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recopy these numbers to a bigger sheet unless you’re already going to memorize them. I figure that if we’re together, there’s probably no need for me to get all worried about having all the numbers, you know?”
    “We’re supposed to double-check each other,” she said, folding her arms.  
    “Yeah, I know. Trust me though, it’s going to take forever if you want me to be worried about the numbers.”
    “We both have to know the calibrations. If you want to back out, I’m sure Dr. Grossman can find me another partner.”
    “No! No. That’s okay. I’ll manage it. I suppose I can copy them over to cards or something,” he said. She had already turned to walk away. “Thanks, Georgia. See you on Sunday.”
    “It’s Florida,” she said over her shoulder.
    “Okay, Virginia,” he said to himself. The door to the stairwell closed behind her.

Chapter Four — Mission

    “G O HOME ,” J USTIN SAID , pointing emphatically. “Go on, get! We don’t want you. Go home!”
    Travis covered his mouth as he laughed.
    “But I want to come with you guys,” Ryan said.
    The night had cooled off a little, but it was still too hot to be walking halfway across town. Justin’s temper got worse with every new drop of sweat that formed on his forehead.
    “You can come with us, but you have to keep up,” Justin said.
    “He’s too high to keep up,” Miguel said. “Give him a break.”
    “Do you believe in the gold?” Justin asked.
    Miguel shrugged.
    “No, seriously, do you believe in it or not?”
    “Yeah,” Miguel said.
    “Then move faster. If we don’t catch up with Joy, then we can’t go find your gold.”
    “Technically, we can,” Travis said. Justin turned to this new voice and raise his eyebrows. Travis buckled under scrutiny. “No—you’re right. We need the equipment.”
    “Good. We all agree. Miguel, why don’t you help Ryan keep up?”
    “Yeah,” Ryan said, inexplicably turning on Miguel. “That’s true. Why don’t you?” Ryan sounded upset at Miguel’s shortcomings.  
    Miguel laughed until everyone joined him.
    “Come on,” Justin said. He took the lead walking down the dusty sidewalk. A wind was kicking up the sand. It wasn’t enough breeze to cool anything down, but the sand gave the streetlights an orange glow. Justin imagined that hell would look like this at night. It would probably feel like this too.
    At the next intersection, Travis tugged on his arm. Justin stopped.
    “This way,” Travis said.
    “How come?”
    Miguel and Ryan were following arm in arm. They caught up to the conversation.
    Ryan, as befuddled as he was, came up with the explanation. “You can’t just go talk to Joy. If you want to talk to Joy, you better have Kristin with you. And don’t talk to Kristin without clearing it with Carlos first. Everyone knows that.”
    Justin nodded along. Ryan was right—everyone did know that. It was the damn heat that was making his brain malfunction. For the life of him, he couldn’t understand how anyone could function in that heat.
    “Got it,” Justin said. Travis led the way. They went past the front of the store and down the side street to the alley. They walked right down the middle of the access road. Neighbors behind the grocery store would call the cops if they saw anyone slinking around the shadows. It had happened before.
    When they got to the loading dock, Travis climbed up the bumper and banged on the metal door. It pushed open a second later. A pair of women came through and walked by Travis while pushing cigarettes into their mouths. He caught the door.
    “¿Está Carlos?” Travis asked the women.
    “Yeah,” one woman said, lighting her cigarette. “Go on in. Nobody cares.”
    “Be right back,” Travis said to the others.
    Ryan wandered over to the women to talk to them. Travis slipped through the door and disappeared inside.  
    “This is convoluted,” Miguel said to Justin.
    “You have a better plan?” Justin asked.
    “Can’t we just go