Chapter 26 - Part I

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ZACH WAS RIGHT. BUT LIZZIE cared about Saj more than herself or her father. How could Zach possibly understand?

He frowned at her and turned the Tank around, driving on. He pulled into a motel parking lot. Everybody but Lizzie got out and headed inside.

No way Lizzie was going to let Zach think things were okay. When he back came out she said, “I’m sleeping in the Tank.”

“Please don’t do anything stupid, Lizzie,” Zach said as he hooked his duffel bag over his shoulder.

As soon as Zach was gone she pulled the shotgun from its hiding place up inside the seat. What the hell do I do now? She grabbed one of the extra phones.

She texted her own number: Rachael plz call me. U r a mom. Dont let them take Saj from me. Please.

She wiped her tears away and lay in the backseat waiting. A long time passed. Zach’s right. Dad can help. But he was at least a day or so away. And can I trust him to help, or will he say the same thing as Zach and Nev? There had to be something she could do. She took the gun and slipped out of the Tank. Lizzie scrambled across the parking lot and up the overpass. The street lights shone stark and bright against the dark sky. She ran across the freeway. There were lots of homes with cars in driveways.

While she walked she tucked the shotgun under her arm and pulled up a map of the area on her new phone. The converted school was there, north. She started checking cars. On the seventh try she found keys in the ignition. The car smelled awful but she ignored it. Lucky for her it was an automatic. And it had a car seat. Karma.

She got in and sat the shotgun in the passenger seat. She laughed a little too loud. “I got a shotgun riding shotgun.” She turned the key and the engine purred.

It was a nice car. Lizzie slid it into drive and nudged the gas to get it rolling. When she got near the school she turned off the lights and found a place to park.

She wrapped her hand around the cold gun barrel and got out. The air was icy and the stars were bright. She snuck around the building hoping to be able to see the front of the school. The gate was finished and closed; there was a cement mixer parked nearby.

Lizzie didn’t see any guards, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there. She set the phone to vibrate. She returned to the car, flipped the trunk latch and checked what kind of supplies she had at her disposal. Not much. A giant beach towel with a giraffe on it, a first aid kit, a tool box and jumper cables. She opened the tool box grabbing a big wrench with a rubber-coated handle and a roll of duct tape.

She wrapped up in the towel and tried to stay warm. Her eyes kept straying to the phone. It’s only been ten minutes. Her fingers traced the scars on her arms.

Then the phone buzzed. “Shit.” Her freezing fingers slid over the screen and she read. Liz sorry 4 wait want to help u Saj needs u. Rach.

“What do I say? Shit.” Rach thnxs im here. How 2 get 2 u? Liz.

She rubbed her hands together.

1 guard sleeping mayb more outside end of building

Can you get out? I can come 2 u.

Mayb when?

Where ru? Which end of building?

Left side frm frnt by slide jungle gym

Im there 5 min brb.

Lizzie took the shotgun, the wrench and duct tape. On a whim she took the towel and rolled the wrench and duct tape in it. She pulled the car to the end of the alley near the front gate, then slipped from the car and left the keys in it.

She ran across the street and down the next alley with the blanketed tools under one arm and the shotgun in the other.

Out the other alley she headed down the street toward the school. The cinderblock wall was almost as high as her head here, but not as tall as near the gate. She lay the shotgun and towel on the top and pulled herself up with her freezing hands. It took all her strength to get her leg up over the wall and then she worked her way up and threw her other leg across. The cement tore into her stomach. She gritted her teeth and lowered herself to the ground on the other side. She slunk down behind a tree and pulled out the cell and texted: Here by slide.

She waited, pressing her cold hands against the warm welt on her scratched stomach.

When light comes on.

Locked?

No i unlocked. Ready?

Lizzie ran across to the building.

By door ready.

The light came on. Lizzie heard a male voice muttering. She pulled the door open and shoved the shotgun in front of her. “Be quiet or die,” she hissed.

The guard spun, but his rifle pointed down.

“Put down the gun. Or I’ll drop you.” Lizzie watched his eyes. “That’s my baby.”

He set the gun on the floor. “What now?”

“Sit in that chair. Rachael, take this and tape him to the chair.” She handed her the duct tape. Rachael set Saj down, pulled a long length of tape, and did as instructed.

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