guess, I felt more of my patience slipping. “This is pointless. We won’t know for sure which direction she’s gone until she sends another clue.”
Just then, Houston’s phone chimed with another text from Braxton. I hurriedly tapped the banner before it could disappear from the top of his phone.
It was a picture of her standing against the railing of what must have been a bridge. It was still dark, but I could just make out the still water in the lake behind her and the leaves from the trees reflecting on the surface.
“That has to be here,” Houston said, pointing at something called the Bow Bridge.
“There are two directions she could go once she crosses it. I say we haul ass and cut her off here,” I suggested, pointing at Bethesda Terrace.
She was probably expecting us to be off our game and actually retrace her steps. By the time we caught up, even though we were faster, it would be well after sunrise.
Who knows if or when Braxton would give us another shot. I shuddered to think of what other trial she’d feel the unneccssary need to put us through.
“And if she heads in the other direction?” Rich questioned.
“One, it’s why I said we should haul ass. Two, she won’t. She wants us to find her.”
Neither of them wasted time trying to argue. Pocketing his phone, Houston took off for Bethesda Terrace with Rich and I hot on his heels.
I didn’t realize I’d been cut off and cornered until I stepped off the paved path and onto the red brick at Bethesda Terrace. Purple had begun to give way to orange in the sky while just ahead, three brooding figures waited for my arrival. I’d been too busy admiring the fountain to notice them closing in from the other side.
Looking around as if nothing was amiss, I took in my surroundings, secretly plotting my escape. To my right loomed grand staircases leading to the upper terrace and an arcade offering access to the shadowed lower half. Both provided passage to the rest of the park.
To my left was the lake.
I never realized before how tall they were until now. Standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the fountain now, they were a reckoning force united in anger and blocking my only other escape.
It was Houston who broke the silence first. “You really should be careful who you toy with, Braxton Fawn.”
I knew better than to get too close, so I stayed where I was a few paces away. Centered in the fountain behind them was a bronze, eight-foot statue of a winged angel blessing the water cascading into the upper basin before spilling into the pool that surrounded it. Looking on underneath the angel’s feet were four cherubs—Temperance, Purity, Health, and Peace.
I had the feeling all of mine were about to be tested.
“How did you know I’d be here?” I asked to keep them talking and distracted. The last clue I sent them had been the bridge, so it really wouldn’t have been all that hard to figure out. It wasn’t their intelligence I’d underestimated, though. I hadn’t counted on their eagerness to get to me. Sunrise was only a few moments away. I thought I’d be long gone before they ever made it here.
Keeping my face unreadable, I quickly ran through my options. Obviously, the path behind me was the only viable one. Maybe they wouldn’t notice if I started inching away? I could run, but then what? They’d definitely catch me.
“You made it too easy,” Loren quipped as he pulled a stick of gum from his pocket and unwrapped it. “Lucky for you.” He slipped the gum between his lips.
“I—”
“Come here,” Rich commanded before I could utter another syllable. His gaze and his tone were so flat I didn’t know if it was caution or surprise that made me step back. He was supposed to be the sweetheart of the group—the even-tempered one. Right now, he had my heart racing more than the others.
“I believe we were promised five minutes of your undivided attention,” Loren reminded me.
“Yes,” I agreed, gulping as I folded my arms. If I couldn’t beat ’em, I’d bluff like hell. “It started two minutes ago.”
“Well, then,” he returned with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I guess we better not waste any more time.” Tossing down his gum wrapper, Loren shot forward with a gleam in his eyes that said I’d bitten off more than I could chew.