glass finally gave, and I slid the blade of the saw into the small hole I had made.
Abarca came out of the mess hall down the street and zeroed in on me.
Keep going. Don’t see me, don’t talk to me. I have a screwdriver, and I’m not afraid to use it.
I turned the saw on. The blade chewed through glass and plastic. Abarca wandered over and stood next to me.
“Would you like some help?”
Yes, I’d like some help. I’d like you to help me understand how an Antistasi Prime has been driving in and out of our territory, parking his car fifty feet from our front door, and your elite security force, which had this place locked down so tight “not even a squirrel” could get through, has been letting him in and out and accepting his coffee. Help me understand that. “No.”
Shadow poked her head from behind the wall and barked. For a small dog, she sounded surprisingly fierce.
Abarca ignored her. “I realize this might not be the best time to discuss this, but it can’t wait.”
“I’m listening.” Ask me why I’m cutting the window out of this car. Ask me whose car this is. Go ahead, I dare you.
He raised his voice, trying to be heard over the dry grinding of the saw. “As you know, we had to let Lopez and Walton go. It was a difficult decision, but ultimately it was for the best.”
He seemed to have forgotten that I was in the room when Mom told him to fire those two or pack his bags. He didn’t have to make any decisions, just follow orders.
“We need to fill those two open slots as soon as possible. I submitted a list of candidates to Pen, but we don’t seem to be on the same page.”
Same page? He and Mom weren’t even on the same bookshelf.
“The two individuals I’ve chosen have spotless track records, and I have no doubt they would make fine additions to the team.”
The team which would be replaced tomorrow night.
Abarca fell silent, clearly anticipating some sort of response. He was trying to go over Mom’s head to get his guys hired.
“I’m confused. What exactly would you like me to do?”
Abarca smiled at me. “I value your opinion.”
Since when?
“I’d like you to review the candidates.”
“All security matters must go through my mother.”
“But you’re the Head of the House.”
I turned the saw off and faced him. “I am the Head of the House and I’m telling you that all security matters must go through and be approved by my mother. If she wants my opinion, she’ll consult me. Was there anything else?”
Abarca opened his mouth, hesitated, then said, “No. That’s it.”
“I’m glad we cleared that up.” I turned the saw back on and continued my slow cutting.
Abarca walked away. If I wasn’t hacking at Alessandro’s car, I would almost feel sorry for him. It wasn’t altogether his fault. He was trying to do a job that he wasn’t qualified for, but we were the ones who hired him for that job in the first place. I didn’t blame him for taking the position. He’d needed the work in the worst way, from what Mom had said. And I didn’t blame Mom for hiring him. She was trying to help a friend and keep us safe. But I was really glad Heart was on his way.
If only I knew where we could find the money to pay him.
The saw tasted air. I had cut a ragged rectangle in the window. I turned it off and hit the window with the handle of the screwdriver. It fell in onto the driver’s seat.
I popped the lock and opened the hatchback. The back was empty, except for a folded blanket, a rain poncho, and a garment bag. I unzipped the bag. A tuxedo, good quality. Typical.
I opened the back doors and went about searching the car.
I climbed the ladder to my loft, carrying the dog pillow, my arms filled with dog shampoo and puppy pads. Shadow bounded up the steps ahead of me and sprinted into my room.
The Jeep yielded no clues. I found no hidden stashes of weapons or gold coins, no fake IDs or passports, no rental agreement, no paperwork of any kind, not even a fast-food receipt. For some reason Sigourney Etterson had paid Alessandro two million dollars and I had no idea why.
I’d returned the tools to Grandma. Bug was watching the Jeep, so we would know the moment Alessandro reappeared. At least he would