Final y I figured out where my cel phone had gotten to and selected her name. “Pick-up-pick-up-pick-up,” I chanted, sitting on the Rusakovas’ back porch and wondering if Marvin had gotten himself kil ed, if Max was going to be locked up, and why Pietr couldn’t stand to be near me. Yep. Normal concerns. “What?” “Amy! Where are you?” “A cab.” “I need to talk to you.” “I need some time to think.” “Have the cab bring you back. You can think here. Or over at my place. Dad won’t mind.” “No, Jessie. I ruined your party. I think I’ve done enough damage for one night.” “Are you going home?” “I don’t know.” “I’l wait here for you until midnight. Then I’l head home. You can get me—catch up to me—either place. ” Silence. “Amy, I’m worried about you.” Her voice crackled, and I checked my signal strength. Fine. “I— I’l be okay,” she assured me. And she hung up. The party wound down and broke up without Max and the girls playing around on the dance floor.
