Page 49 of Five Survive

“What?” Oliver’s and Reyna’s voices called in unison.

“But we’ve already started building Larry,” Simon followed up.

“There’s a full-length mirror in here,” Maddy called as Oliver approached down the hall. “We put this by the door, at the right angle, he’ll think he’s shooting at one of us, but it will just be our reflection.”

Maddy put it better than Red could have.

Oliver caught sight of himself in the mirror, above Red’s head. She turned to see the real him, a light growing behind his eyes.

He smiled. “Yes. Yes, that could work. It will work. That’s the new plan.” He stepped forward, past Red, narrowing his eyes as he studied the mirror, flicking to the small black framing on each corner. “What’s it attached with? Just those screws? We’ll get that down, easy. Simon, can you pass the screwdriver!”

A clattering sound from the front of the RV, Simon’s voice calling: “Coming, boss.”

Oliver looked down at his sister. “Well done, Maddy. Really good idea.”

“Well, actually—” Maddy began.

“—Mom will be proud of you,” Oliver continued, patting her on the shoulder. “When we get out of here, she’ll be so proud of you. That’s a Lavoy plan if ever I heard one.”

Maddy dropped her eyes, chewing on her bottom lip. Red watched her, a tightening in her chest, shifting with her ribs.

“Thanks,” Maddy said, quietly. Nothing more.

Red didn’t mind, though, or maybe she did. What was that too-full feeling at the back of her throat, then? Or that hollow one in her gut? It was fine. Maddy could have that plan, if it would make her mom proud. Red had her own.

“Special delivery,” Simon said, jogging up the length of the RV, screwdriver held out in front of him.

“Excuse me,” Red said, shuffling past Simon as he reached the bedroom, Reyna walking in behind him. A look passed between them, Reyna and Red, as they converged. Red wasn’t sure what it meant but she returned it anyway.

“You okay, Red?” Arthur asked, standing in the kitchen.

Red joined him, leaning back against the counter, arms hugged around her ribs, to protect them.

“Just dandy,” she said.

“So,” he said, nodding his head back the way she’d just come. “Using a mirror to reflect one of us to bait a shot,” he summarized, again, better than Red ever could. “That’s smart,” he added.

“The Lavoys are very smart,” Red said.

“Want to know a secret?” Arthur said, his voice dipping into whispers, eyes flashing from behind his glasses. “I think you’re smarter.”

Red smiled in spite of herself. Had he been listening to her and Maddy in the bedroom? Or was he just trying to be nice?Smart.Another word Red didn’t belong in a sentence with. She hadpotential,though, remember. Had it, but didn’t use it, that was why people saidit.

“I think you’re wrong,” she said, voice flat, barricade up.

“I think you’re lying,” Arthur retorted, knocking away at it.

She looked up at him, that same drunk-warm feeling behind her eyes. Why was he so kind to her? And why did that make her want to be un-kinder back? Because she didn’t deserve it, that was why. She was just Red. Just Red and Just Arthur, and they should probably just stay that way, because she didn’t know how to be somebody’s someone.

“That’s okay,” Arthur said, like he could read the thoughts racing behind her eyes. But he couldn’t, he didn’t know what lived back there, in her head. “Your secret is safe with me. It always is.”

“I don’t have secrets.” She hid behind a smile again. Oh, stop it, grinning like an idiot.

“International spy?” Arthur asked.

“I wish.”

“Your real name is Agatha?”

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