Stealth Moves (23 page)

“You didn’t worry about being caught?” Stealth asked. He felt surreal. Brandon was out of control. He had to be stopped.

Only when the grandmother came in. I had to push her down and roll her up in bedding to give me time to get away.

Stealth blinked. “Go on.”

I did something even cooler.

Sick of Brandon’s dramatic pauses, Stealth barked, “Just spill it. Cut the crap.”

Okay. I used the weapon. It worked.

Stealth shot to his feet. “Did you kill someone? Tell me!”

No, no, no. I used the mini-weapon, the pocket one. Worked great—dropped a guy in seconds. He was breathing when I left.

Stealth nodded. “Good. Did you try it on anyone else?”

No time. I had to get out pretty quick.

Stealth sat in silence, deciding how to say what he had to say next. It was bath day for the Momster; Brandon couldn’t disappear in a sulk. Still, he needed boundaries. “You’re grounded, Brandon. You won’t leave the house until this weekend. To make sure, we’ll wear an ankle bracelet. It’ll shock us if we try to leave. I have one in my lab.”

But you can’t! Brandon protested.

“Sorry. It’s just for the next few days. Friday, at the concert, we get the ransom money to bribe Karina. Saturday, we do the final tests, DOD takes the weapons, and there’s more money. We’ll have enough to buy Karina’s share of this house if she feels the bug to sell again, and then we’re done. We’ll never have to leave here.”

What about our Stealthie collection? When do we finish with them?

“This weekend. Everything ends this weekend.”

And if I don’t want it to?

Stealth stripped off the hated tee shirt and hurled it at the pile of posters. “Then we fight. Last time we fought, you lost.”

Day 13—Thursday afternoon

Liv knelt on the floor of her bedroom playing tug-o’-war with Teddy. Her eyes drifted from the brown stain where some stranger bled all over her carpet to the space behind the hall door. Another stranger had hidden there, waiting to grab Grandmother and stuff her under the bed.

She shivered. Her room—the one place she could call her own—seemed public, violated, not hers. Fear knotted her stomach.

Nothing was right. Even school was a mess, the rhythms of the day all jumbled instead of regular as tides. She rolled back the days in her mind, trying to make sense of them.

On Tuesday, she’d been relieved Tay and Maddy walked with her to school. She felt guilty about Holly, but friends gave her an excuse to ignore her bodyguard.

When they reached school, everyone talked in quiet voices and acted emo because they’d just learned Natalie Porcini was dead. During assembly, one boy asked if school would be called off for the funeral. “Shouldn’t we all go?”

Headmaster Taunton said no. Students were safer in school than at a large gathering, which news media predicted for the funeral. “The Sidley School will contribute to Miss Porcini’s memorial fund. Students are encouraged to send their own condolences and contributions. All school regulations remain in force, particularly those about going to and from home with your assigned companion and staying on campus throughout the school day.”

Wild stories about Natalie raced through school. Liv heard she was beaten to death and chopped into little pieces. She wanted to shout down the stupid rumors, but she couldn’t let anyone know who found the body. Biting back sharp words, Liv walked between classes with head down and shoulders hunched until lunch.

She had a saved seat at the lunch table with Maddy and Tay, where she had to drop the bomb about her cancelled birthday party. “My grandmother’s mad at me,” was how she explained it. Rodrigo jumped in with a story about being punished for staying out all night back home in Brazil, and for once, Liv was glad he talked too much.

After lunch, Miss Tinsley pulled her out of math class “for a chat.” Liv followed the school psychologist to her office, sat down, and tried to hide how nervous she felt. Uncle Mike had nothing good to say about his ex. Liv didn’t trust her.

Her office decorations were few: framed diplomas and a picture turned away from Liv’s side of the desk. Tinsley was the only interesting thing to look at. While she studied some papers, her thick, brown hair gleamed in the light from the window. She wore a black sweater and an elaborate tribal necklace. Silver bands encased one wrist. When she looked up, dark blue eyes fixed on Liv.

“First, I want to apologize for not talking with you sooner,” Tinsley said. “The fact that I’m divorcing your uncle makes things a little awkward.”

Liv nodded.

“I’d like to know how other students are treating you. Sometimes, tragedy provokes a shunning reaction.”

“Tragedy?” Liv sucked in her breath.
Does she know I found Natalie?

“Ariel Kelly’s kidnapping. You were a witness, weren’t you?”

“Oh.” Liv exhaled. “Yes, I was there.”

