Love's Cruel Redemption (The Ghost Bird Series)

by C. L. Stone

She was parked just off the entryway of the teacher and student lot entrance. It was a single lane, so she easily blocked access, although one could easily go through the exit lane to get around. Her car was dark, but there were parking lot lights behind her, casting the yellowed glow that let Nathan know she was there.

  Nathan sat alone. Luke had gone inside the school to hide somewhere near the cafeteria to get a closer view of what was going on. He had Luke’s phone with him, and his own, plus one emergency phone. Luke ended up with an emergency flip phone. But he could still text out to Nathan using the emergency phone. Silence was necessary when it came to Luke’s job. He could text Nathan to come in or warn Nathan about what was going on inside.

  For a good half hour, monitoring the school and Ms. Johnson’s arrival was uneventful. Most often, he was looking at his phone. Occasionally he pressed his fingertip to the button to get the screen light up, checking even though there was no sign of a message or call.

  Eventually, his phone buzzed with a message.

  Victor: What area is nicer, do you think? Beaches or more north like Mt. Pleasant?

  Nathan squinted at the phone. He kept his eyes on Ms. Johnson and then typed back.

  Nathan: For what?

  Victor: For a house. For us.

  He didn’t want to answer. Not that he expected much just yet from Ms. Johnson, but he was jumping ahead. They hadn’t decided yet, had they?

  But...if Sang got a house, then he wouldn’t have to worry about Erica knowing she was over to see him.

  The thought urged a response, and he type out a message.

  Nathan: You want an area where it’d be unlikely for Erica to pop in, or anyone else. And very unlikely we’d run into them at a grocery store perhaps. We’d want to be unnoticed by neighbors.

  Victor: Good point. This is complicated.

  No kidding. For more than several reasons.

  He put the phone down once again as a large truck far off to his right and down the road appeared. It was an unmarked box truck. It stopped at the bus lot drive, taking the turn into it. Ms. Johnson didn't move from her spot. The truck disappeared from Nathan's view.

  Why watch this student lot if there was activity going on near the cafeteria? And why her and not someone who got asked to do normal security at night around the building?

  Nathan waited. He needed to keep his position so Luke could return once this whole thing was over, and also to see if anyone else approached Ms. Johnson during that time. He wondered if anyone would bother approaching the lot at this hour.

  Nathan’s gaze, however, went from the car to his phone in the cup holder. He anticipated a message at any moment.

  Kota was going to see Lily tonight. He was on his way in his sedan. He probably wasn't even there yet, but Nathan kept checking his phone. He promised to let Nathan know what she said.

  He was the only one not here for this, but technically, he was supposed to be laying low with his mom and sister. He'd gone over the strategies they'd take tonight with Mr. Blackbourne, knew where they would be, and could operate every communication from his cell phone.

  But he wasn't really home. He was on his way out of town. And it was probably good he got to do it now while the rest of the team was distracted.

  Nathan was parked inside a small lane between trees across the street from the lot, so he was well covered. The street between him and the school went on to his left. The road went down a hill. It led to several suburban neighborhoods, pockets of mazes that ended in cul-de-sacs. On occasion, cars passed in front of him, driving past the student lot, and moved on toward those neighborhoods.

  He couldn't see Ms. Johnson without the binoculars, but she didn't seem particularly interested in any of the cars passing by.

  Nathan waited, anticipating one of the cars to actually turn into the lot, but it was another five minutes before it arrived.

  Dr. Green's car was easily recognizable to him. The doctor pulled slowly into the lot, parking nose to trunk next to Ms. Johnson's car and completing the blocking of the lot.

  Ms. Johnson got out, clearly animated, waving to the car to move along. When Dr. Green got out, Ms. Johnson stopped, lowered her hands but still spoke to him.

  Dr. Green put his hands up a little, showing he wasn't carrying anything, but also approached her. She was clearly surprised to see him there.

