Stealth Moves (8 page)

Holly was scarfing down a ham sandwich when Mike arrived, dripping wet. She handed him his tartan throw. “Are you going to change clothes?”

“Nope. My room’s four floors up. Once I get there, I’m staying. Tea ready?”

“Uh huh. Why tea?”

“My father swore by toddies. Said he never got sick because of them. ‘Course, his secret ingredient was whiskey.”

“I’ll skip that part.” Holly handed him a mug. “School day tomorrow for Liv and me. No partying tonight.”

“As you wish.” Mike doctored his own tea and took a sip. “Ahh… Dad would approve. Before I make a wading pool of the kitchen, give me the skinny on what you learned.”

Holly told Mike about the backpack and Dan’s theories. Mike said, “Sounds like he’s bucking for a detective’s job.”

“But he’s too young! The detectives in Salem were all much older.”

“Challenges never stopped Dan. Back at school, he set his sights on the Everest of the social heap, every boy’s fantasy—one Karina Tinsley—even though she was three years older and way out of his league,” Mike recalled.

“And did he get lucky?”

“Lucky….” Mike tossed his head. “In a way. I married Karina, who bankrupted me before she moved on. Dan dodged that bullet. I’d say he was damned lucky.” Flinging the blanket fringe across one shoulder, Mike said, “G’night, Holly. Can’t say it’s been fun, but it’s been interesting.”

Day 7—Friday

Liv woke to the sound of screaming. A year ago, when she first came to Boston, the screaming scared her silly, but not now.

As she pelted down the stairs to her grandmother’s bedroom, the screams stopped. Liv opened the door slowly so the hall light wouldn’t knife into the room. Grandmother slept with a nightlight. Liv could see she was sitting up, eyes open, though her eyes weren’t focusing. Crying “No! No!” she clawed air with her nails.

Liv remembered Mrs. Barnes’ words: “It’s the narcolepsy. She has vivid dreams. When they’re bad, they’re really bad. Just try to soothe her, bring her back to the real world.”

“Grandmother,” Liv crooned at her bedside, “I’m here. Can you hear me?” No response yet, so Liv shifted the drapes aside to glance out the window. The terrace below was dark. Some bodyguard! A person could get murdered in this house and Holly Glasscock wouldn’t notice.

“Olivia?”

She turned. Grandmother blinked and shivered. Liv sat on the bed to hold her. “It’s okay. You had a nightmare. Everything’s okay.”

“It was so…so very real.” Grandmother shuddered. Liv hugged tighter, but Grandmother pulled away to grip her hands. “You—oh, God…” Tears misted her eyes. “Olivia, I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.” When the tears fell, Liv didn’t know what to do; being emotional wasn’t The Smallwood Way.

And yet Grandmother was saying, “I love you so.” She released Liv’s hands to swipe at her own damp cheeks. “Silly of me to cry,” she said, shaking her head. “I just want you safe. Please,
please
don’t run away from Holly again.”

“She gets in the way!” Liv fumed. “She won’t let me work on the plan to rescue Ari. Like yesterday, she wanted to stop me from going to the café to meet Ari’s mother. I
had
to be there. We’re posting the first video today. Maybe even the one on Kyle. And tomorrow—ohmygod, I need to call that guy. We have to get the second video done.”

“Guy?”

“Holly’s brother. He’s doing a part in the video. He’s gorgeous, even if his sister’s a troll.” Liv twisted her lips.

Grandmother sighed. “I wish you’d learn to accept her. The other candidates for the job were much older.” Her head lolled forward onto Liv’s shoulder. She was asleep.

Liv settled her back onto the bed, smoothed her hair, and drew up the covers. She tiptoed out of the room, but left the door cracked open in case the nightmares started again.

In her own room, Liv checked the clock—6 a.m. Too late to go back to sleep. She only had a few minutes before she needed to dress. She thought about calling her mother, but it was 3 a.m. in California. Liv sent off texts to Maddy and Tay asking if they were awake. Tay replied: Skype me.

Liv turned on her computer to find Tay’s sleepy face. With bed head and no makeup, Tay was beautiful. Liv felt a stab of envy.

“Did you hear bout Kyle?” Tay asked. “Police found his backpack at the Fens.”

“Oh, no! Does that mean…?”

“No one knows what it means. Things he should have had—wallet, phone, tablet—were missing from the pack.”

Liv grimaced. “Maybe they’re with the…the body.”

