When they reached Stein’s house, Cooper cut through the soggy grass and dumped his bike behind the garage. Hiro glanced at the broken window and wondered what else the boys would break to get Cooper inside the house.
“Okay, Lunk, you and I will find a way in through the back. You’ll stand guard outside and give me a shout if we get company.”
Lunk smiled and patted his wiffle-ball bat.
Naturally. Sometimes he was totally predictable.
“Hiro, you’re up front.” He held up his phone. “Call me if we’ve got trouble.”
“This whole thing feels wrong.” Hiro fingered the police star necklace around her neck. “Do you realize what you’re asking me to do?” Cooper nodded. “Help a good friend.”
She shook her head. “Way more than that. You’re asking me to be an accessory in a crime.”
“It’s an empty house. I’m just going in to have a look. Where’s the crime in that?”
Hiro put her hands on her hips. “It’s wrong—and you know it.”
“Okay,” Cooper said. “It’s wrong. But I’m going in. If you want to leave, go ahead.”
“Yeah,” Lunk said. “Maybe you’d better leave, Hiro. I’ll cover for you.”
Hiro hesitated. She’d like to leave. She really would. But something didn’t feel right about that, either. The trouble was, Coop and Lunk seemed to be approaching this whole thing too casually. “This could get dangerous, guys.”
Lunk thumped his chest. “You’re looking at dangerous. And I’ve got his back.”
“You’re standing guard outside,” Hiro said. “Who has Coop’s back when he’s inside?”
Lunk shook his head. “You think too much, Hiro.”
“And you don’t think enough, Mr. Lunquist.”
Cooper made a timeout symbol with his hands. “Let’s just get this over with.” He took a wad of paper out of his back pocket and unfolded the pages. “Just want to review this one more time.”
Photos of the house. That was actually very clever. Coop had done his homework.
Hiro tried to get a view of the pictures. “What happens if the police drive up and you’re trapped inside?”
“The house has a front and back door. The basement has window wells.” Coop tapped the pictures. “I’ll get out.”
“And I’ll stall the police until he does,” Lunk said.
Hiro looked up at the sky. “I’m surrounded by idiots! I don’t know what to say.” Hiro turned from Cooper to Lunk, and back. “I cannot come up with a word to describe how insane, how crazy, how dangerous, how stupid this is.”
“Sounds like you’ve come up with several.” Lunk snickered.
“Oh”—Hiro drilled Lunk with her eyes—“you honestly think this is funny? Coop will be trespassing. If he gets caught, he could get arrested.”
Coop looked at her. “What’s really bothering you, Hiro?”
She looked at Coop. There was something more, and maybe he needed to hear it. “Okay,” Hiro said. “What if Joseph Stein is inside?”
Lunk tapped his concrete-filled bat. “That’s where I come in.”
Hiro glared at Lunk. “Are you serious?”
“I can handle myself,” Lunk said.
“Joseph Stein is dangerous. He tried to kill both of you once.” Hiro said. “Use your head, Coop. What if Lunk doesn’t get to you in time?”
Cooper raised the cuff of his pants to reveal the dive knife strapped to his calf. He slid it halfway out of the sheath, just enough to show the strength of the stainless steel blade and the rugged sawtooth back.
Hiro stared at him. It almost seemed like she didn’t know him anymore.
Lunk shifted his weight and looked uncomfortable. “You really think Stein might be in there?”
Hiro turned away. She didn’t even want to look at the knife. “A concealed weapon. Lovely.” She wasn’t sure what bothered her more. The possibility that he would have to use it, or that he’d strapped it on in the first place.
“Let’s go,” Coop said. He ran from the corner of the garage to the back of the house. Lunk followed with his concrete-filled bat.
Hiro took a deep breath and hustled to the front corner of the house and got down low under the bushes so the neighbors across the street wouldn’t see her—if they hadn’t already. Hiro had a perfect view of School Drive in both directions. She took out her phone and dialed Coop. All she’d have to do is push the send button if there was trouble.
