Sidekick Returns (25 page)

Oh yeah, that one stung. My chest clenched a little bit tighter and my eyes were slightly more prickly. But it was out there now. Lance that boil.

Suddenly, the pigeons outside my window let out a startled group burble.

I sat up sharply, glaring at my window with the plastic blind rolled down, and shouted, ‘I told you, Rosita. We are not doing the Mexican maid's daughter falling for the millionaire's son storyline! It's been done!' I angrily flopped back in my bed.

I had been duped by a paparazzi, and now the world believed I was crazy.

I exhaled sharply. Okay, not too bad. Time for the last one.

My twin sister, the person I loved more than anyone, had not only ditched me, but in the matter of a few short weeks had become everything I had always wanted to be and more. And, AND, if I'm completely honest, I may even be jealous of the person I love more than anything, which means I am a much worse person than I had ever thought possible!

I clutched my chest. Oh God, that didn't feel good. In fact, getting it all out there felt really bad. Like really, really bad. Ugly amounts of tears swam around in my eyes.

The pigeons erupted with another round of burbles.

I shot up. ‘Guys! Seriously! I have real life issues that I need to— Wah!'

A shadow moved in front of my window. A human shadow!

I clutched my quilt to my chest. Who the hell was outside of my window? I mean, there was a fire escape out there, but it wasn't stable enough for, you know, actual use.

My muscles twitched. I should probably just get up and run away. I mean, it was totally within the realm of possibility that my father had sent building scaling goons after me, but then again … what if somebody needed my help? Maybe it was a neighbour trying to end it all, or somebody who'd became disoriented while ledge walking? That probably wasn't likely, but could I take that chance?

I edged out of bed and crept the two steps over to my window. Maybe if I just peeked under the blind, I could see if it was friend or foe. I pinched the worn plastic between my fingers, and—

WHAP!

The material zipped up in a fantastic roll.

I stumbled backwards as my eyes shot up to the window.

Ryder.

Chapter 35

‘Ryder?' It was her definitely her, but it didn't look like her.

She didn't answer me but glanced furtively to the ground below.

‘What … what are you doing out there?' I said, moving to yank up the window. ‘Get in here! You could fall!'

Instead of coming in, she darted to the side of the window and moved quickly from the fire escape to the narrow ledge … way too quickly, given the height. I ran over and pushed the frame all the way up, leaning my head out. Ryder was gliding quickly along the ledge in sneakers. Sneakers? I had no idea what was going on here, but Ryder did not wear sneakers. I pushed my head out the window. ‘Ryder! Come back here!' Then something else dawned on me. Grey sweats. Ryder did not wear grey sweats. Thoughts whizzed through my head as I watched Ryder approach the end corner of the building. I didn't think there was a ledge on the other side. Just then engines roared from the alley below. Black SUVs filled the tight strip of pavement. Oh man. Oh man. What the hell was going on here? She had to be running from them! What was she thinking? What was she going to do? What was I going to do? I looked around frantically. She could maybe make the leap to one of the rusty balconies on the building across the alley and then get out through there, but the distance was beyond crazy.

It looked like Ryder was thinking the same thing because she turned slightly so that her back was pinned against the wall.

‘Ryder! Don't!'

She mumbled something in return.

‘What? I can't hear you.'

Her face turned back to mine and I caught the words, ‘—warn you about your father.' She looked away again. I thought I heard her say something like, ‘Plans. Plans for you.'

‘Ryder, come on! Forget that! Come here!'

‘Stay away!' she yelled abruptly, then dropped her voice and repeated, ‘Stay … stay away from him.' She adjusted her position against the wall.

Oh God! I couldn't watch. I mean, I had seen her make big jumps before, but she looked like she was in rough shape, and she didn't have her gadgets! I looked again at the opposite building to gauge the distance when a glint of metal caught my eye. My focus shot to a window across the alley. A sniper!

What the—everything was happening so fast! Too fast!

My head whipped back around. ‘Ryder!'

Her hands jerked a little, as though my voice had startled her. ‘There's a sniper!'

It was hard to tell, but her head tilted, as though to indicate she couldn't hear me.

