the corner gas station, then you call, and I rush over and pick you up. And now we’re trying to break a speed record into downtown. What am I—a detective? Brian wove his car in and out of freeway traffic as he grumbled.
“You said you’d help me. We’ve got to get downtown before Gayle hands over the baby so we can see the social worker’s car and follow her to the park. Can you go any faster?”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get there. I don’t know how I ever let you talk me into this.”
Sitting in Brian’s car and speeding down the expressway was making Desi wonder the same thing. How had she ever decided to spy on the meeting between Alicia and her mother? Where had she gotten the courage to call Brian the night before and work out the details of such a scheme?
She had outlined the plan over the phone, and he’d listened in silence. “Will you do it?” she had asked in a voice full of emotion.
“Why can’t you ask Gayle if you could tag along?”
Desi had squeezed the receiver in frustration. “Are you serious? She’s not going to take
me
to meet Alicia’s mother.”
“Why the cloak-and-dagger routine? Why can’t I just pick you up at the ChildCare house as soon as they leave?”
“Think about it—Sadie’s seen your car, and she’ll ask questions. She might even say something to Gayle, and I promised Gayle I wouldn’t have you visit again—”
“Calm down,” he’d said. “So you got the number of the pay phone at the gas station?”
“I walked over and wrote it down this afternoon. You have to be waiting at ten-thirty on the dot, because Gayle’s driving Alicia downtown for the hook-up with the social worker.”
He’d gone silent, and Desi had felt her heart pounding. “I need your help, Brian.”
She’d heard him release a deep breath. “All right. I’ll do it, but I don’t think it’s such a good idea.”
Now, weaving in and out of traffic, Desi herself was thinking it hadn’t been such a bright idea, but she’d come too far to turn back. “Slow down!” she cried, pointing. “There’s Gayle’s car. I guess that’s the social worker she’s talking with.” Gayle had pulled alongside another car in downtown Atlanta and was speaking to the driver.
“Give our junior spy a merit badge,” Brian muttered, slowing his car and causing the driver behind him to lean on his horn.
Desi ducked, in case Gayle should look over at the commotion. Brian started a running commentary. “Subject A is carrying Baby Girl Subject to a red Mazda and strapping her in. Now Subject A is getting into her car and starting the engine. She’s heading west toward the freeway. Baby Girl Subject does not seem to be crying.”
“Oh, knock it off,” Desi growled, scooting up to where she could peer over the dashboard. She saw the back of a red car a few car lengths in front of them. “Don’t let them get too far ahead,” she commanded.
“Who’s leading this escapade, ace? My faithful chariot can keep up.”
Desi straightened in the seat and riveted her gaze on the social worker’s car. Thirty minutes later they turned onto a side street that wound through a suburb. The social worker pulled her car into a parking area adjoining a park. Brian chose a space some rows over as Desi watched the social worker unload the stroller and put Alicia in it. Desi tugged on Brian’s arm as the woman started pushing Alicia toward a cluster of park benches. “Come on.”
“Why do you still need me? I’d feel better waiting here.”
“I don’t want to look suspicious.”
“I guess some girl peeking from behind treeswould be pretty weird.” He opened his car door. “Come on, Sherlock. Let’s go.”
They headed in the direction of the benches. In the distance Desi saw the social worker talking to a girl. At first she thought that the social worker was asking directions, but soon she saw her lift Alicia out of the stroller and hand her over to the girl. Desi stared. “Do you suppose
“You said you’d help me. We’ve got to get downtown before Gayle hands over the baby so we can see the social worker’s car and follow her to the park. Can you go any faster?”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get there. I don’t know how I ever let you talk me into this.”
Sitting in Brian’s car and speeding down the expressway was making Desi wonder the same thing. How had she ever decided to spy on the meeting between Alicia and her mother? Where had she gotten the courage to call Brian the night before and work out the details of such a scheme?
She had outlined the plan over the phone, and he’d listened in silence. “Will you do it?” she had asked in a voice full of emotion.
“Why can’t you ask Gayle if you could tag along?”
Desi had squeezed the receiver in frustration. “Are you serious? She’s not going to take
me
to meet Alicia’s mother.”
“Why the cloak-and-dagger routine? Why can’t I just pick you up at the ChildCare house as soon as they leave?”
“Think about it—Sadie’s seen your car, and she’ll ask questions. She might even say something to Gayle, and I promised Gayle I wouldn’t have you visit again—”
“Calm down,” he’d said. “So you got the number of the pay phone at the gas station?”
“I walked over and wrote it down this afternoon. You have to be waiting at ten-thirty on the dot, because Gayle’s driving Alicia downtown for the hook-up with the social worker.”
He’d gone silent, and Desi had felt her heart pounding. “I need your help, Brian.”
She’d heard him release a deep breath. “All right. I’ll do it, but I don’t think it’s such a good idea.”
Now, weaving in and out of traffic, Desi herself was thinking it hadn’t been such a bright idea, but she’d come too far to turn back. “Slow down!” she cried, pointing. “There’s Gayle’s car. I guess that’s the social worker she’s talking with.” Gayle had pulled alongside another car in downtown Atlanta and was speaking to the driver.
“Give our junior spy a merit badge,” Brian muttered, slowing his car and causing the driver behind him to lean on his horn.
Desi ducked, in case Gayle should look over at the commotion. Brian started a running commentary. “Subject A is carrying Baby Girl Subject to a red Mazda and strapping her in. Now Subject A is getting into her car and starting the engine. She’s heading west toward the freeway. Baby Girl Subject does not seem to be crying.”
“Oh, knock it off,” Desi growled, scooting up to where she could peer over the dashboard. She saw the back of a red car a few car lengths in front of them. “Don’t let them get too far ahead,” she commanded.
“Who’s leading this escapade, ace? My faithful chariot can keep up.”
Desi straightened in the seat and riveted her gaze on the social worker’s car. Thirty minutes later they turned onto a side street that wound through a suburb. The social worker pulled her car into a parking area adjoining a park. Brian chose a space some rows over as Desi watched the social worker unload the stroller and put Alicia in it. Desi tugged on Brian’s arm as the woman started pushing Alicia toward a cluster of park benches. “Come on.”
“Why do you still need me? I’d feel better waiting here.”
“I don’t want to look suspicious.”
“I guess some girl peeking from behind treeswould be pretty weird.” He opened his car door. “Come on, Sherlock. Let’s go.”
They headed in the direction of the benches. In the distance Desi saw the social worker talking to a girl. At first she thought that the social worker was asking directions, but soon she saw her lift Alicia out of the stroller and hand her over to the girl. Desi stared. “Do you suppose
Similar Books
