“So he goes into hiding,” Gordy said.
“Exactly. But without money, he’s limited to park benches.”
Lunk thumped his head with his open palm. “So he went to the man who loaned him the money. The guy already had all that money from the robbery, so Stein’s debt was probably erased.”
“Why would he hire a guy like Stein?” Gordy said.
Lunk sat cross-legged in his berth. “Why not? He’d own Stein. He could make Stein do anything he wanted.”
“In other words,” Cooper said, “what if the guy who gave Stein the loan, masterminded the robbery of the diner, and then hired Stein as a bodyguard is Kryptoski’s dad?”
“That’s a lot of what-ifs,” Gordy said.
“But it’s possible,” Lunk said. “His casino isn’t much more than an hour’s drive from Rolling Meadows. Why couldn’t that be the place where Stein liked to gamble?”
Nobody said a word.
“But even if Fat Elvis isn’t Stein,” Lunk said, “there could still be trouble.”
“Right.” Cooper said. “Maybe Fat Elvis was supposed to scare Hiro — and us — so we wouldn’t keep asking questions about the missing girl. Maybe he was supposed to find that camera — or keep us from finding it. If he was supposed to keep junior out of trouble and he messed up on every count . . . what do you think happens to him? Do you think a boss who’s involved in organized crime will just fire the guy who totally blew it?”
“He’s dead meat,” Gordy said.
“He wouldn’t dare report back to the boss now,” Cooper said.
“He’d run,” Gordy said. “As far away and as quickly as he could.”
Nobody said a word. Cooper’s mind raced as fast as the wind whipping the waves outside. “If we’re lucky, he’d run. Fat Elvis has to be really angry right now. And if he is Stein, then this would be the second time we’ve messed up his twisted plans.” They were all in just as much danger as they had been before Kryptoski got arrested. And if this guy was Joseph Stein, then they could multiply that danger times ten.
“What time is it?” Cooper had a sick feeling. “Maybe we should go talk to Hiro tonight.”
“In this storm?” Gordy said. “There’s no way. We’d be soaked before we got to the beach. And it’s already ten thirty. We wouldn’t get back here until after midnight.”
“And nothing good happens after midnight,” Lunk said.
Cooper rummaged around in the berth for his phone. “Scoops is closed, and Katie was going to walk her to the condo, right?”
“That was the plan,” Lunk said. “You don’t think he’d try something tonight — do you?”
Lunk’s question fueled the fear smoldering deep inside Cooper. What if Fat Elvis — or Stein — wanted a little payback before he left town? Cooper wanted to push the thought back down. Bury it deep. But he was done burying his fears. The only way to keep the fear from paralyzing him was to face it. And facing it meant that he had to find out if Hiro was okay.
He wanted to talk to her. Just hearing her voice would be enough. It seemed ridiculous. Of course she was safe. Still, he wished they’d been the ones to walk her back to The Cove.
“Guys,” Gordy said, “we’re spooking ourselves here.”
“Where is my phone?” Cooper said. He checked his pockets again.
“When’s the last time you remember using it?” Gordy said.
Cooper thought. “It’s been missing all day. So I guess I used it sometime yesterday.” Cooper checked under his pillow.
“The fair,” Lunk said. “You had it at the county fair.”
Now Cooper remembered. “I put it in my backpack before we rode Typhoon.” He reached for his backpack hanging from a hook on the wall. He dug through the front pocket. “I know I put it in here.”
Gordy’s phone chirped. “It’s Hiro . . . answering my text.” Gordy’s face glowed in the light from the screen.
“What did she say?”
“She texted, ‘This better not be a prank. Remember what I did to you guys the last time? I’m warning you.’ ” Gordy snickered. “I’ll just send a quick reply.” He tapped away on his phone. “How’s this sound . . . ‘No tricks. No pranks. This is legit and you’ll love it.’ ” He looked up. “Send.”
“She’s a firecracker,” Lunk said. “Sounds like she’s okay.”