  Nathan leaned forward, unable to read lips but trying to catch what was going on. He knew the plan was to convince Ms. Johnson Dr. Green was on her side, and to get her to give up this guarding of the school and go home and get some rest. Having an eye witness who was willing to speak up against Mr. Hendricks would be key later on.

  The likelihood this was a trap was there, but they were ready for that, too.

  A text message came in from Luke. It was only one word.

  Luke: Exchange.

  Exchange? This wasn't just a delivery? What were they exchanging?

  He'd have to wait for an answer. Luke might not be in a position to divulge much else in the moment. Whatever was happening, it was going on now.

  Nathan dropped his phone into the cup holder. He drummed his fingers against the wheel of the BMW, and then smoothed his palms over the leather and polished wood. Minutes ticked by, but every second made him eager for this to be over. He wanted to go home, shower and wait for word from Kota.

  Maybe he’d get Sang to spend the night again. He wasn’t totally sure where she’d end up tonight, but he doubted she’d return to the Lee house.

  He'd checked his own house's cameras earlier. The girls weren't there. Which was good. The last thing he needed was them snooping around and finding anything they shouldn't. His dad was easier to fool when he had Academy equipment around. There were places Nathan could hide such things and his father never noticed.

  One of the cars that was passing by in front of him sped up. It turned into the lot, and parked in front of Dr. Green's and Ms. Johnson's car. Another one that had followed pulled around over the grass on the other side of the lane and parked a few feet on the opposite side.

  Yup. Trap.

  Nathan sat up, picking up binoculars to get a good look.

  The only one that stepped out was the one in a brown car in front: Mr. McCoy.

  Shit.

  But okay. No problem. He wasn’t expecting him exactly, but now they knew he was involved still at the school. He was sure they’d get a report later from a tracking team, letting them know he was here. He was usually trying to monitor the fake Academy school to catch out who else worked there and what was going on with it.

  The other car stayed in position, but no one came out. He wondered if it was Mr. Hendricks or someone else. He fished out his phone, snapped a pic of everything, catching the one plate he could get.

  Whatever this was, it wasn't good.

  Dr. Green held his hands up, but stepped protectively in front of Ms. Johnson. Mr. McCoy moved forward, wearing sweatpants and a camo shirt, his mustached lips moved as he barked something at Dr. Green. Dr. Green didn't budge, keeping himself between Ms. Johnson and Mr. McCoy.

  Nathan waited, watching, ready to go help Dr. Green, but when Dr. Green didn't give a signal he needed help, Nathan was forced to stay where he was. No need to give his position up.

  Ms. Johnson might have been set up for just this. Somehow, Hendricks and McCoy knew she was talking to Dr. Green, but that would be easy to figure out.

  Was Ms. Johnson actually in on that, though?

  For what purpose, he wasn't sure, but it didn't matter just yet. He just needed to get Luke out when it was time and to make sure nothing happened to Dr. Green. Let McCoy or Hendricks know they were watching and listening. It wasn’t like they’d call the cops, not when they were manipulating people in the school.

  He waited, with his hand on the door handle, ready to run out. Just in case. McCoy was hotheaded. If he needed to, he'd leave the car hidden and go on foot. Luke would need someplace to retreat to once he left his secret position inside the school.r />
  At first, he kept his attention on McCoy, trying to figure out what he was telling Dr. Green and Ms. Johnson. Then he refocused his effort into figuring out who was in the other car. With the way it was positioned though, he wasn't going to get a good look without moving.

  His ability to see was blacked out shortly by a vehicle going by, but as it slowed down and continued to block his view of Dr. Green, he lowered the binoculars. They were drawing attention.

  That was when he recognized the Jeep. Or so he thought. Was it...

  The Jeep stopped in the middle of the street. Something flew out from it beyond the other cars in the lot. The car waited.

  Another teacher? Was he throwing something at them?

  Suddenly the area on the other side of the Jeep was being taken over by fog.

  “What the hell?” Nathan said and then peered in at the driver of the Jeep with the binoculars.

