Sky laughed. “It’s okay. You can joke around me, too.”
“Yeah, just offensive, but cool,” Joe assured him. “Anyway...”
Mark waved and headed toward the door. He paused, looking back. “Chris, Joe, Hank and I have been doing these songs forever, and you three—Brandon, Chase, Sky—have sat in at various times through the years. But I never expected today to go this well. Okay, so...for some of us, after all these years, it would be pathetic if we weren’t in sync, but you kids were. Well, thanks, and great!”
“Thank you, Mark,” Chase said. Sky smiled and nodded, ready to head out herself. This rehearsal had been her return intro.
Now she needed to think. Maybe make a few notes.
A few notes about what? Did she think if one of them was guilty, they would just fall apart in front of her today?
“I’m heading out for a beer after that,” Brandon said. “Anyone want to join me?”
“I’ll go with you, kid,” his father said. “Joe?”
“Yeah, sure. I’m in,” Joe said.
“Sky, come on!” Brandon said.
“Maybe tomorrow night. I didn’t sleep well. A little nervous, maybe,” she lied.
“We’ll hold you to it!” Chris said.
“Chase?” Brandon asked. “You’re not going to make me go out alone with the old guys, are you?”
“Rain check for tomorrow night, too,” Chase said. “I have some work—”
“Work! Why do you work when you could hit the road with us forever?” Mark asked him. “Your granddad would love it!”
“I love sitting in. Not sure I’m ready to be a forever drummer,” Chase said. “Anyway, good night, all!”
He headed out as well with everyone trailing him. They waved again, breaking apart to head to their various parking places.
Sky was in a garage off Canal, and she walked down the street, deep in thought at first.
Then something seemed to disturb her; she felt as if she was being followed.
When she stopped and turned to search the area, no one was there. Well, people were there, but no one who seemed to be paying the least bit of attention to her.
No one from Skyhawk.
She shook her head, wondering again if she wasn’t crazy and if she wasn’t letting her suspicion turn to paranoia.
With a shake of her head, she hurried on to the garage.
It wasn’t until she reached her car on the third level that she stopped dead, staring.
Chase was there. Leaning against the front of her little SUV, arms crossed casually over his chest as he watched her approach.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
But he shook his head, staring at her curiously. “The question is this. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
She angled her head and narrowed her eyes. “I’m taking my dad’s place. Just like you’re sitting in for Hank—”
“I’ve sat in before. You’ve avoided the band like the plague.”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
He walked over to her, not touching her, just standing a few inches from her. “I know you,” he said softly. “And I know how you felt about your father. I don’t know what you’re up to, but I do know this. You’ve got to be careful, Sky.”
“I’m not up to anything. Why should I be careful? My dad died because of a tragic accident, right?”
“Please, be careful.”
He turned and left her. She saw that he had parked in the same area of the garage.
Had he followed her?
He was already in his car.
“Chase!” she called, walking toward him. His engine was running.
She stepped in front of his car. He wasn’t going to hit her; she was sure of that.
Of course, he didn’t. He looked to the side.
She walked around to the driver’s seat. He lowered his window.
