Sneak (Swipe Series)

fun.”
    “Speaking of which.” Eddie pointed to the door as it swung open. “Whaddo you suppose we do with him ?”
    Meg walked into the stable, dragging by his feet a man who lay slack and splayed on the ground. His head rested sideways, bouncing a little as it slid across the dirt. His arms followed behind, stretching up and over his head, and for the moment he was deadweight. Knocked out. Harmless.
    That would change, of course. The DOME badge on his shoulder promised it.
    Blake closed his eyes and composed himself. “I give Mr. DOME Agent here another hour before he comes to. Tops.” He sighed. “There’s a stream down past the corn field. Have you seen it?”
    Meg nodded.
    “Put him in faceup.”
    Eddie took hold of the man’s hands, and he and Meg turned to head out the door.
    “And hey—” Blake called after them, “make sure he floats before you let go.”
    “Whoa, whoa, what happened here?” Dane asked, eyebrows raised as he entered the barn.
    “Another scout,” Blake said.
    “He make it all the way to the farm?”
    “No, they still don’t know we’re here. This guy was just tromping through the woods when Meg found him. Then she . . .” Blake paused. “Well, I dunno. Meg, what’d you do to the guy? Clobber him?”
    Meg smiled and nodded.
    Blake turned to Dane. “Meg clobbered him.”
    “Yeah, thanks. I’d gathered that much,” Dane said. He sighed and dropped his bag to the ground. “So they really aren’t letting up, then.”
    “On the contrary. They’re closing their grip around Hailey as we speak. She’ll lead them right to us with these daily messages between her and Peck.”
    “Nah, she won’t,” Dane said. “Peck’s system is good. It’s safe. And besides . . . we’d lose her completely without it.”
    “ Dane’s in love with Haaai-ley ,” Tyler sang from the hay.
    “Will you shut it? This has nothing to do with me,” Dane said.
    “Right now Hailey’s our only contact with the outside world. We can’t find Logan without her.”
    “And, wait—I’m sorry,” Eddie said sarcastically. “Could someone, anyone, please remind me why , exactly, we’re still risking everything for that traitor? Because I’ve forgotten.”
    “It’s not about Logan anymore,” Jo said, no less annoyed. “It’s about Lily. Peck and Logan are obsessed with saving her.”
    Dane sighed. “She was Peck’s best friend, Jo. And she’s Logan’s sister. It’s hard to blame them.”
    But Eddie just laughed. “He’s out there again, isn’t he? Peck. Right now. Leaving yet another message for Hailey.”
    “Yeah.” Blake rolled his eyes. “Right now.”
    “ Man ,” Jo said. “Night after night after night! What will it take to get through to that tightwad? He’s gonna get us all caught—or worse!” Jo shook her head as an awkward silence settled over the stable.
    “Hooooooo- wee , are we in trouble!” Tyler laughed abruptly. “Welcome to the big leagues, kiddies!” He rolled out from his spot in the hay and lay flat on his back, arms folded over his stomach. “And all thanks to our good ol’ friend, Logan Langly! Three cheers for that guy! Wherever you are, ya skinflint! To good health! To long life! To happiness!” He looked around playfully.
    But no one else was laughing.
    2
    Logan waited with his hood up and a scarf over his nose and mouth. He waited at the farthest edge of the huddle. He didn’t let a single tightwad out of his sight.
    He’d spent the whole day this way, scared and indecisive. He knew it was a risk to show his face anywhere downtown. He had planned to see his aunt and uncle, to visit their safe, public, well-lit bakery, to ask them for help because he simply didn’t know where else to turn . . . but what if Bridget was right? What if the Mark really did trump family? What if they turned him in no matter what?
    And yet, how much safer was it to stay where he was now? Bridget had returned that morning, just as Andrew said she would, shortly before the huddle began waking for the day. No DOME officers in tow, no magnecuffs, no “Gotcha, ya filthy, stinkin’ beggar!”
    But she wasn’t exactly forthcoming, either. Logan had pretended to be asleep when she arrived. He had pretended not to notice when she slipped silently under her blanket before making a big show of waking up after “a great night of sleep.” But he had noticed, and he couldn’t help but wonder what Bridget was hiding.
    For the moment, Logan decided to risk it and