Chapter 39 #2
“Yes!” I snap my fingers. “Good call.” I can already feel my adrenaline pumping.
When we stop outside, I quickly realize why Luke put one of his hoodies on me. The night air is cold, with that smell of fall quickly moving into winter.
We move at a quick pace, no one saying a word, but what more is there to say? It’s now time to see if any of our theories hold water.
The inn comes into sight. All the lights on the wraparound porch are on. When we enter, Mrs. Halloway, the innkeeper, lifts her head from where she’s sitting with a book in her lap. Her expression shifts from surprise to disapproval in half a second.
“Curfew was an hour ago,” she says, not unkindly but firmly. “I should be calling campus security.”
I step forward, putting on the best panicked, worried face that I can. “Mrs. Halloway. I’m so glad you’re still awake.”
“You’re breaking curfew.” She closes the book, standing to place it on the front desk she has stationed at the bottom of the stairs.
“Yes, I know, but I can’t get ahold of Emily, and I’m really worried. She came to town alone.”
Her expression softens, just slightly.
I walk over to stand closer to her, wanting this to be more girl-to-girl.
That will make her more likely to tell me what I want to know.
“She texted me, but it didn’t sound like her.
Now I’m worried, and you know, with the curfew and all.
Can you just tell me if she’s here? Safe?
I was just—” I keep rambling until she finally cuts me off.
“I’m not supposed to tell you this, but…” Bingo. I bite the inside of my cheek so that I don’t smile.
She sighs, lowering her voice. “She slipped out about an hour ago. Didn’t say where she was going, but that’s how she always is.”
“Did she seem upset? Scared?” I ask next, wanting all the information I can get.
“Determined,” Mrs. Halloway says. “Like she had somewhere to be.”
“Oh, okay,” I tell her, inwardly panicking. Where the hell could she have gone? “Well, thanks. If she comes back, will you tell her I stopped by?”
“Will do, but you all need to get back home.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I agree. “Thank you again.” I spin around and hightail it out of there, everyone following me out.
“I take it we’re swinging by the garage?” Luke asks, grabbing my arm and pulling me more into him as we quickly walk toward it.
“Yes.” His hand slightly tightens his hold, but he doesn’t protest. Pieces are starting to click together for me. “Joey warned her about Murphy targeting someone new. If she’s looking for answers, if she thinks Joey can help...”
“Then that’s where she went,” Georgia finishes.
We head toward Main Street, cutting through an alley and back lots to avoid the main road where security might patrol.
It’s dark and silent when we finally reach the shop.
The bay doors are closed, the office locked up tight.
Not one light is on. We all stand quiet for a moment, trying to see if we can hear anything, but there’s nothing. There’s definitely no one here. Crap.
“Empty,” Luke says, peering through the window.
“Joey’s house?” I ask. That’s the only other place I can think of where they can be.
“That’s on the outskirts. It’s too far to walk. I might have already looked it up.” Of course my smart best friend did.
“We need a car,” Grant points out.
Luke runs his fingers through his hair, and I know all of this is making him uneasy. “Let’s head back and grab mine, then.”
“That’s gonna take too long, plus what if Bennett comes home?” I remind him, my eyes scanning the back lot of the garage landing. He could be chopping her up right now! My eyes land on an old Bronco parked beside the dumpster.
It’s ancient and rusted along the wheel wells, but the tires look decent. Pretty sure it’s been sitting there since I got to town.
“There,” I say, already moving toward it.
“Madeline.” Luke grabs my arm. “What are you doing?”
“Watch me.” First I try the door, and thankfully it’s open.
I pop the trunk and walk around praying there are jumper cables.
“Bingo! Today must be my lucky day,” I say, grabbing them before I walk back to the driver’s side and then reach in and pop the hood.
Once in front, I prop the hood up and find the battery.
I use the jumper wire to connect the positive battery terminal to the ignition coil.
“My dad taught me this,” I say, following the additional steps one by one that I learned from him when I was fourteen.
“Said a girl should know how to get herself out of a jam.”
The engine turns over on the third try, rumbling. The old ones always stand the test of time. I jerk open the driver’s door.
“Who are you and what did you do with my best friend?” I look up to see all of them staring at me in awe.
“Get in,” I say, sliding into the driver’s seat.
“Over, Buttercup,” Luke orders. I roll my eyes but scurry over to the passenger seat. Georgia and Grant hop into the back. Luke throws the Bronco into drive, taking off.
The headlights cut through the darkness as we speed toward the edge of town. I don’t know if we’re driving toward answers or into a trap. But I know one thing with absolute certainty… I’m not stopping until I find Emily.