Back Before Dark (31 page)

C
ooper kept his eyes open. It was like trying to see in a cave—only this one was flooded. Had he really seen a light—felt a hand on his leg? Or was he hallucinating—getting loopy like Gordy? Maybe the light was that tunnel some talked about seeing—those who died—and followed the brightness to heaven, but came back somehow.

And if he did see a light … where did it go? If it was heaven—he’d gladly follow the light. Especially if an angel stood at the other end with a beach towel. Didn’t they realize he couldn’t follow? Not with the chain shackled to his ankle.

Lights? A hand? Angels carrying beach towels? He was losing it.

My name is Cooper MacKinnon. I live in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Gordy is alive.
He had to keep his mind working. He couldn’t see Gordy even though he was right in front of him, but they were still standing together on the washer lid. He gave his cousin another squeeze.
Hang in there, Gordy. Hold on.

He wished he’d written more on the wall. Not just the kidnapper’s name. But something to Mom. Dad. Mattie. And to Hiro. So much he wanted to say to her. But the walls weren’t big enough. And there hadn’t been time.

His whole body felt rigid. Every muscle tight. The shivering
hadn’t stopped. Which was a good thing, right? That had to mean hypothermia hadn’t won. Not yet.

Still no light. If it was the fire department, why did they leave? If it was Tyler King making sure he wouldn’t talk, why didn’t he pull the snorkel out of his mouth and finish the job?

He must have hallucinated. The cold was putting his brain on ice and it wouldn’t take long for the rest of him to follow.

A flash of light. He saw it—indirectly. He tried to angle himself for a better view, but the moment he did water leaked into the PVC snorkel.

He coughed, choked, swallowed fast and coughed again until the water cleared and he could breathe again. He took several gasping breaths. Gordy squeezed him. Just knowing he was there—and still alive—gave Cooper some comfort.

The light grew brighter. But that light … heaven—or hallucination?
My name is Cooper. My name is Cooper. My name. My name is—

A hand grabbed his and squeezed. Cooper gripped back. Definitely not Tyler King. And not Gordy. Then the hand was gone, and strong hands gripped the leg with the chain.

Cooper heard the chain chinking and rattling. The sound of metal on metal. Strange, how sound carries underwater. Somebody was definitely trying to get him free.
Thank you, God. Thank you.

The extra movement made it tricky to keep the snorkel steady. Water seeped in, Cooper coughed and gagged again, struggling to keep control. He heard Gordy doing the same.

He felt a tug on his leg, then the weight of the chain disappeared. He was free.
FREE.
He let go of Gordy and grabbed at the joist over his head to keep his snorkel in place.

The hand was back on his hand—pushing something into it. Metal. Roughly larger than his fist.
A regulator
!

The hand guided Cooper’s finger to the purge valve and pressed the button. Air bubbles shot out with force.

Okay. He could do this. Just pull a switch. Cooper took several
deep breaths of air, held it, and spit the snorkel out of his mouth. In one quick move, he chomped down on the rubber mouthpiece from the regulator, just like his dad had taught him, and he exhaled sharply—forcing out any water.

Cooper took a ragged breath. Air. He exhaled and gulped in another breath. And another.

His rescuer put an arm around him and unbuckled Cooper’s belt, loosing him from Gordy. Everything was blurry, but Cooper could see two separate lights. Another rescuer was freeing Gordy.

Holding Cooper close, his rescuer eased him off the washer. Together they drifted to the floor and sort of bobbed and hopped their way across the basement like an astronaut walking on the dark side of the moon.

Darkness and shadows all around him. An eerie glow just ahead. The stairs—blurry but unmistakable. With one arm around Cooper, the man led him right to the stairwell and began his ascent. Cooper’s feet found the stairs, and with legs like lead, he tried to climb.

He broke the surface, squinted in the light, and spit out the regulator.

The room exploded in cheers.

Strong hands lifted him up the last few steps and into the kitchen. Water drained out of his soaked clothes. He stood there on shaky legs and wiped his eyes.

Suddenly Gordy was beside him, the insulation hanging from him in soggy strips. Uncle Jim was there, holding him tight and rocking back and forth.

Relief coursed through every vein and artery in Cooper’s body. He looked behind him to his rescuer.
Dad
! Cooper threw his numb arms around him, hugging him as tight as he could.

A man in a diving suit stepped out of the water and lifted his mask off his face. Cooper recognized him.

“You again,” Mr. Rill said, grinning.

“Give us some room.” One paramedic wrapped a blanket
around Cooper’s shoulders. A couple others started ripping off Gordy’s insulation, untying the cords.

Hammer picked up a scrap of insulation and one of the cords. He gave Cooper that look of his. Head cocked back and to one side. A bit of a squint. “Brilliant.”