“And afterward? Did students avoid you?”

“No.” Liv frowned, surprised by the question. “Everyone’s been fine.”

“Good, good.” Tinsley leaned back in her chair. “It can be rough. I’ve been through it myself. A car struck my brother outside Sidley’s doors. His death changed people’s attitudes toward me. They didn’t know what to say, so they stopped talking. I felt isolated, alone.”

Liv remembered her interview with Kyle’s teacher, who told her about a boy killed in front of school. He had a twin—a science genius. “Did people ignore your other brother, too?”

Tinsley’s eyes opened wide. “You know the story? It’s been such a long time, I thought people forgot.”

“Mr. Bennett mentioned the accident when I asked him about Kyle. He said the only one better at science than Kyle was your brother.”

“Brent is one of a kind.” Tinsley rolled her eyes. “As a freshman, his scientific knowledge was far beyond Sidley’s curriculum. He was scheduled for university classes, but after Brandon died, Brent studied at home.”

Liv didn’t know what to say. She smiled suddenly as the irony of Tinsley’s remarks hit her.

Tinsley smiled back. “Well, I didn’t call you in to talk about my family. The fact that you have a bodyguard hasn’t gone unnoticed. Parents want to know if they should hire bodyguards for their students. What’s your opinion?”

“Bodyguards are awful! I’ve been grounded because of mine, and it’s all so lame. Sidleys aren’t in more danger than anyone else. The kidnapper just takes people he can get.”

Tinsley leaned on a hand. “Crimes of opportunity… Perhaps, perhaps not. We’ve lost two students, which indicates a pattern. Still, this bodyguard you have—she’s young? Attractive?”

Strange questions. Liv blinked. “She’s just out of college, and she’s…uh…she’s tall. I don’t think she’ll be around much longer. Like I said, bodyguards aren’t necessary. My grandmother’s starting to think so.” Liv wished it were true.

Tinsley dismissed her, and Liv felt she’d dodged a bullet. The grilling session hadn’t been bad. Liv shrugged, went back to geometry class, and struggled with the mysteries of triangles.

At the end of the day, she was near the back of the leaving line. Her friends were close to the door. Thinking they’d wait for her outside, Liv saw only Holly on the sidewalk. Holly told her what happened at home.

Now, two days later, Liv still felt the wrongness of her room. Grandmother had been attacked in here. She was fine, but what if Holly hadn’t found her? What if Grandmother suffocated—
died
?

The knot in Liv’s stomach moved up to her chest. She reached for her puppy. Without Grandmother, everything would change. Uncle Mike would put her on the first plane to California. It was funny—she hated the rules, the uptight ways of Boston, but Beacon Hill felt solid. In California, she’d have to fight for a place in her mother’s busy life. For sure, her mother wouldn’t want a dog around, making messes, costing money, and needing attention.

Liv hugged Teddy until he squirmed free. She made herself think of something positive.

Cameron. Picturing his face cheered her, but he’d stopped returning her texts. What would fix that? Setting her jaw, Liv reached for her phone. Time to call Cam.

Her heart leapt when he answered. His “Hey!” sounded so fine.

“It’s me—Liv.”

“I know. What’s up?”

“Uh…just…just checking on when you’re getting to Boston for the concert tomorrow. Everyone at school’s excited. There’s talk the kidnapper will let Kyle and Ari go because of the Hero campaign, you know?”

“You think so? Heard more about Kyle?”

“Shh!” Liv warned before she felt stupid. No one could hear them talking. Still, she lowered her voice when she answered, “No gossip about ransom—nothing.”

“The cops are going to use our bike,” Cam said. “They called my mom for permission. They’ll be responsible for The Rocket, so she agreed. I don’t have to do the ride. Some cop will do it.”

Liv was appalled. “But why? You’re the Hero.”

“I think that’s how they’re delivering the ransom money.”

“Really?”

“Wild-ass guessing, but why else would they need The Rocket? Anyway, I won’t be there to find out.” Before Liv could do more than gasp, Cam went on. “No concert. That’s what I get for going to the meet with you.”

Liv couldn’t believe it. “You’re
grounded
?”

He snorted. “Nah. Too old for grounding, but my mom made it clear I’d be crossing the line if I went. She blames me for Holly getting fired.”

“It wasn’t your fault—it was mine!”

A long pause before Cam said, “You lied. Why? Had fun making an ass of me?”