  A mask. A white one.

  Volto.

  “Oh shit,” Nathan said.

  The Jeep started up again, pulling away. Once Volto drove further down the road, Nathan caught the license plate.

  It was North's Jeep.

  “Shit, shit, shit...” Nathan said. He dropped the binoculars and started the engine, keeping the lights off. He hated to leave Dr. Green, but he sent a quick message to Luke using voice to text and pulled out behind the Jeep.

  “Be careful getting out,” Nathan said to his phone to send the message. “Dr. Green and his meeting got interrupted. Volto has North’s Jeep. Following it. Get instructions from Doc or someone else before moving on.”

  He gave a voice command to send the message as he drove. He wasn't sure what else to say, but he kept his phone ready to take another message.

  He slowed his pursuit when the Jeep slowed to just a few miles over the speed limit. After a while, it was pretty clear to Nathan that Volto would recognize Victor's car and know he was following, especially when he pulled into a cul-de-sac neighborhood and made a few obvious turns.

  Did it matter? Unless Volto was willing to race through the streets, it was unlikely Nathan would lose him.

  And like hell if he'd stop chasing him.

  Left Behind

  Sang

  I kept the pack above my head and continued to stare at the lot, as if the Jeep would magically reappear or I'd realize I was looking at the wrong space.

  But the space we had parked in was empty.

  The rain that started up was more a mist. Cautious, I held tight to the handles of the backpack, keeping it my head protected.

  I steadied myself and approached the empty spot, checking the cars nearby. No one was out here. The cars seemed to be the same as when we’d left.

  And as I approached, I spotted the white mask. It was face up, on the ground, positioned a little too perfectly in the empty space.

  I closed my eyes, grinding my teeth and feeling an anger bubble inside of me like I hadn't experienced before in my life.

  Not now.

  Not while North was in the back of a truck heading to who knows where and I was alone.

  I went to the mask, picking it up, noting it was the same as other Volto masks, the same he wore all the time. It couldn't have been a coincidence.

  I stood there, debating my options. If he had the Jeep, what did that mean? And was it wise to stay here in the lot alone?

  North had said if I couldn't reach the Jeep, to use the phone. I ran to an awning off the back of the building to protect myself from the rain. The rain stopped falling around my shoulders but it was still hitting my chest down to my legs, soaking my clothes.

  I took the cell phone out and used the bag to shield some rain from my body as best I could.

  I flipped the phone open and listened, retreating against the wall of the building.

  There was an answer instantly. “What's wrong?” a female voice said, although it wasn't familiar at all.

  I hesitated. Was I supposed to give her a random word to verify? “Fish?” I stammered out.

  “Nebula,” she said with confidence. “Are you okay?”

  She must be an Academy member, but because I didn't know who it was, I wasn't totally sure what to mention and what not to.

  “Are you there?” she asked.

  “Yes,” I said. “The...Jeep isn't here.”

  She paused. “It's gone?”

  “I think it's stolen. By Volto.”

  There was a quick gasp and then her voice returned, stronger than before. “Where is North?” she asked.

  “In the back of the truck. I don’t know when or how he’s getting back.”

  “Listen. I'm tracking your position by that phone. There's a grocery store nearby. Go inside. No matter what happens, stay in view of people. Pretend you're shopping. Keep me on the line.”

  I looked at my clothing, dirty and now soaked in the rain, but if she was adamant about getting somewhere safe, I wanted to listen. Especially since she was the only one I was connected to that would have any idea where I was. “Tell my team.”

  “Already on it,” she said. “Trying to find someone who can come get you. Just hang tight.”

  “North was going to try to get back. He’s not going to have his Jeep when he does.”

  “We’ll get to that. First priority is you right now.”

  I hurried around the corner of the grocery store. I scanned the front lot quickly, just in case I caught sight of the Jeep, but it wasn’t there.

