Stealth Moves

by Sanna Hines

  Now, two days later, Liv still felt the wrongness of her room. Grandmother had been attacked in here. She was fine, but what if Holly hadn’t found her? What if Grandmother suffocated—died?

  The knot in Liv’s stomach moved up to her chest. She reached for her puppy. Without Grandmother, everything would change. Uncle Mike would put her on the first plane to California. It was funny—she hated the rules, the uptight ways of Boston, but Beacon Hill felt solid. In California, she’d have to fight for a place in her mother’s busy life. For sure, her mother wouldn’t want a dog around, making messes, costing money, and needing attention.

  Liv hugged Teddy until he squirmed free. She made herself think of something positive.

  Cameron. Picturing his face cheered her, but he’d stopped returning her texts. What would fix that? Setting her jaw, Liv reached for her phone. Time to call Cam.

  Her heart leapt when he answered. His “Hey!” sounded so fine.

  “It’s me—Liv.”

  “I know. What’s up?”

  “Uh…just…just checking on when you’re getting to Boston for the concert tomorrow. Everyone at school’s excited. There’s talk the kidnapper will let Kyle and Ari go because of the Hero campaign, you know?”

  “You think so? Heard more about Kyle?”

  “Shh!” Liv warned before she felt stupid. No one could hear them talking. Still, she lowered her voice when she answered, “No gossip about ransom—nothing.”

  “The cops are going to use our bike,” Cam said. “They called my mom for permission. They’ll be responsible for The Rocket, so she agreed. I don’t have to do the ride. Some cop will do it.”

  Liv was appalled. “But why? You’re the Hero.”

  “I think that’s how they’re delivering the ransom money.”

  “Really?”

  “Wild-ass guessing, but why else would they need The Rocket? Anyway, I won’t be there to find out.” Before Liv could do more than gasp, Cam went on. “No concert. That’s what I get for going to the meet with you.”

  Liv couldn’t believe it. “You’re grounded?”

  He snorted. “Nah. Too old for grounding, but my mom made it clear I’d be crossing the line if I went. She blames me for Holly getting fired.”

  “It wasn’t your fault—it was mine!”

  A long pause before Cam said, “You lied. Why? Had fun making an ass of me?”

  “No!” Liv shook her phone. “No. You’ve got it all wrong! And I didn’t lie. I just said it was a holiday—”

  “So I’d believe Holly had the day off when she didn’t. Now she’s out of a job, and I’m in deep shit with Mom.” He added, “Eric keeps riding me about my dick move—won’t let up.”

  “I’m sorry,” Liv wailed.“Didn’t mean for any of this to happen. What can I do?”

  Another long pause. “Nothing, I guess.”

  The conversation was winding down. Liv could tell he was ready to click off. She said in a rush, “I’ve been practicing Parkour. Every night. I sneak out to do wall climbs when Grandmother’s in bed. I can reach the top of the garden wall now.”

  “No shit? All the way to the top? Epic. I mean that’s one mother of a wall.” Cam sounded like his old, friendly self.

  Liv pressed on. “Well, mostly. Sometimes, I can’t make the top, but I keep trying. I wish I knew more.”

  She hoped he’d offer to come by and teach her, but all she got was, “Yeah, well.” The words were flat, final. She was losing him. “So, uh, when will you get to Boston again?”

  “Saturday. No, wait. Think it’s Sunday. Gonna help Holly move her stuff.”

  Liv sighed. There was no way around the black hole of Holly’s departure.

  “It was fun—on Monday, I mean,” Cam added in a wistful tone before saying brusquely, “Gotta go. Boss is looking my way.”

  “Cam—” He was gone. Liv set down her phone, feeling unresolved and gloomy. Teddy barked at her to play, but she stepped to her window to pull the curtains closed. It was dark outside. Blank windows creeped her out.

  “Olivia?” Grandmother’s voice crackled through the ancient intercom. Liv went to the box by the door and answered. “I’m here.”

  “Good. You have a visitor—Jessica Whiting. She’s come with your costume.”

  “But the party’s off!”

  “We commissioned the work, so of course we’ll honor our commitment. I’ve sent her up.”

