Jude reeled on me and grabbed me by both shoulders. "Where is he?"
"Jude, stop," I said quietly, all too aware of the cops across the street.
"Calm down, you guys." April yanked at Jude's arms, but he didn't budge.
"Where is Daniel?" Jude clenched my shoulders through my chiffon wrap and shook me.
"I don't know," I said. "I don't."
Jude let go. He backed away to the driver's side of the car.
How did he get the car keys?
"Jude, stop. This is insane. You've been drinking." I looked at Don for help, but he cowered away into the street.
"Please," April yelped.
"Hey." Pete stepped in front of Jude. "If you think this is Kalbi, then go tell the cops."
"No," Jude said. "They can't stop him." "Then what are you going to do?" "I'm going to find him."
"Then I'm coming with you." Pete opened one of the back doors.
"No!" I tried to grab the keys, but Jude shoved me away.
"Hey," someone called from the police line. "What's going on over there?"
Jude jumped into the driver's seat. As he gunned the engine I scrambled into the backseat next to Pete.
"Hey, stop!" someone shouted.
But Jude shifted the car into drive, and we went flying down Main Street, leaving April and Don behind.
We didn't go far. Jude floored it a couple of blocks and then skidded down Crescent Street. We flew past the high school, and just when I thought we were going to pass it, Jude whipped the car around and into the crowded lot. He drove up and down the parking lot, searching between every car.
"Turn the car around, Jude," I said softly. "Let's go home and talk to Dad. He can help."
Jude pulled the car to a stop in the alley between the parish and the school. He opened his door and got out.
"What are you doing?" Pete asked.
"He's here," Jude said. "I know he is." He stood still for a moment, as if listening. All I could hear was the echo of the music in the gym.
"Jude, please, listen to reason." I started to get out of the car.
"Stop her!" Jude said.
Pete grabbed my arm.
"Keep her here. Do whatever it takes." Jude took a couple of steps into the alley.
A police siren whirred past the school and continued on down Crescent.
"What are you going to do?" I asked.
"I'm finishing this." Jude turned toward me. And that's when I saw it: his eyes, once mirror images of mine, were twin tornadoes. Black, silver, sharp, twisted--glinting with the light of the full moon.
Human eyes don't glow in the dark. Only animal eyes do.
"No." I gasped. I tried to pry myself from Pete's viselike hands.
"I'm going to find Daniel and finish this," Jude said. And then he was gone.
Chapter Twenty-six hero
IN THE ALLEY
"Let me go!" I pushed against Pete's chest. I had to find Daniel before Jude did.
This was what he'd been afraid would happen tonight!
"Please, Pete. You have to let me go."
"So you can warn Kalbi?" Pete didn't look me in the eyes. "Why can't you just stay away from him?"
"I have to stop Jude. I have to stop this from happening. I'd do the same if he was after you."
Pete looked up at me, but he didn't loosen his grasp. "Relax, Grace. This is Jude you're talking about. He's just going to find out what's going on."
"He isn't Jude anymore," I said. "Can't you see that?"
Pete shook his head, confused.
"You have no idea what this is about, do you?" I asked. "You're in danger. We're all in danger. You have to let me go."
Pete's grasp weakened. I pulled away from him and grabbed the door handle. He snatched at me, but all he got was a fistful of my satin shawl. It trailed behind me like a purple banner as I jutted out of the car and down the alley. Pete bolted after me.
I stumbled in my heels and almost fell in a pothole. Pete grabbed me by the shoulder and swung me around.
"I'm trying to save you!" He slammed me against the outside wall of the parish. "Jude told me to keep you away from Kalbi. But you make it impossible. Why won't you stay away from him?"
"Stop, please." I tried to shove him away, but he was heavy and unmovable.
"I'm supposed to be your hero," he said. "i was supposed to save you on Markham Street."
"What?" But then I realized. "You were the one outside my car." No wonder he'd insisted I stay behind. "You tried to scare me just so you could play hero?"