Hiro pushed through the crowd, her cheeks as wet as Cooper’s. She didn’t say anything. Didn’t look like she could. But her face said everything on her heart. Or maybe her ability to read thoughts had rubbed off on him somehow.

Lunk stepped up behind her—looking at Cooper like he’d just seen a ghost. He almost did. Lunk put a hand on Hiro’s shoulder, and she smiled up at him.

Hammer stepped in close. “Cooper. Are you up to answering a few questions?”

Cooper nodded.

“Did you get a look at the kidnapper? Can you describe him?”

“I know e-exactly w-who he is,” Cooper said.

The room went silent. Hammer took off his glasses. His eyes—intense.

With everyone listening, Cooper said, “He works at the Global Gamer. Tyler King. W-wears a s-silver ring on his right hand.”

Hiro sucked in her breath. “He offered to put Gordy’s picture on their website.”

Hammer looked excited. “Can you describe the ring?”

Cooper pulled the blanket tighter around himself. “It has a s-skull on it. A skull wearing a crown. D-deathking.”

Hammer’s eyes were on fire. “I know him.” His jaw muscles tightened. “You’re
sure.
”

Cooper nodded. “A-absolutely. Said this was some k-kind of g-game to get b-back at you.”

“Okay.” Hammer clapped Cooper on the back. “Well, I’ve got two words for King. Game over.”

C
ooper sat with Hiro, Gordy, and Lunk at a picnic table in Cooper’s backyard. Tables and benches formed a loose circle around
The Getaway.

Frank Mustacci stood alongside Dad and Uncle Jim at the propane grill, flipping burgers. All week his marquis sign at Frank’n Stein’s ran the “Welcome Back Gordy Special.” A monster shake, two large orders of fries, two Chicago-style dogs, and a pile of napkins for five dollars. The diner had been packed—and after Gordy had been released from the hospital, he’d been there every day. Lunk had been right with him—acting as Gordy’s bodyguard. Except for a deep cough and a stuffed-up voice that sounded like a head cold, Gordy acted normal again. Frank had made it his personal mission to “fatten Gordy up” after his ordeal.

Detective Hammer strolled over to Cooper’s table, his plate piled high with chips and a burger. He set his food down, fished around in his chest pocket, and pulled out what looked like a photo—but Cooper couldn’t be sure.

“Here it comes,” Hiro said. “Another lecture about the dangers of us taking matters into our own hands.” She smiled at the detective. Hammer tilted his head to the side. “Actually, I wanted to tell
you how impressed I was with the detective work you did.” He took a step backward. “But I can see I’m interrupting here.”

“Not so fast,” Hiro said. “I’m listening.”

Cooper grinned. Hammer definitely had her figured out.

The detective shrugged. “It was
good
work. You three concluded the kidnapper was local, that the van was in one of the garages, and you didn’t quit.” He paused. “I could go on, but I don’t want anybody to get a big head.”

“Yeah,” Lunk said. “Like Hiro.”

Hiro slugged Lunk in the arm, which only made him smile.

Hammer flipped the photo down on the table. “Got a souvenir for you, Hiro.”

A mug shot of Tyler King.

Hiro’s mouth opened slightly. “You got him?”

“Oh yeah.” Hammer smiled. “Holed up in the Motel 6 near Arlington Park. The
Deathking
might have gotten death row if Coop hadn’t pulled a MacGyver with that insulation.”

Hiro looked totally confused. “MacGyver?”

“An old TV show,” Gordy said. “About a guy who used whatever he could find around him to get out of dangerous situations.”

“Oh.”

“See?” Gordy nodded. “Who says TV is bad for you? It could save your life.”

Hiro ignored him. “Wish I’d been there to see you slap the cuffs on him.”

“Someday you’ll be slapping cuffs on the bad guys yourself,” Hammer said. “I have no doubt.”

Cooper pictured her reciting the Miranda rights. She already had them memorized.

“And for you, Cooper.” He reached back in his chest pocket and set the “king ring” on the table.

Just the sight of it made Cooper’s stomach twist.

Hammer eyed Cooper. “You took on the
Deathking—
and lived to tell about it. I figure you deserve some kind of trophy.”

Cooper wasn’t so sure he even wanted the ring. But when he thought of it as a trophy, a reminder of how God helped him in such a powerful way, he kind of liked the idea.

Hiro snatched it up and studied it. “Won’t you need this for evidence?”

Hammer shook his head. “Not anymore. King’s lawyer handed us a full confession in exchange for some leniency with the sentencing.”

The news of the confession came as a relief to Cooper. Hopefully that meant he wouldn’t have to testify in court.

“King’s motive,” Hiro said. “Was it really all just a game to him? Trying to prove a point?”

Detective Hammer took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It was a little more than that.”

He paused, like he was trying to decide just how much he could say.

