In the Arms of Stone Angels - By Jordan Dane Page 0,13

phone signaled that he had a text.

“Is that her again?” Justin asked, leaning forward to check out his cell from the back seat. “She’s been texting you all morning, man.”

“Shut your pie hole. You’re giving me a headache.” Derek glared at blue-slush boy. “You’re like some nosy little girl, dude. Mind your own business and grow a dick.”

Derek would have thumped Justin in the head, but movement down the street caught his eye. Like he figured, the bitch came out of her house again after she’d changed clothes. She was heading for her mom’s car—and that made him smile.

“She’s on the move. And so are we.” Derek started his engine.

He’d have to follow her at a safe distance until he picked the right time and place to clue her in. She wasn’t welcome here. Before he pulled from the curb to follow her, he sent a quick text message on his cell.

Heather Madsen had friends in Shawano. He wasn’t the only one who hated Brenna Nash’s guts. That bitch would have to watch her back. Today would be a warning.

Next time would be…way more.

Nearly Two Hours Later

After hitting two stores, I had every item on Mom’s list checked off in record time. As I came out of Home Depot carrying my bags and heading for my car, I glanced down at my watch. Visiting hours at the hospital had already started. I could be there in thirty minutes. It would have been tight for me to visit White Bird, but I’d called Mom from the hardware aisle and told her I was hungry and had a craving for Chick-fil-A.

That wasn’t total bullshit.

But my being hungry wouldn’t get in the way of the real reason I was taking a side trip. Red Cliffs Hospital was an examination and detention center, according to what I’d read in the phone book. And I had called the facility earlier to find out about visiting hours. I wasn’t sure how tight security would be in a detention center. Maybe I was fooling myself to think I could walk in and see him, but I had to take a chance.

I owed him that much.

But as I was putting the last of my shopping bags into the trunk of the Subaru, a truck barreled up to my car and screeched its tires behind me. My heart jumped and so did I. When I turned, the chrome grill of the truck was only a couple of feet from my legs.

And a familiar face was smirking at me through the windshield—Derek Bast. He wasn’t alone. Bullies like Derek traveled in herds. They dressed alike. And looked alike. No-neck bubbas in muscle shirts who wore sweats that reminded everyone they were jocks—like “duh,” anyone could forget. But Derek’s brain-dead crew was meaner than most.

They were clones of Derek, a semihuman version of a junk-yard dog. And to make matters worse, Derek was the nephew of Sheriff Logan. That had always bought him special treatment in town, but his status as a football jock had apparently earned him even more star power. I’d read about him and some of the other kids in Shawano on Facebook after I’d left the state.

I knew they wouldn’t “friend” me if they recognized my name and photo so I made up an online name, “Rolo Girl.” I was addicted to chocolate and had the zits to prove it, but the chewy caramel center in a Rolo had reminded me of the color of White Bird’s skin, so I was hooked. And for my Facebook photo, I took a pic of my “screw you” toes and posted it. That worked for me, so I became one of the two thousand plus friends Jade DeLuca had on Facebook. And with her being the apparent heir to Heather’s vacant throne, Derek was always on her page, the idiot.

Whenever he got out of control, everyone in this town knew how to turn the other way and Derek had always known how to take advantage of that.

Mr. Teflon scared me plenty.

“Well, look who’s back, guys.” Derek got out of his truck and his boys followed. Four of his buddies slipped beside him and blocked me in. I couldn’t run, even if I wanted to. “Guess you didn’t get it through your thick skull the first time. Your pal, Tonto, killed a white girl. And he’s gonna pay for that. He can’t hide forever, pretending to be a retard.”

Derek backed me against my car and I could barely breathe. And when