Chapter 8

“I can always go up to the balcony in the old auditorium and wait it out in the top balcony. There’s an entrance to the balcony on the second floor. The top of the balcony is about twenty feet up from there and there’s a huge skylight. As long as the school isn’t completely underwater, I’m fine.”

“All right, lower Josie.” Steven could hear the worry evident in Derrick’s voice.

“Hold on tight to my hands as if I were swinging you around,” he told the shaking little girl. “When the chief says you can, let go.”

“What about you, Mr. Hayes?” Josie’s lower lip trembled.

“I’ll be fine.” It’s a good thing I started working out with Derrick or I’d never be able to hold her weight with just my arms.He grabbed the little girl’s hands and wrapped them around his forearms, then held her tight, lowering her to the boat into Derrick’s waiting arms.