  When Liv opened her door, she saw Jessica on the landing, balancing four boxes, two large and two small. Teddy rushed out to jump on her. Liv greeted the designer, pulled Teddy off, and then lifted the puppy. He’d have to chill in the bathroom while she met with Jessica.

  After settling Teddy and closing her bathroom door, Liv asked Jessica, “You know there’s no party?”

  She nodded. “Eric Glasscock’s my boyfriend, so I know why it’s cancelled. No one’s happy about what happened, but I get why you wanted to be with Cam. He’s sweet—and almost as cute as my Eric.”

  “Cuter.”

  Jessica smiled. “You’re really into Cam.”

  Liv shrugged. “Not that it matters. Because of Holly, it’s awk city.”

  “Once he’s seen Beaconflare, he’ll have a hard time keeping his mind on anything else.”

  “What’s Beaconflare?” Liv asked.

  “You are. It’s your superhero name.”

  Jessica arranged boxes on Liv’s bed. “You wanted a hero costume but no weird, alien stuff, more like an urban crime fighter, I figured. When I looked up the name Beacon Hill, I found out people back in 1635 put a firepot on a platform sixty feet high to warn them when invaders were coming.”

  “Okay,” Liv allowed, “the beacon thing works. ‘Beaconflare’ is kind of a mouthful, though. Think I’ll go with plain Beacon.”

  “There is nothing plain about Beacon. I’ve made you a one-of-a-kind outfit no one else will ever have.” Jessica stood back, crossing her arms. “My concept was to produce clothing for a working superhero, not just a cheesy party costume. You with me?”

  “Yes,” Liv said, intrigued.

  “Here…” Jessica lifted the top off one big box. “These are your stretch leather skinnies.” She held up a pair of pants shimmering like liquid midnight.

  Liv felt along her hips. “I’ve got these bulges….”

  “Curves,” Jessica corrected. “Don’t worry, the pants’ understructure will keep everything sleek. The belt’s good camouflage, too. Now, where is that thing?” Searching under another layer of leather, Jessica found what she wanted. “This is your utility belt. It’s climbing rope held in place by gunmetal links. Hangs in nice, neat, eye-diverting swags, and the clasp is a useful hook.”

  Liv turned the elaborate belt around in her hands. “I like it.”

  “You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.” Jessica pulled leather tubes from the box. “These are half-chaps to protect your shins.”

  “But what are these shapes running up the front?” Liv asked. Along the center of each chap, leather was cut away to reveal a lining of some glossy fabric.

  “Stylized flames,” Jessica said with pride in her voice. “C’mere.” She took the piece toward the dresser lamp. “The cutout lining is shot silk. Hold it to the light one way and it’s red; the other, it’s gold.”

  “Too cool.”

  Jessica grinned. “Open the second big box.”

  Liv found a short leather jacket with the same flame patterns arcing from waist to shoulders. The sleeves and back were solid with cutouts only along their centers. Underneath lay a white wrap top with crisscross bands meeting in a soft stand-up collar.

  “Let’s see it the way it’s supposed to be seen.” Touching a spot inside the neckline, Jessica made the blouse light up. One side glowed warm red; the other, pale gold.

  “Ohmygod!” Liv cried. “It’s beautiful. It’s like something a goddess would wear. How’d you do that?”

  “Fiber optic fabric from England. Cost megabucks to get here express, so you bette
r appreciate it.”

  “I do! This is awesome.”

  “And there’s more.” Jessica took the blouse from Liv’s hands to lay it inside the jacket. “Here’s the full effect.”

  The jacket came alive. Light glowed through the silk. As the glow roved restlessly among the patterns, Liv didn’t have to imagine flames: She could see them!

  “This is…this is…wow.” Liv sat on the bed, eyes captivated by the display. “Do the chaps light up, too?”

  Jessica nodded. She pulled crimson-suede flats from one of the small boxes. “Footwear for running and jumping, which superheroes do a lot, I’m told. Actually, they’re Parkour shoes.”

  “You’re kidding,” Liv said. “Really? Don’t tell Grandmother.”

  “Our secret,” Jessica promised. “They’re supposed to be excellent. I couldn’t try them on; your feet are smaller than mine. Didn’t try the convertible heels, either.”

