Jack_ Secret Vengeance - F. Paul Wilson [67]
And it wasn’t going to happen, because it was impossible. At least with the tools at his disposal.
Fury and frustration exploded within. He was looking around for something to kick when he heard his mother calling from the back door.
“Jack? What are you doing out there?”
“Just messing with stuff.”
“Weezy’s on the phone.”
Weezy?
He trotted inside and grabbed the receiver from the counter where his mother had left it.
“Hey, Weez. What’s up?”
“I have got to get out of here. Want to go for a ride?”
He glanced out the window. The sun had set, dark was falling, but there was still light left.
“Sure. Meet you at the corner.”
11
Jack found Weezy waiting on the corner of Adams and North Franklin.
“Thanks for coming. I’m going stir-crazy in the house but my folks didn’t want me out alone. And really, I didn’t feel like being alone.”
“Any time. But I thought they wouldn’t let you out.”
“I told them I’m going to school tomorrow and so they said okay.”
“Are you?”
“I think so.”
Jack decided to leave it at that.
“Where to?”
“Let’s just ride. I need air.”
“Air?” he said with a laugh as they rolled toward Quakerton. “Since when does Weezy Connell need air?”
She smiled. “It’s night air, mister. Night air.”
“That explains it.”
Jack wondered if the after-sundown timing was because she’d be less visible.
They cruised down toward the lake and into Old Town.
They were passing the Lodge when the sound of a car on the rickety boards of the bridge made them turn. A new Mustang convertible was coming their way.
“Ohmigod!” Weezy whispered, shrinking behind a tree trunk. “It’s him!”
Jack felt fury rise again. Weezy shouldn’t have to be afraid of anyone. He watched the car cruise toward the end of Quakerton, then turn into the Pines.
“He’s gone,” he said. “I don’t think he saw us.”
“Was he alone?”
Jack shook his head. “Don’t know.”
“He could have a girl with him … someone who doesn’t suspect…”
Jack didn’t know where it came from, but he felt a fierce urge to follow the car.
In Mr. Kressy’s class he’d offered “do the right thing” as a guiding principle. Well, the right thing wasn’t to turn a blind eye to what might be happening, or about to happen.
“Maybe we should follow.”
“No way,” Weezy said. “I don’t want to be anywhere near him.”
“You don’t have to be. If he’s got a girl with him, we know where he’s going.”
“And what do we do when we get there?”
“Make sure he doesn’t treat her like he treated you.”
“And how are you going to do that?”
“I don’t know. I’ll think of something.”
He hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but he couldn’t stand here and simply hope for the best. Someone had to stop the guy.
“Maybe she was one of the ones calling me ‘Easy Weezy.’ Maybe she’s got the same thing in mind he has. He’s Mister Hot to most of the girls.”
“If that’s the case, then it’s none of our business.” He looked at her. “Coming?”
She shook her head. She looked cowed. “I can’t.”
“It’s okay. I understand. See you tomorrow.”
Jack kicked off and started pedaling. He’d gone maybe a hundred feet when he heard a noise. He turned and saw a grim-faced Weezy riding half a dozen feet behind him. He nodded. She nodded back.
12
Dusk had faded toward night, making it easy to follow Toliver’s taillights without being seen. He drove slowly, weaving back and forth along the sandy firebreaks. Jack suspected he might be heading back toward the dead zone. He told Weezy about his solo trip into the Pines and the strange behavior of the lights.
“You followed lumens without me?” she said. “That’s not fair!”
“I had no way of letting you know, and last time I tried to get you into the woods you blew me off.”
“Sorry I’m such a jerk.”
Jack could tell by her tone she meant it.
“Have you ever heard of anything like that?”
She shook her head. “Never. But then, nobody knows anything about lumens. Some ‘experts’ say they don’t even exist.”
Jack started to reply just as Toliver slowed near the hidden, rutted path.
“Let’s hold up here.”
They stopped and watched as he pulled