Page 130 of The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The Second Collection
A black window pops up below the warning as Squid begins feeding me information. Signal’s weak; she’s probably still underground. She should reach 86thStreet Station in three minutes.
I read that into the call, start a timer on my phone, then ask, “Manny?”
“I’m calling my cousin, see if we can get a transit cop to meet her train. Gimme a minute.”
While he calls his cousin on the force, I try Cynnie. She doesn’t answer, but she might not have good reception. Or she might not be able to take a call. I try a message instead.
Are you safe?
She doesn’t respond but our app pings.
Staring at the bumble chibi with tears running down its face and the Band-Aids on its knees, I free up a hand to rub my chest before my heart bursts through my ribs. “Guys, Cynnie says she’s hurt or scared or something. Fuck!”
“Breathe, Maxie,” Logan says. “We’ll get to her. I’ve got an Uber on the way.”
“It’ll take you twenty minutes at least, Lo.”
“Tell her to stay on the train. She’s safer on the train than on the street. They won’t be able to move her to another vehicle.”
Seeing the sense in that, despite my panic, I text her.
Stay on the train. We’re coming for you.
The app pings. Her chibi with her hands together and stars circling her head. That’s her being a good girl.
“She’s staying on the train.”
I hear doors opening and closing. Logan grunts, “I’m in the car. Find out which train she’s on, Maxie. I don’t want to head for Woodlawn if she’s on the way to the fucking Bronx.”
I text Cynnie.
What train are you on, baby?
The app pings. Her chibi holding up two peace signs.
“She’s on the four train, Lo. Headed to Woodlawn.”
“On it,” Logan answers.
The timer pings. Her train’s reached the station.
“Manny?”
“Hold on,” he says.
I grip the edge of my desk to do just that. After a long, tense minute in which no one says anything, I text her again.
Still on the train, baby?
She responds with her good girl chibi.
“She’s still on the train. Should be past the station now?—”
“Result,” Manny cuts in. “Transit’s getting on the train at a hundred and tenth. They’ll work their way from the front of thetrain to the back. They’re in uniform. Tell her to stand up and raise her right hand when she sees them.”
“Got it.”
I text Cynnie and wait, every muscle rigid, until she responds with another good girl chibi.
