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“It’s the same make and model,” Detective Clancy said. “We’ll have Forensics check the van. We might get lucky and find fiber evidence that the quilt—or the Gates boy—were there.”
“We know that Jace took Dewey’s truck,” Kaj said, “so that leaves us with one vehicle unaccounted for. That means that someone other than Jace drove away from here last night. It also means that someone—likely Corey—destroyed the three we found. They might have used the fifth vehicle to get away.”
André pointed to Officer Nolan. “I need you to stay here. Call for a flatbed truck to take the vehicles to Forensics and call for backup to wait with you until they get here. In case Corey and his crew come back.”
With a nod, Nolan jumped onto the dock, and André eased the boat back into the current. “Let’s keep going. Jace said that the camp was downriver from this dock.”
Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 8:45 A.M.
“Wake up. It’s breakfast time and I’m starving.”
Jace blinked, then stared up at the ceiling in a sudden panic. “Wh—”
Oh. Right. The ceiling belonged to Mr.Cardozo. So did the sofa he was sleeping on. He turned his head to see the man sitting in the chair beside him. Lucien. The two of them had been cuffed together ever since Jace had stepped out of Mr.Cardozo’s shower and gotten dressed.
Lucien had been standing in the doorway of the bathroom as he’d showered and changed into the clean clothes that Burke had loaned him. But he hadn’t stared or anything. Just making sure I didn’t do anything stupid.
Which Jace was trying very hard not to do. They hadn’t arrested him yet, so that was good. In jail people would watch every little thing that he did. He could deal with no privacy if it meant he didn’t have to go to jail. He could deal with being cuffed to Lucien, too. He could deal with anything if it meant he didn’t have to go back to Corey.
The man’s words registered. Breakfast. He was hungry, too. He hadn’t eaten in nearly a day. Scrambling to his feet, he followed Lucien to the table.
Val looked up from setting the table. She wore a gun in a holster on her belt, but she was smiling at him. “Good morning, Jace. I hope you’re hungry. Elijah and I made a lot of food.”
The little boy came around the kitchen counter, carrying a platter full of eggs, bacon, sausage, and... pancakes. Jace’s mouth watered. He hadn’t had pancakes in a long time.
“Hi, Jace,” Elijah said cheerfully.
“Good mornin’,” Jace blurted out when everyone stopped to look at him and he realized he hadn’t replied.
“You can sit here, Jace,” Val said, pointing to the left one of two chairs. “Lucien, here.”
“I figured that out myself,” Lucien said grumpily. “Cuffs, after all. I hope you’re a leftie, kid, because if you’re not, I’m eating first.”
“I am, actually,” Jace said, sitting in the chair indicated.
“Good.” Lucien sat down and immediately began to pile his plate high with food.
Jace was still. He’d wait until everyone had food and then he’d take what was left over.
Val filled a plate and put it in front of him. “Eat, Jace. I could hear your stomach growling from the sofa.”
He looked up to find her expression kind. “Thank you, ma’am.”
She patted his shoulder, then sat next to Elijah. “Blood sugar this morning?”
“Good,” the boy said. “I can have one of the small pancakes.”
Jace frowned down at his plate. He wanted to ask why a little kid was worried about his blood sugar, but he didn’t ask. He glanced at Lucien and saw that the man had nearly cleaned his plate already.
“Eat, Jace,” Val said quietly. “It’s okay.”
Jace obeyed, digging in and barely managing to swallow a moan. So hungry. Keeping his eyes on his plate, he ate steadily, listening to the chatter around him.
“Can Czar have a pancake?” Elijah asked.
“No,” Val said. “Not good for him. You can give him some bacon, but only one small piece. Put it on the palm of your hand and hold your hand flat.”
