He’d have to think this through carefully. Plan everything out.
* * *
I feel like time is running out for Mandy.
“You will find her and free her. I know you will.”
Dawn was sitting on a bench at the Christian Science Center, talking to herself. After the incident at the convenience store, she needed to think, and what better place to wrestle with her thoughts. After a half hour of kicking herself, she remembered the pager that Lynda had given her. Dawn rooted around in her purse for it and finally pulled it out. She pushed the button and waited. “Hmm. I wonder if this thing really works?”
“Of course it works. I’m here, aren’t I?”
Dawn glanced behind her and saw a grinning Lynda approach. She wasn’t in her old-lady garb this morning. This time, she looked young and vibrant, wearing a body-hugging teal jogging suit with silver trim. Her sleek black hair was tied up in a high ponytail. Dawn looked down at her own garb—a black turtleneck, faded jeans with rips, and her usual leather jacket.
“Everything’s going to be okay. I’m here to help.” Lynda plopped down on the bench beside Dawn, crossing her sleek legs. Her wedge sneakers even matched her outfit.
“How do you know? Are you psychic too?” Dawn asked.
Lynda laughed softly and reached into her matching purse. She pulled out some toffee candy and handed one to Dawn. “I know because I know you. I know you don’t give up. You care deeply about this little girl. Finding her means saving her life and saving yours.”
“What do you mean—saving mine?”
“You know what I mean. Deep down inside, you believe if you don’t find this little girl, your karma will be crap forever.”
Dawn frowned. “That would make me a pretty selfish person to be thinking about my karma when a little girl’s life is at stake.” It was true, though. She had thought about it and hoped she wasn’t a terrible person.
“Oh, please, you’re a tough girl from the streets of Boston. You’re not Snow White.” Lynda took a deep breath. “You know deep in your heart what the right thing to do is. Maybe it’s not the easy thing. But it’s the right thing.” Lynda leaned back on the bench with a sigh, nodding as though she’d just shared the secrets of the universe.
“I get it,” Dawn said. “Okay, lesson learned. Getting Mandy back is the right thing to do, and good karma or not, I’m going to rescue that little girl, because I am dedicating myself to doing so. I have a gift and I’m using it for good. But what good did it do?” Dawn filled Lynda in on her vision with the unicorn and then rushing off to the convenience store. “I was so close. I could have just opened that storage door and yanked her out of there.”
“And gotten yourself killed in the process?” Lynda shook her head. “You have to work smart. You can’t just rush into danger like the Lone Ranger. You have to think before you act. That’s what we need to teach you.”
Dawn’s eyes filled with tears, and she wiped them away in frustration.
Seeing her reaction, Lynda gave her a side hug. “Look, you know where the girl is. I think they’re keeping her around as a safety net. Whoever Ice is in cahoots with must be a VIP. I can only guess that Ice is keeping a close eye on the girl for a good reason. You know what I mean?”
Dawn nodded. “Yeah. But I also know Ice. If he starts to feel panicked, he’s going to do something rash. Stupid. And that’s why I have to get back to that storeroom.”
“They have the place guarded. Why don’t you stop and think of a plan first?”
“Like what?”
“Like maybe confiding in that hunka-lovin’ boyfriend of yours.”
Dawn’s face flushed. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Really? Then why are you going to yet another family event with him tonight?”
“How did you know?”
Lynda gave her one of those looks again. “Puh-leeze. I know stuff. A lot of stuff.”
“I should tell him, shouldn’t I? I just didn’t want to put him in danger. He’s already been told he shouldn’t interfere with someone else’s case. I wanted to get her out of there myself.”
“You wanted to be the heroine.”
Dawn nodded, tears blurring her eyes. Why was she always crying lately? It was really pissing her off.
Lynda took Dawn’s hand in hers. “You got this, girlfriend. Sometimes you have to settle for the silver medal before you can get the gold.”
