How far? Corey asked.
He didnt say, I lied. But it cant be too far.
Daniel glanced at me, then nodded.
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY KILOMETERS IS INDEED too far when youre ready to drop already. I should have listened to Corey, Daniel said. I was so sure I could convince that guy. Its worked until now.
Not on Moreno, I said.
Sure it did.
At the store, yes, but we couldnt get him talking earlier. Obviously its not going to be a foolproof power or youd have the ability to make anyone do anything. My guess is that they have to want to already. The woman at the tattoo studio wanted to get rid of us. Moreno wanted to skip searching a filthy crawlspace. That old guy really didnt want to help us.
In other words, dont rely on special powers.
Same way Im not going to let you run in front of a moving van even if I have healing abilities.
Okay, so
Coreywhod been walking ahead with Samlet out a whistle. He gestured to a tractor trailer, pulling out of what looked like a parking lot.
We jogged up to Corey and Sam.
Please dont be closed for the season, Corey murmured as we picked up speed. Please dont be staffed by witches and demons, lying in wait for us. Please, please, please, just give us a break.
As we approached, we saw the sign. REDWOOD MOTEL AND RESTAURANT. There were three vehicles in the lottwo cars off to the far side and a pickup with a topper in front of the restaurant doors.
This is good, Corey said. Tell me this is good.
People. Phones. Food. I grinned over at him. Yep, this is good.
Daniel caught Coreys arm. We should let the girls handle this.
Huh? Corey said. We just need to make a phone call, right? Hell, Ill give them my other twenty to cover it.
I just I think we should hang back. Were in rough shape. That guy with the van was worried about me, not Maya.
Corey sighed. Fine. For once, youve earned the right to paranoia. Go get em, girls. He passed me the twenty. Just in case.
I told Sam we should go through the side door and slip into the bathroom to clean up before we talked to anyone. The side door actually led into the motel office, but no one was at the desk. A sign referred customers to the restaurant for service. A glass door separated the two. Through it, I could see the bathrooms at the rear. I was waiting for the servera blond woman about my moms ageto turn her back when I caught sight of a newspaper on the motel office counter. One look atthe lower headline and I realized I could use it, which meant cleaning up wasnt the right move.
I picked up the newspaper and walked into the restaurant. The server looked up, as did the sole patrona guy about thirty-five.
Can I help you? the server said, gaze traveling over our dirty clothes.
I hope so. I set the paper on the table she was resetting and pointed to the headline: MISSING ISLAND TEENS DEAD. Thats us.
The woman glanced at the paper, then at us. Her lips tightened. That isnt funny, girls.
Im not joking.
Those poor kids are dead and
No, theyre not. Someone made a mistake. Im Maya Delaney. This is Samantha Russo. Our helicopter went down off the northeastern coast. Weve been walking through the woods for three days. I gestured at my clothes. As you can see.
You cant be
Thats our names right there, I said, pointing at the list in the paper.
Prove it.
Our helicopter crashed in the ocean, lady, Sam said. She pulled sodden rectangles from her pocket and dropped them on the table. Thats my ID.
I opened the paper to an inner page where the piece continued. There were photos of two missing kids. Rafe and Nicole.
How the hell did they get Rafes picture? Sam muttered.
Those arent us, I said.
Convenient, the server muttered.
It wasnt convenient. It was intentional. Submit photos of the kids they knew werent wandering around the forest.
There was a class picture at the bottom of the article. It was tiny and blurred, although my copy at home was perfect.
Were in this one. I pointed to the class shot. Thats me, and thats Sam over there.
I think thats Bryan, Sam said.
Is it? I squinted. Maybe
It was impossible to tell, really. I wouldnt even be sure which one was me if I didnt recognize my tie-dyed shirt.
Okay, I said. Our pictures might not be recognizable, but come on. Why would we lie about it?
Same reason my own kids lie, the server said. To get attention.
Seriously? Sam said. Were going to hatch this elaborate scheme, and launch it in your crappy little?
I stepped on Sams foot.
Were dirty, I said. Were exhausted. Look outside. We didnt come in a car. So how did we get here? Where did we come from?