  Liv had been eying the gunmetal spikes hinged upward from the shoe backs. “These metal things are heels? How do they work?”

  “Most of the time, they’re hidden by the chaps, but when you need them for, uh, getting hero honors or wowing crowds, they swing down against the sole magnet and latch just here.” She showed Liv how to fix the heels in place. “Practice walking with those a bit to make sure they’re stable. Just don’t use them on your stairs first thing, okay?”

  “Okay.” Liv grinned. “What’s in the last box?”

  “Accessories: fingerless gloves, wristband for your phone, and the headpiece.” Jess raised a delicate, half-circle wreath of flame shapes. “It wraps from the back of your head to the front. Wires around your ears hold it in place, and it turns on here.” She flicked a switch behind the left earpiece. Golden light beamed upward.

  Liv was enchanted, but Jessica frowned. “Had to use LEDs in this. If you hear a buzzing sound, I’ll get the electrician to fix it, but in the meantime, use the noise-cancelling earplugs. Switch is on the right earpiece.”

  Jessica folded her hands. “All done. You’ve seen everything. Hope you’re pleased.”

  Liv stepped around boxes to hug Jessica. “You’re the best!”

  After the hug, Jessica said, “Your grandmother wants to see the outfit. Get ready for your debut as hero-woman.”

  Woman? Liv felt a thrill of surprise. People called her a girl, a kid, a student—but woman? That was new. “I just wish I could wear this to my party.”

  “Wear it to the concert. Your friends will be there, won’t they?”

  “Yes!” Liv punched air, realizing the concert could be her shot. Lots of people were planning to wear leathers like Cam had in the videos.

  Jessica paused by the door. “Eric drove me down from Portsmouth. He’s talking with Holly. I’ll call him into the living room so you can get a male reaction. If his jaw doesn’t drop, I’ll owe you a Starbucks.”

  “You’re on. And Jessica, thanks. Thanks sooo much.”

  She smiled. “You’re welcome. It was a fun challenge. See you downstairs.”

  Liv let Teddy out of the bathroom, petting him madly to make up for holding him captive, and then started putting on the outfit. Half-dressed when her computer screensaver came up, she squinted at the machine. When had she turned it on? She couldn’t remember. Shrugging, she reached for her amazing blouse. The built-in bra pushed up a whole lot of boob. “Whoa,” she said to her reflection in the mirror as she slipped into the jacket. Setting her headpiece in place, Liv stared. I look so different!

  The corner of her eye caught the faint light of the webcam, but her mind had already traveled downstairs, imagining the looks, the reactions she’d get. Would a smokin’ guy like Eric Glasscock really think she was hot?

  Liv pushed the buttons to turn luminous, and Beacon went to find out.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Day 14—Friday night

  Holly and the Smallwoods hiked toward the concert. At the last minute, Mike decided to attend. “My arm’s better,” he said, “and I kind of like the music, even if it isn’t heavy metal.”

  Liv was one step ahead of Holly, who felt shadowing her was the best position. She could see over Liv’s head, and it was easy to leap forward if anyone tried to grab the girl. Catherine walked nearest the street, but there was no reason to think she’d be pulled into a waiting car. She was most at risk at home.

  Holly frowned. Finding Catherine twisted in bedding still weirded her out. Who had the balls to attack a woman in her own home with workmen around? The police didn’t know; they hadn’t found any clues except that camera on the terrace. And there was another thing: Someone put the Smallwood terrace under surveillance. The man Mike chased off the deck was the obvious suspect. He must have set up the camera, then hung around long enough to put Teddy’s dog pad in front of her door, making a lame joke while a police officer was in the house. Crazy. Dan’s belief in a kid prank didn’t satisfy, not after Catherine’s ordeal. Then there was the security man who passed out in Liv’s room. Holly still couldn’t put the pieces together and probably never would. This was her last night as bodyguard.

  Last night! She sighed, watching Liv stride along in her fabulous costume.

  They’d made up. It took most of the week, but Holly finally understood why a teenager couldn’t give up freedom and privacy meekly. Of course, Liv rebelled. At the same age—even now—Holly would, too. Catherine was right to say they’d both been naïve to expect cooperation from Liv.