But she was more worried about there being trouble inside the house. What if Stein was there? She pushed that thought out of her mind and tried to focus on Gordy. Sweet, loveable Gordy. Always trying to be the peacemaker. Just trying to help. And some predator snatched him up. A lump burned in her throat. And something else burned in her gut. A fire. She would become of cop someday, and she’d put creeps away for good—like the one who took Gordy.
What if Gordy really was alive—and Coop found him? It would be the perfect ending to this nightmare. But too many hours had passed for that to be much a possibility. The thought just kept running through her head. What if Coop finds Gordy—but Gordy isn’t alive?
CHAPTER 50
Cooper peered through the back window of Joseph Stein’s house. He could barely make out the outline of a stove and refrigerator. Okay this was the kitchen. Not nearly as friendly-looking as the photos online. Nothing but shadows now, and it felt like they reached right through the glass and crept into his heart.
“Why don’t I go in and you stand guard,” Lunk whispered.
“I got it,” Cooper said. He didn’t want to go in. Not a bit. But he had to. Something stronger than his fear was driving him.
“Okay then,” Lunk said. “Cover your eyes.”
The sound of the breaking glass was as loud as a starting gun. Lunk reached through the broken pane on the back door and unlocked it.
“Happy hunting,” he said. “Just shout if you need me.”
Cooper kicked into action. He slipped inside and took a moment to get his bearings—and gather his nerve. The house smelled stale. It wasn’t exactly a bad smell, but it wasn’t good, either. Cooper’s mind flashed back to Hiro smelling the air through the garage window earlier. He shuddered. It wasn’t like that. The air didn’t smell like death. It just smelled dead. There was a big difference.
“What’s wrong?”
Lunk’s voice through the broken window made Cooper’s heart lurch.
“Nothing.” Cooper fumbled in his pocket. “Getting my flashlight.” He flicked the switch and kept the beam on the floor, filtering it with a couple fingers. It gave him plenty of light, and Cooper followed it into the next room.
What if Stein was here? What would he do? Cooper walked in a step-pause, step-pause pattern through the front room, careful not to make a sound on the floors. No furniture in the room, but Cooper could pretty much tell where furniture had been by the wear pattern in the carpet.
He kept the flashlight low and away from the windows. If that same nosey neighbor saw a light inside the house there’d be trouble. Which brought his mind back to Joseph Stein. What if Stein was here? What would he do? Cooper paused and pulled the cuff of his pant over the top of the sheath. He wanted it to be an easy grab if there was trouble. The truth was, there was already plenty of trouble. Cooper drew the knife out of its sheath.
The first floor bedroom felt darker. The bi-fold closet door at the far end was closed. Cooper took a deep breath. He had to open it, just to be sure. He swung it open and stepped back, half-expecting Stein to rush out at him. The closet was empty. He quickly checked over his shoulder to make sure Stein wasn’t sneaking up behind him. C’mon, Cooper. Don’t lose your nerve here. He wished he’d had Lunk come inside with him instead of standing guard out back.
The closet in the hallway was empty, and so was the one in the second bedroom. He’d planned to skip the bathroom—until he saw the drawn shower curtain. A western scene was printed on the heavy vinyl, totally blocking the view of the tub. Cactus, c
oyote, and an orange sunset glowed eerily in the dim light of the flashlight. Cooper swallowed and stepped closer, his arm extended. He slid the curtain to one side with the tip of the knife. If Stein rushed him, the man would stick himself good on the blade. Cooper breathed a quiet sigh of relief. The tub was empty.
How much time had passed? Cooper wanted to get out of here—but not before he checked the basement. Actually, the basement was absolutely the last place he wanted to go. His heart thumped in his chest, beating out a warning chant. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out.
There were only three doors in the hallway. The closet. The bathroom. He hesitated in front of the third door. It had to be the basement. Cooper took a moment to wipe his sweaty hand on his jeans and get a fresh grip on the dive knife. Just do this. Get it done and get out of here. He swung open the door, and shined his light on the unpainted wooden steps below. Water. Maybe a couple feet. Which made sense. Cooper hadn’t checked any light switches, but with a house foreclosed like Stein’s was, the electricity was likely turned off. Without power to the sump pump, any basement would flood with the kind of rain they’d been having. And if the creek swelled much more the basement would fill completely.
