The Keys to freedom

Desperate times call for desperate texts

The engine hummed softly as they pulled onto the narrow street near Evie's house. The headlights slicing through the darkness, along the quiet neighborhood. Grayson slowed his bike, his eyes narrowing when he spotted James's truck parked crookedly on the side of the road.

"There it is," Oz said, leaning forward to get a better look.

Grayson pulled to a stop a few feet away. The truck's cab was empty, but as they stepped closer, they heard movement in the bed of the truck. She squinted through the dim light and froze. James and Evie were lying in the bed of the truck, their bodies entwined, completely lost in each other.

"Oh, for the love of—" she groaned. "If I already didn't need therapy that sure did it,"

James and Evie sprang apart, their flushed faces surprised. James sat up quickly, rubbing the back of his neck as if caught doing something far worse than making out.

Grayson leaned against the truck, arms crossed, with a smirk tugging at his lips. "Well, that explains why he wasn't answering his phone."

Oz marched toward the truck, her boots crunching against the gravel. "James!" she hissed.

"Oz?" he replied, his voice cracking slightly. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" she snapped, gesturing wildly. "What are you doing here? We've got a clue to solve and places to be!"

Evie slid off James's lap, smoothing her hair, clearly mortified. "We were just—"

"Yeah, I can see what you were just doing," she cut in, rolling her eyes. She pointed at James. "Get up. We need the truck, and we don't have time for... whatever this is."

Grayson chuckled quietly, his smirk growing as James climbed sheepishly out of the truck bed. "Man, you really know how to ruin a moment," he muttered, grabbing his keys.

She raised an eyebrow. "If you wanted privacy, maybe don't park in plain view on a public street."

He sighed, unlocking the truck and sliding into the driver's seat. "Fine, let's go. But next time, send a text first."

"Oh, geez we didn't think of that, how about check your phone asshat," she mocked, climbing into the passenger seat next to Evie. "And drive fast—we've got a lot to do before sunrise."

James rolled his eyes and pulled out onto the main road, Grayson tailing behind them on his bike.

The next stop was Eric. As they rounded the corner near his house, they spotted him leaning against a streetlight, his hoodie pulled up. He straightened when he saw the truck and hopped in without a word.

"Seriously, what's going on?" Eric asked, buckling his seatbelt. "What was with the cryptic text,"

Oz exchanged a glance with Grayson. "Just wait."

"Or you could, you know, just tell me now,"

Grinning, Grayson shook his head. "Where's the fun in that?"

The truck rumbled quietly as they pulled up in front of Jessper's house. Her window, on the second floor, was faintly illuminated by the glow of a bedside lamp. Oz craned her neck, whispering to Grayson, "Think she's awake?"

He smirked. "Are you kidding? I think shes nocturnal."

Oz pulled out her phone and texted her: Outside. Sneak out. Don't wake anyone.

Moments later, the light in her room flickered off. A faint rustling followed as the window creaked open, and Jessper's head popped out. She waved down at them, then disappeared back inside.