managed to stun Temple. I told him how Nolan came to be outside with me the night he was shot. He listened so carefully, that I told him the rest of the story as well.
“Hmmm. It’s quite possible that it is your Mr. Tony Markham who is responsible, in which case, he’s made a very serious mistake.” He chewed it over a bit more. “It is, however, equally possible that it has nothing at all to do with you. It could be a random event, as there are a great many evil and demented bastards out there in the world. It is also possible that it is someone from Nolan’s past—about which I will tell you no more—who is responsible. If that’s the case, then I’m sorry that you were there to see it. In any case, our six friends will also be making themselves busy in the weeks to come. You must tell me everything again.”
I did. He surprised me, taking down notes as I spoke. I wouldn’t have thought that he would believe me, care, or be so methodical about it all.
“Three things,” he said, when I’d finished.
I nodded.
“First, you really need to consider what you’ve told me about when you’ve seen this Tony person. It seems to me that while you are a sharp cookie, at least when you’re not on the mats. All of your sightings have been when you were exhausted and half asleep—in the airport—or when you had just had bad news—about your little friend Chuck—and when you were with old Nolan at the hospital.”
I nodded, shrugging. I didn’t like hearing what he said, and didn’t believe it, but had to consider it.
“Second. You know from class about being on your guard. I don’t need to tell you how important that is now. You can’t afford to feel comfortable, anywhere.”
I shrugged. That wasn’t even an issue.
“Next thing. Very important.”
I leaned in to hear it.
“Make sure, for God’s sake, you are on time when you come in tomorrow.”
Chapter 14
I SLEPT WELL THAT NIGHT, AND AFTER CLASS THE next morning, I felt so good after I showered that I realized that I was going to blow off schoolwork and indulge in the radical activity of doing some grocery shopping. We were down to gulag food—coffee but no milk, bread crusts with no butter, and canned emergency rations—and needed some fresh supplies ASAP. I felt good enough to leave the house again.
Halfway down the street, I was singing to whatever song was playing on the radio. It felt good to be silly for a change, it felt good to be able to do something proactive about the situation, no matter how slight. An extra class, a little time to myself where I wasn’t obsessing, it could only do me good.
Then I nearly drove off the road with my next thought.
Artie’s absence had allowed someone to get into the unlocked house, but how had that someone gotten into the barn? The lock was still in place when I checked with Joel, and there were two copies—one on my chain, one on the spare rack on the way out of the house.
The keys.
I pulled over and rushed into CaféNation, and sure enough, the keys I’d seen before were still there, but now they were on a shelf behind the counter. The bright red metal of the carabiner caught my eye instantly, and the twinkle of the charm stood out among the white porcelain mugs. I whipped my head around, looking for Tina. She wasn’t there.
“Shit!”
At that moment, one of the kids, Isabel, came out from the back. “It’s okay, Emma. I’ll get your coffee now. Remain calm, take deep breaths.” Her smile faded as she realized I wasn’t just jonesing.
“Sorry. It’s not that, Isabel. I was looking for Tina, is she around? It’s kind of important.”
“She’s off today. Can I help?”
“It’s…it’s going to sound strange, but can I…you remember the keys that were lost—the ones back there? Well, is it all right if I take them? I think I know who they might belong to.”
Isabel frowned for a minute as she considered. The little dumbbell in her eyebrow moved as well, an added emphasis. “I guess so,” she said as she handed them to me. “I mean, Tina knows you, right? And no one’s been in to pick them up for a long while. And we know where you live anyway,” she joked.
“I’m afraid you’re not the only ones,” I said.
“Sorry?”
“No, I’m sorry, I’m just…I’ll bring them right back,