Claire struggled to sit up. Gina glanced at Monica, who nodded; Claire edged away from Gina and put her back up against the sliding door of the van. She rubbed her stinging arm where Gina had given her pinches. Shane, she said. Thats what your dad wants to see me about, isnt it?
Monica shrugged. I guess. Look, I dont like Shane; thats no secret. But I never intended for his sister to get killed in that fire. It was a stupid school thing, okay? No big deal.
No big deal? Of everything Monica had ever said to herand thered been some jaw-droppersthat was maybe the worst. No big deal? A kid died, and you destroyed their whole family! Dont you get it? Shanes mom
Not my fault! Monica was suddenly flushed. Not used to being blamed, Claire guessed; maybe nobody ever had blamed her except Shane. Even if she remembered, if shed kept her mouth shut, shed have been fine! And Alyssa was an accident!
Yeah, Claire said. Im sure that makes it all better. She felt gritty and tired, never mind the sleep shed had, or the shower. The floor of the van was filthy. What the hell does your father want with me, anyway?
Monica stared at her in silence for a few seconds, then said, He doesnt think Shane killed Brandon.
Youre kidding.
No. He thinks it was Shanes dad. Monicas perfectly lipsticked mouth curved into a slow smile. Hed like for you to tell Shanes dad that and see what happens. Cause if he was any kind of a father, he wouldnt stand by and let his baby boy take the heat for him. Literally.
So he wants me to tell Shanes dadthe mayor is willing to make a deal?
Shanes life for his fathers, Monica said. No real dad could resist something like that. Shanes not important, but Dad wants this over. Now.
Claire had a very bad feeling squirming in the pit of her stomach, like shed swallowed earthworms. I dont believe it. Theyd never let Shane go! Not if Oliver had any say in it, anyway.
Monica shrugged. Im just delivering a message. You can tell Frank whatever you damn well want, but if youre smart, youll tell him something to get him out in the open. Get me? Amelies Protection only goes so far. You can still be hurt. In fact, Gina would probably enjoy that a lot, even if she gets a slap on the wrist for punishment.
And think about your friend, back there all by herself, Gina said. She was smiling, a wet, crazy sort of smile. All kinds of things can happen to girls out on their own in this town. All kinds of bad things.
Yeah, well, Eve should know, Monica said. Look who her brother is.
Claires head knocked back against metal as the van bumped over what felt like railroad tracks, setting off a nuclear vibration in her head with the already-fierce headache in the front. So, Monica said. You know what you have to do, right? Go to Shanes dad. Convince him to trade himself for Shane. Oryou may find out just how unfriendly Morganville can really be.
Claire didnt say anything. The things she wanted to say would, she figured, get her killed; whether or not Monica and Gina would be punished for it later wasnt much of a comfort.
She finally gave them one sharp, unwilling nod.
Home, James! Monica called up to Jennifer, who gave the OK sign and turned a corner. Claire tried to peer out, but she didnt recognize the street. Somewhere close to campus, though. She saw the bell tower next to the UC rising up on the right-hand side.
She grabbed for a handhold as Jennifer slammed on the brakes. Monica wasnt so lucky; she spilled out of her seat and onto the floor, screaming and cursing. Dammit! What the hell was that, Jen, Driving for Dummies?
Jen didnt say anything. Her hands slowly came up in a position of surrender.
The door behind Claire slid open, and a big hand grabbed her by the back of the neck and hauled her backward into the hot sunlight. Not a vampire, she thought, but that wasnt much of a comfort, because a burly, muscular arm stretched out past her, and it was holding a sawed-off shotgun. She recognized the blue flame tattoos licking down his arm and onto the back of his hand.
One of the bikers.
Chapter Twenty-one
She looked around and saw three more, all armed, pointing weapons at the vanand then, she saw Shanes father walking up, as easy as if the whole town and every vampire in it hadnt been hunting him through the night. He even looked rested.
Monica Morrell, he said. Come on down! See what youve won.
Monica froze where she was, holding on to one of the hanging leather straps. She looked at the guns, at Gina, who was kneeling with her hands in the air, and then helplessly at Claire.
She was afraid. Monicacrazy, weird, pretty Monicawas actually scared. My father
Lets talk about him later, Frank said. You get your sweet ass down here, Monica. Dont make me come and get you.
She retreated farther into the van. Shanes dad grinned and motioned two of his bikers inside. One grabbed Gina by the hair and dragged her out to sprawl in the street.
The other one grabbed Monica, struggling and spitting, and handcuffed her to the leather strap in the back. She stopped fighting, amazed. But
I knew you were going to do the opposite of what I told you, Frank said. Easiest way to keep you in the van was to tell you to get out. He opened the drivers-side door and stuck a gun in Jennifers face. You, I dont need. Out.
She slid down, fast, and kept her hands high as Frank pushed her toward the bikers. She sat down next to Gina on the curb and put her arms around her. Funny, Claire had never thought of those two as being friends in their own right, just as hangers-on for Monica. But now they seemedreal. And really scared.
You. Shanes dad turned to look directly at Claire. In the back.
One of the bikers put his gun close to her head. She swallowed and scrambled into the van, claiming the leather seat that Monica had so recently tumbled out of. Shanes father got in after her, then a sweaty load of bikers. One of them got in the drivers seat, and the van lurched into gear.