Wade and the Scorpion's Claw Read Online Free Page A

Wade and the Scorpion's Claw
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system,” Becca said. “Darrell’ll go with you.”
    â€œWhat are you, my kindergarten teacher?” Darrell said. “Last time I took a buddy to the bathroom, I was five years old. And while we’re at it, why are we even calling it a bath room? It doesn’t have a bathtub in it. That would be weird.”
    â€œYou’re weird,” said Lily.
    â€œOr a rest room,” he went on, “because you don’t go in there to rest.”
    â€œDarrell, please just go!” said Lily.
    â€œThat’s it!” he said. “We should call it a go room! I love it.”
    She shoved him hard. “If you love it so much, then go to the go room already! Becca and I have our own mission.” She held up her London Times and five dollars. “We’re going to give the diary an old-fashioned makeover, a newspaper book cover!”
    We split up, and Darrell tagged along with me. At least until his stomach remembered the Snickers he didn’t get. “My taste buds are requesting multiple Snickerses for the road. Or the air. Or whatever. Wait for me here.”
    â€œEasy for you to say,” I grumbled.
    It was good to see him lightening up a bit. The phone call with the Bolivian detective had done it. We knew nothing about the investigation, but it occurred to me that if a team of detectives found Sara and got her on a plane, she might actually get to New York at the same time we did.
    Meanwhile, I waited and waited until I couldn’t wait anymore. I waved at Darrell at the candy counter; then I sprinted off down a long hall to the men’s room. It smelled like disinfectant and hand soap once I got in there. I stood still for a few seconds, listening to gate announcements, until I was sure I was alone. I did what I needed to do, washed up, and was out again when a shape darkened the end of the corridor. “Darrell? It’s about time—”
    Not Darrell.
    Leathercoat.
    He stepped purposely down the narrow hall toward the restroom. I tried to move aside to give him room, but he blocked me.
    â€œI’m sorry—” I started, but he raised his hand, then fixed a pair of lifeless eyes on mine.

CHAPTER FIVE
    L eathercoat stood unmoving, staring right at me.
    I could feel my scalp prickling. My forehead throbbed. My good feeling vanished completely. The man’s irises were so dark, they seemed almost black. There was nothing in them but a kind of intense stillness.
    â€œWade Kaplan,” he said softly, though his words managed to echo in the corridor, “you know whom I work for. You have met her. She injured your friend.”
    My hands instinctively balled into fists at the mention of Becca’s wound and the thought of how much it was still hurting her. I remembered her from my dream, motionless on the floor of the cave.
    â€œWe knew you were with the Order,” I said. “It was so obvious.”
    How many Snickerses is Darrell buying? Where is everyone?
    â€œThen you know who Galina Krause has taken from you,” Leathercoat said. “Kindly remember this fact the next time we meet, when I ask you for something.”
    His words were delivered slowly and with precision. He had just a trace of an accent, and his voice was deep and crisp, like an actor’s.
    â€œBecause you have nothing better to do than follow us,” I said.
    â€œAllow me to pick your brain for a moment,” he said. “Who do you imagine has the highest level of computing technology in the world?”
    â€œWhat is this, a quiz?”
    â€œPretend it is.”
    I eyed the end of the corridor. I couldn’t get to it. “NASA?” I answered.
    He smiled thinly. “An appropriate response from an astronomer’s son. NASA is to the Teutonic Order’s Copernicus servers as a doghouse is to . . . Windsor Castle. Keep this in mind when you think to elude me and other agents of Galina Krause.”
    I couldn’t think of
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