Hurricane Power by Sigmund Brouwer Read Free Book Online

car.
    â€œI don’t get it,” she whispered. “My dad wouldn’t make a mistake like this. He’s the kind of guy who double-checks everything.”
    Before I could answer, we heard the woman say as she closed her door, “Come on, Sugar-booger. Time for our bath.”
    I shook my head. Wherever Carlos was tonight, I thought, he should be grateful not to be here.
    Which, of course, left two obvious questions.
    Where was Carlos?
    And if Coach Lewis hadn’t made a mistake, why did the computer have the wrong address?

chapter fourteen
    At ten minutes after noon the next day, Jennifer and I followed Carlos Pelayo from room 225 to the school library. We stood by a drinking fountain down the hallway and watched him go in.
    â€œSo much for thinking we needed his entire schedule,” Jennifer said. “This was way easier.”
    â€œOnly because Mr. Johnson let us out of math five minutes early,” I said. “Otherwise we wouldn’t have had a chance to wait outsideCarlos’s class. When the bell rings, it can be tougher getting through these hallways than to bust through a defensive line in football.”
    I should not have complained. The reason we’d been able to follow Carlos so easily was the crowded hallways. Staying out of sight had been easy.
    I began to walk toward the library. Because we’d been standing still for a few minutes, I limped.
    Jennifer noticed.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” she asked.
    â€œNothing,” I lied.
    She looked at me with an odd expression. “I heard about Jason playing a trick on you, but I didn’t want to believe it.”
    I shrugged. “It’s my problem, all right?”
    She didn’t say anything.
    â€œAll right?” I repeated. I waited.
    She finally nodded.
    â€œAll right,” she said. She pointed at the library door. “We go in and find him?”
    â€œThat’s right,” I said. “It’s a library. You know, quiet and boring. What can go wrong?”
    * * *
    What went wrong was the two guys with the black rose tattoos. They found Carlos first.
    He was sitting in the corner by a window. Over his shoulder, I could see the chain-link fence outside the school. His face looked relaxed as he read the textbook in his lap. Beside him his leather jacket was folded neatly on the floor. He wore a white T-shirt, tight to his body. Without the leather jacket and without a scowl on his face, he looked a lot less tough, the way obnoxious little kids look sweet when they sleep.
    Jennifer and I had just come around a bookshelf. It had taken us a few minutes of wandering the library to find Carlos. We moved slowly because we didn’t want to just pop out of nowhere and scare him into leaving.
    Neither of the guys with the tattoos noticed us near the bookshelf. They were focused on Carlos. Noticing a magazine rack that would keep us partly hidden, I grabbed Jennifer’s arm to stop her from moving any farther. With my other hand, I put my finger in front of my lips to keep her quiet.
    She raised her eyebrows.
    â€œMet them earlier,” I whispered. “His friends. This might not be a good time to visit Carlos.”
    Other students walked around, looking for books and talking with friends. Still, it seemed like there were just the five of us-Jennifer and me watching, Carlos reading and the two guys with tattoos.
    Carlos didn’t notice them until they stood in front of him and blocked the light from the window.
    Carlos lifted his head. For a moment, it looked to me like a flash of fear crossed his face. Then he put on a big smile. A big fake smile.
    Fear? I thought they were his friends and protectors.
    The tattooed guys leaned forward and took turns speaking softly to Carlos. Jennifer and I were too far away to hear what they said.
    Carlos shook his head. Once. Twice. Three times.
    The smaller guy half-turned to hide whathe was doing. I didn’t see much of what happened next,