“About what?”
“About where you’re going to be tonight.”
“Nothing yet,” I answer. “He might just think I’ve turned in early.”
“Leave him a note that you’ll be staying over at a friend’s house.”
“So this is an overnight kidnapping?”
“I’m only doing this once, so we might as well make the most of it.”
My excitement soars, as does my nervousness. “I’ll text my dad that I’m at Aleisha’s. He won’t know how to get ahold of her.”
“A note is better. That way you don’t have to deal with potentially nosy questions.”
“Good idea.”
“There’s a liquor store outside Colma called JJ’s Liquors,” Jack continues. “Take the 12:06 BART train from Van Ness to Colma, then get a cab to the store. You won’t need your driver.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“If you’re not there, I’ll assume you changed your mind. In which case, this is goodbye.”
“I’ll be there,” I assure him.
“Will you?”
“Yes!”
“I don’t like setting things up for a no-show.”
“I’ll be there,” I insist.
“Then I’ll see you in two hours.”
After hanging up, I go find Chase in the break room designated for dad’s staff and bring him up to speed.
“You sure about this?” Chase asks. “Didn’t you meet this guy for the first time just the other day?”
“That’s what you’re for,” I reply. “You can follow me onto the BART train, then catch your own cab to the liquor store.”
“Then what? I’m going to have the cab follow you?”
“Why not?”
He looks at his watch. “If I drive down to Colma now, I can leave the car at the train station and catch the train back to Van Ness to meet up with you. That way I don’t have to deal with a cab driver who might find what we’re doing a bit suspicious, which it is. What do you know about this Jack guy anyway? And he’s bringing friends? Who are his friends? How long is this going to last? The more I think about it, the more I don’t like this whole thing.”
“It’s just going to be a few hours.”
“What if your dad doesn’t approve overtime for this?”
“I’ll find a way to pay you. I promise.”
Chase runs his hand through his hair several times. “I don’t know. I’m already kind of tired.”
“I’ll make you some coffee. Please. I promise I won’t ask you for any other special accommodations. I’m thinking to go to Tahoe for the rest of winter break. Maybe I can find a rental with an in-law unit where you and your bae can stay. You can’t really watch me when I’m on the slopes, so you guys can have your own fun.”
He hesitates. “Fine. You owe me a favor.”