“Let’s hope not,” Tay breathed.

“So what about our videos and the concert? Are we still on for those?”

“More than ever. We’ve got to jump to light-speed. The footage on Kyle is ready to go, and the episode with Ari is finished except for the hero part. We need you to call our hero.”

“Cameron. His name’s Cameron. No,” Liv moaned. “I…I dunno. I guess I feel weird about it, like we’re twisting his arm or something.”

“So? It’s all in a good cause. And besides, his picture was foxy. I want to meet him.” Tay purred. “Give me Cameron’s number. I’ll call him.”

“All right.” Liv found her phone and read the stored number aloud. “Got that?”

“Uh huh. One other thing: Can he stay at your house? We need him tonight and part of Saturday.”

“There’s nowhere to park.”

“Shizbah. That’s a problem.” Tay paused, then said, “I’ll talk to Chase. His condo has an extra parking space. Cameron can stay with Chase.”

“Chase is in on the plan now?” Liv’s brain fluttered at the idea. He’d had been friendly to her yesterday at the café. Maybe that meant good things.

“He’s doing the filming. Rodrigo’s still directing.” Tay made a face.

“Rodrigo’s sure to eff it up. Why do we need him?”

“Maddy’s pick. He’s her challenge of the week. Mads thinks Rodrigo would be cool if he ever got over himself. She’s talked to him more than anyone else because they both live on Acorn. Rodrigo’s staying with a host family there,” Tay explained. “Okay. See you at school. Try to get in early so we can talk more.”

Liv said goodbye to Tay before she looked out her window at pouring rain. Making it to school early wasn’t going to be easy. She rushed through her morning ritual and was leaving her room when she saw her uncle coming downstairs. Dressed for work, he was moving fast, in a hurry. “Uncle Mike? Think you could give me a ride to school?”

“I have an appointment in Brookline, so I can drop you at school, but your bodyguard will have to walk home in the rain.”

“Okay!” Liv said, cheered by that thought.

The trek to Brimmer Street and then traffic inching along meant Liv only had time to stash her things in her locker before assembly. Headmaster Taunton gave an update on Kyle’s backpack, and then reminded people to walk to and from school with their companions and not to leave campus for lunch. He stepped aside to let the school psychologist speak.

Liv wondered why her uncle married the woman. Tinsley was pretty, but she wasn’t fabulous. Medium-brown hair, good shape, fashionable clothes…she did have
something
. Maybe it was her voice or the way she moved, but she held people’s attention when she talked. Just now she was urging students who felt anxious to visit her any time during the day; teachers would write hall passes.

No way, Miss T
.
I’m not going to spill my guts to you.
Liv came to Boston after her uncle and Tinsley split, but she hadn’t heard anything good about her. At school, the psychologist paid no attention to Liv, who hoped things stayed that way.

The rest of the day was a zero in terms of schoolwork, but the Hero campaign roared ahead. Liv skipped lunch to watch Kyle Blake’s video in the media room. There were shots of him tutoring other kids, teaching them chess, or working on school projects like the Homecoming float. Liv wanted this smart, likable guy back in school, back in people’s lives. She wanted to be his friend for real.

The video worked on her. Liv hoped it worked on a lot of people—not that Maddy was taking any chances. She’d set up an endless network for scoring hits on YouTube. Friends of the first girl kidnapped would post their video about Natalie Porcini tonight. Liv couldn’t wait to watch the news and hear about the viral videos.

Tomorrow, kids from school would start handing out flyers and putting up posters announcing “Be a hero! Find them! Bring them back!” Then the episode with Ari and Cameron would air. By Sunday, everyone who owned a TV or computer, everyone who drove or walked through Boston, would know about the Hero campaign.

While Liv stood in the leaving line thinking about how many people picked up the idea she started, the most perfect thing happened. Chase came to her, said, “We’re filming at my house. Cam Glasscock is getting into town around 3:30. You’re coming over, right?” and he smiled—a big, inviting smile. Liv glided through the door, her mind on his smile.

Day 7—Friday

Holly waited outside. Her hair was a beach ball of frizz from damp air. “Can’t you do something about that?” Liv hissed, hoping no one was staring.

Scooping her hair back with both hands, Holly asked, “Better?” It was, but then she let go. “I forgot to bring a Scrunchie.”

Liv dug into her purse. “Here. Use this.” While Holly made herself as human as she could, Liv called out to Maddy and Tay. “Where’s Chase’s house?” They gave her directions but went on without her.