Cooper went down four or five steps, crouched down and scanned the basement with his flashlight. The water lay black and still—like the surface of a swamp at night.
“Gordy?” He whispered. The basement was empty, except for the furnace. His heart sunk. No Gordy. No sign that he’d ever been here. Just a creepy empty house where Cooper didn’t belong. Cooper was alone. The feeling was as dark as the water itself. He shined his light up the stairs in a sudden panic that he’d see Stein standing in the doorway. Towering over him like the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk. Ready to tear Cooper apart. Crazy that he should think of that now.
I gotta get out of here. Cooper had the feeling that some kind of giant trouble was coming. Sniffing him out. Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum. That it was only a matter of time before it would find him.
Cooper’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He clamped the knife between his teeth like a pirate and checked the text. Hiro. Police cruiser—get out!
CHAPTER 51
Cooper sheathed the knife and pounded up the stairs. He tore through the kitchen and turned off the flashlight. Lunk had the door open for him.
“Cops!” Cooper held up the phone.
Lunk nodded and bolted for the garage with Cooper right on his heels. All three bikes were exactly where they left them—but no Hiro. Cooper stood at the corner of the garage and peered down the driveway. He could see Hiro crouching in the bushes from here. Why didn’t she get out of there after texting him? The police cruiser was on the street, the cop inside painting the house with his searchlight.
Was it the same cop that chased them before? Probably. And thanks to the nosey neighbor, smart enough to know that the kids had some unfinished business at the house.
Hiro looked back like she was trying to decide if she should stay in hiding or make a break for it. Could she see Cooper? Probably not.
“Move it, Hiro,” Lunk mumbled. “What are you waiting for?”
The searchlight lit her up—and stayed glued on her.
“Uh-oh,” Lunk said. “He got her.”
“Hiro, run!” Cooper shouted. “Now!”
Hiro stood. The cop pulled in, and flashed his high-beams on her. Hiro turned and sprinted toward Cooper, chasing her own shadow.
Lunk swung a leg over his bike and pushed off. “I’ll decoy him.” He rode around the corner of the garage right at the police car.
“The Getaway,” Coop shouted after him. “Meet us there.”
Cooper already had Hiro’s bike ready when she rounded the corner of the garage. She mounted on the fly and pedaled like crazy beside him for the bike path. The wind roared in his ears as they put distance between them and Stein’s house.
Cooper checked over his shoulder once, just to be sure the cop wasn’t following. He hoped Lunk would get away, too, but the odds of all of them escaping felt slim.
Cooper pedaled hard and kept his bike on a straight course. “We’ve got to get off the street fast,” he said. Hiro nodded, her face pale and ghostlike in the glow of the streetlights.
They flew down the darkened streets, blowing through every stop sign. Cooper expected to see a police car squealing around a corner any second.
Minutes later they dumped the bikes in Cooper’s backyard. Neither of them said a word until they closed the cabin door behind them in The Getaway. Cooper looked out the porthole window. The house was still dark. Mom must still be with Aunt Cris. No sign of Lunk. Cooper sent a quick text to Mom to tell her he was home. Home was supposed to be a place where a guy felt safe. Cooper didn’t think a place like that existed anymore.
He was feeling the shaky aftershocks of being chased—and getting away. The escape was too close for any feelings of exhilaration. He was still in deep water—even if Lunk did manage to get away. Cooper was like some poor fish that had swallowed a nasty lure. He could run or hide, but for how long? The police had him on the line—and it was only a matter of time before they reeled him in.
CHAPTER 52
Cooper turned on his battery-operated camping lantern, and set it on the table of The Getaway. His legs felt like rubber, and he collapsed on the bench. Hiro sat on the bench opposite him, hugging herself.
