Gordy mounted his bike and followed Hiro down the drive, scanning up and down the street for a car with one headlight. He’d feel a lot safer when he got home.
“I don’t need an escort,” Hiro said over one shoulder.
And I don’t want to be one. But he followed anyway and kept an eye out for suspicious cars, staying a couple lengths behind Hiro.
She didn’t slow as she approached her house, but picked up the pace instead.
“Hiro,” Gordy called after her. “What are you doing?”
She lowered her head to be more aerodynamic and seemed to pump harder, widening the distance between them. She zipped down School Drive, across Campbell Street and picked up the bike path through Kimball Hill Park.
She was heading right back to Frank ‘n Stein’s. I don’t think so. Gordy stood on the pedals and closed the gap within seconds and pulled up alongside.
“You crazy?”
“Frank was good to my family. And you know it.”
Yeah, yeah. After her dad died Frank gave her mom a job as a bookkeeper. Helped her get her degree and a higher-paying job. He ought to know the story. Their moms and Aunt Dana had been close since college. “It’s too dangerous to go back there.”
“Then go home.” Her mouth formed a tight line. She kept pedaling along the asphalt bike path.
Oh, nice. And how heroic would that look? “Exactly what are you planning to do? He’s dead.”
She flashed an angry glare. “Stop saying that. Just stop it.”
He coasted for a second and let her get a lead on him. He glanced down at the creek to his right. Black and rushing away from Frank ‘n Stein’s—which is exactly what they should be doing. When Coop heard about this he wouldn’t believe it. Then again, Hiro did have her own mind on things. There would be no turning her back now.
Hiro biked over the creek on the pedestrian bridge and picked up the trail bordering the creek on the west side to Kirchoff Road.
Good. It was the longer way, but definitely safer than racing through parking lots and crossing the four-lane. At least she was using her head a little.
Flashing lights lit up the sky around Frank ‘n Stein’s. Hiro took the bike trail under the Kirchoff Road bridge that looped around and ramped back up to the street level on the other side. She crossed the creek and coasted to a stop at the diner parking lot. Gordy stopped beside her and put a leg down to take in the scene. Police cars. Paramedics. A growing crowd gathered outside a yellow police line.
All the glass had been knocked out of the front door of Frank ‘n Stein’s now, and police walked through the opening like the door was propped open. Broken glass sparkled on the ground in the flashing red lights like the cheap jewelry some of the girls wore at school. Not Hiro, of course. The only jewelry she ever wore was the necklace with a miniature Chicago Police shield on it—or ‘star’ as they called it in Chicago. It was a Chicago tradition to give a necklace or pin to family members of a fallen officer. She chose the necklace. It was the gift she never wanted, but would never part with either. Gordy thought it was morbid. Almost as spooky as keeping a lock of his hair in her pocket.
A car screeched to a stop in the next parking lot, and a man ran toward the building. Joseph Stein. Frank’s partner. He ducked under the yellow crime scene tape and said something to a policeman who tried to block his way. Mr. Stein must have convinced the man he was half owner because the policeman stepped to one side and waved him on. Mr. Stein paused for a moment by the front door, as if wondering if he should unlock it, but then stepped through the door and disappeared inside.
Gordy stretched to get a better view. Was Frank’s body still on the floor? Maybe they’d taken an extra apron and covered his face with it. In any case, Mr. Stein was in for a shock.
Gordy ditched his bike and stood next to Hiro. “Okay. Paramedics are here. Nothing more we can do.”
She held up a finger, but didn’t take her eyes off Frank ‘n Stein’s.
Gordy watched Hiro. What if Hiro’s mom still worked here? She might have been dead too. Gordy wondered if the same thoughts crept into her mind. But right now this place was creeping him out. “Time to go,” he said.
Hiro ignored him. Her attention seemed focused on the fringe of the crowd. Gordy followed her gaze.
Great. Neal Lunquist. Just seeing Lunk made Gordy’s stomach twist even tighter. Lunk still wore his Frank ‘n Stein’s shirt, which is one of the reasons they avoided Frank ‘n Stein’s before 7 p.m. on Thursdays.
Even though there was some kind of truce between them after Cooper saved Lunk’s hide, Gordy didn’t exactly trust him. To him, Lunk was still the bully that used his size to intimidate. And Hiro seemed ready for a fight whenever he was around, too. She had to, really. Lunk painted a target on her back from the very beginning.
She leaned closer to Gordy. “Look at the creepy looking guy talking to Lunk.”
“Got him.” Gordy sized the man up. About six-two. Two hundred and twenty-five pounds. Mid forties. The guy had a mean look about him. And he looked like he knew how to handle himself in a fight.
She slowly rubbed the shield hanging from her neck between her thumb and forefinger. “He looks suspicious.”
“Why? Because he’s talking to Lunk?”
“Because he’s about the same size and build of any one of those three men we saw. There was plenty of time for him to leave the scene, change clothes, and come back and watch from the crowd. Criminals do that sort of thing all the time. And the man obviously has some kind of connection with Lunk, an employee—which would explain how they knew about the safe. What more do you need?”
Gordy shrugged. “A latex mask hanging out of his back pocket would do it.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “You’re ridiculous. I bet he’s got a record.”
Gordy didn’t care. He just wanted to get away from this place. “We came to see if paramedics were here for Frank. They are—so let’s go.”
Hiro held up one hand. “Look.”
The man stepped closer to Lunk. By the looks on their faces, they were having some kind of argument. Lunk looked like he wanted to tear the guy’s head off.
“I need to hear them,” Hiro said. “I’m moving closer.”
Gordy grabbed her arm. “This isn’t a stakeout.”
She pulled free and worked her way along the edge of the crowd. Gordy followed, but kept his head low. Hiro’s height helped her move close undetected, but Gordy had to work at it.
She stopped behind a small group of people not five feet from where Lunk and the man stood. Lunk’s back was turned toward them, and the man didn’t seem to notice those milling nearby.
“You got what you came for,” Lunk said. “And you’ve already made a mess of things. Leave me and Mom alone.”
The man spit on the ground and snickered. “Is that any way to talk to your father?”
Father? Gordy mouthed the word to Hiro. Now he could see where Lunk got his size.
Lunk clenched his fist. “I’m dead serious.”
The man took a step back and held his hands up, palms out. “Okay. I’m done here for now.” He turned on his heel and started walking.
Hiro leaned out for a better view just as Lunk turned their way.
Lunk spotted her immediately. He put his index fingers up to the outside corners of his eyes and pulled them back, reducing his eyelids to narrow slits. “What are you looking at Hiroko?” He elbowed his way through the crowd toward the yellow tape line.
“Let’s go,” Hiro said.
Gordy nodded. About time. He wouldn’t feel safe until he was in his own room. And he certainly didn’t want to see paramedics roll Frank out on a stretcher with a sheet over his head … and Hiro didn’t need that either.
Gordy led the way back to the bikes. “Straight to your house.”
She looked up at him with a determined half smile. “Almost straight home.” She motioned her head toward the man walking away from the crowd. “We have a suspect to follow first.”