Page 31 of Mr. Risky

They were setting up for another performance, when I walked determinedly past Hollingsworth House toward town.

“Where are you going?” Hayden called out.

“Just downtown,” I said.

Out of the corner I could see Pippa and Granger sitting at the outdoors table, and I could feel his eyes on me.

“Want to grab a cup of coffee?”

“Sure,” I said, ignoring the angry awareness that prickled over my skin. “I’d love that.”

Granger didn’t like that. Good.

Now where should I go? Where would I get the least chance of having some spy run and tell Pippa everything that had happened?

I settled on the very corny Fun House that was so popular year-round with tourists.

It was right by some swanky coffee shops and restaurants, but the owner had repeatedly refused to either sell or modernize the peeling, blue-and-white building.

At least that was one thing still the same without any bad memories.

A noise made me glance behind. But there was nothing out of the ordinary there.

“Can I use your phone for five minutes?” I asked the bored-looking teen at the front desk. “I’ll pay you $20.”

“How about $50?” he countered, and I gritted my teeth.

Stupid filthy rich Oystar Bay.

But I was too desperate, and I dug around in my purse and tossed the money over the counter, eagerly closing my fingers around the phone.

“I’ll bring it right back.”

“Sure, whatever.”

Then I hurried down the mostly-empty halls, past the Fun House mirrors that had an ancient clown popping geriatrically out at you, and dialed Jax’s number.

Come on, pick up.

Ring. . .ring. . .ring. . .

OK, maybe he really had an accident. Maybe something really had happened to him. Or this was all a big misunderstanding.

But then he picked up.

“Hello?”

“Jax?” I yelped. “It’s Sosie. What’s happening? Why haven’t you answered any of my calls? I’ve been going crazy with worry.”

There was a pause for a moment.

“I can’t talk to you,” he said finally.

“What do you mean?” I cried. “Why?”

“I’m really sorry, I⁠—”

But then the phone was snatched from my fingers and I was getting pressed into the side of the building.