Jules’s happy smile dropped when the car began to roll forward.
With a yelp, Sam grabbed at the open door to catch the runaway Camry. It slipped out of his grasp. Jules ran toward the car, but it picked up speed, the slight downward incline of the lot allowing it to roll straight toward a blue, new-looking hybrid.
“No, no, no, no, no!” Even in her panic, she kept her voice low, not wanting to draw attention from anyone inside the school. If her car crashed, however, people—like Sister Mary Augustine—were going to come running. Dee would be yanked back into school, the police and Jules’s stepmother would be called, and that would be the end.
Jules ran faster, sprinting toward the Camry, her heart pounding more from fear than exertion. She drew closer, but it continued on its course, headed straight for the hybrid like a missile locked on its target. She could almost hear the crunching sound her car would make as it connected, the shrill squeals of the alarm, and she shot forward in a burst of panic-fueled speed.
Catching the driver’s-side door, Jules dove into the car, her foot fumbling for the brake pedal. She hit it hard, and her head jerked forward at the abrupt halt. When she raised her gaze, the hybrid’s bumper was hidden by the front of the Camry. The two cars couldn’t have been more than an inch or two apart.
“S-s-sorry!” Sam ran up to the still-open passenger door, his eyes huge from the scare. Jules imagined hers were pretty wide, too.
“No problem,” she said, sucking in air and forcing her hundredth fake smile of the day. With a shaking hand, she reached to pop the trunk. “You got it here, and that’s the important thing. We can work on your parking skills later.”
Sam dropped into the passenger seat, as if his legs refused to support him, and Ty climbed into the back.
“Whoa,” was all Ty said. Jules knew he had to have been terrified for him to be robbed of words. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she saw Tio adding Dee’s backpack to the three already in the trunk. He slammed it closed, and the two of them hustled into the backseat. Jules did a quick head count before backing away from the hybrid. Her whole body was still shaking, and she tightened her hands on the steering wheel in an attempt to hide it.
She turned out of the school parking lot, glanced at Sam, and checked the rearview mirror again. Giddiness rose in her, sweeping away the vestiges of her earlier fear.
“Y’all?” All four of her siblings looked at her. “We did it.” Her laugh was half-hysterical, and she quickly sucked it back in before she scared the kids. “You have officially been kidnapped.”
Ty’s cheer was joined by Dee and even Tio. Grinning—and possibly hyperventilating a bit—Jules looked at Sam. His head was tipped down, but his mouth curled the tiniest bit at the corners. That hint of a smile was the happiest she’d seen Sam in years. It made everything worth it.
Jules was a full-fledged criminal now, and it felt good.
Chapter 5
Present Day
The call came through just as Theo was about to wrap up his shift. He pivoted away from the locker room door, turning up his portable radio as a surge of relief spread through him. This meant he could delay going home for a few hours. Since his K9 partner, Goose, had died of cancer a year ago, Theo’s small house seemed echoing and empty. And now, after Don…
His head jerked back as the reminder took him unaware, and he immediately shoved the thought from his mind, forcing himself to concentrate on the dispatcher’s words.
“…repeat, officer requesting assistance at 4278 Green Willow Lane.”
Booted feet behind him made Theo turn just as Hugh passed him, thumping Theo on the shoulder as he went.
“What’s up?” Theo asked, increasing his pace to keep up with the other officer.
“Wilson spotted a vehicle parked outside the Schwartz compound. Said it looks a lot like the van used by the Golden Sun Restaurant robbery suspect. He wants some backup before ringing the doorbell.”
Theo snorted as they descended the stairs to the underground garage where the squad cars were parked. “Don’t blame him.”
“Grab Vig before you head to the call. You know how Gordon Schwartz likes to stockpile things that go boom.”
Resisting a wince, Theo turned toward the kennel on the opposite side of the garage. He took in Viggy’s flattened ears and sighed. This wasn’t going to go well.
As Theo put on the dog’s protective vest and harness, Viggy stood listlessly, his tail tucked. A memory hit Theo like a punch to the belly, a flash of Don prepping Viggy the same way six months ago, laughing at something Theo had said. For that call, Viggy had been vibrating with excitement, ready to work, so confident and eager and just so fucking happy. The passive, dull-eyed dog standing in front of Theo now was just a shadow of that K9 officer. That was Theo, too—a shadow of the person he’d been a few months ago.