Kathryn shook her head. “Disappointing.”
“I know.” I didn’t tell Kathryn, but my feelings about spying into the boys’ shower had been a mixture of wild curiosity at what I might see and abject terror at the thought of my dad finding out. Or the Kilodan. Or Andy. Only Kathryn would be proud. “Anyway, I pulled open a vent cover and dropped into the stall next to Mason.”
“Personally, I would have waited over the showers. But, hey, that’s just me. So, which end of him was making noise?”
“The end with the mouth,” I said. “It was whispering. ‘Tonight, just like I told you,’ he said. Then he said, ‘Home. I’ll bring your package. Of course, ten.’ Then he hung up.”
“So he’s meeting somebody at ten o’clock tonight. Who?”
“I wonder if this is the delivery Scallion talked about in LaReau’s memory. Mason used the same word as LaReau—package.” A terrible thought flipped through my head. “Does this mean Mason is involved in the kidnapping? I have to tell Andy. We need a stakeout.”
“Home.” Kathryn frowned and shook her head. “Not sure how anybody could call the Shadow Passage home.”
“What, he meant the Shadow Passage? Not his house? Are you sure?”
“Definitely. He calls it his home-away-from-home.”
Made sense. He hung out there, ate there, did who knows what else there…maybe there was more to that SSA back room than he told me. I thought for a minute. “I have to get back to the Academy. I need building plans for the Shadow Passage.”
I put my map away, and we started out of the library.
“Here’s the deal,” I told Kathryn. “I’ll go to the Academy, memorize the Shadow Passage layout, and hide myself somewhere in the building before Mason shows up. Once he arrives, I’ll find out who he kidnapped, rescue her, beat him into wombat butter, and meet you for ice cream. Sound good?”
“Except for one tiny detail,” Kathryn said as we stepped into the hall. Art Rubric and Chuckie blocked the path. Apparently waiting for me.
“Five small dollars.” Chuckie grinned like a hyena. He spread his hands wide and gazed out onto some imaginary horizon. “Then you are free to roam these hallowed halls. Such a pittance for liberation.”
“I didn’t know you could use big words, Chuckie.” Kathryn batted her eyes. “I’m so proud of you!”
“I saw it on a wall in town,” Chuckie said. His grin grew bigger and he blushed.
Kathryn turned to Rubric. “We have someplace to be. Touch either of us, and you’ll learn what getting beat up by a girl feels like.”
“We don’t accept MasterCard or threats,” Rubric said. “Cash only.”
“I don’t have any money,” I told him.
“That’s okay,” Rubric said. “You qualify for our payment plan. Chuckles, give her the bill.”
Chuckie’s grin disappeared. “Dude, she’s a girl.”
“No exceptions!” Rubric shoved Chuckie aside and drew back his huge fist. “I’ll collect.”
I grimaced and tightened my stomach, hoping I was strong enough to take his punch. Suddenly, I felt a powerful arm around my waist pulling me backward.
“Maybe you’d like to collect from me,” a quiet voice said. “Yeah, that’s a dandy idea. Because, you know, collecting from her could really hurt your life expectancy.”
“Egon.” Rubric raised his hands and backed away. “What up, bro?”
Forcing me behind him, Egon pulled a huge wad of cash from his pocket. He slapped Rubric across the face with it, and tucked it away. “Oh, terribly sorry. I don’t seem to have any money either.” His emotionless face dared Rubric to disagree. “Whatever shall we do now, bro?” Egon slammed Art into the lockers. They banged like thunder.
“Dude!” Chuckie sputtered, apparently amazed that anyone could slam Rubric. He squirmed like a little girl on a candy binge. “I heard you’re the secret informant!”
“Is that the rumor?” Egon crossed his arms. “If I admitted it, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore, would it?”
Chuckie’s eyes opened wide, like he just had an epiphany. “No, I guess not. Dude!”
Rubric stared, seemingly unsure what to do. Then he turned and grabbed Chuckie by the shoulder. “No problem, man. We gotta go.”
Egon stood motionless, radiating a cloud of gorgeous.
“That’s the second time you saved me,” I said.
He turned toward me. His eyes became bright and he smiled. “We should make this a regular thing.”
“Every girl needs a hero.” And he was absolutely mine. A regular thing—the thought made me gooey.
“Are you up for anything tonight? I have a night off from practice, and thought maybe we could study together.”
“Egon, we don’t have any classes together.”
He nodded slyly. “I know.”
In my swiftly clouding mind, I saw the most beautiful fireworks display lighting the midnight sky. Alluring music played in the background. Birds and bunnies formed a circle and began singing like we were in a Disney movie.