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“What’s going on?” he asked as I gripped his shoulders to stay upright. “Why did you take me out like that?”

“Sorry. If you didn’t already notice, I can’t skate. Look, no time to chat. We need a diversion and fast.” I spoke as quickly as I could. “We’ve got one guy on the inside watching us, and at least one more outside in a sedan.”

“Can the guy inside see us now?”

I shook my head. “Not from where he’s sitting. So, listen up.”

Wally swallowed hard. “Okay, what’s the plan?”

I loved how everyone expected me to have a plan. Did my forehead have a sign that blinked Mastermind?

I looked around, my gaze falling on a fire alarm behind Wally. I scanned for security cameras, but saw none.

I waited until a gaggle of teen girls walked past us on skates. I hated that they made it look so simple when I had to hold the freaking wall or lose my balance. “Can you check to see if that closet is locked?” I pointed to a small supply closet.

Wally walked over and pulled the door open. “Unlocked.”

“Great. Is your cell phone off?”

He reached into his pocket and swiped it off. “It is now.”

“Good, keep it off permanently from this moment on. Now, wait exactly five minutes, and when you have no witnesses, pull the fire alarm over there. Don’t let anyone see you do it. Butdon’tleave the premises. Instead hide in the closet and wait for Frankie and me.”

“Pull the fire alarm? You do know that’s illegal, right?”

“So is kidnapping.”

He sighed. “Point taken.”

“Frankie and I will get back here as quickly as we can. Where did you park, just in case we get separated?”

“Two streets over, on Castleview Lane, near the elementary school. Mr. Toodles is inside snuggling on the new pet bed I bought him, chewing on a bone.”

“Perfect.” I glanced over my shoulder, making certain the shadow man couldn’t see us. “If we don’t make it back here, wait thirty minutes or until you don’t hear anyone, then exit via the door behind the lockers. It’s an exit only, so you should be able to get out, no problem. If someone catches you inside, just play scared and dumb. They’ll walk you out. Do what you need to and get near your car, then stay out of sight for an additional twenty minutes. If we don’t show, go to the address I gave you. Just make sure you aren’t followed.”

“Got it,” said Wally. “Ambitious plan, Angel.”

“Desperate plan. I just hope it works.” I wagged a finger at him. “Five minutes.”

I steadied myself with one hand on the wall as I headed back to the rink. Unfortunately, it was slow going. I’d forgotten to calculate the time it would take me while on skates to get back to the rink and warn Frankie. I should have told Wally ten minutes, but it was too late now. When I tried to go faster, I ended up flat on my butt for the millionth time of the night.

I finally reached down and unlaced the skates, taking them off and setting them aside. I stood up in my socks and ran to the rink, catching sight of Frankie still out on the rink doing the limbo. I jumped up and waved at her just as the fire alarm went off.

Wooo weeeeee woooooooooo.

The piercing sound of the alarm and the flashing red lights caused panic in the building. Kids started shouting and scrambling. I lost sight of Frankie in a swarm of panicked teens. Had she seen me?

No time to worry about that now. Kids were running and skating past me. I was desperately trying to protect my feet from the skates, so I jumped onto the bench. I no longer saw the man sitting in the shadowed area but hadn’t seen where he’d gone. I decided to risk it and hopped off the bench, pushing my way toward the rink, shouting for Frankie. For some reason, no one had turned on the lights yet. That actually worked in our favor in terms of disappearing, but the wail of the alarm and the disco ball spinning made me dizzy.

A rink employee shouted, “Everybody get out, but in a calm and orderly fashion.” No one listened to him.

Kids were stampeding toward the various exits. I had gotten caught in a surge, pushing me toward the wrong door, when a hand gripped my upper arm.

“Angel!”

“Frankie!” I almost cried in relief. “We have to get to the bathroom.”

“The bathroom? Is this your distraction? Where are your skates?”