Free Shadow Train by J. Gabriel Gates Page A

explosion.”
    â€œWhere there any remains? Any pieces of it left lying around?”
    The knowing flared once again, an overwhelming feeling that urged Nass to keep silent. He could tell the truth about everything else, but something told him that telling this guy about the ring shards would be a bad idea.
    He shrugged. “My friends and I walked all over those tracks while we were looking for Raphael. Maybe it vaporized.”
    â€œOr maybe those Obies picked up whatever was left of it?”
    â€œMaybe,” Nass said. “After the explosion I never saw the Obies again.”
    Hackett’s shrewd gaze lingered on Nass for a long moment before he spoke again. “You remember that picture I showed you?” he said finally. “I expect you to let me know if you see that man or any of his minions again. I know you and your pals are out running the streets all the time. Keep me posted, all right?”
    He handed Nass a plain white business card. It had his name printed on it, Agent Wade Hackett, and a phone number—nothing else.
    â€œYou help me out, I can be your best friend. If not, not. You feel me, Ignacio? Do we understand each other?”
    â€œYep. Got it,” Nass said, unable to restrain his irritation any longer. “Can I go now, please? I have a date. It is Valentine’s Day, you know.”
    Hackett chuckled, glancing at his watch. “Not anymore, it isn’t,” he said.
    * * *
    Dalton sat on the edge of her bed, staring at a picture of herself and Nass from the Middleburg High School annual play. It was slightly warped from the spots where her tears had hit it, but it was dry now. She had finished crying a long time ago.
    She heard her grandmother’s gentle knock at the door and looked up.
    â€œJust wanted to say goodnight, sweetie,” Lily Rose said, peering around the edge of the doorframe. She moved to walk away, and then paused. “Don’t you worry, sugar. Nass is a good boy. If he stood you up, I expect he had a good reason.”
    Dalton forced a sad smile. “He always does,” she said.
    She knew exactly what her grandmother was saying: be kind, be patient, forgive and forget. But those were just words. Actions were what mattered. Nass had blown her off for Clarisse at the homecoming dance, and now he’d stood her up on Valentine’s Day. Of course she wanted to be forgiving, as her grandma always urged her to be. But she also knew that she deserved a guy she didn’t have to forgive all the time. And she was afraid she’d have to accept the heartbreaking fact that Nass wasn’t that guy.
    Her grandmother’s sigh seemed to contain enough sympathy to match the pathos Dalton was feeling—and then some.
    â€œGoodnight, little girl of mine. See you in the morning shine,” she said.
    â€œâ€™Night, Grandma,” Dalton said. And with a heavy heart, she reached over and turned out the light.

Chapter 4
    By the time Nass reached the door of his family’s apartment building early Friday morning, the faint, pale glow of dawn was illuminating the eastern horizon.
    Great, he thought. His mother was an early riser, and their apartment was tiny. There was no way he could sneak in unnoticed. And missing curfew on Valentine’s Day (especially since it was a week night) would probably give him an even steeper penalty than usual—maybe even a speech about responsibility, unplanned pregnancy, and traditional Catholic values. Explaining that he’d spent the night at the police station would result in another round of lectures. And that was nothing compared to the punishment he would receive soon, when he got to Middleburg High and got hold of Dalton. Nass braced for the onslaught to come as he stepped through the door and found his mother seated at the kitchen table, head bowed, and gazing pensively down into her coffee cup. Softly, he closed the door behind him and she looked up, her eyes wild with