On the Loose (34 page)

“Yeah.” I sigh. “If anything does happen.”

Mrs. Hall lays her arm across my shoulders. “Honey, you’ve done all you can do right now. If this doesn’t work then I’ll help you think of something else. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

Anxiety gnaws at me the rest of the day. What if Angel doesn’t place the jacket in my locker? What if we have to do this every day for the next month until we catch her? What if we never catch her? It’s bad enough to be Party Ruiner Katie, but to add Kleptomaniac Katie to it is just more than I can bear.

Seventh hour descends on me like a two-ton weight. I take a deep breath of reality. I mean, seriously, what am I getting all worked up for? The odds we caught anything on tape are slim to none. This is probably gonna take weeks.

I walk into the gym, watching my reflection on the shiny wood floors. Funny, I don’t look like a big chicken.

But I am. I turn around and head back to the lobby to change in the bathroom. If Robin Martin’s jacket is in my locker and the camera missed it, I will have to deal with that all spring break. And I can’t. I just can’t.

Five minutes later I stand on the gym floor with the rest of my sisters in misery, ready to receive our torture sentence from Coach Nelson.

Tweeeeet!
“Listen up, ladies. Today I have something new for us.”

My heart soars at the thought of some variety.

“Instead of doing fifty push-ups like we usually do on Fridays, today we’re gonna skip that.”

This is awesome news.

“No, not gonna do fifty push-ups. We’re gonna do thirty one-armed push-ups. Now go!”

My soaring heart sinks to the floor. It flops pitifully once or twice before giving up like a dying fish. Is she crazy? Whoever came up with the idea of PE should be tortured. Coach-Nelson style.

After we struggle through some push-ups, we run the rest of the class period.

I grab my backpack from the gym floor and drag my limp body into the shower. It’s everything I can do not to run to Hannah’s locker and grab the camcorder.

When I step out, clean and sweat-free, I meet the cold stare of Angel in the mirror. She combs through her short hair.

“You know the principal is gonna be checking your locker today.”

I wrap my hair in a towel. “So?” What if they find something? I feel disaster looming. It would so be my luck. “They didn’t find anything yesterday.”

I feel my blood pumping pure heat as she laughs. “Your stealing’s gonna catch up with you.”

I believe this moment calls for a classic line from a timeless and inspirational cheerleader movie. I step in her space. “Bring it on.”

I stomp past her and move toward Hannah. I try to waste time, hoping Angel will leave so I can sneak the camera out of Hannah’s locker. Ten minutes into Angel doing hamstring stretches in the middle of the floor, I know I can’t stall any longer. I won’t be leaving with the camera.

With my hand already punching buttons, I have Charlie on the phone before I hit the parking lot.

“It’s me. I couldn’t get the camera out. What do I do?”

“Let me take care of it.”

Call me crazy, but I think that’s the hottest thing I’ve ever heard.
I like Trevor, I like Trevor, I like Trevor
. “Um . . . yeah, sure.”

His voice vibrates in my ear. “I’ll see you at your house in an hour. We’ll see what we’ve got.”

“Okay.” I wave at James, waiting for me in his truck.

“And Katie?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t get your hopes up, all right? This plan could take some time.”

I nod like he can see me. “Right. Of course. I’m not expecting anything.” Who am I kidding? I’m expecting everything.

“How was your day, kiddo?” James’s smile takes up his whole face, as I climb in the truck. “Was your early morning rendezvous successful?”

I shrug and strap on my seatbelt. “I dunno. I’m not gonna worry about it.”

His eyebrow lifts, but he doesn’t pursue it. “Hey, Millie bought a wig today. You know, for when she starts chemo. She’ll want to show it off, so I wanted to warn you.”

Translation: don’t freak out.

“Millie’s gonna wear a wig?” That’s gonna kill my foster mom, who’s never without makeup, never a hair out of place.

His smile doesn’t falter. “Yeah, just part of the chemo. She’ll start that in a few weeks.”

“What’ll happen?”

“She’ll be fine. The doctor says she’ll just get a little run down and tired.” He smiles. “Maybe that means fewer soy bean casseroles.”

We pull into the drive and Rocky rounds the corner to greet us as James and I get out of the truck.

James pets the mongrel on the head. “Whatcha doing outside, Rocky? You’re usually stationed in the kitchen when Millie’s fixing dinner.”

