“Look, I know this seems a little sketchy, but I’m keeping you out of the loop for a reason.” With a glance at the guy, his fingers circle my arm, and he steers me toward the gate. “You need to leave before you get into trouble.”
I dig my heels into the ground. “Are you in some kind of trouble? Is that what this is about? Because I can help you if you are. But you have to tell me what’s going on or else I can’t do anything for you.”
“I’m not in trouble.” He withdraws his hand from my arm then rakes his fingers through his hair. “I just don’t want you involved in this. If you knew what I was doing, you wouldn’t want to, either.”
“Well, tell me and I’ll let you know if you’re right.”
He blows out a breath, his hand falling to his side. “I’ll tell you, but you have to promise that, as soon as I do, you’ll leave.”
I shake my head. “I’m not going to promise that.”
We silently stare at each other while the wind howls and kicks dead leaves across the dry grass and around our feet.
“It’s about my sister,” he finally surrenders.
My heart misses a beat. I wasn’t expecting that.
“What about your sister? Is she in trouble?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.” He peeks over at the guy, who is texting on his phone, and then leans in and lowers his voice. “Today at the police station, I saw a letter in one of the files that was from my sister. When I asked the detective about it, he told me it wasn’t any of my business.”
“Did you tell Lila and Ethan?”
“Yeah, and they pretty much gave me the same attitude.”
“You think they know what it is?” I ask, astounded. “That they’re keeping stuff from you?”
“I’m not sure. I mean, I’d like to think they don’t keep secrets from me, but there’s been a couple of times I’ve overheard them whispering about me, and I have to wonder if maybe they know more about my past, this case, and my sister.”
“But how would they know?” The wind picks up and blows strands of my hair around my face. “And why would they keep it from you? It makes no sense.”
I suddenly remember something I overheard the night the police broke the news to Ayden about his brother. A short conversation between Lila and Ethan when they thought I was out of hearing range.
“Ayden, I think maybe I should tell you something I heard Lila and Ethan talking about, but after you take care of whatever you’re doing with that guy, because he’s staring at us right now and looks really, really creepy.”
Ayden tracks my gaze to the guy then inches toward me protectively when the guy shoots me a nasty look.
“Who is that guy, anyway?” I ask, plucking pieces of hair out of my mouth.
“On the Internet, he calls himself Rebel Tonic,” Ayden says. “I don’t know what his real name is.”
“Rebel Tonic?” I question with a really look.
“He’s supposed to be really good with computers,” he tells me as if it explains everything. “Good at hacking, too.”
I try piecing everything together. “Is that why you’re meeting him here, to have him hack for you? And is that what you were doing the other night, meeting him then, too?”
He warily nods. “I want him to hack into the social services records and track down my sister. I met him the other night and have been trying to figure out if I wanted to risk it and how the hell I was going to come up with the money.” He pauses, frustrated. “After seeing that letter, I have to do this, Lyric. I need to know she’s okay.” He looks at me, pleading for me to understand where he’s coming from.
I’m glad I can’t understand, at least in the same context as him. I’ve had a really good life and will never fully comprehend what it’s like to go through what Ayden has. I remember how I used to envy him, because he’s experienced life. Now I’m grateful for what I have.
“How much does it cost?”
He stuffs his hands into his pockets and kicks the tip of his boot against the grass. “The fee is a thousand dollars.”
“A thousand dollars!” My eyes widen. “Where the heck did you get that kind of money?”
“I don’t have it all. I’ve saved up six hundred from the times I helped Lila with her catering events. The other four hundred I was going to pay off with...” He pats his pocket.
I eye him suspiciously. “What’s in there?”
“A knife that belonged to my brother. It’s rusty, but the brand is pretty high quality. I’m honestly not even sure where he got it from.”
Tears instantly prick in my eyes. Here Ayden is, doing something highly illegal, risking getting into trouble, giving up something that belonged to his deceased brother and he does it so simply, so matter-of-factly.
“You need four hundred dollars, then?” I mentally count what I have stashed in my sock drawer. After my last record shopping spree, I’m guessing about four twenty-five, give or take ten bucks.
“I’m not taking your money, Lyric.” He pushes me in the direction of the gate and points for me to go. “Just like I’m not letting you get involved in this.”
“Tough shit for you, but I’m already involved.” I stand my ground. “You’re my best friend. I care about you. And I’d be a freaking jerk if I just bailed out now.”
“You’ll still be my friend if you bail. You’ll always be my friend.”
“No duh. That’s the most obvious statement ever. But I’m still going to go get you four hundred bucks so you can pay that asshole over there and keep your brother’s knife.”
“Lyric, I—”
I conceal his mouth with my hand. “Ayden, it’s just money. It means absolutely nothing compared to our friendship.” I remove my hand from his lips. “Now, go tell Mr. Rebel Tonic,” I roll my eyes, “that I’m running back to the house to get some cash and not to go anywhere.”
I raise my pinkie to make him swear he’ll wait for me. Once he does, I start to jog toward the exit of the park but stop near the gates.
“Ayden,” I call out, and he turns toward me. “We’ll find her, okay? You don’t need to do this alone.”
He mashes his lips together, nods once, and then heads back for Rebel Tonic.
I run like hell for my house before Ayden can back out on our pinkie promise.
By the time I return to the park with a ball of money in my pocket, I’m sweaty and breathless. Relief washes through me when I spot Ayden and Rebel Tonic hanging out on the merry-go-round. He hasn’t left, which means Ayden didn’t break his promise.
I approach them, reaching into my pocket for the money.
Ayden quickly jumps to his feet and blocks me from Rebel Tonic’s view as I hand Ayden the cash.
“I’m going to pay you back every penny,” he promises as he stares at the bills in his hand.
I wave him off. “Let’s just get this guy paid and go home.” He turns toward Rebel Tonic, but I capture his sleeve. “Are you sure you can trust him?”
He lifts his shoulders and shrugs. “I don’t know, but it’s the only idea I have.”
I free his sleeve and Ayden gives Rebel Tonic my wad of cash along with a crumpled stack of his own. Rebel Tonic counts it out, and then a greedy grin forms on his acne-covered face.
“Fan-freaking-tastic,” he says, balling up the bills and stuffing them into his jacket. “Give me like a week, and I should have the information for you.”
“How are you going to contact me?” Ayden asks as Rebel Tonic backs toward the gate.
“By email,” he tells him, pushing his glass up the brim of his nose. “And don’t try texting me on that phone number I gave you the other day. My mom took my phone away.”
“His mom? How old is he?” I frown, doubtful that this ordeal is going to end well with Rebel Tonic. The only thing that stops me from chasing his skinny butt down and snatching the money back is the glimmer of hope in Ayden’s eyes.
“I’m not sure,” Ayden mutters with his eyes still fixed on Rebel
Tonic. “Maybe like fifteen?”