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“I'm inside,” I said into the phone

“Good Stay in view of other people Don't let anyone else talk you into leaving unless it's your people Don't leave that store until they coet you”

“Okay”

“I'll be tracking your phone from this point to be sure you're safe Keep it on you But you can hang up Pretend to shop, and keep an eye out If you feel uncomfortable, find someone in security”

“Thank you”

“Be safe”

I hung up the phone, tucking it away in a book bag pocket, the inside being surprisingly dry With it on ain, I held the basket in my arm and browsed produce slowly

My heart was still racing I looked at bananas and oranges and wasn't seeing the if we'd crossed paths with Volto at some point and where

North had driven us here, and we’d been careful to watch for people following us

How did he knoe'd park there, of all places? Did he just come across the lot and find North’s Jeep? Maybe he happened to be here and noticed it

For a split second, I thought about the cameras outside But then I re to take care of the camera and the low possibility anyone would be out there It was possible there were no witnesses, and Victorthe Jeep to see it disappear and as driving it

Minutes passed, and I realized Ianything I picked up a set of bananas and moved on

The produce was closest to the door, and I didn’t want to go too far Anticipation crept throughabout the Jeep

When moments passed and no one showed up, I needed toin the same spot

I turned the corner to startinto so shelves

And I did a double take when I saw a familiar face

Wil was bent down in front of me His hair was cut shorter than I relasses He wore khakis and a collared shirt with a tie and a nameplate at his breast pocket He put a collection of pastas on the

shelves and then turned his head to look at me

He raised an eyebrow and his cheeks reddened “Hey,” he said He looked me over, head to foot and back, and cocked a brow “You okay? Get caught in the rain?”

“Yeah,” I said slowly “I didn't know you worked here”

“New job,” he said “The phone store fired et don through traffic sometimes”

“Oh,” I said “Yeah” Aardly, I paused and didn’t knohat else to say My mind rushed hat had just happened The last time I'd run into him, he showed ine what he thought ofa basket with bananas at this hour

Suddenly, the phone I'd put inI jolted in front of him, too stunned that anyone would call me back on it What did it mean that someone was?

I juggled the basket inoff Wil reached out to help, taking the basket from me

I hesitated but then let him do so But then I realized it meant I couldn't really talk openly to the person on the other end It didn'tto find me

I dug out the cell phone, opened it and held it to my ear “Yes?”

“I told you to get away from them,” a crackled, mechanical voice sounded on the other end

I looked right at Wil's face, too stunned to hideI said would lead

“So?” Wil whispered to me

“They're on to you,” Volto said in my ear

I slowly shookthe book bag on ave hi to Volto I debated hanging up on him

“I wouldn't go to school tomorrow if I were you”

I turned down a new aisle, and when I was sure no one was listening, I whispered into the phone “Don't hurt anyone”