Page 43

“Where’s that?” Lu asked.

“I don’t have the foggiest idea. ”

“Middle of the park, it sounds like from the article. So not too far from you, but not so close. Where does Ted live?”

“In the neighborhood behind the Wilder Tower. ”

Lu frowned. “Which one is Ted again?”

“The gay Republican,” I said. “Wears suits all the time. Calls you Louise and always has a get-rich-quick scheme. You’d know him if you saw him. ”

“Oh yes, him. With the briefcase. Always talks like he’s selling something. ”

I smiled and let them chat over breakfast, thinking that the less they asked me, the better. Fewer questions, fewer awkward evasions, less worrying on the part of my guardians. A good formula all around.

While they finished eating, I went to my room and loaded up my bag. I planned to be gone for the afternoon, and I didn’t want to have to run home for anything. Going up and down the mountain can be a real pain, depending on the traffic and the time of day. It’s better to leave prepared.

“Where are you going?” Lu asked as I made for the door.

“Benny’s place. Down in Red Bank. I’m helping him with a project he’s working on. We may catch a movie later on tonight with some people, so don’t wait up or anything. ”

“All right. ” She tossed me my cell phone from the end table by the couch. “Call if you’re going to come home past dawn. ”

I was just glad she hadn’t asked me “What project?” “Will do,” I said, adding the phone to my already-stuffed bag and forcing the zipper closed. “Does anyone need anything while I’m off the mountain?”

“No ma’am,” Dave answered, propping his feet up on the coffee table and opening the newspaper. “We’re all good. ”

I was almost to the door when Lu had to throw in another question. “Are you going to get your car looked at today?”

I cringed. The Nugget ran fine, so the body work could wait. “Not today. Maybe tomorrow. More likely next Monday. ”

“Is the headlight okay?”

“It’s fine. I promise I’ll get an estimate soon. ”

“You let us know, so one of us can come down the mountain with you. You’ll probably have to leave it for a couple of days. ”

That was another reason I was putting off the inevitable. I hated the thought of being without my own transportation. The mountain was a boring-enough place when I had a car; the thought of being stuck there with no recourse but the kindness or whims of my aunt and uncle was too much to bear.

I made my exit a hasty one, before they could delay me with more queries. I’d told Benny I’d be over at his apartment by eleven. When I got to his front door, I heard a series of sharp digital explosions that implied he was shooting zombies on his gaming console, and not sleeping late.

I rapped on the brown-painted door with the back of my hand.

He pulled the door open and used his leg to hold aside a shaggy gray kitten with big gold eyes. “You’re early,” Benny observed. “Come on in, but watch out for Tiggy. She’ll make a run for it if you’re not careful. ”

Assuming that Tiggy was the four-legged thing trying to climb up my shin, I picked her up and carried her into the living room. She wiggled with glee.

“New kitten?” I asked.

“Travis’s kitten. I’m kitten-sitting for the rest of the week. ”

“Fun. ” I scratched the cat’s chin and she purred.

Benny nodded. “Yeah, it is, kind of. I might get one of those once Travis reclaims this one. She’s pretty good company. Slept on my head last night. ”

“On your head?”

“On my head. Fell asleep facedown in my ear, purring. It was cool. I think I want one now. ”