He picked it up and glanced at the ID. “Must be for you.”
Emily sat up, blinking hard. The number was from her aunt’s house. “Mom?”
“Don’t come here. The police have been here looking for us and will be back with a warrant. We have to leave.”
Air kicked out of Emily’s mouth. “Where will you go?”
Her mother told her, the words thin and tight.
“Mom, you can’t do that!”
“What choice do I have?”
The question slammed around in Emily’s head. “I don’t know. But—”
“If I can convince Ashley Eddington to listen, and we find something in that stuffed dog, she and Leringer’s daughter will speak out. They can get to law enforcement who’s not involved in the plot. I can’t do that. Neither can you. Since right now it’s all about arresting me.”
“And if she doesn’t listen, she’ll turn you right over to Wade. There has to be another way.”
“Tell it to me. Please.” Her mother had never sounded so old.
Emily gripped the phone. “You can’t go in your car. Everyone’s looking for it.”
“Aunt Margie said I can use hers.”
“Oh, great. So if you’re caught, Aunt Margie will be in trouble too—for helping you escape. Besides, if the police look through her house, they’ll find your car.”
Her mother hesitated. “That’s what I told her. But if I stay and they come back, she’s in trouble anyway.”
Emily pressed a hand to her forehead. This was so . . . “Where does Ashley Eddington live?”
“In San Carlos, of all places.”
“San Carlos!”
“I don’t know the street address.”
“So how do you—”
“Aunt Margie’s trying to find out on the computer. If we can’t find it right away, I’ll just have to start driving and trust she will find it by the time we get there. Right now I have to get Mom up. Without her having a complete meltdown.”
“You’re taking her with you? No way.”
“I can’t leave her! They’ll find her here for sure. Can you imagine your grandmother being taken away all by herself for questioning? She’d be petrified.”
“But they won’t hurt her. She doesn’t know anything.”
“Emily. An armed man broke into our house in the middle of the night and kicked down her bedroom door.”
Emily’s eyes searched the road. Had the whole world gone crazy?
She saw a sign to turn east for Fresno. Good. Still time to change direction.
“Okay, Mom. I’ll meet you in San Carlos.”
“What? No you won’t!”
“I can help. I’ll talk to Ashley. She takes one look at you, with your picture plastered everywhere, and you’re done for. You won’t get one word out.”
“Emily, no.”
“Okay then, what would you like me to do, Mom? I can’t go home. And cops are all over your house.”
“Go home with your friend. The one who’s driving you.”
And take the danger to Dave’s family? Plus leave her mother and Grand in danger on their own? No way.
“Does Aunt Margie have a cell phone?” Emily asked.
“Yes. She’s letting me take it.”
“Give me the number.”
For once her mom didn’t protest. Emily entered the number into Dave’s phone. “Okay. Call me when you’re about there.”
“Emily, I don’t want you to do this.”
“And I don’t want you to do this, so we’re even.”
Her mother breathed over the line. “This is insane.”
Yes, it was. But her mother was right—it was also their one chance. And time was ticking. It was already noon. Even if they could find the key to stop the terrorist attack, how long would it take computer geeks to do that?
“Listen, Mom, when you find out where Ashley Eddington lives, give me a call.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I’ve got my computer with built-in Wi-Fi, I’ll find out myself.”
Dave threw her a look.
“Emily, you are too hard-headed.”
“Well, wonder where I got that from.”
“It’s atavistic. You got it from your grandmother.”
“Sure, whatever you say. I’m hanging up now. Call me.”
Emily hit the Off button and turned to Dave. “Would you mind driving a little bit farther?”
Chapter 40
I opened the door to the room where Mom was sleeping. Even as I entered, I argued with myself. Maybe I should leave her. Maybe she was safer here than with me.
But if I left her, what would happen when the police came? To Mom and to Aunt Margie?