Rise of the Elgen Read Online Free PDF Page B

garage.
    “I’ll wait to pull in,” Jack said. “In case we need to make a quick getaway.”
    “Good idea,” I said, trying not to sound nervous. I realized that part of me was waiting for the worst to happen and I was ticking like crazy.
    Wade pulled the black Hummer up next to us. In spite of our situation, he was grinning from ear to ear. “This baby is sweet,” he said. “I never thought I’d get to ride in one of these, let alone drive one.”
    “I’m going to check things out,” I said to Jack. “If it’s a trap, just get everyone out of here.”
    “Warriors don’t leave a man behind,” Jack said.
    “What are we doing?” Wade asked.
    “Just keep your car running until we’re sure it’s safe,” I said. I turned to Ian. “Can you give me a hand?”
    “Sure, man. I’ll give you both of them.”
    “It’s your eyes I need.”
    “I’ll give you both of those, too.”
    The two of us got out of the cars and walked to the edge of the driveway, looking cautiously at the dark house.
    “What do you think?” I asked.
    “It’s empty,” Ian said. He looked around at the neighbors. “Neighborhood looks legit. A mom helping a kid with homework, a family watching TV, a couple eating dinner.”
    “All right, let’s go in.” I rapped on the Hummer, and Jack pulled into the garage, followed by Wade. Everyone gathered in the driveway.
    Taylor came up to my side. “You okay?”
    “Yeah. Why?”
    “You’re ticking a lot.”
    “I’m nervous.”
    “But the house is okay?”
    “It checked out with Ian.”
    We walked up to the back of the house, but as I reached for the storm door Ostin said, “Stop!”
    I looked over at him.
    “What if the door’s booby-trapped? I saw this show where the bad guys had rigged all the doors with plastic explosives, so when the cops opened the door—ka-boom!” Ostin threw his arms out in demonstration. “Everyone’s dead.”
    We all just looked at him.
    Ostin shrugged. “It was a cool show.”
    “I’ll open the door,” Zeus said. He twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open, then stepped inside the dark house. “Hey, McKenna, how about a hand?”
    “Sure.” She lit up her hand, then stepped into the house behind him.
    “There’s the switch,” Zeus said.
    Taylor and I walked in, followed by everyone else. Jack was the last to enter. He still looked anxious and glanced around before shutting and locking the door.
    The home’s interior was as ordinary looking as its exterior, which, I suppose, is what a safe house is supposed to look like. I mean, if the place stands out like a zit on your nose, it’s not going to be very safe, right?
    We were standing in the kitchen. On the counter was a bulky, brown envelope, and I picked it up and pulled back its flap. It was filled with money.
    “Check this out,” I said, holding up the cash. “They left us money.”
    “That’s some serious coinage,” Jack said.
    “I’ll count it,” Taylor said, taking the envelope from me. She riffled through the bills. “Ten grand,” she said. “Even.”
    “That was fast,” I said.
    “I’m good at counting.”
    I took a handful of bills and put them in my pocket, leaving the rest on the counter.
    From the front room Ostin shouted, “Michael, check this out! This is one sweet computer.”
    I walked into the other room. I was no expert on computers—I left that to Ostin—but it looked like a serious piece of technology. “Can we use it to get the data out of Grace?” I asked.
    “I’m on it,” he replied.
    I was glad he had found something to distract him from his parents.
    “Is there anything to eat?” Taylor asked. “I’m really hungry.”
    “Me too,” Abigail said.
    I opened the fridge. It was empty. “Nada.”
    “We passed a pizza place about a half mile back,” Jack said. “Wade and I could go pick up something. What kind of pizza do you guys want?”
    “Pepperoni and anchovies,” Wade said.
    “No anchovies,” Taylor said. “They