Thursday
Half an hour later tires screeched on the driveway. Rachel had arrived. I let out a relieved breath, only then realizing I’d been holding it. So did Luke, I noticed. I pulled myself together and met her downstairs in the garage.
I’ve always loved the way a garage smells. Whether it’s the residue of gasoline fumes, or whether it seeps into the concrete walls and floor, it’s unique. Almost addictive. Probably toxic as hell, too. After the news about Grace, though, I couldn’t truly appreciate it.
“Sorry I’m late,” Rachel said. “Betsy needed me to finish with a client, and then I had to go home—I don’t even know what I packed.”
“Luke will be pleased you’re finally here.”
She cocked her head. “What’s going on, Mom?”
“It’s complicated. It has to do with that video for Delcroft I didn’t finish.”
“Are we running away?” She grinned. “To the Hole in the Wall?”
“Actually, we are trying to get away from the bad guys.”
“Holy crap. Really? How cool! I can’t wait to tell—”
“Uh—you’re not going to tell anybody. No one. Seriously. It could be a matter of life and death.”
Rachel’s smile faded. “Now you’re scaring me.”
I gave her a quick hug. “Sorry. No reason to be. Nothing bad is going to happen.”
Luke clattered down the steps. “Good, Rach. Glad you’re here.” He seemed to have calmed down as well and turned to me. “I’ve been thinking. We should take two cars. It’ll be safer.”
“Safer?” Both Rachel and I exclaimed at the same time. Concern splashed across my daughter’s face.
“Um, well, that was the wrong word.” Luke backtracked. “Convenient. It’ll be more convenient.” He absently brushed his hand across his forehead. “I’ll go in the pickup. You and Rachel follow in the Camry. We’ll have dinner in Lake Geneva, then fly up to the cabin in the morning.” He opened the garage door wider and proceeded to the pickup. “Don’t forget to turn off your cells.”
“Really?” Rachel said. “I can’t listen to my tunes?”
“No. And it’s nonnegotiable.” His voice was sharp. “In fact, why don’t you give your cell to me?”
Rachel sulked. “I can turn it off myself.”
“Rachel, you can’t just turn the phone to airplane mode and play music. It still gives off a signal,” I said.
“I know.”
Luke glanced at me as if to ask, “Can she do it?”
I was about to shrug, but Rachel surprised us both by handing her cell to Luke. I thought I knew my daughter. What did she have up her sleeve? Or, miracle of miracles, was she finally mature enough to appreciate the gravity of our situation? In any case, I smiled. “Problem solved.”
“You too, Ellie.”
“Got it. Only call if it’s an emergency.”
Luke shook his head. “It won’t help. I’m turning mine off, too. But it’s only an hour drive.”