“I just ran from the police,” she said. She looked miserable. “I assume the house was empty?”
Cooper nodded.
“So that’s it.” She fingered the police star necklace. “We’re done.”
Cooper didn’t answer. Were they done? Right now he couldn’t think of a next step. Another place to try. But he would think of something. He had to. Checking the house, like he just did, was scary. Really scary. But there was something way worse. Something that brought to life a terrifying panic buried deep inside him—the thought that there was no place else to check. “We’ll think of something. We have to.”
“This was it for me,” she said. Tears pooled in her eyes. She blinked and they trailed down her cheeks. “I’m done. That was the last thing I’m doing for you on this.”
“For me?” Cooper felt his face heat up immediately. “This is about Gordy.”
She shook her head. “I did it for you. And you’re getting reckless. Dangerous. You’re going to get yourself hurt—or one of us.”
The thought that Hiro could get hurt made him cringe inside. Cooper checked the window again. “I’m not quitting until I find Gordy.”
Hiro angled her head to one side slightly as if she were reading his thoughts. Her chin quivered. “Promise me you won’t ask me to do one more crazy thing like this.”
Cooper studied her face, and a sadness came over him.
“Promise me,” she whispered. “Say it.”
He held up one hand like he was taking an oath of honesty in a courtroom. “I won’t ask you to do another crazy thing to find Gordy.”
She tilted her head slightly. “You didn’t say ‘I promise.’ I need to hear the words.”
A flash of pain stabbed at him. He’d lied so many times last fall that she’d lost trust in him—and he’d worked hard ever since to win it back. Were they going backward here?
“I promise,” he said. And with all his heart he was determined he would keep that promise. He wouldn’t ask her to do any more risky or dangerous things to find Gordy. Not one.
But it was clear to him that she wanted him to be done, too. That meant she might actually start working against him. Hadn’t she been doing that already? He’d wanted to check out VanHorton’s house, but Hiro had stopped that one cold. Thankfully, Lunk found a way around that. And she’d tried to stop them from going into Stein’s house—but they did it anyway. It was like she tried to undo every plan he’d had so far. The only way he could be sure she wouldn’t undermine his plans was to keep her out of the loop. When he figured out what he needed to do next, he definitely wouldn’t talk to her about it. “What are you think
ing, Coop?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.” Nothing he wanted to talk about, anyway.
He had to avoid her eyes. Cooper picked up a rag and wiped a handprint off the window. Lunk pulled into the backyard and closed the cedar fence gate. “Lunk made it.”
Lunk pumped his fist in the air a couple of times. Even in the dimness of the moonlight Cooper thought he could see Lunk grinning—like he had totally enjoyed his brush with the police. Cooper wished Hiro could share that feeling, even if only for a moment. Lunk ran toward The Getaway. A moment later he was thumping up the ladder.
Lunk burst in the cabin, still carrying his bat.
“I can’t believe you made it,” Cooper said, happy for the interruption.
“No problemo,” Lunk said. “Sometimes the best way to get away is to go right at ‘em, see?” He demonstrated with his hands. “Cause a little confusion.”
“I saw you heading right into his headlights,” Cooper said.
“Exactly. What’s he going to do? Run over a kid?” Lunk laughed. “At the last second I veered to the passenger side so he couldn’t open his door and clothesline me. By the time he turned the car around, I was cutting through the backyard of a house across the street. I don’t think he ever saw me again.”
He looked totally proud of himself. “And you have to admit, Lunk’s little concrete-filled persuader got you inside Stein’s house pretty efficiently.” He held the wiffle-ball bat out for Hiro to inspect. “What do you think of these babies now, Hiro?”
“Sorry.” Hiro brushed it to the side. “Still not a fan.”
Lunk grinned. “Without these bats, we might still be there. All three of us.”
“Mr. Lunquist,” Hiro said. “We shouldn’t have been there in the first place.”
Cooper knew who she was really directing that comment to. “I had to know.”
She raised her chin slightly. “And now you do.”
Back Before Dark Page 21
