Page 126 of The Oscar Escape
Signatures and payment are required to process. Cash only.
He looked at Madelyn, taking in her wise eyes, her tumble of dark hair and the lone streak of silver, and that coy twist of a grin. “How do you do it?”
“When two hearts are meant to live and love as one, they always find a way. However, it never hurts to apply a little pressure to a situation and give fate a gentle nudge.”
“That’s your explanation?”
Mischief glinted in her eyes.
His dad came to his side. “What’s in the box, Oscar?”
“My future. I need to get to Aria. I have to talk to her.”
“Because you want to apologize for being a . . . ?” Ivy said and tapped out five syllables.
“Yes.” He glanced in the box. “And I need eight dollars. Does anyone have cash on them?” He surveyed the group.
“I have hundreds,” his dad replied.
“Me too,” Inez chimed.
“We came with a check,” Georgia said as the judge held up a blue slip.
“I carry an exclusive credit card available to Saudi princes and heads of state and, well, me. I know people who know people,” Madelyn crooned.
Of course she did.
He had a grand plan, but he needed eight freaking bucks.
“Oscar, look in my mouth.” Ivy parted her lips like a doctor asked her to say,ahh.
“I don’t think there’s eight dollars in there, Ives.”
The kid rummaged in her backpack. She pulled out her tablet and a bulging coin purse. “Remember that tooth I lost?” she asked as her device chimed.
“Yeah.”
“The tooth fairy left me a bunch of one-dollar bills. Here.” She handed him a wad of cash.
Now he was in business!
Oscar glanced at his watch. “Aria always has a sound check on concert days. She should be at the amphitheater. I can talk to her there before she hits the stage. It’s imperative that I see her before she performs.”
“Oh no!” Ivy exclaimed, staring at her tablet.
“What is it, Ives?”
“She didn’t go to her sound check. She escaped.” His sister held up the device.
Escaped?
“Tula sent me a link to a developing story. She says it’s all over the internet.”
He skimmed the announcement. Could it be a lie, simply clickbait, or tabloid fodder?
Rock Star on the Loose: Aria Paige-Grant escaped from her luxury hotel suite in Denver.
He tappedread more.
