Wicked Wings (Lizzie Grace #5) - Keri Arthur Page 0,100

light across the trees. There was no sign of the teenagers, but they were nevertheless close.

“Call your son, Mrs. Rankin.”

“Charlie? You out there?”

“Mom?” The voice came from our left.

I swung the light around. A slender figure popped up out of the scrub and flung a hand across his face to protect his eyes.

“What the hell are you doing all the way out here?” he said.

“What the hell do you think I’m doing? Rescuing you, you idiot.”

“I thought you’d just send the rangers.”

“What? And get us all in trouble again? That would be bright, wouldn’t it? Where are the others?”

Three “We’re here” followed this question, and all four boys stepped onto the path. There was little contrition on their faces—they’d enjoyed every minute of being ‘lost’, and that alone made me wonder if it had been deliberately done.

“We’d better get you lot home,” Mrs. Rankin continued. “Before your mothers start wondering where the hell you are.”

If their mothers weren’t already wondering that, I’d be seriously surprised.

“So who’s she?” Charlie said. “And why is she carrying my shoe?”

“She’s the psychic who helped me find you.”

“By using my shoe?”

“Yes. And the cost of hiring her is coming out of your allowance, Charlie, I can assure you of that.”

“Oh, Mom—”

“Don’t ‘oh Mom’ me. You were warned to keep to the marked tracks and you didn’t. Just thank the lucky stars it was us that found you rather than the Marins.”

“We’re not that close to their boundary.”

A comment that all but confirmed my suspicion they weren’t as lost as they’d made out. I shook my head, then turned around and led the five of them back to the SUVs. Mrs. Rankin ushered the boys into the back of her vehicle, then grabbed her purse and handed me the fee. She obviously wasn’t lacking for cash if she carried that sort of change around.

“Thanks for your help.” She hesitated. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention this little adventure to your ranger friend. I wouldn’t like it getting back to the wrong ears.”

A request that had come way too late, and one I wouldn’t have obeyed anyway. “I suggest you get back into town without delay, Mrs. Rankin. There’s been some trouble around these parts recently.”

“That seems to be a running theme in this reservation. Might be time to move again, I’m thinking.”

I made no comment; I just nodded, climbed into my SUV, and reversed back between the trees so she could get past. Then I followed her back onto the gravel road that wound its way out of the area.

I’d barely gone a mile or so when there was an odd thump. The steering became sluggish and unresponsive, the wheel began to vibrate, and there was an odd flapping sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. I pulled off the road and jumped out. The rear left tire was flat.

So much for the sturdiness of new tires.

I opened the rear door, pulled up the floor mats, and then tugged out the spare and the tire-changing kit. Only to discover the wheel nuts had been done up by Superman himself and there was no way I was ever going to get them undone. Not even by jumping up and down on the lever thingy.

I blew out a frustrated breath, then grabbed my phone and called the auto club for help. Twenty minutes, they informed me.

I glanced at my watch and made another call, this time to Aiden. “I am going to be late back.”

“Haven’t you found the boys yet?”

“Yes, but the SUV now has a flat tire, and I have to wait for the RACV to turn up.”

“You don’t know how to change a tire?”

“Of course I do.” My tone was indignant. “I just can’t move the damn wheel nuts.”

“Ah. Do you want me to come up there and keep you company?”

“As tempting as that offer is, it’ll probably take you as long to get here as the RACV.”

“True enough. Shall I wait outside the café or will you drive straight back to my place?”

“The latter makes more sense. But I expect a hot chocolate to be waiting for me when I get there.”

“I’ll throw in some marshmallows, just to sweeten the deal, if you like.”

“I’m aquiver with excitement.”

He laughed. “See you soon.”

I shoved my phone into my pocket then leaned against the SUV and crossed my arms. Mrs. Rankin’s SUV was no longer visible, but even if it had been she would probably have been too busy discussing the day’s events with her darling