After Russell had gone back to the uniform closet to change his pants and grab his disguise, he met Treen on the emergency stairs. They waited there until Ariel returned from the fifth floor where he disconnected his leather rope. They moved downstairs and left the hospital through an emergency exit, which led directly to Ariel’s red Humvee.
Before Treen had summoned Ariel to the hospital, he had tracked Lance from the police station, back to the Newberrys’. As Ariel started the Humvee, Treen suggested they drive there and continue their investigation of Lance Ruof.
“Who’s Lance and who cares?” said Russell from the backseat. “Ain’t you guys worried about that Awaker?”
“Yes we are. That’s why we’re going to figure out what’s going on — and it starts with Lance. I’ll tell you all about him...” said
Treen, as Ariel drove away from the hospital.
The rain had let up when the Humvee stopped across the street, several yards back from the Newberry home. Russell donned his disguise, as did Ariel, who pulled a dark blue bandanna and fake eyeglasses from the glove box.
“Russell, I forgot to mention that your father came to my house last night,” said Treen, turning towards the backseat.
Russell shot forward and yanked off the dark glasses. “What did he want?” he asked loudly.
“He apologized for his behavior at the Smile Center. He also wants you back home.”
“What’s up with that?” asked Russell.
“Your father loves you — that’s what’s up with that,” replied Treen.
Ariel tapped her arm and pointed to a white van pulling up to the Newberry house. The van paused before backing into the driveway and sounding the horn. Then, the garage door opened electronically.
“Maybe it’s the cops,” said Russell, as Ariel turned on the wipers to clear the windshield of raindrops and sticky leaves.
“I don’t think so,” said Treen. “Wait a minute. Lance is coming out of the garage.”
Before he approached the van, Lance studied his surroundings carefully. He then moved towards the driver’s door, which slowly began to open. The person who stepped out startled everyone and left them even more confused.
“That’s my dad!” shouted Russell.
“What the heck is Mr. Wellbay doing with him?” asked Ariel. “Interesting,” said Treen.
“I think I’ve seen that dude Lance before,” said Russell.
“Recently?” asked Treen.
“I don’t know when, but I know I seen him.”
“They’re going inside the garage. I’m going over there to take a closer look at that van,” said Treen.
“Jazz, let me — ”
“Stay here.”
Treen jumped out of the Humvee then sprinted across the street to the front of the van. She tried unsuccessfully to open the doors and couldn’t see through the black tinted windows.
Suddenly Lance and Mr. Wellbay retuned to the garage. Treen kneeled on the driver’s side, where she could hear the echo of something being dragged across the garage floor.
With her hair dangling in a puddle and her pants soaked, she looked beneath the van to see what they were moving. She could hear the rear doors open.
“There’s no room back here”, said Mr. Wellbay. “We’ll use the side door.”
Treen stayed put, knowing that the cargo door was on the opposite side. She looked beneath the van again and watched their feet; whatever they were moving must’ve been heavy but she still couldn’t see what it was.
She crawled along the driver’s side of the van until she reached the headlights, then crossed in front of the bumper. Peering past the fender, she could now see them pushing a large metallic container. “Damn this thing is heavy,” said Mr. Wellbay, facing away from Treen. Lance put his foot atop the container and rested on his knee.
“Mr. Blue isn’t happy about what happened last night,” said Mr. Wellbay, breathing heavily.
“I don’t care if he’s happy or not,” Lance snapped, “The Newberrys drank that Merafuel accidentally. People should learn to ask before they touch something that doesn’t belong to them.”
“If you’re stupid enough to stash it in a wine bottle, you should at least lock it up somewhere,” said Mr. Wellbay.
“The Newberrys have cooked themselves. Why are we still discussing them?”
“So you’ll be more careful and Blue will get off my back.”
“Stop letting him push you around.”
“Easy for you to say. It’d be a big help if you and Tsara would get organized. What time did she deliver this container?”
