All my senses went on alert. “Like what? Is she going to turn us over to the whitecoats?”
“I’m not sure she even knows what whitecoats are,” said Angel. “I don’t know that it’s something bad. It could be, like—she’s going to take us to the circus or something.”
“Wouldn’t that be redundant?” Fang muttered.
“Hmm. Well,” I said. “I know how easy it’s been to relax there, guys. But let’s try to keep on guard, okay?”
“Okay,” Angel said.
“I’m chilly,” said Total.
My eyes narrowed.
Angel smiled at me.
“You’re wearing a fur coat,” I pointed out.
“It’s chilly up here.”
I gritted my teeth, unzipped my coat, zipped Total into it, and tried to ignore how the boys were snickering. Total’s little head peeped out at the neck of my jacket.
“Much better,” he said happily.
“Yo—first address is down there,” said Fang, pointing. “Showtime.”
36
“Maybe her dad was a barber?” Nudge said.
I looked over at Fang. This was the address that had been closest to his name, the address where his mom had supposedly lived. We thought she’d been a single mom, a teenager, and that she’d given Fang up for adoption. But like the first two addresses, this was a bust—a barbershop in the shadow of an office building.
Fang shrugged, looking unconcerned. But I knew him, and the stiff set of his jaw.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly. For just a moment, he met my gaze, and I saw his emotion. Then his eyes went flat again.
“No big. Didn’t think it would add up to anything anyway,” he said. “It’s probably more wasting of our time, but should we check out this last one?”
“Yes,” said Iggy. It was the address next to his name.
“Okay, let’s go,” said Fang, and he took off, not turning to see if we were following.
“He’s really upset,” Angel whispered to me, as Nudge and Gazzy leaped into the air.
“I know, sweetie,” I whispered back.
“I don’t care where I came from,” Angel said earnestly, looking into my eyes. “Wherever I came from, I don’t want to go back. Not if you can’t come too.”
I kissed her forehead. “We’ll deal with that if and when it happens,” I said. “But right now, let’s catch up to everyone else.”
“Hang on,” said Total, trotting over to a fire hydrant. “Potty break.”
37
“Are there apartments on top of the stores?” Iggy asked, his feelings written all over his face.
“No.” I heaved a sigh. Iggy’s coded address had turned out to be an Asian food store in a little strip mall.
“What’s across the street?” Iggy asked.