I can tell that Deo really, really wants to ask what’s going on, what I’ve found out, but he just nods.
Faking it feels weird. I don’t know what I look like when I pick up a hitcher. That part hasn’t happened often enough for me to ask Deo to capture it on video, so I’m flying blind here. While I doubt my observers have seen it enough times to call me on the fake, I lean forward so my hair shields my face from prying eyes.
After about a minute, I stand up. “Got something. His name is Jaden Park. Can you hit the call button by the door?”
I’m guessing the call button is totally unnecessary. But I might as well follow all the steps in their stupid protocol.
Lucas comes in first. “Why’d you uncover the bodies? It was a pain in the ass gettin’ them into those bags.”
“They’re not garbage. And they’re very angry at you for treating their remains with such disrespect.”
I haven’t gotten a sense that they care one way or the other about the bags, and I suspect they’re much more pissed off about things he did when they were still alive. Killing them is probably pretty high up on that list. But it gives me a sense of satisfaction to see Lucas glance nervously at the bodies.
Cregg is dabbing at his mouth with a napkin when he walks in, so I must have interrupted a midnight snack. There’s a clipboard in his other hand, with a pen through the clip.
“That was quick, Anna! I’m impressed. But now we need to find out what you know. I’m going to ask you a series of questions and I’d like for Mr. Park to answer them.”
“Sure.”
“In what room do you live?”
“He’s in Room 17,” I answer, as soon as Jaden relays the information.
Cregg looks displeased. “No. I’d like Jaden to answer these questions.”
I exchange a look with Deo, whose expression pretty much mirrors what I’m feeling.
“Okay,” I tell Cregg. “But I need to sit down. And someone might want to find a garbage can and bring it over. I already feel a little like I might hurl and . . . letting him take control will make that worse.”
It’s an exaggeration, but only a slight one. When neither Cregg nor Lucas responds, Deo says, “I think there’s one at the back. I’ll get it.”
Cregg tosses his napkin inside the can Deo brings back. The napkin is smeared with something red—spaghetti or pizza sauce, probably—but all I can think of is the blood still flowing into the drain behind us, and I nearly lose it.
Jaden’s clearly picking up on my trepidation about letting him take over. He seems nice enough, but we just met. It’s not like with Molly, where I had a chance to get to know her before handing over the steering wheel. I’m suddenly getting Myron flashbacks. I shove those thoughts back behind the damned wall, but not before Jaden gets a glimpse.
Hey, no! Not gonna claim this is the end I’d have picked, and I wasn’t lookin’ to make an early exit like Oksana was. But I ain’t got no agenda, aside from hopin’ you find a way to bust the lid off what they’re doin’ here. I’ll back off when you say, soon as I’ve answered his questions.
I think he’s telling the truth.
Hopefully I can do that.
There’s also an unspoken wish in the mix. He’d like for his parents to know he didn’t run away if I make it out.
I can do that, too.
I start moving toward the backseat, but he has a question.
So . . . when I leave? Do I just . . . disappear? Or is there someplace . . . after?
No clue. All I know is that most of my hitchers seem relieved. Happy, almost.
Except . . . that one guy, right? The one you just shoved into a safe or somethin’.
Except him, yeah. But he was crazy. And mean. Also . . . that area is a secret. Don’t tell Cregg, even if he—
Won’t tell him anything more than I have to.
Good. Then let’s get this over with.
I slide back. The tummy-tossing sensation seems to hit a little harder than usual. My nails bite into my palms as Jaden imagines punching Cregg in the face. Then he glances at Lucas, who’s leaning against the plexiglass wall, and thinks how much fun it would be to sink a side kick into his gut.
Bad idea, Jaden. You want to die twice in one night?
Chill. I’m not really gonna do it. Just thinkin’ it would feel damn good.
I can’t argue with that point.
He stares straight into Cregg’s blue eyes. “You got questions for me, dude? Go ahead and ask, then. Ain’t got all day.”
Cregg’s eyebrows go up slightly. “Am I speaking with Jaden Park, then?”
“You got him. Who the hell are you? I’ve seen you around, not as much as your attack dog over there, but no one ever seems to mention your name.”