Page 105 of Secret Spark
Lunk turned around. “Huh?”
Mark shook his head. “The lights are on in his beautiful head, but no one’s home.” He squeezed Sadie’s shoulder, then went to join Lunk. “Hey, big guy. Thank your sidekick for us. He’s not half bad.”
Perry stepped beneath the ice arch. “What did Race mean about your end of the deal?” he asked Joan.
“We’ll have to talk,” she said. “Later.”
His mouth set in a grim line. “Get Sadie home safely.”
“I will.” She pressed Sadie tighter.
He strode to the ledge and hopped over. Not something you saw every day. But today was filled with things Sadie didn’t see every day. Like the woman she knew as Joan Malone glowing with waves of fire. It was honestly kind of…hot.
A second helicopter hovered on the opposite side of the roof. Sadie adjusted her position so Joan couldn’t be seen. Several water droplets hit the top of her head. The ice arch was melting from Joan’s body heat and the sun.
Joan pulled back just enough to look at Sadie. Her eyes shined amber and genuine. “I’m so sorry for everything. Can you ever forgive me?”
“I was about to text you,” Sadie said.
“What?”
“Right before I got taken. I was just about to text you. Youdidtry to tell me the truth. I wasn’t listening. Or hearing what I wanted to hear, I guess.”
Joan shook her head. “Don’t take any responsibility for this.”
“I need to own up to my part,” Sadie said. “I assumed you were someone and ignored my intuition when things felt off. But I was right about one thing.”
Joan raised her eyebrows.
“Youarea good person. What you did today proves that.”
A small smile tugged at her mouth.
Linking her fingers low on Joan’s back, Sadie said, “We have to work on honesty. And I need to speak up when something doesn’t seem right. But I’ll listen, too. I want you to tell me your whole story.”
“I will,” Joan said.
Someone cleared their throat loudly.
Catch stood with her arms crossed firmly over her chest. Joan stiffened, dropping one hand to form a first.
“Justice was served today,” Catch stated.
“Yeah,” Joan said, wariness in her voice.
“It’s not the full outcome I want, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt. But make no mistake.” Catch pointed her index finger. “We’ll be watching you.”
Joan rolled her eyes and made a halfhearted noise in agreement. Water from the ice arch dripped onto her head.
Catch nodded at Sadie. “Not to worry, citizen of Vector City. Justice has prevailed.”
A laugh bubbled up in her throat. “I’m not worried at all,” Sadie said, swaying in Joan’s arms.
Joan grinned at her.
The Super turned on her navy-blue heel and marched off. The too-straight posture, the way she talked in clipped tones, her lack of humor…
“I can’t believe I thought you were her,” Sadie said.