CHAPTER 84

MAGGIE ONLY SAW THE START of the news story before she flew out of the house. But it was enough. A part of her couldn’t believe the plan worked —that Hudson actually pulled it off. Maybe if things were different, she’d feel like celebrating.

She biked to school alone and waited for the boys at the bike rack. Pancake was all smiles when he rode up. Hudson looked guarded, like he was expecting trouble. Good. It was about time he took this seriously.

“Hudson,” Maggie said, “I have to talk to you.”

Pancake laughed. “There’s going to be a whole lot of people wanting to talk to him.”

Maggie shook her head. “Just listen. We don’t have much time. Look at the text I got this morning.” She held out her phone. “Read it aloud.”

“Don’t come to school today. I don’t want you getting hurt. Please, don’t come.” Hudson studied Maggie’s face. “Giovanna sent this?”

“Twice,” she said. “What do we do?”

Pancake locked his bike. “You think they’re going to try jumping us again?”

Hudson fished the cable through his front wheel. “She probably sent this before the message went live at City Hall. And with all this publicity, I don’t think they’d dare try anything now. It’s too late —and they know it.”

Maggie wasn’t so sure. “I think we need to stick together, just in case.”

Hudson nodded. “Agreed.”

Pancake laughed. “You worry too much, Maggie. Forget Giovanna’s stupid text. Nothing’s going to happen.”

Maggie hoped Pancake was right. She really did. But she wasn’t so sure —and one look at Hudson told her he wasn’t either.