“I thought a lot about what Grandma and Grandpa said,” said Luke looking at the others. “I’m not here to judge. It’s not my place. I am here to stop them from killing kids in their program and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“I’ll get a team together to pick up our Olympic committee tomorrow. We can have a chat with them before we drop them off at the hotel and then follow them to the meet.”
“Sounds good,” said Luke.
“Where is it? Where is everything?” screamed Butch.
“I-I don’t know. It was here yesterday morning when I checked on everything. The crates were ready, they were packed. All we had to do was pick them up.”
“What did you do to them?” he said accusing her.
“I did nothing,” said Helen staring at her brother. “I checked on everything and met you. I didn’t touch it. Look, the fish are still here, everything is still here.”
“No. No, no, no! The books are gone. The notes are gone!” he said panicking.
“We have to go, Butch. Let’s leave,” said Helen. “Leave it all. We’ll do this somewhere else again.”
“No! This was our chance. This is our chance. We have to meet with them and see what they offer. If it’s nothing, we’ll leave. If it’s what I believe it will be, we’ll keep going.”
“What about our athletes? We lost all those athletes the other day. We’ve only got a few left that can even compete.”
“I’m aware, Helen! I don’t know. I don’t know,” he said staring at the empty room. He crossed over the trap door in the floor and heard it rattle, realizing that it had been unlocked. “No.”
“Oh, God,” she said staring into the empty space. “They took it all. They took all the jars. Butch we have to leave. We can’t stay.”
“No! You want to leave, fine. Go. But if you walk out now we’re done. Whatever I make on this deal is mine.”
“That’s not fair. I’m the one that did most of the work on the formulations.”
“Then stay. Wait and meet with them and we’ll see what this yields. We’re so close, Helen. So close.”
Staring at the empty spaces where their lives were once hanging in the balance, she shook her head.
“Fine. Fine, we meet with them and then leave. Or at least I’m leaving.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Carl stood in the baggage claim area with a sign in his hand with the names of the Olympic committee members. They walked down the escalator together, all with carry-on luggage, dressed in suits and ties.
“Gentlemen,” he smiled. “This is N’awlins. Ties are definitely optional.”
“We prefer business dress,” said one of the men.
“Whatever you say. Right this way, gentlemen.” He led them outside and across the circular passenger drive. The large SUV was parked in the garage, keeping the interior cool. Once their baggage was placed in the back, the three men piled into the second-row seats.
“Ritz-Carlton,” said one of them.
“Yes, sir. Have it in my notes,” said Carl. The locks engaged as he pulled out of the driveway, silence in the backseat. What they didn’t know was that Luke, Eric, and Hex were in the third row with the stealth netting over them.
They would know soon enough.
When they were nearly to the Ritz, Carl veered off and headed toward the river.
“Where are you going? This isn’t the way,” said one of the men.
“Construction. Have to go around,” he said calmly. He knew the man was suspicious but continued driving until he was right on top of the levee.
“What are you doing?”