“No!” Liv shook her phone. “No. You’ve got it all wrong! And I didn’t lie. I just said it was a holiday—”

“So I’d believe Holly had the day off when she didn’t. Now she’s out of a job, and I’m in deep shit with Mom.” He added, “Eric keeps riding me about my dick move—won’t let up.”

“I’m
sorry,”
Liv wailed.“Didn’t mean for any of this to happen. What can I do?”

Another long pause. “Nothing, I guess.”

The conversation was winding down. Liv could tell he was ready to click off. She said in a rush, “I’ve been practicing Parkour. Every night. I sneak out to do wall climbs when Grandmother’s in bed. I can reach the top of the garden wall now.”

“No shit? All the way to the top? Epic. I mean that’s one mother of a wall.” Cam sounded like his old, friendly self.

Liv pressed on. “Well, mostly. Sometimes, I can’t make the top, but I keep trying. I wish I knew more.”

She hoped he’d offer to come by and teach her, but all she got was, “Yeah, well.” The words were flat, final. She was losing him. “So, uh, when will you get to Boston again?”

“Saturday. No, wait. Think it’s Sunday. Gonna help Holly move her stuff.”

Liv sighed. There was no way around the black hole of Holly’s departure.

“It was fun—on Monday, I mean,” Cam added in a wistful tone before saying brusquely, “Gotta go. Boss is looking my way.”

“Cam—” He was gone. Liv set down her phone, feeling unresolved and gloomy. Teddy barked at her to play, but she stepped to her window to pull the curtains closed. It was dark outside. Blank windows creeped her out.

“Olivia?” Grandmother’s voice crackled through the ancient intercom. Liv went to the box by the door and answered. “I’m here.”

“Good. You have a visitor—Jessica Whiting. She’s come with your costume.”

“But the party’s off!”

“We commissioned the work, so of course we’ll honor our commitment. I’ve sent her up.”

When Liv opened her door, she saw Jessica on the landing, balancing four boxes, two large and two small. Teddy rushed out to jump on her. Liv greeted the designer, pulled Teddy off, and then lifted the puppy. He’d have to chill in the bathroom while she met with Jessica.

After settling Teddy and closing her bathroom door, Liv asked Jessica, “You know there’s no party?”

She nodded. “Eric Glasscock’s my boyfriend, so I know why it’s cancelled. No one’s happy about what happened, but I get why you wanted to be with Cam. He’s sweet—and almost as cute as my Eric.”

“Cuter.”

Jessica smiled. “You’re really into Cam.”

Liv shrugged. “Not that it matters. Because of Holly, it’s awk city.”

“Once he’s seen Beaconflare, he’ll have a hard time keeping his mind on anything else.”

“What’s Beaconflare?” Liv asked.

“You are. It’s your superhero name.”

Jessica arranged boxes on Liv’s bed. “You wanted a hero costume but no weird, alien stuff, more like an urban crime fighter, I figured. When I looked up the name Beacon Hill, I found out people back in 1635 put a firepot on a platform sixty feet high to warn them when invaders were coming.”

“Okay,” Liv allowed, “the beacon thing works. ‘Beaconflare’ is kind of a mouthful, though. Think I’ll go with plain Beacon.”

“There is
nothing
plain about Beacon. I’ve made you a one-of-a-kind outfit no one else will ever have.” Jessica stood back, crossing her arms. “My concept was to produce clothing for a working superhero, not just a cheesy party costume. You with me?”

“Yes,” Liv said, intrigued.

“Here…” Jessica lifted the top off one big box. “These are your stretch leather skinnies.” She held up a pair of pants shimmering like liquid midnight.

Liv felt along her hips. “I’ve got these bulges….”

“Curves,” Jessica corrected. “Don’t worry, the pants’ understructure will keep everything sleek. The belt’s good camouflage, too. Now, where is that thing?” Searching under another layer of leather, Jessica found what she wanted. “This is your utility belt. It’s climbing rope held in place by gunmetal links. Hangs in nice, neat, eye-diverting swags, and the clasp is a useful hook.”

Liv turned the elaborate belt around in her hands. “I like it.”

“You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.” Jessica pulled leather tubes from the box. “These are half-chaps to protect your shins.”

“But what are these shapes running up the front?” Liv asked. Along the center of each chap, leather was cut away to reveal a lining of some glossy fabric.

“Stylized flames,” Jessica said with pride in her voice. “C’mere.” She took the piece toward the dresser lamp. “The cutout lining is shot silk. Hold it to the light one way and it’s red; the other, it’s gold.”