Cooper needed his phone. He wanted to call Hiro and talk to her himself. Even if it was late. He mentally retraced his steps. He’d definitely stuffed his phone into his backpack at the fair. After the Typhoon ride, he hadn’t put it back into his pocket because there wasn’t time. They’d started looking for Fat Elvis immediately — and then tailed Hiro when she broke away from them.
The boat suddenly pitched and slammed Cooper against the hull. Had the wind shifted again? The waves were really rocking the boat now. The wind was still howling, but with more rage than before. And something else was different. He couldn’t hear any pinging on the masts. Which was strange. Could the sound of the rain be drowning it out? He held his breath and strained to hear. Not a single ping. Strange.
Cooper’s mind switched back to the missing phone. After they left the fair, he’d never made any calls. And the backpack had been hanging on the wall hook ever since they’d returned to the boat last night.
Cooper rummaged through the backpack again. Except for Chimpy the stuffed monkey, it was definitely empty.
So if Cooper never took his phone out of the backpack — who did? The Getaway rolled heavily, and a puzzle piece dropped into place. His stomach twisted — and he sat up straight. “Fat Elvis took my phone.”
Hiro looked at the text from Cooper again. “Meet us at LeatherLips — by the spillway. We have something important to show you.” She scrolled down to reread her response. “Now? Seriously? It’s 10:30. And it’s raining.”
Coop’s response was immediate. “You’ll dry. 5 minutes. That’s all we need.”
That’s when she’d sent the text to Gordy. If this was another prank, she definitely wasn’t in the mood.
Her phone chirped and she opened the message. No tricks. No pranks. This is legit and you’ll love it.
Okay. They were still out celebrating. She got that. She really didn’t think Coop would have tried pulling something stupid. Not now. But getting that little bit of assurance from Gordy eased her mind. Knowing Gordy, the big surprise was probably food. Maybe they’d ordered another pizza since she didn’t eat much at dinner. She still wasn’t hungry. And why didn’t they just meet her in the foyer of the condo? Why make her go out in the rain? But then again, why did she expect the guys to start doing things that made sense?
Hiro sighed. “This had better be good.” She slipped on her sweatshirt, tucked an umbrella under her arm, and grabbed the room key. She thought about leaving a note for her mom, but she was still at the movies somewhere in Kenosha with the others. They wouldn’t be back for at least another two hours. Hiro would be back in twenty minutes.
He crouched in the shadows of the little cove and waited. Keeping the wetsuit on had been a great idea. It felt like he was wearing some kind of body armor. He was invincible.
He bounced the kid’s cell phone in his palm. Did the girl suspect anything? If she did, the cops would already be here, wouldn’t they? The real question was, would she take the bait?
A small figure holding an umbrella hurried toward the lake. He stared. By the time she crossed the street and started walking his way, he was absolutely sure it was her.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Relax. Don’t rush this. Everything is going according to plan.
He kept the gun in the plastic bag. No sense getting it wet. And he really had no intention of using it. Not unless he had to. But she wouldn’t know that. Just the sight of it would be enough to force her into the tunnel. He’d say good-bye to her there.
The wind was blowing offshore, whipping the rain under Hiro’s umbrella. The streets were strangely empty, but then why would sane people go o
ut in this storm? She looked out over the water. Sailboats bucked and pulled at their buoys as though something far out in the lake was drawing them closer to it. Wisps of steam rose off the lake — like rising spirits of the dead. Hiro thought about Wendy. Was she still in that lake?
Hiro heard sirens in the distance. Lots of sirens. Fire trucks. Police cars. Even ambulances. Each had their own sound. She turned her head to hear better. Whatever was going on, it was big. She stopped on the bridge that overlooked the tiny bay and waited at the railing. Everything at LeatherLips — the docked boats and the spillway — looked quiet. Absolutely still — except for the rain. Either the boys were hiding or they were never here. Maybe they’d just sent her on a wild goose chase. Thanks, guys.
Something inside of her burned. Maybe it was frustration. Actually, it was frustration. She was ready to deck Gordy again. She whipped out her phone and fired off a message to him.
