The Boy from the Woods(84)

From the backseat, Hester said, “Yes.”

Oren turned toward her. “Oh. Hi.”

And with just those two words, David’s ghost materialized and sat next to her.

“Hi.”

For a moment neither of them moved or said anything. Then 4.78 Mike broke the silence. “Can we go in or what?”

“The guard will let you drop Ms. Crimstein off inside the gate,” Oren said. “Have a nice day.”

David’s ghost faded away as Oren pulled back and 4.78 Mike drove through the gate. Wilde was waiting for Hester with the golf cart. After Hester climbed in, Wilde said, “Naomi called my phone.”

“What? When?”

“Last night.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“You were out on a date.”

“What about later?”

Wilde tried not to smile. “I didn’t know how well the date went.”

“Don’t be fresh.”

“Sorry.”

“So what did Naomi say?”

“To stop looking for them.”

“Them? As in she wasn’t alone?”

“Correct.”

“Did she sound distressed?”

“Not like she was being-held-for-ransom distressed. Actually, she sounded pretty excited.”

“Like the most popular boy in the school just ran away with you?”

“Could be.”

They started up the drive.

“I got something too,” Hester said.

“Okay.”

“Ava O’Brien was at Laila’s this morning.”

That threw him. “Why?”

“Laila said she was a client.”

“In what way?”

Hester made a face. “We can’t ask—and she can’t tell. Attorney-client privilege, remember?”

Wilde checked the time. “Ava will be getting to school soon. If I hurry, I might be able to catch her on the way in.”

“And ask her what? I’ve been thinking about it. How would a legal matter with Laila have anything to do with this?”

Wilde had no idea, but with the deadline still five hours away, he felt antsy.

“I’ll be back soon,” he said.

“Where are the Maynards?”

“In their library. I’ll drop you off before I head out.”

The night had been long. Wilde hadn’t slept, going instead for a late run through the woods. He liked running through the trees at night, seeing how fast his eyes adjusted to the darkness, the five senses—yes, you used all five—all blending together, making the whole somehow greater than the sum of the parts. He’d checked in on his Ecocapsule. He hadn’t been back since Gavin Chambers’s men surrounded it. He wanted to make sure none of them had come back and tinkered with it. They hadn’t. He also hadn’t showered and changed in a while, so he took care of that too.

When he was back at his capsule, Wilde thought about the decoy idea—the Ghost Army, the tactical deception. The military purpose behind all that had been simple: Create chaos and confusion. Judging by what he’d seen on the news, that was what Rusty Eggers and his people were doing too.

It was working. In a way, when you think about history, it always worked.

He took the Maynards’ Lexus to the high school, hoping to catch Ava. Hester was right. There was probably nothing to learn here. But Wilde liked Ava. Part of him didn’t quite want to accept it, but something made him want to see her again. Ava had been on the back of his mind since yesterday at the 7-Eleven, when he’d surprised himself by suggesting they get back together again. Nothing serious. He knew that. Part of the reason he rarely went back was that while he wouldn’t form an attachment, the short-term partner might. That didn’t seem right or fair. So no encores.

Except, if he could be honest with himself, he wanted one with Ava.

So was showing up at school just an excuse to see her?

Wilde parked across from the teachers’ lot, got out of the car, leaned against it. A few minutes later, he saw Ava’s car pull in and park. When she got out, he watched her for a moment. Ava O’Brien was beautiful, he thought. Strong. Passionate. Independent. Sensitive.

He took a step toward her when a car pulled in front of him, blocking his path.

The driver leaned his head out the window. “Get in.”

It was Saul Strauss.

“Why the hell is everyone suddenly looking for me, Wilde?”

“You tell me.”

“I had nothing to do with that tape going public.”

“I know,” Wilde said.

“So why the hell is Gavin searching for me? Why did you call me?”

“Long story.”

“Get in the car,” Strauss said, his eyes glancing left and right. “I need to show you something.”

Wilde looked toward Ava. She was going through the entrance.

“It’s important,” Strauss said, “but I’m not going to stay out in the open with Gavin Chambers gunning for me. Get in now or I take off.”

Wilde hesitated long enough for Ava to disappear. No better option now. He got into Strauss’s car on the passenger side. Strauss hit the accelerator.

“Where are we going?” Wilde asked.