“Let’s take all names out of this,” Hammer said. “I’ll just tell you a story, okay?”

Hiro nodded.

“Imagine a high school senior,” Hammer said. “No dad at home. And the kid is smart. Really smart. But he starts using his brains to do stupid things. Stealing cars. Breaking into houses. And he gets caught.”

“By a brilliant detective,” Hiro said.

Hammer smiled. “You’ve heard this story, I see.” Hammer hiked one leg up on the bench. “And this brilliant detective busts him—right there at the kid’s high school.”

“Where all his friends can see him,” Hiro said. “How embarrassing.”

“Oh yeah.” Hammer gave a half-smile. “The brilliant detective does have a way of making punks look really, really stupid.” He paused like he was remembering the scene.

“So the kid is hopping mad at the brilliant detective,” Gordy said.

“And it gets worse,” Hammer said. “The kid’s girlfriend had no idea what her boyfriend was into—so she dumps him. Later the kid begins to realize how his police record will limit his college choices.”

Hiro’s eyes lit up. “So the student wants to show how smart he is, and make you look stupid at the same time.”

Hammer held up one hand. “He wants to make the
brilliant detective
look stupid. This is just a story, remember?”

“Payback.” Lunk nodded. “That motive works.”

“That it does,” Hammer said. “That it does.”

Hiro turned the ring over in her hands. “A skull wearing a crown. Creepy. I’m surprised he let you take it.”

“Spoils of war,” Hammer said. “He tried to hide it at first. Tried to make it disappear, in fact.”

Cooper leaned forward, wanting him to give more details, but not sure he should pry.

“Nicely done, Detective Hammer,” Hiro said. “Where’d you find it?”

Hammer looked like he was hoping she’d ask. “Remember that hotel room where we found him?”

Hiro nodded.

“We found the ring in the toilet.”

“Eewww.” Hiro dropped the ring on the table. “Ew, ew, ew.” She held her hands out like they were contaminated.

“And I don’t think he’d flushed that thing in days.”

Lunk and Gordy nearly fell off the bench laughing.

Hiro stood and reached into her pocket with her thumb and one finger. She pulled out a pocket-sized bottle of hand sanitizer.

Cooper figured she just might use up the whole thing. More people started to mill around the table, like they knew this was where the fun was.

Lunk left the table and came back a minute later with two yellow wiffle-ball bats. He set them on the table. “As long as we’re giving gifts, I have a couple of things to hand out.”

“Oh, great,” Hammer said. “I don’t believe I’m seeing this.”
Lunk handed one of the concrete-filled bats to Gordy. “Stay safe.”

Gordy picked it up, bounced it a couple times in his hands as if to test the weight. “I love it. But I don’t think I could have pulled it out quick enough to stop him from grabbing me.”

“If he’d have seen this on your bike, he wouldn’t have tried.”

Cooper smiled. It looked like he wouldn’t have to work so hard to help Lunk fit into the group.

“And this one”—Lunk handed the second bat to Hiro—”Is for you.”

Hiro scowled. “I do
not
want a concrete-filled bat strapped to my bike,” she said. “Or anywhere else for that matter.”

Lunk shrugged. “Well, I’m tired of you borrowing mine.”

Hammer leaned back and laughed. They all did. Except Hiro. She sat there pretending to look mad.

By now the entire group seemed to be around the table. Officer Sykes stepped up, grinning. He’d been smiling all week.

Frank Mustacci cleared his throat. “I have an announcement,” he said. He drew three envelopes from his apron pocket.

The crowd quieted. He handed one envelope each to Cooper, Lunk, and Hiro. “A three-way split on the $30,000 reward I posted.”

Somebody gasped. The crowd surrounding them clapped. Cooper held the envelope with both hands and tried to wrap his head around what he had just heard.

“We can’t take this,” Hiro said. She tried to return it, but Frank raised his hands and took a step back.

“Nothing could have brought me more joy this week than writing these checks.” Frank pointed at her. “And nobody is going to take that joy away—not even you, Hiro.”

Cooper opened the envelope and peeked inside. A check for $10,000. Unbelievable.

Lunk stared at the check on the table in front of him. He looked up and locked eyes with his mom. “You know what this means?”

“Hopefully,” Gordy said, “a bigger bike.”

Lunk didn’t even seem to hear Gordy’s comment. It was as if
Lunk forgot that people surrounded him. For this one instant it was just him and his mom—and the check.

She smiled. “Tell me.”

He waved the check in the air. “We’re staying
here.
Right here in Rolling Meadows.” He looked at Hiro, Gordy, and finally Cooper. “This is where all my friends live.”

Cooper couldn’t imagine life ever getting better than this one moment. He turned toward Hiro and found her looking at him, a slight smile on her face. “What?”

