Page 120 of Hell and High Water

“I’ve spent a lot of time in the streets, down in the rough spots of town. There’s a veritable army of hidden talent in the Sanctum underground. Mostly kids, teens, wayward souls eager for a chance to share info, for a price. Most of them just want safety. Food.”

“And to play a game of basketball down at the old community center with Mister Withers?” Ora smirks.

“Um… I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“I work down there every weekend helping those same kids, Tell.”

“Damn. You got me. What gave it away?”

“You just did. And the fact that some mysterious old man with no address had a bunch of the kids I’ve known for years running errands for the elderly, picking up their groceries and such. Took a wild guess.”

“Yeah, I just figured it could help them build confidence and trust. Give them a purpose to help people who are in need just like them.”

“Wow. Never would have thought you had it in you.” Gavin nods, smiling.

“There's a lot that a lot of people don't know. For good reason.” I shrug.

“Does Hellena know?” Ora jabs.

“No, she doesn't.”

“Yeah, but she knows you're a big softie, doesn't she?” She pokes at me, trying to tickle me.

“STOP! Go get me another beer, woman!”

“You go get your own damn beer, you entitled little rich prat!”

“Get me one while you’re up!” Gav chimes in.

“Speaking of your rich past, how's your dad these days?”

“Not funny, Ora. No one’s heard from him.”

“You think Marco nabbed him?”

“I don’t know. And I don’t give a shit about my old man. But I need to know that my sister and my mom are okay. Whether he sent them out of town, or if something happened to them.”

“Well, I think a good first step would be to check your house.” Ora points at me like it’s the most obvious thing.

“Thanks, Little Miss Obvious. I never thought of that. I was just there a few days ago. No one was there.”

“Well, you might want to check again. Where do you think Marco and his crew set up shop when they rolled in? Looked like they had at least someone with them there against their will. Bag over their head, etc.”

“They’re at the mansion?” I should have seen it coming. My father invited him here to begin with, probably had him over to the house. It’s an ideal place to run a coup from.

“Oh, yeah. They’ve made themselves right at home, from what our scouts said. Whole place is crawling with guards.”

Just like that, I’m heading for the door, a sense of urgency and purpose driving me.

22

TELL

“Where the hell do you think you're going, kid?” Gavin snaps.

“Fuck. I need to go back. I gotta find out what happened to them.” I turn back, looking back but not seeing my friends. A plan is already forming in my head, a way into the mansion grounds. Ways I can spy on Marco’s men.

Maybe I can take one of their roles, disguise myself. Harder to do on short notice and with no prosthetics.

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