Free Users by Andrea M. Alexander

the rain to see that the line for the ATM machine had disappeared. I didn’t see Iggy or Cody.
    Wesley cursed and disconnected the call.
    I said, “Relax. I’m sure Iggy’s fine.” Finally, the crescendo of sirens filled the air. I added, “It’s daylight and people are everywhere. What do you think could possibly happen to her? She probably had to go to the bathroom.”
    Wesley put the phone to his ear again and told me, “Iggy’s a trouble magnet. You can’t possibly understand.” His face registered relief and he growled into the cell, “Where are you?”
    It was my turn at the pumps. I rolled down my window and a guy in uniform asked, “How much?”
    “As much as you’ll give me.”
    “One sixty. Cash.”
    I pulled out my wallet and peeled off eight twenty dollar bills. Then I turned to look at Wesley. He snipped into his cell, “Next time, tell me that before you do it.” He disconnected the call and stared out the window. I waited for him to relay the news, but he remained silent.
    “Well? Where are they?”
    His cold, blue eyes met mine. “The ATM ran out of money. They went to another machine inside Target.”
    “See? Told you she was fine.”
    “Shut up.”
    I’d meant to reassure Wesley, not piss him off. At this rate, I was definitely going to lose that fifty dollar bet.
    The attendant pounded twice on the roof of my car, indicating we were done. I started the engine and headed for the Target parking lot, which was further back in the shopping center. “I swear there are about a half-dozen vehicles being broken into right now, and no one is doing anything about it.”
    “Cops are busy with more important things,” Wesley said.
    “It’s a free-for-all. The second we leave this car, we’ll lose everything in it.”
    “Then we don’t leave it.”
    Cody texted, Just about my turn .
    I responded, We r in pkg lot . Then I pulled into a parking space and watched a young couple rush through the rain pushing two red carts loaded with diapers and powdered formula. I felt sorry for them and lucky not to have to deal with the issues they were facing.
    After a few minutes of drumming my fingers against the steering wheel, the rain finally let up. “’Bout damn time,” I mumbled. My phone rang, and the possibility of receiving a call from my parents flashed through my mind before I saw Cody’s name on the screen. “You guys coming, or what?”
    “Is Iggy with you?”
    Trouble magnet . I tensed. “No. Why?”
    “I can’t find her. When we got here, she said she wanted to look for some supplies while I waited for the ATM. I haven’t seen her since.”
    I looked at Wesley, and his eyes widened. Something in my face must have given away the gist of the conversation because he flung open the door and raced across the parking lot. I said, “Wesley’s on his way inside. I can’t leave the car.”
    “Do you think something happened to her?”
    “If not, then something will happen to her when she gets back here. I’m going to flog her for running off like an irresponsible child.”
    "I told her not to wander off."
    "Yeah, well, apparently she sucks at following directions."
    “I see Wes. I’ll talk to you in a minute.”
    I didn’t know if I was more angry or worried, but I got out and started pacing. I wouldn’t have even noticed the truck if I hadn’t heard its tires squeal. But when the sound drew my attention and I looked, I immediately thought the black pickup was Granger’s. Austin’s warning played in my head, and I jumped into the car to follow. If I was wrong, then no harm was done. If I was right, then I couldn’t spare a second wondering if I should or shouldn’t go after the truck.
    At the shopping plaza intersection, the truck took a right and then shot up the highway. I floored the gas pedal and got right on their tail. Wherever they were headed, I didn’t want them to get there. Though at this point, I didn’t have any way to stop them.
    It didn’t take long for the