Lance grinned. “She didn’t. I took it from her apartment after I looked through her bedroom window and saw someone staring like he’d never seen a stupid chrome container.”
“Who was it?”
“Some kid.”
“Where was Tsara?”
“Ding Palace where she’s supposed to be.”
Mr. Wellbay flung up his arms. “Tell Tsara to stop playing games! Mr. Blue wants the rest of the Ecnal and Arast parts transferred to Grevelton factory in the next two days-something we can’t do if she keeps messing around.”
Abruptly, Lance yanked up the container as if nothing were inside, then heaved it onto his shoulder. “Are you going to stand there, or open the door?” he asked, even though he had a free hand. “I thought you said your arm was damaged,” said Mr. Wellbay sliding the door back.
“Anger dissolves agony,” said Lance, who dropped the container onto the van floor, shoved it back, then slammed the door. Before Lance could storm off, Mr. Wellbay reminded him about a meeting in Grevelton later that evening. Lance nodded, marched inside house, then closed the garage.
Treen moved near the cargo door as Mr. Wellbay walked over and stepped inside the van. The engine sounded; as the van rolled out of the driveway, Treen moved to the rear. She hopped on the bumper, gripping the door handle with both hands.
Mr. Wellbay pulled into the street then drove away slowly. Treen held on until the van reached the Humvee, then she leaped off. She stumbled, but kept her balance and ran to the door, which Ariel had already opened. The Humvee rolled away when she was safe in her seat.
With Ariel and Russell looking on, Treen jotted down some of what she’d heard while it was fresh in her memory: Merafuel, Ecnal, Arast, Grevelton Factory...
“Lance is working for Blue Neptune in some capacity,” she said, breathing hard. “He talked to Mr. Wellbay about something called Arast and Ecnal. They also had an argument over that container they were carrying.”
“That container is driving me nuts,” said Russell. “Why?”
“Cause he saw one just like it at his girlfriend’s place last night.
Somehow it disappeared,” said Ariel.
“From Tsara’s apartment?” asked Treen.
“Yeah — but how do you know her?” asked Russell.
Treen didn’t answer. She pulled off her headband, leaned back in her seat, then turned towards the raindrops streaking across the window. She realized now that Russell was the person Lance had seen snooping around the container.
The Humvee turned down St. Barron Road with debris from the explosion still littering the street. As they cruised closer to the cul-de-sac, the road cleared up. What wasn’t clear was why Detective Redworc’s car sat in the Alee’s driveway.
“Take Russell to the Smile Center. I’ll meet you there later,” said Treen, as the Humvee stopped in front of her house.
Russell quickly opened his door and followed her out. Treen expected him to hop in the front seat, but he just stood there twirling his sunglasses. He tried to run his hand through his hair but must’ve forgotten about the wig; his fingers snagged and dragged the black curls to the back of his head and Treen smiled when his blond hair popped out.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” she asked.
Russell fixed the wig, then shrugged.
“This might sound dumb since we almost got killed — but I’m havin’ a great time, you know, just hangin’ out with you.”
Treen patted his arm. “Stay with Ariel and be careful. I’ll see you soon.” She pulled her purse over her shoulder and walked towards the house.
“Please look back at me,” Russell murmured. He waited until she reached the door.
“Damn, she walked straight inside,” he whispered. He got in the car, slammed the door, then threw his back against the seat.
“You doin’ okay?” asked Ariel. “I can’t believe I’m scared.”
“It’s alright to be afraid. Heck, you almost got killed.”
“I’m talkin’ about Treen.”
Ariel raised the front of his hat. “Why you afraid of Jazz?” Russell turned away. He stared at her house long enough for Ariel to figure it out.
“Oh, I get it. You like her don’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“This might make you feel better,” said Ariel driving off. “I’m kinda scared of Regina — Treen’s tutor.”
“You’re afraid to talk to a woman?”
“Oh yeah. I’m a mumblin’ idiot when I have to say something intimate.”
“What if you have to do something intimate?”
“Then I’m a fumblin’ idiot.”