  Just beyond the first set of doors that opened, warm air blasted down on me from above. I stood in there for a moment, taking my hat off and straightening my hair. I scrunched it into a bun and reset the clip. Handbaskets sat in a stack near the second set of sliding doors and I took one.

  As I entered under florescent lights, I kept my head down. I sensed people, all sounding busy with shopping and working. With it being late, certain areas were closed, like the bakery to the far right, but there were plenty of employees and enough shoppers that Volto would have been crazy to try to get me from in here.

  “I'm inside,” I said into the phone.

  “Good. Stay in view of other people. Don't let anyone else talk you into leaving unless it's your people. Don't leave that store until they come get you.”

  “Okay.”

  “I'll be tracking your phone from this point to be sure you're safe. Keep it on you. But you can hang up. Pretending to shop, and keep an eye out. If you feel uncomfortable, find someone in security.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Be safe.”

  I hung up the phone, tucking it away in a bookbag pocket, the inside being surprisingly dry. With it on my back again, I held the basket in my arm and browsed produce slowly.

  My heart was still racing. I looked at bananas and oranges and wasn't seeing them at all. I retraced my steps, wondering if we'd crossed paths with Volto at some point and where.

  North had driven us here, and we’d been careful to watch for people following us.

  How did he know we'd park there, of all places? Did he just come across the lot and find North’s Jeep? Maybe he happened to be here and noticed it.

  For a split second, I thought about the cameras outside. But then I remembered we picked that place because Victor was going to take care of the camera and the low possibility anyone would be out there. It was possible there were no witnesses, and Victor might not have been watching the Jeep to see it disappear and who was driving it.

  Minutes passed, and I realized I might be looking kind of crazy staring at fruit and not doing anything. I picked up a set of bananas and moved on.

  The produce was closest to the door, and I didn’t want to go too far. Anticipation crept through me. North could walk in at some point, looking for me, asking about the Jeep.

  When moments passed and no one showed up, I needed to move on. I thought I was standing out just being in the same spot.

  I turned the corner to start making my way through rows. I stopped short before bumping into someone restocking sh
elves.

  And I did a double take when I saw a familiar face.

  Wil was bent down in front of me. His hair was cut shorter than I remembered, but he had the same glasses. He wore khakis and a collared shirt with a tie and a nameplate at his breast pocket. He put a collection of pastas on the shelves and then turned his head to look at me.

  He raised an eyebrow and his cheeks reddened. “Hey,” he said. He looked me over, head to foot and back, and cocked a brow. “You okay? Get caught in the rain?”

  “Yeah,” I said slowly. “I didn't know you worked here.”

  “New job,” he said. “The phone store fired me after I was late one time. It's too hard to get downtown through traffic sometimes.”

  “Oh,” I said. “Yeah.” Awkwardly, I paused and didn’t know what else to say. My mind rushed with what had just happened. The last time I'd run into him, he showed me how to break into lockers at school. I couldn't imagine what he thought of me wearing all black and soaked and holding a basket with bananas at this hour.

  Suddenly, the phone I'd put in my bag rang. I jolted in front of him, too stunned that anyone would call me back on it. What did it mean that someone was?

  I juggled the basket in my arm to be able to take the bookbag off. Wil reached out to help, taking the basket from me.

  I hesitated but then let him do so. But then I realized it meant I couldn't really talk openly to the person on the other end. It didn't matter. I had to answer. It might be the guys trying to find me.

  I dug out the cell phone, opened it and held it to my ear. “Yes?”

  “I told you to get away from them,” a crackled, mechanical voice sounded on the other end.

  I looked right at Wil's face, too stunned to hide my expression. I said nothing, fearing anything I said would lead me into a trap of Volto's making.

  “Something wrong?” Wil whispered to me.

  “They're on to you,” Volto said in my ear.

  I slowly shook my head at Wil and then took back my basket after placing the bookbag on my shoulder again. I kept the phone to my ear and gave him a soft wave, indicating I had to go. Still, I said nothing to Volto. I debated hanging up on him.