Susan Pfeffer - Shade of the Moon

Lisa laughed. “It’s an old expression,” she said. “Jon, are you sure Sarah’s agreed to all this? What we’re doing is dangerous and illegal.”

“She wants to help,” Jon said. “But I’ll explain the risks to her.”

“We shouldn’t tell her father,” Lisa said. “Or Alex or Miranda, and certainly not Ruby. The only chance we have is if we keep things absolutely quiet.”

“Sarah’s coming over tomorrow evening,” Jon said. “We’ll go to the garage. No one can hear us there. We’ll talk everything out. After we’ve been there a couple of hours, you’ll come out to chase Sarah home. We’ll tell you what we’ve decided then.”

“I’d better go downstairs,” Lisa said. “Ruby’s probably suspicious already.”

“It’s going to work,” Jon said. “It has to.”

Lisa nodded. “It has to,” she said. “We’ll make it work.”

“Sarah, it’s time for you to go home,” Lisa said, knocking loudly on the closed garage door.

Jon opened the door for her.

“Jon’s talked to you?” Lisa whispered as Jon closed the door.

“We have it all figured out,” Sarah replied. “I’m a little worried about Daddy, but my uncle can get him out of Sexton if he has to.”

“You can take Gabe?” Lisa asked.

“And you and Jon,” Sarah said. “Nobody’s going to care how many clavers are in the car.”

“We can’t risk Gabe waking up until we’re out of Sexton,” Jon said. “Sarah’s going to get a sedative at the clinic and give Gabe a quarter of it if that’s okay with you.”

“I’ll give Ruby the rest,” Lisa said. “We don’t want her waking up and asking questions.”

“That’s a good idea,” Jon said. “I should have thought of it.”

“Sarah, do you understand what you’re doing?” Lisa asked. “The house is under armed guard. You won’t be able to walk in and take the baby.”

Sarah grinned. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do,” she said. “Let me tell you the plan.”

The Sexton clavers beat the Winston grubs 13–2.

Jon scored five goals. He figured it was the last time he’d be playing for Coach. He might as well leave him happy.

“They’re going to be here in a few minutes,” Jon said early that morning. “Lisa, why aren’t you ready?”

“I am ready,” she said. “Gabe’s sound asleep. When they come, you take him and go.”

“You’re going with us,” Jon said.

Lisa shook her head. “Jon, I can’t,” she said. “What if they blame my assistant? She’s a grub, Jon. You know what they could do to her?”

“They could put you in prison,” Jon said. “They could kill you. Is your assistant’s life that important?”

“It’s not just her life,” Lisa said. “They could go after Carrie if they think she was involved. They could go after Ruby. I have a responsibility to all of them, Jon. I have to protect them.”

“I still think you should come with us,” Jon said. “For Gabe’s sake.”

Lisa shook her head. “I’ve made enough mistakes,” she said. “I’m not going to have innocent blood on my hands. Matt and Syl will look after Gabe. They promised your father and me they would if anything ever happened.” She took Jon in her arms, holding him tightly. “I love you,” she said. “Get Gabe. I want to kiss him good-bye.”

Jon went upstairs and took Gabe out of his bed. “You have a wonderful mother,” he whispered, carrying the sleeping boy downstairs. Lisa walked over to them and kissed her son.

“Keep him safe,” she said.

“I promise,” Jon replied. “I hear the car, Lisa. We’ve got to go.”

Lisa went to the closet and pulled out a suitcase. “Gabe’s trucks are in there,” she said. “His clothes. Some of yours.” She kissed Jon and Gabe. “Go,” she said. “I love you both.”

Jon cradled Gabe in his left arm while holding on to the suitcase. Alex had the car running but the lights off. Miranda sat by his side, Sarah in the back.

“Put the suitcase in the front with me,” Alex said. “We can’t slam the trunk.”

Jon did as Alex said. Then he put Gabe in the back seat and sat down next to him. “Start driving, Alex. Make a left at the stop sign. Sarah’ll give you the directions from there.”

“I don’t understand,” Miranda said. “I thought we were stopping at Lisa’s so you could say good-bye to Jon. What’s Gabe doing here? Does Lisa know you’ve taken him?”

“Lisa knows,” Jon said. “She’s not coming.”

“Why not?” Sarah asked. “Alex, at the next stop sign make a right.”

“She’ll get to Matt’s on her own,” Jon said, hoping that was true.

“What about Matt?” Miranda asked. “Alex, is this the way out of town?”

“Not that I know of,” Alex replied. “You’d better tell me what’s going on, Jon. If this is some kind of elopement, I’ll put a stop to it right now.”

“It’s nothing like that,” Jon said. “I have something to tell you, both of you, but you can’t react. No screaming, no crying. We can’t risk Gabe waking up.”

“We promise, Jon,” Miranda said. “Just tell us.”

“Your baby didn’t die,” Jon said. “They stole her. We’re stealing her back.”

“What the hell do you mean?” Alex asked.

“I mean just what I said,” Jon replied.

“Is she all right?” Miranda asked, so softly Jon almost didn’t understand her.

“Yes,” Sarah said. “We haven’t seen her, but as far as we know she’s fine.”

“They lied about her being deformed,” Jon said. “They lied about all of it.”

Miranda began to cry. Alex clenched the steering wheel tightly.

“Who?” he said. “Who did this? I’m going to kill them.”

“Listen to me,” Sarah said, and they could all hear the claver in her voice. “You can kill whoever you want, but then you won’t get your baby back. It’s your choice. Do you want revenge or do you want your daughter?”

Miranda was sobbing. Jon reached over and put his hand on her shoulder. “We’ll get her back,” he said.

“Make the next right,” Sarah said. “Alex, we have a plan. It’s risky, but I think we can pull it off. If something goes wrong, remember that Charles and Amy Stockton have your baby. Go three more blocks and make a left. Charles and Amy Stockton.”

“We’ll need to get out of Sexton as fast as possible,” Jon said. “No one will be looking for us at Matt’s, so you can leave us there and take Sarah on to Virginia.”

“If we don’t come out with the baby, go,” Sarah said. “Hide out in White Birch until you can figure out another plan.”

“I can’t let you do this,” Alex said. “It’s my baby.” He touched Miranda gently. “Our baby.”

“We have a plan, Alex, and you’re not part of it,” Sarah said. “Except as the driver. Go one more block. Okay, see that white house on the corner? Park directly in front of it, but turn your lights off. Keep the motor running, though, and have the back doors open.”

Miranda turned around and looked straight at Jon. “You can do this?” she asked. “You can bring my baby to me?”

Or die trying, Jon thought. Instead he reached over and kissed his sister on her cheek. “Do you have everything?” he asked Sarah.

“Take the sign,” she said. “And the tape. Let’s put the surgical masks on now. The gowns can wait until we’re out of the car.”

“I’ll never be able to thank you,” Alex said.

“You don’t have to,” Jon said. “We’re family. Come on, Sarah.”

“Surgical masks, surgical caps, surgical gowns,” Sarah said as they got out of the car. “The only thing they’ll see are our eyes. Remember, Jon, let me do the talking. You go upstairs and get the baby and her things. Do you have the suitcase?”