She was silent for several seconds.
“No need. The police were here, as you warned. Is Josh in trouble?”
“Not with the police. He’ll have to speak with them sooner or later, but he’s fine for now.”
“Will you keep him safe?”
“Yes, ma’am. So long as he doesn’t do anything stupid.”
I looked at Josh when I said it.
Adele said, “Mr. Cole?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Corbin left an odd message today.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“？‘I’m sorry.’ This was his message. ‘I’m sorry.’？”
“Odd.”
“Yes, well, I’ll be going. I don’t like phones. Someone is listening.”
Josh waved his hands to get my attention. He mouthed words so Adele wouldn’t hear.
“Your phone. They’re coming. They know where we are.”
I said, “I’ll call you later, Adele.”
“Here’s Wendy.”
I hung up before Wendy came on.
Josh headed for the door. Ryan was already there.
“You have no idea. They’re geolocating your phone. They’re coming.”
Ryan shouted.
“Dude! Take out your SIM card. What are you waiting for?”
I turned off my phone, took out the SIM card, and slipped it into my wallet.
Allie looked confused.
“Your mother’s coming?”
“Her people. I’m sorry. I really have to go.”
I said, “Wendy and Kurt. They’re fine.”
“You have no idea.”
Allie Rice looked alarmed.
“Wait a minute. Are these people dangerous?”
I glanced at Josh, the glance saying stop.
“No, they run errands for his mother.”
Josh held the door.
“Let’s go. Please. Before they get here.”
Allie said, “This is very weird.”
We hustled to the street and I pointed at my car.
“With me.”
“What about my car?”
“Ryan can take it.”
Ryan said, “I’m in my car.”
“Then leave it. Get in my car or I’ll keep you here until Wendy or whatever Wendy sends arrives.”
Josh frowned at my car.
“It’s kinda small.”
“In.”
Ryan said, “What about me?”
“Go home.”
Josh said, “I’ll call.”
Josh climbed into the shotgun bucket like a man stepping into boiling oil.
I pulled away and drove east.
“Can they actually locate a phone or were you being dramatic?”
“Welcome to my life.”
I drove for five minutes and pulled over outside a taco stand. Prepaid burner phones and battery packs were stashed behind my seat. I got one powered up and called Pike. He didn’t recognize the incoming number so he didn’t answer. I left a message.
“I’m on this number now.”
I dropped the burner between my legs and pulled away.
Josh said, “This is bullshit. Where are you taking me?”
“To the Batcave.”
“Dude. Seriously.”
I turned into the parking entrance of the first large medical building I saw, took a ticket at the gate, and circled deeper and deeper until we reached the bottom of the parking garage. Josh realized what I was doing and grinned like a kid.
“The Batcave. Brilliant.”
Five levels of concrete and steel made a good cave. I put the SIM card in my phone, powered up, and transferred my contact list to the burner. When the burner was set, I pulled the card and we headed back to the surface. The exit gate wanted eighteen dollars to let us leave.
I said, “You owe me eighteen bucks.”
Josh was enjoying himself.
“I’ll pay you twenty if you let me drive.”
“Not a chance.”
We emerged from beneath the building and headed into the city.
49
Josh watched the sky with a hand shielding his eyes.
I said, “C’mon. It can’t be this bad.”
“It’s worse.”
He tried to slump low enough to rest his head, but he’d run out of room. The bright sky made him squint.
“I should’ve taken my sunglasses. They’re in my car.”
“Check the glove box. Might be an old pair.”
He dug through the glove box and found a pair of Wayfarers. He cleaned the lenses with his shirt, put them on, and showed me.
“The eighties. Livin’ in a river of darkness.”