John was dumbfounded. They were still in the van speeding down the highway, tracking Peter and Slightly. Tink did her best to fill him in on Wendy’s past and the crazy story of how they knew his sister. He was also fascinated watching the snarky blonde work magic on a computer as she hacked into the department of motor vehicles’ traffic cams. Peter had texted them about a van and she was searching for it.

Feeling somewhat stuck and unable to help, he started to poke around the equipment and gadgets while he listened to Tink explain Wendy’s past and their involvement.

He picked up a strange looking cuff bracelet off the console and Tink caught him.

“Don’t you *@#$&@ touch that light brace!” Tink shrieked, ripping the light brace from his hand. She tossed it into a bin filled with other braces and went back to scanning the screen.

John liked it when the attractive blonde snapped at him, causing the bracelet she wore to start chiming.

“Yeah, I’d do what she says,” Ditto warned. “Otherwise, you might end up in a lake.”

“She’s done that?” John asked.

“Oh, yeah, she’ll hack the GPS in your car without you even knowing and get you lost.”

“Duly noted. Sorry to interrupt, Tink, but you were saying these pirates that took my sister—”

“They’re not pirates. They’re mercenaries called the Red Skulls, and they work for Neverland Corporation.”

“These are the people that took my sister and did experiments on her and tried to kill her, right? But she died, only to survive, and ended up with no memories . . . twice.”

“Ding, ding, ding,” Tink said. “Yes, exactly, she panned and lost her memories, after escaping Neverland and then again after she was shot.”

“And once again ended up with us.” John was beginning to dislike the idea of his sister being with these people. They always seemed to manage to get his sister killed. “I’m starting to see a trend here.”

“Okay, I’ve hacked into all the traffic cameras that lead away from the school. I think I found the van Peter described going up Jefferson, but then they turned somewhere along the way, and I can’t find them. They must have turned off somewhere; my guess is we should follow this road to the highway.”

Ditto followed Tink’s instructions until they came to a backup of cars in front of a tunnel. There were lights and police vehicles surrounding the area, with police redirecting traffic.

“Uh-oh,” Ditto mumbled. “Do you think—?” His phone rang, and he answered, his face grim. Then, he broke into a smile. “They got to Wendy. She’s safe.”

John was so consumed by anticipation that he didn’t realize he’d been half-holding his breath. He started to get choked up when he heard the news. “She’s okay?”

Ditto nodded, “We’ve been ordered to pick up Slightly. The Red Skulls have been neutralized.”

“How did he find her, did he say?” Tink leaned forward, putting her hand on Ditto’s shoulder as he waited for the traffic to clear so he could do a U-turn.

“Peter said he received a phone tip.”

“I don’t believe it,” Tink said, shaking her head. “From whom?”

“Jax.”

“What? We need to interrogate her then.” Tink turned in her seat to look at John. “You have to let us talk to your sister.”

“No!” John said, reaching for the door handle and sliding it open. “Stay away from her.” He jumped out into the road and began to storm off.

Ditto pulled around and drove the van at a slow pace, the passenger window rolled down, and Tink popped her head out.

“Okay, would it make you feel any better if I said the interrogation wouldn’t involve any Chinese water torture techniques?”

“Maybe.” He kept walking.

“It would involve a lot of K-pop music.”

John snorted. “I happen to like K-pop.”

“Really? You just can’t tell about some people,” Tink said thoughtfully.

John slowed, and the van matched his pace.

“Look, I know you want to help my sister, but maybe you’ve got it wrong. We were fine before you came along, and we’ll be just fine after you leave.”

“You don’t believe that, do you?” Tink asked. “We’re on her side.”

“No, I’m on her side. I’m family. You’re strangers.”

Tink rolled her eyes, tapping her fingernails on the outside of the door. “You’ve met me. I’m annoying, but I’m not evil. Peter will probably take her home soon. She may not be safe there, she is the only PX-1 original out there who isn’t hidden at Neverwood. We could protect her at Neverwood, and while she’s there, I could find out what she knows. I think it would be easier and faster if you just bring her to me and let me hook her up to a machine and—”

“You mean you’re lazy.”

“What!” she screeched.

Startled, Ditto slammed the brakes. The van lurched to a halt, and Tink was flung forward into the equipment. The loud ringing of bells could be heard coming from inside the van as she tried to regain her seat.

“And that’s why you should always wear your seatbelt.” John laughed, and turning the opposite way, he ducked into the alley and headed home.