  So far, Mike had said nothing about her leaving. As he strolled beside Holly, talking about world events, she wondered if he was glad. She’d put him through a lot. Mike would probably be relieved she was gone.

  They crossed Beacon and moved into the Common. The concert crowd came into view past trees edging the Frog Pond. They could see the backstage area, where temporary snow fencing gave performers shelter for their tour bus and equipment truck. Saw horses blocked access beyond the stage aprons. Police tape began after that, with uniformed cops prowling the lines between checkpoints.

  At the entrance nearest the bandstand, Catherine handed her tickets to the guard. Inside the pillars, folding chairs were arranged in rows facing the stage. People stood talking. Zarah left the cluster around Ariel Kelly’s mother to approach their group, greeting Holly, who introduced the others. Zarah told Catherine, “You must meet my sister. Sharana has heard you worked hard to make this concert happen. She knows this rosebud…” Zarah smiled broadly at Liv. “But has not had the pleasure of thanking you, Mrs. Smallwood.”

  As Catherine went to talk with Sharana Kelly, Mike pointed to a chair in the last row. “I’m taking that one. No one will bump my arm if I sit in back.”

  Holly nodded, eyes following Liv. The girl had drifted to the railing facing the stage. She didn’t look up from texting when Holly joined her there. “Found your friends?”

  “Yeah,” Liv answered glumly. She slid the phone into the armband of her suit. “Maddy’s with the other class presidents from Sidley. They’ll be near the stage with some St. Winifred’s kids. She’s not giving her speech. The headmaster said no one should attract the kidnapper’s attention.”

  “Good thinking. So who will speak?”

  “Headmaster Taunton. Then it’ll be the principal from St. Winifred’s. Chase gets to come on later and pretend he’s the Hero, but he has to keep his helmet on and not say his name. That’s after some cop rides through the crowd and behind the stage so Chase can take his place. Tay says Chase has stage fright. She’s coaching him now.” Liv threw out her hands. “They’re together, and I’m here alone with the parents.”

  Holly looked around. It was true: the VIPs were all middle aged, probably Sidley parents. She and Liv were the only under-thirties among them except for Mike, who was closing in on that age.

  Zarah moved toward them. Jerking her chin at Liv, she said to Holly, “She does not wear the necklace.”

  “Oh! I forgot.” Holly unzipped the pocket in her purse. She told Liv, “This is your gift from Ari’s
aunt.”

  With a smile for Zarah, Liv put on the necklace and patted the pendant. “Thank you!”

  Zarah circled her hands. “Wear in good health.”

  Catherine rejoined them. “Ah, here you are. Zarah, I’m so glad you introduced me to your sister. I worried the families might think this event disrespectful until Sharana said she was glad for all the interest in her daughter, and the Porcinis were, too. Those poor people aren’t attending; it’s too soon, but they’ve raised enough money to fund a memorial math scholarship to MIT. Natalie was an exceptional math student.”

  “I keep hearing about geniuses,” Liv remarked, ticking off names on her fingers. “Natalie. Kyle. Miss Tinsley’s brother.”

  Holly had an idea. “Is Ari a genius?”

  Liv snorted. “She hates math, science and all that stuff.”

  “Her gift is imagination,” Zarah said proudly. “Ariel has a genius for invention. And tonight, her feckless father—who has not paid support for the girl in over one year—will prove himself worthy of such a magnificent daughter.”

  Liv asked, “What’s the senator going to do?”

  “You will see.” Zarah winked. “Ah! The program begins.” She waved a seated couple over two spaces to make room for Catherine, Liv, Holly and herself.

  The stage lights came on. Holly saw a girl band on the Jumbotron screen.

  Dressed in leather shorts and bra, the warm-up lead singer’s rainbow pigtails bobbed as she greeted the crowd and then launched into a song about mean girls. The music wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad either. The band got better-than-polite applause.

  Their second number was a lost-love song played on acoustic guitar. “I’ll never forget you,” the singer vowed, all throaty voiced. “You live in my heart.” Holly thought about dead Natalie, wondering if others did, too.

  When the applause died down, two men came on stage. Both were middle aged; one, a priest. The other wore a crisp, navy suit so well-tailored it must have cost a fortune.