Page 153 of Ice Princess

Instead, I turn on a rock song and hike the volume all the way up. I can’t leave room for doubts. To handle a slippery snake like Stewart Kinsey, I’ll need every one of my senses.

Stewart’s garage rises into view and I’m instantly hit with a flood of memories. Mom would bring me here after school and I’d work on my coloring book in the corner while she cleaned around the auto bays and washed the cars.

It was here that the seed of my love for auto repair was planted.

So I guess it’s ironic that it’s here I’m running back to now that my shop is in trouble.

I storm past the technicians who gasp when they see me walking in.

Stewart’s receptionist shoots to her feet, her chair skittering across the room and smashing against the wall.

“Rebel, you can’t go in there.”

I stomp past her.

She bounces in front of me, her bleached hair teased into a giant bun on the top of her head. “He’s with someone.”

“I don’t care.” I sidestep her and wrench Stewart’s office door open, yelling, “Kinsey, how dare you?—”

The words get stuck in my throat when the man sitting across from Stewart Kinsey turns and a familiar pair of eyes meet mine.

Gunner?

CHAPTER

FORTY-FOUR

GUNNER

Thirty Minutes Earlier…

Mom’son the phone when I pass the living room on my way to practice.

“Say that again?” Mom screeches. “The Safety Committee is doingwhatto The Pink Garage?”

I stop in my tracks.Did something happen to Rebel?

Mom’s leaning forward in the love seat, her cell phone to her ear.

“Put it on speaker,” I mouth, gesturing to the phone.

She taps a button. “Go ahead, Janice. What did you hear?”

“I found out from Courtney’s daughter. She’s the Committee’s new receptionist. She’s also working with the law firm. She said they’ve been scrambling to find another lawyer now that Victoria changed her mind and left Lucky Falls?—”

“The garage, Janice,” I cut in impatiently. “What happened to Rebel’s garage?”

“Hi, Gunner!”

I rub my temple, fighting for patience. “Yes, hi Janice.”

Janice makes a smacking sound as if she’s eating and talking at the same time. “So Courtney’s daughter told her that Stewart stormed in there asking to make a report. Apparently, the garage is not up to code, and they don’t have proper safety measures in place. He said someone got hurt and was rushed to the hospital because of the poor conditions...”

I’m on the move before she’s finished her statement.

“Gunner, where are you going?” Mom yells at my back.

I crash through the screen door, whip out my cell phone and dial Uncle Stewart’s number.

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