She nodded a few times, her eyes locked on mine. “Yes, I’ll round them up. Can you see if there’s a vehicle or something to steal?”
I grinned. It felt like a wonky, sort of crazy smile, but I was excited. There weren’t many cars on the other worlds, and I’d wanted to try my hand at driving again. I’d learned how to hotwire and drive at a young age – it was part of the escape plan from the compound – but as the years went on and vehicles became scarcer, the opportunities to drive faded to almost nothing.
Today was my lucky day.
“On it!” I managed to keep it below a shriek. “Meet you in the parking lot, on the other side of that building.”
Chrissie winked, and then she faded off into the mass of people. I had no doubt she would start sending the girls over in small groups, so as not to draw any attention. I had to hurry, so I was ready for them.
Help Chrissie for me, babe!
Brace had started to follow me, but I wanted to make sure that nothing happened on the docks while I was gone.
Yes, sir. He chuckled and I heard murmurs of bossy little thing.
I was a little bossy at times.
My pace picked up from a walk to a jog and eventually I was sprinting along the docks again, but this time I didn’t enter the building. Instead I veered off to the left and followed the narrow cement path around to the parking lot.
I almost shrieked again as the black tarred area came into view. It was filled with vehicles of all varieties. I slowed my run so I could scan across.
Crap.
I might have a problem; most of these cars were makes and models more advanced than anything I’d ever seen. I needed something older, the style I’d learned to drive and steal. I didn’t have time to figure out anything with fancy computers or complicated wiring systems.
“Oh, my god, Abby!” Lucy rounded the corner, yelling her head off. Colton and Eva were with her. “So many cars. So many.”
Lucy trailed off as if the sight of so much shiny goodness had rendered her speechless.
“I don’t know any of these models,” I said. “And I need a vehicle big enough that we’ll all fit.”
Every freaking car here was some sort of sleek fancy model. More of the girls were starting to join us, Chrissie and Brace sending them across. Colton looked just as helpless as I was. He was a Walker. They didn’t exactly use or need cars.
I was just about to panic when a loud rumble blasted across the graveled lot and, as I shifted my head to the left, a grin kicked up the corner of my lips. Hells to the yeah! The gods of fate loved Abby today; about effing time they started to send us some luck.
Turning into the lot was an old Ford pickup truck, original and beautifully restored by the looks of the shiny black paint. It gave that deep chugging sound that only a true V8 could obtain. The owner pulled it up near the back, where the larger spaces were, to accommodate the massive size.
This was the one I needed. Oh, yeah, I totally needed it. Double bonus: I knew how to get her moving.
A male human jumped out. He wore an official-looking uniform. Not police, but maybe some sort of special services. Black head to toe, with white letters across his chest and back, spelling out SWAT. I had no idea what division he was from, but something told me stealing his car was a bad idea. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a choice.
“Get the girls across to that garden,” I said to Colton. He followed my hand as I pointed toward a grassy knoll that was visible on the far side of the parking lot. “I’ll bring that car around.”
The Ford was loud and easily recognizable. I would not have any time to hang out in the parking lot, or the owner would most certainly hear his big, rumbly engine.
Colton gave me a nod, and Lucy hugged me. I took off toward the car, taking the long way around so I wouldn’t run into the owner. Thankfully he wasn’t looking toward our group. His focus was on the docks as he spoke into a tiny hand-held device. Some sort of cell phone, by the looks.
I’d never seen anything like it, small and sleek, fitting securely into the palm of his hand. I did briefly wonder why he’d arrived on his own and not in an official police vehicle, but maybe they did things differently from what I’d seen on television. Or maybe he’d been off duty and rushed over. Either way, it was lucky for us, because his car was our only hope.
I kept my head low, walk-running, but not full-on sprinting – that would definitely draw attention. More humans were pouring into the area, on bikes, foot and in vehicles.