“I would hope you wouldn’t need that,” his mother said.
“Typhoon Lagoon is a water park, Mom.”
“Don’t get smart with me.”
He had a comeback to that, but he swallowed it. “I’m just saying I want to be ready.”
“You’ll be careful.”
“I’m always careful.”
She had a comeback to that, but she swallowed it.
* * *
He’d never arrived at Typhoon Lagoon at night. The palm trees formed a dark throat that swallowed the car. The attraction lit the night sky above it as if a UFO had landed in the jungle.
“You sure he said ten o’clock?” his mother asked from behind the wheel.
“Positive.”
“Why so late?”
“How should I know? It’s Wayne. It’s what he told me to do. He does things his way. At least we’re not the only ones here.” The huge parking lot held some parked cars scattered in spaces nearest the entrance.
“Wouldn’t you be safer crossed over? As your DHI?”
The thing about his mom was that she understood the technology as well as Philby did. Better than her own son, which put Finn at a disadvantage. But he obviously knew stuff she didn’t.
“Our DHIs aren’t projected here. We aren’t installed in the water parks yet.”
“Did you see that?” his mother said, jerking her head and grabbing the car’s rearview mirror.
Finn spun in his seat. “See what?”
“It was like…nah…”
“Like what?”
“Never mind.”
“Mom!”
“I thought I saw someone…well…sneaking around back there.”
“Where?”
“At the edge of the parking lot.”
“Seriously?”
“A shadow is all.”
“Not necessarily,” he said. “Besides, there’re not that many lights back there to cast shadows.”
“I’m jumpy is all.”
“I’m going to be fine, Mom.”
“Keep your phone on,” she said. “I’ll call you if I see anything else.”
“My scout,” he said.
“Don’t push it.”
“While you’re at it? Lock the doors.”
“If you’re trying to scare me, it’s working.”
“I’m trying to be smart,” he said, quoting her. “When in doubt, do it the smart way” was a favorite expression of hers. He’d pick up points with her where he could. Parents loved to hear themselves quoted.
“Do be smart,” she said, her eyes tracking to the rearview mirror surreptitiously. Whatever she’d seen back there had stayed with her whether she was going to admit it or not.
“I’m on the guest list,” Finn told the woman at the ticket booth. Technically, the park closed early, usually between five and eight depending on the season and day of the week. Tonight a part of it was rented out for a private party, just as Wayne had said it would be. The party was taking place in Crush ’n’ Gusher, leaving the rest of the park off limits. But Wayne had told him there were ways to get around that as well.
“Aren’t you…?” the woman said, studying him more closely.
“Finn Whitman.”
“One of the guides.”
“A Disney host. Yes.”
“Well, I’ll be. Nice to meet you.” She leaned into the counter. “Listen…is there any truth to the—”
“Great place you have here,” he said, cutting her off. People were always asking about whether the Kingdom Keepers actually existed. The nondisclosure agreement Finn and the others had signed prevented him from giving a straight answer even if he’d wanted to, which he didn’t. The Kingdom Keepers was like one of those super-secret clubs at Yale or Harvard. It wasn’t something you advertised.
“You’re welcome here anytime,” the woman said.
Just as Wayne had predicted.
“You wouldn’t mind then if I walked around a little?” he asked. “If I didn’t spend all of my time in Crush ’n’ Gusher?”
“Let’s just say we have a friend in common, you and me,” the woman said. “So far as I’m concerned, you can go anywhere your little heart desires. No one’s going to mess with you. In fact, you have the park to yourself. That’s what our friend asked for. We’ll be closing down the party soon.”
“I just want a look around,” he said.
She winked. “Sure you do.” She came through the door and opened the gate nearest the ticket booth. “Go ahead, have a look around.”
“It’s not like that,” he said. “I’m just going to meet someone.”