Exposure (14 page)

“Almost every time I see him,” Shelton confirmed.

Worse than I thought.

“Tell me everything.”

“You’re not gonna be happy,” Hi warned. “Don’t kill the messenger.”

“Or his good-looking buddy,” Shelton added.

I motioned impatiently for Hi to continue.

“Last week, Ben and I went to Captain’s Comics over in West Ashley. So there I am, browsing back issues of
The Walking Dead,
having a grand old time. I look up, and
boom.
Ben’s rockin’ his stupid shades inside the store, burning like a Roman candle. My skin got tingly ten feet away. When I discreetly flipped out on him, he just chuckled, and kept strolling around. There must’ve been a dozen other people there.”

Stunned, I turned to Shelton.

“Pretty much the same.” He took a deep breath. “On Saturday Ben and I drove to Johns Island to see
Skyfall.
”

“You did?” Hi said sharply. “Thanks for the invite, jerks.”

Shelton raised his palms. “You were at temple. We’re supposed to just wait around? Plus, you’ve seen that movie like five times.”

“You still could’ve
asked,
” Hi grumbled. “I don’t—”

“Guys!” I clapped my hands once. “The story, please.”

“An hour in, I go for a popcorn refill.” Shelton shuddered. “When I get back, Ben’s sitting in the dark, flaring away, and he’s not even wearing his sunglasses! I almost wet myself. He said he wanted to watch the movie in Viral HD. Man, I don’t remember a single minute from the rest of the film.”

“In a theater!?” My temper exploded. “That stupid mother—”

“Hiram!”

Our heads whipped. Ruth Stolowitski was standing on her front stoop.

“Get back in here this instant! You’re not dressed.”

Ruth wore a fuzzy pink bathrobe, her free hand vising the garment closed. Her eyes darted, as if worried that cagey perverts were surveilling our remote island, waiting for just this opportunity to get an eyeful.

Hi covered his face. “Kill me now.”

“We’ll talk more later,” I whispered. “But no flaring until we figure things out.”

Hi nodded, already hurrying back to his stoop.

Shelton hesitated, watching me nervously. “What are you going to do?”

I inhaled deeply. Exhaled. Tried to keep my anger in check.

“Our top priority is hacking Karsten’s flash drive,” I said. “We have to access those files somehow. But we can’t forget about the Gable twins either. Not after what we found. Seems like our only move
there
is to identify the playing card. Let’s give that a shot before going to the police.”

Shelton looked at me funny. “I meant, what are you going to do about
Ben.
”

My mouth formed a hard line. “I plan on having a chat with him. Soon.”

Shelton massaged his forehead. “That oughta go well.”

I nodded, ignoring his sarcasm. For an instant, I let my fury boil.

I’m gonna rip you a new one, Blue. Count on that.

F
ive hours later, the bell rang for lunch.

“Thank God.” Shoving textbooks into my bag, I trudged for the classroom door.

Shelton and Hi waited in the hallway.

“Need to hit your locker?” Hi asked, straightening his inside-out blazer.

I peered down the hall. Saw Jason Taylor lingering.

Pivoting, I herded the boys in the opposite direction. “I think I’ll buy my lunch today.”

Running on fumes, I was too brain-dead for banter. Couldn’t handle a flirty chat to nowhere.
No offense, Jase.

“
O-kay.
” Shelton hitched his pack onto his shoulders. “The long way it is.”

“So many gentleman admirers,” Hi mused. “Must be tough, being a heartbreaker.”

“Zip it. Unless you wanna see a leg-breaker, too.”

Hi shook his head. “And such violent thoughts. I blame Bravo.”

We worked our way around the building, eventually reached the cafeteria’s side entrance. Lunch-less, I grabbed a tray and joined the line. Sloppy joe day. Hooray.

Someone poked me between the shoulder blades.

“Sellout!”

I spun, slightly panicked. Ella was standing behind me, a sly grin on her face.

“I thought you were above common cafeteria grub.” Twirling, Ella flashed a dimpled smile at the two boys in line behind me. “Okay if I cut? I need to catch up with my friend.”

Both stammered their permission. Ella nodded thanks, snagging a tray.

I wish I could do that. Wait, do I?

“So?” Ella asked. “Was it a sloppy joe that called to you, or the microwave pizza?”

“My delicious chicken caesar wrap is currently trapped inside my locker.” A slight hesitation, then I leaned closer. “Jason was practically standing guard, and I didn’t want to deal.”

Ella’s mouth puckered. “You’re dumb, Brennan. Jason Taylor is hot, cool, and totes into you. Stop being a diva.”

I gave a very un-diva-like snort. “Yeah, that’s me. A Real Housewife of Charleston.”

“I’m serious, missy. Ask me, you could use a little Taylor-touching time.” Ella winked one gorgeous green eye. “Might ease the tension in your shoulders.”

My ears burned, but I forced a laugh. Ella was only teasing.

And the truth was, I
loved
gabbing like this. Ella was the first real girlfriend I’d had in . . . ages? Ever? I hadn’t realized how much I wanted one until she came along.

Don’t get me wrong, the Virals were great. Nothing meant more to me than my pack.

But the boys were always . . . well . . .
boys.
There were only so many
Battlestar Galactica
episode debates one girl could take. I’d seen
Varsity Blues
like twelve times.

Reaching the buffet, I surveyed a grim array of greasy offerings. Elected for an all-vegetable plate. The meaty-armed cafeteria lady who served me seemed to take personal offense at my choice. Oh well.

“See you in class!” Ella called as I headed for the register line.

I took another step, then stopped. “Come eat with me.”

Ella adopted a mock-serious tone. “Will your bodyguards consent?”

