Ashton had spent the last week and a half planning.
Between every break at work and whispering over the kid's heads at nap time, we were by each other's sides. We hadn't come up with any fool proof plan, but Ashton kept promising he knew someone was going to help us.
He just had to wait for the word.
Ashton had never let me down before, so as much as it pained me, I had to keep waiting. I hadn't spoken to or seen Calum in almost two weeks, and I was past the point of being desperate. There wasn't an ounce in my body that cared about consequences.
I needed to be with him.
"Psst! Leisa!" Snapping out of my thoughts, I scanned the room, searching for who had called my name. Towards the main hallway, Ashton stood in the doorway, waving his arms. Gently stepping in between the sleeping children, I made my way over to him.
"Alright, it's happening."
My brain drew a blank as I looked up at him.
"I have no idea what you..oh my god!" I threw myself at him, finally catching on. "I get to see Calum?"
He shushed me and pulled me further into the hall.
"Soon, yeah. We get to talk to my guy tonight."
A portion of my excitement drained.
"Ash, there's no way I'm getting out of my house. You know that."
Scoffing, he leaned against the art cluttered wall and folded his arms.
"I'm offended you would think I don't have a plan already."
I wanted to believe him, but I knew my dad. Weeks had passed, and I still hadn't gotten any slack.
"Ash, I don't know he's still pretty pissed."
Ashton cocked his head and smirked. "He's also in the palm of my hand. He's always had a soft spot for me, so I used it to my, well technically our, advantage." He paused to peek back in on the kids.
"Anyway, tonight. Your dad thinks I'm taking you to a family gathering, but no, my dear. You'll get to meet the man with the master plan."
My mouth parted slightly in shock. Ashton never lied to his own parents, let alone someone else's. Through the surprise, though, I was still grateful for his sudden interest in risk taking.
"Ash, I don't know what to say." He cast a dimpled smile down at me.
"Say that your dad hasn't seen my new car yet. Because I'll be closer than he thinks."
*
I glared over at Ashton, stuck in a state of disbelief. Before me, he and his accomplice were unrolling a thick, white poster board and talking about a topic I wasn't listening to.
Ashton's "secret weapon" towered over the table, golden blonde hair stuck up in its usual quiff. He had to be kidding me.
"Really? Luke is the 'man with the master plan'? This is a joke, right?"
Luke gasped, holding a hand to his chest and letting his mouth fall open.
"Leisa, I am stunned you don't trust us."
The reason Ashton was curious if my dad knew about his car was because it was parked right next door to my house. My dad was literally yards away from a pack of teenagers plotting against him.
"But did we really have to meet at Luke's house? I live, oh you know, right next door!"
Ashton came over and sat beside me on the couch, placing an arm around my shoulder.
"Relax! He has no idea we're here."
He was right.
After Ashton had taken me back home to change, he had driven me to his house so that I could leave my phone there in case my dad checked the GPS. We knew it was a slim chance considering how much he absolutely adored Ashton, but we still had to be completely careful. Ashton's little brother had agreed to man the phone in the chance that he called. We had also waited until nightfall to return to my neighborhood to lessen the chance of us being seen.
"And I'm completely reliable!" Luke piped up, crossing his arms,slightly wrinkling his light grey shirt.
Sitting up, I huffed.
"Alright, Hemmings. Show me what you've got."
Luke yelped loudly before pointing to the poster board.
"This is a blue print of the precinct. My brothers and I made it when they were still doing their police training." While flipping the board around so that I could see it better, Luke leaned over the table. "This first X is the back door. No one really uses it except to bring in shipments. Those only come in every Tuesday. My brother, Jack, will let you in this way."
