Page 92 of Dark Endures

“What if we missed something?” Dyce is definitely in worry mode.

I pull out my phone and call Enzo. “We ready?”

“Yeah. The thermal scan verified it’s empty,” Enzo responds.

“Do it!”

We’re far enough away not to be caught, but close enough to hear the explosion as the gas pipes ignite under the mall. Jacko rigged it to look like a combination of neglect and vandalism set off the ‘accident’, which should cover any evidence of us that might have been missed.

No one will ever hurt another child there. Maybe we should buy the land and make it into a park or something to replace the bad memories. I’ll propose that to the council at the next meeting.

The bad in this world needs to be overcome by beautiful things.

An image of Mindy sleeping in my office pops into my head. The knowledge that she’s safe in bed getting some much-needed sleep gives me comfort.

***

“I’ll bring him into the dungeon for questioning whenever you’re ready.” Jacko hefts the leader out of the trunk.

We don’t actually have a dungeon. But when we were kids, the tunnels under Willow Street seemed that way to us. Since then, we’ve blocked off all access to them to ensure our privacy. They’re also a useful way to get around the neighborhood unseen. “I’ll grab a few things and meet you there.” The mamba is usually an effective way of encouraging people to talk.

Enzo hops out of an SUV and rushes over. “We have a problem.”

That’s never what I want to hear. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s too much. The number of places and people these videos were sent to would take me decades to track down and erase and by then they’ll have been forwarded elsewhere. I need help.”

Everett could probably do it, but there’s no way I’d ask him to work on a project like this. That leaves one person. “I’ll make a call.”

Enzo’s shoulders sag with relief.

Shock could probably do it. But he’s kinda insane. I need someone that I can trust. I dial Rage.

“What?” Rage answers.

“Aren’t you cheerful in the middle of the night? Not getting your beauty sleep?”

“I was sleeping just fine since I wasn’t invited to either party. My uncles took care of everything. What’s up?”

The vilest task I could ever ask another person to perform. “The videos from the party are more than Enzo can handle.”

There’s a short pause before Rage answers, “How bad?”

“The worst I’ve ever seen. I can send him over to your house with the equipment.”

“No. Not with Hope here. I’ll text you an address. And next time, invite us to the party.”

Whine and complain. That’s all they ever do when they miss one little event. “It wasn’t much of one.”

“So, no one got hurt?”

Pit got hit with some shrapnel when he set off the hand grenade. But it was superficial. It probably won’t even need stitches. Brie’s probably going to yell at him for the next few weeks. “Nope.”

“Send it over. I’ll see what I can get done tonight.”

“You’ll need some bleach for your eyes.”

“Don’t worry, I have a filter for that.”

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