What was the plan here? Were they going to jump out and scare her? If this was some little joke they were playing on her, she definitely wasn’t going to make it easy for them. She trekked down the incline and stood on one of the docks. Out in the open. Right where they could see her — and more importantly, where she could see them sneaking up on her.
Cooper tossed his backpack to the side.
“Hiro said she saw Fat Elvis with his hands on my backpack. Remember? He must have taken my phone.”
“But why?” Lunk leaned on one elbow. “What could he possibly want with your phone?”
Gordy’s phone chirped. “It’s Hiro . . . she says, ‘If this is a joke — I’m really not in the mood. And if this is another dead fish prank — you’re all dead meat.’ ” Gordy laughed and whipped back a response.
“What did you say?”
“I told her she’ll find out when we see her tomorrow.” He grinned. “I’m not telling her it’s only donuts. Let her sweat a little.”
The Getaway rolled and bucked.
Gordy’s phone chirped again. “She’s not letting this go, is she?” Gordy opened the text and his smile faded. “This makes no sense.”
“What?” Cooper said. “Read it.”
Gordy cleared his throat. “Okay, she says, ‘Tomorrow? Coop’s text said to meet you now. Tonight. I’m at LeatherLips — where are you?’”
Cooper’s heart started racing. “I didn’t send that text.” He swung his legs over the side of the berth. “Tell her to run, Gordy. Tell her I lost my phone at the fair — Fat Elvis has it. He’s using it to bait her.”
Gordy hunkered over the phone, his thumbs flying over the screen.
“We’ve got to get to town. Now.” Cooper stood — and landed in water past his ankles. “What?” A wave caused the boat to lurch, throwing Coop back onto the berth. He scrambled to his feet. “Water!”
Lunk jumped off his berth. “Waves washing over the bow?”
“Impossible.” Coop raced for the hatch. It wouldn’t budge. Not even when he threw his good shoulder into it.
“Let me try that,” Lunk said. He pushed at it, then stood and kicked it. The hatch held.
“Guys,” Gordy said. “Look out the window — our anchor line must have snapped.”
Lunk kept kicking the hatch.
Cooper cupped his hands against the window. They had to be a mile from shore.
“This isn’t jammed,” Lunk said. “It’s locked. From the outside.”
The boat was adrift, taking in water, and they were locked inside. “What are the odds of all this going wrong at the same time?” Cooper’s mind raced. More pieces started flying into place.
“We’ve been set up,” Lunk said. “Somebody wants us dead.”
Lunk kicked at the hatch again — but he wasn’t getting anywhere with his bare feet. “Where’s a concrete-filled Wiffle ball bat when you need it?”
Cooper laced up his shoes. “Let me try.”
Lunk didn’t wait to see if his friend broke through. He dug out his own shoes. A moment later he took over for Coop. They had to get out of here. Lunk fought back the panic. The image of The Getaway sinking with all three of them trapped inside seared his mind. He wanted to strap on his lifejacket. A lot of good it would do him inside a flooding cabin. If the boat went to the bottom, they were going with it — lifejacket or no lifejacket. He threw his whole body against the solid oak hatch.
“The air tank,” Coop said. He tore the seat off the storage compartment and tossed gear to one side. “We’ll use it as a battering ram,” he said, pulling the air tank free.
Lunk grabbed one side with both hands; Coop grabbed the other. Together they swung the tank and slammed the flat bottom into the hatch again and again. The force of each impact sent shock waves through his hands and shoulders.
“Harder!” Coop shouted.
The hatch cracked.
“Again!” Lunk said. They swept the tank high and rammed it so hard that Lunk was afraid the tank would explode. If it had been full, maybe it would have. “One more time.” Wood split and broke out in sections.
They dropped the tank and kicked free the remaining splinters. The three of them squeezed through and piled onto the deck. They were definitely drifting with the monster swells. Rain beat down on them, smacking them in the face. The idea of being trapped inside the cabin was bad — but this wasn’t much better. Lunk wanted to find a lifejacket and strap it on so tight that it would never come off.
Lightning split the sky. They were in the middle of the lake. As far from the north shore as they were from the south. Vicious, dark waves rolled past with white-capped heads. Foam trailed each one as though the waves were alive — and rabid.
