She Has A Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be - J.D. Barker Page 0,38

must have figured out I wasn’t alone. They didn’t get out of the SUVs. It was like they came by just to tell me they knew I was up to something fishy, then left. When they realized I was trying to follow them, they stopped me. Like I broke the rules or something.”

“We don’t know the rules,” Willy said.

“That’s why we need a new plan,” Dunk said.

I nodded at Willy, then turned back to Dunk. “How much did you tell him?”

Dunk shrugged and took another sip of his beer. “I told him everything when you were in the shower. We need him, and he can’t be in the dark.”

I didn’t know Willy that well and had no idea if I could trust him. “You can’t tell anyone.”

“I won’t.” He crossed his heart. “Nobody would believe me, anyway.”

I took a sip of my Coke, the full beer can beginning to sweat beside it.

“How did they know something was different?” Dunk asked. “What tipped them off?”

“Maybe they saw us on our bikes,” Willy offered.

Dunk shook his head. “Kids on bikes does not a tip-off make.”

“I think it was the radios,” I said.

Dunk frowned. “Did they see your radio?”

“No, I think they heard it. Every time those SUVs get close, something screwy happens with whatever radio I have with me. In the past, I noticed the signal on my Walkman boost when they got close. Today, we all lost contact even though we were well within range. Almost like something with a stronger signal interfered.”

“What? Like a transmitter in one of the SUVs?”

I twisted the Coke can in my hand. “I don’t know. Transmitter, receiver, some kind of radio something.”

“So next year, we don’t use radios,” Willy said.

I met his eyes. “Next year, I think I need to go alone again. Otherwise, they’ll know.”

“I agree, and that’s why you need this,” Dunk slid the .38 toward me.

“I’m not gonna shoot anyone.”

“For protection,” Dunk continued. “You keep it on you in case they try to finish what they started today. You put it in your pocket, and wait for them on the bench.” He took another sip of his beer. “If you have to, you pull the gun on Stella. This time, you get answers. You don’t let them leave. You control the situation.”

“They’ve got guns, too, much bigger guns.”

“Won’t matter. If you point a gun at Stella, they won’t risk shooting you.” Dunk finished his beer and crushed the can. He tossed it at the overflowing wastebasket in the corner of the kitchen. “This time, you’re getting answers for sure.”

I stared at the gun for a long time. Then I reached for my beer. The bubbles burned my nose. I didn’t like the taste one bit. At least, not that first time.

August 8, 1989

Thirteen Years Old

Log 08/08/1989—

Subject “D” within expected parameters.

Audio/video recording.

“What time is it?”

“Ahh, twelve after three.”

“Is the kid sleeping?”

Warren lowered his copy of Rolling Stone magazine. “Did you know Madonna doesn’t shave her arm pits?”

“Neither do I.”

“You’re a hairy fucking monkey. She’s hot. Seems weird when a woman doesn’t shave.”

“They don’t in Europe.”

“That’s why I live in the good ol' U.S. of A.”

“Seems like a double standard to me.”

Warren returned to the magazine. “Wonder if she shaves her legs.”

“I’m sure she shaves her legs. We live in a civilized society. If Madonna doesn’t shave her legs, we might as well go back to sleeping in caves and beating buffalos with sticks to get our dinner.”

Warren lowered the magazine again. “Now I’m hungry.”

“Is the kid sleeping?” Carl asked again.

“Can’t tell. Too dark in there. Why?”

“Want to see something scary?” Carl reached across the control board and flicked the delay switch to the off position.

Warren dropped the magazine and nearly fell out of his chair as he jumped and smacked the switch back on. “What the fuck, Carl!?”

“Doesn’t matter. Not if he’s sleeping.”

“I don’t care if he’s hog-tied, duct-taped, cuffed, and wearing that mask of his—don’t ever fuck with the switch!”

Carl reached over and flicked the switch off again.

Warren slammed it back. “I will beat you if you do that one more time!”

Carl held up both his hands. “Okay! Okay! I surrender. Just trying to liven things up. I’m bored to death over here.”

“Maybe zero in on a hobby that doesn’t involve the two of us dying.”

“If that switch broke, do you think anyone would notice?”

“I’m sure they test it,” Warren said.

“Like all the other safety protocols we never see? Yeah, I’m sure someone tests it. I’ll bet someone is all over that.”

Warren