Page 122 of Jake Forever
"Not exactly?" I repeated. "What doesthatmean?"
Looking slightly uncomfortable, Bianca mumbled, "He just didn't deny it when it came up. That's all."
Right. Vince the Snake strikes again.
Thinking of the whole sorry situation, I had such mixed feelings. On one hand, I could totally see why Joel was angry. But on the other hand, he'd been walking straight into a trap, whether he realized it or not.
Across from me, Bishop said, "Joel's no fool. Of course he'd know." He gave me a serious look. "As I told Jake this morning."
Feeling overwhelmed, I asked, "What should we do now?"
"You?" Bishop said. "Nothing."
"But—"
"I'll handle it," he said. "When Joel left, did he say where he was going?"
I shook my head. "Sorry. I wish he had. But basically, he just stormed off."
"And what about Jake? Where is he?"
Something in my heart twisted. "Honestly, I have no idea."
Next to him, Bianca gave a little smirk. "Trouble in paradise?"
I felt my body stiffen. Her words hit too close to home, not that I'd ever admit it, well not to Bianca, anyway.
I gave her my snottiest smile. "You'd like to think so, wouldn't you?"
"Me?" She put a delicate hand to her chest. "Of course not. I wish you all the best."
"Sure you do." I looked to Bishop and asked, "So what's your first step?"
"First, I've gotta find him."
"Which one?" I asked. "Joel or Jake?"
"Whichever one turns up first."
I gave him a sympathetic look. "There must be something I can do to help."
"There is one thing," he said. "You got your phone? You can give Jake a call."
I glanced down to the nearby landline. "I already did." I frowned. "But he didn't answer."
"Not fromthatphone," Bishop said. "From your cell. So he knows it's you."
I almost groaned. If only Ihadmy cell.
"I wish I could," I said, "but my phone's missing." I tried to smile. "But if I find it, I'll call him right away. I promise."
And then, there was the thing Ididn'tsay. For all I knew, Jake wouldn't be answeringanyof my calls today, no matter what phone I was calling from.
We had, after all, parted on a pretty sour note.
After a quick goodbye, Bishop turned away, preparing to leave.
Bianca lunged for his elbow. "Wait! You'll tell Jake I warned you, right?"
