In reality, we were headed for a parking garage to meet Nick and Ivy’s friend, Carmen. She would take my place for the day, pretending to be me while they drove around the countryside. I thought it overkill, but if it pacified Ivy, I’d do it.

From the garage, I would sneak into Trent’s garden with the help of Nick playing lawn-service guy, spraying the bugs Jenks had seeded Trent’s prize rosebushes with last Saturday. Once past Trent’s walls, it would be easy. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

I had left the church calm and collected, but every block deeper into the city wound me tighter. My mind kept going over my plan, finding the holes in it and the “what ifs.” Everything we had come up with seemed foolproof from the safety of our kitchen table, but I was relying heavily upon Nick and Ivy. I trusted them, but it still made me uneasy.

“Relax,” Ivy said loudly as we turned off the busy street and into the parking garage by the fountain square. “This is going to work. One step at a time. You’re a good runner, Rachel.”

My heart thumped, and I nodded. She hadn’t been able to hide the worry in her voice.

The garage was cool, and she wove around the gate, avoiding the ticket. She was going to drive right on through as if using the garage as a side street. I took my helmet off upon catching sight of the white van plastered with green grass and puppies. I hadn’t asked Ivy where she had gotten a lawn-care truck. I wasn’t going to, either.

The back door opened as Ivy’s bike lub-lub-lubbed closer, and a skinny vamp dressed like me jumped out, her hand grasping for the helmet. I handed it to her, sliding off as her leg took my place. Ivy never slowed the bike’s pace. Stumbling, I watched Carmen stuff her blond hair under the helmet and grab Ivy’s waist. I wondered if I really looked like that. Nah. I wasn’t that skinny. “See you tonight, okay?” Ivy said over her shoulder as she drove away.

“Get in,” Nick said softly, his voice muffled from inside the van. Giving Ivy and Carmen a last look, I jumped into the back, easing the door shut as Jenks flitted inside.

“Holy crap!” Jenks exclaimed, darting to the front. “What happened to you?”

Nick turned in the driver’s seat, his teeth showing strong against his makeup-darkened skin. “Shellfish,” he said, patting his swollen cheeks. He had gone further in his charmless disguise, dying his hair a metallic black. With his dark complexion and his swollen face, he looked nothing like himself. It was a great disguise, which wouldn’t set off a spell checker.

“Hi, Ray-ray,” he said, his eyes bright. “How you doing?”

“Great,” I lied, jittery. I shouldn’t have involved him, but Trent’s people knew Ivy, and he had insisted. “Sure you want to do this?”

He put the van into reverse. “I’ve an airtight alibi. My time card says I’m at work.”