House of Leights (Secret Keepers #3)(11)

“It’s kind of spooky here at night.” Brad shook his shoulders like he was preparing for battle. “Feels like we’re about to star in a thriller movie.”

My fists clenched tightly. “I really hope not.”

We fell silent, moving in the shadows – which there were a lot of – creeping our way closer to the monument. My father would be around the outside somewhere I expected. Even though the memorial was open 24/7, he would not wait in an obvious place.

I wondered where my mom was. I really couldn’t picture her slinking in the darkness like this. She was very proper and formal ninety percent of the time, so she was probably holed up somewhere. Hopefully in a safe house.

Brad grabbed my icy hand and I almost moaned at the warm relief his palm provided. His other hand went across my mouth then, silencing me as he yanked me behind a large bush. I had no idea what he was doing, until a small group of men strolled past our spot. None of them looked in our direction, and when they were gone we hurried off again. I picked up the pace, paying better attention this time.

No one crossed our path again before we reached the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Staying in shadow as much as possible, we crept up the first flight of stairs, darting in toward some nearby bushes. When no one jumped out and there was no obvious sign of any other people around, we moved toward the next flight. The lights shining in and around the memorial were almost scary after so much darkness. I liked being hidden away in the shadows.

Brad leaned his head right down near my ear. “Someone is in the bushes over there,” he breathed.

I followed his line of sight, and it took me a few moments, but I finally made out the shape of a person. I really didn’t want to go over there, especially since I would have to expose myself in the light to get there, but there was no other choice. No way would I find my dad if both of us continued to hide in the shadows.

Taking a deep breath, my hand still firmly held in Brad’s, I pulled him along as I moved toward the man-shaped shadow. My heart was pounding so hard I almost couldn’t breathe over the clenching of my chest and stomach. When I hit the light, I expected my father would step out of his hiding place, but the shadow didn’t move.

“Something isn’t right,” I whispered, pulling Brad to a stop.

From this angle I could see that the human shadow was just part of the tree and building, which was nothing to be alarmed about, and yet the feeling that something was “wrong” still wouldn’t leave me. Maybe my nerves were frayed and I had reached the end of my ability to handle this cloak and dagger routine.

“Let’s keep moving.” Brad tugged on my hand, reminding me we were standing very exposed out in the open.

Trying to breathe through my fear, I allowed him to pull me off to the side. Once the darkness wrapped around me again, some of my panic eased and I was able to think. Where would he be waiting? There had to be a specific spot that he thought I’d know. Where did we go last time we were here?

I was trying to remember, but either the situation was too tense for deep thought, or I’d forgotten whatever small detail my dad thought I’d know. The last time we’d just sat on the steps and talked for ages about all the history here.

“Didn’t you get lost in this building as a child?” Brad asked, leaning back against the wall. “Your dad tells that story all the time. He loves it. Where did he find you?”

I straightened. “Yes.” I nodded. “That’s his favorite story because he found me sleeping at the feet of the statue. I crawled over the barrier and was kind of hidden out of sight. Do you think he might be waiting for us there?”

Brad darted his head left and right, looking around. “Coast looks clear. Let’s check inside.”

He took off and I was right on his heels, past the pillars and into the white hall. There were low lights scattered around, and no sign of any other people. I moved without pause toward the huge statue

Disappointment hit me hard when there was no sign of my father. He was too large to hide like I had, and I fought against the pressure in my throat threatening to burst free. If I started to cry now, I would not stop for a week. I was a loud, ugly crier, which was definitely not the way for us to stay under the radar. I needed to keep it together. At least for now.

“He’s not here,” I said, my voice thick.

Brad stepped around the side of the barrier, looking all the way to the back of the statue. Everything was very white in here, so I paused when a splash of red caught my eye. For a second I thought it was blood, and I almost died right then, freaking out that my father had been here and was hurt.

But as I stepped closer, straining against the barrier, I realized it was a piece of paper. Right at the base of the statue.





4





Leaning out, I scraped the edge of the red paper with my fingertips, pulling it back toward me. As I straightened, note in hand, Brad made his way to my side. “What did you find?” he asked, eyes locked on the note in my hand.

I quickly opened the folded sheet and we silently read it together.

13 steps toward the sun. 13 steps toward the east. A broken shoelace will not hurt. A gilded cage of the sea.

Brad’s brow furrowed, but I let out a low chuckle. “Tell me you know what the hell that means…” he said, frustrated.

I nodded. “This is a poem I made up when I was seven. It was a class project. They gave us a list of five words and we had to use them in a poem. Mine made no sense at all, but my mom laughed and said it was perfect. She put it on the fridge.” My hand tightened in the paper. “Then one day, it was gone. Dad told me he took it to his work and put it up on the wall as a reminder of everything he had at home. A reminder of his funny, smart, and silly daughter.”