I giggled. “If Shelton and Hi are my muscle, I don’t like my chances. And yes.”

Ella received her bacon cheeseburger—because, of course, she could eat anything—and the two of us paid. Then we crossed to the Virals table in the back corner of the cafeteria.

Shelton’s eyes widened as we approached.

“So I’m not using anything but two-ply from now on,” Hi was saying. “Otherwise, the stuff just shreds—”

Noting Shelton’s expression, he abruptly cut off. Turned. Went beet red.

“Hey.” Sitting down as if nothing was unusual. “You know Ella. Okay if she joins us?”

“Okay if she joins us?” Shelton repeated. “I mean, yes. Join us. Okay.”

“I was talking about art supplies,” Hi blurted. “I’m into papier-mâché.”

“Thanks, guys,” Ella said as she sat. “I be
starving.
” She dove into her cheeseburger.

Shelton stared, as if he’d never seen someone eat before. Hi nervously fixed his tie.

I suppressed a snicker, but filed away several choice quips for the next time we were alone. I didn’t want to embarrass them now. I understood Ella’s effect on the opposite gender.

But later. Whoa boy, there’ll be some fun later.

“When are you coming back to practice?” Ella asked between massive bites of her burger. “Coach Lynch understands, but he’s getting frustrated at not having his starters together.”

“Hopefully next week,” I replied, munching a baby carrot.

Honestly, I had no idea. Recent events had pushed my burgeoning athletic career from the back burner to somewhere off the stove completely. But I didn’t want to tell Ella that.

“Sports are good,” Hi said. “To play, I mean.”

Ella paused, mid-bite.

“How’s the season going for you?” Hi followed up quickly. “Winning things?”

I winced.
Stop talking, Hi.

“We haven’t started playing games yet,” Ella answered patiently. “I think we have enough talent to make the playoffs, if no one gets hurt.” She aimed a finger at me. “And if our best players show up.”

“I see.” Hi nodded sagely. “Make the playoffs. Is that, like, a process?”

Ella eyed him strangely. “Yes, Hiram. Whether we make the playoffs is determined by our number of wins and losses.”

“Ah.” Another nod. “That seems fair. Good stuff.” Hi abruptly busied himself with his sandwich.

Ella flashed me a confused look. Rolling my eyes, I waved off her question.

I’d long since given up trying to explain Hiram Stolowitski.

“You plan on avoiding Jason forever?” Ella spoke through another mouthful of burger. “That doesn’t seem like a workable solution.”

“No.” Idly twirling my fork. “But I don’t know how to let him down easy. This isn’t an area of personal expertise.”

“Direct is always better,” Ella said confidently. “Like pulling a Band-Aid. Otherwise feelings get hurt. Then, suddenly, you’re not even friends.”

“I know you’re right. I’m just a wuss. I’m not used to being pursued.”

“Please. You could have your pick of these silly little boys. Heck, take two.”

Shelton coughed into his fist, eyes glued to his hoagie. I didn’t have to be psychic to sense how uncomfortable the girl-talk made him.

Get over it. I listened to you two doofuses handicap a wresting match between Kate Upton and Maria Sharapova. For once, lunch conversation will be my choice.

Ella and I chatted for the next few minutes. I cleaned my plate, surprised by the tastiness of the veggies. Score one for Mrs. Meaty Arms.

The boys ate in silence, though I knew they were listening to every word.

Ella finished her burger and dug into a side of fries. Hi watched, enraptured.

She couldn’t help but notice. “Would you like one?”

“What? Sure.” Hi smiled, made no move.

After a moment, Ella nudged the bowl his way. “Careful, they’re still hot.”

“Oh, no problem.” Hi fumbled for a fry. “I like food that’s hot.”

I caught Shelton slowly shaking his head.

“Oh, shoot!” Ella winced. “I forgot to stop by the office. My mother had to drop off my shin guards.” She slid her fries over to Hi. “Enjoy. They’re hot, which you apparently like.”

“Got that right. Hot hot hot!” Hi awkwardly shoved another fry into his mouth.

“Okay, wow.” Ella gathered her things, then brushed my cheek with a kiss. “Later, Tor.” Shouldering her bag, she hurried from the cafeteria.

A loud thunk drew my attention back to the table.

Hi’s forehead was resting on his tray. “Tell me that wasn’t as bad as I think.”

“Worse,” Shelton said. “So, so much worse.”

The head rose, then thunked back down. “I don’t remember parts. I think I lost time.”

I patted his shoulder. “That’s probably for the best.”

“Such.”
Thunk.
“A.”
Thunk.
“Dumbass.”
Thunk.

Shelton laughed nervously. “See? That’s why I don’t talk.”

Hi’s face shot up. “Tell her I have brain seizures. A serious medical condition. Or that I have an evil twin who sometimes takes my place, but can’t talk for crap.”

“Got it,” I promised. His head dropped once more.

Shelton changed the subject. “So what’s our next move?”

I thought a moment.
So many balls in the air.

Chance. Karsten. Ben. But I had no ideas for any of them.

Those people aren’t in danger. The twins surely are.

“We check out Old Man Serpent,” I said. “Let’s find out who he is, and why his card was on Lucy Gable’s bed.”

Hi lifted his head halfway. Squinted at me. Nodded.

“Okay.” Shelton stroked his chin in thought. “How?”

“A quick fact-finding trip.” I downed the last of my Diet Coke.

“And I
think
I know just the place.”

I
skidded to a stop beside a weathered purple rowhouse.

The boys were a few seconds behind, Hi on his skinny Schwinn ten-speed and Shelton pedaling a mud-covered black BMX. Dismounting, I walked my Trek across the gravel lot to a rusty rack at the side of the building.