Page 65 of Stay Baby Stay

Teagan shakes her head. “I’ve been thinking about the guys all day. Jonah didn’t tell me much about their plans.”

“Did he tell you why they needed to bring so many guns?”

“I know some were just supposed to be for show,” she says. “Jonah’s really responsible about his collection, but it still makes me nervous. That’s how he got his limp, you know.”

I had noticed Jonah walking with a slight limp. “What happened?”

“Cal told you they used to be partners, right?” she asks. I nod. “Jonah got shot on the job. I know it’s selfish to say, but I’m glad he’s not a cop anymore. I’d worry myself sick every time he walked out the door.”

I don’t want to imagine it, but I can’t stop the images from pouring into my head. Cal taking a bullet to the chest, dropping to the ground, blood soaking into his clothes. I crush the soft penguin to my breast and fight to turn my thoughts back toward Kenzie, toward the sliver of hope that once we find her, we’ll all be safe.

Burger whines at us from the back seat, his bushy tail thumping against the leather.

“I should find somewhere for him to pee,” Teagan says. “And we should probably head back soon. Can you think of one more place you want to try?”

I rub my eyes and struggle to think of where Kenzie would go if she had nothing but the clothes on her back. Before we found the motel, our options were limited. I doubt she’d go back to any of the guys she used to hook up with. I would’ve thought she’d return to the motel.

Then again, if she’s on the run, she’s probably doing everything she can to stay out of sight. That means staying hidden during the day and only venturing out at night.

Where could she hide out during the daytime?

An idea comes to me like a whisper.

“The mall,” I say. “The old abandoned mall.”

Teagan starts the Escalade. I give her directions to the mall where Kenzie and I used to stay when we had no other options. It doesn’t take long to get there, but the night seems determined to outrun us.

By the time we pull into the empty parking lot, the sky is officially dark. We hook Burger to his leash, then give him a chance to relieve himself on an overgrown bush.

The old way of getting inside the building has been barred off. We begin testing doors, then loading bays, finding luck with a back entrance to the old Target.

The heavy door groans as I pull on it. Burger growls at the darkness that greets us inside.

“It’s okay, boy,” Teagan says.

She activates the flashlight app on her phone, leading the way down a short hall, past what used to be offices, into the store proper.

“This place is a tomb,” Teagan says, her voice echoing off the walls.

“Most of the squatters hang out in the food court,” I say.

We head for the mall’s interior. There aren’t as many people milling about as I remember, but the weather’s been decent.

After a short walk, we come upon what looks like a small village camped out in the food court. In place of Chinese food and Taco Bell, the merchants appear to be selling heroin, fake IDs, and crystal meth. We show Kenzie’s photo to anyone who doesn’t scatter at the sight of Burger.

A pair of escalators stand frozen at the mouth of the food court. I notice a thin guy with a moustache watching us intently from halfway up the steps.

We approach a group of kids who look to be around our age or a bit younger standing around a cluster of benches.

“Have any of you seen this girl?” Teagan asks, holding up a picture of Kenzie.

One guy says he might’ve seen her, while the others either say nothing or shake their heads.

A girl with dreadlocks points to the guy on the escalator.

“He might’ve seen her,” she says.

My gaze follows her finger. The lower half of the guy’s face glows orange as he takes a drag off his cigarette. From the way some of the other kids glance at him, I get the feeling he’s someone important.

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