bust, I thought, as I stood at the curb waiting for a bus. I would go home, try to reach Kerrie later, do my homework, think some more about this situation, maybe even toss around a few costume ideas.
The bus roared up to the curb and a few of us St. John’s kids sashayed on. I moved to the back and sat alone by a window.
Just as we lurched forward into traffic, I looked down and saw—the black car! It was following me.
P ANIC GRIPPED at my throat, choking me. My breathing came fast. I had to get off this bus. But where, I wondered? Normally, I got off two blocks from home and walked the rest of the way. Nobody would be home yet. Mom was still at work. Tony would be on campus until late tonight. Connie was probably at her office. Connie’s office. It was not far from home. Think, Bianca, think! Was there a bus stop near there? Could I stay on the bus until then?
I had to suppress a strong urge to run up to the driver and tell him to step on it and lose the black car. Instead, I slumped down in my seat, hoping the Lemming Lady and her invisible sidekick wouldn’t see me.
Of course they saw me, I thought in annoyance. That’s why they were there. They were looking for Sadie and they knew I knew something about her. Except I didn’t know where she lived. Or even her phone number. I felt like making a sign and hanging it in the window. Futile Mission , it would read. I know nothing!
A consoling thought came to mind. If they were pursuing me, it had to be because they didn’t know where Sadie was either. That meant she was okay and the Backpack Slasher/Lemming Lady had not gotten to her. Yet.
I looked out the window again. The car was still there, deliberately missing opportunities to pass the bus and make better time. They were definitely following me. How long had they waited outside the school? What else did they know about me?
The bus turned in towards town. Maybe if I got off with a bunch of other passengers, I could hide among them.
In this frantic mood, the ride went by slowly. I let my own stop go by and another and another until finally the bus was coming up to the end of the line.
But, like El Dorado, the end of the line was full of promise. It was the glittering spread of Harborplace, full of shops and offices, and, most importantly, people. Holding my breath as if I was plunging into a pool, I rushed off the bus into what I hoped would be a bustling crowd.
It was nearly four o’clock, too early for businesses to be letting out. Nonetheless, there were enough people around to give me a feeling of security. I headed for the stores that lined two sides of the harbor. I’d lose myself in them. It would take awhile to park the black car anyway, I reasoned smugly, then caught sight of it pulling into a suddenly opening spot along Light Street. Just my luck to be pursued by thugs blessed by the Parallel Parking gods. There was-n’t time for regret. I ran toward the stores, and opened the door to what I hoped was my sanctuary.
Some tourists and early shoppers roamed the mall-like structure. I pretended to window shop while glancing over my shoulder. I would recognize the Lemming Lady with her bright red hair and out-of-control make-up. But what about her companion? I did-n’t know what he looked like. I could inadvertently stumble into his arms and not even know it.
Suddenly, every stranger looked threatening. A man with a linebacker build, goatee, and close-cropped hair stood admiring some sports paraphernalia. Was he the one? Another guy, spindly, unhealthy looking, and in need of a cigarette, eyed me from across the hall. Was he the male sidekick?
This was maddening. I raced through the mall, not wanting to linger near any man too long for fear he was the one. As I ran, my mind was racing too, trying to determine what to do. Call Connie at her cell number! That was it. Just last night, she had said to use it in an emergency.
I spotted a store clerk on a cordless and meandered into her shop, a
The bus roared up to the curb and a few of us St. John’s kids sashayed on. I moved to the back and sat alone by a window.
Just as we lurched forward into traffic, I looked down and saw—the black car! It was following me.
P ANIC GRIPPED at my throat, choking me. My breathing came fast. I had to get off this bus. But where, I wondered? Normally, I got off two blocks from home and walked the rest of the way. Nobody would be home yet. Mom was still at work. Tony would be on campus until late tonight. Connie was probably at her office. Connie’s office. It was not far from home. Think, Bianca, think! Was there a bus stop near there? Could I stay on the bus until then?
I had to suppress a strong urge to run up to the driver and tell him to step on it and lose the black car. Instead, I slumped down in my seat, hoping the Lemming Lady and her invisible sidekick wouldn’t see me.
Of course they saw me, I thought in annoyance. That’s why they were there. They were looking for Sadie and they knew I knew something about her. Except I didn’t know where she lived. Or even her phone number. I felt like making a sign and hanging it in the window. Futile Mission , it would read. I know nothing!
A consoling thought came to mind. If they were pursuing me, it had to be because they didn’t know where Sadie was either. That meant she was okay and the Backpack Slasher/Lemming Lady had not gotten to her. Yet.
I looked out the window again. The car was still there, deliberately missing opportunities to pass the bus and make better time. They were definitely following me. How long had they waited outside the school? What else did they know about me?
The bus turned in towards town. Maybe if I got off with a bunch of other passengers, I could hide among them.
In this frantic mood, the ride went by slowly. I let my own stop go by and another and another until finally the bus was coming up to the end of the line.
But, like El Dorado, the end of the line was full of promise. It was the glittering spread of Harborplace, full of shops and offices, and, most importantly, people. Holding my breath as if I was plunging into a pool, I rushed off the bus into what I hoped would be a bustling crowd.
It was nearly four o’clock, too early for businesses to be letting out. Nonetheless, there were enough people around to give me a feeling of security. I headed for the stores that lined two sides of the harbor. I’d lose myself in them. It would take awhile to park the black car anyway, I reasoned smugly, then caught sight of it pulling into a suddenly opening spot along Light Street. Just my luck to be pursued by thugs blessed by the Parallel Parking gods. There was-n’t time for regret. I ran toward the stores, and opened the door to what I hoped was my sanctuary.
Some tourists and early shoppers roamed the mall-like structure. I pretended to window shop while glancing over my shoulder. I would recognize the Lemming Lady with her bright red hair and out-of-control make-up. But what about her companion? I did-n’t know what he looked like. I could inadvertently stumble into his arms and not even know it.
Suddenly, every stranger looked threatening. A man with a linebacker build, goatee, and close-cropped hair stood admiring some sports paraphernalia. Was he the one? Another guy, spindly, unhealthy looking, and in need of a cigarette, eyed me from across the hall. Was he the male sidekick?
This was maddening. I raced through the mall, not wanting to linger near any man too long for fear he was the one. As I ran, my mind was racing too, trying to determine what to do. Call Connie at her cell number! That was it. Just last night, she had said to use it in an emergency.
I spotted a store clerk on a cordless and meandered into her shop, a
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