Gordy pointed toward the north shore. “The waves will smash us onto the rocks.”
Lunk glanced at the waves and the distance from shore, then looked back into the flooding cabin. We may sink before we get there. Lunk didn’t want to think about it. His friends needed his help.
“Hiro’s in trouble,” Coop said. “I feel it.”
Lunk’s stomach lurched. Whoever did this wanted them out of the way. Hiro was his next target.
Gordy stuffed his phone into his pocket. “What do we do?”
Cooper looked toward town. “Did she answer your text?”
Gordy shook his head.
“Oh, God, help her,” Cooper said.
For a moment he looked lost. Scared. “Get the spare key — give it to Lunk. — Let’s get the bilge pump going.”
Gordy whipped out the toolbox and dug through it.
“Grab the flare gun too.”
Gordy found the key and handed it to Lunk.
Lunk missed the slot twice. He grabbed the wheel to steady himself and tried again. This time the key slid home, and he turned on the ignition — stopping just short of cranking the engines. The dials came to life. Good. At least they had battery power. He toggled on the bilge and heard the pump motor hum. “Bilge on.”
Lunk glanced inside the cabin. The water was rising — and no wave had crashed over the top since he’d been on deck. Yet the lower they sank in the water, the greater the risk that waves would start coming over the side. Then it would all be over. “Where’s the water coming from?”
Cooper heaved open the engine hatch. Lunk gave him a hand. Oil and gas fumes rose to meet him. He peered into the dark compartment. Water sloshed around the twin engines. “We’ve got a couple feet of water in there,” Cooper said. “We’re going down!”
Lunk glanced over the transom. The swim platform was under water.
Gordy loaded a round in the flare gun, held it over his head with both hands, and squeezed the trigger. A red tracer arced high overhead — lighting up the raindrops like they were laser beams streaking down on them.
Who would be stupid enough to be out in this storm? Who would even see the flare? Lunk kneeled on the wet deck next to Cooper and stared into the flooding compartment. “How’s the water getting in?”
Cooper shook his head. “Don’t know. There must be a hole.”
; Whoever wanted them out of the way had done something to the hull. Probably while they were talking inside the cabin. But wouldn’t they have heard some kind of drill?
Lunk looked inside the engine hatch. “Can we fill the hole with something? Plug the leak?”
Cooper grabbed the side rail and looked into the water. “We don’t even know where it is.”
Gordy shot off another flare. “We gotta abandon ship.”
Lunk rushed to the transom rail — but the inflatable wasn’t there. They’d tied it to the buoy. The only way off The Getaway was to swim. Whoever did this wasn’t leaving much to chance.
“If this thing goes under, and we’re still on it . . .” Gordy pointed the flare gun at the waves.
It would suck them down with it. Lunk knew it. And they’d be as dead as the girl floating in the underwater currents of the lake.
Hiro’s phone chirped. She ignored it and kept her eyes open. The moment she looked at her phone, they’d jump out of hiding. She wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of catching her off guard. The rain eased up, but the wind didn’t. She walked carefully along the boat slips in the tiny lagoon. Even though the water was shielded from the brunt of the storm, tiny ripples trembled across the black water.
If this was their idea of a joke, they had a demented sense of humor. It was a creepy spot to meet up. Why would Coop do it?
Lightning washed the entire scene in raw, electric light. What was she doing here? Why did she leave the condo? She touched her queasy stomach. It wasn’t the typical butterflies inside. They were bats. Diving and dodging — and frantic to get out.
Okay, this whole thing was ridiculous. It was time to go. “I’m not playing your games, guys!” she said. Loudly. Did her voice betray her fear? She hoped not. The whole idea was to come across as unafraid. Casual. But right now she wanted to run.
Ruby Slipper tugged at its dock line as if an invisible hand were pulling it from under the water. Hiro wished she were wearing a pair of ruby slippers right now. She’d click those heels together and go home. And she’d go back in time if she could. To when her dad was still alive. She’d run right into his arms and be safe.
Below the Surface Page 29
