“Because of that clue, Claire and I were able to find you.”
“Our plan really worked, huh, Claire?”
“It worked so well, you’ll need to write all about it in your spy journal. One day when you’re married and have kids of your own, you can show them the journal and let them read what happened to you in your own words. As far as I’m concerned, you’re a superhero already.”
Jeremy giggled, the first giggle she’d heard come out of him tonight.
They arrived at a fast food place and Claire pulled up to the drive-through speaker. “We’d like three frosted root beers, please. Anything else, guys?”
“Nope,” Jeremy and Vic said at the same time.
She drove to the window to pay and passed back the drinks. On the way to the house, she drank hers, savoring the root beer and this moment. When he’d first gone missing, she’d feared she might never see Jeremy again.
“Dad? Can I say hello to Comet before I go to bed?”
“I think that’s a terrific idea. It’ll make your pony so happy, he’ll be able to go to sleep.”
He finished his drink. “Do horses sleep?”
Both Claire and Vic chuckled. “Yes, but most of the time they do it standing up.”
“But I can’t sleep doing that.”
“Your legs don’t lock like a horse when they sleep. But sometimes they lie down if there’s no danger. Otherwise they need to be standing in case they have to get away from a threat really fast.”
“I fought as hard as I could, but I couldn’t get away from that janitor.”
Claire saw his father hug him close. “He’s a human predator, but he’s been put away where he can never hurt anyone again.”
“Dad—” he blurted. “Do you know where my backpack is?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“Maybe it’s still in the closet at school.”
“No, I checked there.”
“I hope you can find it. I took my spy kit to school to show my friends. It has all my stuff.”
“Even your Sabretooth magnet?”
“No. It’s in my pocket.”
“Tell you what, sport. I’ll see what I can do to track it down.”
“Can I sleep with you tonight?”
“You sure can.”
“Do you have to go to work tomorrow?”
Claire looked at Vic through the rearview mirror, and he flashed her a silent message. “No. Tomorrow we’ll spend the whole day together.”
“And Claire, too?”
“All of us.”
“Hooray.”