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Kat thought about the cool indifference hich Arturo Taccone had threatened her father’s life, and added, "And really stupid"
Hale was silhouetted against the streetlalint in his eyes was unmistakable "Remind you of anyone we know?"
12 Days Until Deadline
Chapter 7
There are a lot of reasons people coet rich Soet lost, and others found So froas was a tohere al--an entire city of thieves
But as Kat and Hale rode the escalator from the casino floor to the conference rooms above, she realized those reasons probably did not apply to the International Association of Advanced Mathematics and Research
"I didn’t know there were this uys," Hale said as they stepped onto the crowded concourse Kat cleared her throat "And women," he added "Math wo bad suits and na, oblivious to the slot machines and cocktail waitresses only a floor below Kat supposed the keynote speakeras the rumors said If you were interested in derivatives, theorems, and polynomials, that is Kat and Hale followed the crowd into the di They found seats in the back row
"So these are the smartest people in the world, huh?" Hale whispered
Kat scanned the crowd "At least one of theaze was locked on the conference program he held in his hands "Where is he?"
"By the projector Fifth row Center aisle"
At the front of the rooe that only a few people in the world could truly understand
"You know"--Hale’s breath arainst Kat’s ear in the chilly ballroom--"I don’t know that both of us really have to be here" The slide changed While hundreds of mathematicians waited with baited breath, the boy beside Kat whispered, "I could go s"
"Play some blackjack?"
"Well, when in Rome"
"Rome is toht"
"Shh"
"Do you understand any of this?" he said, pointing to the lines and symbols that covered the massive screens
"Some people understand the value of an education"
Hale stretched and crossed his legs, then settled his arm around Kat’s shoulders "That’s sweet, Kat Maybe later I’ll buy you a university And an ice cream"
"I’d settle for the ice cream"
"Deal"
They stayed in the overly air-conditioned ballroo to the entire first lecture and part of the second By the time she saw a member of the hotel’s audiovisual staff slink out the back doors, Kat’s hands were frozen and her sto Hale and slipping through the open door
While the athered secretly in the empty casino hallway
No one overheard Hale say, "Hi, Simon"
"So you tell us, hoas the lecture, Si of the boy in front of him "Or is it Henry?"
But the boy just sht--which he had--by two of the few people on earth whose opinions actually mattered to him
"How’d you find me?" Simon asked Hale just raised his eyebrows, and Simon muttered, "Nevertheave way to ringingtourists Kat practically had to yell as she asked, "How’s your dad?"
"Retired," Siain Florida this time, I think"
"Retired?" Hale didn’t try to hide his shock "He’s forty-three"
"People do crazy things when they hit the pri He leaned closer
"He’s actually been consulting with Seabold Security"
"Judas," Hale teased
But Kat barely heard She was too busy scanning the casino Tourists in fanny packs sat in rows at slot h the crowd It was easy to feel alone there, lost in the chaos But Kat was a thief Kat knew better
She patted the cylindrical case in her hands and looked at the boys beside her "Let’s go find a blind spot"
As they walked through the ht bounce in Simon’s step as he chatted on about the lecture, the advances in technology The geniuses and legends who’d given talks thatat breakfast
"You know you’re sht?" Hale said flatly "In fact, if you wanted to prove it" He glanced at the blackjack tables
Simon shook his head "I don’t count cards, Hale"
"Don’t?" Hale sal"
"But it’s frowned upon" Sweat beaded at Siested he swirun with scissors"It is seriously frowned upon"
They found a table outside, near the edge of the crowded pool, away froed his chair beneath an umbrella "I burn," he explained as Kat took the seat across froe to ask, "Is it a job?"
Hale stretched out on a lounge chair, his eyes hidden behind dark shades "More like a favor"