I pointed at the sniper, but she looked away.

I gripped my windowsill. The sniper stayed frozen. Sights on Ryder. What was he doing? Why wasn't he taking the shot? Maybe he didn't want her dead? Maybe it was a last resort?

I had to do something. Something was wrong with Ryder. She—

Suddenly I noticed a flurry of activity below. Men dressed in black were unfurling something right beneath Ryder. A tarp? A net?

Oh no! Sniper guy was going to shoot Ryder, and she'd fall right into the net! Indecision nearly tore me apart. Should I run? Should I try to help?

Next I heard heavy footsteps running from behind me. Yup, they were coming down the hallway to grab me next. Well, I guessed that decided it. I scrambled out my window, first onto the escape then over to the ledge.

Oh boy. I hadn't realised just how high up my apartment was. I kept my back flat against the wall as I sidestepped slowly towards Ryder.

Don't look down. Don't look down.

Suddenly the side of my foot slapped against something. A pigeon let out a startled noise as it tipped over the edge. ‘Fly, Austin! Fly!' I screamed, watching the bird drop a few feet. Thankfully, its wings started to flap and he rose up into the air. Maybe Mr Pushkin was right about the pigeons.
Focus, Bremy.
But how could I? My thoughts were bouncing around like monkeys trapped in barrel.

I edged a few feet farther, past a window.

‘What are you doing?' a flat voice asked. Kevin.

‘Nothing. Go back inside,' I said in a tight voice. Then, ‘Oh no, did you sleep over?' Bart would not do well with that. Then again, I would never know that for sure because I was about to die! ‘Never mind. Go back in. You can't help here.'

Kevin looked conflicted.

‘Go! You'll only make it worse.' Probably like I was doing.

Kevin's head slowly retreated back into the building. Well, at least someone was listening.

I looked over to Ryder. ‘Don't worry. I'll get us out of this. I'll help you!'

For the briefest of moments, she looked like she might argue with me. Tell me to stay out of the way, run, save myself, that she could handle my father on her own. But a small shudder raced over her frame, and she said nothing.

‘I can do this, Ryder! I, I—just tell me what to do!'

She closed her eyes. I had never seen her like this. What had my father done to her?

Chills raced over my sweat dampened skin as my voice dropped to something very small. ‘Please tell me what to do.'

She opened her eyes and rolled them up to the sky, before dropping them back down to me. ‘Look up.'

Chapter 36

I didn't look up. I stared out in horror as I watched Ryder catapult herself out into the open air above the alley, arms and legs spinning uselessly.

A second later, I heard a soft shot then the hiss of a dart. Ryder's body jerked into a sickening twist as the hit found her shoulder. I screamed as she dropped straight from the sky into the tarp below.

The men quickly ushered her off into the back of one of the SUVs.

Shock pinned me to the wall. What had I just seen? What was happening?

The glint of the sniper's gun snapped me back into focus.

The gun was aimed at me! Except … except there was nobody with a tarp waiting down below!

The pads of my fingers gripped tightly against the rough brick. I was going to die. No doubt about it this time. I was a little duck at a fair, but I bet this shooter was going to get more than a stuffie for knocking me down.
Down.

My eyes drifted lower.
No! Don't look down. Never look down … look … look up!

Ryder had said to look up! I rolled my eyes skywards.

No! It couldn't be! It felt like a mirage, but I was almost sure I saw someone, nearly erased in the glare of the sun, leaning over the edge of the building. Two someones! And they had a rope ladder! Its end nearly within my grasp.

I reached a hand up to grab the rung. My fingertips brushed the rounded metal. I almost had it. I inched up onto my toes even though every instinct was screaming not to do it. Just a little farther …

There! Got it!

I slapped the other hand onto the metal. Of course, my escape route didn't exactly take care of Mr Sniper.

I looked over my shoulder.

But … but he was having some trouble of his own. Round objects were exploding against the wall of his perch. He had his arm crossed over his face as a shield. I watched him try to aim at me through the volley, but the onslaught against him was relentless. He was being bombarded by … by … porcelain doll heads! Queenie! I craned my head up again. Yup, that was Queenie … and Bart!