Feeling angry, embarrassed, abandoned, Liv stayed silent for three blocks. Finally, she told Holly, “It’s your fault my friends won’t walk with me. And now, I suppose, you’re going to tell me I can’t go to Chase’s, even though everyone’s going and we’re filming your brother today.”

Holly shook her head. “Your grandmother’s changed my instructions. If I know you’re in a safe place, you can be there by yourself. Just call me when you’re ready to leave.”

“And if I don’t?” Liv challenged.

“She’ll let the veto on your birthday party stand. Cooperate, and you’ll have the party.”

“For real?” There was so much to do! Most of all, she needed a fantastic costume. Monday, Columbus Day, was the biggest shopping day of the year. She could get what she needed at the malls. Liv made lists in her head while her feet took her toward Chase’s house on Beacon.

“We’re here,” Liv realized, stopping to look up at a massive, brick-and-stone building. “I think this is it, anyway. The entrance should be around the corner.” She led Holly down the side street.

“Your friend’s family owns this huge building?” Holly asked. “It fills the whole block.”

“Just the top two floors. It’s a condo.” Liv pulled on one of the glass doors overlaid by wrought iron. It was locked. She spotted a call box below a round side window and pressed the button. “Liv Smallwood,” she said into the box, “here to see Chase Hansen.”

The door buzzed, letting Liv and Holly into a lobby where an elderly man sat behind a desk. “Hansens, you say? Just one minute.” He picked up the receiver of an old-style phone. “Chase, two young ladies here to see you.” The guard hung up, telling Liv and Holly, “He’ll be along.”

Liv heard footsteps on the carpeted staircase before Chase appeared. He said, “You made it! We’re getting set up,” and then he looked at Holly.

“I’m Cameron Glasscock’s sister.”

“Oh. Are you coming up, too?”

“No. Just say hi for me and tell him to call before he leaves Boston.” Holly turned to Liv. “If you guys get hungry, instead of going out, why not order in?”

Chase said, “Good idea.”

To Liv’s vast relief, Holly left.

Liv told Chase, “I like your building.”

“Too many stairs,” Chase grumbled as they climbed. “We used to live in California. Had a ranch up in the hills.”

“That’s where I’m from!” So they talked about places they both knew, and about how Chase wanted to go to UCLA, which Liv thought was a great idea. “I’m going home as soon as I can,” she confided, feeling like she knew Chase a lot better by the time they reached the third floor.

As soon as he opened the door, she wasn’t so sure. She thought she’d stepped into a museum or palace—marble and silk everywhere, sculptures, ceilings twice as high as anywhere she’d lived, and those ceilings had carved flowers and paintings on them. She stopped herself from saying “Wow!”—too uncool—but she did take a long look at the front room, a vast space overlooking the Common. She saw antique furniture, thick carpets, sweeping drapes with braided cords—and a group of women seated at a table by the front windows.

“Mom and her book club friends,” Chase whispered. “If I introduce you, we’ll have to chitchat. C’mon. Everyone’s in the library.”

This room was just as tall but had wood paneling and modern furniture. Liv dumped her backpack with the others along one wall, watching Rodrigo and a guy who had to be Cameron facing each. Cameron had on the motorcycle leathers his older brother wore when he drove the bike to Liv’s school.

“Turn toward the flatscreen,” Rodrigo instructed Cameron. “We film only the back of you. You represent the viewer, so your face is not important.”

Liv thought Rodrigo was wrong. Any girl tuning into Cameron would keep watching. He was hotter than his brother because he was younger and not so cocky. He had the same glossy, slightly wavy hair, though. It looked really good, even from behind.

Cameron wasn’t convinced. “Where’s the girl my sister works for?” He eyed Maddy, Tay and then Liv.

“Me.” Liv raised a hand. She was so grateful he hadn’t said “the girl my sister
babysits
” or “takes care of” or something else awful, she was totally on his side.

“You okay with this idea?” Cameron asked.

“Let’s see how it goes. We want people to put themselves in your place, to think they can be heroes.”

Cameron shrugged and sat facing the TV.

“You must show tension with your posture,” Rodrigo said. “This is a gripping video. Let us see your emotion.”

Cameron turned to ask, “So when does it start?”

“We can’t run the video on the TV,” Chase said. “There’d be flicker. We’ll patch it in later.”

Rodrigo circled a finger for Cameron to face the screen again, then commanded, “Silence!”