23 Minutes by Vivian Vande Velde

Author:Vivian Vande Velde
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

TIME RESETS TO 1:16.

Zoe doesn’t take the ten seconds to tuck her folder under her shirt or the five extra steps to dump it into the trash. She just clutches the pack of papers, but doesn’t worry if she loses bits and pieces of it—the story of her former life—as she runs as fast as she can to Independence Street. To the Fitzhugh House. She slams the front door so hard that a man—possibly the M. Van Der Meer of “M. Van Der Meer, Designer”—opens his first-floor door to peek out at her.

She scowls, not even exactly in his direction, and he retreats back into his room.

A moment later, she hears Daniel’s voice as he takes leave of the second-floor office.

Zoe has remained by the foot of the stairs, safe from Daniel’s touch. Safe from the blueness of his eyes.

He’s about to start down the stairs when she calls up to him, “Are you a policeman?”

Daniel ponders her, or the question, a moment before answering, “No …”

Zoe considers turning and leaving.

Instead, she says, “But you’re carrying a gun.”

Daniel glances around the foyer. Perhaps he doesn’t like her broadcasting this information. Perhaps he’s being alert for ambush, which either a policeman or a bank robber might be. Even more slowly than he gave his previous answer, he says, “Yes …”

Every nerve ending is telling Zoe to get out of there.

She’s getting pretty good at ignoring her instincts.

But she does have her arms wrapped around herself, ready. She can say playback faster than he can get downstairs. Faster, she hopes, than he can draw the gun, if that becomes his intent. Though it’s hard to think of him doing that. She asks, “Are you planning on robbing the bank?”

Like ANYONE would answer yes, Zoe chides herself.

His expression says he’s surprised by her question, incredulous that she would ask, and that he’s wondering who the hell she is.

Instead of sharing any of that, he tells her, “No, to the bank question. Let me show you something. Don’t be alarmed.” He’s started down the stairs again, while simultaneously reaching into the inside pocket of his jacket.

And as soon as he’s said not to be alarmed, Zoe is more alarmed than ever.

“Don’t come any closer,” she warns, stepping backward, toward the door.

Daniel stops partway down. He’s holding a card, which he tosses in her direction.

Of course, Zoe is totally distracted by trying to catch it—and yet still manages to miss. But fortunately Daniel doesn’t take advantage, and stays where he is even while she goes to pick it up off the floor.

The card is laminated, and there’s a picture of Daniel. For a moment Zoe thinks he’s showing her his driver’s license. Then the words sink in:

Daniel Lentini

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