The Unwilling(103)

* * *



The screen went blank, and X spoke with his eyes closed. “Is it true that you have a number?”

His voice was soft, but the warden was as afraid as he’d ever been. One had to know X to understand. “Yes, I have a number.”

“Where is he?”

“With God as my witness, I do not know.”

“The man who delivered the tape?”

“Gone. I’m sorry…”

“Stop.” X divided his palms, his eyes still closed. “I need five minutes alone, and then I need a phone.”

“Of course.”

X breathed in through his mouth, and out through his nose. “Do your children ever disappoint you, Warden Wilson? Does your wife?”

“Disappointment is part of life.”

“How do you punish them?”

“Um … ah … I don’t.”

“Because you love them?”

“Because they’re all I have.”

“And if you can help the ones who matter?”

“I’d do anything for them.”

X nodded once, his eyes still closed. “Five minutes, please. Five minutes, and a phone.”





38


Stifling, hot, and dark, that was the world. I didn’t know where I was or what was happening. Chance’s knees dug into my spine. Something like a rivet was gouging the top of my head. Whatever the bastard’s name was, he’d wound enough duct tape around my arms and legs to immobilize someone twice as large. The tape was on my face, too. I was seriously fucking afraid, and Chance was no better off. He was sucking hard through his nose, trying to find enough air.

Three hours in the trunk?

Five?

At some point, time had simply stopped. I didn’t blame Chance for crying. I remembered a jet of blood, hot and quick, from some big man’s neck.

I could still smell it.

Why were we still alive?

That was the first question, and as questions went, it was pretty fucked up. I’d driven it around the block once or twice. It had something to do with Jason. That’s all I could figure.

Why the trunk?

What were we waiting for?

I took those questions for a longer spin, but came up just as empty. I was in the dark, and cooking alive.

Hot air in.

Hot air out.

Nothing changed until the phone rang.



* * *



When Becky Collins woke that morning, she took particular care of her appearance: the low-rise jeans that flared just right, the white vinyl belt and the daisy-print top, a little makeup, but not too much. She wore the round sunglasses with purple lenses, and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Most of the clothes were secondhand, but they fit right, and made her feel right. Even Dana White sensed the change. “Damn, girl. What’s gotten into you?” She was leaning against a brick wall, smoking a cigarette ten minutes before first bell. “Go on, girl. Swing those hips.”

Becky couldn’t hide the blush, but didn’t mind it, either. Life was different. She’d crossed over. “Give me one of those, yeah?” The cigarette gave her time to settle her thoughts: the shakeout and the light, the first, deep drag. She leaned against the same yellow brick, pushed out the same smoke, and shared the only thought that made this day different. “I’m looking for Gibby. Have you seen him?”

“It’s 7:50 in the morning. Why would you want to see any boy at such an unholy hour?”

Becky tried to play it cool, but her lips twisted in a way that most young women would recognize. She didn’t mean it to happen, but it did. And when it did, Dana came off the wall, her eyes widening into a knowing, almost suspicious look.

“Is that why you’re so smoking hot today? Because of Gibby French?” Dana said it jokingly, but gawped as the blush in Becky’s face spread like wildfire down her neck. “Wait. Is that it?” She looked Becky up and down, nothing almost about her suspicions. A wry smile twisted her face. “Did he get to second base?” One eyebrow went up, teasing her. “Third base?”

Becky turned away, dropping the cigarette at the same time, and grinding it beneath a boot.

“Oh my God.” Dana was so excited, she was almost dancing. “You went all the way! Look at your face. You totally slept with Gibby! The most notorious virgins in the school…”

“Come on, Dana. Stop it.” Becky played firm, but wasn’t really angry. She was too warm on the inside; too satisfied with the way her life had changed.

“I’m not going to stop anything. Are you kidding? Good God, girl. You’ve been talking about him since when?”

“First week of sophomore year.”

“And you really…?”

Becky had too much self-respect to share details, but she did slide the purple shades down her nose, and let Dana get a good look at her eyes.

“Oh my.” A wicked grin spread on Dana’s face. “So he was … um? I mean, was he pretty, um…? Come on, you know what I mean.”

Becky allowed herself the first real smile, teasing her friend in return. “I’m not at all sure that I do.”

“Now, Becky Collins. Don’t tease a girl.”

“Let me put it this way.” Becky put a finger on her lips, as if in deep thought. “If he asked me out again, I would say yes.”