Gone

coming down the highway from the direction of Coates. They’ll be at Ralph’s in about a minute. They’re moving slowly.”
    “Did you see any faces? Caine or Drake?”
    “No.”
    Sam went into the bunkroom, shook Edilio’s bed, kicked Quinn’s bed, and yelled, “Guys. Get up.”
    “What?” Quinn said, sounding bleary and confused. “I thought we were supposed to get some sleep.”
    “You got some. Taylor says they’re on the move.”
    “I’m up.” Edilio rolled out of bed fully dressed. He unslung the sinister-looking machine pistol from the bed railing.
    Sam slipped into his jeans and hunted for his shoes.
    “What do you want me to do now?” Taylor asked.
    “Bounce back and see if they go into Ralph’s or split off into groups,” Sam said.
    “You might want to keep your clothes on,” Taylor warned. “I could be right back.”
    “When you bounce back, go to the plaza. I’m heading straight there,” Sam said.
    Taylor vanished.
    “You ready?” Sam asked Edilio.
    “No. You?”
    Sam shook his head. “Let’s make it work, anyway.”
    Quinn rolled out of his bunk. “Is it time?”
    “Yeah. Evening. Like we figured,” Sam said. “You know where you’re going, right?”
    “Straight to hell?” Quinn muttered.
    Sam and Edilio dropped down the fireman’s pole and landed in the garage. The walkie-talkie in Sam’s belt crackled, very loud. Astrid’s voice, staticky and strained.
    “Sam. I see them.”
    Sam keyed the volume down a little and pressed the button. “Taylor just told me,” Sam said. “You and L. P. okay?”
    “I’m fine. I see six cars. They’re past Ralph’s. I think they may be turning toward the school.”
    “Why that direction?”
    “I don’t know.”
    Sam bit his lip and considered. “Keep your head down, Astrid.”
    “Sam…,” she began.
    “I know,” he said. “Me too.”
    He started walking fast, not running. Running would look like panic. To Edilio, he said, “I figured they’d come in the same way they did the first time. It’s the clearest path into the center of town.”
    “I thought they might take over Ralph’s and make us come after them,” Edilio said.
    “I don’t get it,” Sam admitted. They reached the plaza and Edilio ran ahead to the town hall to check on his troops.
    Taylor appeared a dozen feet away, looking in the wrong direction.
    “Taylor. Here.”
    “Oh. They’re going toward the school. And Caine is definitely with them. Caine and Diana. I didn’t see Drake. Maybe he’s dead.” She said that last part with unmistakable relish. Then, just in case Sam had missed it, she added, “I hope he’s dead, that evil piece of—”
    “Did they see you?”
    “No. They can’t touch me, anyway. I’m too good at thisnow. I could bounce right into the school, see what they’re up to.”
    Sam pointed a finger at her. “Don’t get cocky. I don’t want to lose you. Keep your distance. Go.”
    Taylor winked and blinked out.
    Astrid on the walkie-talkie. “They’re getting out of their cars, going into the school.”
    Sam looked up at the steeple. She was right up there, so close, he could yell up to her, but her gaze was drawn to the school, not down at him. Sam spotted Quinn running by with his machine gun over his shoulder.
    “Good luck, brah,” Sam said.
    Quinn stopped dead. “Thanks. Look, Sam…I…”
    “No time for that now,” Sam said firmly, but gently.
    Sam stood alone in the plaza, leg propped on the edge of the fountain. The school. Why? And why come in daylight, why not wait till night fell?
    Albert came trotting out of the McDonald’s. He handed Sam a bag. “Some nuggets, man. In case you’re hungry.”
    “Thanks, dude.”
    “We have faith in you, Sam.” Albert took off.
    Sam munched a nugget and tried to think. The move to the school was unexpected. Was it an opportunity? If Caine was out of the car, on foot, in a school building that Sam knew a lot better than he did…
    He keyed the walkie-talkie. “Is there any sign they’re leaving the school?”
    “No. They have one guy standing outside as a guard. I think it’s Panda. I definitely did not see Drake.”
    He could end this, maybe. Right now, one-on-one with Caine. It would mean none of these kids would have to be involved. It would mean no one would have to pull a trigger.
    Dekka was running toward him. “Sam. Sorry, I couldn’t find you.”
    Maybe just the two of them, Sam and Dekka. It would double his chances. It would be right: one from