I struggled to get my foot on the first rung, ignoring the horrifying feeling of empty air at my back.

‘Move it! Bremy!'

Suddenly a shot hit the wall by my face. I froze, staring at how close I had come to being hit. A sharp astringent smell filled my nose. Definitely a tranquilliser. They had tranked Ryder and taken her away! Me they were just going to trank and let fall to the ground. I looked down to the street once again. Wait! The men with the tarp were back, but they didn't have it stretched out. One man was on a walkie-talkie, probably awaiting orders. Well, I couldn't wait for them to decide if I lived or died. I hurried up a few more rungs, as best I could.

‘Bremy!' Bart yelled again.

‘I'm going as fast as I can!'

I heard another trank bullet hit the wall close by my thigh, but I couldn't worry about that.

Just keep climbing, Bremy. You're almost there.

Suddenly I felt a hand grip my wrist.

A hot rush of tingles ran over my body.
Yes!

‘Pull me up,' I grunted through gritted teeth.

Bart yanked me up the last few feet as Queenie grabbed the waistband of my jammies and hoisted me over the edge.

I grabbed both of them around the necks and pulled them into my chest for a group hug. ‘You guys.'

Then I heard a whizzing sound right before something struck me in the back of the neck.

I let them go as I reached a hand up to touch the spot at the base of my skull.

‘I think something bit m—'

Not quite sure what happened after that.

Chapter 37

Loud moans woke me. Loud moans coming from my mouth. In fairness it was hard to form any thoughts at all, beyond,
My head!

Something cool and damp landed on my brow. I inhaled deeply. Minty. Herby. Choden. My eyes fluttered open to the sight of his smiling face. ‘Hello,' he said in a much-appreciated quiet voice.

I blinked a few more times. ‘Ow.'

He nodded.

‘I got tranked.'

He nodded again.

‘Like some elephant on the savanna.'

‘You certainly felt like one,' another voice called out. ‘Do have any idea how hard it was to get you here? Thank—I was going to say
God
, but credit where credit's due—
thank me
that I thought of throwing you down the garbage chute to the basement of your building.'

I blinked. ‘Bart? You're here too?' I couldn't quite make him out, but a fuzzy Bart-like shape moved into view. ‘Yup, I left the Lion and Tin Man at home, and instead brought the Wicked Wit—I can't say it. Please take me back, Queenie! Dump Kevin, and take me back into your sweet, sweet palace of pain!'

I closed my eyes. ‘Somebody put me back out.' I licked my lips with a dry tongue. ‘But how did you know?'

‘I installed a webcam or two by your apartment back in the early days when I was a little doubtful of your connection to Ryder. I decided a little surveillance might be in order after last night.'

‘Thanks, Weirdo.' I closed my eyes again. They were very heavy.

Choden gently removed the washcloth. I could hear him dip it into something close by, then wring it out, before placing it back on my forehead. ‘I'm afraid you are going to need to stay with us and speak of what happened.'

Thoughts swirled into focus. ‘Ryder!' I shot up and pain exploded in my head. ‘Slowly, Child,' Choden said, guiding me back down. ‘Slowly.'

‘But she's been kidnapped! In fact, I think she was kidnapped a long time ago, escaped, and then was kidnapped again! Today!' I blinked the residual fuzziness out of my eyes and focused on Choden's face. I could see something there I had never seen before. Guilt. ‘But you already knew that.'

He remained still for a moment then nodded.

‘You knew, and you didn't tell me!'

He nodded again.

‘Choden,' I said in a whisper. ‘I can't believe this.'

‘Wait, wait, wait.' Bart, wearing a worn ATARI t-shirt, moved into sight. ‘That's impossible. She's been spotted all over the city unless … but then again, you had said there was something different about her … but no, it couldn't be … unless … don't tell me Ryder has a—'

‘Doppelganger!' Saying that might have been one of the best moments of my life, if I hadn't been super close to vomiting. Bart grimaced. ‘I wanted to say that.'

‘Sorry. I couldn't help myself.' I paused. ‘Doppelganger.'