He didnt say, I lied. But it cant be too far.
Daniel glanced at me, then nodded.
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY KILOMETERS IS INDEED too far when youre ready to drop already. I should have listened to Corey, Daniel said. I was so sure I could convince that guy. Its worked until now.
Not on Moreno, I said.
Sure it did.
At the store, yes, but we couldnt get him talking earlier. Obviously its not going to be a foolproof power or youd have the ability to make anyone do anything. My guess is that they have to want to already. The woman at the tattoo studio wanted to get rid of us. Moreno wanted to skip searching a filthy crawlspace. That old guy really didnt want to help us.
In other words, dont rely on special powers.
Same way Im not going to let you run in front of a moving van even if I have healing abilities.
Okay, so
Coreywhod been walking ahead with Samlet out a whistle. He gestured to a tractor trailer, pulling out of what looked like a parking lot.
We jogged up to Corey and Sam.
Please dont be closed for the season, Corey murmured as we picked up speed. Please dont be staffed by witches and demons, lying in wait for us. Please, please, please, just give us a break.
As we approached, we saw the sign. REDWOOD MOTEL AND RESTAURANT. There were three vehicles in the lottwo cars off to the far side and a pickup with a topper in front of the restaurant doors.
This is good, Corey said. Tell me this is good.
People. Phones. Food. I grinned over at him. Yep, this is good.
Daniel caught Coreys arm. We should let the girls handle this.
Huh? Corey said. We just need to make a phone call, right? Hell, Ill give them my other twenty to cover it.
I just I think we should hang back. Were in rough shape. That guy with the van was worried about me, not Maya.
Corey sighed. Fine. For once, youve earned the right to paranoia. Go get em, girls. He passed me the twenty. Just in case.
I told Sam we should go through the side door and slip into the bathroom to clean up before we talked to anyone. The side door actually led into the motel office, but no one was at the desk. A sign referred customers to the restaurant for service. A glass door separated the two. Through it, I could see the bathrooms at the rear. I was waiting for the servera blond woman about my moms ageto turn her back when I caught sight of a newspaper on the motel office counter. One look atthe lower headline and I realized I could use it, which meant cleaning up wasnt the right move.
I picked up the newspaper and walked into the restaurant. The server looked up, as did the sole patrona guy about thirty-five.
Can I help you? the server said, gaze traveling over our dirty clothes.
I hope so. I set the paper on the table she was resetting and pointed to the headline: MISSING ISLAND TEENS DEAD. Thats us.
The woman glanced at the paper, then at us. Her lips tightened. That isnt funny, girls.
Im not joking.
Those poor kids are dead and
No, theyre not. Someone made a mistake. Im Maya Delaney. This is Samantha Russo. Our helicopter went down off the northeastern coast. Weve been walking through the woods for three days. I gestured at my clothes. As you can see.
You cant be
Thats our names right there, I said, pointing at the list in the paper.
Prove it.
Our helicopter crashed in the ocean, lady, Sam said. She pulled sodden rectangles from her pocket and dropped them on the table. Thats my ID.
I opened the paper to an inner page where the piece continued. There were photos of two missing kids. Rafe and Nicole.
How the hell did they get Rafes picture? Sam muttered.
Those arent us, I said.
Convenient, the server muttered.
It wasnt convenient. It was intentional. Submit photos of the kids they knew werent wandering around the forest.
There was a class picture at the bottom of the article. It was tiny and blurred, although my copy at home was perfect.
Were in this one. I pointed to the class shot. Thats me, and thats Sam over there.
I think thats Bryan, Sam said.
Is it? I squinted. Maybe
It was impossible to tell, really. I wouldnt even be sure which one was me if I didnt recognize my tie-dyed shirt.
Okay, I said. Our pictures might not be recognizable, but come on. Why would we lie about it?
Same reason my own kids lie, the server said. To get attention.
Seriously? Sam said. Were going to hatch this elaborate scheme, and launch it in your crappy little?
I stepped on Sams foot.
Were dirty, I said. Were exhausted. Look outside. We didnt come in a car. So how did we get here? Where did we come from?