“I think this has been the happiest week of my life,” she said. “But I have a feeling the best is yet to come.” Her smile grew.

It was spooky how closely she tracked with his own thinking.

She glanced at the envelope in his hand. “How you going to spend your check?”

He’d have to do some careful thinking about that. His mind went to
The Getaway.
They could get the engines fixed. And definitely put some in the bank. He’d talk to Dad about all that later. But there were two things he knew he needed to do. “There are some broken windows I need to replace.”

Lunk snickered.

“After that,” Cooper said, “I owe somebody a couple Chicago hot dogs at Frank’n Stein’s.” He pulled the rumpled and worn index card out of his pocket—the one he’d written at the police station the night Gordy was taken. And it would be a debt he would be happy to pay.

Hiro picked it up and smiled. “So this is what you wouldn’t show me.” She gave him a curious look. “Why?”

How could he explain the deep down fear he’d had that he’d never go to Frank’n Stein’s with Gordy again? Instead, he took it out of Hiro’s hands and handed it to Gordy. “A little something I owe you.”

Gordy looked at it. Nodded. “That’s one bet I wish I hadn’t won.”

“Well if you’d rather, we can forget the whole thing.” Cooper reached for it.

Gordy pulled it back. “I’m not saying
that.
” He smiled. “You
will
pay in full, amigo.” He patted his stomach. “In fact, maybe we can go over for a monster shake when this is over.”

“Tonight?” Cooper gave him a “you’re crazy” look. “You just finished dinner.”

“Exactly. And now it’s time for dessert.”

Frank hurried back to the grill, and the crowd around the table thinned out until it was just the four of them again.

Cooper pocketed the skull ring. “So you haven’t told us what you’re going to do with
your
check, Hiro.”

She smiled. “I have an idea.” She raised her chin slightly and nodded. “But I’m not going to tell
you
three about it, thank you very much.”

Cooper knew there was no chance of prying it out of her. But knowing Hiro like he did, she wasn’t going to spend it on herself. She’d do something heroic with it. She’d help somebody who was hurting or in need.

She turned to Lunk. “Quite an amazing week, huh, big guy?”

Lunk was still staring at his check. He looked at Cooper. “Way beyond amazing. I’d go so far as to call it”—he paused—“miraculous.”

“And you thought prayer was stupid.” Hiro slugged him in the arm. “Don’t deny it.”

Lunk raised his arms in mock surrender. “Guilty as charged.” His face got serious. “I still don’t get why God allows bad things to happen to good people.”

“We live in a big, nasty world, Lunk. Bad things happen.” Hiro leaned toward him. “I don’t know why God allows some of the things he does.” She paused, like she was trying to find just the right words. “But God is still in control, and I believe he has a plan.”

Lunk slipped his check into the envelope and fanned the air with it. “Well, he definitely has a way of turning bad things into good.”

Hiro’s face lit up. “Exactly.”

“Speaking of good things,” Cooper said, “my dad said we’re going to take a vacation this summer on
The Getaway.
All of us.”

It was true. Dad had been talking it up all week.
The Getaway
was almost ready, and it would soon be floating in the clear waters of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. “Swimming. Skiing. Snorkeling. Just
fun.
”

“No mysteries,” Gordy said.

Cooper wasn’t sure that was possible anymore. Trouble had a way of finding them—and it was likely a summer vacation wouldn’t be any different.

Gordy looked at Hiro. “I’m totally serious. No detective work. None. Zero.”

“What?” Hiro acted disappointed. “No concrete-filled bats? No life-or-death situations?”

Gordy shook his head. “Nothing more risky than the four of us having a pizza on deck at sunset.”

Hiro folded her arms across her chest. “Pizza? In a confined space with three hungry guys? Sounds dangerous to me.”

“Just don’t get in Gordy’s way, and you’ll be fine,” Cooper said.

Hiro smiled. “But the idea of a vacation on the boat—with my best three friends in the whole world … it sounds like a dream.”

“Your
three
best friends?” Lunk looked at her.

Hiro pulled the braid over her shoulder and fiddled with it. “Mmm-hmmm.”

Lunk looked down at his hands—like he expected her to take it back. To say she was only kidding—because there was no way she’d
ever
consider Lunk to be one of her best friends.

Hiro seemed to pick up on that. She definitely seemed to be enjoying the moment.

“Best friends stick together.” Hiro said. “No matter what.”

Lunk looked up. “I can do that.”

“You sure proved that over the last few days,” Hiro said. She turned to face Cooper. “And so did you.”

Lunk gave Cooper a sideways glance. “You were a crazy man this week. Is there anything you wouldn’t do for a friend?”

Cooper thought for a moment. He
had
taken some insane risks.
But if you didn’t do everything you could for a friend, could you truly call yourself a friend?