. Felt a sudden urge to kick off his shoes and climb into bed. He wasn’t ready for this.

He pictured the moment the kidnapper jumped out of the minivan and zapped Gordy. He forced himself to remember. Steeled himself for what he had to do next.

Cooper doused the last light in his bedroom and slowly turned the doorknob. Time to play hide and seek.

“Ready or not … here I come.”

S
lipping out of the house was easier than he had thought. Part of him actually hoped Mom was still in the kitchen. That she would have given him a hug and somehow realized he intended to go out of the house—and what he planned to do. Then she would have stopped him.

Cooper mounted his bike and coasted down the driveway and onto the street. He pedaled faster. The rain had picked up again. Pelting him in the face. The hands. Cooper pulled the hood up again and tucked his chin down.

Was this stupid? Yes. Absolutely—yes. But he had to try it. Gordy needed him. He was going to give Gordy his finest effort tonight—and not out of guilt.

That’s why he couldn’t tell Hiro. Or Lunk. Not yet. Not while there was any chance they could talk him out of it. Or stop him.

God help me. Please help me.
He wished he could see God. Talk to him face to face. Ask him why he let something so awful happen to somebody like Gordy. But Cooper had asked for guidance, hadn’t he? And this was the only thought that came.

It
had
to be from God—because, on his own, he’d never have thought of trying something like this.

“God, if I’m doing the wrong thing—please—” He couldn’t finish the prayer. But God knew his heart. And God cared.

Cooper alternated between riding the street and using the sidewalk, trying to avoid the growing lakes. The storm sewers couldn’t handle the water any better than the ground could. There had been just too much rain.

His bike created a wake behind him when he couldn’t avoid the water. He should have packed the phones in plastic bags.

He continued down School Drive. Cooper passed Campbell and lifted his head enough to scan up and down the street, wondering if the minivan was really in one of these garages. He had a feeling he’d find out soon enough. He turned on Meadow Drive and felt his fear spike. He was almost there. Finally he turned at the Jewel Osco grocery store parking lot entrance. The one in the back that led to the alley between the building and the six-foot fence, separating it from Kimball Hill School.

Cooper’s stomach churned like something inside wanted to get out.
Escape. Race home.
He pedaled past the loading dock. Gordy had tried so hard to catch the minivan before it hit this spot—and to Cooper’s total regret, he’d succeeded.

As he neared the corner of the fence where it opened up to the park, Cooper stopped pedaling and coasted.

Was the kidnapper here? Watching? Reliving his successful abduction of Gordy?

Cooper braked, dumped his bike, and jammed his hands into the warm-up pouch while he looked around. Six or seven cars sat in scattered parking spots around the lot. They could belong to workers on the night shift at the Jewel.
Or one could hold a monster.

Cooper deliberately walked from the corner of the fence all the way to the bike trail entrance to the park. If the guy was here, Cooper wanted to be seen. Even the park looked completely different. The bike path was gone. Flooded. Salt Creek looked like a lake now, with the water reaching right up to the houses bordering it and
beyond. The whole place was a disaster—and Cooper couldn’t help but feel he was heading into disaster himself.

He stood at the entrance of the bike path and reviewed his plan. He’d head back to where he dumped his bike. When he got there, he’d keep his back to the parking lot, text Gordy one more time … and he’d wait. Just the thought of selecting Gordy’s name from the contact list brought a lump to his throat. But somehow it strengthened his determination.

Every muscle in his body wanted to run. Get on his bike and fly out of here. But he’d already wasted too much time doing things for himself. This one was for Gordy.

Cooper could feel it. The presence of something or
someone
dark. Evil. Somebody crawling out from under his rock.

Cooper started the walk back to the bike.
He’s here. He’s here. God help me.
Cooper kept his eyes off the parking lot as he walked—and his hood up so he wouldn’t see someone approaching out of his peripheral vision. So he wouldn’t
run.

What are you doing here? What are you doing? This isn’t a game. Run. Run
! His mind screamed warnings. Pushed him toward self-preservation. He fought against his own instincts. This was about rescuing Gordy.

But who is going to rescue you?