“Now you’re going to have to figure out what to tell your mom that I just told you that made you do that.”
“No problem. I’ll tell her that you said the last thing he said to you was that he only regretted never telling me that I was right about everything.”
“He would never say that.”
“She never met him.”
“Fine. Now look sadder and get your mom to take you to work. You’re our only contact with the ghosts on the bridge. You need to be on the crisis line. And we need her out of here so I can tell the others. I’ll call your cell when I know more.”
“Okay, I’m going to hug you now, Asher.”
“Okay.”
“It’s not a real hug, it’s theater. I’m faking it.”
“Right. Me, too,” said Charlie.
Lily and her mother had only been gone seconds when Charlie’s phone buzzed: Jane. He answered.
“He took Sophie,” Cassie said. “He just came in the door and took her. We couldn’t do anything. We tried.”
An electric chill surged through his body. “Who?”
“The black guy in yellow—the one she talked about hurting Mrs. Korjev.”
“Where’s Jane?”
“She’s right here. He did something to her. She ran at him and he just put out his hand and she dropped. She’s coming to, woozy, but she seems okay.”
“You called the police?”
“Yes, they’re on their way. I’m still on the other phone with 911.”
Charlie heard her talking to someone, describing the man in yellow.
“Was he driving? On foot?”
“I don’t know, Charlie. I couldn’t move. He just looked at me and I couldn’t move. Sophie kept yelling for him to put her down. Called him Dookie Face. She wasn’t screaming, afraid screaming. She was yelling, angry yelling. I’m so sorry. We should have been gone by now.”
“Tell the police everything,” Charlie said. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Ten minutes, maybe.”
Rivera and Audrey stood behind him, waiting for instructions, having read the situation from his end of the conversation. “We have to go,” he said to Rivera. “Audrey, can you stay with Minty Fresh’s body? Don’t leave him for even a second. You have to be there when he comes back.” He held out her car keys.
“What?” Audrey asked, taking the car keys by reflex.
“He’s coming back, I don’t know when, but stay with him. Tell them whatever you have to. I would do it, but I have to go.”
“Go,” she said, “Go, go, go.” She kissed him and pushed him toward the door. She pushed Rivera after Charlie. “Call me when you know anything.”
“You, too,” said Rivera. “And if they give you any trouble—”
“Go. I’ve got this. Go.”
Rivera ran after Charlie.
Crisis Center, this is Lily. What’s your name?” Her screen showed the call was coming from one of the hardwired lines on the bridge. Her heart leapt.
“Lily, it’s Mike.”