Free How to Save the World by Lexie Dunne Page B

“I see you used the fire gel. Good choice, though it only pisses Scorch off. If I’d known he was a possibility, I’d have given you stronger stuff.”
    â€œUh, yeah.” I was too muddled to want to talk tactics with this random superhero who had taken an odd interest in me. I put my hand to my forehead and winced at how grimy it felt. What had even happened? Why was I here? Why did it feel like I’d run a marathon with no sun protection? And why was my stomach churning so much?
    Vicki.
    Oh god. Vicki.
    It all came rushing back to me in a flood. “Vicki,” I said out loud. “Is she—­”
    Jessie shook her head tightly, and my heart leapt into my throat at all the different things that could mean. “She’s alive. I’ll take you to see her now that you probably won’t wind up in Medical,” she said.
    She broke down the story as she took me to the Loop in a zippy little sports car that cost about three times what I made in a year. By the time we were ushered straight through to the ’porter—­Marsh the security guard apparently feared Jessie more than he didn’t respect me—­I had a general idea how the fight had gone. Guy, Angélica, and Brook had fought Tamara Diesel and her group off, but Scorch had gotten away with the information that Plain Jane’s powers were on the fritz. We’d left most of Union Station intact, which was unexpected, but the kidnapper had escaped with the money. Davenport was analyzing surveillance now.
    I ran my hand over my face. I’d let the kidnapper get away with the money. I’d let Scorch get away with the information. Two gold stars for Gail Godwin.
    â€œYou did better than you think,” Jessie said as we walked to Medical together. She kept her hand on my shoulder. “You used your head, you helped get Vicki to safety. Some days that’s all you can do.”
    From the Raptor, successor to the world’s very first superhero, that felt like a platitude. I’d failed, pure and simple, and the shame of it sat oppressive on my shoulders. “The blue gas,” I said, forcing my thoughts away from that path. “What was it?”
    â€œThey’re analyzing that, too.”
    Helpful.
    â€œWe do have access to some of the best researchers on the planet here,” Jessie said mildly.
    â€œNobody likes a braggart.”
    Jessie snorted.
    Medical wasn’t quite a mess when we arrived, but the receptionists definitely looked strained and pale. They practically stood at attention when Jessie walked in. “Plain Jane?” she asked.
    One of the receptionists pointed. They looked like they wouldn’t mind if she kept walking and did so in a hurry.
    Jessie shoved her hands in her pockets, though. “Has there been any change?”
    â€œDr. Davenport will know better,” the receptionist said. I blinked. I was so used to hearing her called Kiki by everybody that it took me a moment to figure out who they meant.
    Jessie finally seemed to take pity on the poor workers, strolling past them. I saw a ­couple of the nurses shoot me curious looks—­since when did I hang out with Jessie?—­but I kept my head down as I followed her. My stomach was a roiling pit of nerves. I hoped Vicki was okay. I had no idea what could be strong enough to mess with Plain Jane, who’d once flown through three buildings in a row without altering her speed in the slightest.
    Guy and Angélica were sitting in the hallway when we approached. “Gail!” For somebody over six feet, Guy could scramble fast when he wanted to. He scooped me up in a giant hug, surrounding me for a moment in the smell of sweat and aftershave. “You’re okay.”
    â€œWhat’s a little head trauma here or there?” I asked, hugging him back. I turned to Angélica. “Vicki?”
    Angélica shook her head and the knot between my shoulders