The Winning Element (22 page)
TL reached inside his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. “Everything you did tonight is right here.” TL held the phone up. “Courtesy of Chapling.”
I sat up in the desk chair. “How?”
“I had monitoring devices installed everywhere. Your phone. The stitching in your clothes.” He waved his hand around. “This hotel room.”
Anger bubbled inside of me.
“You are sixteen and a half,” TL reminded me again. “And this is the first mission you’ve designed. Of course I’m going to monitor you. If you would put aside your agitation, logic would point that out.”
“But don’t you trust me?”
His brows lifted. “What have you done here in Barracuda Key to earn my trust?”
That question bounced around in my head for a few seconds, and I came up with . . . nothing. And if I had done something, it was negated by the other. I’d purposefully deceived him.
I sighed.
“I see logic is trickling in.” TL stood. “From this moment, this mission is officially mine. You do not say or do anything unless it’s a direct order from me. And one more anything out of you and I’m sending you back to California. Beaker and I can finish this on our own.”
“What about the family?”
“I’ll do everything in my power to help them, but odds are we’re not going to find out who they are. I’m sorry. Get the recording sent back to home base so Parrot can translate it.” Grabbing the blue audio-blocker pyramid, he strode straight past me and out the door.
Beaker took in a breath like she wanted to say something, but I ignored her. I walked over and turned on my laptop, connected my phone, and punched in the scrambler code.
HI. Chapling typed.
HI. I typed back. Usually his online presence made me smile. Not this time, though. I really wasn’t in the mood.
WHATCHA GOT FOR ME?
NEED PARROT TO TRANSLATE. I clicked some keys. SENDING NOW.
I watched as my screen flicked, transmitting the recording back to home base.
GOT IT, he typed. YOU OKAY, SMARTGIRL?
Amazing how he could pick up on my mood from across cyber space.
I’M FINE, I typed back. I didn’t need him worried about me.
My cell phone beeped. I checked the display. “Lessy and Jessy are coming.”
GOTTA GO, I quickly told Chapling.
BYE! BE SAFE.
I closed my laptop, and Beaker and I lapsed into silence, staring off into space, waiting for the twins to appear. All I could think of was how bad I’d screwed up and of the family that was going to die.
Blowing out a silent breath, I dropped my head into my hand.
“Um . . .” Beaker started.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.”
“I’m sorry you know people are about to die.”
I barely nodded. Sometimes this new life of mine really sucked. I didn’t like having the inside information on bad stuff that was about to happen, especially when I was powerless to do anything.
My cell phone buzzed, and I punched in the password to decode the incoming message.
THINKING OF YOU.
I silently read the message from David and smiled inwardly at the comfort and peace it brought. I didn’t tell him how I’d screwed up.
ME TOO, I typed back.
The next day came way too early and was way too packed. Breakfast, training, rehearsal, lunch, and break. More training, another rehearsal, dinner, then a team-building activity where we all sat around with linked arms, singing. And in between, in the few moments we got to ourselves, I had to switch gears and try to focus on the mission.
At the end of the day, Beaker and I trudged into our room after the annoying sing-along.
Frustrated, I plopped down into the desk chair. “We haven’t done
anything
today regarding the real reason we’re here.”
anything
today regarding the real reason we’re here.”
“Tell me about it,” Beaker grumbled. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I’m happy Coach Capri made me work as hard as she did. There’s no way I would’ve been prepared for all this cheery stuff without all her barking.” Beaker jabbed her finger in my direction. “But tell her I said any of that, and you’re dead.”
I laughed.
Our door clicked open, and Lessy and Jessy bounded in. “Hi!”
“Hi,” Beaker and I returned.
Jessy flopped across their bed. “Looord, I hate cheer training.” Smiling at her whining, I slipped out of my chair and onto the floor, where my backpack sat under the desk. I unzipped it and dug around, searching for a lollipop.
On the bed, Beaker stretched out on her stomach. “Me, too.” Lessy plunked down next to her sister. “You’ve got the hottest coach.”
Jessy grabbed a pillow. “Yeah, everybody’s talking about it.”
Beaker and I glanced at each other. Yeah, TL
was
hot. Actually, the first time I saw him I thought he was the best-looking guy I’d ever seen.
was
hot. Actually, the first time I saw him I thought he was the best-looking guy I’d ever seen.
