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CHAPTER 23
Hunter got to the top of the driveway and sighed.
Michael was waiting on the front porch.
It was almost midnight, and the brothers’ car was in the driveway already, so Michael had to be waiting for him.
Casper was on the porch next to him, but the dog bolted to Hunter’s side when he climbed out of the jeep. Hunter rubbed his muzzle absently, wondering how it was possible his dog could take to this new home so readily while Hunter felt more like an outsider now than ever.
He still had no idea where Calla was hiding.
He had no idea why her friends were drawing Guides here.
He had no idea what else they might be planning.
And here he had a whole weekend where he’d be trapped in the Merrick house.
Michael had a mug beside him on the step, and he was leaning back against the bannister. He didn’t move when Hunter approached. “Forget something?”
Hunter frowned. “No.”
“Do you remember me promising your grandfather three hundred bucks? Remember saying you’d help with jobs until it was paid off?”
Hunter flushed and looked away. He had forgotten.
It was starting to feel like he owed everyone a piece of himself.
He steeled his shoulders and looked back at Michael. What did the debt matter when they might not be around long enough for him to work it off?
“Sorry,” he said.
His voice was flat, and Michael studied him for a minute. Hunter watched him back, looking for any indication that Michael was going to get into it.
wasn’t sure what to say—this hadn’t exactly been part of the plan. She had a phone number in her file, but it was Silver’s cell phone number, and what if they asked him to come in and pick her up?
Before she could say anything, Hunter said, “She didn’t have anything to do with it. She didn’t realize we were just goofing off. She was trying to stop me.”
His voice was lazy, almost blasé. Kate shut her mouth and tried to look innocent.
Ms. Vickers glared at Hunter across the desk. “Hunter, we’ve had a discussion about physical altercations twice now. If this continues, I’m going to be forced to suspend you—”
“Great.” He stood and turned for the door.
“We aren’t finished here.”
Hunter paused. “He said it was a joke, right? So I’m not in trouble?”
Ms. Vickers’s mouth tightened into a line. “Don’t think I won’t be watching you more carefully regarding this young man, Hunter. I’m not entirely convinced of this joke.”
“Good for you.” Then he was through the door.
Ms. Vickers swung her head around to look at Kate. “Your transcript from St. Mary’s is impeccable. Were you genuinely trying to help the young man?”
Kate was sure her forged transcript read like a bestseller. She tried to get it together. “I—yes—I saw Hunter run after—”
“Fine. Go.” Ms. Vickers flicked a finger toward the door. She was already dialing a phone with the other hand.
Hunter had made it to the parking lot by the time Kate caught up to him. The sun had burned off the clouds, and she felt heat prick at her neck. She grabbed Hunter by the arm.
