Page 72 of Gideon

“Yeah.”

“Do you expect any trouble?”

“She said there are seven bunks. Full. But they’re all her friends.”

“You’ve met them?”

“No, but I believe her.”

“You better hope and pray she was telling the truth.”

“You think I’ve stopped praying?”

She was sure he gave her a look, but it was too dark to see.

When they circled around to the other side, they found an open window.

“Let me go in,” Nikki said.

Gideon started to protest but must have understood that it was their best move, because he nodded before he spoke. “Be careful. And stay near the window so you can get out quickly if you need to.”

He knelt in the dirt so she could use his knee to hoist herself up.

She slid through easily and looked around the room. Someone was snoring to her left.

She neared the closest bed, trying to see a face, but it was too dark. If she was going to find Isabel, she’d have to risk waking the others.

Her heart was racing.Please don’t let anyone scream.

“Isabel,” she whispered, hoping that a woman’s voice and also using a familiar name would keep anyone from raising the alarm. “Isabel, are you in here?”

“Nikki?” a voice answered from across the room, first confused, then panicked. “Nikki, what are you doing here?” What looked like a ghost rose from a bed in the far corner, and Isabel hurried closer, her white nightgown glowing in the dim light. She took Nikki’s hands in hers. “You have to leave now. Why did you come?”

Nikki looked around the room and saw most of the women were sitting up now, but no one made a sound. “I’m taking you away from here. Get your things.”

“What’s going on?” said a woman on the top bunk beside her. She slid her legs over the side of the bed and jumped to the floor with a thud. “Who are you?”

“I’m a friend,” Nikki said.

“Friend? You’re risking all of our lives being here. A friend wouldn’t do that.”

“It’s okay, Camila,” Isabel said. “She’s only trying to help. She knows what happened.”

“I’ll go,” Nikki said. “But I’m not leaving without Isabel. She’s in too much danger. You must know that.”

Camila pressed a fist onto her hip. “If he finds?—”

Someone banged on the door. “Coming in!” a voice boomed. “Better make sure you’re decent. Wouldn’t mind if you’re not.” A crude laugh followed.

“Quickly. Hide,” Camila said as she hauled herself back into her bed. To Isabel, she said, “To your bed. Now.”

Isabel sprinted silently across the room as Nikki ducked under the closest bed.

The door opened, and Camila sat up. “What’s going on? We’re sleeping. Mr. Fairfax will hear about this.”

“He’s the one who sent me.” From Nikki’s position under the bed, she could see the silhouette of the man’s legs in the door. He took several lazy steps inside, his boots scuffing on the floor. “He wants Isabel.”

“She’s sick,” Camila said.

---