Chapter 59

CHAPTER 59

L uke tossed me the keys and told me to drive the minivan after I got the Pathfinder out of the way. Driving a minivan had never hit the top hundred of my bucket list—in fact, I'd never even thought it a possibility—but my life had certainly been turned upside down since arriving in Rocky Start, so what the heck?

I turned the key and the display lit up, muted, which meant it had a way of adjusting to background light. I assumed whatever propelled this thing was ready to go since there was no rumble of an engine starting. I threw it in gear, left the headlights off, and raced after Pike driving Norman's van, which looked new and svelte in comparison. The electric minivan accelerated with surprising power. I noted in the side mirror that behind us a lot of headlights were approaching the bridge on the forest road from the direction of Pike's place and knew the rest of Rocky Start was en route and that Coral would take care of Darius.

We didn't have much time before this turned into a bloodbath.

Norman's cellphone buzzed. I'd put it in the cupholder. I glanced at it and the screen read "Queen Bitch."

Somebody was getting nervous.

I realized Norman had been in it with Serena from the beginning. Hell, he was probably the one who told her Oz was dead, although for thirty years he'd never told her that he was alive. He'd been afraid of Oz.

Norman's phone dinged, indicating there was a new voicemail. Serena was going to have to wait an eternity to hear back from Norman.

Luke got to the rear of the van and I could hear him rummaging around back there. I concentrated on staying on the forest road without the assistance of headlights. It was strange driving with no engine sound, noiselessly gliding through the tunnel of trees.

I did peek over my shoulder briefly as Luke pulled out the row of seats right behind me and shoved it behind him. He removed a panel in the roof, opening it to the sky. Then he knelt and picked up a large rifle. I immediately recognized it: a Barrett Model 82A1 .50-caliber. In most people's hands it looked massive, but the twenty-nine-inch-long, thirty-seven-pound rifle looked normal in Luke's big mitts.

I could see why he'd wanted to take the minivan since it came with accessories like that.

I focused on the road, then risked a look at the screen of my cellphone, which was in the clamp attached to the dash. On the screen, nobody seemed to have moved. The Ferrells must have fine-tuned the thermal a bit more because there were other warm spots, although none seemed human-shaped. The engine of Serena's big truck. A couple of other spots. The zone was focused on Oddities and it looked like downtown was cleared out, most of the people who lived on those streets having gone to Oz's celebration.

We passed Betty Baumgarten's cottage, but all the lights were off and the llama had evidently turned in for the night.

We were coming close to the bridge into town. The taillights of Norman's van were ahead of us. I accelerated and the minivan showed some pep as we raced down the road. My plan wasn't much of a plan, but I was trusting the experience and training of those involved since we were professionals at this sort of thing. Well, except Rose.

Rose was a wild card.