He looked at Rome, who said, “I guess it couldn’t hurt to ask, although you might not like the answer.”
“All right. I will after dinner. I want to finish this sketch first.”
“While you’re taking a break, can you give Lilas her milk?” I held out the cup, and he took it and left.
Looking at Rome, I said, “Let’s do breakfast for dinner. It’s quick and we can make a buffet so there’s something for everyone. We have eggs, bacon, sausage, pancake mix, hash browns, and whatever this fruit is that Jax bought. It smells kinda peachy.”
“Sounds good to me, and it’s a mango.”
“Really? I’ve never seen one still in its skin before.”
The front door opened, then Gina called, “I’m back!”
“In the kitchen!” I raised my voice.
A few seconds later, she walked in with a large shopping bag and a larger smile.
“Is Lilas awake yet? I found the cutest stuffed unicorn.”
“Yes, she is,” I smiled. “I was surprised to see her up and about so soon.”
“Kids bounce back fast from power drains,” Rome told me, then spent the next few minutes catching Gina up on Hinge and Kerry’s plan to draw the shadow.
“It’s a good idea.” She nodded. “It’d also be a good idea to find out Bit’s real name. I’ll bet Hank or I know him, or least knowsofhim, whoever he is.”
She handed Rome the shopping bag.
“Speaking of Hank, I’d like to go back to the Box and see how his interrogation is going. Would you mind watching over Lilas until we get back? Then we’ll return her to her mom at the Sanctuary.”
“Sure,” I said. “Make sure Hank finds out how Grisa knew that Kerry even called Amanda for help.”
That had been bothering me. How could she possibly have intercepted his phone call? Or maybe Clem or Amanda talked with someone after the call and tipped off our traitor?
“Of course. It could take awhile, though. We might not be back until tomorrow,” she warned us.
“She’ll be fine.” Rome rumbled. “And it’ll give Hinge someone to pester besides Kerry.”
41. Bigfoots?!
Chance
When Spin and Monkey came around the corner, I waved one arm. He waved back, so I ducked my head into the open window of the SUV.
“They’re here,” I told Chessie.
When Rome had called me and said there was a change of plans, my first thought was that Monkey had taken a turn for the worse. He’d reassured me that she was fine, then explained that Spin and Monkey would be joining us on our assignment because theirs had hit a wall.
So we’d headed back to the city to pick them up at LaGuardia.
“Good to see you, bro!” Spin caught me in a one-armed guy hug as Chessie climbed out of the passenger seat.
“You, too.” I grinned and thumped his back, then turned to Chessie. “Chessie, this is Spin and—”
Chessie let out a hurt little sound, not really a word, and ignored Spin and me in her rush to reach Monkey. Hugging the older girl, Chessie tutted and coated her in power, and Monkey’s knees gave out. Despite her pitiful thinness, Monkey was half a foot taller than Chessie and all arms and legs. As Chessie struggled to hold her up, I moved to help, but Spin was faster. He swung Monkey into his arms like a princess and carried her a few feet away.
“Hey! What are you doingto her?” he demanded.
“Helping her!” Chessie snapped. “Can’t you see that she ripped up inside? She’s full of great, gaping holes, and none of younoticed?”