“Ooh!” Jessy threw her hands up. “Speaking of hot. You know CJ, that blond guy we met yesterday?” She cut Beaker a sideways glance. “Guess who I saw talking to him?”
Beaker diverted her attention to the bedspread and suddenly became very interested in the pattern.
I found a pineapple lollipop in my backpack and unwrapped it. “Who?”
“Apparently he’s a delivery guy for the hotel. He was in the lobby after lunch, and I saw him talking to our own little Tiffany.” Lessy pursed her lips as she surveyed Beaker.
I slipped the lollipop in my mouth. “Is that so?” I teased.
Beaker shot me a snarl. It cheered me up.
“He asked me if I was here with the cheerleading thing.” Beaker rolled her eyes. “As if he couldn’t figure that out by looking at my stupid getup.” She rolled off her bed. “I need a soda. Anybody want one?”
Actually, a soda sounded good. “I’ll go with you.” I dug around in my backpack and fished out some money.
Jessy started undressing. “Get me diet orange.”
Lessy flipped on the TV. “Me, too. You’ll have to go to the lobby, though. The vending machines on the floors don’t carry orange.” She cringed. “Sorry.”
I shrugged. “No big deal.”
Beaker and I left the room and got halfway to the elevator.
"Just a sec.” I jogged back down the hall to TL’s room and knocked.
Seconds passed, and, just as I turned to leave, he cracked open the door. He didn’t look happy. Behind him, Nalani sat on a bed, wiping her cheeks.
I looked at TL. “Is everything okay?”
He moved in front of me, blocking my view of her. “What do you need?”
“Where’s Coach Luke?”
“He went into town. What do you need?”
Obviously, TL and Nalani were having a personal issue, and he didn’t want me asking about it. And frankly, it was none of my business. But . . . what was
wrong
with them?
wrong
with them?
TL lifted his brows.
“Sorry.” I pointed down the hall to where Beaker stood. “We’re going to go get some sodas. Just wanted to see if you wanted anything.”
“I’m fine.”
With a nod, I turned.
“Ana?”
I turned back.
“Thank you for asking.”
I smiled a little. “You’re welcome.”
TL shut the door, and I trotted back to Beaker. We rode the elevator and headed down the long hall toward the back of the hotel where the vending machines were.
Beaker pushed open the door that led into the vending area and came to an abrupt stop. A blond guy stood at the snack machine, eyeing the selections. He had sun-dried, straight hair to his shoulders and was dressed in board shorts, a T-shirt, and flip flops. ‘Surfer dude’ popped into my mind first.
He looked up, and surprise lit his blue eyes. “Hey.”
Beaker didn’t respond, and so I answered back. “Hey.”
He stepped forward and extended his hand. “I’m CJ.” He nodded to Beaker. “I met Tiffany earlier today.”
I stepped into the small room and shook his hand. “Ana.”
CJ stood shorter than me, but definitely taller than Beaker. I’d say five feet eight. One side of his mouth lifted in a half smile, and instantly I recognized what the twins saw in him.
He turned his attention to Beaker. “How’s it going?”
With a little nod, she glanced away. How cute. Who would’ve thought she’d be so shy?
“Um . . .” He started and then stopped. “Um, I was just heading to a beach party. My friends are already there. You wanna come?”
Beaker blushed.
Actually
blushed. “No, thanks.”
Actually
blushed. “No, thanks.”
CJ’s brow twitched, and I could tell he was really bummed she’d turned him down. He cut his eyes to me. “You can come, too.”
Poor guy. He was obviously hoping my agreement would persuade Beaker. “Thanks.” I smiled to let him know I really meant it. “I’m tired. It’s been a long day.”
He shifted uncomfortably. “Well, okay then.” He went back to the machine, quickly made his selection, and snatched up his chips. “See you all around.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said as he pushed through the door.
“You, too,” he returned.
I moved over to the soda machine and fed in a dollar bill. “You could have gone with him if you wanted. You know that, right?”
Beaker shrugged.
I selected two diet orange drinks for the twins. “I mean, just because we’re here on other business,” I whispered in case anyone might be listening, “doesn’t mean you can’t go out.”
She shrugged.
I fed another dollar in. “How do you think Wirenut met Cat?”
She shrugged.
I selected a regular cola for me. “Which do you want?”
She shrugged.
Sighing, I pressed regular for her, too. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Nothing,” she grumbled. “I’m just not used to this, that’s all.”
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