Joey lurched forward, hand outstretched. “Wait. What if they track you here? Maybe we should call for you when we get back to San Juan?”
“It can’t wait. She told me to call if I heard anything else.” She shook her head, already punching in the number. “At this point, I’m confident if they do arrest me, Ramona will be able to get Derek.”
Her mom shifted on her feet. “You trust her that much?”
Eliza nodded. “I do. And I think this is the only way out.”
The phone rang. Eliza hit speakerphone and set it down.
Ramona answered, her voice clear. “FBI, this is Agent Ramona Thomas.”
She didn’t hold back, telling her about the arrest warrant, hiding out, and the clues leading to Derek.
She finished with, “What do you think?”
They paused in silence until Ramona sighed. “This is impressive but, Eliza, I have to be frank with you.”
Her stomach dropped. “Okay.”
“An arrest warrant is serious. I’m going to do everything I can, but you need to turn yourself in.”
She sucked in a breath. She should have expected it, but it still stung. “I will.”
“I think we can start with…” Ramona’s voice trailed off. “Could you pick Derek out of a lineup?”
“Definitely.”
“Hi, Ramona. This is Eliza’s mom, Sheila.” She leaned over the phone, her hands clasped together. “Is this enough? For an arrest?”
She sighed. “It’s not exactly evidence, so no. I can ask him to come in for questioning.”
“Ask him?” Mackenzie scoffed. “You can’t make him?”
“Not yet.”
Eliza tried to swallow, but her throat was completely dry. The only person with enough evidence for an arrest was her.
“Go to the nearest police station,” she continued, “and tell them there’s a warrant for your arrest. I’ll meet up with my boss and see what we can do.”
“I will, thank you,” Eliza said, lifting a heavy limb to end the call.
Mackenzie spoke first. “You are notturning yourself in. I get that she has to say that, but no!”
“I have to, Mack.”
Mom twisted her hands together. “Why do you have to wait inprison?Can’t you just stay here?”
Eliza sunk into the seat. “No.”
“You at least have to wait until Chief Hank is in tomorrow,” Mom said. “You can’t go turning yourself in during the middle of the night.”
What does one pack for prison? Could she bring her own toothbrush? A book? “Fine, but you guys should go. You don’t want to be caught around me.”
“I don’t care about that.” Mackenzie sighed. “I’m staying.”
“Me too,” Mom said.
Eliza’s voice was soft but resolute. “I don’t want anyone to get in trouble for being with me. And I could use some time to think.”