“Hey, there!” Millie stands in the doorway. “I hope you guys are going to be hungry later. We’re going to have a special meal for your last weekend home before the camping trip.”

I walk into Millie’s arms and give her a hug. Both her arms wrap around me. “Heard you got a new do today. I hope you went with something different, like a some dark J.Lo locks or maybe some Whoopi Goldberg dreds.”

“It looks just like my own hair. I asked for the Jessica Simpson style, but they were all out.”

The four of us move into the house and we follow Millie toward the kitchen.

“Um . . . Mil, what is that smell?” James frowns at the scent.

“Pizza.” Millie goes to the fridge and pulls out the tea pitcher.

I brave another sniff. “Pizza? Are you sure?” Maybe the cancer has affected her brain.

“Tofu bean sprout pizza. It’s gonna be so good for you.”

I cover a laugh and shoot James a quick look. “Wow, Millie, you shouldn’t have gone to all that trouble. Ordering delivery would’ve been so much easier.”

“Nonsense. Do you know what’s in that stuff?”

No, but that’s what makes it so good.

Millie shakes her head and highlighted blonde curls bounce. “Preservatives and trans fats.”

“Mmmm. I love those.” I breathe through my mouth to avoid the stench.

My foster mom pours me a glass of tea. “Don’t be silly. We’re not eating a toxic diet anymore. So get used to it.”

I glare at James as I lift the glass to my mouth. “
Blech
!” I rake my sleeve over my face. “What is this?”

“Organic herbal green tea. James, would you like some?”

I smirk at my foster dad “Yes, he would. Hey, where’s the sugar, Millie?”

“No sugar.”

“Sweetener?”

She lifts her eyebrows. “Kills rats.”

“I’m totally fine with that.”

“And I threw all your diet sodas out.”

I set my tea down with a thud. “Do you know what you’ve done to—”

“Greetings!” Maxine bursts through the kitchen, wearing a full-length formal.

James chokes on his green tea. “
What
is that?”

Maxine does a wobbly pirouette. “Mrs. Hall and I are having a little dispute over my costume choice as the fairy godmother. This is my latest creation.” She picks up a corner of her skirt. “I think it says sophistication and worldliness.”

James scratches his stubbly cheek. “That’s not what it’s saying to me.”

“Mom, you better change if Sam’s going to eat with us tonight.”

“Yes, Maxine, time to get out of your play clothes.” James shoots a wink my way.

An hour later, we all sit down to the table for dinner. Or as James whispered, “The meal that will precede a few bowls of cereal.”

“Katie, are you excited about your week of mission work?” Sam passes the salad.

“Yeah, sure.” I guess. I don’t know. It’s my first churchie event, so I’m kind of nervous. I still don’t even know where all the books of the Bible are yet. What if somebody we’re helping says, “Quick! Find Leviticus!”

“I think you’ll have a great time.” Millie smiles and hands me the organic carrot and bean medley. Again. “It’s perfect, really.” She turns her attention toward Sam, and I brush my veggies into my napkin. “They sleep in tents on the church campus. They’ll do reconstruction and cleaning in the community during the day. Then at night it’s a church service for those in the shelters and the kids get to cook for them.”

“Marvelous opportunity. I’m so pleased you’re going. So pleased.” Maxine spears a bite of pizza with her fork and sniffs it.

“No more slumber parties in my room when I’m not there, Maxine. Last time you did that I found three pair of knee highs, one orthopedic shoe, and a Depends in my room.”

Maxine clutches Sam’s hand. “None of those things belonged to me.”

Millie inspects my plate. “Katie, you’re not eating much. Too excited about Monday?”

“Uh-huh.” Yes, that’s it. Because normally when I’m handed a plate of organic vegetarian goo, I just
can’t
stop eating.

“Well, I have a surprise.” Millie rises from her chair. “Guess what we’re having for dessert?”

“Tofu cupcakes?” Maxine bites her lip. “Soy soufflé? Green bean smoothies?”

Millie frowns at her mother and disappears into the kitchen. “Your favorite!” She comes back out carrying a loaded tray. “Homemade chocolate brownie sundae. Just like at that restaurant you love.”

Millie scoops some ice cream over my still warm brownie and drizzles hot fudge sauce over the top. “Here you go, sweetie.”

The doorbell rings.

Who
would interrupt this sacred moment, this reunion of girl and oozing, melting sugar-filled chocolate?

