“I know, report me to your daddy.” Captious’s tone said he didn’t care. “I think our friendship means more to you than that. See you in class tomorrow. Don’t forget, you have a test.”
My stomach churned in disgust as Captious led little Christie through the door to the arcade. Mason continued to glare. The instant the arcade door closed, the door at the end of the food counter slowly opened. A skeletal face appeared, hissed the word, “Come,” then pulled back inside. It took all my strength and concentration to slow my heart.
I’d been right. Scallion had been waiting in the back room. Up close, his skull face was more frightening than it was in any memory I’d absorbed. That mask was too real. And he was powerful—I could feel the fear he pushed out to control Mason. I had to be cautious.
Mason cringed and walked to the end of the food counter. I heard him mutter, “I wonder what he knows about this.” Then he disappeared through the door.
Bad guys were so thoughtless. The two who were my targets had gone one way, and the one who hadn’t even been on my radar had gone another. With a terrified little girl, no less. Why couldn’t they all stay in one place and make my life easy?
I couldn’t afford distractions. My mission was practically accomplished. All I had to do was unmask Scallion and grind him into bad guy paste. Pummeling Mason would be a bonus. If I did what I had been trained to do, I could end the terror in Greensburg permanently. My town would be safe. My family would be safe. The Psi Fighters would be safe.
Time to be a hero.
I started toward the stairs.
Then poor Christie popped into my brain. Ugh! There was that distraction I was afraid of.
Andy never taught me how to handle something like this. Fortunately, I watch a lot of movies with Kathryn. The good of the many outweighs the good of the one. Spider-Man said that. I think. Or the Star Trek person with the ears. Whoever. Bottom line, I had to do what I came to do. Scallion was going down. I turned to leap down the stairs to the little room when an annoying thought forced itself into my head. What if “the one” wasn’t a girl I barely knew? What if “the one” had been Susie?
I allowed the memory of my own kidnapping to slowly resurface from the depths of my brain. The trembling. The shallow breathing. The absolute horror.
Crud.
The problem with movie wisdom was that it was written by people who never had to decide whether to do what you’re told, or save a little girl’s life. Scallion was the reason the whole town was in danger. He was my link to the man who killed my parents. I would probably never have another chance to unmask him.
But Christie needed me. My eyes filled with angry tears. Another mission was about to swirl uncontrollably down the potty.
Chapter Fourteen
An Unexpected Accomplice
I flew up the ladder to the roof, my hands and feet barely touching the rungs, and sprinted to the front of the building. The night sky was like pitch. On the street below, Captious ushered Christie out of the Shadow Passage’s streetlight and disappeared into the shadows. I had no idea where he was taking her, but I knew who he was taking her to: LaReau. And no way was he going without me.
I leapt to the fire escape ladder and slid down with one hand, dropping the last fifteen feet to the street, landing without a sound, and crouched in the alley on all fours like a prowling lioness. After quickly flipping my mask into a ball cap, and turning my hoodie green side out, I strolled nonchalantly into the street.
Captious and Christie were twenty yards ahead of me, marching up the hill toward Main Street, Christie wrapped in his trench coat. He had his arm around her, and acted all tender and caring. Made me want to yak. I closed the gap quickly.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” Captious said. “Everything will be all right. You’re with me, now. I’m taking you to your parents.”
Poor Christie’s quiet little sobs echoed in the empty street. Visions of Susie popped in and out of my head. I picked up my pace, heart pounding, and drew closer to Captious. My hair fluffed. Angry psychic flames raged through my body and concentrated in my palm. I never reached for my Amplifier. Didn’t need it. Only needed to touch him. I slowly extended my hand, fingers spread wide.
Suddenly, I remembered Andy’s unmoving body lying against the wall, chest armor shattered. I relaxed, and disintegrated the anger. Now was not the time to lose control. There had to be another way.
What would Kathryn do?
“Hey, hey, Dr. Captious,” my suddenly cheerful voice burst out. Kathryn would be proud. “Out late, aren’t we?”
Captious turned quickly and looked into my eyes. He seemed terrified.
“Speaking of out late,” he replied, “don’t you have school tomorrow? Look, I don’t have time to talk, now. I need to get this poor little girl to the police station. I found her wandering.”