Chapter 37- Watch Your Step
Scout woke up again, just as Danny was sneaking out, but he convinced her that she was dreaming once again. He reached the docks and Angelica rowed over in her brother's kayak and parked it next to the Gel, that had been sitting there since they fled V-Town.
"You're on time tonight for a change." Angelica leaned back in the kayak and crossed her arms. "I've never kayaked a day in my life! My arms are exhausted."
"How did you know how to work the oars then?" Danny asked.
"Oh, well I've sat in this kayak before with Matteo. No way would I let him make me do the rowing. I know how to though. I'm not stupid."
Danny grinned. "No, you certainly aren't."
She looked at him. "Still being mean" she used air quotes for mean, "to your sisters?"
"No. Well, I'm trying not to."
She rolled her eyes.
He extended his hand and helped her out of the kayak. "Did you or Thadeo find anything else out?"
She shrugged. "Not much. Except… we found out Father and Uncle Francesco are hiding other people, not just those old geezers. Who we met by the way."
His eyes grew wide. "You did?"
"Yep."
"And…?"
"And what?" she asked.
"Uhh… did you find out anything about them?"
"Been trying to escape for twenty-six years," she said. "They want to get home to their kids. Don't know why anyone would want kids. But whatever…"
"Did they say what their kids names are?" Danny asked.
"I think so? I think a couple of them started with S? Maybe Simon or Stan? I think one of the girls was Sophia or Sarah or something? I don't know. I wasn't paying much attention."
Danny scrunched his face. "I don't know anyone by those names."
"And they seem awfully old to have kids. But whatever floats their boat…"
"Well, they probably aren't kids anymore if it's been 26 years."
"I suppose," Angelica said. "But they want Thadeo and I to help them escape. I said I'd talk to my associate first."
Danny grinned. "Meaning me?"
"Who else?" She winked. "I said I'd send them in Matteo's kayak tomorrow night, but you'd have to meet them here."
"That's the night before my uncle gets married," Danny said. "But that should be fine. I probably won't sleep anyway. What about the others?"
"I don't where they're hidden," Angelica said. "We'll have to find them."
GHGHGH
Danny always hated leaving Angelica. The sun started to rise lighting his way through the village. He heard a click and Lulu walked out of her house and sat on the step crying into her knees. Seconds later, Dante followed and wrapped an arm around her.
"I can't do it," Lulu cried. "I can't keep faking in front of Rocco. I want to be a good mother to him, but…"
"You miss Charlotte," Dante said. "I know. I do too."
"I want to her back, but I just feel so helpless. Whenever I used to feel that way I would go to my mom. But she's gone. And Dad and Lucky aren't here."
"Laura would want you to go on though," Dante said. "I've struggled with this too after losing Ma and Dad. But we need to keep living our lives. And we'll find a way to get Charlotte back. We just have to be patient and let them build up a strong army first."
"I know."
"Maybe you and Rocco should go see Nikolas and his kids tomorrow," Dante suggested. "Might do you some good. And I'll visit Kristina."
When Danny arrived back home, he didn't bother trying to sleep. He sat on his bed and pulled out his notebook. He was to write an essay on the history of law enforcement in New York. He'd have to go to Wyndemere to search through his grandma's library to gather enough research to write it. It helped that he found the law intriguing, though he wished Diane's teaching would be well-rounded with every subject.
"Danny?" the door opened slightly, and Scout walked in rubbing her eyes.
He looked up at her. "Hey, why are you up so early?"
"I can't get back to sleep. Are you really sure that I was dreaming again?"
"What do you mean?"
"The front door was open," Scout said.
Danny's eyes grew wide.
"I closed it," Scout added.
"Okay," Danny said. "Mom must have left it open by accident. No biggy. Not even worth mentioning."
"But shouldn't we tell her? What if someone bad tried to come in?"
"I don't think anyone tried to break in," Danny said. "Mom probably left it open. Just trust me, okay?"
"Okay."
GHGHGH
Scout held Willow and Danny's hands as they walked to school the next morning.
"Willow…" Scout let go of her hand and pointed to the woods. "Can we get some leaves for my collage?"
"Yeah, I guess we have time," Willow said. "Want to come Danny?"
"Sure," Danny said.
They headed into the woods and Scout picked up a few red leaves from the ground. "The red ones are my favourite."
"Mine are the yellow ones," Willow said picking up a few.
Danny reached up to a branch and plucked off a maple leaf. "I like the green ones."
Willow raised an eyebrow. "You mean the ones that haven't fallen yet?"
"Exactly." Danny nodded.
Scout stepped forward and there was a loud crack.
"Scout!" Danny seized her and yanked her back.
He looked down and there were several planks of wood hidden underneath the leaves.
"Are you okay, Scout?" Willow walked over with them. "It looks like a mine shaft or something… We better get out of here."
Willow took Scout's hand and they started heading back.
"Josslyn, wait!" Carly called out.
Danny turned and saw Josslyn coming towards them and Carly following.
"Can we please talk?" Carly asked.
"I don't want to talk!" Josslyn shouted.
"Josslyn, be careful!" Willow yelled over to her. "Watch out—"
Crack.
"Ahhhh!" Carly fell through the mine shaft!
Josslyn's eyes grew wide and she darted over to it. "Mom? MOM!?"
"Danny, take Scout and go get help," Willow said, running over to Josslyn.