“I’ll get it.” Maxine bounds up from her chair.

I swallow my bite. “The back of your skirt is tucked in your hose.”

Without missing a step, she yanks it out. “Thought it felt a little breezy.”

James leans towards Sam. “You marry her, and that can be yours every day of your life.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “I could perform the ceremony right now.”

“James—” Millie scolds.

“Could have her packed up in two minutes.”

“Look who I found.” Maxine enters the dining room with her arm around Charlie Benson. “He looks familiar.” She claps his chin in her hand and pulls his face close. “Where do I know you?”

“Church?” Charlie searches the room for help.

“Nope. Where else?”

“Last fall you came to visit at my grandmother’s house.”

Maxine scratches her head. “Not ringing any bells.”

“You sent Katie up in a tree to spy on Sam and she fell into my grandma’s pool.”

“Well! Nice of you to come by. Wish you could stay. Tell everyone good-bye.” She claps him on the back and turns him toward the door.

“Wait.” Charlie digs in his heels. “I have something special for Katie.”

“She’s not that type of girl. Shoo!” She gives him a big push.

“Mother! My goodness, let the poor boy come in and sit down.” Millie pulls out an empty chair. “Join us, Charlie. We were just having dessert. Have you eaten dinner yet?”

Behind Millie, I nod my head in frantic jerks.

“Um . . . yes, ma’am.” He eyes the pizza blob with curiosity.

“Well, then you just sit down and have some dessert. James, get this boy a spoon.” Millie dishes out more brownie sundae for Charlie. I don’t know that I feel close enough to him to share
my
going-away super-special dessert.

“What do you have there?” James inspects the bundle in Charlie’s arms.

“It’s my video camera.” Charlie’s metallic gray eyes stare into mine. “Mrs. Hall let me back into the school about thirty minutes ago. He digs into his bag and pulls out his James Bond device. “It’s got some pretty interesting footage.”

James pushes out of his chair. “Bring your bowls and follow me.”

We crowd into the den. I chew on a fingernail as Charlie plugs the thing into James’s laptop.

Millie pulls me into her side. “Even if we don’t get it this time, you know we will clear your name soon.”

I wrap my arm around her and breathe in her comforting Millie scent. She smells like . . . a mom.

“I watched part of it already. Check this out. The counter says it’s eleven forty-five, right before lunch.” Charlie pushes a button and a blurry image of the locker room pops on the screen. Charlie begins to narrate. “Right here.” He points to the lower corner of the screen. “You can see the shape of someone standing in front of your locker. She’s pulling something out of her pocket.”

Maxine springs from her chair. “Let’s go get her!”

Everyone ignores her as Charlie continues. “Now she’s opening the lock.”

“It’s my combination. That’s what she has on the piece of paper.”

James nods. “She had to have gotten it from her mother or from watching you get into your locker. The problem though is you can’t even see her face. We have to prove beyond a doubt it’s her.”

“Her mom keeps a record of our combos somewhere in her office. But if that’s Angel, how is she getting the stuff out in the first place? She’s never out of my sight in PE, and yet that’s when things are being taken.”

Charlie shushes me. “Right here. It’s a little hard to make out, but she puts something in your locker and covers it up. She shuts the door and . . . there. Right there!” He taps on the glass. “Did you see that?”

I shake my head. “Rewind it.”

“I’m gonna slow it down. Watch for it.” The images reverse and then begin again.

A hand spins the dial on my locker and the intruder slowly turns around—her face turned to the camera.

“It’s her!” I jump up and down. “It’s Angel! It’s Angel!” I grab Charlie and hug the breath out of him. “You did it.” I step away and clear my throat. “Thank you.”

“Yes, thank you, Charlie.” James claps him on the back. “This is priceless.”

“Glad to help.” Charlie blushes, making his cute dimple stand out. “I’ll leave the camera with you.” He unhooks it from the TV and hands it to James.

“Let’s call the fuzz. I know a few guys who work for the FBI.”

Millie rolls her eyes. “Mom, that won’t be necessary. But we will take care of this.”

“I guess it will have to wait until we come back from spring break. There’s nothing we can do now.” I have to sit on this for a whole week.

“Oh, my dear.” James’s mouth turns up in a sly grin. “You don’t know the lengths to which a determined parent will go.” One brow lifts over his glasses. “I believe your principal is due for a home visit from the pastor of In Between Community Church.”