The Arrangement 16

Chapter 11

It’s late by the time we make it to the docks. We’ve walked around for a while and asked people if anyone saw Sean down here, or Marty. That tactic isn’t working and it’s getting dark. “Peter, he’s not here. Marty wouldn’t choose a public place like this. I just couldn’t think of any other place he’d hide out.”

At the same time, we both glance up, and across the water to Oak Island and the rows of empty houses. “I bet he’s over there.”

“So, how do we find him?” Peter asks, leaning back against his car. The wind blows and lifts his dark hair off his face, revealing the same intense gaze Sean wears so often. “I don’t know any Girl Scouts selling cookies right now.”

I laugh at him. “Marty isn’t going to open the door for cookies. That’s something a five-year-old would do.”

“Well, I’d get caught pretty quickly then, assuming I ever go for the life of crime. I can’t live without cookies.” Peter sounds completely serious.

Smiling, I stare at the water, watching the setting sun glint off the surface. We’re quiet for a few moments before I ask, “Wait, what did you say?”

“I can’t live without cookies.” Peter offers that crooked grin of his and pushes off his car.

“It has been close to two weeks since the shooting. He’ll have to have bought food somewhere.”

Peter shakes his head. “If the guy is holding out in one of those houses, he could have picked one that was stocked. And if the guy is an evil mastermind, he’s not going to come out for food. He would have had it stashed before he went to the concert and revealed himself.”

We talk more, and finally get in the car again, driving up and down the highway. We talk, but it leads to nothing and it’s way past twilight. Peter slams his palms on the steering wheel and swears. There’s that Ferro temper. It’s hard to picture Peter being the guy he used to be, polar opposite of what he is now. It makes me wonder if Sean has a chance to pull his life together too.

I finally blurt out, “I can call him.”

“Who? Marty Masterson?”

“Are you stuck in teacher mode or something? Marty Masterson.” I mimic him and smile. Teasing Peter is fun. “The guy was my friend. We don’t have to use his last name.”

“There’s no way he has his phone on him.” Peter shakes his head as he drives. The water passes swiftly beneath us as we pass over the bridge.

“But I bet he has his phone forwarding to somewhere. If I call him from my phone, he’ll answer. I can find out if he has Sean.” I glance over at Peter. “What other choices do we have?”

“Where’s your phone?”

“Trystan hid it.”

Peter glances at me. “I don’t want Scott involved in this and you know if we call him, there’s no way to get rid of him.”

“I know.” I feel horrible about it, but I need the phone. “The other option is to take the job with Black and see what shakes out. If this is leverage, they have me either way.”

“You really think they’re in this together?”

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t see it, but you’ve spent more time around them than me. I say we try to call Marty first.”

“Let’s do it.”