Page 51 of 2nd Strike

As promised, Ethan has been sticking to the deal of checking in with Carl every hour and I’m thankful he hasn’t wavered. Arguing with a teenager, on top of everything else, might require a couple extra pot brownies.

We arrive in Hyattsville, Maryland, and cruise through a quaint downtown area filled with art centers and studios. Any other day, I’d grab a coffee, take in the scene and feed my creative soul.

Today? No time.

The GPS directs Charlie to make a left, then a quick right onto a street with craftsman homes and bungalows, some in desperate need of TLC. Chipped paint, crumbling brick and overgrown shrubs and weeds abound, but oh, the potential here.

“Slow down,” I say. “We’re getting close. It’s the blue one.”

Two doors down on our right, a woman rushes down the sagging porch of a cornflower blue bungalow. She’s carrying a large green garbage bag, clearly heading to the car in the gravel driveway. The trunk is open and my pulse kicks up.

Jon, the boy we met with at the skate park, shoves open the screen door, waving his arms as he chases after the woman.

Charlie hits the brakes, parks under a tree and pops her own trunk.

What is she up to now? “What are you doing?”

“I have a parabolic mic.”

Crap. “Is that legal?”

“Do we care?”

She hops out, sticking close to the car.

“I’m not hearing this,” JJ comments.

“Wait,” Ethan says. “I got a text. From Jon.”

I whip around and watch as he reads it.

“His mom is wigging out. They’re going to Minnesota.”

What the hell?

In seconds Charlie is back, handing me a mini-satellite dish looking thing that’s about twelve inches tall. She fiddles with her handheld recorder then plugs a set of headphones into it. Snatching the dish from me she connects the devices.

“They’re going to Minnesota,” I tell her.

“Why?”

“We don’t know. Jon just texted Ethan.”

“Let’s find out.” She punches a button and slips her headphones on. “Everyone, ssshhh.”

We all obey while she points toward Anita and Jon, gently sweeping it back and forth.

At the house, Anita runs back inside, her hands flying as her mouth moves. I’m dying to ask what they’re talking about, but I know better. My sister will tear me a new one if I say anything and cause her to miss something.

Charlie looks at me. “New position in Minnesota. She’s claiming he’ll love it there.”

“What job?”

“Ssshh.”

She jerks her chin to the windshield. Anita and Jon are out front again, Jon chasing her down while he holds his hands out in front of him. He reaches for her, spinning her around.

“Dang,” Charlie says. “He’s absolutely begging her to stay.”