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“Not right away. I’ll meet up with you both later, but I need you to keep crawling as quietly as you can in the ducts here. You can go straight or to the right, but try not to go to the left or back the way we came unless you have no other choice. Your dad will know where to look for you.”
She nods slowly, her eyes big and yet so strong. She’s the strongest little girl I’ve ever seen.
I smile at her, trying to reassure her. “You’ve got this. Your dad is the smartest man in the whole world. He’ll find you no matter which way you go.”
My hand reaches out before I realize what I’m doing. Her small hand reaches back, and I give it a squeeze of encouragement. Or maybe she’s giving me encouragement. Either way, touching her small hand flips a switch inside me. I thought I was protective of my kids before. But now, there is nothing that will stop me.
“You’ve got this, Rose. Trust your instincts and try to be quiet as a mouse.”
“Mice aren’t quiet,” she laughs.
I chuckle. “I’ll see you soon, Rose. And your dad will find you sooner.”
I wink and then watch as she starts crawling again before I turn around and head back to the bathroom.
I’m not as graceful returning to the bathroom as I was climbing up. I fall to the floor.
“Ow,” I say, trying to rub my sore neck as I get back onto my feet.
Quickly, I run out of the bathroom, hoping I run into Langston before the next round starts. As I exit, I see the other men walking leisurely back into the game room. My time is up.
I head to the entrance and poke my head inside, but I don’t see Langston.
“Where have you been?” Langston says from behind me.
I exhale, my eyes closing in relief.
I turn and face him as his eyes search mine, trying to understand why he couldn’t find me for the last twenty minutes.
“Lose the next game. Don’t complete the debt,” I say as quietly as I can between clenched teeth. Hoping to god no one else hears me.
“Why?” he asks.
“If you will all take your seats, the game will resume.”
“Search the ducts on the east side. I’ll keep playing and give you as much time as I can.”
Then I turn and head inside, hoping Langston got my message loud and clear.
13
Langston
The ducts?
What the hell?
Liesel walks away from me back into the room. I follow after her calmly, even though I actually want to run after her and force her to tell me what the hell that was all about.
I don’t have too much time to think about it before I’m sitting back at the table, and cards are being dealt out again.
There are only two other players left at my table. We are nearing the point where they will combine us all to one table.
I glance at my hand. It’s mediocre at best—one face card and the rest in the single digits.
Liesel wants me to lose on purpose and then quit when I get to the stage. She wants me to look in the ducts on the east side of the building.
Why?
