Page 37 of Run with Me

“Yes.”

“He leaves you his keys, just likethat?”

“You mean, like’s he’s my best friend, almost like a brother, and he trustsme?”

“Yeah, that. You’re sure he won’t mind? What about the clearing of your business stuff?”

“I doubt you’ll be looking to share any kind of information with anyone else for a while. After all, you’re on the run, aren’t you, kid?”

When I didn’t reply, he added, “Besides, I believe we’ve already established trust.”

We had, but I wouldn’t say it out loud. That felt like giving in. Instead, I gave him a polite smile, nodding toward the penthouse across the street.

“She won’t jump, willshe?”

“If you can’t get on Mary’s good side, you’ll never survive it here, kid. That would be my first piece of advice.”

“Then why are you trying to helpme?”

“Because everyone needs help, and one day when I do, I hope that help will be there for me aswell.”

“I will be,” I replied as if I were his only hope. I probably wasn’t. Someone like Jack must know plenty of people. Still, I added, “I don’t know how I can help you, but I will, I promise. What would be your second piece of advice?”

“Don’t trust anyone.”

Did he include himself in that anyone category? Because I had a feeling it was too late. I already trusted Jack. It might have been a mistake to do so, but it might also have been the best decision of mylife.

“Have a look around. I need to call Mary before she grows a pair of wings.”

This time it was me who chuckled. Jack left and closed a door behind him. I heard him turn on the faucet, which covered his conversation, so I paced to the black and white kitchen. The cabinets were glossy and reflected everything in the pristine, open room. I’d never seen anything like it, but maybe that was because I’d lived in Arizona for my entire life. The penthouse had a different layout than the one at Jack’s, but it was just as elegant and warm, despite all the cool tones. The only additional splash of color in the room was a vase full of beautiful sunflowers.

“Does it feel like a prison?” Jack came from behindme.

“No.”

“Good. You will stay here at least until Xavier comes back, and I’ll have a chance to check if anyone in the area is asking about you. You’d like to know if whoever is looking for you is close, wouldn’tyou?”

“Yes,” I nodded. “Thank you. Did you call Mary? I thought you went to the washroom.”

The only other phone I saw was in Xavier’s kitchen, but it didn’t have a dial. It had a keypad.

“I did call her.” He showed me a square box with a keypad similar to Xavier’s phone.

“It’s called a cellular phone,” he explained.

“Oh?” I gave him a puzzledlook.

“It works just like a phone and runs on a battery.”

It seemed very futuristic to me. “What did Marysay?”

“Well, there’s good news and there’s badnews.”

“Give me the bad news first.”

“Mary’s coming up here in twenty minutes.”

“Well, I’m glad that you at least gave me a twenty-minute head start, then. What’s the goodnews?”

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